Ken Williams, White Sox General Manager:
Develop Your Mind, Focus, and Put in the Work

White Sox General Manager Ken Williams & Metropolis Editor Leila Khaled

Photo: 2009, Powell Photography, Courtesy of Flowers Communications Group

White Sox General Manager Ken Williams is a serious man - he would have to be. He is the first Black general manager of any major sports team in Chicago and he has noticed the lack of interest in baseball by today’s youth. “Back in the day, kids would play strike-out with no field. Now with Michael Jordan and the dominance of football, more top prospects are coming out of academies and the Dominican Republic.”

Williams is the god-son of Olympic Track & Field Winner John Carlos. Carlos was one of the winners during the 1968 Olympics who showed solidarity with the Black Power Movement by donning a black leather glove and holding a fist in the air.

(r-l) Godfather of Ken Williams, John Carlos (right) and Tommie Smith (center) display the Black Power Salute in the 1968 Summer Olympics while Silver medalist Peter Norman of Australia (left) wears an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge to show his support.

John Carlos and his dad, Jerry Williams, ran track together in college and tried to become the first two Black firefighters of their city. They faced severe opposition and Williams said that they “had to sue for the right to risk their lives and then had to work with the same people who opposed them.”

Williams said growing up in his home during those times taught him a lot of lessons. “A lot of people were blackballed for life but parents who break down barriers have children who end up owning institutions. As many that have helped me, I have just as many as I help. And my children are being raised with the same spirit.”

The White Sox have a number of youth based initiatives such as Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) where children as young as 10 are introduced to the game. They receive coaching and instructions by Chicago Police volunteers and several thousand children are participating. Williams and the White Sox want the children to grow to be fans and players of the game.

Communications Vice President Scott Reifert says, “From ages 10-12 is when we begin to lose kids to video games, violence, and the rest. We want to help do our part in giving our youth better alternatives. We spend over six figures on the program while there is not a corner in the D.R. that is not playing baseball. We have to admit that we’ve lost a generation but, they are coming back.”

Meanwhile, while scouting empty inner city baseball fields, the White Sox notice that the basketball court and football fields are packed with children. Williams says there are a lot of reasons why, “There are socio-economic reasons. Baseball is an expensive sport. Maintaining the field, providing uniforms, bats, team travel. Our talent scouts search inner cities as well as rural areas and all races. Their jobs depend on finding the best talent no matter the race or background. If there was interest, kids could at least get a free education on a baseball scholarship even if they didn’t make the major league.”

Williams also said that, “Some mediocre football and basketball players would make excellent baseball players.” Williams says he has this same discussion at home. His son goes to Arizona State and is going on to the NFL but football players have shorter careers than baseball players because of injuries.

In the RBI program, kids learn the sport, civic responsibility, and the importance of education. The learn to develop long-lasting skills, not just sports skills. Williams say, “Develop your mind, focus, and put in the work. Otherwise, you train yourself to quit.”

Williams said he has always had a problem with staying on task, “Now they call it A.D.D. [Attention Deficit Disorder] but my dad simply said I don’t concentrate. If you can’t stay focused, you’ve got to work twice as hard but nothing should be an excuse.”

Ken Williams has only taken two vacations in 13 years and offered further advice to entrepreneurs and professionals, “Think sales. Learn how to sell yourself. Put yourself in front of people who are influential. No matter what you do, you are in a position of sales. There’s a sales aspect to everything. You have to sell yourself, sell your business, sell your ideas. What happens in business depends on the consciousness of those in charge. You are also most successful by having a diverse work force on every level.”

How about the First Fan? “You cannot ignore that there has been change. Barack is evidence of that. But, you also cannot ignore that racism exists. I receive hate mail myself.”

Williams says that he chooses to fight racial issues behind closed doors, as do many top named athletes. “So, it may look as if we are not fighting the good fight but, we are. Some may not speak out publicly. But, behind the scenes is the threat that they just MAY say something and that is way more effective. We may not scream as loud but we are fighting the good fight.”

For more information on the White Sox and GM Ken Williams, go to whitesox.mlb.com

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