Apr 21, 2023·edited Apr 21, 2023Liked by Sherman Alexie
Excellent interview - I'm a basketball player and have played in Hoopfest a few times in Spokane. Best basketball tourney in the world! Also, I do detect your accent and it seems like in your spoken sentences your pitch rises toward the end. I've heard stories of Stockton's competitive nature - I have a beer mug from Jack & Dan's (his dad's bar). You make me laugh, Mr. Alexie. Keep it up!
Thank you, Tom. I have recently retired as a ball player. Too old, too fat, too slow, too injury prone. I'm included in the Gonzaga U mural painted on the side of Jack & Dan's!
Wow - cool, gotta check that mural out. I'm still on the hardwood but my days are numbered. It will be the saddest day of my life when I give up hoops. But I'll feel better!
Listened to it all & much enjoyed it, even though I'm not a big NBA fan. I thought Strauss missed an important op when the issue started to come up about NA/Indian basketball--why so few go on to succeed at college or NBA levels. When I came to Idaho 50+ years ago, I witnessed the phenomenon of "rez ball," which seemed largely to be run & gun in nature. The supposed answer to the question was that they don't care that much about defense. And it was also proposed that they felt uncomfortable away from family & the rez. But when the matter seemed to come up, the talk took a tur elsewhere. Jim Welch deals with it somewhat in his lesser read novel, "Indian Lawyer." Very interesting discussion on gambling.
Great idea to write a piece on the rez game! I doubt you'd be interested in research, but Peter Donahue has an essay titled "New Warriors, New Legends: Basketball in Three NA Works of Fiction" in the American Indian Culture & Research Journal 21.2 (1997). At least kind of interesting maybe.
Hey thanks! Didn't have a chance to listen yesterday. Great conversation.
Thank you!
Excellent interview - I'm a basketball player and have played in Hoopfest a few times in Spokane. Best basketball tourney in the world! Also, I do detect your accent and it seems like in your spoken sentences your pitch rises toward the end. I've heard stories of Stockton's competitive nature - I have a beer mug from Jack & Dan's (his dad's bar). You make me laugh, Mr. Alexie. Keep it up!
Thank you, Tom. I have recently retired as a ball player. Too old, too fat, too slow, too injury prone. I'm included in the Gonzaga U mural painted on the side of Jack & Dan's!
Wow - cool, gotta check that mural out. I'm still on the hardwood but my days are numbered. It will be the saddest day of my life when I give up hoops. But I'll feel better!
I'm sure you may have read "Brothers on Three" about the Arlee, Montana rez team. Great book about that high school team.
Yes, I have. I played many years on the all-Indian basketball tourney circuit so I know a lot of Montana hoopsters, past and present.
Great stuff - just hearing two smart men exploring a subject they both feel passionate about. Thanks.
Thanks, Kate!
Awesome 👏
Thanks, Michael.
Listened to it all & much enjoyed it, even though I'm not a big NBA fan. I thought Strauss missed an important op when the issue started to come up about NA/Indian basketball--why so few go on to succeed at college or NBA levels. When I came to Idaho 50+ years ago, I witnessed the phenomenon of "rez ball," which seemed largely to be run & gun in nature. The supposed answer to the question was that they don't care that much about defense. And it was also proposed that they felt uncomfortable away from family & the rez. But when the matter seemed to come up, the talk took a tur elsewhere. Jim Welch deals with it somewhat in his lesser read novel, "Indian Lawyer." Very interesting discussion on gambling.
Yeah, I also failed to go in that direction. I think maybe I'll write an essay about rez ball.
Great idea to write a piece on the rez game! I doubt you'd be interested in research, but Peter Donahue has an essay titled "New Warriors, New Legends: Basketball in Three NA Works of Fiction" in the American Indian Culture & Research Journal 21.2 (1997). At least kind of interesting maybe.
Welch wrote some fiction about rez ball. I did and do. Who else does? I'm wondering how many Native writers actually played rez ball?
Yes! Very recognizable. Looks like a pretty formidable team.
Spokane City League Champions 1987!
Digging’ the photo!
I'm #11
I thought that was a younger you!
Younger, thinner, prettier! Ha!
Weren’t we all, that many years ago! Lol