Black Legends of Professional Basketball Foundation
Founded by Dr. John L. Kline
Former Harlem Globetrotter
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Film Treatments

Dr. Kline is in the process of developing two movies, Barnstormin’ and Never Lose. The following film treatments describe the movies in brief detail.

Set primarily in the decades of the Harlem Renaissance and the great Depression, BARNSTORMIN' is a drama about the black pioneers that helped break the bonds of segregation and bring basketball to the nation and the world.

NEVER LOSE is the remarkable story of John Kline who came up from the streets of Detroit to become an All American, traveling the world as a Harlem Globetrotter before drug addiction shattered his life and family. Out of the pits of hell he struggled to find his identity as an African American man earning a PhD and dedicating his life to helping young people.

For more information on BARNSTORMIN' CLICK HERE and for NEVER LOSE! CLICK HERE.

Profile

Pound for pound, at only 6-feet, 3-inches tall, "Jumpin' Johnny" Kline was considered the best power forward in basketball from 1950-1960. Despite his size, he led his Wayne State University and Harlem Globetrotter teams in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals while defending much taller players on opposing teams. He regularly out-rebounded All-American college players such as 6-foot, 7-inch Dick Rickets of Duquesne University; 6-foot, 7-inch Maurice Stokes of St. Frances College in Pennsylvania; 7-foot, 1-inch Walt Dukes of Seton Hall University and the Detroit Pistons; 7-foot, 1-inch Wilt Chamberlain of the University of Kansas, the Harlem Globetrotters, and Philadelphia Warriors; 6-foot, 11-inch Ray Felix of Long Island University and the Baltimore Bullets; 7-foot Bill Spivey of the University of Kentucky, the Harlem Globetrotters, and the Boston Whirlwinds; 6-foot, 10-inch Lee Garner of Alcorn College in Mississippi; and 6-foot, 7-inch Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton of the Harlem Globetrotters and the Detroit Pistons.

After his basketball career ended, Dr. Kline overcame drug addiction to become one of the nation's leading educators, authors, historians, and community leaders. He has worked diligently to inspire young athletes to greatness; help individuals live healthier lives; and bring recognition to the African Americans who helped pioneer one of America's favorite pastimes.

Following are highlights of the basketball legend's 60-year career.

1950-51	While playing basketball for Wayne State University in Detroit, the young "Jumpin' Johnny" Kline breaks a number of school records, including the indoor high jump (6 feet, 6-1/2 inches) and the outdoor high jump (6 feet, 7 inches).
1952	"Jumpin' Johnny" becomes the nation's premiere college basketball forward. Our Sports Magazine names him an All-American, and he garners "Most Valuable Player" and "Athlete of the Year" honors from Wayne State University. He also is named the "Most Valuable Player" by the organizers of the first University of Detroit Motor City Tournament. He breaks the hop, step and jump record for WSU, an achievement that still stands today.
1952-53	He breaks seven high jump records at various college tournaments.
1953-59	He drops out of Wayne State University to begin a seven-year stint as a basketball forward for the Harlem Globetrotters. "Jumpin' Johnny" credits Gus Finney for paving the way to the career-changing opportunity.
1959-60	The player moves to Harlem in New York City and plays with the Sunbury Mercurys, an Eastern Professional League team based in nearby Pennsylvania.
1960-69	"Jumpin' Johnny" nearly loses his life while struggling with heroine and cocaine addiction. He enters the Lafayette Clinic in Detroit for rehabilitation.
1970	He assumes his first job in 10 years as a drug abuse research assistant for the Lafayette Clinic in Detroit. The facility acknowledges his travel experience and familiarity with the city's street life.
1971	He is named Deputy Director of the Methadone Program overseen by the Mayor's Committee on Human Resources Development in Detroit.
1972	He is named Director of Student Affairs for Detroit's Electronic Institute.
1973	He joins the Michigan Mental Health Department as the Patient Rights Administrator. The former player returns to Wayne State University to earn a bachelor's degree in science. He leads a group to Ghana in West Africa for a series of educational and cultural exchanges.
1975	He returns to the Lafayette Clinic, serving in various roles. He remains with the facility until 1986.
1976	He establishes Karibu Associates, a Detroit-based counseling service.
1977	He receives a master's degree in education from Wayne State University. He leads his second group to Ghana for a series of educational and cultural exchanges.
1978	"Jumpin' Johnny" is named a patient rights advisor for the Lafayette clinic.
1979	He is inducted into the Wayne State University Sports Hall of Fame.
1981	He founds the National Association of African Americans, an organization connecting people to their roots in Africa.
1985	He receives his doctorate in history and philosophy education from Wayne State University. "Jumpin' Johnny" pursues the degree to show drug addicts they can accomplish anything.
1986-93	Mayor Coleman Young appoints him Director of Drug Prevention, providing a $2 million budget to help educate citizens about the city's growing problem with drug addiction.
1987	Dr. Kline is named to the State Nursing Board by Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard. He starts his Youth Athletic Enrichment Program, a community educational program for middle school athletes to help reduce drug use and curtail a 40 percent student dropout rate in public schools.
1990	He develops a workshop curriculum on drug prevention for Detroit Public Schools.
1991-94	He serves Detroit Public Schools as the Director of Drug Free Schools. "Jumpin' Johnny" helps develop an intensive program aimed at educating 175,000 students about the dangers of drug use.
1992-94	Dr. Kline leads health retreats in Jamaica.
1994-96	He serves Detroit Public Schools as the Director of Health Promotion and Wellness.
1995	He attends the Million Man March in Washington, D.C., and helps develop health programs for the Million Man Alumni Association.
1996	The retired basketball star founds the Black Legends of Professional Basketball, a non-profit organization aimed at educating the public about the history and contributions of America's black basketball pioneers. He writes the autobiography Never Lose. The book provides details about his life, including his basketball career, international travels, victory over drug addiction, and educational accomplishments.
1997-2003	"Jumpin' Johnny" hosts the "Gathering of Legends" in Detroit. The annual awards banquet features a Hall of Fame induction ceremony for former Harlem Globetrotters and overlooked NBA players.
1998	He successfully wages a national campaign to get the first Harlem Globetrotter (Marques Haynes) inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. This opened the door for the Globetrotter team and individual Globetrotter inductees Meadowlark Lemon and the first female member Lynette Woodard. The same year, he hosts jazz and health talk shows for radio station WDTR-FM in Detroit.
2001	Dr. Kline writes the textbook for his Youth Athletic Enrichment Program. Urban Rites of Passage, Volume I gives middle school students invaluable insights on the value of athletic leadership, education, and drug prevention. He receives the "Distinguished Service Award" from the Harlem Globetrotters and the "Michigan Amateur Athlete of the Year Award" from the governor of Michigan.
2002	He writes Urban Rites of Passage, Volume II. The same year, he receives the "Legends Award" from the Harlem Globetrotters and the "Distinguished Service Award" from the Team for Justice for his work with convicted felons. He successfully lobbies the Michigan state Senate to pass a resolution honoring black basketball legends for their contributions to the game.
2003	"Jumpin' Johnny" convinces U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and U.S. Senator Carl Levin to sponsor bills in the U.S. Congress honoring black basketball pioneers for their contributions to the game. House Bill 59 and Senate Bill 57 both pass with majority votes. The same year, he writes the books The Life and Times of Jumpin' Johnny Kline and The Power of Positive Living, a guide to better health and wellness.
2004	The national magazine About Time and the Mississippi newspaper The Jackson Advocate carry "spotlight" articles about the basketball legend. The same year, he releases Black Pawns in the Cold War, a book detailing how the U.S. State Department used the Harlem Globetrotters in the 1950s to help defeat Communism.
2005	Dr. Kline is inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
2007	He moves the Black Legends of Professional Basketball Foundation to Brentwood, Tenn., and launches a campaign to help raise funds for retired members of the Harlem Globetrotters, many of whom face financial hardships and life-threatening illnesses. He presents a lecture and memorabilia exhibit at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
2008	The Associated Press spotlights the basketball legend in a nationally wired feature story. He releases the second editions of his books Never Lose and The Power of Positive Living and develops a screenplay for Never Lose.
2009	Under his direction, the Tennessee-based Black Legends of Professional Basketball Foundation names the late legendary athletes Johnny Isaacs and Al "Runt" Pullins as the first recipients of its newly established "Black Basketball Pioneers of the Year" award. He pens Barnstormin', a book that details the invaluable roles of black basketball players during the 1920s, '30s and '40s, a period when African Americans were not allowed to participate in the white professional basketball leagues. The book is developed into a movie/TV screenplay.

For more information about Dr. Kline's weight management program, health and nutrition program, life coaching for athletes and others, and community development programs, please call (615) 838-7330.

To read more information about Dr. Kline, CLICK HERE.