The First Basket: A Jewish Basketball Documentary
Long before basketball was synonymous with hip-hop, the game was associated with klezmer music. Before the parents of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and LeBron James, were born came the pioneers of basketball. Men like Ossie Schectman, who scored the first points in the NBA. Other players named Sonny Hertzberg, Stan Stutz, Hank Rosenstein, Ralph Kaplowitz, Jake Weber, dominated the early days of basketball.
If you are a fan of basketball, history, or like myself both you will be fascinated with a new documentary on the early days of basketball. It is called “The First Basket: A Jewish Basketball Documentary” and the clips I have seen are amazing.
The film covers the roots of basketball in the USA from the 1920’s through the 1950’s when Jewish Americans dominated the game. It shows how first generation Americans assimilated into the society of the USA, by learning how to play hoops.
I strongly urge you to check out their website at http://www.thefirstbasket.com/. It is filled with video and pictures plus information of when and where the film will be playing near you. If you want to discover the true roots of the game check it out.
Former ESPN Radio Reporter Jeff Sack covered the NBA, NFL, and MLB for 11 years in Cleveland - The last eight as Sports Director for Metro Networks.
