The golden age of amateur basketball : the AAU Tournament, 1921-1968

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) has long symbolized the idealism of amateur athletic competition. For basketball especially, the AAU provided an opportunity for athletes to showcase their skills for the benefit of the team and the sport, not the bottom line. In The Golden Age of Amateur Basketball, Adolph H. Grundman recounts the history of the AAU National Tournament during its golden age, 1921 through 1968. Grundman analyzes the early tournaments, examining rule changes, key players, and dominant teams. He explores the rivalries between corporations for amateur dominance after 1935, the competition between the AAU and the National Collegiate Athletic Association for representation in Olympic basketball, the question of just how amateur “amateur” basketball really was, and the reasons for the demise of postcollegiate amateur basketball. The Golden Age of Amateur Basketball provides the first history of AAU basketball and identifies players and teams that made major contributions to basketball history. The Amateur Athletic Union (aau) Has Long Symbolized The Idealism Of Amateur Athletic Competition. For Basketball Especially, The Aau Provided An Opportunity For Athletes To Showcase Their Skills For The Benefit Of The Team And The Sport, Not The Bottom Line. In The Golden Age Of Amateur Basketball, Adolph H. Grundman Recounts The History Of The Aau National Tournament During Its Golden Age, From 1921 Through 1968.--book Jacket. Everything Is Up-to-date In Kansas City -- The Aau Tournament In Denver -- Forrest C. Allen And The Politics Of Olympic Basketball -- Gruenig And Mccracken Triumphant -- Phillips 66 And Aau Basketball -- The Rich Get Richer -- Bartlesville Versus The Bay -- Here Come The Cats -- From Bartlesville To Seattle -- Parity Prevails -- Denver's Last Hurrah -- The National Industrial Basketball League Collapses -- The Dribble Derby Passes Into History. Adolph H. Grundman. Bison Books--spine. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [271]-309) And Index. Acknowledgments......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 Part 1 A Basketball Tradition Is Born......Page 22 Everything Is Up-to-Date in Kansas City......Page 24 The aau Tournament in Denver......Page 48 Forrest C. Allen and the Politics of Olympic Basketball......Page 63 Part 2 A Dynasty Is Created......Page 76 Gruenig and McCracken Triumphant......Page 78 Phillips 66 and aau Basketball......Page 97 The Rich Get Richer......Page 115 Part 3 The National Industrial Basketball League......Page 140 Bartlesville versus the Bay......Page 142 Here Come the Cats......Page 171 From Bartlesville to Seattle......Page 188 Parity Prevails......Page 206 Part 4 From Ecstasy to Agony......Page 225 Denver’s Last Hurrah......Page 227 The National Industrial Basketball League Collapses......Page 241 The Dribble Derby Passes into History......Page 256 appendix a......Page 273 appendix b......Page 293 Notes......Page 301 Bibliographic Essay......Page 337 Index......Page 341 Recounts the history of the AAU National Tournament during its golden age, 1921 through 1968. This work analyzes the early tournaments, examining rule changes, key players, and dominant teams. It provides the history of AAU basketball and identifies players and teams that made major contributions to basketball history.