Black Magic
To my beloved readers, your wordsmith is about to take it personal. March has always had special significance in my life if not for the very fact that I was born in the middle of the month on the fabled Ides. Yet, March and basketball is a synonymous vibration today and you will feel my zeal as I share, for all to be aware, that ESPN is airing a two part, four hour program on the phenomenal contribution of Historically Black Colleges and their exponential contribution to basketball on a feature called Black Magic airing March 16 and 17th.
The greatest coach ever (trust me on this one) and the first basketball coach to win consecutive National Championships, pro or college, is a man named John McLendon. Coach McLendon is featured prominently in ESPN’s Black Magic documentary narrated by actor extraordinaire Samuel L. Jackson and jazz legend Wynton Marsalis. Coach McLendon was Glory Road before the movie Glory Road and was a student of the game’s founder Dr. James Naismith at Kansas University. McLendon who won those three consecutive championships at Nashville’s Tennessee State University had an All-American starting center those title seasons by the name of James Satterwhite, aka “Diamond Jim”, who is my father. Through my lineage and my father’s college coach I have an unfiltered connection to basketball’s creator. Dick Barnett known as “Skull” when he hooped with Pop’s and played under the late great Coach “Mac” will be featured prominently in Black Magic recalling the greatness of those TSU teams and the ridiculous racisy rats rancid in their treatment of Black basketball magnificence during their gold medal runs from 1957-1959.
Dick Barnett who has his jersey hanging from the rafters of Madison Square Garden for his “fall back baby” jump-shots as a New York Knick was my father’s college roommate, and to this day they continue to gather with other former Tennessee State Tiger teammates 50 years after their exceptional exploits.
Now let’s total the box score. Twelve years ago I was head coach of a high school basketball team who played in a Northern California championship in what was then called Oakland Arena, and now called Oracle Arena, home of the Golden State Warriors. During the national anthem I gazed skyward to the rafters and ogled the retired number 16 jersey of Al Attles who is also featured in the ESPN documentary and who personally transcribed a reference letter of my coaching abilities to the high school I led in this NBA venue just a few seasons prior. Upon winning the championship in Oakland, my team was off to the State Championship to play current NBAers Jason and Jarron Collins in Arco Arena. Now, this weekend coming up, my son’s high school team will play for the State Championship at Arco on the Ides of March et tu Brutus. Then on March 16th and 17th we will watch ESPN to honour the man who jump started all our familial championship DNA, my dad, James Satterwhite. Here we will see him and all of his Tennessee State brethren get their deserved love for opening the vortex that is so prevalent at every level of basketball…there’s nothing like that old Black Magic!
Comments
By Tim on March 17th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I’d like to know where I can get a copy of the “Black Magic” documentary?
By Zoe on March 18th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Awesome. The History, the cinematography, the soundtrack make this a powerful work. How can I buy one of these? This movie has rekindled the passion I had for basketball as a child. I can just see my entire family, Papa, Mama, Brother, Sister, all of us sitting on the linoleum floor around the black and white television set as we intently watched The Pearl and Big “O” tear up the floor. As a resident of Gary, Indiana and graduate of Gary Roosevelt (Dick Barnett) we bled baskeball. It was a time when the basketball court was one of the few places that we felt our raw talent, power and pride could be manifested. This great era impacted me and my life course as I have overcome many obstacles set before me simply because of my color……. and yet myself and many other like me have been able to live life with joy because what didn’t kill us made us stronger.
By John Austin TX Personal trainer on March 18th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
The documentary Black Magic is some more memorable TV I have ever watched. It was powerful stuff - beautiful, poignant, eye-opening, and bittersweet. I wanted to learn more. Ben Jobe, “Big House” Gaines , McLendon, and Bob Love alone could have been the subject of their own documentaries. Their quiet dignity is in stark contrast to the large egos of today’s athlete.
By Lorise Collins on March 18th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
would like to find out how get a copy of the movie Black-Magic
By david paul on March 19th, 2008 at 4:39 am
I had a chance to see the ESPN documentary ‘Black Magic”. I felt so sorry for Cleo Hill and how Bob Petit and the other players treated him. Someone should interview him and put on the spot. I know he is a old white guy trying to get into heaven. But he will have to pay for all of the blatant racist things that he did to Mr Hill.
By EDWARD PARKER KS. on March 21st, 2008 at 11:39 pm
I love the history of sports, this piece was very moving. I sat on the edge of my seat and listened toevery word, watching grow and evole with the true stars/trailblazers. I got chills listening to the interviews.”black magic” great piece how can i get a copy
By Rick M on March 24th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Isn’t it time that these historic black institutions and men were given their just due in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the same way that baseball has incorporated the contributions of The Negro Baseball League and it’s outstanding players and managers into it’s Hall Of Fame? Having a coach like John Mclendon who studied the game under James Naismith (who invented it and is the very man the Basketball Hall of Fame is named after), listed as a “Contributor” instead of a “Coach” is ridiculous. What other coach in the history of the game has accomplished more in making basketball the popular game that so many of us love to watch and play, today? And also a useful tool for educating and building character in the youth? Certainly not Bobby Knight. This is a story that should have have been told years ago and maybe now that it has, maybe some of these inequeties and injustices that still exist will finally be addressed. Big ups to Dan Klores and all associated with it, for a job well done on such a poignant film. As Julius Erving states when he introduces the film in the beginning, “It will change the way you look at the game of basketball forever”.
By dew on March 26th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
…I grew up thinking Bob Petitt was a nice man…it was all a lie.
By Curtis Allen Clark on April 6th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I played for Wilberforce University and would, and so enjoyed the documentary, and would like to know how to get a copy of the DVD for both days. Please respond.
By Charles Elliott on April 18th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I am honored to have played for Coach Ben Jobe at Talladega College. He turned a losing program into a fast breaking/winning program during his first year. I can always be proud that for the two seasons that I played under him before he moved on, that TC averaged 104 points per game back in the day when there were no three point shots. His personality, love for his players and his knowledge of the game and people was unbelievable.
Will a DVD of the Black Magic documentary be available for purchase? I certainly would love to have a copy of this honorable program.
Sincerely,
Charles Elliott
By verda on April 18th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
I would like to know how to get a copy of the DVD “Black Magic” for both days? Please Help.