Michael Bivins of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe fame has remained loyal, humble and well respected here in Boston. Mike has never forgotten where he came from.
On June 14 at Slade’s Bar and Grill in Boston’s historic South End, Mike held his inaugural Michael L. Bivins Pre-Father’s Day Brunch. There was free food and Sportyrich hats for all. Sportyrich is Bivins’ own sports apparel line.
Dennis Wilson addresses the crowd at Michael Bivins’ Fathers Day Event. PHOTO: KIMBERLY GREENE
It was a room of basketball royalty, including greats like Greg “Smooth” Simpson. He spoke about his ups and downs during life. He said back in the day, Bivins would come to his games and learn some new shake-and-bake moves. Bivins, like Simpson, played in the esteemed Boston Shootout basketball tournament. Al “Ski” McClain and John “Boo” Rice were also in the building. Other basketball legends in attendance included Roscoe Baker, Al “Bean” Brodsky and Dennis Wilson. Some of Mike’s closest friends, Terry Walker and Charlie “Chiz” DeLoach, Mike James and Tony “No Books No Ball” Richards, were also there.
During his time with New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe, Bivens always rocked the sports swag of Boston’s favorites, like the Celtics and Red Sox. Coach Dennis Wilson teased Bivins and said that he even saw him rocking some Boston Bruins gear.
Charlie DeLoach, who’s been a huge part of Bivins’ life for over four decades, shared that he was home in Boston while Mike was in Las Vegas and called him to do a Pre-Father’s Day Brunch. One of the big messages of the father-focused event was about being a father and loving your kids by not always getting on them about stuff but listening to them as well.
Bivins, known for putting on top-tier local events such as the Battle of the Cheerleaders, now has a Jr. Pro 13 and Under Basketball League at Derby Park on Washington Street in Roxbury. The games are every Sunday at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. DeLoach says to grab a cooler, bring a chair and come enjoy some young rising basketball stars.
The Inaugural Pre-Father’s Day Brunch at Slade’s had an amazing turnout — a room of dignitaries and luminaries from Boston’s proud Black community as only one young man, Michael Lamont Bivins, could make happen.
Bivins is that unique sponge that takes it all in and doesn’t miss much of anything.
