Happy MLK Day

by Jeff Clark on Jan 21, 2008 7:14 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

Much respect to the pioneers, including many Celtics. (From the Daily Dime):

FIRST BLACK PLAYER DRAFTED: Duquesne's Chuck Cooper (at right) was selected by the Boston Celtics in the second round in 1950; also Earl Lloyd was drafted by the Washington Capitols in the ninth round and Harold Hunter was drafted by the Washington Capitols in the 10th round.
According to George Sullivan, a New York Times reporter, one owner said, "Walter, don't you know he's a colored boy?" To which Celtics owner Walter Brown responded, "I don't give a damn if he's striped, plaid, or polka dot! Boston takes Chuck Cooper of Duquesne!"
FIRST MVP: Bill Russell in 1957-58 with the Boston Celtics
FIRST HEAD COACH: Bill Russell in 1966-67 with the Boston Celtics (he was a player-coach)

Marc Spears also has an article on Earl Lloyd, the first black player to play in the NBA.

"I truly believe this, that if the Celtics did not draft Chuck [Cooper] in the second round, you could not tell me that the Washington Capitols in 1950 were going to make me the first black player to play in this league. No way . . . The Boston Celtics had a tremendous influence on my acceptance in the NBA," said Lloyd in a recent phone interview.

Please note: Celtics Stuff Live is pleased to announce that Earl Lloyd and Marc Spears will be guests on our Feb. 24th show in honor of Black History Month.

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First all-black starting lineup

First team with blacks and whites rooming together

Last black head coach to win NBA Title—KC Jones

by Woodstock Libertarian on Jan 21, 2008 9:04 AM EST reply actions

Martin Luther King did so much and would be so disappointed to see the worsening statistic of black children born to single mothers. Even the good guys – Paul Pierce, Leon Powe – don’t get it. MLK did so much to stop the white man from keeping the black man down that he would not miss the fact that the black man is now doing the job for the old racists.
I know this is a sports blog but I couldn’t miss the irony of Pierce and Powe’s “fatherhood” and Doc’s comments about how many of his players have no fathers. Doc knows the difference.

by Wildblu1 on Jan 21, 2008 10:04 AM EST reply actions

1. This is a sports blog
2) Powe and Pierce show every indication they are going to be there for their sons, marriage is a nice title but it doesn’t guarantee a child’s environment is stable if you wanna talk about single parenthood you should include DIVORCE it whatever point you think your making.
3) Paul Pierce and the mother of his child are engaged to be married.

by Hillcrestwildcat on Jan 21, 2008 12:15 PM EST reply actions

fairweatherfan, fatherhood is more than showing up at Christmas or sending home new Reeboks. It’s being there with the mother. Raising kids is a two person job. Most parents can tell you that. Black culture isn’t the only one that has lost its way on this subject but it leads the way in losing its way.
I don’t have the answer but, again, the irony of Pierce and Powe both becoming fathers and not being married shows the cycle continues unbroken. Too bad!

by Wildblu1 on Jan 21, 2008 1:44 PM EST reply actions

I get all that and don’t disagree. My point was that marriage as an institution is overrated. Plenty of children are raised by their mothers or fathers as primary caregivers with the other parent (or grandparent or someone else filling in gaps). Two parents in a house who are married does not guarantee a thing, nor does Powe and Pierce not being married to the mothers of their children (yet) guarantee how active or inactive they will be in their children’s lives. Also the divorce rate is similar across races absentee parenting is not an exclusively black problem it just affects black people inordinately because of income gaps, education gaps, etc etc, but this is a discussion for another time and place.

by Hillcrestwildcat on Jan 21, 2008 3:55 PM EST reply actions