Players revolt, George Steinbrenner's actions force out John McLendon: Cleveland Pipers book excerpts (photos) (original) (raw)

'George Steinbrenner's Pipe Dream, The ABL Champion Cleveland Pipers' by Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston.

In the new book "George Steinbrenner's Pipe Dream: The ABL Champion Cleveland Pipers", Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston tells the story of Cleveland's only modern-day pro basketball champion to date. The book is available from Northeast Ohio book stores and online from www.KentStateUniversityPress.com and from www.Amazon.com. The suggested retail price is $18.95.

Look for daily excerpts through Friday this week in The Plain Dealer and on cleveland.com. This excerpt, the third of five, explores the scenario that led to the resignation of Coach John McLendon.

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McLendon walks away from Steinbrenner

George Steinbrenner had the contradictory ability to chase victory at all costs, seize it through ruthless means, and lose the respect he sought to gain with it.

For two weeks, Steinbrenner had been fuming about Bob Sudyk's Cleveland Press story of a possible player revolt because George had not paid the players after their loss to Kansas City in the ABL's unique first-half playoff between division winners. It put Steinbrenner in a very poor light, particularly in view of the unfortunate fact that it was true.

On January 29, 1962, the Cleveland Press's sports editor, Bob August, received a message from Jack Adams, the Pipers' captain, which was signed by the 10 players who made the season's longest trip to Hawaii, where the ABL had its most remote outpost.

The players' statement amounted to articles of surrender. It ended with a hymn of praise for Steinbrenner: "We would like it clearly understood that Mr. Steinbrenner has our unquestioned support... We admire his drive and determination to win this championship... We feel we have let him down by not coming to you (August) sooner with a true picture in this matter... Somewhere your reporter got some unreliable information and we hope all this can be set straight so we can get down to the business of trying to win that championship."

Coach John McLendon's rebuttal was powerful for its very lack of showy histrionics. McLendon had a lifetime's lessons in holding his tongue. He would not bow to the whims of an unreasonable man, though. McLendon had the strength to let go of the job he loved because it saved the jobs of those he loved more.

"On the basis of the statements made by Pipers President George Steinbrenner, I feel that I will have to ask immediately for a settlement in regard to my contract," said McLendon.

McLendon added that the players' statement was obtained without his knowledge after he had destroyed an earlier version. The coach said the players were coerced into signing it.

Steinbrenner had told McLendon, "Either you or Jack Adams get a statement from those players which reinstates me before my family and friends or I will fold the club and all of them will be out on the street and they won't be able to collect on their contracts by the way we have it fixed. Now I am not kidding, you get them to give their denial of the remarks I made or I will get them."

With nothing more to fear from Steinbrenner after he had been traded to New York, former Piper Roger Taylor confirmed McLendon's version of the events. "We were told in a group that George wanted us to deny what was in the Press story or that he would fold the club and see to it that no one was paid for the rest of the year," Taylor said.

McLendon said, "I am and have been able to withstand personal attacks but I cannot stand by and see a good group of young athletes intimidated. When the president's (Steinbrenner's) actions affect the thinking and performance of the team I must speak out. I don't appreciate the sneaking behind my back with the statement and attempting to divide the loyalty of the players."

The same day, the Pipers traded Adams.

"We had flown 10-11 hours back from Hawaii," Adams said.

The Pipers had lost three of four games there to drop their record to 2-7 in the second half of the season.

"I was exhausted from the trip, when I heard my name being paged at the Cleveland airport, " Adams said.

"I've decided to fire McLendon. I want you to take over," barked Steinbrenner.

"Larry Siegfried had talked to Steinbrenner about me and said he thought I could be a good coach. But I was very fond of John McLendon. I knew George wanted a big name, anyway. I couldn't do it," Adams said.

"Then you're traded," Steinbrenner said.

"I had to get right on a plane to Pittsburgh and play for the New York Tapers that night," said Adams.

"All George has succeeded in doing is getting rid of a coach who is one of the most respected in basketball," wrote sports columnist Frank Gibbons in the Cleveland Press.

Said Ron Hamilton, a former Pipers point guard, "McLendon did everything in the world to make it last. Steinbrenner didn't like him from the start, didn't respect him, and didn't pay him. He was a crude man."

Steinbrenner quickly completed negotiations to bring Bill Sharman to Cleveland as the Pipers' new coach.

The next month, on February 23, before the Pipers beat the Tapers at the Arena, the Cleveland Browns' off-season basketball team played the Pittsburgh Steelers' team. Such games were common then, before players became too expensive to risk their well-being in them.

Jim Brown was the leading scorer as the Browns won, 71-56. A Steeler player, Red Mack, played while wearing a felt hat, "a la Goose Tatum," wrote The Plain Dealer's Chuck Heaton.

The "coach" of the Browns team, appointed to lead the shabby circus by Steinbrenner, was John McLendon.

It was hard for McLendon to be part of such tomfoolery before a real game, played by the very players he had coached, in front of the fans who had cheered for him and them. But, as ever, McLendon found reserves of personal strength and finished with a victory in a caricature of the game to which he had devoted his life.

McLendon had moved North, where the opportunity for black men lay. But he was the same man in the football players' game as he had been on those loud nights of triumph at Tennessee State.

In an era before equality under the law was extended to all Americans regardless of color, no one's personal dignity was as irreproachable and unwavering as that of Southern black gentlemen, of whom John McLendon was an unblemished, utterly incorruptible example.

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Adapted from the book "George Steinbrenner's Pipe Dream: The ABL Champion Cleveland Pipers" (c) 2015 by Bill Livingston. All rights reserved. This text may not be reproduced in any form or manner without written permission of Kent State University Press, Publishers. For information, call the publisher at 800-247-6553 or visit their web site: www.KentStateUniversityPress.com.

Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston will be signing copies of his new book about the Cleveland Pipers at the Crocker Park Barnes & Noble, 198 Crocker Park Blvd. in Westlake on Tuesday, Dec. 1 from 7- 9 p.m.

About the series:

Excerpts from "George Steinbrenner's Pipe Dream: The ABL Champion Cleveland Pipers", the new book by Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston, publishing this week in The Plain Dealer and on cleveland.com.

Monday: The Cleveland Pipers, champions of a visionary league, were undermined after being admitted to the NBA by their owner's overbearing personality and insecure finances. (Click here)

Tuesday: The Pipers' pioneering coach, John McLendon, and stormy owner, George Steinbrenner, were on a collision course from the start. (Click here)

Wednesday: The Pipers' players revolt, and Steinbrenner's strong-arm actions force McLendon to resign.

Thursday: After nearly forfeiting the decisive game of the ABL Finals, the Pipers win two buzzer-beaters and the final game on the road to become champions.

Friday: Against all odds, the Pipers sign Ohio State superstar Jerry Lucas, seemingly assuring a successful future.

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