Henry “Hank” DeZonie, who was a star basketball player with the Harlem Yankees, New York Renaissance, Dayton Rens of the National Basketball League, and Tri-Cities Blackhawks of the National Basketball Association, died January 2, 2009, at Lenox Hill Hospital in Harlem. He would have been 87 years old yesterday.
R.I.P. Henry “Hank” DeZonie, Harlem Rens Star, Among First Four Blacks In NBA
As with any long-lived icon of sports, culture, and history, it is nearly impossible to encapsulate all of the thoughts and remembrances of people into one service, one article, one story, one comment. So, I will continue to share topics relating to John Isaacs from time to time, starting with these.
This article by Sonja Steptoe is from the Sports Illustrated archives (the “SI Vault”), and originally appeared in print in the magazine’s December 24, 1990 issue. We felt it would be appropriate to re-publish the article here now, in honor of John “Boy Wonder” Isaacs, the former basketball star with the New York Rens (of Harlem) who passed away Monday morning at the age of 93. It’s easy to see why Mr. Isaacs was such a hero and friend to so many.
The New York Rens, the first black-owned, all-black, fully professional basketball team, debuted on November 3, 1923, beating the Collegiate Five, an all-white team, at the Renaissance Ballroom in Harlem. Team owner Robert Douglas, who was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1973, had announced his plans to the public just a few… Read more »
Breaking down the century-long connection between basketball and music.
Does the old Renaissance Ballroom sign matter?
Pioneering basketball referee Chris Huiswoud, of African descent, shows us how things were done during the Black Fives Era.
Introducing the new Converse All Star “Original” Laser-Detailed Leather Hi, in black!
These are some new pre-Chuck Taylors with an upper made of laser-detailed leather.
These the term ‘sidebar’ is used often in connection with blogging and online advertising, but actually it is an old newspaper term that’s been around for a long time.