A BMORENews.com EXCLUSIVE
(WOODLAWN – August 25, 2025) – You don’t find this type of legacy just anywhere. Only a special demographic knows about it. You hear tales of it every year, and finally — thanks to Choo Smith — I got the chance to experience it firsthand.
Everywhere I turned, there were legends. Here a legend, there a legend … legends all around. Some I knew, many I had never even heard of. And for all the basketball aficionados out there, don’t beat me up — I admit this history isn’t for the casual fan. Sure, I know the famous Bullets: Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Wes Unseld, Phil Chenier, Gus Johnson. But the men and women at this cookout were stars in their own right.
Take Gert Scott, for example. The Towson Catholic icon makes it her business to stay connected by showing up at events like these. She is a quiet reminder that presence matters — and the camaraderie among former opponents was inspiring. These are men who once dreamed of defeating each other on the court, now laughing, breaking bread, and sharing stories.
“One Baltimore,” the nonprofit founded by Dunbar legend Tim Greene and others, has been gathering since 2005. Aside from the interruptions of COVID, this year marked the 20th anniversary of the tradition. As I’ve interviewed Greene on our television show, I’ve come to understand his “why.” One Baltimore is about more than basketball. It’s about Baltimore itself — Black, white, Latino, and otherwise — coming together.
Greene told me it’s not uncommon for white fans to attend and support. I saw it with my own eyes, and it was moving — especially in a time when our nation’s leadership often seems to be pulling us backwards. For Greene and his compatriots to sustain such a stellar event year after year takes more than heart and grit; it takes vision and wisdom.
These types of gatherings celebrate us. They remind us of our shared history, our shared pride, and our shared city. Tim Greene deserves to be commended for making One Baltimore possible. The City of Baltimore owes this effort every ounce of support necessary to keep it alive.
To support One Baltimore, call Tim Greene at 410.303.0237.
