The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-02-09
Basketball a Game
That Requires
Control.

n ASKETBALL may not call for tie
same amount of physical courage
as football, yet as great self-con-
troll is demanded, if not greater. An an
cry player is of less use in basketball
than in football
youth who plays basketball perse-
.xeringly and conrageousiy until time
is called, unmindful of bruised nose,
parked elbow, or sprained ankle, think
ing only of the ultimate victory of the
team and subordinating his interest to
that of the whole, other things being
equal, will tend to become a thorough,
determined man, capable of self-sacritice
for the promotion of the welfare of his
associates.
Has basketball come to stay? Most
assuredly it will stay until something
better takes its place. 1t has been popa-
lar because it supplied d need. Because
it can be played all year, being IN
door game, and because Its originators,
while including the features that made
other games so valuable, carefully avoid
ed their weaknesses, it has rapidly grown
in popularity since it's birth eight years
ago. Something was wanted that would
call for the courage, self-control and
perseverance of football, yet that would
avoid the risk to life and limb that com
How clearly a mans character is
brought out in an exciting game of bas-
ketball. The man with grit is easily pick
ed out, as well the man without it. If
there is anything disgusting it is the
cry baby" some teams; the player
who nagnifies the slightest bruise a
thousand-fold and must have time call
ed while he nurses his terrible ~ inju-
ries and draws upon the sympathy of
the audience. 1t is amusing to see what
awful agonieS of pain these men suffer
for short time, and then with what
astonishing rapsdity this recuperative
power asserts itself when the time limit
is almost up and they are in danger of
being retired from the game. Such men
are soon found out by their fellow play
ers, who come to have little respect for
them and show their feeling by the un-
concern with which they greet their
companions painful misfortunes. On the
other hand, how men admire the man
who plays on unmindful of bruised nose.
black eye or sprained fingers, disdaining
such trif1es and hanging on with bulldog
pertinacity. The example of a man,
strong in this "neyer-say-die'' purpose, is
an inspiration to the whole team. His
spirit is unconsciously absorbed by the
rest OF the players. A fine test for char
acter Is. to set a number of men playing
the game who are thoroughly familiar
with the rules, doing away with umpires
and asking each man TO call his own
fouls. An observer is before long ale
to separate the frank, honest fellow
from the sneak, even taking into ac-
count possible ignorance, honest errors
of judgment or careless observation on
the part of a man in judging his own
fouls
AS the game brings out these weak
nesses it also tends to cure them. Pub
lie opinion, in the way of criticism by
his fellow players, is a powerful remedy.
We have often seen how quick-tem-
pered man gains in self-control when he
realizes that he must hold himself in
check if he wishes to do his best play
ing and retain his place on the team.
The man who learns TO hold himself to
the right thing in the intensely exciting
moments of basketball game has learn
ed a great lesson in moral discipline.