Sep 29, 2008 6 min read

Kenney, who now resides in Bethel Park, but grew up in Belle Vernon, is entering his 13th year touring schools, impersonating other successful and respected black men, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bill Cosby, Jackie Robinson, Willie Stargell and Josh Gibson. He said he has visited 350 schools in 15 states. Imitating Clemente’s Puerto Rican accent before approximately 900 middle school students, Kenney told the legendary baseball star’s triumphant and endearing story of facing and overcoming adversity as he and the audience relived the ups and downs of Clemente’s baseball career.

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Clemente, a native of Puerto Rico, in 1954. Pittsburgh was a city full of steel mills at the time.

It was a rough time for Clemente. He could barely speak English when he arrived in Pittsburgh. Kenney said white baseball players would talk about him and the newspaper would make fun of the way he talked.

During the middle of his first season with the Pirates, Clemente was involved in a car accident. A back injury caused him to miss several games. Some said he was faking the injury, said Kenney.

“I just wish they could live in this body for one day,” said Kenney as Clemente.

Honored as the national baseball league’s Most Value Player in 1966. Kenney said Clemente demonstrated that through hard work, he could earn the respect of his teammates.

At one point, Clemente felt his career was headed downhill. His batting average was down. Fans were booing him on the field for the first time in his career.

“I deserved it. I was not giving 100 percent on that field,” said Kenney as Clemente.

Around that time, he was given a second chance at life.

Clemente was playing in San Diego, Calif. Willie Stargell, his best friend and teammate, pointed out a good place to get fried chicken, a subject Stargell was an expert on, said Kenney.

As Clemente was returning to the hotel, four men robbed him. They made him strip down to his underwear and stole his money, his All-Star ring and his chicken, said Kenney.

“I begged for them to not kill me,” Kenney said as Clemente. The men then checked his identification, learned he was Roberto Clemente and gave him back his money, clothes, ring and chicken, and said to him, “Please get dressed. Thank you.”

That event caused Clemente to give 100 percent at every game afterwards.

During a game against the New York Mets in the 1972 season, as his career was winding down and he struggled with injuries, Clemente experienced one of the highlights of his career.

Stargell handed Clemente his bat and said, “Go get ’em, my friend.” Clemente cracked his neck and dug into the dirt. He practiced his swings. The first pitch was a fastball. Strike one. The next pitch was a high-curve ball.

Kenney said Clemente could not even hear himself think from all the cheering fans. Then it hit him. The hit would be number 3,000. He tipped his hat to the fans.

The was the last regular season of Clemente’s 18-year career, said Kenney.

At the end of the season, he would say goodbye to his teammates.

On Dec. 23, 1972, a huge earthquake devastated a city in Nicaragua, killing 6,000 people and leaving 3,000 without their homes.

Clemente prepared to fly emergency aid packages to the survivors. He said goodbye to his three sons. Roberto Jr. asked his father not to go, telling him three times that the plane would crash.

“I told him I would be back to celebrate New Year’s,” said Kenney as Clemente.

Kenney said Clemente fell asleep on the plane and dreamt about the good things the New Year would bring for him and his family. That was before he realized the plane was on fire. It crashed into the ocean, leaving no survivors.

“No matter how long your life is, it is always too short,” said Kenney.

Clemente, he said, was bullied because of his skin color and his accent. He advised students to not bully, but to “try to accomplish something different and positive” in their lives.

“Please, if you are being bullied, remember that sometimes this life can be difficult. Life is not always fair,” Kenney said.

“If you are being bullied or are one of the bullying guys or girls, know it won’t last forever. Keep on working through a really hard time in your life to keep reaching the goals you set for yourself in your life,” he continued.

Middle School Assistant Principal Michael Rozgony stressed that school officials are there to help.

The Olweus model will be followed. Forms are available for students to report bullying incidents.

Meanwhile, seventh graders this year will learn anger management strategies in their guidance class. Guidance counselors Nicole Cipriani and Cindy Skowronek will teach the class about how to control one’s anger and keep a cool head so a bad situation doesn’t become worse.

Donna Whoric, certified trainer of the program and behavior consultant for the IU 1, lauded the middle school for its progress regarding the program.

She said the school has seen fewer bullying incidents and increased attendance from its students. Behavior problems have decreased and students reported a more positive school climate, she said.

“(The school) has an absolute model program,” said Whoric. “It has a wonderful core team, with (middle school Principal) Mary Macar as its instructional leader. The building is well respected in the state.

“They truly have done a fantastic job,” added Whoric. “They are a whole group of worker bees. Teachers – both young and old – will volunteer their time.”

As an eighth grader at the middle school, Maria Pierce saw the bullying prevention program working. She said fewer incidents of bullying were occurring in the school as a result of the program.

So, she said she decided to accept an offer to work to secure the Power of Peers grant through The Consortium for Public Education that brought Kenney to the middle school.

“I felt I should step up as an eighth grader, one of the older kids at school, and I’m glad we were able to do this for the students,” said Pierce, now a 9th grader at Laurel Highlands High School.

Hatfield Elementary has entered its first year of the program, which is being modeled from the one instituted at the middle school.

Ed Zelich, principal of Hatfield, said the program is teaching students values and that early intervention strategies work.

He said students are being slowly introduced to the program, and are being taught the difference between reporting and tattling and being encouraged to fill out forms if they see bullying occur. An effort is being made to motivate bystanders, who witness bullying, he said.

Whoric said she believes local schools are invested in the program.

“Research shows that the fewer conflicts you have, the more academic scores will go up,” she said.