Page Two Octe 21, 1940

Also I originated, as I told you before, the Goalelli game, and had a
Phog Allen Basketball, Phog Allen Goal, Phog Allen Shoe, Phog Allen Score Book,
Phog Alien War Bag, and the, of course, my ‘wo books: My Basketball Bible and
Better Basketball, . re oa

A Waine Yankee youngster, about fifteen years of age, ee Tae tine |
Kansas City, and you mow what the Yankees do to their R'seethey call ideas “iders"
and they proncunce lew as “lawr", This chap went to Lowe and Campbell to purchase
one of my basketballs, and he told the clerk he wanted a "Phorg" Allen Basketball.
The astonished clerk looked at him and said, "Fouregallon basketball? What do you
mean,” “Well”, he said, "Ien"t there a man around here somewhere coaching baskete.
ball galled "Phorg” Allen?" Just another incident of a Maine Yankee pronouncing
Phog" Alicns :

This is one other interesting items Young Joe Bristow fran Baker wrote
Dre Naiemith wanting a coach, in the very early days of the gams. Ho inquired
about the possibility of getting me to coach the Baker teams When Drs Neaisnith
received the letter ho met me in the hall and said, "I have a good joke on you,
you bloody beggar." (He was Scoteh Canadian) I was ea little worried and asked
hom what it was, because i feared that he had found out something that I might
have done that was not according to Toyle. I said, "What is it, Doctor?” and he
said, "Wolly I just got a letter fran Baker University and thoy want you to coach
basketball,” I said, "Well, what is fumny about that?” He replied, you
can't coach basketball, you just play ite Here was the originator of the game
of basketball openly confessing that basketball could not be coached, I said,
"Well, you can teach them to throw free+throws, and you can teach then te pass
at angles and rum in curves," ne

So it was that I reosived the first shock fran the originator of baskete
ball confessing thet basketball cannot be coached, and yet I have hanging in ay
office a photograph of Dr, Naignith with the fol) , autograph: "With kindest
regards to ite My Ge Allen, the lather of Basketball Coaching frou the Father of
the Game." Signed James Naismith, 1936. I imagine I could justiMebly lay claim
to being one of the fathers’ of basketball coaching. ee , ce

You doubtless remember in my other letter that I told you about foumding
the Kansas Relays. I do not imow whether I told you I was born Jamesport,
Missouri on November 18, 1885, and my how those Missourians down at Columbia
get on one of their native smsg But I have shogen the Mhiversity of Kansas as
my Alma Mater because I believe that Kansas is more progressive and is a
younger state, You do not have to tell anybody about thise I forgot to tell you
that we also have four grendehildren and none of them were adopteds

| _ We are planning to leave Lawrence, Kansas early Saturday morning the —
26th, but it may be impossible for us to arrive in time for the dedication ceremonies
of the Kirk Memorial Building. If it is at all possible, we will arrange to leave
early enough to arrive there at 10:00. I assure you I would be happy to do se
because I lmew President Kirk very very well, I refereed many fo 1 games for