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Saturday, 04 February 2012 14:40

Written by Jenn Menendez

The Chuck Cooper Classic is tonight at Duquesne.

The Dukes will take on Richmond - a team the seniors on this squad have yet to beat in their career at Duquesne.

The game, televised on ESPNU, is expected to be a sellout.

Read today's story to learn more about Cooper. Click here. A Pittsburgh native and Duquesne alum, he was the first African American drafted in the NBA, in 1950 by the Boston Celtics.

Below is video from a ceremony in Boston about 10 years ago, that includes some footage of Cooper as a player.

From Celtics legend Bob Cousy, who was Cooper's roommate:

"Baseball and Branch Rickey (GM of the Brooklyn Dodgers) had been extremely selective in choosing just the right player - Jackie Robinson - to break the color barrier. The Celtics chose Chuck for one single reason. He was the best player available at that time."

"But guess what? We got a bonus with Chuck. Turned out he was not only a fine player, but also a sensitive and intelligent guy who handled his pain with class and dignity and determination as well. I think, he played a very positive role in race relations in those early years. I was very proud that he allowed me to be his friend from that point until unfortunately his premature death."

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written by 123, February 04, 2012 - 01:32 PM

Jenn...great job on the Chuck Cooper piece.

My morning paper today had no byline from you and I had to see your name at the very end.

Then, at Crazy Mocha, after a job, there was a P-G sitting there and your name was on the front page where it belonged.

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