Starting today and once every week, I'll be sharing with you trivia and unusual facts in the world of basketball, as requested by some of my friends. My initial sets are courtesy of my book entitled "Basketball's Most Wanted", the top 10 book of hoops' outrageous dunkers, incredible buzzer beaters, and other oddities, written by Floyd Conner. So fasten your seatbelts and enjoy:
- OLLAMALITZLI
"Basketball was not invented until 1891, but another game using a ball and hoop existed previously. Ollamalitzli was played with a rubber ball and stone ring by the Aztecs in the sixteenth century. A player making a shot was entitled to the clothing of all spectators. Players on the losing side were less fortunate. Occasionally, the captain of the losing team had his head cut off."
Earlier, Naismith had designed an exercise in which students threw balls into boxes. He wanted square baskets for his new game, but the school's janitor, Pop Stebbins, suggested peach baskets, which he nailed to the overhead running track 10 feet above the gymnasium floor. Since there were 18 students in the class, it was decided that there would be nine players on each side. The game consisted of two 15-minute halves. A soccer ball was used in the first contest, and the final score was 1-0. William Chase scored the only basket on a shot from midcourt. Since the peach basket did'nt have a hole in the bottom, it was necessary to use a ladder to retrieve the ball after a shot was made. Naismith never envisioned his game as an athletic competition; it was meant as a conditioning exercise. In his lifetime, Naismith played the gameonly twice. It was suggested that it be called Naismith Ball in his honor, but he preferred the name basketball. Otherwise, the NBA might have stood for Naismith Ball Association."
Watch out for the second set next week.
*****
As the Boston Celtics romped to their 18th straight win at the expense of the hapless New York Knicks, 124-105, which tied a franchise record, Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers on the other hand are fast becoming the league's newest heartbreak kids.
Bryant missed consecutive buzzer-beater jumpers over the weekend as the Tinseltown outfit lost their Florida swing to the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, respectively. The back-to-back defeats brought down the Lakers over-all slate to 21-5 win-loss card. The Celtics meanwhile had improved to a league-best 26-2 slate.
The recent tailspin of the Lakers are the last thing the basketball fans are hoping for as only a few days remain before their much-awaited showdown with the men in green takes place on Christmas day. With the way things are going on right now, the Celtics are coming into the game heavily favored to smother the slumping boys of Phil Jackson. But in the tradition of the old rivalry, anything can happen in a Celtics-Lakers confontation.
- JAMES NAISMITH
Earlier, Naismith had designed an exercise in which students threw balls into boxes. He wanted square baskets for his new game, but the school's janitor, Pop Stebbins, suggested peach baskets, which he nailed to the overhead running track 10 feet above the gymnasium floor. Since there were 18 students in the class, it was decided that there would be nine players on each side. The game consisted of two 15-minute halves. A soccer ball was used in the first contest, and the final score was 1-0. William Chase scored the only basket on a shot from midcourt. Since the peach basket did'nt have a hole in the bottom, it was necessary to use a ladder to retrieve the ball after a shot was made. Naismith never envisioned his game as an athletic competition; it was meant as a conditioning exercise. In his lifetime, Naismith played the gameonly twice. It was suggested that it be called Naismith Ball in his honor, but he preferred the name basketball. Otherwise, the NBA might have stood for Naismith Ball Association."
- SENDA BERENSON ABBOTT
- SCHOOL FOR CHRISTIAN WORKERS
- BROOKLYN CENTRAL YMCA
Watch out for the second set next week.
*****
As the Boston Celtics romped to their 18th straight win at the expense of the hapless New York Knicks, 124-105, which tied a franchise record, Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers on the other hand are fast becoming the league's newest heartbreak kids.
Bryant missed consecutive buzzer-beater jumpers over the weekend as the Tinseltown outfit lost their Florida swing to the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, respectively. The back-to-back defeats brought down the Lakers over-all slate to 21-5 win-loss card. The Celtics meanwhile had improved to a league-best 26-2 slate.
The recent tailspin of the Lakers are the last thing the basketball fans are hoping for as only a few days remain before their much-awaited showdown with the men in green takes place on Christmas day. With the way things are going on right now, the Celtics are coming into the game heavily favored to smother the slumping boys of Phil Jackson. But in the tradition of the old rivalry, anything can happen in a Celtics-Lakers confontation.
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