PROGRESS OF THE NATSMITH

MEMORIAL CAMPAIGN

By A. LESTER CRAPSER

Secretary, Naismith Memorial Committee

 

HE FINE interest and cooperation being ac-

corded the Golden Jubilee of Basketball and the
Naismith Memorial Campaign by the members of
the National Association of Basketball Coaches
warrants their being kept informed up to the
minute of the progress ot the campaign.

Statistically the story as this is written is as
follows:

Approximately twelve hundred Golden Ball
Games have definitely been registered. Every one
of these forty-eight United States is represented in
the registrations, plus the District ot Columbia,
Canada, Central America, Alaska and Hawaii—
The latter are calling for someone to pinch hit for
them while they are putting up a ''zone defense’
against the Japs.

The correspondence and rate of daily registrations
indicate that there will be no question but that
twenty-five hundred Golden Ball Games will be
registered before the middle of February.

The Y.M.C.A.'s lead in proportionate Golden
Ball Games with approximately one out of every
six Associations registering games. The Colleges
are next with one out of every eight in the country
falling in line. The High Schools have about one
in every forty registering games—but it must be
stated that this is because of their greater number
—actually about one-half of the Golden Ball Games
registered are from the High Schools of the coun-
try. New York State leads all the others in total
registrations.

Every type of basketball team is represented in
the campaign from small Boys’ club teams, little
rural high schools, independent teams, Y.M.C.A.,
Y.M.H.A., Catholic Youth Organization and Paro-
chial Schools, Recreation Center teams, Junior Col-
leges, College, University, A.A.U., Athletic Club
teams, and Professional teams. No truer cross-
section of basketball as it is played could be
represented.

Not only are basketball teams contributing, but
the larger organizations such as the Eastern Inter-
collegiate Basketball League, the Big Ten Confer-
ence, the National Board of Approved Basketball

 

Officials, Local Official Boards and individuals who
have played the game in the past. All are being
more generous than was anticipated in their con-
tributions to erect a Hall of Fame for basketball as
a memorial to its inventor, Dr. James Naismith.
Very definite sacrifices are being made by places
with small spectator facilities, in making substantial
contributions to the campaign.

The Golden Jubilee received a fine send-off by
the Golden Jubilee Tournament held in Madison
Square Garden on November 19th and 24th and is
now in full swing around the country.

It has been estimated that for complete success
of the campaign approximately four to five thou-
sand games will be needed. These are in sight, and
it the Coaches Association members will urge their
colleagues to register for games there is no ques-
tion but that the campaign for a Hall of Fame for
basketball will go over the top.