GM – FBF – Today’s American Champion was the founder of the New York Renaissance basketball team, the first fully all-black professional black-owned basketball team. Nicknamed the “Father of Black Professional Basketball”, Douglas owned and coached the Rens from 1923 to 1949, guiding them to a 2,318-381 record (.859). He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor in 1972, the first African American enshrined. The Rens barnstormed throughout the United States, mostly in the Midwest, and played any team that would schedule them, black or white. Traveling as far as 200 miles for a game, they often slept on the bus and ate cold meals; they were barred from many hotels and restaurants by Jim Crow laws and norms of racial discrimination which prevailed in the northern United States at the time. The Rens soon became a dominant team, winning as many as 88 consecutive games during the 1932–33 season. In the twenties and early thirties, their matches with the Original Celtics were basketball’s greatest gate attraction.At the World Professional Basketball Tournament they won in 1939, lost to the eventual champion Harlem Globetrotters in 1940, and finished second to the National Basketball League champion Minneapolis Lakers in 1948.Today in our History – February 5, 1972 – Robert L. Douglas (b. (St. Kitts) November 4, 1882 – Bob Douglas was the first African American elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.Known as “The Father of Black Professional Basketball,” Bob Douglas owned and coached the New York Renaissance from 1922 until 1949. Though racial discrimination was severe and unrelenting, Douglas kept his team focused. The Rens barnstormed from Boston to Kansas City and played any team – black or white – that would schedule them, including the Original Celtics and the Harlem Globetrotters. They often traveled as far as 200 miles for a game, were barred from many hotels and restaurants, often slept on the bus, ate cold meals, and frequently played twice on Sundays before returning to their home base. Despite these obstacles, the Rens became a dominant team, winning over 2,500games. Douglas’s astute eye for basketball talent led him to such greats as Charles “Tarzan” Cooper and “Wee” Willie Smith. Through Douglas’s leadership, the Rens were virtually unbeatable, winning 88 straight games in 1932-33. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s most prolific scorer, embraces history as if it were a long-lost friend. He knows February is Black History Month. He’s also aware that Feb. 5 will mark the 45th anniversary of the late Robert L. “Bob” Douglas being enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.Douglas, the first African-American to enter the hall, went in as a contributor.Abdul-Jabbar believes Douglas, regarded by many as the father of black professional basketball, deserved the honor despite being born in St. Kitts, British West Indies.“The West Indies are part and parcel of North America,” said Abdul-Jabbar. “Bob Douglas is certainly a major part of the evolution of the only sport that was invented in America.”He was a Black athlete, coach and administrator.Born in Saint Kitts, British West Indies, in 1923 Robert L. “Bob” Douglas founded the Harlem Renaissance (Rens) basketball team.Douglas owned and coached the Rens from 1923 to 1949, guiding them to a 2,318-381 record (.859). The Renaissance barnstormed throughout the United States, mostly in the Midwest, and played any team that would schedule them, Black or white.Traveling as far as 200 miles for a game, they often slept on the bus and ate cold meals; they were barred from many hotels and restaurants by Jim Crow laws and norms of racial discrimination which prevailed in the United States at the time.Though racial discrimination was severe, Douglas kept his team focused. Despite these obstacles, the Rens became a dominant team, winning over 86% of their games. Douglas’ astute eye for basketball talent led him to such greats as Charles “Tarzan” Cooper and Wee Willie Smith. Through Douglas’s leadership, the Rens were virtually unbeatable, winning 88 straight games in 1932-33.In the twenties and early thirties, their matches with the Original Boston Celtics were basketball’s greatest gate attraction. At the World Professional Basketball Tournament they won in 1939, lost to the eventual champion Harlem Globetrotters in 1940, and finished second to the National Basketball League champion Minneapolis Lakers in 1948.He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor in 1972, the first Black enshrined. Nicknamed the “Father of Black Professional Basketball”, Bob Douglas died on July 16, 1979. Research more about this great American Champion and share it with your babies. Make it a champion day!