A Black US Basketball Virtuoso in Cold War Poland (396)

Cold War Conversations

Ian Sanders

Society & Culture, Documentary, History

4.8 • 758 Ratings

🗓️ 4 April 2025

⏱️ 85 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Communist Polish press called it "Kentomania!"—the excitement surrounding a 23 year old, called Kent Washington who made history as the first American—and the first Black American—to sign a professional sports contract behind the Iron Curtain. Stepping off the plane in Poland, Kent was immediately struck by how different everything felt. Yet, it was on the basketball court where he found common ground with the Polish people. His creative and electrifying gameplay won over audiences, earning him admiration and respect. But beyond basketball, the warmth and hospitality of the Polish people left a lasting impression, making him a beloved figure in the country’s sports history. As a result, Kent was inspired to write a memoir, ‘Kentomania: A Black Basketball Virtuoso in Communist Poland’. BUY THE BOOK HERE Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode396/ The fight to keep Cold War history alive continues, and with your support, I can ensure these incredible stories are never forgotten. A simple monthly or annual donation gives me the resources to continue uncovering and sharing the untold history of this fascinating era. As a valued supporter, you’ll become part of our exclusive community, enjoy ad-free episodes, and receive the coveted CWC coaster as a token of my appreciation. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you're playing a vital role in preserving Cold War history for future generations. Join us now at: https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Prefer a one-time contribution? Every bit helps! You can make a one-off donation at the same link. Thank you for keeping Cold War history alive! Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/ Follow us on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social Follow us on Threads https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Love history? Join Intohistory https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
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1:01.5	I was interviewed by a Polish woman, and she said to me, your story is so unique that I thought it was fiction.
1:13.5	I thought it was a Hollywood script going bad until I looked you up and saw that this really happened.
1:25.0	This is Cold War Conversations. If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts. Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app so you don't miss future episodes.
1:38.5	The communist Polish press called it Kentomania, the excitement surrounding a 23-year-old called Kent Washington,
1:45.0	who made history as the first American and the first black American to sign a professional
1:49.9	sports contract behind the Iron Curtain. His creative and electrifying gameplay won over audiences,
1:56.5	earning him admiration and respect, but beyond basketball, the warmth and hospitality of the Polish
2:02.2	people left a lasting impression, making him a beloved figure in the country's sporting history.
2:08.5	Kent was inspired to write a memoir, Kentomania, a black basketball virtuoso in Communist Poland.
	...

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