Sam Balter
Encyclopedia
Samuel "Sam" Balter, Jr. (October 15, 1909 – August 8, 1998) was an American basketball
player.
. As a Jew, he had some hesitation about playing in the Olympics hosted by Hitler's Germany, but was persuaded when he was assured by Avery Brundage
that there would be no Nazi propaganda
at the games.
He was part of the American basketball team, which won the gold medal. He played two matches, but not the final match in which the US team won the gold medal. He was one of a number of Jewish athletes who won medals at the Nazi Olympics in Berlin in 1936.
Before the Olympics, Balter played college basketball at UCLA and for an amateur basketball team sponsored by Universal Pictures
.
Balter later turned his celebrity into a career as a Los Angeles sportscaster beginning his career on radio before moving into television. He also appeared in a number of movies and television shows, always portraying a radio announcer or sportscaster.
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.
Career
He competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics1936 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...
. As a Jew, he had some hesitation about playing in the Olympics hosted by Hitler's Germany, but was persuaded when he was assured by Avery Brundage
Avery Brundage
Avery Brundage was an American amateur athlete, sports official, art collector, and philanthropist. Brundage competed in the 1912 Olympics and was the US national all-around athlete in 1914, 1916 and 1918...
that there would be no Nazi propaganda
Nazi propaganda
Propaganda, the coordinated attempt to influence public opinion through the use of media, was skillfully used by the NSDAP in the years leading up to and during Adolf Hitler's leadership of Germany...
at the games.
He was part of the American basketball team, which won the gold medal. He played two matches, but not the final match in which the US team won the gold medal. He was one of a number of Jewish athletes who won medals at the Nazi Olympics in Berlin in 1936.
Before the Olympics, Balter played college basketball at UCLA and for an amateur basketball team sponsored by Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
.
Balter later turned his celebrity into a career as a Los Angeles sportscaster beginning his career on radio before moving into television. He also appeared in a number of movies and television shows, always portraying a radio announcer or sportscaster.
Personal life
Balter was married and had a daughter. He died as a result of complications from abdominal surgery on August 8, 1998.External links
- Olympics Profile
- Sam Balter at Jewish Sports Hall of Fame