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.
YMCA played a key role in popularising the game in USA and the whole world as well. The game is played throughout the world, but nowhere is it as popular as it is in 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.
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 Finals are one of the most popular televised sports events in the United States. Everyone loves to cheer on their favorite teams and players. Michael Jordan, or Air Jordan as he was known, brought about much of the popularity in NBA merchandise. Everyone wanted Air Jordan jerseys, shirts, hats, shorts, and of course the ever popular shoes.
The NBA today is worth millions of dollars. It makes its money from ticket sales, merchandise, and televising the games. Trouble prone children often clean up their acts when they start playing basketball at school and on neighborhood teams. Basketball is becoming more popular every year and the trend is likely to continue. James Naismith undoubtedly never dreamed what his peach basket and soccer ball game would turn into.
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