Isaacs Free Throws

On February 11, 2009, in Culture, Family, History, Premium, by Black Fives

As with any long-lived icon of sports, culture, and history, it is nearly impossible to encapsulate all of the thoughts and remembrances of people into one service, one article, one story, one comment. So, I will continue to share topics relating to John Isaacs from time to time, starting with these.

6 Comments
Leave A Response

Meet An Ageless Wonder

On January 28, 2009, in Basic, Children, Culture, History, Motivation, Music, NBA, Race, Women, by Black Fives

This article by Sonja Steptoe is from the Sports Illustrated archives (the “SI Vault”), and originally appeared in print in the magazine’s December 24, 1990 issue. We felt it would be appropriate to re-publish the article here now, in honor of John “Boy Wonder” Isaacs, the former basketball star with the New York Rens (of Harlem) who passed away Monday morning at the age of 93. It’s easy to see why Mr. Isaacs was such a hero and friend to so many.

2 Comments
Leave A Response

New York Renaissance (aka Harlem Rens) Debut On This Day In 1923

On November 3, 2008, in History, Motivation, Premium, Race, by Black Fives

The New York Rens, the first black-owned, all-black, fully professional basketball team, debuted on November 3, 1923, beating the Collegiate Five, an all-white team, at the Renaissance Ballroom in Harlem. Team owner Robert Douglas, who was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1973, had announced his plans to the public just a few [...]

1 Comments
Leave A Response

SPIN Magazine Mentions Harlem Rens, Basketball-Music Connection (But Gets It Wrong)

On August 19, 2008, in Basic, History, by Black Fives

The Harlem Rens got a nice mention in the current issue of SPIN Magazine (August 2008). A friend of mine at Converse told me about an article that’s on the last page, in the Hidden Tracks section, called “Dunk The Funk.” The byline of the piece is “Could the Olympics save basketball’s musical soul?” My [...]

3 Comments
Leave A Response

New York Renaissance (‘Rens’)

On July 23, 2008, in , by Black Fives

The New York Renaissance (a.k.a. ‘Rens’) basketball team was the first fully professional African-American owned all-black basketball team, formed in Harlem in 1923.

0 Comments
Leave A Response

« Previous Entries Next Entries »
Go To Top »

Upcoming Dates

  • June 13
    Book Talk by Claude Johnson
    Claude Johnson, founder/CEO of BlackFives.com, will discuss his new book, "Black Fives: The Alpha Physical Culture Club's Pioneering African American Basketball Team, 1904-1923" followed by Q/A and book signing.

Quote of the Month

“We were helping our race by fortifying the bodies of our people in this, the struggle for existence, where only the fittest survive.”
-- Conrad Norman, Co-Founder, Alpha Physical Culture Club, 1910

© 2003-2012 Black Fives, Inc.
All rights reserved.

x
Loading...