NBA Quiz: Who are the top 3 for scoring average as a rookie?
Major hint: Amazingly, all 3 were in consecutive seasons.
Answer below.
Joe Louis, Part II
On June 19, 1936, Louis met German Max Schmelling, a former
world champion, in Yankee Stadium. At the time Hitler”s facism
was being felt throughout Europe. The press seized on
Schmelling as a symbol of authoritarianism, Louis, democracy (as
well as a symbol of racial harmony). Said Louis of the scene,
“There”s a lot wrong with America. Hitler ain”t the answer.”
In the 12th round Schmelling knocked Louis out, his first
professional defeat. Hitler cited Schmelling”s victory as proof of
the superiority of the Aryan race.
Louis rebounded with 7 straight victories and fought James
Braddock for the championship on June 22, 1937 in Chicago”s
Comiskey Park. After an early knockdown, Louis recovered and
in the 8th round floored Braddock for the title. [“Down goes
Braddock!…Down goes Braddock!…Down goes Braddock!”.
Sorry, just imagining what Howard Cosell would have done with
this.]
Louis was only 23 years old. Exactly one year later, he had a
rematch with Schmelling. With a European war imminent, it took
on even more significance than the first bout. Louis knocked
Schmelling out in the first round, making Joe Louis one of the
most popular athletes in America, and the world.
But by the early 1940s, Louis was deeply in debt as a result of
poor investments, mismanagement by his handlers, a habit of
giving away money freely and high living. For most of 1940 and
”41, he basically accepted a challenge to his title every month (to
pay his creditors). Many of them were chumps (they called it the
“Bum of the Month Club”), except once Billie Conn was
destroying him until Louis mustered an incredible last-round
knockout.
In 1942, Louis entered the Army and boxed 100 exhibition
matches for the troops. He started to take political stances,
protested racial segregation in the army and refused to sit on
segregated military buses.
After the war, Joe resumed his professional career. In 1947, Jersey
Joe Walcott knocked him down twice but Louis won a
controversial split decision. In a rematch he knocked Walcott
out.
In 1949, before turning 35, Louis retired with only the loss to
Schmelling. But lousy finances forced him back again and he lost
twice, to heavyweight champ Ezzard Charles and, in a knockout,
to Rocky Marciano. After the Marciano loss, he retired for good,
68-3 (54 by knockout).
Overwhelmed by his debts, his personal life was a shambles. He
was married 4 times, tried professional wrestling and established
an unsuccessful chain of fast-food restaurants before entering a
deal with alleged Mafiosi to promote boxing. He later admitted
he used cocaine in the late 60s and in 1970 he was committed to a
psychiatric hospital. In his final years, he worked in Vegas as a
greeter and companion to wealthy guests. A rather humiliating
ending to a heroic life.
War
We”re talking the R&B group. War was formed from the early
60s Long Beach, CA group, the Creators, who in turn became
Night Shift. Night Shift was successful on the local circuit. 5
members of the eventual War were backing football star turned
soul singer, Deacon Jones. [Now you could win some major
bucks with this little tidbit.] Of course, Deacon sucked, but
that”s besides the point. One day, Night Shift was spotted by
former Animals lead singer, Eric Burdon. Burdon, one of the less
appealing looking figures of all-time (I hope his Mom isn”t
reading this), was looking for a blues-based band to accompany
him. The group got together, sans Deacon Jones (I think the
other 5 said something like, “Hey, Deacon, meet us at the Tahiti
Lounge,” as they muffled laughter. The meeting was clearly
elsewhere).
The new group actually got together at producer Jerry Goldstein”s
home and decided to work together as War (chosen because it was
in stark contrast with the current peace pre-occupations in music,
and therefore memorable). [Goldstein, incidentally, was a former
member of the band “Strangeloves” and later producer for the
“McCoys,” of “Hang On Sloopy” fame.]
Shortly after the formation, bassist Peter Rosen died from a drug
overdose. [You”ve probably noticed that I require a tragedy like
this before writing about a group]. War”s debut album was
August, 1970, “Eric Burdon Declares War,” and it reached U.S.
#18. The single “Spill the Wine” hit #3. In September of 1970,
Jimi Hendrix died of his own overdose and Burdon was extremely
upset. The two had been good friends. In February 1971, while
the group was touring in Europe, Burdon dropped out claiming
exhaustion (some say he was still upset over Hendrix…like, get
over it, Eric!) and he went home to L.A. The band completed all
of its contractual dates (good role models, kids) and then decided
not to continue their partnership with Burdon (another excellent
move).
Their first album, alone, “War,” peaked at U.S. #190…uh oh.
But later the single “All Day Music” climbed to #35. [This song
is one of the all-time top ten for sitting out on a porch, watching
the world go by]. In February 1973, “The World is a Ghetto”
topped the U.S. album charts for 2 weeks while the single “Cisco
Kid” hit #2 (great song for banging on the steering wheel). In
1975, “Why Can”t We Be Friends,” both the album and title
track, climbed into the top ten. The song was beamed into space
during the summer of ”75 linkup between U.S. and Soviet
astronauts. “Low Rider” (another great steering wheel song),
from the same album, also hit top ten. And right after the band
came out with their best-selling “Greatest Hits.”
Tragedy struck the group in 1980 when original member Charles
Miller died as a victim of a robbery and, in 1988, Papa Dee Allen
died of a brain aneurysm while touring.
Top 3 songs for the week of 2/13/65: 31 “You”ve Lost That
Lovin” Feelin” (The Righteous Brothers) #2 “Downtown”
(Petula Clark.the best) #3 “This Diamond Ring” (Gary Lewis
& The Playboys.incredibly underrated group).
Quiz answer: Top 3 as rookies – Wilt, Philly, 37.6 ppg, 1959-60;
Walt Bellamy, Chicago Packers (yes, that”s right), 31.6, 1961-62;
Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati, 30.5, 1960-61.
Next Bar Chat, Monday…the St. Valentine”s Day Massacre.
*Plus, hey hockey fans…it”s NHL Quiz Week! Hopefully, I
don”t lose everyone else.
