It's pretty amazing how we progress as a people and we've heard countless times that you don't know where you're going unless you know where you come from. I'm sure the millions, billions of basketball fans around the world aren't all sure where the game they love came from or who was responsible. Basketball is a pretty young sport given it was created in December 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian, created the game as a way to keep the boys busy while they were stuck inside for gym class since the winters were harsh in New England. I don't think anybody would ever imagine how the game as evolved and ultimately one of the most popular games worldwide. Wilt, Kareem, Oscar, Jordan, Lebron, Kobe, and countless other world class athletes have brought the game to levels that continue to grow and bring excitement to fans around the world. College basketball has become a staple in our society, especially around March, and also has a major presence in the Olympics. Basketball has also transcended the game in many other ways as well. Michael Jordan broke the mold as he crossed over into athletic apparel endorsement as he and Nike created a legacy in the sneaker and fashion industry. Everybody wanted to be like Mike and millions of fans, kids, everybody could feel like they could dunk as long as they purchased the sneakers endorsed by Mike and other athletes as well.
To put things in perspective, there's been an interview just released by the University of Kansas with Dr. Naismith that he did in 1939 on the radio. He discussed how he invented the game and some other interesting facts. He died later on in the same year. Dr. Naismith ended up working for the University of Kansas and then ended up their Athletic Director as he started their basketball program and we know the pride behind Jayhawk b-ball. It's definitely worth a listen and it makes you wonder what his thoughts would be seeing the game today and his perspective of what he created....and better yet, imagined if he never invented this great game, then what...enjoy!!
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