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.
Before he went to work at the YMCA Training School in Massachusetts, Naismith was the athletics director at the University of McGill in Montreal. It all started because he was trying to find a game for students to play inside during the cold winters. A soccer ball and two peach baskets were used to play the first game. At first a broomstick was used to push the ball out of the basket. Later they cut holes in the bottoms of the baskets, which is how the hoop and net we're used to eventually developed.
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.
The game of Basketball continued to gain popularity and it was showcased in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. And today the National Basketball League is one of the most popular sports events. Prior to the formation of NBA the controlling body for the game of basketball in America was the Basketball Association of America. Today the NBA players boast some of the highest salaries in the professional sports.
The first basket ball players to have been paid can be traced back to 7th November, 1896 for the game played between the Trenton Basketball Team and the Brooklyn YMCA. Eventually Basketball broke away from the YMCA and moved into 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 basket ball is one of the most popular games in the US and the NBA is a multi-million dollar association that earns revenue from ticket sales, televised games, and of course the equally popular merchandise. It is perhaps the favorite pass time and extra curricular activity with many children. Dr James Naismith must never have thought that his simple game with a ball and two peach baskets would become such a mega success.
Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Basketball" article category.
People interested in the above article "The Strange But True History of Basketball" are also interested in the related articles listed below:
Not all basket ball players contribute that much to their games. If you play hoops and you really want to improve your game and be one of the stars of your team, better make use of the basketball tips and tricks found in this piece.
According to studies, basketball is one of the most efficient ways to train your body. Basketball enhances agility, balance and endurance. Agility is the ability of the body to efficiently change from one stance to another. When you dribble the basketball from one side to another, or when you strive to avoid the opponent from getting that ball from you-that's your agile competency. If you want to enhance this strength, you ought to install at least portable basketball goals at your lawn so you can have a practice at your own tread and time.
Basketball is a popular sport and has taken the worlds by storm because of its athletic nature. Everyone can hoop against a wall and practice alone or with a small group of friends. Basketball was originally invented by Canadian coach named Dr James Naismith. He was asked to create an activity to entertain trainees the YMCA Training College during winter.
The National Basketball Association relies on various people to recruit the players that are ultimately selected to play professional basketball. These professionals have degrees that cover many areas of the sport, and most have experience with the game of basketball on a personal level. Some of those professionals simply have an eye for spotting talent in the oddest places, but still feel confident in their abilities to recruit the best after only seeing them play basketball once or twice.
College Basketball is big business. There is a lot of money to be made, and it's not just going into the pockets of overpaid pro athletes. The demand for college basketball apparel, memorabilia and footwear continues to grow. Fans of all ages purchase autographed caps to promote their favorite players, and they're taking a nostalgic turn and buying basketball jerseys of their own college teams. This demand is met by the modern generation of kids that live on the fashions launched by their favorite basketball stars.
From cars that float to New Coke bad ideas have permeated the marketplace for decades. The problem with bad ideas is that they always sound like good ideas until you actually get into them. By that time it's too late to prohibit the fiasco from occurring. The National Basketball Association experienced a good idea that turned into a bad reality in the 2006-2007 season when they introduced their new microfiber ball. Commissioners and regulators in the corporate office of NBA headquarters thought the new ball would increase points, increase action on the court and would be better for basketball and its fans as a whole. Unfortunately three great mistakes led to its downfall.
Alabama basketball tickets have been in demand recently, even though the overall sports scene in Tuscaloosa has been dominated by a certain football coach being hired amidst much fanfare. Even though the national spotlight has been on the gridiron, the Crimson Tide have been making an intense push to get back to the NCAA Tournament. Although Alabama is currently ranked in the polls, their spot in the "Big Dance" is not guaranteed at this point. Below we'll take a look at Alabama's qualifications to determine whether or not they'll be dancing next month.
