There must have been pressure for a heavyset, Brooklyn kid to prove his manhood in East Flatbush. Getting around quickly was not an option. Buses got you within a few feet of any destination, but cool was the name of the game in the Seventies.
You had to dance good, be light on your feet, or not dance at all. This went for other expressions, like running fast, playing basketball or participating in any other street expression.
It was not enough to participate. You had to be good. This was inner-city pressure. Wielding girth with dexterity would prove to be a challenge. There would be a slight advantage to private education.