Tom Payne (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Robert "Tom" Payne (born November 19, 1950) is a former professional basketball
player and a serial rapist.
A 7-foot, 2-inch center, Payne played with the Atlanta Hawks
of the NBA
during the 1970-71 season
. He was also the first African American
ever to play basketball for the University of Kentucky
. Payne is currently incarcerated in Little Sandy Correctional Complex in Sandy Hook, Kentucky
.
before retiring, and his mother had a bachelor’s degree in biology. His eight siblings were also well-educated, with a total of fourteen college degrees.
Despite his height and incredible physical skills, Payne was basically a newcomer to basketball. He didn’t play organized basketball until his sophomore season at Shawnee High School at Louisville, Kentucky
. By his senior season, he was one of the most coveted players in the nation, with Kentucky
and UCLA
recruiting him. On June 9, 1969 the high-school All-American signed with Kentucky; he was not only the tallest player ever to play at the school, he was also legendary coach Adolph Rupp
’s first-ever African-American player.
,” Payne struggled in adjusting to college life at Kentucky. A low entering test score prevented him from playing on the Kentucky freshman team. (Freshmen were ineligible to play varsity basketball at the time.) He instead played for an AAU
team called “Jerry’s Restaurant.”
Payne boosted his grades and gained eligibility to play during his sophomore season, averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game, earning all-Southeastern Conference
honors along the way. Impressive as these numbers were, signs of trouble developed during the season. In a road game against the University of Tennessee
, Payne flipped Jim Woodall head over heels battling for a rebound. The referees whistled Payne for a flagrant foul
and ejected him. In the rematch against Tennessee at Kentucky, Payne again flagrantly fouled Woodall, and was ejected from this game also. Payne was also ejected from a home game against Alabama for objecting to a referee’s call. That he heard racial
slurs in opposing Southeastern Conference venues didn’t help matters any, either.
For all his temper, Payne continued to improve during the season, and dominated opponents. He scored 34 points in one game against Georgia
, and 39 against Louisiana State
. The future looked bright for Payne after he scored 30 points against Auburn
, in a game that clinched the Southeastern Conference regular season title for Kentucky.
During the summer, however, things didn’t go very smoothly for Payne. In August, a police officer cited him for speeding in his new Cadillac
. The car was registered to a Pennsylvania
auto dealer; it was rumored that teams from the NBA and American Basketball Association
were coveting Payne and that the car was a gift from the Pittsburgh Condors
of the latter league to apply for the ABA draft. Payne also had nine hours of incomplete grades that needed to be made up before he could return to Kentucky. With the slim likelihood of being eligible to play the following season, Payne left Kentucky and joined thirteen other underclassmen in the NBA’s first-ever supplemental draft.
and, during the 1970-71 season, averaged 4.1 points in 29 games. During the season, his father, a major influence in his life, died.
arrested him after investigating several rape
s in the Atlanta area. Later, he was indicted in Kentucky in connection with one rape and two attempted rapes. In 1972, he was convicted on two counts of rape and one count of aggravated sodomy
in Atlanta. He served five years in prison in Georgia, two and a half of those in solitary confinement
for participating in a prison riot
.
Immediately after his release from prison in Georgia, Payne was extradited
to Kentucky, where he was convicted on one count of rape and two counts of attempted rape. He served five years in prison in Kentucky before being paroled in 1983. After his release from prison, he attempted a basketball comeback with the Louisville Catbirds
of the CBA
. He also made an attempt at a professional boxing
career, participating in five bouts. Later, he moved to Hollywood and became an actor
, once appearing in Night Court
, as well as a McDonalds commercial.
On Valentine’s Day, 1986, police officers in Los Angeles
, California caught Payne in the act of raping a woman. He was convicted of this crime, which also violated his parole in Kentucky.
Payne was released from prison in 2000, after legal wrangling allowed him to get his sentenced reduced. He hoped to stay in California with his wife, Michelle and daughter Mimi. Instead, he was transferred back to Kentucky, where he faced an additional 15 years in prison for violation of parole from the 1971 charge. He and his family are asking the court to have this sentence reduced.
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 and a serial rapist.
A 7-foot, 2-inch center, Payne played with the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
during the 1970-71 season
1970-71 NBA season
The 1970–71 NBA season was the 25th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Milwaukee Bucks winning the NBA Championship, beating the Baltimore Bullets 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
. He was also the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
ever to play basketball for the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. Payne is currently incarcerated in Little Sandy Correctional Complex in Sandy Hook, Kentucky
Sandy Hook, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 678 people, 292 households, and 167 families residing in the city. The population density was 716.1 people per square mile . There were 332 housing units at an average density of 350.7 per square mile...
.
Early years
The eldest of nine children, Payne broke one record in birth; he was the longest baby ever born at the local hospital.http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=3025127 He grew up in a home where academics were stressed; his father had attained the rank of master sergeant in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
before retiring, and his mother had a bachelor’s degree in biology. His eight siblings were also well-educated, with a total of fourteen college degrees.
Despite his height and incredible physical skills, Payne was basically a newcomer to basketball. He didn’t play organized basketball until his sophomore season at Shawnee High School at Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. By his senior season, he was one of the most coveted players in the nation, with Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
and UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
recruiting him. On June 9, 1969 the high-school All-American signed with Kentucky; he was not only the tallest player ever to play at the school, he was also legendary coach Adolph Rupp
Adolph Rupp
Adolph Frederick Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in the history of American college basketball. Rupp is fourth in total victories by a men's NCAA Division I college coach, winning 876 games in 41 years of coaching...
’s first-ever African-American player.
University of Kentucky
Touted as “another Lew AlcindorKareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
,” Payne struggled in adjusting to college life at Kentucky. A low entering test score prevented him from playing on the Kentucky freshman team. (Freshmen were ineligible to play varsity basketball at the time.) He instead played for an AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
team called “Jerry’s Restaurant.”
Payne boosted his grades and gained eligibility to play during his sophomore season, averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game, earning all-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
honors along the way. Impressive as these numbers were, signs of trouble developed during the season. In a road game against the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, Payne flipped Jim Woodall head over heels battling for a rebound. The referees whistled Payne for a flagrant foul
Flagrant foul
A flagrant foul is a serious contact foul involving unnecessary, excessive, or intentional contact in sport. There is a specific National Basketball Association foul termed a flagrant foul.-NBA flagrant fouls:...
and ejected him. In the rematch against Tennessee at Kentucky, Payne again flagrantly fouled Woodall, and was ejected from this game also. Payne was also ejected from a home game against Alabama for objecting to a referee’s call. That he heard racial
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
slurs in opposing Southeastern Conference venues didn’t help matters any, either.
For all his temper, Payne continued to improve during the season, and dominated opponents. He scored 34 points in one game against Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, and 39 against Louisiana State
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. The future looked bright for Payne after he scored 30 points against Auburn
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, in a game that clinched the Southeastern Conference regular season title for Kentucky.
During the summer, however, things didn’t go very smoothly for Payne. In August, a police officer cited him for speeding in his new Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
. The car was registered to a Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
auto dealer; it was rumored that teams from the NBA and American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
were coveting Payne and that the car was a gift from the Pittsburgh Condors
Pittsburgh Condors
The Pittsburgh Condors were a professional basketball team in the original American Basketball Association. Originally called the Pittsburgh Pipers, they were a charter franchise of the ABA...
of the latter league to apply for the ABA draft. Payne also had nine hours of incomplete grades that needed to be made up before he could return to Kentucky. With the slim likelihood of being eligible to play the following season, Payne left Kentucky and joined thirteen other underclassmen in the NBA’s first-ever supplemental draft.
Professional basketball
Payne was drafted by the Atlanta HawksAtlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
and, during the 1970-71 season, averaged 4.1 points in 29 games. During the season, his father, a major influence in his life, died.
Legal troubles
Payne’s promising career ended suddenly in May 1972, when police in GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
arrested him after investigating several rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
s in the Atlanta area. Later, he was indicted in Kentucky in connection with one rape and two attempted rapes. In 1972, he was convicted on two counts of rape and one count of aggravated sodomy
Sodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
in Atlanta. He served five years in prison in Georgia, two and a half of those in solitary confinement
Solitary confinement
Solitary confinement is a special form of imprisonment in which a prisoner is isolated from any human contact, though often with the exception of members of prison staff. It is sometimes employed as a form of punishment beyond incarceration for a prisoner, and has been cited as an additional...
for participating in a prison riot
Prison riot
A prison riot is an act of concerted defiance or disorder by a group of prisoners against the prison administrators, prison officers, or other groups of prisoners in attempt to force change or express a grievance....
.
Immediately after his release from prison in Georgia, Payne was extradited
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
to Kentucky, where he was convicted on one count of rape and two counts of attempted rape. He served five years in prison in Kentucky before being paroled in 1983. After his release from prison, he attempted a basketball comeback with the Louisville Catbirds
Louisville Catbirds
The Louisville Catbirds were a basketball team of the CBA who played in the mid 80s.-History:The Catbirds played two seasons in 1983-85 in Kentucky before moving to La Crosse, Wisconsin, in which the team would reach the CBA finals three times, winning twice 1990 and in 1992). Head coach Flip...
of the CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
. He also made an attempt at a professional boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
career, participating in five bouts. Later, he moved to Hollywood and became an actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, once appearing in Night Court
Night Court
Night Court is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984, to May 20, 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan court, presided over by the young, unorthodox Judge Harold T. "Harry" Stone...
, as well as a McDonalds commercial.
On Valentine’s Day, 1986, police officers in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California caught Payne in the act of raping a woman. He was convicted of this crime, which also violated his parole in Kentucky.
Payne was released from prison in 2000, after legal wrangling allowed him to get his sentenced reduced. He hoped to stay in California with his wife, Michelle and daughter Mimi. Instead, he was transferred back to Kentucky, where he faced an additional 15 years in prison for violation of parole from the 1971 charge. He and his family are asking the court to have this sentence reduced.