The first thing that struck me about the magazine was that picture of the men’s basketball team on the cover. The photo featured players I remember playing against; but most importantly, their coach, whose name was Herman Clurman. There are probably only two people in all of Kansas City – Jack Fingersh and yours truly – who could identify the man in the middle of the photo (the one with all his clothes on) as Herman Clurman. We both played with and against Herman at the old Jewish Community Center building on Linwood Boulevard. The gym was unique in that the basketball court had an overhead track. To shoot a basket from the corner without hitting the track and being disqualified, you had to shoot the ball without much height. But Herman had that shot down pat.
Herman, when he played for the the Center, was teammates with guys like Iz Vile, Hy Levy and Doc Waldman. They were one tough team. When Jack Fingersh and I played for the Bar Kochbian AZA #335 team, we used to have some knock-down, drag-out games with those “older guys.” In fact, I lost two of my front teeth in a game. In those days, Jack Fingersh and I, together, often scored 22 points a game. Jack would score 20 and I’d get the rest of them.
And at the old Center on Linwood I used to love spending time hanging out on the first floor with some of my brother Bernie’s friends: Harold Klopper, Steve Price, Sid Willens and Milton Firestone. And spending time on the roof at one of the outdoor social mixers, complete with girls and jukebox music.
But getting back to Herman. He was probably the smartest player I’ve ever played with or against. I wonder how many people still remember him? I know there are at least two.
Marvin Fremerman
Springfield, Missouri