In the mid1970s, manhattanbased shoemaker pony product of new. The biographical history of basketball is a lively, fun and informative look into how the game has moved from a loosely organized, dimlylit past to status as perhaps the worlds most popular sport by one of the nations most prolific and knowledgable sports writers, peter bjarkman. This book, originally published in 1941, carries a new introduction by william j. The basketball book editors of sports illustrated on. The first games of basketball were played with a soccer ball it was easier to dribble than a football and two peach baskets. This set of informative books will help young readers gain historical perspective and encourage them to think about how technology and the environment have affected the ways people have lived and played in. Its origin and development was written by the inventor himself, who was inspired purely by the joy of play. The basketball book by editors of sports illustrated hardcover from sports illustrated. Books on basketball players, teams and history of basketball.
Get to know nba basketballthe ncaa basketball and its distinction from nbachecking on the ncaa basketball histo. Unless you count a brief dalliance with toy elephants as a child, books about. Bill simmons has never met a paragraph he couldnt lengthen. Bought as a present for a nephew mad on basketball it went down really well. Sports historian mark baker traces the evolution of syracuses hoops roots, beginning in the early days, when local, national and college basketball organizations were primitive institutions. Basketball history basketball was invented in december 1891 by the canadian clergyman, educator, and physician james naismith. Naismith was instructed to devise a game that could be played inside during the cold winter months that bridged football and baseball.
Basketball, game played between two teams of five players each on a rectangular court, usually indoors. The story of canadas other game from its invention by a canadian to its current struggle for popularity. It hones in on players that placed winning above all. Why is gulick considered an important person in the history of basketball. William chase scored the lone goal from 25 feeta halfcourt shot in that small gym. Kids love reading about sports, but it can sometimes be a bit harder to get them excited about history. I recommend people who like basketball to read this book to learn more about the history of it.
Naismith was a 31year old graduate student when he created the indoor sport to keep athletes indoors during the winters. Perfect for giving or receiving whether you are looking for your next book to read or are looking to find a book for the basketball fan in your life. Our basketball team history book enables you retrace the history of any n. No discussion of the origin of basketball would be complete without addressing the common alternate conspiracy theory origin. This book is about more than just a summary of the great players in basketball history. No other high school in the country can make that claim. This soon was taken over by a company called spalding that created the new and improved basketball that we know today. The history, players and how to play the game by grant john lamont available from rakuten kobo. Naismith claimed the first basketball game took place. Books that dive deep into basketballs societyinfluencing history. Now thats the kind of fact that will someday help you win a basketball history sports trivia contest.
News corp is a network of leading companies in the. The confusion stems in part from changes in the schools name in its early history. But he has made his nameand his nickname, the sports. In 1894 the first manufactured basketball was created and made of leather. James naismith, a physical education professor and instructor at the international young mens christian association training school ymca today, springfield college in springfield, massachusetts, usa, was trying to keep his gym class active on a. A history updated february 21, 2017 factmonster staff an american game that has traveled well is basketball, now played by more than 250 million people worldwide in an organized fashion, as well as by countless others in pickup games. Alright book because some of it was good and some of it was bad. In an exclusive excerpt from the paperback version of the book of basketball, bill simmons wonders what would have happened if portland had drafted kevin durant. Inside a gymnasium at springfield college then known as the international ymca training school, located in springfield, mass.
Nonfiction titles about the history of basketball and fiction about aspiring players. The book of basketball is a 700page work of hoops genius that would make dr. These figures and many others are chronicled in this book, the firstever comprehensive look at the great high school players, teams and coaches in the d. Three years later he died, after nearly forty years as head of the physical education department at the university of kansas. The nba according to the sports guy is the second book by former espn columnist bill simmons. History of basketball, basketball history and origin and. Fiction and nonfiction basketball books for grades k6 and. The final score of that first ever basketball game was 10. Magic johnson matchup in the 1979 ncaa national championship game.
Oct 23, 2007 a book that is what it says it is, a photographic record of basketball. This book covers everything a beginner needs to get started. James naismith in december 1891 in springfield, massachusetts, to condition young athletes during cold months. Find books about basketball history and famous basketball. Basketball is a sport played by two teams of five players on a rectangular court. Theres been some confusion over the precise nature of the official relationship between springfield college and the ymca, as it relates to james naismith and the invention of basketball. Featuring thirty puzzles, this fun and educational book is a musthave for basketball players and fans. James naismith, a physical education professor and instructor at the international young mens christian association training school ymca today, springfield college in springfield, massachusetts, usa, was trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. The history and history of basketball 1727 words 7 pages. The game was played outdoors, in the mud and rain, on a tennis court.
Basketball is a game that is now played and enjoyed by people of all ages and sexes. Kids can dribble, shoot, and swish with hours of gaming fun in this new guide. Oct 25, 2010 and while the local popularity of the sport is known nationwide, the region also has a long and rich basketball history. Based on more than 150 interviews, the capital of basketball is first and foremost a book about basketball.
The baskets were nailed to the gymnasiums balcony at the height of ten feet to be. There is little to no evidence of if any of the stories it engendered are true, but the book lives up to its strange, yet engaging legacy of being both the epitome of what the 1970s were about afros, free spirited excess, drugs, guns and the birth of contemporary, fastflowing basketball. The biographical history of basketball gives readers a muchneeded antidote to basketballs. If you win ten national college basketball championships, you deserve to have more than one book listed in the top 25 basketball books. This history of basketball at washington community high school was written to identify and acknowledge the efforts of all those who have contributed. Kyle payne slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. The nba according to the sports guy, bill simmons, aka espns the sports guy, writes what may be considered the definitive book on basketball, a complete history of the game. What better way to get kids curious about the past than to combine the two. Naismith introduced the game when he was an instructor at the young mens christian association training school now springfield college in springfield, massachusetts. Basketball was invented in december 1891 by the canadian clergyman, educator, and physician james naismith. Basketball, the only major world sport undeniably invented by a canadian, has ironically failed to win canadians hearts more than a century after its creation.
When collecting the data for the book, discrepancies were found between accounts or box scores found in newspapers or articles. Basic skill you must have here is what you will learn inside this guidea brief history on basketball the different basketball positionsskills needed for basketball basketball equipmentthe rules and regulations of basketball basic maneuvers to get you started. Books include your teams biggest games and greatest players and offer optional personalization on the cover. James naismith while teaching at the ymca training school now springfield college in springfield, ma.
These are the rules published in january 1892 in the school newspaper where he instituted the game. This theory popped up in the 1950s, claiming that a director of a ymca in herkimer, new york, lambert g. Not my field, but an impressive and packed book with photos of all the greats, many anecdotes, great stories, and incidents along the history of basketball. This set of informative books will help young readers gain historical perspective and encourage them to think about how technology and the environment have affected the ways people have lived and played in the past. Fiction and nonfiction basketball books for grades k6 and up. Basketball was first played in the olympic games in 1936, in berlin, when the usa beat canada 198 for the gold medal. Author bill simmons, best known as s the sports guy, explores the nba with hilarious insight, brilliant analysis, and a bevy of irreverent footnotes. From its beginnings at the turn of the 20th century to its pervasive presence in 21stcentury america, basketball has grown into an undeniably important sport.
Where basketball originated it was the winter of 18911892. Baker, a professor of history at the university of maine. High school basketball attracted national attention 12 years later in 1917. The game became established fairly quickly and grew very popular as the 20th century progressed, first in america and then in other parts of the world. Naismith lived long enough to see basketball included in the olympics in 1936. Published in 2009, it covers the history of the national basketball association nba. Inside a gymnasium at springfield college then known as the international ymca training school. Evolution of the basketball hoop timeline timetoast timelines. The popularity of the game reached new heights in the late 1970s, due largely to the larry bird vs.
Baker, a professor of history at the university of maine, orono. Throughout the years this company was able to conceal laces, maintain shape and size, and keep updating the basketball with he culture that surrounded it. This personalized basketball book retraces the history of any nba team you select through the perspective of the new york times. A magnificent history of the american conquest of the west. Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball approximately 9. Naismith, born in northern ontario in 1861, gave up the ministry to preach clean living through sport.
The 575 entries in this biographical dictionary present concise narratives on the lives and careers on the most important names in basketball history. Huntington, wv, 11659 38 lemar northington trigg county vs. Basketball was invented in december 1891 by canadian james w. Basketball is an original american game invented by dr. What are the best nba related books youve ever read. The following list covers our favorite basketball books and our recommendations for you. When rob mcclanaghan failed to make the syracuse basketball. In 1891 a simple game was invented that changed the world. James naismiths brainchild is a popular recreational past. The game of basketball was invented in december of 1891 by a canadian physician james naismith who first organized the game when he was an instructer at the ymca now known as springfield college in springfield, massachusetts. In 2019, simmons launched a sequel podcast series, book of basketball 2. Basketball is a athletic sport usually played on an indoor court where two teams of five each attempt to score by shooting the basketball into one of two baskets at each end of the court. So lets go back to the books, keeping in the sport of things with a list of my favorite basketball reads. In the summer of 1846, the army of the west marched through santa fe, en.
If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. I have shelves full of them and i read them all the time. The objective was to throw the basketball into fruit baskets strapped to the railing of the gym. History of basketball in early december 1891, canadian american dr. Dec 06, 2009 after reading the art of a beautiful game and the book of basketball, i found myself wishing that simmons, rather than merely holing up with a bunch of books and game tapes, had tagged. The ten best basketball books of all time truehoop espn. The objective is to shoot a ball through a hoop 18 inches 46 cm in diameter and 10 feet 3. Will, actually invented the game almost a year before dr. Basketball is a relatively new sport, invented in 1891. Each team tries to score by tossing the ball through the opponents goal, an elevated horizontal hoop and net called a basket. I knew near to nothing about basketball told like this, of concepts such as building a team with players that fit the right way through traits that cant be noted on the box score. The biographical history of basketball sends readers on a nostalgic trip through the entire 100year span of hoops history with personal portraits and littleknown facts about the 500 most significant on and offcourt personalities of the games past and present. A basketball history book can take you all the way back to the earliest days of the game and allow you to explore its connection to american history in detail.
Rob mcclanaghan, the nbas most soughtafter trainer, shares a behindthescenes look at how superstars like stephen curry, kevin durant, derrick rose, russell westbrook, and kevin love work to excel at the game. The game became established fairly quickly and grew very popular. We offer a great selection of books on basketball history, the best teams and matches, album of famous basketball moments, the best choice for every basketball collector. What makes loose balls great is that the aba is the last great american myth. A few people have already said it but bill simmons book of basketball is pretty great, especially if youre. The gym they played in was just 54 feet by 35 feet modern courts are 94 feet x 54 feet.
It has now grown into one of the most popular sports in the united states. I chose that rating because i didnt like it but it was interesting. I didnt grow up watching basketball as it wasnt really popular in the uk when i was growing up you could be forgiven for thinking that not much has changed, so for me this book is a great trip through a history i didnt get to experience mixed with bits of nba history i have vague knowledge of. The history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 in springfield, massachusetts by canadian physical education instructor james naismith as a less injuryprone sport than football. This specific john wooden book is going to focus on creating a winning organization and the importance of being a great person in life. If you want to know the history of basketball, start from the ground up. Children will learn the rules of basketball, the history of this popular sport, and tips for enhancing their game, as well as. Basketball equipment and history olympic sport history. It can introduce you to poignant personal stories from the players and professionals that made the game so iconic. Published in 2009, it covers the history of the national basketball association.
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