Prodigy

I mentioned in my last blog-post that, in 1934 as a 13 year old freshman, I was the basketball coach’s pet. I thought it might be interesting to expand on that statement.

Ernest Curtis was both our high school principal and coach that year. At the beginning of the basketball season, he called the boys that came out for the team into his office for a meeting and a written test on basketball rules and regulations. Hooray for me, I was the only one to answer every question correctly. At the meeting Mr. Curtis also said he wanted us to start practicing ‘free throw’ shots during our noon recesses; and made a promise to take any of us that made 48 out of 50, to see the Indiana State Basketball Championship game. Well — Hooray again! On my very first attempt I made all 50 shots! A feat that I was never able to repeat — and no other team member was ever able to duplicate.

Needless to say, Mr. Curtis was impressed enough to take me in as his prodigy. It didn’t matter how small I was, he was determined to make me a star. I was his pet, both on the court and off! I started every ‘B’ team game... Dressed for the varsity team and sat on the bench next to Curtis during the games. And actually played a few minutes in two or three games that were out of reach.

And at season’s end, Mr. Curtis kept his promise and took me to see the 1935 Indiana High School Championship game at the Butler Field House in Indianapolis.

As a side note: Ernest Curtis was a cousin of Glenn Curtis who was the Martinsville high school coach and had won two consecutive Indiana High School Championships with the famous John Wooden as his star player. One night during 1934-35 basketball season Mr. Curtis took me to Vincennes, Indiana to see John Wooden, who at that time was a pro-player with the Indianapolis Kautskys, play against the Harlem Globe Trotters. Glenn Curtis was there, too, to watch his high school prodigy perform as a pro. Ernest Curtis introduced me to Glenn Curtis, saying, “This is I my Johnny Wooden!” Wow! It was the highest honor ever paid to me!

However, my fame as a basketball prodigy ended that year. Mr Curtis was replaced by a new high school principal and a new basketball coach.... I could not please either.... My bubble burst! The results might make another story for a future blog-post.