The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-02-17
WHY BASKET BALI
IS MAIN ATTRACTION
FOR WINTER SPORTS
KEEPS THE SCHOOL ATHLETE
IN TRAINING BETWEEN
THE SEASONS.
No Game Is Played Under More Fa-
vorabIe Conditions for the Comfort
of the Spectators-SimpIicity Fea.
ture of the Sport.
(By CAPT. R. B. McGEHEE.)

10y CAFl II. ID. MC6IilGI'J
In this article an effort will be made
to call attention to some of the main
reasons as to why basket ball should
be the main attraction in the sporting
realm during the winter months.
There are many reasons, but only a
few general ones will be given.
During the interval between foot
ball and baseball comes lull which
Is detrimental to the physical condi-
ton of the athletes of any school.
The fierce exertion during the foot
ball season should not be followed by
a breaking of training. So from the
athletes standpoint, basket ball gives
an opportunity for him to keep in good
physical trim. The interest that 1t
calls forth also acts as tonic for
the system. Then too the athletes
that 60 in for the basket ball team
go upon the diamond In perfect con-
dition, and hence will make more eff
cient baseball players.
From the spectators standpoint,
basket ball is even more valuable as
a winter sport In the first place no
other game is played under more IA
vorable conditions for the comfort OF
the spectator. 1t is played indoors,
where they can be seated and at the
same time be free from any discom-
forts, such as sitting along the side
lines in the dead of winter watching
a football game, or watching base
ball game in the heat of summer
while the sun pours down its rays.
The viewpoint of the spectator Is
very much better on the basket ball
court than for any other of the Usual
games. In football only one part of
the play is clearly visible and that
is that part which is played when the
teams are battling just opposite your
position on tho side lines. In basket
ball the court is small and the specta-
tor is stationed just outside the play
ing space, SO that every movement Of
every player can be seen.
Simplicity is to be sought in every
thing In basket ball only five players
are used on team, and hence 1t Is
easy for the spectator to know what is
going on at all times. A very inter.
esting item of the game is the amount
of science that is developed by five
men. II the spectator will watch care
fully the positions that each player
assumes when the ball is ready to
be thrown up in the center, and then
notice how quickly and with clock
like precision each player darts to !
some other position on the court,
some idea can be gained of how each
play is reeled off for a purpose.
Coming in the lull between football
and baseball, this game gives the
spectator something to do to satisfy
his craving for excitement. Not only
will study of the game increase his
sum total Of knowledge, but at the
same time his mind is gotten off the
busy activities of life, and great bene-
its will be derived. He who profess
IS to be true sport cannot afford to
have his reputation marred by de-
'ect of knowledge of one game which
IS being played every Saturday night
IN Columbia by c. M. A. He who
1oes not care for sports as a rule, will
1erive great benefits from having his
mind taken off business and given up
o excitement.
The next article will deal with the
game in a general way first, and then
more in detail