I am going to double post today since I just became aware that it is James Naismith's birthday.
On FB, they posted the following along with the above (emphasis mine).
Basketball, invented by the Ottawa Valley's own James Naismith, was played for the first time on December 15, 1891 — 134 years ago today.
Orphaned early in life, James went to live with his aunt and uncle and attended grade school at Bennies Corners near Almonte, graduating from Almonte High School in 1883.
James loved sports growing up, including catch, hide-and-seek, and a game called "duck on a rock", a medieval game in which a person guards a large drake stone from opposing players, who try to knock it down by throwing smaller stones at it.
To play duck on a rock most effectively, Naismith soon found that a soft lobbing shot was far more effective than a straight hard throw, a thought that later proved essential for the invention of basketball.
In a 1939 radio interview, Naismith described that first game and the initial rules that were used: "I showed them two peach baskets I'd nailed up at each end of the gym, and I told them the idea was to throw the ball into the opposing team's peach basket. "I blew a whistle, and the first game of basketball began. ... The boys began tackling, kicking, and punching in the clinches. They ended up in a free-for-all in the middle of the gym floor." (The injury toll: several black eyes, one separated shoulder, and one player knocked unconscious.) “It certainly was murder."
As a result, Naismith changed some of the rules as part of his quest to develop a clean sport. "The most important one was that there should be no running with the ball. That stopped tackling and slugging. We tried out the game with those [new] rules (fouls), and we didn't have one casualty."
Back in September '08, on a Doors Open Day. we visited this heritage house where he lived. The then owner was quite informative.
Of course, everyone has a photo of Naismith on the bench in Almonte. I probably have several, but I found this one. from February 2017. There were scarves in the bag for those who might have need in winter.
There is also a little museum display at the Mill of Kintail, but I understand that it is due to me moved: to where, I know not. We were there with the kids in July 2012.
It seems odd but kind of wonderful that a worldwide sport was invented by a man who once lived just up the road.
Interesting! I knew the name but none of his history. Even though dribbling is required, today's basketball is much more physical than Naismith envisioned. Of course he probably didn't think of players near to 7 feet tall.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this, I only knew the name.
ReplyDeleteLook at the size of the kids!
ReplyDeleteI vaguely recall reading somewhere that his claim is disputed. Of course, by and American.
ReplyDeleteI recall the old rules for women's basketball ... the two third court, only two dribbles allowed before a pass, all that. These rules were probably gone by the time you arrived; in fact, we played by the real rules in university. And our wombs did not drop, I assure you. Sigh.
You were and are a great grandpa.
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