Rens basketball history book

A revealing personal account by the legendary basketball star traces his. Coach bob douglas and his new york rens changed how. No article on the harlem rens would be complete without a shoutout to claude johnson, a harlemite who continues to work tirelessly to salvage the nearly forgotten history of black fives basketball. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands, but never with the fist. Along the way, hoops icons like charles barkley, julius erving, and john wooden share their thoughts, while broadcast legend bob costas narrates. A brief history of basketball and race, from james naismith to lebron james. Our basketball team history book enables you retrace the history of any n. A new book by kareem abduljabbar, on the shoulders of giants, chronicles the team and its place in the harlem renaissance. One of basketball s first true dynasties, the allblack new york renaissance moved the ball around with such wizardry and deception that the opposition was often rendered helpless. Remembering basketballs first allblack team cbs news. Cbs news chief national correspondent byron pitts reports on the greatest team most people never heard of. The history of the new york renaissance ny rens basketball. The harlem renaissance was a totally new concept to me and thanks to this book, i know have a solid basic knowledge and newly.

Kids love reading about sports, but it can sometimes be a bit harder to get them excited about history. On december 19, 1948, the rens made history by replacing the detroit vagabond kings of the national basketball league and debuting as the renamed dayton rens. John wooden, who played against them, said hed never seen better team basketball. Kareem abduljabbar, the nbas most prolific scorer, embraces history as if it were.

The harlem rens is known as the best basketball team of alltime. The casino and ballroom at 8th street and seventh avenue in harlem was an entertainment complex including a ballroom that served as the big fives home court. From 1932 to 1936, the rens had a remarkable 49758 record. Kings of harlem, though more modest in scale, is moving and. The pittsburgh rens were an american basketball team based in pittsburgh, pennsylvania that was a member of the american basketball league from 19611963 history. The barnstorming team amassed an impressive record over the next decade and in 1939 participated in the first professional basketball championship, losing to the harlem rens in the final game. The nook book ebook of the an illustrated history of duke basketball. Shop for books at and browse categories like young adult books, childrens books, mystery books, adult coloring books and cook books. The ny rens were the greatest basketball team you have. Former new york rens basketball player frank washington l and charles h. It is just a good history and sports movie, period. The history of basketball diana star helmer, tom owens. The new york renaissance harlem rens basketball team and alltime nba leading scorer kareem abduljabbar will be honored for their talent, tenacity and teamwork in sports at the 14th annual ford freedom award on may 17.

During the 193233 regular season, the rens compiled a record of 1208 six of those losses came at the hands of the celtics, who the rens did beat eight times. The biographical history of basketball is a lively, fun and informative look into how the game has moved from a loosely organized, dimlylit past to status as perhaps the worlds most popular sport by one of the nations most prolific and knowledgable sports writers, peter bjarkman. While everyone knows about the growth of basketball in high schools and colleges, the story of indianas role in the development of professional basketball has not been told before. College basketball early 1900s the spread was made possible primarily through two avenues. Basketball slave is filled with extraordinary tales from behind the scenes of the early harlem globetrotters.

The globetrotters and rens met in the semifinals of the first worlds pro basketball championship, which was held in chicago in 1939. Carlesimo in 1997, he received a 68game suspension, the second longest in the history of the nba. May 05, 2009 a lot of great basketball history almost ruined by two things. What better way to get kids curious about the past than to combine the two. Long before the brooklyn nets, there were the black fives. In kareem abduljabbars book, coach wooden and me that made former. Naismith introduced the game when he was an instructor at the young mens christian association training school now springfield college in springfield, massachusetts.

Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Jun 08, 2011 the documentary tells the story of the harlem rens, the first allblack professional basketball team, who overcame adversity to win more than 2,000 games while barnstorming throughout segregated. The original new york renaissance, or rens, was the first fully allblack professional africanamerican owned basketball team, formed in harlem in 1923. The rens, an african americanowned allblack team based in the harlem section of new york city during the era of segregated basketball teams, won the first world. The basketball star turned author wrote a book about the harlem renaissance big five, also known as the harlem rens. Pennsylvania rens basketball club, york, pennsylvania. A pioneering history of the african american basketball teams, players, and contributors existed in new york city and elsewhere during a period known as the black fives era, from the early 1900s through 1950, the year the national basketball association became racially integrated. The name was changed in 1930 to harlem globetrotters to capitalize on the cultural notoriety of one of new yorks african american neighbourhoods. Basketball is a team sport played by two teams of five players on a rectangular court. The new york renaissance, also known as the renaissance big five and as the rens, was an allblack professional basketball team established february, 1923, by robert bob douglas in agreement with the renaissance casino and ballroom.

After basketball player latrell sprewell attacked and choked coach p. The new york renaissance, also known as the renaissance big five and as the rens, was an allblack professional basketball team established february. They were so great, in fact, that in one season, they compiled a record of 1127. The pittsburgh rens were an american basketball team based in pittsburgh, pennsylvania that was a member of the american basketball league from 19611963. New york rens, american professional basketball team that was among the most accomplished and storied teams in the history of the game. Pennsylvania rens basketball club is in steelton, pennsylvania. The harlem rens record stands iconic at 2,588 wins and 529 losses. Kareem abduljabbars interest in history led to a documentary about the harlem rens, professional basketballs first world champions. Based on abdul jabbars book of the same name, the documentary summons the. The game of basketball as it is known today was created by dr. That year, basketball manager robert bob douglas made a deal with harlem real estate developer william roach, the owner of the new renaissance ballroom and casino. The rens won the world professional basketball tournament in 1939. Exploring 10 types of basketball movies britannica.

He has also written a book about the team created by the alpha. The rens, from 1923 to 1948, won a dumbfounding 2,588 of 3,117 games and whose watershed rivalry with allwhite original celtics of new. I knew absolutely nothing about the harlem rens basketball team. Harlem globetrotters american basketball team britannica.

The legendary basketball player is the author of a new book. As an allblack basketball team, there were certain realities the rens had to deal. The following is an excerpt from the ebook the crossover. Remembering the black fives of pro basketball the new york. Noted for his large hands, which required a size 14 glove, he was invited to join the harlem globetrotters, for whom he played from the summer of 1948 to the spring of 1950. Eight years later, they finished second to the minneapolis. Sprewell choked carlesimo for about 15 seconds before other players pulled him off. Fds almanac used to be my favorite basketball book, but i can safely bet that the undisputed guide to pro basketball history will edge it out as my personal favorite. Three years later he died, after nearly forty years as head of the physical education department at the university of kansas. The rosen publishing group, 2000 juvenile nonfiction 24 pages. Any history book by abduljabbar is worth reading, and this one will lead you to. Remembering the pioneering and dominant new york rens they were one of the greatest teams everat one point winning 88 straight gamesand their impact extends far beyond the.

But despite the fact that the black community produced the most dominant allblack teams in basketball history, little is known of their achievements or even the names of those great teams. From 1920 to 1940, the harlem renaissance produced a bri. Review of wartime basketball sport in american history. Naismith devised a set of thirteen rules of basketball. The founder of the abl, abe saperstein, was the owner of the harlem globetrotters who had competed for many decades against the new york rens and eventually bought the rights to the rens name. The rens, as the team came to be known, were one of the best basketball teams in the country. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. The naismith memorial basketball hall of fame is home to more than three hundred inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history.

Books include your teams biggest games and greatest players and offer optional personalization on the cover. Its the story of sweetwater and his teammates affectionately known as the harlem. This book takes the same approach with players and teams of the past. James naismith, a physical education professor and instructor at the international young mens christian association training school ymca today, springfield college in springfield, massachusetts, usa, was trying to keep his gym class active on a. Based on abduljabbars book of the same name, the documentary summons the.

Former new york rens basketball player frank washington. Two peach halfbushel baskets gave the name to the brand new sport in late 1891. Johnson is determined to lift out of obscurity, among them the smart set in brooklyn and the alpha physical culture club in harlem. The ford freedom award program includes a scholars lecture by abduljabbar to nearly 2,000 elementary and middleschool students from. It is a lively story of raucous fans, local heroes, and men who loved the game and were willing to play for nickels. His site, is the main place to learn not just about the rens, but the many important players and teams from the prenba era. But this mix of memoir and history of the harlem renaissance was actually quite.

How the nbas black basketball pioneers became forty million. In 1940, they lost to the eventual champions, the harlem globetrotters. This set of informative books will help young readers gain historical perspective and encourage them to think about how technology and the environment have affected the ways people have lived and played in the past. One constant in sports has been friction between team. The legendary coach made it into the naismith basketball hall of fame 45 years ago. Basketball was invented in december 1891 by the canadian clergyman, educator, and physician james naismith. The dayton rens basketball team, from the 1948 national basketball league yearbook. They were originally known as the spartan braves of brooklyn. The rens, kareem abduljabbar has written, were the first blackowned, fullsalaried black professional basketball team. James naismith while teaching at the ymca training school now springfield college in springfield, ma. Wright museum president and ceo juanita moore attend the 2012 ford freedom awards at the charles h. A living wonder of the harlem renaissance five the new.

Nov, 2016 with wartime basketball, stark, the museum director of the international tennis hall of fame, offers an entertaining, alternative history of basketball. The documentary tells the story of the harlem rens, the first allblack professional basketball team, who overcame adversity to win more than 2,000 games while barnstorming throughout segregated. New york renaissance naismith memorial basketball hall of fame. This website is powered by the sportsengine platform, but is owned by and subject to the ny rens basketball privacy policy.

The rens, from 1923 to 1948, won a dumbfounding 2,588 of 3,117 games and whose watershed rivalry with allwhite original celtics of new york helped. Book the hall naismith memorial basketball hall of fame. Oct 26, 2010 it wasnt just about players and stats, but about how these players fit within the game itself. Abduljabbars documentary is a labor of love the new york times.

A winner of the 1994 macmillansabr award for best baseball research, he is a longtime resident of lafayette, indiana. Black history month coach bob douglas and his new york rens changed how basketball was played. On the basketball court, john isaacs was a very tough, very mean competitor, said the 84yearold red sarachek, the longtime yeshiva university coach who coached against the rens. And yet the ny rens are still unknown even to hardcore fans. Douglas in 1922 to their disbanding in 1949, the fancypassing rens barnstormed throughout the country making easy.

History the founder of the abl, abe saperstein, was the owner of the harlem globetrotters who had competed for many decades against. Wright museum of african american history on may 17, 2012 in detroit, michigan. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands. Huge congratulations to coach jared smith and the u11 rens.

In its pages the reader will find expertly reported histories, where one small event is flipped on its head, and the resulting ripples are carefully documented, the likes of. After the war, clifton joined the new york rens, an allblack professional basketball team that toured throughout the united states. The rens were one of the dominant basketball teams of the 1920s and 1930s. But they were following a path set by the earlier club teams that mr. Bjarkman is one of the countrys leading historians and author of more than 30 books on the history of basketball and baseball. I tried to spread the word about douglas with my book and documentary. In only their second tournament together, they managed to put together a run to finish first in the pa vs md basketball tournament. Here, basketball star and author kareem abduljabbar invites the reader on a personal journey back to his birthplace, through one of the greatest political, cultural, literary, and artistic movements in our history, revealing the tremendous impact the harlem renaissance had on both american culture and his own life. The game took place at the dayton coliseum, making the rens the first allblack basketball team to play in a professional league. Basketball is great topic, what guy of any color wont stop and have a conversation about it. On february 10, 20, mayor bloomberg issued a proclamation celebrating the legendary black basketball teams like the harlem rens aka.

Rebranded as the pennsylvania rens in 2015, the organization chose their name in honor of the harlem rens, who were widely considered the greatest basketball team that you never heard of. This is one of the best films that i have seen on this topic, and yes there was a lot i didn. James naismith, a physical education professor and instructor at the international young mens christian association training school ymca today, springfield college in springfield, massachusetts, usa, was trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. Kareem abduljabbar telling the story of the harlem. New york renaissance rens the black fives foundation. So many times in sports, and particularly in basketball, the glory days of a bygone era are overlooked or alltogether forgotten, relegated to secondclass citizenship behind the popularity and magnitude of todays bigtime professional leagues. The ny rens were the greatest basketball team you have never. Dec 14, 2018 no story of professional basketball in the first four decades of the 20th century is complete without attention being given to the renaissance five, whose founder and owner, bob douglas, is a towering figure in the history of african american basketball. Johnson describes as the first blackowned, allblack professional basketball team in history, won 88 straight games in 1933. Kareem abduljabbar takes listeners on a tour through the segregated days of early basketball, including the remarkable story of the harlem rens the first professional champions of basketball.

History of basketball in early december 1891, canadian american dr. Fans of the harlem rens september 10, 2015 we have two 2 tickets to the naismith memorial basketball hall of fame enshrinement ceremony tomorrow night in springfield, massachusetts, courtesy of our licensing partner 47 brand, available free to the first person who asks for them via a comment below. Remembering the pioneering and dominant new york rens. It tells the story of the harlem rens, an all black professional basketball team that defeated the original celtics. Douglas founded the rens in 1923 and eventually became the first africanamerican inducted into the naismith memorial basketball hall of fame.

Abduljabbar says his cancer is at absolute minimum. History of the game of basketball including the nba and the ncaa. The harlem rens were the first team black or white to win the world championship professional basketball tournament, held in 1939. Naismith was instructed to devise a game that could be played inside during the cold winter months that bridged football and baseball. The new york rens were the first allblack fully professional africanamerican owned basketball team, formed in harlem in 1923.

Our basketball heroes were the new york rens and i used to see them play, gates said. The 63yearold hall of famer has cowritten and is the executive producer of a documentary called on the shoulders of giants. They were previously known as the new york rens before joining a. The objective is to shoot a ball through a hoop 18 inches 46 cm in diameter and mounted at a height of 10 feet 3. Black basketball was as much a part of the harlem renaissance as the poetry of langston hughes and marcus garvey. James naismith in december 1891 in springfield, massachusetts, to condition young athletes during cold months. The greatest basketball team youve never heard of mental floss. By situating the period of world war ii as a critical moment for the development of the game, stark does not privilege the ncaa and nba as the important sites of basketball history. Located in springfield, ma, hundreds of the museums interactive exhibits share the spotlight with skills challenges, live clinics, and shooting contests. A new exhibition at the newyork historical society sheds light on littleknown amateur and professional black basketball teams from the first half of the 20th century. Mens basketball historical information university of. Baker, a professor of history at the university of maine, orono.

This book, originally published in 1941, carries a new introduction by william j. Jan 30, 2007 the harlem renaissance, on and off the court. New york renaissance naismith memorial basketball hall. Basketball legend kareem abduljabbar explored the rens and their legacy in his 2007 book on the shoulders of giants. In kareem abdul jabbars book, coach wooden and me that made former.

Apr 01, 2011 the following is an excerpt from the e book the crossover. On february 10, 20, mayor bloomberg issued a proclamation celebrating the legendary black basketball teams like the harlem rens aka the new york renaissance. Among the clutch of other engaging basketball focused documentaries are on the shoulders of giants 2011, produced by kareem abduljabbar and based on his depiction of the groundbreaking allblack basketball team the new york rens in his book of the same name on the harlem renaissance. Championships, 1 world professional basketball tournament 1939. By 192425 the rens had won the first of many colored basketball world championships and thereafter proceeded to dominate not just black basketball, but. But it ends up abduljabbar makes a good case that basketball should be part of that story.