Having recently re-read two of my favorite books–FOUL! THE CONNIE HAWKINS STORY (David Wolf, 1972) and LOOSE BALLS: THE SHORT, WILD LIFE OF THE AMERICAN BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (Terry Pluto, 1990)–I was especially struck today to encounter this photo of five of the ABA’s greatest stars (from the left: Connie Hawkins, Marvin Barnes, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Charlie Scott, and George Gervin), taken at a 30th anniversary celebration of the league in 1997.
One of the great tragedies of Sports History is that the ABA never managed to achieve a national television contract, during a time (1967-76) when its players were providing the most flamboyant, freewheeling, innovative brand of professional basketball seen up to that point, the very model, one could readily argue, for the current era of the NBA. (The ABA invented the red, white, and blue ball, the 3-point shot, and the slam dunk contest, just for starters.)
To anyone with the slightest curiosity, I recommend both the aforementioned books in the most glowing fashion, and am hopeful that the long out-of-print FOUL! will reappear one day soon, since it’s as illuminating an account/indictment of American racism, of the failures of the American political/educational system, and of the shockingly “bush league” origins of professional sports, as has ever been published!
FOUL! is also one of the most remarkable tales of redemption I’ve encountered, and it’s astounding that neither Hollywood nor television has come calling to fund its adaptation/re-enactment for the screen. Despite all the unavoidably grim aspects of the story it tells, it also remains one of the most darkly hilarious books I’ve ever read!
– Tom Kipp
