Happy Birthday John Isaacs
Please join me in celebrating the birthday of 2X World Pro Basketball Champion and Basketball Hall of Fame member John “Boy Wonder” Isaacs, an early African American pioneer in the sport. John was born in Panama on September 30, 1915.
Happy Birthday! 🎉
One thing I have to say is that John was adamant about making sure history was never re-written, always insisting, “make sure we honor history, not his story!” ✊🏽
It’s one of the reasons that we’ve always been about that. 💯 We’re proud and honored to embrace this idea, as a testimony to John’s legacy. (That’s why we’re appalled when people in powerful, influential positions within the sport cavalierly say, “Oh well, to the victor go the spoils,” as if re-writing history is OK for those in power. It’s not. Or, “Historical facts are open to interpretation.” No, they’re not. This only applies when we don’t know the actual facts, in which case that’s fair game. Just watch the powerful, riveting, groundbreaking new HBO documentary “Exterminate All the Brutes” to get an understanding of why these cavalier, even arrogant mindsets and attitudes are so harmful and hurtful, especially today, and especially to Black and Brown people.)
John was an amazing basketball player and an incredible, generous, humble human being. Talkative as “all get out,” too! And funny! He could have you rollin’, and it was nonstop! We drove back and forth to Atlantic City several times and I mean, for some reason he always did most of the talking, and I let him. I would just listen. Maybe that’s why he liked me! But he had earned the right to be outspoken. And then some. My only regret is that I didn’t record him! The man was fascinating, as anyone else that ever got to know him can witness.
We once did a photoshoot outside the former front entrance of the Renaissance Ballroom in Harlem, that produced the now-iconic photo below.
A little-known fact about this photo shoot is that John was sitting on a milk crate, New York City style. But actually, the man could turn a milk crate into a throne. And he sure did.
Notice the crowd of kids? They were spontaneous fans, many of whom knew John or knew of him already. And he would just roll with it. John Isaacs was the coolest 80+ year-old I’ve ever met. Many others have legendary stories, encounters, and experiences to share.
Upon his Hall of Fame enshrinement (regrettably, it was posthumous), I wrote this article about him (link below), which I hope you will find of interest. You can read it to learn a lot more about him.
Everyone that knew John, better known to many as simply “Mr. I,” misses him dearly to this day. That includes me.
We can’t bring back John “Boy Wonder” Isaacs, but we can keep his memory alive through the stories we tell of him and through the actions we take. Circling back, that means, “Make History Now.”
Happy Birthday, sir. May you continue to Rest in Peace.
Thanks and with best regards,
Claude Johnson
The Black Fives Foundation