One man stood alone -- A sinister facade -- Inventing a game -- Do good and be pure -- Man on a mission -- The boycott question -- Meddling in the Olympics -- Mirror, mirror -- Hollywood stars -- Unrefined -- Big time -- Choices -- On their own -- You can't beat fun -- Welcome to Germany -- The anvil and the hammer -- The grandest show -- Village people -- Witnesses to history -- Neutral zone -- 000 bored Germans -- Tournament time -- Strangest game ever -- Center of the universe -- Full circle -- Afterword: Putting the pieces together -- Team USA roster -- Berlin Olympics: Day-by-day.
Summary:
"On a scorching hot day in July 1936, thousands of people cheered as the U.S. Olympic teams boarded the S.S. Manhattan, bound for Berlin. Among the athletes were the 14 players representing the first-ever U.S. Olympic basketball team. As thousands of supporters waved American flags on the docks, it was easy to miss the one courageous man holding a BOYCOTT NAZI GERMANY sign. But it was too late for a boycott now; the ship had already left the harbor. 1936 was a turbulent time in world history. Adolf Hitler had gained power in Germany three years earlier. Jewish people and political opponents of the Nazis were the targets of vicious mistreatment, yet were unaware of the horrors that awaited them in the coming years. But the Olympians on board the S.S. Manhattan and other international visitors wouldn't see any signs of trouble in Berlin. Streets were swept, storefronts were painted, and every German citizen greeted them with a smile. Like a movie set, it was all just a facade, meant to distract from the terrible things happening behind the scenes. This is the incredible true story of basketball, from its invention by James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891, to the sport's Olympic debut in Berlin and the eclectic mix of people, events and propaganda on both sides of the Atlantic that made it all possible. Includes photos throughout, a Who's-Who of the 1936 Olympics, bibliography, and index"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.