CLEVELAND, Ohio — No matter how consumed Layzie Bone of rap group Bone Thugs ‘n Harmony is with his music, the love of football remains at his core.
The same goes for rapper snoop Dogg, who is so involved with the game that he developed the Snoop Youth Football League in 2005 in Southern California. It has grown to 50 teams and more than 1,500 players. The league emphasizes teamwork, discipline, teamwork and parents and community involvement.
The league has expanded into Northern California, Texas and now the possibility of Cleveland.
During some of their music tours, Layzie Bone had several conversations with Snoop Dogg about bringing his league to Cleveland. The conversations involved Bone’s cousin, Rob J. McQueen, a Glenville High School graduate who is involved with local youth football.
“We had a conversation and Snoop said let’s do it,” McQueen said. “Bringing the league here is a way Bone Thugs ‘n Harmony can give something back to Cleveland and there’s a need because Muny and Pop Warner have a weight limit. This league is unlimited weight, which gives many kids an opportunity who are not pressured to lose weight before they even get a chance to play.”
Last Saturday afternoon at the Glenville Recreation Center, SYFL president Haamid Wadood along with other members of the executive board met with potential coaches, parents and those interested in the league.
“For the brand to work the SYFL needs a group of dedicated people,” Wadood said. “We attempted to put a league in Las Vegas, Colorado and Chicago. The spirit started off right but once people saw the work and the commitment it didn’t last.”
McQueen, who would take the role as local director, said he is committed to making the SYFL work in Cleveland.
“The main thing for us is the mentoring program for the kids,” McQueen said. “We could care less about football because football is football. The celebrity aspect of Snoop and Layzie can also have a positive influence on the kids.”
There’s a $2,500 fee to join the SYFL. The fee provides insurance for the players, trophies, championship medals and participation in the league’s national championship games. The league has six divisions from age 5 to 14. A training camp of sorts starts at the end of July and the season, which includes eight regular season games, begins in September.
Potential coaches must attend a mandatory clinic and players cannot participate without submitting a school report card. The SYFL also has a cheerleading component where girls will train and compete in local and national competitions.
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