For Christmas, I gave my mother-in-law Dreams from My Father, the best-selling book by president-elect Barack Obama. I had been meaning to get that book for myself, even more lately after the specific urging of my friend Alexander Wolff from Sports Illustrated. He explained there is a section in the book where Obama describes getting [...]
For Christmas, I gave my mother-in-law Dreams from My Father, the best-selling book by president-elect Barack Obama.
I had been meaning to get that book for myself, even more lately after the specific urging of my friend Alexander Wolff from Sports Illustrated.
He explained there is a section in the book where Obama describes getting his first basketball, a Christmas gift from his father.
Obama got his first basketball during this visit by his father.
And I could play basketball with a consuming passion that would always exceed my limited talent. My father’s Christmas gift had come at a time when the University of Hawaii basketball team had slipped into the national rankings on the strength of an all-black starting five that the school had shipped in from the mainland. That same spring, Gramps had taken me to one of their games, and I had watched the players in warm-ups, still boys themselves but to me poised and confident warriors, chuckling to each other about some inside joke, glancing over the heads of fawning fans to wink at the girls on the sidelines, casually flipping layups or tossing high-arcing jumpers until the whistle blew and the centers jumped and the players joined in furious battle.
I decided to become part of that world, and began going down to a playground near by grandparents’ apartment after school.
I got the book for my mother-in-law because, they say, you get what you give.
As she unwrapped that gift, I began unwrapping another gift — this one from my brother who lives in Hawaii.
 My older brother Lawrence (r.) showing my visiting younger brother Charles around Oahu last week.  Charles (r.) rides too. Here they roll up on Waikiki Beach. |
Lawrence is a military vet who works for a government defense contractor out there. He started with them at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga., but a few years ago they permanently re-deployed him to Oahu (poor guy).
Lawrence loves it out there (who wouldn’t?) and stays active in the community.
He formed the Hawaii Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers & Troopers of America Motorcycle Club, an African American riding organization (the Hawaii Chapter has a Facebook group here).
I opened Lawrence’s gift to me.
It was an autographed copy of a new DVD about the University of Hawaii’s magical, legendary, and nationally-ranked basketball team of the early 1970s!
I didn’t realize that “you get what you give” worked so quickly!
This DVD, a documentary film entitled “The Fabulous Five: The Story Of The Fabulous Years,” is a wonderful historical glimpse at the University of Hawaii Rainbows team, its players, the community, and the fan frenzy that surrounded their games.
After watching it, you’ll say, “No wonder the young Barack Obama was so impressed.”
My copy of the DVD is autographed by former Rainbows players Dwight Holiday and Jerome “Hook” Freeman.
Lawrence ran into them at an event promoting the recently released film, and, thinking of me and Black Fives, got me the DVD as a Christmas gift.
You have to learn more about this team!
The Honolulu Advertiser wrote this in 2006:
The 1970-71 team had a 23-5 record and played in the National Invitational Tournament. That was the first time a Hawai’i basketball team got invited to the postseason.
The following season, every home game at the Honolulu International Center was a sellout, and Hawai’i finished with a 24-3 record. The team was ranked as high as No. 12 in the nation, and became the first UH team to get invited to the NCAA Tournament.
And this perspective from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin:
Hawaii’s “Fabulous Five” of 1970-72 made an impact on Hawaii sports that is still being felt today.
The 1972 University of Hawaii men’s basketball team was the first to get an invitation to the NCAA tournament, marking the first time the nation was really forced to pay attention to the state, and raising the expectations of Hawaii fans.
Here’s more on the DVD, from Hawaii’s ESPN Radio 1420:
Longtime University of Hawaii basketball fans fondly remember the “Fabulous Five” years: the UH band playing “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the tall afros and, yes, the famous aloha print shorts. The memories of this bygone era are expertly rekindled in the DVD documentary, The Fabulous Five – The Story of the Fabulous Years.
Presented by Time Warner Oceanic Cable and former Fabulous Five member Dwight Holiday, the documentary includes interviews with every member of the Fabulous Five – Holiday, Bob Nash, Jerome Freeman, Al Davis and John Penebacker – as well as their head coach, Red Rocha, and other players on the team. Hosted by ESPN 1420′s Don Robbs, the DVD also features insights from local luminaries such as Danny Kaleikini, Les Keiter, Tom Moffatt, Robert Kekaula, Joe Moore, Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona.
The film is simply awesome. A lot of game action. Poignant player and fan insights.
And you have to love the Hawaii print shorts (!) and the old school Adidas Superstars and Converse Pro Leathers.
University of Hawaii's "Fabulous Five" in action during the early 1970s (collage courtesy of the Honolulu Advertiser).
But also, I want you to appreciate the connection.
It’s clear that president-elect Barack Obama is passionate about basketball. The game has played a major role in his life.
He wouldn’t be the kind of person he is today if it weren’t for hoops.
Obama’s love affair with basketball, as told in his own words, started with these University of Hawaii Rainbows of 1970-72.
They made the most of their moment, and left a lifelong impression not just on Obama but on everyone.
That means this is a must-see film. (Get it here.) And Dreams from My Father
Thanks to Alex Wolff and my bro’, I was able to make this connection. Now you can too.
Naturally, I would also recommend that you visit Hawaii at some point; it’s such a great place and even more cool now than ever.
It so coincedental what basketball has done for me and my deceased son of 19 years, and I continue to give back by teaching the game…this is why I tell players and parents “Basketball if Life, Play Hard” “you win some and lose some”. It’s how you play the game. I could tell you, it’s “one” easy way to teach your kids about life along with the postive and encouragement from home. It’s just a coincidence the President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama and I and others have a lot of things in common. I guess that game with Grampa is where it all started and very historic. Ranked 12th in the nation and representing the homefront, at that age I probably would’ve done the same thing, lol. I don’t think I’ve ever had anything in commom with any other President before, lol…IT’S A NEW DAY! I’m glad I’m in Mt, Vernon, VA getting ready for the Inauguration! In Wal-Mart they are selling some nice banners and flags for your cars, very nice…The Fabulous Five, how can I get the DVD. I hope the new President will be a Georgetown fan when he arrives. Awesome!
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It’s a great story and very similar in some ways to how our high school basketball coach (the late Joe C. Branch) influenced our small high school on the outskirts of Memphis Tn. It’s amazing that no matter where you go, what the story is about, when basketball is at the center of what’s going on, there is a powerful connection that seems to be drawn from it. As a proud father of two son’s, I intend to share my love of this game with them so that it hopefully enriches their lives as it has mine. It’s even better to have President that you can truly “connect” with in ways other than his race.
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Claude I’m really glad you posted this on your site, I’m citing from Audacity of Hope and Dreams from my father, in preparation for my somewhat of a rebuttal to William C. Rhoden’s 40 Million Dollar Slaves. I hope, will pray, and would like to see Black Fives become a commercial success like the Fubus, Enyce, LRG, and feel it will transcend time. I say that because for those who aren’t avid readers it’s refreshing to see that our Baller in Chief was and still is truly passionate about basketball. It seems most are quick to look down on young black males who are inspired and aspire to become basketball players, and overlooking some of the reasons why. I too was inspired by the little things in pre-game warm ups the same way Barack Obama was by the Fab Five. Though Black Fives says Make History Now this blog is giving insight into made history, and I wonder if the Michigan Fab Five name derived from the Hawaii Fab Five. If I was to take a guess I would say it was derived from this unsung Hawaii, team. This is even better for me, considering the fact I was born and raised in Detroit Michigan like Chris Webber and was a big fan of the Michigan Fab Five. Man not insulting the intelligence of the Michigan Fab Five, I wonder if they themselves was aware of the Hawaii Fab Five? It’s also great to have personal insight to Hawaii, and get a glimpse of what African American’s are doing in regards to your brothers bike club that honors African American heroes. Continue walking in the blessings and happy new year.
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very good story i recall this team,ask john issacs if he remember!s a player from new york that attended this school in the sixties, our president is the man in more ways than one..
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Claude and Trokon:
Basketball made my life. When I transferred to a prep school in fourth grade, the first library book I borrowed was Bob Cousy’s autobiography. The same year, the ABA’s Washington Caps began play (and practiced in our gym) after a move from Oakland- with Rick Barry in tow. I moved to a street where the public school city champion basketball coach lived with his family. Thus began a love affair that led to where I stand.
As for Blacks in Hawaii, it’s a U.S. military and veterans’ state, so I would expect to see some negritude.
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Claude, you are amazing. I too believe that you get what you give and that is why on Feb. 13 in Orange NJ we are sponsoring a basketball game between The Harlem Magic and the 2009 version of the Independent Pleasure Club. We are raising money for our historic library and the team can’t wait to wear the throwback jerseys we purchased from Black Fives. Also please tell you wife my friend Kevin Hibbert says hello. Happy New Year To All.
Much Love
karen Wells
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Good stuff as always, Claude. I picked up Dreams From My Father for my son & myself a few months before the 2008 hootenanny began. What most resounded w/ me, naturally, was Obama’s idol-worship of Julius Erving, the fabulous Dr J. Nobody, at least nobody our age, could’ve expected Doc to come along in the ABA & change pro basketball as he did, w/ appropriate nods to The Hawk & Elgin Baylor et al. Julius Erving was an original as, say, Michael Jordan was not. Michael when he came up “looked like” a high-scoring big Guard a la George Gervin (another ABAer, not by coincidence), but that kinda hype wasn’t enough to satisfy the Star System.
So MJ, a card-carrying member of the Obama Generation, had to become billed as Greater Than Erving. But he wasn’t, & I’ll bet Barack knows it but is too diplomatic to ever say so if questioned. MJ could Steal, but not Block, as big as Dr J. And he certainly never led an Outlaw League.
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Hey soldier! i’m a member in the Ohio chapter. ( Cleveland.)
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Your son would be proud of you Kent. You stay busy and on top of things. I don’t know how you do it. You have a big heart, I can tell, bro.
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Hoops is a game where you can’t just be good at one thing. If all you can do is dribble, you can’t really contribute. You at least have to pass. If all you can do is shoot, you ain’t no good. You at least have to know how to get open. If you can’t dribble or pass or get open, you at least have to know how to play D or box out or set picks. But each one of these elements makes for a winning team. You can’t win unless all are done well. In pickup ball, you don’t have to be the best at each of these in order to stay on the court. But you can’t be one dimensional either. And that’s what life is all about.
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Trokon I thought of that too, which came first but clearly the Hawaii 5 were first, and they were called that nickname way back then. I doubt if the Mich fab 5 knew, but they probably will soon if they don’t now. My wife is from Detroit (Cass Tech) so I know about them boyz and am a fan myself. Meanwhile, I was surprised by how many African Americans live in Hawaii. I mean, it ain’t Detroit but …
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