Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-19
BASKETBALL


Basketball, although a sport of COM
paratively recent origin. has in the last
three or four years made rapid strides
to the frnot, and is now considered one
OF the most popular indoor games.
The growth Of the entcing and vigor-
Gus sport in the last two years has been
little short of phenomenal. says the New
York Journal Like every innovation.
the game was looked aksssskance for a
while. 1t was considered too eliminate
by college athletes for long time. Yale
was the first college hereabouts, to take
up the game with any degree ofsinterest
or enthusiasm. and was the first univer-
sity to have a team attain prominence.
The game gradually gained in popular
ity as it's possibilities of splendid exer-
else ami it's scientific points We're better
recognized and appreciated, so that this
winter there is not New England col
lege, with possibly one or two excep-
items, that is not represented by bas-
ketball team.
The Amateur Athletic Union was quick
to see the great possibilities of the game,
and in 1897 adopted it as one of it's stand
ard championship sports. This gave the
sport very decided and healthy boom,
and the annual basketball champion
ships are now considered of equal i'm
pcrtance with many of the older and bet
ter known fixtures.
Regimental athletes throughout this
state and New England soon became in
terested in the new game. and from this
beginning it spread all over the country
SO that now basketball teams represent
ing military organizations have regular
schedule of games which result in spirit
ed contests and an intense, although
friendly rivalry.
From Maine to California the game has
advanced, so that now it is nearly as
popular in the west as in the east The
clubs are legion. ana it is estimated that
there are not fewer than 5000 basketball
players in the country.
The colleges have taken hold of the
game very strongly and enthusiastically
! this winter and games between them are
OF frequent occurrence. The Yale team
even took long western trip recently.
during which they played eleven games.
That the New Haven collegians only won
one game on their trip illustrates very
fcrcibly the great development the game
has reached in the west The Yale play-
ers drew big houses wherever they ap-
peared, and the team realized a hand
some profit. At Fond du Lac, Wiscon.
sin. where they appeared in two games.
| more than 5000 persons witnessed each
game.
Basketball appeals especially to girls
and young women. and is fostered in
n any colleges devoted to their education.
schools of physical training have adopt
ed the game as an athletic fixture. and
great benefits have been obtained by the
healthful exercise which the game gives
and the playing of the game by the
weaker sex has demonstrated that woI
men can go into more vigorous exercises
than was generally supposed.
While the game possibly will never an
peal to college student bodies as does
baseball or football, still the game to be
! played successfully demands quickness
of thought and action, a strong, agile
IN dy and great endurance.
1t is game which develops a healthy
body and mind, and as such deserves all
the success and popularity it has at
| tanned.