Maurice Ballard

November 20, 2024

Actor Marion H. "Pooch" Hall Jr (right) talking with What's The 411 reporter Bianca Peart at the Trayvon Martin Basketball Tournament at Scarangella Park in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn.

Actor Pooch Hall Supports Kids’ Basketball in Brooklyn

December 16, 2016

Scarangella Park in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn is the joy-filled scene for actor Pooch Hall’s arrival

Many people were introduced to actor Marion H. "Pooch" Hall, Jr. as the infamous wide receiver, Derwin Davis, of the San Diego Sabers on The Game, a hit series on BET. However, Pooch Hall’s fame widened when he joined the cast to play the role of Darryl on Ray Donovan, a Showtime hit drama about a Hollywood “fixer”.

What many people don’t know is that Hall is a father of three children and one of his children has special needs. Perhaps, it is with this understanding that all children need time and attention that Hall came to Brooklyn. He didn’t just come to Brooklyn to meet up with friends at one of Brooklyn’s hot spots, or to take in a live production at one of its many cultural venues. Hall came to Brooklyn to support children at the Trayvon Martin Basketball Tournament held at Scarangella Park in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn. The event was organized and sponsored by community resident, Maurice Ballard and his non-profit organization, Youth and Community Awareness, Inc.

In the video, Hall talked to What’s The 411's Bianca Peart, about boxing both on and off the screen along with his role in Ray Donovan. He also discussed his latest project and his aspirations to share the big screen with his role models, actors Will Smith and Jamie Foxx. In case you’re still wondering why Hall did not return to The Game, he serves the tea in the interview.

Hall started his career doing commercials and modeling and also starred in a Spike Lee film, Miracle’s Boys, among others. Continuously making moves in his career, Hall truly believes "impossible is nothing, it's a matter of going after it."

FYI: How did Hall get the name, “Pooch”? During Hall's childhood, a neighbor nicknamed him "Pookie." His father soon changed it to "Poochie" and over time it was shortened to "Pooch."

Watch Video: Actor Pooch Hall in Brooklyn

Trayvon Martin Murder Reminds Maurice Ballard of Bensonhurst’s Past

July 26, 2013

WATCH VIDEO

Maurice Ballard, founder of Youth Community and Awareness, Inc. hosted the first annual Trayvon Martin Basketball Tournament at Scarangella Park in Brooklyn, New York.

The tournament, which gathered over 300 kids from the Marlboro and Coney Island sections of Brooklyn, promoted diversity and anti-violence strategies and was graced by the presence of actor Pooch Hall. It is no coincidence that the tournament took place in this specific location, a once racially segregated neighborhood and Maurice's stomping grounds as a youth. Maurice spoke about racism in Bensonhurst during his upbringing in the 80s and touched upon the ever-present nature of the topic in today's world.

Adopted and raised by VH1's Mob Wife, Ramona Rizzo's Italian family in Bensonhurst, Maurice is grateful for the support and upbringing that was bestowed upon him. Maurice pays his gratefulness forward through his non-profit organization, Youth and Community Awareness Inc. He gives back to the youth with his program, Bringing Back Baseball, which helps to keep baseball relevant within the African-American community. The kids also learn about soccer, hockey, and lacrosse. Maurice doesn't just focus on sports with his kids. As a motivator, he teaches the young people in his program how to be successful in the game of life.

Maurice would know, as he is also a filmmaker. He has a documentary, A Bensonhurst Tale, and a feature film, The Ballard of Bensonhurst, which focuses on growing up with an Italian-American family.

Videographer: Jesse Whitehead

Video and Text Editor: Ruth J. Morrison