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How, Where and When Basketball Was Invented
by Carlos Lintons
http://www.fsubasketball.com
Dr. James Naismith. Probably the name means nothing to you.
Perhaps it would have meant even less had this Canadian not
found himself a home in the Unites States. For it was this
man, way back in 1881, that invented the game of
basketball. Indeed, many people wonder if the sport would
be so popular in the US had he not been living in
Massachusetts at the time he invented it.
Naismith worked at the University of McGill in Montreal for
several years as the athletics director before heading to
Massachusetts to the YMCA Training School. It was here that
Naismith was looking for a game that students would be able
to play inside during the winter months. The first game of
basketball was played with a soccer ball and two peach
baskets. A broom stick was used to push the ball back out of
the basket initially, but holes were cut in the bottom of
the basket to resemble the familiar hoop and net we see on
television and in gymnasiums today.
The YMCA promoted basketball worldwide and many people in a
variety of countries play it as a hobby or a profession
today. No other country has embraced it as widely as North
America.
In 1936 basketball had grown enough that it was a featured
event at the Berlin Olympics. These days watching the
National Basketball League on television is one of the most
popular pastimes. The Basketball Association of America
preceded today's NBA. Players in the NBA are some of the
highest paid athletes in pro sports.
On November 7, 1896 the first professional game was played
between the Trenton Basketball team and the Brooklyn YMCA.
It was the first time that players were paid. In time the
sport left the YMCA to enter the National Basketball
League.
Since then players such as Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain,
and Shaquille O'Neal have made headlines not only in
basketball, but in movies, tabloids, and even music.
Basketball players also offer great role models for many
inner city kids, where basketball is a popular and
encouraged past time.
The NBA matches are very popular and are the most watched
matches both live and on television. Everybody likes
watching and cheering for their favorite basketball teams
and star players. Players like Micael Jordan, Magic Johnson
enjoyed tremendous popularity and brought a surge of demand
for NBA merchandise. Everyone wanted merchandise like
jerseys, shirts, hats, shorts with their stars logo on it.
Today the NBA is a multi-million dollar association that
makes money off of ticket sales, televised games, and
merchandise. Many children are kept out of trouble by
playing basketball not only in school teams, but with their
friends as well. Basketball seems to keep growing in
popularity, and the trend doesn't show any signs of slowing
down. James Naismith probably had no idea the mega-success
his simple game with a ball and two peach baskets would
become.
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