I’ve noticed that the only monthly archive page from this blog that gets a decent amount of attention from Google customers is January, 2004. During that month, I talked a bit about a kid back in my high school class who 
had a chance to become a pro basketball player. That kid was Leslie Cason. Les was a tall, lanky guy who made a great center, propelling our high school basketball team to an undefeated season and a regional championship during my senior year.
Unfortunately, Les did not have a disciplined personality and could not capitalize on the various sports scholarships that were offered to him. He eventually dropped out of college and finally wound up on the streets of Manhattan selling drugs. He finally died of AIDS in 1997. His story still attracts attention from sports fans, probably because of the role that Dick Vitale, the former high school basketball coach-turned-ESPN college sportscaster, played in Les’s life.
I don’t have much to add to Les’s story. Back in school, Les was a celebrated jock and I was mostly an anti-social nerd (mea culpa, but it’s really hard to be a sociable nerd!). To say the least, we ran in different circles. But I do remember having Les in my senior English class. In fact, he sat one row over from me. Les was a likable fellow; he never joined in with the other jocks who found me an easy target for bullying [but I got through it, and it might have even made me stronger; I’m not sure that I could have survived working in a law enforcement office later in life had I not learned how to get roughed up a little].
But Les wasn’t much of a scholar either, and given his rising fame, he saw little need to concern himself with stuff like geometry, Shakespeare and American history.
I have some proof that I sat next to the semi-famous Leslie Cason in high school. There’s a tiny picture in the ERHS 71 yearbook taken in my English class during a test. I scanned it and did my best with Photoshop to make some sense out of it. The red arrow points to Les, and the blue arrow is for me. Yes, I know this isn’t solid proof; it has the same quality level as a purported UFO shot. As with the X-Files, it only makes sense if you want to believe.
But if you do believe me, you can see that I was approaching the test like a true eternal student, pouring out the words with all my heart and soul (and much of my brain, hopefully). As to Les . . . well, he looks to be holding up the test page, wondering what to do. I suppose that he eventually did write something, that it wasn’t all that good, and that it didn’t matter. Our English teacher, Mr. Luterzo (who looked a bit like James Karen, i.e. Mr. Pathmark), knew that he had to play a game (school politics) as much as Les had to play his game. The school basketball team needed Leslie Cason and the basketball colleges wanted him. It would all work out, he and Coach Vitale thought.
Too bad that it didn’t.
P.S., the Wikipedia article on Dick Vitale used to say that Les Cason wasn’t really interested in basketball as a kid; he liked baseball instead. (The Daily News confirms that Les was originally a baseball kid.) I do recall that Les played Little League in East Rutherford for the Caughey’s Restaurant team, and was considered quite a player. My brother also played in the E.R. L.L. at the time (but on a different team), and I vaguely remember going to games and seeing Les. He was a very good baseball player; I wonder if things would have been different for him had he stuck with his first love.
Jim,
What a sorry end to such a promising life!
I’m not sure I can agree that Les, when he held his page up, was wondering what to do–or not caring what he did (except for the fact that he seems to be quoted as saying “I can care less)”. Perhaps the lighting was bad; there could be any number of reasons a person might hold up a paper during a test.
I do agree, though, that it is only too easy for talented athletes to have a tendency to live their lives without discipline. And I think most of that tendency can be blamed on those around the athletes–coaches, owners of franchises, agents, and various assorted hangers on. A lot of the people surrounding talented athletes (or for that matter movie stars, singers, etc.,) eagerly indulge any and all inclination of the person with talent in the hopes of sponging, however remotely, off the person.
One can point to any number of indulged stars, athletes, singers, rappers, etc., whose simplist wish is granted immediately by those accompanying the person. These people do no favor to the individuals with talent, no favor at all. I’d tend to lay less blame on the individual indulged than on those who allow the indulgence. After all, how many people, if given half a chance, would willingly and selflessly say “no thank you” to what others offer them in the hopes that those proffering gifts will be the ones rewarded.
Then too there is the baby boomer generation, most of whom, I have often thought, never really learned any concept of self-discipline. I’ve often tho’t that the person whose humongous income, or the person who shows promise of being able to earn a humongous income, supports the people surrounding him/her is the tip of the iceberg of the self-indulgent generation that would deny itself nothing, or very little. Or am I too hard on this generation?
I’ve found myself wondering if the economy would be in the situation it currently is in if the younger generations had learned long ago to deny themselves–learned to distinguish what it is they need from what it is they want.
MCS
Comment by MCS — February 21, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
Jim,
What a sorry end to such a promising life!
I’m not sure I can agree that Les, when he held his page up, was wondering what to do–or not caring what he did (except for the fact that he seems to be quoted as saying “I can care less)”. Perhaps the lighting was bad; there could be any number of reasons a person might hold up a paper during a test.
I do agree, though, that it is only too easy for talented athletes to have a tendency to live their lives without discipline. And I think most of that tendency can be blamed on those around the athletes–coaches, owners of franchises, agents, and various assorted hangers on. A lot of the people surrounding talented athletes (or for that matter movie stars, singers, etc.,) eagerly indulge any and all inclination of the person with talent in the hopes of sponging, however remotely, off the person.
One can point to any number of indulged stars, athletes, singers, rappers, etc., whose simplist wish is granted immediately by those accompanying the person. These people do no favor to the individuals with talent, no favor at all. I’d tend to lay less blame on the individual indulged than on those who allow the indulgence. After all, how many people, if given half a chance, would willingly and selflessly say “no thank you” to what others offer them in the hopes that those proffering gifts will be the ones rewarded.
Then too there is the baby boomer generation, most of whom, I have often thought, never really learned any concept of self-discipline. I’ve often tho’t that the person whose humongous income, or the person who shows promise of being able to earn a humongous income, supports the people surrounding him/her is the tip of the iceberg of the self-indulgent generation that would deny itself nothing, or very little. Or am I too hard on this generation?
I’ve found myself wondering if the economy would be in the situation it currently is in if the younger generations had learned long ago to deny themselves–learned to distinguish what it is they need from what it is they want.
MCS
Comment by MCS — February 21, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
juwan, im a freshman at becton reginal high school, it is really unfortunate that he died accomplishing the pentacles that he could of reached,but no worry me and my brother jordan elcock will bring in 2 more state champions,i was talking to my substitute dwight hall. he was telling me about the team
[COMMENT: Ah, Dwight Hall, definitely a good guy. Thanks for writing in, and go Wildcats!]
Comment by juwan elcock — November 17, 2011 @ 8:58 pm
I happened this evening to be thumbing through the December 7, 1970 issue of Sports Illustrated, and saw the story of Les Cason’s decision to attend Long Beach State in the “Scorecard” section. It looked like a great life ahead, but since I had not heard of him, I assumed he did not have a stellar basketball career– so I “Googled” Les Cason. I had no idea the sad story I was in for. Such a tragedy.
Comment by Don Jennett — March 7, 2013 @ 1:06 am
I graduated from High Point regional in ’71 and it was either my junior or senior year, we got stuck playing Les and company in the state tournament. We double/triple teamed him throughout the game and ‘sorta’ held him in check BUT as I recall, a little guard had the game of his career and lit us up. Wayne Lynn
[ I believe the guard’s name was Dwight Hall, FYI. ]
Comment by Wayne Lynn — December 22, 2014 @ 1:27 pm
I played for a small hs and east Rutherford was on our schedule.we were beat by 40 pts. every game. Les and Dwight were class acts throughout the games. After the games I thought certainly that some day I would tell my kids that I played with Leslie Cason who played in the NBA. Still feel bad about what happened.
Comment by Mike Balady — October 17, 2019 @ 6:34 pm
Thanks much for the good memory, Mike. Les C, a very tough story, one that shouldn’t be forgotten. Thanks for contributing to it.
Comment by Jim G — October 19, 2019 @ 1:57 pm