Jules Bender
Encyclopedia
Jules Bender was an American collegiate
and professional basketball
player. He was an All-American at Long Island University
, leading the Blackbirds to a 103-6 record over his career.
Bender was a native of Brooklyn
, New York
, and attended Boys High School
. He went on to play college basketball at Long Island University from 1934 to 1937.
. During Bender's four-year career, the Blackbirds went a remarkable 103-6, including a perfect 24-0 in the 1935-36 season, with Bender leading the New York City
metropolitan area in scoroing (a feat he also accomplished the previous season). At the completion of the 1936 season, Bender was named the winner of the inaugural Haggerty Award
, presented to the top player in the metro area each year.
After the 1936 season, the LIU Blackbirds were invited to try out for the 1936 Olympics
, the first year in which basketball would be an event. In a move that surprised many, the largely Jewish team (including Jules Bender) boycotted the trials over the games' placement in Berlin
, Germany
and the anti-semitic leanings of the country's leader Adolf Hitler
.
Bender was named a Consensus All-American in 1937. He was inducted into the LIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000 (their inaugural class).
, Wilkes-Barre Barons
, Baltimore Clippers
and the Paterson Crescents
. Following his professional career he became a high school teacher at his alma mater, Boys High School.
Bender died of cancer on January 13, 1982.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
and professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He was an All-American at Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
, leading the Blackbirds to a 103-6 record over his career.
Bender was a native of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and attended Boys High School
Boys and Girls High School
Boys and Girls High School, the oldest public high school in Brooklyn, is a comprehensive high school in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York...
. He went on to play college basketball at Long Island University from 1934 to 1937.
College
Bender came to LIU to play for future Hall of Fame coach Clair BeeClair Bee
Clair Francis Bee was an American basketball coach, who led the team at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York to undefeated seasons in 1936 and 1939, as well as two National Invitation Tournament titles...
. During Bender's four-year career, the Blackbirds went a remarkable 103-6, including a perfect 24-0 in the 1935-36 season, with Bender leading the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
metropolitan area in scoroing (a feat he also accomplished the previous season). At the completion of the 1936 season, Bender was named the winner of the inaugural Haggerty Award
Haggerty Award
The Haggerty Award is given to the All-Metropolitan New York Division I men's college basketball player of the year, presented by the National Invitation Tournament and the Met Basketball Writers Association...
, presented to the top player in the metro area each year.
After the 1936 season, the LIU Blackbirds were invited to try out for the 1936 Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
, the first year in which basketball would be an event. In a move that surprised many, the largely Jewish team (including Jules Bender) boycotted the trials over the games' placement in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the anti-semitic leanings of the country's leader Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
.
Bender was named a Consensus All-American in 1937. He was inducted into the LIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000 (their inaugural class).
Professional
After his college career, Bender played in the American Basketball League for Kate Smith's Celtics, the Kingston ColonialsKingston Colonials
The Kingston Colonials were an American basketball team based in Kingston, New Jersey that was a member of the American Basketball League.During the 1939/40 season, the team was merged into the Troy Celtics on December 19, 1939.-Year-by-year:...
, Wilkes-Barre Barons
Wilkes-Barre Barons
The Wilkes-Barre Barons were a legendary basketball team from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.The Barons played between 1933 and 1972 in different American leagues. The team won 11 titles during this time, and the most memorable are those were won while playing in the American Basketball League and the...
, Baltimore Clippers
Baltimore Clippers (basketball)
The Baltimore Clippers were an American basketball team based in Baltimore, Maryland that was a member of the American Basketball League.-Year-by-year:...
and the Paterson Crescents
Paterson Crescents
The Paterson Whirlwinds were an American basketball team based in Paterson, New Jersey that was a member of the American Basketball League.After their first season, the team became known as the Paterson Crescents...
. Following his professional career he became a high school teacher at his alma mater, Boys High School.
Bender died of cancer on January 13, 1982.