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The youth at the sevid haw lost a great benefactor in Dre James Ned smith, the
father of basketball. Eighteen million young men all over the world are playing
his game of basketball which he originated for eighteen troublesme young men in a
class in Springfield, Masse, Y.MeCeAe College in 1891e Dre Naismith is directly
responsible for all the large field anne the large auditoria and gyime.sie where
basketball is played todaye Before this geme was originated there were few large
indoor arenas that were used for any indoor sports. Dotting the Middle Western
states ave Wah school grmmeia that are much larger in site than the entire school
buildings were 50 years agoe '

Dre Naismith is indirectly responsible for the forward pass in footballs

Until the popularity’ of basketball began to spring up in ‘the colleges of America in

1905, the forward pass in football wis not thought of. Then the football rules
committee incorporated the forward pass or basketball pass in football, and immediately
the open geme became the element that spread the defense. Basketball has become

_ footballized and football has became basketballized. ‘The forward pass of today is

a Naismith imnovetd oie today it is the most spectacular of all plays on our gride
irons.

Frederick Froebel gave to the world the theory of the kindergarten = education

through plays Dre Naismith gave to the youth basketball, a game that takes the

youngster from the eighth grade to maturity. I omce heard eight nationally Inom

educators spealing fran the same platform declare that basketball had all the qualities

y

necessary to teach the educable childs poise, rhytim, grace, coordination, develoyment
of skills and the develoyment of physical vigore ‘The speakers wére not competitive 3
éonshes nor were they athletes. This game, the only international gene that is the

product of one men's brain, stamps Dre Naismith as a great educator, & kindly humanitarian,

and a practical Christian.
He loved youths Ho and Alonso Stagg both working together chose the profession
of physical eduosti on ar the ministry, in which they were ordained, neeniane they could

do.more for youth, they Mien ‘The youth of the world will arise and all Dre Naismith
blessed. oe ce ne | apr ee oS