10
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, December 11, 1967
Basket ball to basketball
If Naismith could only see it now
By Ted Bell Kansan Staff Reporter
Dr. James Naismith probably did not realize what he was starting when he invented "basket ball" 77 years ago.
In his first published rulebook (1832) he wrote, "A man's whole attention is centered on the ball and not on the person of an opponent, and thus opportunity for personal spite is taken away . . . it should be easy to learn. It (the game) may be played in a gymnasium 12x20 and can be played on an ordinary football field . . . as many as fifty on a side have been accommodated."
What Naismith's reaction would be if he happened to walk into Allen Field House one evening and find 17,000 howling fans cheering for their five heroes who are bumping, scratching and jumping for their lives on a varnished and spotlighted court—is hard to say.
His students were bored
He might recall the day in 1893 when Dr. Luther H. Gulick, head of the Physical Training Department at the YMCA College in Springfield, Massachusetts told him he should try to come up with a game that his students could play during the winter months. He said they were beginning to get bored with Naismith's gymnastic class.
So Naismith remembered a game he used to play when he was a boy in the lumber regions of Canada—"Duck On A Rock."
From there he began to improvise. His first decision involved the goal. "The goal should be one that cannot be rushed, and the ball cannot be slammed through."
It became obvious that some changes were necessary. The players wasted too much time climbing up a step ladder to retrieve the ball every time a goal was scored. A hole was bored in the basket's bottom and a wand was used to punch the ball out. A few years later, an ingenious Bostonian attached a rope to the basket with which the ball could be flushed back onto the court.
Fidelity Union Life Insurance Co. CollegeMaster
Guaranteed by a top company.
No war clause!
Exclusive benefits at special rates.
Some of his original rules included:
Full aviation coverage.
Premium deposits deferred until you are out of school.
The one-hand shot wasn't used until 1933, and the one-hand jumper didn't come into being until the mid-40's.
"No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping or striking, in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed. The first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole game, no substitute allowed.
Delvy Lewis Dave Robinson Tony Croman Bill Mayhew LLOYD BUZZI Division Manager
"If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count as a goal for the opponent.
"In case of a dispute concerning which player has made the ball to go out of bounds, the umpire shall throw it into the field.
out of bounds. For some games, a large net separated the players from the spectators, and when the ball hit the net, the ball was in play.
"There shall be two 15 minute halves, with five minutes between halves. Each goal shall count one point.
coaches. This seemed to shock Naismith somewhat, and he chided Dr. Forrest (Phog) Allen (later to become KU's famous coach) for accepting the position of basketball coach at Baker University in 1907.
The years went on and the rules began to change. Bloomer women began playing the game in gym classes, abiding to Naismith's rules, but the big boys began to change the game a bit.
"You can't coach the game of basketball," Naismith said, "you just play it."
accepted fact, but there were still a few rules in the game that young fans today might find odd. Free throws were taken from six feet away from the basket. A team could have one player shoot all foul shots for the team. There was no time restriction on crossing mid-court.
Time brought change
Full-time coaches became an
Colleges and universities began to have teams and began to hire
A jump ball was called after each goal and when the ball went
The fast-break became a weapon in the mid-30's.
Keepsake
These lovely wedding rings are superbly styled in classic and contemporary designs. One just right for you.
Rings glued together to show detail.
Pearl earrings.
Rings enlarged to show detail. Trade-Mark Ring.
Rapid-Shave Lime... It's a whole new kick in Shaving!
Look for the lime-green can
©1967, Colgate-Palmolive Company. See "The Flying Nur," Thursday evenings. 8:8-30 NYT, ABC-TV.
LIME, REGULAR AND MENTHOL