Basketball History 101

When the Soviet Union collapsed on December 26, 1991, the many individual republics hurried to create their new governments. One of these new nations was Lithuania, home to some of the greatest European basketball players of the time -- and the 1992 Olympics were fast approaching. Its government was so preoccupied with just trying to exist that it nearly was unable to register itself as an official basketball country with FIBA in time, but in a last-minute scramble, the Lithuanian basketball team secured their spot in those famous Barcelona Olympics. This is the underdog story of that 1992 team from somewhere in Eastern Europe that gave their tiny, brand-new nation its hope for a bright future.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Korobeiniki" by The Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra, Vera Nikolaevna Gorodovskaya, Vitaly Gnutov, and Rudolf Belov

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

When the Soviet Union collapsed on December 26, 1991, the many individual republics hurried to create their new governments. One of these new nations was Lithuania, home to some of the greatest European basketball players of the time -- and the 1992 Olympics were fast approaching. Its government was so preoccupied with just trying to exist that it nearly was unable to register itself as an official basketball country with FIBA in time, but in a last-minute scramble, the Lithuanian basketball team secured their spot in those famous Barcelona Olympics. This is the underdog story of that 1992 team from somewhere in Eastern Europe that gave their tiny, brand-new nation its hope for a bright future.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Korobeiniki" by The Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra, Vera Nikolaevna Gorodovskaya, Vitaly Gnutov, and Rudolf Belov

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

Wat Misaka was not only the first Japanese player in the NBA, not only the first Asian player in the NBA, but the first all-around non-white player in the NBA. In addition, he joined shortly after World War II, where the United States had just fought and defeated Japan, the nation his parents had emigrated from! Although he was cut from the league after only three games, Misaka broke incredibly important ground when it comes to racial lines in professional sports.

Video of Misaka meeting Curry

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Orchestral" by Makai Symphony

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

With the exception of the formation of the game where Naismith had nine players vs. nine players, the game, within only a few years, had become entirely 5v5 -- except for the Iowan high school girls. Featuring a unique 6v6 style of play, each team had three forwards and three guards. The forwards played solely in the front court and the guards solely in the back. Neither group was allowed to cross the halfcourt line, and although it was sexistly designed so as to not overexert the girls, this idea may have singlehandedly saved Iowan girls' basketball.

Click here to see the 1973 Iowa State Girls' Basketball Championship with 6v6 teams!

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Mediterranean" by Lyn Murray

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

Few men in history have ever worn "cool" as well as Walt "Clyde" Frazier did. From his style of play to the cars he drove to the clothes he wore, the man was so cool that his presence could freeze ice cream left out in 90-degree heat. Clyde quite literally wrote the book on cool, entitled Rockin' Steady: A Guide to Basketball and Cool. Rarely seen without his signature stylish wide-brimmed fedora, this basketball star and fashion icon led the New York Knicks to the only two championships they hold to this day.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"This Or That" by Reks

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

Few sports matches in history can boast that they were played over the course of two different years, yet this game can. We here at BBH.101 have affectionately nicknamed it The Box Score of Chaos, not only because the first two-thirds was played in 1978 and the last third was played in 1979, but because three of the players are credited with statistics for both the teams involved! This is the story of one insane NBA matchup.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Disco Funk" by Jam Morgan

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

Just three high school coaches have ever been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and one of those is Bob Hurley. Despite only coaching at a small private Catholic school in New Jersey, Hurley sent over 150 players to Division I college programs and half a dozen to the NBA. In addition, he never took any payment for his coaching or speaking engagements over his 40+ years in the role in order to save St. Anthony's as much money as he could to fund the students' tuition. This man truly epitomized the idea of being a pillar of the community.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Take Care" by Julian Avila

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

HOLD ON FOR ONE QUICK SECOND! As many of you will remember, over the past few months, we here at Basketball History 101 had a message at the beginning of our episodes asking you to vote our podcast for the Best Basketball Podcast award in the first annual Sports Podcast Awards. We were facing off against one-time defensive player of the year Michael Cooper's podcast, hall-of-fame coach George Karl's podcast, and several other amazing basketball podcasts. Well, against all odds, thanks to you loyal listeners, WE WON THE AWARD!

That's right! BBH.101 is now an award-winning podcast! We started this weekly show during the height of the virus out of our love for basketball and some newfound free time, and here we are a year and a half later with an award for it!

We here at BBH.101 could not be happier, and of course it's all thanks to you. Thank you for supporting us over the past year and a half. It means the world to us to have as many of you tuning in every week as we do, and for your love of basketball history to have brought us to where we are today. Again, thank you so, so much. Without each and every one of you, our lives would be that much less.

See the full awards show here!

Or, if you only care about the basketball segment, click here for that clip!

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"The Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

A member of the NBA's 75 List, Dave Bing is definitely one of the greatest NBA players of all time. A contemporary of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, he was an incredible scorer and team player. Even after retirement from basketball, he started a legitimate steel processing company and became an award-winning businessman. Despite all of this, however, he is so rarely talked about today. In hopes of figuring out why, Rick investigates just what led to him being so forgotten as he explores the fascinating story of Dave Bing.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Disco Funk" by Jam Morgan

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

On January 14, 1964, the Boston Garden was set to host the first televised All-Star Game -- a monetary breakthrough for the NBA! Featuring such basketball giants as Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain, this was to be one of the greatest All-Star matchups in NBA history... That is, until all 21 players refused to take the court until the owners agreed to formally recognize the Players' Union. Demanding medical benefits, per diem, trainers, and more, the owners had dodged any sort of agreement for years, but despite threats of being fired, the players saw this TV contract as their opportunity to finally force the owners' hands...

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"This or That" by Reks

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]