Theresa Runstedtler

A detailed look at basketball in the 70s; focusing on the influx and dominance of Black athletes to both the NBA and ABA. Many fans and scholars view the 70s as "the dark ages" because of the cocaine crisis, on court fighting, and players demanding better contracts; but Runstedtler makes the case that this was the decade that shaped the NBA to the empowered and exciting league that it is today. She does an excellent job outlining the rise of Black superstars during an era of widespread resistance to racial desegregation where majority white coaches, owners, media, and fans were more critical then ever of the new style of ball being played. At the time many Black players learned to play basketball in their neighborhood courts; with uneven surfaces, bent rims, and other conditions that gave them an improvisational style filled with razzle dazzle. Now considered a hallmark of the sport, at the time, it was unconventional and viewed negatively because white players and fans were not used to seeing or playing that way. Black Ball also dives deep into labor rights, the war on drugs, and masculinity as they relate to basketball. Flawlessly narrated by Xenia Willacey who intones excitement and enthusiasm onto every syllable. This narrative nonfiction book is perfect not just for sports fans, but for those interested in reading about Black excellence. Sports writing at its finest.… (más)

Black Ball by Theresa Runstedtler is a detailed examination of how the influx of Black players coupled with the recent civil rights movement led to a change in the NBA.

In baseball, a similar movement had a singular face, Curt Flood, even though the change didn't occur until a few years later. To paraphrase Flood, while the civil rights movement made him more aware and less willing to go along with racist actions, his decision to fight for player rights was done from the position of a ballplayer, not strictly a Black player. Similarly, though race played a big factor in the NBA changes, the empowerment went to all players.

Unfortunately, as this wonderful book illustrates, not only did the fat cat owners oppose any change but they had the help of the media in painting this as a race issue with every negative issue about the league, real or imagined, being placed on the shoulders of the Black players. Runstedtler examines the contributions of those involved in helping the league to evolve, from the big names that could easily have avoided controversy in order to make sure they at least got what they could to those behind the scene who risked everything to fight for what they believed in.

Well-researched and engagingly written, this book will appeal to anyone with an interest in sports, the civil rights era, and the intersection of popular culture with labor relations. For someone of my age, it is also a nice nostalgic trip but from a different perspective than most.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (más)