By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
NATCHITOCHES – A just-discovered 40-year-old, four-page transcript of an interview with basketball superstar Pete Maravich has jazzed up the dynamic “Showtime! LSU’s Spectacular Pistol Pete” exhibit that has been extended for an extra week at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum.
The transcript was compiled by Hall of Fame sportswriter Jim McLain of Shreveport from an interview done in spring 1984 with Maravich, who was being inducted in the Hall of Fame that summer. It provides great insight into the mind of Maravich after his record-shattering LSU career and 10 seasons in the NBA, at a time when he had found Christianity and had altered his lifestyle to share his faith however possible.
It is an unexpected addition to the “Showtime” exhibit featuring nearly 70 photos from the collection of Baton Rouge sportswriter and photographer John Musemeche, who had backstage access to Maravich during his time at LSU. Many of the photos in the exhibit have never been available for public view; others are some of the more iconic images of “Pistol Pete” at LSU, including a Sports Illustrated cover shot and a photo showing LSU players lifting Maravich on their shoulders when he broke the major college basketball career scoring record midway through his senior season of 1969-70.
Musemeche read the recently-discovered transcript of McLain’s interview and was struck by how it mirrored his own insight into Maravich’s later years. The basketball legend died at age 41 in January 1986 from an undiagnosed heart defect after collapsing during a low-impact pickup game at a church in California.
“This is an amazing document. I can hear Pete talking to Jim (McLain) because I heard him share the same things about how finding faith had enriched his life, and how he was dedicated to sharing that joy with anyone he could,” said Musemeche. “I loved reading every word.
“I am thrilled that this has been added to the exhibit in Natchitoches so that fans of Pistol Pete can visit the museum this week and read it for themselves,” he said. “We are proud of the exhibit; this brings it full circle because it is Pete in his own words talking about the joy he found after basketball.”
Musemeche is featured in an eight-minute, award-winning documentary film that plays on a loop in the exhibit. In the film, the photographer reflects on Maravich’s sensational college days at LSU when he averaged 44.2 points in 83 games and displayed showmanship on a level not seen before and rarely since. He also discusses Maravich’s journey through life and inner peace after discovering faith, and his passion for sharing it with others.
A scrapbook of clippings from Maravich’s days at LSU was compiled by Baton Rouge teenager Jay Dardenne, who grew up to become the state’s lieutenant governor and commissioner of administration. It is part of the exhibit, which was funded by support from Raising Canes Chicken Fingers.
The exhibit is open this week from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the museum, located at the traffic circle on the north end of brick-paved Front Street in historic downtown Natchitoches. The museum (800 Front Street) carries a $6 adult ticket price with rates discounted for senior citizens, students and military.
The Maravich exhibit made its debut June 20 and will close Saturday evening.
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