Kent Washington Q & A.

Questions:

I) Your profile places you at 5’-8”. Also, I kind of picture The Poles as slow and prone to playing a “muscle-city” type of game.

Q: Describe what it was really like for you when you first started to play B-Ball there?

How did your size stack up?

A: As a team we felt undersized because we were competing against men.

Q: How did THEY influence your game?

A: We were caught off guard by the passing and movement of

the players and their basketball instincts. The FIBA basketball rules were vastly

different from NCAA rules. That took a while to reckon with as well. After the trip I came

to the realized nation that Americans were not the only ones that could excel at

basketball.

Q: Did YOU influence their game?

A: Although my teammates had played against me (while on tour) and they had seen

my skill and technique. It took us a few practices to gel. There were some moments in

practice where the ball went flying past teammates noses or hit them in the chest(:

However, slowly but surely we began to coordinate (mainly by keeping their eyes on me

while moving around the court).

II) Your Wikipedia page states: “He was the first American as well as the first black professional basketball player to play behind the Iron Curtain.” Let’s talk about that.

Q: So, the 600 pound gorilla in the room-forget the team-how many black people did you see when you walked around town?

A: I was most definitely the first Black person that most Poles who I came in

contact with had ever seen.

Q: More generalized, how many people-of-color?

A: I met a couple of helicopter pilots from Iraq at a hotel in my

city who were there to get their pilots license. Besides that I never saw any people of

color in Poland.

Q: In 1979, that was still the Cold War. What impact did that have on you and your relationships in Poland?

A: Living in Cold War Poland had daily life challenges that I had to endure if I

wanted to remain there.

III) A Polish newspaper stated, "(Kent) Washington was the best!" His playing style as well as his racial background made him an instant favorite with the fans, many of whom had not seen much basketball or black Americans.

“Poland stood out among Soviet-bloc countries in its looser attitude toward Communist orthodoxy. The Catholic Church remained independent, agriculture was largely private after 1956, and the government allowed sports teams to hire foreigners.” [Your writing page 255]

Q: This was right on the cusp of Cardinal Wojtyła, being named Pope John Paul II. What was that feeling going around the country when all this happened?

A: I had no knowledge of Poland’s government, religious persuasion, economy, Pope, or any other detail. I was a 23 year old basketball obsessed player who was granted the opportunity to continue my career. I would have played on the Moon!

Southampton College’s ability to go to Poland.

For starters, in a description of your memoir, Kentomania: A Black Basketball Virtuoso in Communist Poland, it states: “During a basketball tour of communist Poland with his college in May 1976, Kent (Washington) … became an overnight sensation.

Q: Do you think our/their government(s) wanted a Division-II school so as to not embarrass the Polish fans too much?

A: (Actually) the mayor and city council members (Town of Southampton) were of Polish descent and they helped arrange the tour.

Q: Do you recall who paid for that tour?

A: Each player paid a fee that covered air travel. We brought tee shirts, socks, and other small accessories as gifts.

Says you were on a four year scholarship, at Southampton, help our readers understand how that has changed at non-Division 1 programs since your time?

Foreign Languages if you please. (A decidedly American question here, I guess.)

After Poland you played 10 years in Sweden, where you met your wife Suzanne, and when you replied to me initially you were in the Netherlands.

Side Note: My mom grew up near Buffalo. She learned Polish, as a young kid, at home. Later, in both high school and college she took “textbook” French. Today, at 92, she doesn’t remember much French but can still handle Polish. So, from a fellow who bombed out with 3 different language attempts I’d like to know the following:

Q: What languages do you speak? Also, read and/or write?

A: I learned Polish because I emerged myself into the culture and veeeery few people spoke English in Poland. I speak a little now. I am fluent in Swedish. I took courses in grammar, reading and writing. I both speak, read and write Swedish.

Q: What did you take in school?

A: I took Spanish in school that was mandated-three years.

Q: Can you think in other languages or do you have to translate-in your head-think it out in English and then reply to people?

A: I do find that I think in Swedish and translate to English at times. It often depends on circumstances.

Your time as a college student.

Q: How was your time at Southampton?

A: I loved my time at Southampton College. I made so many friends and I realize now that the social opportunities and roommates is the real experience. I learned what I learned in books. But. Listening to different music, sharing experiences,

communicating with others was the real education.

Q: Have you been back to the Southampton campus since the state system (SUNY) has taken over the school?

A: I went back to Southampton when I coached at Mercy College Women’s basketball. We played Southampton in the late 90’s. Actually, Tony Bozella who is going into the LIU Hall of Fame with Hahn coached at Southampton then. We know each other. Mary Toppins was the Athletic Director and she wanted to retire my basketball jersey. However, because of circumstances it never got done.

Q: Do you identify as a Long Island University alum?

A: I do not identify as a LIU graduate.

Q: The LIU 100th anniversary is this year. Will you be attending any functions?

A: Being in the Netherlands hinders me from certain things such as anniversaries.

Q: In reference to you, it was written: “He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA in 1977,” but in the 10th round. What was that like?

A: When you are drafted that late you hardly know it. I went to a LA Summer

League which did not result in much.

Q: Your life in Polish films. Mis or Teddy Bear. What was that like?

A: My popularity allowed me to be in a Polish comedy. I had no idea that it would be

a classic. It was an interesting experience and I am the first Black American in a Polish

film. Maybe your mother’s Polish friends or relatives have seen the film?

I always leave the obnoxious questions for last. Harlemu Czarodziej z 1990. Was described as “A provincial basketball club gets a new player - an African-American called Abraham. But as his plane lands in Gdansk instead of Warsaw, an accidental African-American is mistaken for him.”

Q: If you saw it, what did you think?

A: I had no idea about the film until 2019 and a Polish journalist spoke to me on the

anniversary of 40 years. I was told about the film “Wizard of Harlem” as well about me

being the first American to play in Poland. I have seen the movie and it is terrible.

Q: Did they ever consult you? Pay you? Ask your permission?

A: It is said that the “Wizard of Harlem” film was “inspired” (not based) on my presence in Poland. I was never consulted, paid or asked permission.

Note: I found a YouTube clip with the first 10 minutes of the movie which I will post in the article.

I have an imaginative playing style (I used to drive my Southampton coaches crazy) both dribbling and passing. So I brought that to the Polish game. I quickly learned that the ball moves faster when passed than when dribbled up the court.

Movie Clip Tis/Teddy Bear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeE5QAGjNOg

Movie Opening Wizard of Harlem (8/8)

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