From dead end to defensive end
September 21, 2006
BY VAUGHN MCCLURE Sun-Times
The Detroit streets were Ronald Talley's comfort zone, his way of life.
His friends were gang members. He knew the drug dealers. And Talley was the target of gunfire on more than one occasion.
''I got caught up in so many situations that could've really messed me up,'' the Notre Dame defensive end said in his deep, intimidating tone. ''I'm real fortunate to be able to be here living right now.''
As the Irish head to Michigan State on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich. -- 90 miles west of Detroit -- Talley reflected on being raised in one of America's toughest, most crime-ridden cities. And this is no story about an angelic kid who escaped the ghetto.
''I've done so many bad things, so many negative things on the streets,'' he said as he rubbed his braids. ''Getting caught up was something that I took a risk with.''
To understand Talley, you have to understand his surroundings.
He grew up in the northwest district of Detroit, an area one police official said has had 250 shootings this year alone. Talley has watched bullets pierce the bodies of others numerous times.
''I've seen so much,'' Talley said, ''I can't get too deep about it.''
Max McFadden, Talley's best friend, remembered one night after a party when a group of guys came to the Coney Island fast-food restaurant and fired a shot at Talley's car. McFadden and Talley were not in the vehicle.
''Anger, of course, is the first thing that comes to mind, and Talley already is a mean person,'' McFadden said. ''At that second, so many things went through our minds. But we both knew we weren't trying to end up dead.
''And I know Talley cares too much about his mother to let something like that happen.''
Talley agreed that his mother, Tina Turner (not the singer), is his driving force. She reluctantly let him play football at age 11, figuring it would keep him out of trouble. And if that failed, the stories she told him from her days as a correctional officer at the Wayne County Jail were sure to scare him straight.
''It was always just her and I, and we communicated a lot about staying strong, doing the right things,'' Talley said. ''She knew I always was real aggressive and that I knew everybody in the streets. But she built me up so much that I felt if I fell off, I would be giving up on her.''
Sports were Talley's diversion. He played football and basketball at Renaissance High School, concentrating solely on football after the 10th grade. He did well in the classroom at a school considered one of Detroit's better academic institutions.
But Talley still had that street in him, still had that anger.
''I remember Talley came in here about 6-foot-4, 210 pounds as a freshman, the upperclassmen were trying to pick on him, and Talley wasn't having it,'' said Antonio Watts, Talley's position coach at Renaissance. ''He got into a fight in the cafeteria and broke his hand on someone's jaw, didn't play for a game or two. He was always getting into fights, getting suspended.
''We had to show him that you couldn't bring that same aggressive behavior that you have on the football field into school.''
Watts said maturity set in around Talley's sophomore year, when he started leaving some of his gang-banger friends behind. By his senior year, Talley blossomed into a Division I talent wooed by the Irish and Iowa.
''Why did I pick Notre Dame? Because it offered the complete package,'' Talley said. ''It wasn't so much about getting out of Detroit.''
Talley, who now weighs 262, continues to develop into his role after not playing as a freshman. The junior splits time with Chris Frome, though Talley is listed as the starter.
''He has to get quicker with his pass rush,'' said Watts, who attended the Michigan game.
''If Ronald is going to have a pro future, he's going to have to play three-technique [defensive tackle].''
If football is not in Talley's future, he already has a game plan.
His majors are film, television and theater, as well as computer applications, and he earned a 3.0 GPA last fall. He wants to be a movie producer, in the mold of John Singleton or Quentin Tarantino.
Talley's autobiography would make an interesting story.
''In Detroit, it's real life,'' he said. ''It's not a movie.''
vmcclure@suntimes.com
-- Sun-Times News Group
