Coming Back, Giving Back
Harlem Basketball Legends
Earl "The Goat" Manigault
1944 - 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Earl Manigault
Holcombe Rucker
EARL MANIGAULT
Brian Lindstrom:
Hello. I'm Brian Lindstrom. I'm a filmmaker in Portland, Oregon.
I first became aware of Earl "The Goat" Manigault in the books The City
Game by Pete Axthelm, Foul (The Connie Hawkins story) by David Wolf, and
The Basketball Diaries by Jim Carroll. What attracted me to Earl's life
story is the theme of redemption. Earl threw away his incredible,
once-in-a-generation basketball talent for "The White Lady"--heroin.
Instead of an NBA All-Star, he became a junkie and a convict. But Earl
had the heart to get clean and share his hard-won knowledge so that others
might be spared the hell he endured. Earl uses his status as playground
basketball legend to reach Harlem youth with his pro-education, anti-drug
message. For the last 25 years, The Earl Manigault Walk Away From Drugs
Basketball Tournament has given Harlem youth a positive alternative to the
streets. While going to film school at Columbia University, I made Earl
"The Goat" Manigault: Coming Back, Giving Back -- a short documentary
about Earl's rise, fall and redemption. My documentary features NBA Hall
of Famers and Rucker League legends Julius Erving and Connie Hawkins, along
with interviews of members of the Harlem community Earl has worked so long
and hard to help.
Earl "The Goat" Manigault: Coming Back, Giving Back was broadcast
on PBS's The Image Union in 1993, and has been used by Earl to obtain
financial support for his Walk Away From Drugs Basketball Tournament. Earl
and I became close friends while making Coming Back, Giving Back. In fact,
Earl lived with me in my small East Village apartment. We are still in
touch. Despite heart troubles, Earl continues his work with Harlem youth.
I hope you'll consider ordering my documentary. The fee covers the cost
of the tape, plus shipping and handling. If there are any profits, they
will go to Earl and his Walk Away From Drugs Basketball Tournament.
The short documentary about Earl is no longer availible.
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HOLCOMBE RUCKER
Brian Lindstrom is working on a Video project about Holcombe
Rucker. He would appreciate any information or stories that would
help in telling the story about this Harlem basketball legend.
Holcombe Rucker is well known in the New York area and abroad for organzing
the Harlem Professional Basketball League in 1946. This league, now known as
The Rucker League is unique, matching schoolyard greats against professional
basketball stars. Herman (helicopter) Knowings, Pablo Robinson, Jackie Jackson,
Earl Manigault*, Joe (one armed man) Lewis are the best known playground performers. Wilt
Chamberlain, Nate Archibald, Willis Reed, Julius Erving, Bill Bradley, and
Dave Cowens are a handful of pros who have participated in the tournament.
Rucker tournament is played on summer weekends from morning till night on
various Harlem playgrounds before crowds estimated near 10,000.
Holcumbe Rucker was born on 3-2-26 and passed away in 1965, a victim of cancer.
Any information to help complete this project would be
greatly appreicated by
Brian, and the thousands of New York City youth
who benefitted from Holcombe Rucker's courage and committment.
Thank you for your help and support.
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