The Strange But True History of Basketball
By: Carlos Lintons

Everywhere you turn in the US you will find youths playing basketball. so universal is it that you could be forgiven for thinking that its origins must be steeped in history. Yet, unlike most balls sports, it did not gradually evolved from some ancient roots. In fact, it was a certain Dr. James Naismith who, quite deliberately, invented the game in 1881. And from there it has grown to be one of the most popular sports in the United States. Dr. Naismith was actually born in Canada, and if he hadn't been living in Massachusetts when he created it, it's possible it wouldn't have made such a huge hit.

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 game was introduced widely through the YMCA, not only the United States but throughout the world. Millions of people world wide play basketball as a hobby or even professionally. However, no nation has seen as much popularity for basketball as North America.

The game continued to grow until in 1936 basketball was one of the sports showcased at the Olympics in Berlin. The National Basketball League today is one of the most popular sports events on television. Before the NBA came the Basketball Association of America. Since then, 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 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.

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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