Bromberg, John

Abraham John Bromberg

Bromberg was a guard during his college career at Long Island University. In 1939, he was named All-America and he helped lead LIU to the NIT title and the National Championship. In a New York Evening Post article prior to the first-ever NIT game (held in 1938), Bromberg was described as, "...a player who runs about the court like the well-known chicken minus its head, shouting nonsensical syllables at his mates and foes alike, Johnny has gradually eased his way into the engineer's cab and seems certain to grasp the LIU throttle with both hands�Bromberg has more than made up for the lack of finesse at times by his contagious enthusiasm on the court. [LIU coach Clair] Bee agrees without the slightest coaxing that the zanie has been no end of help what with one trouble or another that has beset the Blackbirds from time to time..." (March 8, 1938)

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Career Highlights:
Bromberg joined the LIU basketball team in 1937 as a guard with classmates Irv Torgoff and Danny Kaplowitz. As a sophomore that year, he was a substitute on the team regarded by many as the best in the country (they went undefeated the previous season, 26-0). Many expected the Blackbirds, led by seniors Jules Bender, Ben Kramer, and Leo Merson, to continue their winning streak throughout the 1937 season. In late December 1936, however, with their winning streak at 43 games, the squad lost, 45-31, to Stanford, led by Hall of Famer Hank Luisetti, who unleashed his 'one-handed' shot against the Long Islanders. Although Bromberg did not play in that game, he appeared in 22 games off the bench for the 28-3 Blackbirds, scoring 36 points on 16 field goals and four free throws.

The following year (1938), Bromberg joined LIU�s starting line-up and finished third on the team with 208 points (behind Torgoff and Kaplowitz), playing every game for the 23-4 Blackbirds. Following the regular season, LIU was invited to play in the NIT (National Invitiational Tournament), the first-ever national postseason competition. Prior to the tournament, LIU coach Clair Bee declared that Bromberg was the key to victory. Known for his enthusiastic, if less than artistic, play, Bromberg became a key player for the Blackbirds during the 1938 season. Matched against NYU (New York University) in the first round, the game would be the first time the two New York City rivals ever played (LIU rose to basketball prominance in 1934, but NYU refused to play them during the regular season). In the game against NYU, Bromberg and his teammates were unable to find the basket during crucial moments and lost, 39-37 (Bromberg scored six points).

Following their defeat in the 1938 NIT, LIU built up another long winning streak, winning all 21 games in the 1939 regular season. Bromberg, who returned to the starting line-up as a guard, was again the team's third leading scorer with 124 points(again behind Torgoff and Kaplowitz). Named third team Madison Square Garden All-America, Bromberg suffered a broken nose in the final game of the season against LaSalle (a 28-21 victory), but returned to play in the NIT. In their first-round game, the top-seeded Blackbird squad defeated New Mexico, 52-45. Bromberg registered 13 points. In the semifinals, he then scored 12 points, including four consecutive baskets that opened up the game for LIU, in their 36-32 win over Bradley.

The victory over Bradley sent the now 23-0 LIU squad into the NIT final against another unbeaten team, Loyola of Chicago (it is the only time in NIT history that two undefeated teams have met in the championship game). Against Loyola's 6'8" center, Mike Novak (who blocked nine shots in their semifinal win over St. John's), LIU coach Clair Bee devised an offensive scheme to have his shooters bank their shots off the backboard, thus allowing the ball to fly over Novak's long reach. With Bromberg scoring five points, LIU defeated Loyola, 44-32, to capture the NIT in what the Hall of Famer Bee later called the greatest vicory of his career. Upon the strength of their 24-0 record, LIU was declared Helms National Champions.

Origin:
New York

Career Dates:
Bromberg played guard at Long Island University from 1937-1939.

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