John Christgau (1934–2018) was a lecturer at Saint Mary’s College of California and is the author of many books, including The Origins of the Jumpshot: Eight Men Who Shook the World of Basketball (Nebraska 1998).

"Christgau's play-by-play account of the game is sports writing at its finest."—Robert W. Black, Associated Press "Through newspaper accounts, photographs and interviews, Christgau meticulously recreates every play. . . . [H]is research is impeccable, and his insights into the players and coaches, and, particularly into America in the post-war '40s, are fascinating."—San Francisco Chronicle "Christgau's re-creation of every basket from newspaper accounts and statistical records is remarkable, considering no newsreel or audio of the game exists."—Tom Hoffarth, LA Daily News "[A] fascinating look at a chapter of Chicago sports lore I am embarrassed to say was not familiar to me: an incredible game at the stadium between George Mikan's Minneapolis Lakers and the Goose Taum-Marques Haynes Globetrotters, deadly serious for once, for what might have been the unofficial world championship back in the days before pro basketball allowed black players in its ranks."—Ron Rapoport, Chicago Tribune "John Christgau does a marvelous job of recreating a pivotal game and a pivotal time in the life of the NBA. . . . Christgau recreates a play-by-play of the dramatic game but, surrounding that, he provides a history of the teams and how they came to be that is just as compelling."—Minneapolis Tribune "John Cristigau, a former high scoring forward for the Gator basketball team, takes readers back to a night in Chicago Stadium when a single game eclipsed the nation's racial divide."—SFSU Magazine

• I. First Quarter1. The Race2. Ma Piersall3. The Kangaroo Kid4. Babe5. Goose6. Ermer7. The Fastest Runner on Sixty-first StreetII. Second Quarter8. Blackie9. The King of Basketball10. The Crisco Kid11. Olson's Terrible Swedes12. SamboIII. Halftime13. Johnny and AbeIV. Third Quarter14. Bucky15. Pop16. MarquesV. Fourth Quarter17. Ted18. The Wee Ice Mon19. David and Goliath20. The Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost21. The Shot22. SweetwaterVI. Overtime23. Shaq24. RigoNotesSources and Acknowledgments

John Christgau (1934–2018) was a lecturer at Saint Mary’s College of California and is the author of many books, including The Origins of the Jumpshot: Eight Men Who Shook the World of Basketball (Nebraska 1998).

"Christgau's play-by-play account of the game is sports writing at its finest."—Robert W. Black, Associated Press "Through newspaper accounts, photographs and interviews, Christgau meticulously recreates every play. . . . [H]is research is impeccable, and his insights into the players and coaches, and, particularly into America in the post-war '40s, are fascinating."—San Francisco Chronicle "Christgau's re-creation of every basket from newspaper accounts and statistical records is remarkable, considering no newsreel or audio of the game exists."—Tom Hoffarth, LA Daily News "[A] fascinating look at a chapter of Chicago sports lore I am embarrassed to say was not familiar to me: an incredible game at the stadium between George Mikan's Minneapolis Lakers and the Goose Taum-Marques Haynes Globetrotters, deadly serious for once, for what might have been the unofficial world championship back in the days before pro basketball allowed black players in its ranks."—Ron Rapoport, Chicago Tribune "John Christgau does a marvelous job of recreating a pivotal game and a pivotal time in the life of the NBA. . . . Christgau recreates a play-by-play of the dramatic game but, surrounding that, he provides a history of the teams and how they came to be that is just as compelling."—Minneapolis Tribune "John Cristigau, a former high scoring forward for the Gator basketball team, takes readers back to a night in Chicago Stadium when a single game eclipsed the nation's racial divide."—SFSU Magazine

• I. First Quarter1. The Race2. Ma Piersall3. The Kangaroo Kid4. Babe5. Goose6. Ermer7. The Fastest Runner on Sixty-first StreetII. Second Quarter8. Blackie9. The King of Basketball10. The Crisco Kid11. Olson's Terrible Swedes12. SamboIII. Halftime13. Johnny and AbeIV. Third Quarter14. Bucky15. Pop16. MarquesV. Fourth Quarter17. Ted18. The Wee Ice Mon19. David and Goliath20. The Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost21. The Shot22. SweetwaterVI. Overtime23. Shaq24. RigoNotesSources and Acknowledgments