https://www.amazon.com/Boys-Wont-Be-Tenth-Anniversary/dp/B0CTK27V9G We celebrate Fatherhood Month with a heartfelt episode featuring Kenny Crump Sr. and Kenny Crump Jr. In this special conversation, we explore the wisdom passed down from Kenny Sr., teaching his children the values of hard work and resourcefulness. Hear how these lessons influenced Kenny Jr., emphasizing the importance of faith, true friendship, and the strength of family ties.
We learn about Kenny Jr. and his wife’s entrepreneurial endeavors with their foundation, Elevate U. Their commitment to providing resources and mentorship to young businesses is showcased through their successful programs, reflecting the drive and motivation that spans generations.
Consistency in parenting and the evolving father-son relationship take center stage as Kenny Jr. shares invaluable lessons from his father. This episode underscores the importance of discipline, structure, and a strong father figure in shaping a child’s understanding of love, respect, and responsibility. Hear poignant stories about overcoming challenging teenage years, the significance of open communication, and the lasting bonds that make a family environment children cherish and return to. Tune in for a celebration of fatherhood, filled with wisdom, laughter, and heartfelt conversations.
https://www.amazon.com/Boys-Wont-Be-Tenth-Anniversary/dp/B0CTK27V9G We celebrate Fatherhood Month with a heartfelt episode featuring Kenny Crump Sr. and Kenny Crump Jr. In this special conversation, we explore the wisdom passed down from Kenny Sr., teaching his children the values of hard work and resourcefulness. Hear how these lessons influenced Kenny Jr., emphasizing the importance of faith, true friendship, and the strength of family ties.
We learn about Kenny Jr. and his wife’s entrepreneurial endeavors with their foundation, Elevate U. Their commitment to providing resources and mentorship to young businesses is showcased through their successful programs, reflecting the drive and motivation that spans generations.
Consistency in parenting and the evolving father-son relationship take center stage as Kenny Jr. shares invaluable lessons from his father. This episode underscores the importance of discipline, structure, and a strong father figure in shaping a child’s understanding of love, respect, and responsibility. Hear poignant stories about overcoming challenging teenage years, the significance of open communication, and the lasting bonds that make a family environment children cherish and return to. Tune in for a celebration of fatherhood, filled with wisdom, laughter, and heartfelt conversations.
He would say you know, you have more friends than you have fingers.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, you got too many friends.
Speaker 3:
Get off of one hand. That's what I used to tell him. You better watch who your friends are.
Speaker 2:
We were like, okay, we can't have more than five friends, I guess, oh, you can have associates Plenty of associates.
Speaker 3:
I always told him true friend.
Speaker 4:
Welcome to Be A Baller Podcast. I'm your host, coach Tim Brown, and today I'm excited to have in the studio, as we continue to talk about the book Boys Won't Be Boys and Porn Boys of Uncommon and the Common World, and this being Fatherhood Month, I thought it was appropriate to have in studio two good friends young Kenny, senior Kenny, seasoned Kenny. I've known Mr Crump, as I still call him. I've known Mr Crump, as I still call him. I've known him when I first started teaching at Mohawk Middle School. We met there and it was a great time there.
Speaker 4:
We had a lot of fun and really I learned a lot from him because his children were older and I watched him while he was raising his children and me and Carmen we observed him and his wife Sherry. We said man, there's something about them. We observed him and his wife Sherry. We said man, there's something about them. I like what they're doing and so we kind of picked some things from them and we kind of grown in that. But I wanted to get both of them on the show today so we can have that discussion about a father and a son relationship, you know, and a dad and sons and all. And now young Kenny has his own child now. Just see some of the lessons that he learned from dad. So, gentlemen, welcome to the show. Thanks for having us.
Speaker 3:
Thank you, appreciate being here.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, this is going to be a good one. I like to have a little fun. You know, some guys it's hard to get a laugh out of them, you know. But these guys they love to laugh, so it's going to be fun.
Speaker 2:
Right.
Speaker 4:
Mr Crump, they call you KC, kc. Yeah, now where did that name come from?
Speaker 3:
Oh wow. Actually, way back in the day we used to all have CBs A lot of my cousins and family and my handle was KC, kansas City Kid.
Speaker 2:
Oh wow Just after my initials, that's the first time I've heard that it's new to you.
Speaker 4:
Huh, Don't worry about it.
Speaker 6:
We ain't going to let you off the hook.
Speaker 4:
Because, I know you got a name that they called you growing up and what was your nickname growing up?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, so within the family they called me Pud, Pud. So Pud was my grandma. She gave me the name. She said when I came out I looked like vanilla pudding. That was the name, it's just stuck.
Speaker 4:
So when somebody say pud you know that's family.
Speaker 1:
They really know you.
Speaker 2:
They really know you, mr.
Speaker 4:
Crump Kenny, can you talk about the relationship between you and your dad growing up?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I had a really good relationship with my dad my dad first of all. You have to realize that growing up my dad was grew up in the South, in Mississippi, and was a sharecropper, so he knew nothing but working hard and he passed that skill on to us that we all were hard workers because of him. You know watching him raising six kids and you know and just always providing. You know that was that was my dad. Yeah, he was. He was good, a good, great provider for the family and I got some stories also about that too.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, but I know you are. You're known as the fix-it man. You can build, you can fix just about anything. That's some of the qualities you learned from your dad. Observing your dad.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, watching him do pretty much. You know you didn't have money back then to pay for something to be fixed, so you tried your hand at pretty much everything, whether it was plumbing, electrical work you name it carpentry. So yeah, I picked up and learned a lot from my dad.
Speaker 4:
Did you pick up some of those skills?
Speaker 1:
What's so funny the way you looked at it. It was like I know you can't do any of that, but you know what I'll say this. I know you can't do any of that, but you know what I'll say this, While I? You know I'll try anything, but if I can't perfect it, I can always hire somebody to do it.
Speaker 2:
I feel like my time is very valuable and these hands are very important. Yeah, yeah, yeah Need these hands.
Speaker 4:
Smooth hands. Need these hands, need these hands and then you know, Mr Krupp, now they got YouTube.
Speaker 3:
You can always go to YouTube. That's what they tell me. Just YouTube it, Dad.
Speaker 6:
Okay, hey there Clark Kellogg here. Building a legacy usually involves meeting the unique needs of others and being part of something bigger than yourself. That's why I love First Merchants Bank. First Merchants believes that helping communities prosper means more than just providing banking services. It means offering accessible financial education, expanded access to homeownership and partnerships with local nonprofits to help raise up neighborhoods and lift families out of financial hardship. For resources and tools available to you, visit wwwfirstmerchantscom. Member. Fpic Equal Housing Lender.
Speaker 4:
Kenny Jr growing up, I know you come from a spiritual family, a family that has a strong, strong faith family. Can you talk about the role your dad played in your spiritual growth?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, absolutely so. Growing up, I have four siblings, so spirituality, church, God, was a big part of our life. We grew up in the church so we were there. I feel like once a week at least, if not, that we were there a lot and it was just always important to keep know, keep god first, and whatever we did, uh, and you know, he would say uh, you know, you have more friends than you have uh fingers.
Speaker 3:
Uh, yeah, you got too many friends right, you know, get off of one hand.
Speaker 2:
That's what I used to tell you you better watch who your friends are. So we're like okay, we can't have more than five friends, I guess. Oh, you can have associates, plenty of associates.
Speaker 3:
I always told them true friends.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, absolutely, it's funny. You know, I feel like it was always like an echo. You know, here and there I just dropped different gems, but one of the ones I guess that sticks out the most right now is he would always give us the friend rule. He would always give us the friend rule. He would say you have more friends than you have fingers. Yeah, you got too many friends.
Speaker 3:
Get off of one hand. That's what I used to tell him.
Speaker 2:
You better watch who your friends are. We were like, okay, we can't have more than five friends. I guess that's it. You can have associates, plenty of associates.
Speaker 3:
I always told them true friends.
Speaker 1:
Yeah yeah, which is true, though right I mean because, as you get older, you know, those friends that you thought were your friends. You know you really don't talk to them that much anymore, so that one really stuck. You know, just keep a small circle, at least to those that are extremely close to you.
Speaker 4:
Right, right. Speaking of that, how important is? You mentioned four brothers and sisters. How important is family?
Speaker 1:
Oh man, family is extremely important. I mean, you know, and again, as you get older, you know, as the circle gets smaller, you really understand that you know you can always count on your family for the things you need. You know, even when you know the friends aren't there, and again, it's just nice to have that support system. I know my dad and my mom were just always just a huge part of everything I've done. You know, from from day one I can't think of one thing that they didn't support me on. Or, you know, give me some encouraging words, or you know a verse, a Bible verse, to use. You know it was always just a huge part. The family is number one.
Speaker 4:
You know, in the book Boys Won't Be Boys, one of the chapters we talk about the importance of the family name. So this is for both of you guys. What does?
Speaker 3:
the Crump name mean and represent Wow, well, you know your name. I always say your name is your bond. You know what you do is going to be representative of what your family is going to feel or say about you. So you got to really guard your family name. You don't want negative thoughts and negative you know things coming from saying, oh the Crump name. No, I want everybody to say something positive when they hear you know about Kenny Crump and his family Good good, yeah, and I would second that.
Speaker 1:
I mean especially being named after my dad. You know not only the last name, you know first name too. So you know it was always like I had a it's like that shadow, you know, and I had to not to say I had to live up to a name, but it's just important, you know. I mean again, your name follows you everywhere. So you know we want to make sure that you know people are saying positive things. You know about the name, so you know we always thought about that. You know, in every move I make, you know it's like I want to represent. You know my name at the best I can.
Speaker 4:
That's good. That's good, mr Crump. In the book we also talk about how important legacy is. You know, this podcast being a legacy podcast. What's the legacy of the Crump family? Wow, take us back.
Speaker 3:
Well, you know, just going back, you know, like I told you, family mom and dad came out of Mississippi I was actually a baby and when they brought, moved to Ohio. So it was, you know, it was important that you know, he kept everyone intact in the family. Matter of fact, he brought his parents up to Youngstown Ohio. That's where we landed, was in Youngstown, ohio. And you know, like I said, it was just important that the Crump family stayed together and kept, you know, kept that connection. Then other family members moved up to Youngstown and from there you there, like you said, it was a big legacy.
Speaker 4:
Kenny Jr in that word legacy, as Dad was sharing, always challenged young people, the next generation, that first off you got to protect the legacy and then you got to add value to the legacy. So can you talk to the audience how you are? How are you protecting that name and and value to it?
Speaker 1:
absolutely yeah.
Speaker 1:
So I feel like our family legacy is a legacy of, uh, you know, uh servants you know, we from my grandmother you know she was a pastor to, you know, uh, dad, he served in the schools and now serves in the church and you know. So, again, I have an uncle. He's a pastor. So I think it's just a family of servants and we continue to serve the community. Now you know me having a different type of ministry, but my ministry I fill with my business and I have the opportunity to serve the community and, you know, the youth, and just bring a positive lifestyle to them. And yeah, so I believe that's our family legacy is just being bringing that light, you know, to the community and showing them that you know we can, you know, just serve them and bring positivity to them.
Speaker 3:
I wanted to add too. I was just up in Youngstown this past weekend where my mom, pastor Manola Crump, was honored as the founding pastor of a ministry that still carries her name, and it was nice. They had a nice plaque, nice program for her, and so you know, her legacy goes on, you know, as a founding pastor and one of the first black females to ever you know, be over a church in Youngstown, ohio. That's powerful.
Speaker 4:
I know, Kenny Jr, you and your bride have started a foundation to help young businesses. Can you talk about that part of the legacy that you guys are building through that?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, absolutely so. Again, continue to serve. My wife and I are entrepreneurs and, you know, one thing we always thought about was, you know, how can we add value to the next generation of entrepreneurs? So, for us, we know we bumped our heads a lot, you know, on our way up. So we wanted to uh create a, um an organization that could, you know, provide resources for, uh entrepreneurs anything from maybe they need counsel to, you know, maybe an accountant, uh graphic designers, whatever it is. So we want to, um, you know, just build up those upcoming entrepreneurs. Our foundation is called Elevate U Stands for we Elevate U Foundation, and we're just looking to help, you know, and add value where we can.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, I can attest to you guys serving when I was at Mohawk you always had you ran that summer program, nysp programs and you always had young people there and not only were you serving young people, you was giving others an opportunity to be a part of it and I think that's. I'm sure it's still going on today Maybe a different name, but it's still going on today and I know you were one of the ones who was always hey, you need to come to this program young people, and then you were hiring people as well, well, you know, a lot of young people got their first jobs working in YSP, which I was really, you know, thrilled about starting at I think, I'm trying to think was it 14 or 15?, but anyway, at least 16,.
Speaker 3:
They worked their first job and it was a great program that brought in over 600 kids every summer and always had, you know, a lot of kids, a lot of workers, kept kids busy, kept them off the streets, kept them, you know, interested in sports, and, yeah, it was a great program.
Speaker 4:
That's legacy. Now, as your son is sitting right there, Mr Crum, what would you tell your younger self?
Speaker 3:
I wish I had the drive he has. You know he's got a lot of drive to self-motivate himself.
Speaker 3:
He got that from somewhere he saw that somewhere, you know. I think you know his mom is real big on instilling that drive and that confidence in you know, in all of the kids. So but I just think you know a younger self, my younger self, would probably would like to have a little more and drive to, you know, to obtain different goals. Believe me, I'm happy the way life went and you know, but I think his drive and motivation it was above and beyond.
Speaker 4:
Isn't it a joy watching that. Oh man you didn't ever see that in your namesake. Yeah, you're right. What are you doing? Here's your namesake.
Speaker 3:
I enjoy seeing him and the other kids you know strive to do and be the best they can be.
Speaker 4:
Mr Crump, you have been with me on this journey with the book since its inception 10 years ago. Have you read the book? You led book clubs at schools. Can you talk about some of the unique conversations it can generate between fathers and sons, this particular book?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I'd have to say, you know, we went to, we were at a couple of schools together. You know, I'm I'm almost amazed just to think there's been 10 years first of all, that we had worked with groups of young boys these were fifth and sixth graders, that we were mentoring and some of the conversations you know. It's just amazing that they look for discipline. I always say that you know, when you're too lax with young folks, you know, I think it gives them, you know, reasons to do as they please. But when you show them some structure and discipline, I think that's what young people really look for. And it's been some great, great conversations with young people over the years.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, that's good, and they look for that from real men.
Speaker 3:
Right.
Speaker 4:
Real grown men, right, like I don't know what you're doing somewhere else, but right here right now we ain't doing that, and they respect that. They do and they look for that they look for that, and I think the thing I love about you is your consistency.
Speaker 3:
That's important. They need people to show up.
Speaker 4:
They need people to show up because they knew every Tuesday, thursday, whatever day that was, mr Brown coming or Mr Crubb if he out in Arizona, you know at the baseball.
Speaker 2:
You know spring training.
Speaker 4:
Because you would always tell me. Now, mr Brown, I'm telling you you know my two, three weeks now spring training. I said I got you, but no, but that consistency yeah they look for that and boys today need that consistency in their life from a man you know, from a man. So, speaking of that, you now, Kenny Jr, being a dad now and being a girl dad, can you share the importance of a strong dad's mom and a positive, loving father for your daughter and how important that's going to be to her?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, she's only three, but I'm seeing how just me being, you know, a big part of her life is really impacting her. You know, I think all girls you know need a father in their life, a dad in their life because, number one, you're that first example of a man and their love for a man. So you have to show them, you know what it's like or how a man is supposed to treat them and you know all those things. So I really feel like she, she, she's understanding that you know, even at a young age of three.
Speaker 4:
But yeah, we have to show up. What were those things that you always tell people? That a lot of things that young men learn are not necessarily sat down and taught. They're caught. What were some of the things that you caught from your dad and watching how his relationship with your mother?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah. So you know, man, you know one of the big things I think my dad again I'm on the outside, you know watching, but you know I feel like they, my dad, just did a really good job. You know listening to my mom. You know just being present. You know being that provider, like his dad was for his family. You know, again, that work ethic. You so, so a lot of that is what what I would kind of watch. He didn't have to say much. You know I can just all my siblings, we, we watch, and he was just a great example of, uh, just a man, you know just being being a someone on the show, say this about their dad.
Speaker 4:
He said I never saw my dad miss not opening up a door for my mother. That's good, whoa, I'm sure you saw those kind of things. We do what we see. We don't see those kind of things. We don't know what to do. We see a lot. Your dad's been a great example. One thing I appreciate your dad is him being that serious about being a provider, being that man that you know you can count on, because I know you're involved in a whole lot of activities now.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, you said you've got five of them. I haven't watched him play all them sports. Dad, you know how many times you've been in the gym on the baseball field, gymnastics, you know, and all that. But why was that so important? Dad's presence.
Speaker 1:
Oh, my gosh man, you know I think I said it earlier about just the support. You know, just knowing that you know you have somebody that believes in you, I tell people a lot, I feel like a lot of my success and you know my blessings are from just knowing that my dad and my mom just were always going to be right there. You know I'm at a meet, you know I look up in the stands and you know they're right there. You know it's just. It just gives you a confidence that I felt. Every kid, I mean, even as adults, we all need it, we all need that. But yeah, I always had it for my dad.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, yeah, I want to salute you Dad, because I can tell you I watched you when your daughter was coaching at Wellington. Oh yeah, Not playing basketball anymore coaching, and I'm looking at mom and dad in the stands. I'm like, wait a minute now she ain't playing, she's just a coach. So when my daughter Carmel became a high school basketball coach. Here we are driving to Richmond, indiana. She's coaching Seedy Catholic. Here we are driving down there, mom and dad being in the stands and I got that from you. I want my gas money.
Speaker 3:
That's important though because, they look at that. You know one thing too when Kenny was in gymnastics and we'd have a meet Florida or San Francisco, you name it all over the country we took all of the kids with us. I laugh about it, but he knows. I told him I had the second mortgage but it was good because it was a lot of good family bonding time. You know, traveling, watching gymnastics, meet and supporting.
Speaker 1:
And I'll say and I know this is still on the subject, but he still, to this day, I mean he'll help with my business. I'm like, hey, dad, we need a driver to pick up for after school. Jump in and you know drive if we need it, so it just never stops, you know. So yeah.
Speaker 3:
I'm still on the side list. Yeah, still on that list.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, he's consistent. We know we can count on him, right, right right, this has been great.
Speaker 4:
We're going to continue the conversation Now. Mr Crump, what word of encouragement would you give to fathers raising young men or raising boys? In today's society, we know things are a little different. What are those hallmarks that still work?
Speaker 3:
Well, you know, we've been saying the same word consistency. Be consistent with your kids. You know we've been saying that the same word consistency. Be consistent with your kids, you know, and especially a young, young man, cause, you know, when they get to that 13, 14, 15, I always say they start feeling themselves, you know, and and and you gotta, you know, be consistently, knowing, letting them know that there is a structure we're going to follow and there's a a way we're going to go about it. And still you gotta let them know that there is a structure we're going to follow and there's a way we're going to go about it, and still you've got to let them know that Dad's in charge. But you know, I'm going to listen to you and hear what you've got to say. But you know, be consistent and that word keeps coming up because it's so important, especially when they're at that teenage years, right, right.
Speaker 4:
They have to know that dad is dad. I'm not your friend.
Speaker 3:
Well, you said it About them, five friends.
Speaker 2:
I said it a lot. Not one of the five.
Speaker 4:
I'm not in the five, five, five, that's right.
Speaker 2:
I ain't in that one now. You're right about that. You got to stay messed up.
Speaker 4:
It's funny how the relationship changes between father and son. You're talking about those teenage years, right With TJ and, I'm sure, with Kenny Jr, when they were teenagers. Boy, you couldn't tell. I mean you wanted to strangle them, just hoping they get through that You're trying to be in a hmm, that's what they do. Look on their face and all that. But now TJJ and I just like you guys, tj we hang out together. We're in Vegas every summer for a week. You know, just those times when he calls, I'm always ready because I know it's going to be a long conversation, but it's going to be a great one, you know. And just the fact that we started a relationship. You know we started a relationship.
Speaker 4:
It was a little rocky there, but you know we're still there, but they know. But you know that dad's going to be there. That's right. Dad ain't going anywhere. Still my son, whatnot through those times. Kenny, as we come around here, can you share the blessing of a positive father and son relationship? How important it is a positive father and son relationship.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I mean just kind of building off what what um dad just said. So, um, for me, you know, I can't think of any type of net negativity, you know, coming up. I mean, again, there's always rocky times but you know just, uh, the importance of, uh, a positive relationship just means the world. I mean, if it, if parents get it, a dad gets it right, you know, from the early age, then it's going to continue on, you know, into adulthood. And you know, again, times may get rocky, but communicate, figure it out, you know, and, yeah, don't stop, you know, just working on it because, again, the more positive it is, the better the outcome is going to be. It's going to be good.
Speaker 4:
Mr Crump, I'm going to give you the last thing. I need you to recommend this book. I know we've been working with it. The question is why would you recommend this book? Boys Won't Be Boys and Pardon Boys of Uncommon in a Common World, the mentors, fathers, youth group leaders, and particularly, can you speak to that word uncommon?
Speaker 3:
Well, that's a great question. First of all, I think the book to me brought out a lot of character building because it dealt with relationships. It dealt with you know, like you said, your name, how you're going to protect your name, your legacy, all of that. So you know it's important to you know. Just, I'd say it's a good read because a lot of fathers can follow the examples that you give in the book and relate it to their own kids. And that's what we did when we mentored boys in fifth and sixth grade in elementary school. We just kind of followed things that you had written about in the book and related to the kids and they listen, they listen.
Speaker 4:
They definitely listen. You can tell, we just planted some seeds.
Speaker 3:
Some guys will plant the seed.
Speaker 4:
Some we were pouring water on the seed. They've heard a lot of that before, but we know, ultimately God gets the increase and the increase is godly men like your son, men who are there for their family, raising their family, being there, loving their mother, loving their children, being in the home, and I think that's what God wants. That's what God wants, and I think we, as men, we have that opportunity to be that example. And the thing about you two others are watching what I mean, they're watching your relationship. They're watching and saying man, I want this when I get older, I want to have a son, I just want to be a family man, and I think they don't see enough of that. So we have an opportunity to showcase that and show them what that looks like. And then when they see it, man, I want that, I want that, I want that for my family and for my children's children and grandkids.
Speaker 4:
That's what this is all about.
Speaker 4:
So, I want to thank you all for this time. It's been rich and I've always enjoyed watching your relationship and how it just continues to grow. That's the other thing. As dads, we just continue to grow our relationship with our children, but the one thing that you have done is that you created a space where the children want to come home. Oh, you know where? No, where they want to be around mom and dad.
Speaker 4:
You know there's something that they miss, you know, or that only mom and dad can provide. You know it could be a special dish that only mom can cook, that For our daughter, carmelo, it's potatoes and sausage. Only mom can you know it's something you know, that you created in that family. You and your wife Cher have created in that family, and so I'm just so excited for the model that you've been to me personally as a young pup, because when I came to Mohawk I was 20-something years old, you were the older guy there. I watched you in that gym class. You know how you handled them kids. You know how you coached those kids. I learned a lot from you, watched how you coached them. And then the apple doesn't fall from the tree, that's true it doesn't fall from the tree.
Speaker 4:
You know your children are doing well, so just a blessing having you on the show. So this is the end of our podcast. I want to thank both Kenny Sr and Kenny Jr for being our special guests today. As we talk about fatherhood, as we talk about that father-son relationship how important that is. So thank you all for being part of the show.
Speaker 3:
Thanks for having us. Thanks for having us.
Speaker 4:
Tim, Appreciate it this has been an informative discussion on fatherhood and the important relationship between father and son. So this is Coach Tim Brown. We thank you all for listening to Be A Baller Podcast.
Speaker 5:
If you enjoyed our show, please share this podcast with family and friends. Be A Baller Podcast is available on all major podcast stations. Be sure to come back next week as we continue to discuss on how to build a lifelong legacy. Until then, don't forget to be a baller. This podcast was created by Coach Tim Brown and produced and edited by the video production class of Worthington Christian High School.
