Today basketball is played "above the rim" by athletes of all
backgrounds and colors. But 50 years ago it was a floor-bound game, and
the opportunities it offered for African-Americans were severely
limited.
A key turning point was 1963, when the Loyola Ramblers of Chicago took
the NCAA men's basketball title from Cincinnati, the two-time defending
champions. It was one of Chicago's most memorable sports victories, but
Ramblers reveals it was also a game for the history books because of
the transgressive lineups fielded by both teams.
Ramblers is an entertaining, detail-rich look back at the unlikely
circumstances that led to Loyola's historic championship and the stories
of two Loyola opponents: Cincinnati and Mississippi State. Michael
Lenehan's narrative masterfully intertwines these stories in dramatic
fashion, culminating with the tournament's final game, a
come-from-behind overtime upset that featured two buzzer-beating shots.
While on the surface this is a book about basketball, it goes deeper to
illuminate how sport in America both typifies and drives change in the
broader culture. The stark social realities of the times are brought
vividly to life in Lenehan's telling, illustrating the challenges faced
in teams' efforts simply to play their game against the worthiest
opponents.
