BATON ROUGE, La. – The 2024 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction reception will have a special flair this year as the Louisiana State Museum and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser celebrate the opening of Showtime: LSU’s Spectacular Pistol Pete, a new exhibit showcasing the incredible career of Pete Maravich through the lens of photographer of John Musemeche.
“Pete Maravich was the ultimate showman on the basketball court. He definitely had his own style that wowed the crowds and opponents alike. Louisiana was fortunate to have a front row seat to his jaw-dropping no-look passes, scoring prowess, and those floppy socks every kid wanted to start wearing. We are fortunate to be able to display these amazing images of one the greatest to play the game,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.
During his record-shattering career at LSU from 1967–70, the incomparable Peter Press Maravich, better known as “Pistol” Pete,” captivated basketball fans not only with his incredible scoring ability but also with his sensational showmanship. The “ooohs and aaahs” came loud and often as Pete astounded fans, opponents and even teammates with his incredible ball-handling, passing ability, and an array of free-style moves that mystified defenders. Following a 10-year NBA career, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity member was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary team in 1996 and 75th Anniversary team in 2021.
From 1967-1970 Maravich set an NCAA scoring record of 3,667 points averaging at least 43 points a game. A standalone record for 54 years until March 3rd, 2024 as Iowa's Catlin Clark set a new NCAA scoring record going on to finish her college career with a total of 3,951 points.
The exhibition features more than 40 photographs from John Musemeche and Musemeche Photography in Baton Rouge. John Musemeche, a photographer in addition to his full-time role as a sportswriter for the Morning Advocate, had back-stage access to Pete and his dad, Press, then LSU’s head basketball coach. In 1969, Musemeche published Maravich, the first book about the “wizard of aahs.” The still-active photographer and his son, Rob, are regarded among Louisiana's premier sports photographers. John Musemeche’s reflections on Maravich also play a key role in filmmaker Drew Tewell’s short documentary about Pistol Pete, “We Were Fans,” which is included in the exhibition.
Photographs in the exhibit feature the dazzling moves of Maravich on the court along with casual behind-the-scenes photographs of the athlete’s life.
Opening night is set for Thursday, June 20, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum.
