Lipman, Lou

Louis Lipman

Lipman played for LIU (Long Island University) in the late 1940s, and was named All-Metropolitan as a sophomore in 1947-48. He was later involved in the point-shaving scandal that rocked college basketball in the early 1950s.

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Career Highlights:
A graduate of James Madison High School in Brooklyn, Lipman helped his team (along with future St. John's center Ivy Summer) win the 1943 PSAL championship. After high school, Lipman served in the U.S. Army, during which time he met Clair Bee, head coach of the LIU (Long Island University) basketball team. After World War II ended, Lipman attended LIU and joined the Blackbirds, the school's basketball team.

In 1946-47, as a freshman, Lipman started for the Blackbirds at forward and played an important role in their quest for the postseason. In a late season game against Muhlenberg, Lipman scored 11 points and made a key basket late in the game helping LIU to a 60-54 victory. Four days after the match, LIU received, and accepted, a bid to the NIT (National Invitational Tournament) on the strength of a 17-3 season record.

LIU, who played in the first five NIT competitions from 1938-1942, had not appeared in the tournament since then. In the first round of the 1947 competition, they faced Kentucky, considered by many to be the best team in the tournament. Only five minutes into the second half, the Blackbirds found themselves down by 19 points. However, they managed to make a furious turnaround, and tied the game with 30 seconds to play. Unfortunatley, the comeback came up short as Kentucky scored two baskets in the last 15 seconds to win the contest, 66-62. Lipman, a starter at forward, scored five points in the game.

The following season, Lipman had an outstanding year. LIU finished the year with an 18-4 record, but were not invited back to the postseason, although Lou was named second team All-Metropolitan and turned in some excellent individual performances, including 23 points against Muhlenberg. LIU went 19-12 in 1948-49 and Lipman averaged 11.2 points per game (337 points in 30 games). In 1949-50, his senior season, the Blackbirds finished 20-5 and were rated as one of the top teams in the country.

On March 30, 1951, Lipman was arrested in connection with a point-shaving scandal that had gripped college basketball. In the previous two months, dozens of college and former college players were arrested for throwing games. The disgraced defendants included members of the great 1950 CCNY team that had won the "grand slam" of college basketball (the NIT and NCAA postseason tournaments, a feat no other team had ever accomplished).

Lipman was arrested for violating New York penal code #302; accused of tossing a game against Duquesne in January, 1949. He eventually received a suspended sentence. In all, 32 players from seven schools (including NYU, CCNY, and Kentucky) were arrested for fixing 86 games between 1947-1950. All of the players involved in the fix were banned from the NBA and while other scandals occured in college basketball in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, this one almost dealt the sport a death blow. New York City college basketball has still not recovered from the aftershock.

Origin:
unknown

Career Dates:
Lipman played forward at LIU from 1947-1950.

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