NEW YORK, NY — For those who love the sport of basketball, “Soul Power” on Prime Video should be on the top of your watch list as the documentary shows viewers the inner-workings behind the scenes of the American Basketball Association, which challenged and changed the National Basketball Association.
“Soul Power,” which debuted last week on Prime Video, is a terrific four-part documentary, narrated by actor and hip-hop star Common, examining the tumultuous nine-year history of the ABA.
The documentary pays homage to the terrific teams and players of the ABA such as Dan Issel, Willie Wise, Mack Calvin, Mel Daniels, Rick Barry, and Long Island’s own Julius “Dr. J” Erving. It also credits the league for inventing the three-point shot, physical play, great athleticism, and for having truly integrated teams. It was not unusual for black and white players to room together on the road and socialize at home.
It is fun to hear legendary crooner Pat Boone, who is still as sharp as ever at 91 years young, recall his days as the owner of the Oakland Oaks. It was Boone who was able to persuade NBA star forward Rick Barry to leave the San Francisco Warriors and travel across the Bay Bridge to play in Oakland.
Astoria native, and famed sportscaster, Bob Costas got his start doing play-by-play for the ABA’s Spirits of St. Louis. Costas, being the raconteur he is, provides the viewers with plenty of memories, including one where he inadvertently used a sexual slang term on KMOX to describe the Spirits’ penchant for blowing games in the final minutes.
Barry’s arrival, along with the signings of New York City high school and playground stars Connie Hawkins and Roger Brown, who were blackballed by the NBA at the time, gave the ABA credibility with knowledgeable hoops fans.
It was the failure of the league to sign another prominent Big Apple high school star, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, which would doom it. “Soul Power” reveals the nine team owners pooled together a million dollars, which was incredible money for an athlete in 1970, to sign Alcindor, who had made it known he would prefer to play with the Nets.
Image Credit: Soul Power/Prime Video
The owners entrusted ABA commissioner, George Mikan, who like Alcindor had a Hall of Fame career, to make the offer to him. Unbeknownst to the owners, Mikan made an offer to Alcindor which was far below what the owners were willing to give, and Alcindor wound up signing with the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. When the owners found out what Mikan had done, they immediately fired him.
On the debit side, “Soul Power,” ignores those players who were renowned for getting into fights with opposing players and fans such as John Brisker and Wendell Ladner. The documentary also overlooks legendary Lou Carnesecca who left St. John’s University for three years (1970-73) to coach the Nets when they played in both the Island Garden in West Hempstead, and the first years of the Nassau Coliseum. Louie was able to get Red Storm greats such as Billy Paultz, Joe DePre, and Sonny Dove to play for the Nets.
Howie Rose cutting down on his Mets radio schedule
Longtime Mets radio voice, and Cardozo High School and Queens College alum, Howie Rose told Newsday’s Anthony Rieber that he will only be calling Mets games played in the Big Apple this year. He will be in the Mets broadcast booth for every game at Citi Field, and for the three Subway Series games in the Bronx. He will call every Mets postseason game if their season extends into October, however.
Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Rose loves announcing Mets games, but it is the grind of traffic, air travel, and living out of hotel rooms which factor factor into his decision. The bigger issue for him is health. Rose is a bladder cancer survivor, and urological issues are understandable concerns.
Steve Cohen meets with the media in Port St. Lucie, Florida
Mets owner Steve Cohen declared his team will never have a captain as long as he is in charge. He was acknowledging dissension in the Mets clubhouse last season. “Let the players sort these things out,” Cohen told the media in Port St. Lucie last week. He is right. Having a captain does nothing to improve team morale. Every organization has informal leaders, and that is the best way to go.
Juan Lagares retires from MLB after 10 seasons
Former Mets centerfielder Juan Lagares, who won a Gold Glove in 2014 for his defensive prowess, announced his retirement last week.
Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Lagares never hit consistently enough to be in the lineup on a daily basis. It was fitting that Lagares made an appearance at Citi Field last November as a player-coach for the Dominican Republic team when they played Puerto Rico in their annual Queens showdown.
Spring Training on MLB Network and ESPN
The MLB Network will be televising spring training games from around the majors on a daily basis. ESPN will also be showing select Grapefruit League games, including a March 4th matinee in which the Yankees will take on the Red Sox in Fort Myers.
The 2026 New York International Toy Fair at the Javits Center
Sports equipment, collectibles, and gaming companies had a major presence at the 2026 New York International Toy Fair held last week at Javits Center.
Image Credit: The Toy Association
With the FIFA World Cup being played in the USA this summer, it is not surprising that Franklin Sports and Playpro were touting their soccer balls, despite neither company being licensed by FIFA. Playpro has smartly created soccer balls with the designs of the flags of the teams playing in the World Cup.
Hunter Products has the licensing rights to use past and present ESPN logos on their basketballs, footballs, and soccer balls. Firebomb has a line of basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, and paddle racquets which illuminate in the dark for those who enjoy outdoor sports after sunset.
Party Animal has licensing agreements with all the major sports leagues and is a one-stop shop for coffee mugs, water bottles, flags, and banners of your favorite teams, as well as select action figures of well-known athletes.
NBC with high hopes for “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” and “Stumble”
NBC is hoping a pair of comedies which have a sports theme will help revive their primetime lineup.
“The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” stars Tracy Morgan as the title character, a fictional former New York Jets running back who got banned from the NFL for betting on himself in a game.
Image Credit: NBC
Reggie is hoping to rehabilitate his image so he will be considered for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He hires a documentary producer played by Daniel Radcliffe in the hopes of creating a reality series which will improve his public relations. “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” airs Mondays at 8PM.
“Stumble” is a mockumentary in the style of an old NBC staple, “The Office,” but the setting is an Oklahoma junior college. The lead character is a cheerleading coach played by Jenn Lyon who is trying to win a national championship which would put her in the NCAA record books as the most successful coach in history. The problem is her current squad consists of sitcom misfits rather than credible athletes who could have been gymnasts.
Image Credit: NBC
It is akin to when Casey Stengel took the job as the manager of the Mets in 1962 after he was fired as the skipper of the Yankees when they dominated baseball in the 1950s. “Stumble” airs Fridays at 8:30.
Catch “Man on the Run” out now on Prime Video
There has been a plethora of Beatles documentaries, but surprisingly very few on the musical careers of the Fab Four after the group disbanded. Prime Video has attempted to remedy this with a two-hour look at Paul McCartney’s fertile period from 1970-1982 with “Man on the Run,” which is a play on the title of his magnificent 1974 album, “Band on the Run.”
While most consider Paul McCartney to be a genius based on his incredible Beatles songwriting catalog and record sales, “Man on the Run” showed he was unsure of his talents and future success when he had to go out on his own in 1970.
Image Credit: Prime Video
He retreated to his farm in Scotland, and recorded tracks in a primitive studio with no other musicians except his wife and keyboardist, Linda.
With the help of former Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine, he was able to form the band Wings, but unlike the Beatles, that group incurred numerous personnel changes. While he was trying to get Wings established, he still had to deal with the business dissolution of the Beatles, and all the legal and business acrimony that entailed.
McCartney committed a serious blunder when he was arrested in Japan for marijuana possession which landed him in jail. He could have received seven years in a Tokyo cell, but diplomacy efforts sprung him in a week.
While McCartney’s relationship with John Lennon is continually mentioned, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are afterthoughts for some reason.
“Man on the Run” covers a lot of ground in two hours and is well worth the time investment.
You can read more of Lloyd Carroll’s columns posted weekly on The Queens Chronicle.
