I’ve really enjoyed these first two installments. Had to suffer through 2 OT’s of the Tenn-Miss Steak womens game, to see it last night, but it was worth the wait. I didn’t start watching college basketball until the 67-68 season. That epic Hayes-Alcindor duel in the Astrodome lit the match for me. I have learned a lot about what preceeded that night, from watching this series. I did not know about the Kentucky point shaving and play for pay scandal that caused Kentucky to have sit out the 52-53 season. Incredible that Adolph Rupp wasn’t fired for that. Even more unbelievable that the NCAA allowed him to run the rules committee. He is the man responsible for removing the dunk from college basketball! That really gaulled me, and I can’t imagine what Gas’s reaction was.
I think it’s plausible that Rupp didn’t know what was going on. Point shaving is tricky. Miss a foul shot or two, dribble the ball off your foot, conveniently forget to play defense for a possession, and a 10-point win becomes a 6-point win and the gamblers who took the other team and 7 points collect. And you’d be hard pressed to prove what had happened
It’s significant that the dunk was removed just when one Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. was ready to join the UCLA varsity. And that Alcindor was Black, and that Adolph Rupp was a known racist who wouldn’t integrate Kentucky basketball until 1970. The rationale was that the dunk was not a “skilled shot” and that allowing dunking would lead to injuries. But they admitted Alcindor’s name came up in discussions about the ban; he had dunked frequently during his year on the UCLA freshman team, which handily beat the UCLA varsity.
John Wooden actually viewed the dunk ban as a good thing, believing that it would lead Alcindor to develop other areas of his game, such as the sky hook. Which it did. Alcindor/Kareem, though, remains convinced if he had been a white guy dunking on everyone, it wouldn’t have been banned.
Perry Wallace of Vandy was mentioned as the reason in the segment they showed last night. They also said that a well known bookie travelled with the Kentucky team. There are a lot hook shots and scoop shots and other shots you don"t see a lot of today, in those old reels. As an earth bound, short armed ,old guy baller, I appreciate those shots. I’ve got a few of them in my bag. If you don’t want to eat leather, you learn to be creative.
Guess that’s why I ate a lot of leather….
Not bad with fava beans and a nice chianti.
I think I had Spalding stamped on my forehead in reverse.
Yeah I had an up close and personal encounter with Wilson Sunday afternoon. I was playing 21 with 2 high school varsity players. Both of these guys are about 6’2. I’m about 5’9 1/2 these days. I started the game by driving across the lane and hitting a running hook. They were not expecting it. I foolishly tried the same shot the next time I got the ball. They were more than ready for it that time! I did later get one up in the air with a head fake, then flipped from the hip and off the glass. That’s my favorite shot, but most of those guys have gotten wise to it. Needless to say I did not win. I do love the cardio benefits I get from hooping though. Nothing beats it.
I definitely need to start hooping again. I really miss it, and I could use the exercise.
The first two episodes were really well done. The first establishes some of the main characters — Rupp, Summitt, Nolan. The second looks at SEC basketball in the 1960s. I’m already looking forward to the next one.
Nice one, Jeremy.
Just make sure you are really warmed up, stretched and loose before you start playing Jeremy. Then ice your back when you get home. It will take awhile to get in basketball shape, but you’ll be glad you did.
I played until about age 55. And that was when the pain the following morning was greater than the joy of actually playing.
I retired at 32. With only a broken tooth to show for all those years….
I’ve been blessed. 65 and still playing. Can’t play every day, and playing back to back days is asking for trouble. Once or twice a week is good. Supplemented with plenty of other exercise. You have to stay strong and flexible to play at this age. Having a good chiropractor helps too.
yea…I have chronic back issues…probably from hitting a zillion golf galls in my life. Plus, most of my life as a conductor has been on my feet…though I do sit on a stool or conducting chair alot now. Too late though! I could still play. I stay in at least decent shape. But I don’t wanna lose my ability to play golf. So I don’t risk it. Hurt my back pretty bad 6 years ago and it spooked me.
Plus, I don’t want to play outside…that’s really hard on knees and back (I have an old acl injury too) and doing anything inside during covid was forbidden for me by MD Anderson and Mayo both. Too risky for Mary’s health. So I just kinda lost the desire to play. “Use it or lose it.”
Mary remains cancer free btw. for all that have supported us on the journey.
I can’t imagine playing on concrete or asphalt. Just the thought of that has me doubled over in pain! I would think that conducting is pretty good exercise in itself. Kind of like rythmic shadow boxing.
yep
I’m thinking my last hooping was at age 31, right after I moved to Texas. Went to a city park with some co-workers for some 3 on 3, went up for a rebound and when I came down my left ankle completely rolled under me. I’m sure it was what they now call a high ankle sprain; I went to a doc in the box the next morning who gave me a set of crutches and one of those lovely knee scooters, and I had to stay off it for three weeks. I’ve gone out to shoot jumpers a few times since then, but never any competitive hoops. Since I was admittedly pretty lousy, except for my one moment of glory at the 1982 SWC Tournament, I didn’t miss it much.
I’ve told that SWC tourney story before. Tournament ended on Saturday night. Saturday around noon, a few media types got into a half-court game on the Reunion Arena floor. And maybe it was those NBA rims in Barnhill South, but for some reason I could not miss from deep (3-point shot wasn’t in college then, but I remember the arc being on the floor; maybe the tournament was played on the Mavericks’ floor). Suddenly we became aware of a bunch of tall people beside the court; the Indiana Pacers were going to play the Mavs on Sunday and were there for a practice. So we wrapped up the game pretty quickly, but it was fun to swish a couple from deep with the NBA guys watching.
Just looked it up; the Pacers won that game 108-106. Maybe the Mavs could have used me…
I would hold on tight to that memory. I remember the first time I attempted a 3 pointer. I was probably in my mid-late 40’s. Embarassing does not begin to describe it. It took a lot of practice before I was any kind of threat from that range. A couple of weeks ago I watched a kid hit 9 of them in a high school game. I was in awe.