OPINION: PLAYERS TAKING A STAND HAS HISTORY For the Week of September 2 - 8, 2020 You've got to stand up for something Lut Williams on the game prompting the league’s BCSP Editor commissioner to move the game to Last week, my 38-year old son Houston. The unprecedented walk- ™ Akeel texted me when he found out or boycott, Kendle says "went out NBA players were not showing beyond the world of sports and was up for a playoff game behind the more a reflection of American soci- shooting of Jacob Blake in Keno- ety at the time." sha, Wisconsin, and asked, "Dad, THEY WERE INVOLVED: Four HBCU products involved in boycotts in Among the 21 black players 1961 and 1965 – (l. to r.) Sam Jones (NC College), (Winston- to boycott that game nine (Win- St. Louis Hawks Photo has a team ever done this – boycott Salem State), Clem Daniels (Prairie View) and Ernie Warlick (NC Central). ston Hill and Sherman Plunkett : A standout a game by not showing up?" CLEO HILL out of Maryland State; Ernie and high scorer in the CIAA I responded, "not in the NBA Rauf or Colin Kaepernick in that It details how 21 black play- HISTORY and an NBA first round pick, but black players refused to play in Warlick out of North Carolina LESSONS he was blackballed before a Pro Bowl game in the be- regard. Despite his prodigious tal- ers, selected for their on-field ex- College; Willie Brown, Buck Bu- Mahmoud Abdur-Rauf and cause of the way they were treated, ent, Hill played only one NBA sea- cellence during the 1964 AFL sea- chanan and Ernie Ladd out of GALORE Colin Kaepernick. I believe, in New Orleans." son. son, were systematically denied Grambling; Clem Daniels out of That was a story with which I, The all-star game story dates basic services like cab rides, en- Prairie View; Mack Lee Hill out BOYCOTTS NOT NEW; NUNN DESERVES HOF; THE as a soon to be 66-year-old sports- back to 1965 and after a Google trance to nightspots and restaurants of Southern and Dick Westmore- PASSING OF JOHN THOMPSON; COACH OUT AT JSU writer that particularly covers His- search, I was able to find an article and were subjected to verbal abuse land out of North Carolina A&T) torically Black College and Uni- written by Jon Kendle on the Pro on New Orleans' famed Bourbon were HBCU products. versity (HBCU) sports as publisher Football Hall of Fame website that Street corridor, despite their so- Well, how much is the shoot- and editor of the Black College spells out in some detail what hap- called 'celebrity status.' ing seven times in the back by that Sports Page, am quite familiar. pened in New Orleans that year. What they did in response was police officer in Kenosha of Jacob UNDER THE BANNER But after receiving my opin- That story is also below. get together and decide to walk out Blake, an unarmed innocent Afri- WHAT'S GOING ON IN AND AROUND BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS ion piece dubbed, "This Ain't No can-American, a reflection of our Game," outlining the boycott or- , who led 1961 boycott of times? And what do the killings by NUNN HALL OF FAME FINALIST: ganized and executed by black police and white vigilantes of un- Bill Nunn Jr., the "super scout" of the Pittsburgh players in New Orleans at an AFL NBA game, salutes 2020 players' boycott armed black Americans Breonna Steelers and later the team's assistant Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Ar- All-Star game in New Orleans, my By Des Bieler, Washington Post August 27, 2020 brey, Dontre Hamilton, Eric Gar- director of player personnel, has colleague, Donald Hunt of the When Bill Russell saluted NBA players Wednesday for "standing up for what been selected as the Contributor Tribune, reminded me is right," his words carried extra weight. ner, John Crawford III, Michael Finalist for the Pro Football Hall of that NBA and great Not just because Russell, 86, is the NBA's greatest winner, and arguably its Brown Jr., Ezell Ford, Dante Park- Fame's Class of 2021. He was picked Bill Russell had led black players greatest player. And not just because he has been a civil rights activist for as long er, Tanisha Anderson, Akai Gur- by the Hall of Fame's Contributor on a boycott of a NBA exhibition as he's been a sports icon. ley, Tamir Rice, Rumain Brisbon, Committee, which met virtually for game back in 1961. Russell also happens to know a thing or two about staging an NBA boycott, Jerame Reid, Phillip White, Eric Both these boycotts out as the did Wednesday in refusing to play in a postseason game Harris, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray several hours Tuesday. to protest racial injustice in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake. . . Nunn followed his father Wil- in poignant detail that racism, dis- amongst a list of others just in the Nunn Nearly 60 years earlier, Russell was the one pulling himself out of an NBA last five years say to us about where liam G. Nunn Sr. as both publisher crimination, systemic injustice and game as a demonstration against racist behavior. His Black teammates on the Bos- we are today? and sportswriter at the Pittsburgh Courier, one of the white supremacist ignorance are ton Celtics followed suit, as did Black players for their opponent, the St. Louis While the NBA players – most influential publications serving predominantly Black more endemic and American than Hawks. . . In addition, the game Russell and others pulled out of was a preseason joined in the boycott by players communities in the United States. His knowledge of play- football, , baseball and exhibition, not a playoff contest. However, it's likely that NBA players today would have no trouble finding and teams in the WNBA, Major ers and coaches affiliated with Historically Black Colleg- any other pastime. Both boycotts are worth noting and stories about common ground with a sentiment Russell expressed at the time: "I am coming to League Baseball, Major League es and Universities (HBCUs) led to a job with the Steelers the realization that we are accepted as entertainers, but that we are not accepted as Soccer, pro football, pro tennis and that became a 45-year (1968-2013) "second career." them are excerpted below. In keeping with our mission people in some places." other sports – were pondering their "You don’t know how much this means to us," Nunn’s In the case of the 1961-62 Celtics, one of those places – but hardly the only on the BCSP, it's important to note next move, I opined that they can- daughter, Lynell Nunn, said when reached moments after one – was Lexington, where Boston's Frank Ramsey and St. Louis's that both boycotts involved players cel the season and spend the next the vote by David Baker, president and CEO of the Hall of had been all-American teammates at the . At the time, the from the HBCU ranks. two months marshalling all their Fame. NBA needed to drum up local interest wherever it could find it, but not all the Celt- The story of the Russell-led ics and Hawks players would find the welcome enjoyed by Ramsey and Hagan, energies to make sure, as much as The younger Nunn attended college at West Virgin- boycott was penned last week both White (the Wildcats infamously took until 1969 to incorporate a Black player they can, that Agent Orange and all ia State where he was a stand-out basketball player on (Aug. 27) by Des Bieler of the under former coach ). those that support him are not re- a team which went 26–0 in his senior season. His high Washington Post. Two Boston players and future Basketball Hall of Fame members, Sam Jones elected come November 3. school and college teammate, Chuck Cooper would be- That preseason game took and Thomas "Satch" Sanders, were refused service in the coffee shop at their team I then urged them to follow- come the first black player drafted by the NBA. Another place in Lexington, Kentucky hotel in Lexington. "We had gone downstairs to eat, and they said, 'Well, we really up by committing to an on-going can't serve you people,' " Sanders said in 2018. college teammate, , was the first black to play where the Celtics were to play process to hold whoever is elected in an NBA game. Russell led the infuriated pair and K.C. Jones, another Black player and fu- to taking down the monuments the St. Louis Hawks. Lexington ture Hall of Famer, to the room occupied by legendary Celtics coach Red Au- – whether they be physical, psy- After urging the Steelers to consider drafting HBCU was the site of the game because erbach. Upon hearing that they intended to take the next flight back to Boston, players, Nunn was hired as a scout, primarily mining tal- two white players – the Hawks' Auerbach asked that the players reconsider, asserting that the seats were already chological, philosophical, legal, ent at the black colleges. He is credited with helping build Cliff Hagan and the Celtics' Frank sold and the game would be played. ideological, structural, historical or the Steelers’ dynasty of the 1970s, thanks to the scouting Ramsey – both played college ball Russell, who by then had helped Boston to four of its 11 championships with institutional – that undergirds this and drafting of HBCU Steeler standouts there at the University of Kentucky. him, would not be swayed. Instead, he made it clear that it was better for him and blindness. (Alabama A&M), (Southern) and Donnie Two black Celtics players, his Black teammates to walk away, and leave Lexington with the nonintegrated I then also urged, as Russell Shell (South Carolina State), L. C. Greenwood (Ar- Sam Jones, a North Carolina Col- game its denizens apparently preferred. did in 1961, that if the abuse and "I told Red we were leaving," Russell recalled in 2013. "I said it was because kansas AM&N - now Pine Bluff) and Ernie Holmes lege (now NC Central) product, and discrimination continues, to be pre- it was important to me that everybody, everywhere, knows that the Black players pared to walk out again. (Texas Southern) and a host of others. The Steelers had Tom "Satch" Sanders, were refused are deciding they'll stand up for themselves." I followed with the phrase, 11 and 12 HBCU products respectively in back-to-back service at the coffee shop at their Two Black players for the Hawks joined the boycott. One of those St. Louis wins is Super Bowls IX and X. hotel in Lexington prompting the players was Cleo Hill, a first-round pick earlier that year who was also denied "This ain’t no game!" But as the Selectors noted in their deliberations, Nunn indomitable Russell to tell coach service in Lexington. He earned the wrath of the Hawks' owner, was subsequently I think the players and their union wisely chose, with advice also helped locate talent at other small colleges, including that he and his black ostracized by Hagan and other White teammates and – in something of a foreshad- owing of the fate that would befall Colin Kaepernick – he was out of the NBA after and help from the likes of Barack Jack Lambert at Kent State University. Stallworth, Blount, teammates would not play in the that season. The game went on with only white players. Obama and , to re- Shell and Lambert are members of the Pro Football Hall game. By contrast, Celtics owner Walter Brown told Auerbach that the game should turn to the playoffs with a greater of Fame. Nunn passed in 2014. The two black Hawks' play- not have been played at all and vowed to "never to subject my players to that em- commitment from the NBA and its "Bill Nunn is a giant figure that people just don’t ers – one of which was Cleo Hill a barrassment again." Ramsey also declared his "100%" support for Russell and the owners and management to take CIAA superstar at Winston-Salem other Black players. know enough about," one Selector noted. Former Steelers further steps to address this prob- State and a first round pick of the "No thinking person in Kentucky is a segregationist," Ramsey said then. "I owner however once dubbed Nunn "one of lem. four" Steelers legends. Hawks earlier that year – joined the can't tell you how sorry I am as a human being, as a friend of the players involved boycott. Hill, who was a standout and as a resident of Kentucky for the embarrassment of this incident." One of the agreed upon mea- for the Hawks in that preseason, A day after the 1961 boycott, Russell told reporters: "We've got to show our sures was to, if possible, turn all the JOHN THOMPSON SUCCUMBS: had also been refused service at the disapproval of this kind of treatment or else the status quo will prevail. We have NBA arenas in America to voting John Thompson, who coached Georgetown to bas- coffee shop. the same rights and privileges as anyone else and deserve to be treated accord- locations or minimally work with ketball greateness in 27 years at the ingly. I hope we never have to go through this abuse again." While the Celtics players went elections officials to find election- helm, died Monday at his home in "But if it happens," he continued, "we won't hesitate to take the same action on to great careers, refusing to play related uses for those facilities. Northern Virginia. again . . . " Nearly 60 years later, Russell saw NBA players take similar action, for The league also pledged to es- in that game was a transgression similar reasons. The Bucks' protest was the culmination of days-long expressions Thompson, 78, a Washington tablish a social justice coalition that for which Hill was never forgiven of anger by NBA players over the shooting of Blake, who took seven close-range native who played at Providence be- by the Hawks. From that point for- bullets to his back from a Wisconsin police officer. . . will be "focused on a broad range fore a short two-year stint in the NBA ward, on orders from the owner, he On Wednesday, Russell said on Twitter that he was "moved" by what he saw of issues" including increased ac- with the Boston Celtics, jump-started was ostracized and given limited developing in the NBA bubble. He also thanked TNT analyst Kenny Smith, a for- cess to voting and police and crimi- the Georgetown basketball program playing time and eventually black- mer NBA player, for walking off the set that evening in solidarity with the Bucks nal justice reform. and others. "I am so proud of you," Russell told Smith. "Keep getting in good Thompson when he took over in 1972 after lead- balled throughout the league. He ing St. Anthony's High School in long preceded Mahmoud Abdur trouble." Washington. He posted an impressive record of 596-239 during his by Jon Kendle The next day, on Monday, Jan. tenure at Georgetown leading the Hoyas to unprecedented The pages of American history Players boycott 1965 AFL All-Star game 11, AFL commissioner Joe Foss heights in college basketball including winning the 1984 have not been written without some announced that the game would be NCAA Div. I Tournament championship. discriminations and discourtesies. Since its origin, explained, "they told us (to) bring your wife and kids. moved to Houston and played at Jeppesen Stadium. professional football has mirrored American culture. There will also be a golf tournament. It sounded like The stand the AFL and its players took against the Thompson graduated 97% of his players. Among his In many ways the positive values of the sport have a big picnic." city of New Orleans was unprecedented. It ultimately many outstanding pupils were Eric "Sleepy" Floyd, Pat- helped society move forward and bring about change. It eventually turned into a nightmare as many brought about change that was necessary in order for rick Ewing, , , Allen Arguably, no decade was more tumultuous for of the black players were left stranded at the airport the city to get a NFL franchise. That came to fruition Iverson and a host of others that went on to outstanding the United States than the 1960s. During those years for hours when they arrived in town. Once in the city two years later when the league granted New Orleans NBA careers and professions off the court. African Americans struggled for the same rights and African American players were refused cab service a team. On winning the title and being recognized as the freedoms which other men and women enjoyed. and those who were given rides were dropped off The boycott was clearly a milestone event that first African-American to lead a team to the Div. I crown, Especially in the southern states where segregation miles from their destinations. went beyond the world of sports and was more a was still a terrible problem even after the Civil Other players were refused admittance to reflection of American society at the time. It helped Thompson instead insisted that he was by no means the Rights Act of 1964 was signed that gave the federal nightspots and restaurants, while nearly all were shine a spotlight on Congress's ability to enforce the first or best African-American coach deserving of the hon- government the right to enforce desegregation. subjected to tongue-lashings and to a hostile Civil Rights Act of 1964 and proved that if America or but the first truly given an opportunity to accomplish This scene was evident as the atmosphere on Bourbon Street in the French was to desegregate, the culture needed to change its the feat. League scheduled its annual All-Star game for Quarter while sightseeing. The situation became so mindset and adopt a more progressive view of the He mentioned (former N. C. Central, Tennessee Saturday, January 16, 1965, to be played at Tulane uncomfortable for the black players who clearly felt human race as quickly as possible. State and Hampton coach) John McClendon, (for- Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. This contest unwelcome that most simply returned to their hotels. mer Winston-Salem State head coach) Clarence "Big came just ten days after the city had hosted the first Later, all 21 African American players who were BREAKING NEWS!!! completely integrated Sugar Bowl game without scheduled to suit up met at the Roosevelt Hotel, the House" Gaines among others that could have easily ac- incident. headquarters for the East team. The group discussed JACKSON STATE CANS HENDRICK: complished it if given the opportunity. New Orleans had been vocal about its attempt in great detail the treatment they had received and Jackson State announced Monday the ter- On his radio show that began after his retirement to attract a professional football franchise. Those with a vote decided to walk out on the All-Star game. mination of head football coach John Hendrick. as well as in his varied stints as a hoops commentator, aspirations received a major setback in the days "The majority ruled. We felt we couldn't perform Hendrick went 6-9 in two seasons at Jack- Thompson always took the opportunity to highlight the to come as the AFL All-Stars began to arrive at the 100% under the current circumstances," said Buffalo son State, 5-5 in the SWAC. airport. Bills end Ernie Warlick. In the end Warlick and other accomplishments, contributions and wisdom of black col- T. C. Taylor and Otis Riddley are being lege coaches and how they paved the way for African- The AFL players were assured by Dave Dixon, black All-Stars, came together. Finding the situation head of the group sponsoring and promoting the game unacceptable, the players decided that they would not retained and will lead the program on an interim American coaches like him that came later. that the city was safe and there would be no problems. play in the All-Star as long as it was to be hosted in basis while the school pursues a national search Running Back Clem Daniels of the Oakland Raiders New Orleans. for Hendrick's replacement.

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