Persistence Culture Presents Pep Talk hosted by Big Pep Everyone has a story I’m just here to help share them! Episode 4 Dee Pinkard An avid athlete and well known local basketball legend from Oxnard, California, often spoke about wanting to pursue a career in sports. Here he talks about his upbringing and how being raised by a father who encouraged him to play in sports prevented him from falling into the wrong crowd. Dee first shares a wild story when he was 16 years old that very few athletes that age get to experience and goes on to discuss his  experience working with youth ages 6-17 years old at their most challenging times of their lives, helping them overcome some of life’s most difficult circumstances to obtaining a coaching position at Mamba Academy where he had the opportunity to be mentored by Kobe Bryant himself! Dee is now considered to be one of the most sought after youth basketball coach/trainer in Southern California; he is also a NBA trainer and player development coach, the head coach of the RAGE AAU basketball team, and director of Bball Operations at @redlineatheticas in Ventura, Ca.