Biographer to Discuss Basketball Legend/Civil Rights Pioneer McLendon
Kansas City Art Institute American studies Professor Milton Katz will discuss the life and legacy of basketball legend and civil rights pioneer John B. McLendon during a Black History Month program on Feb. 5, 2008, at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Professor Katz is the author of "Breaking Through," the first biography of McLendon, who was the last living protégé of basketball's inventor, Dr. James Naismith, according to the publisher's notes.
Katz will present his lecture on McLendon from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 5, 2008, in the Campus Center Room 405. Katz will also sign copies of his McLendon biography at 2:30 p.m., Feb. 5 in the Barnes and Noble in the Campus Center.
McLendon, known as "Coach Mac" pursued athletic excellence and struggled for racial equality in 1940s and '50s America, when he refused to accept that teams and traditionally Black colleges were unable to achieve national prominence. His efforts to integrate basketball include a "secret game" in 1944 between his North Carolina College players and the Duke University Medical School team.
McLendon, who was the first coach to win three consecutive national titles when his Tennessee State team won in 1957-1959, was an early pioneer of game preparation, conditioning, the fast break, the full-court press and the two-corner defense.
Katz was interviewed for a documentary ESPN will televise in March that details the lives of basketball players and coaches who attended historically Black colleges and universities.
|
