The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-22
ITS BIRTHPLACE
Was Basketball Originated in
Kansas or Massachusetts,
Eastern Man Would Take
Honor From Jayhawkers.

Undoubtedly fate has decreed that
the basketball prestige of Kansas uni
versity is becoming too great, and in
addition to dishing out to the Jay
hawkers a team this year that is far
inferior to those that have made Law
renee the big berg in Missouri Valley
tossing in years past, the old girl who
presides over the destinies of such
things has now caused to spring up
an institution that claims the honor
of having been the first school where
the game of goal tossing was played.
In this section of the country it has
been generally understood that K U.
was the birthplace of basketball and
stories are often told of how the first
games were played in Lawrence with
bottomless peach baskets for goals
But. writing in the Philadelphia
Ledger, John T. Winterich asserts that
the game was originated at the Young
Mems Christian Association College
at Springfield, Mass. True, the credit
of originating the game and making
1t popular is given to DR.. James Nal
smith, just as it is at Lawrence and
throughout this section of the coun-
try. but If the story published in Phil
adelphia is correct, Kansas and K. u.
lose distinction of great Importance
in the sport world.
The story of Mr.. Winterich is re-
produced below not alone because of
the assertions made regarding the
origin of the game, but because it is
very timely just now when the bas-
ketball season is at its height and is
the predominating sport in intercol-
legiate circles everywhere.
The Winterich Story.
Basketball, most youthful of inter
collegiate sports, this winter entered
upon its twenty-fifth season. Com
pared with golf, tennis, cricket or
even baseball it is still a frisky
youngster. 1t differs from them, too.
in that it was evolved virtually conn
plete in a mans brain before a single
mark was ever placed on a gymna-
SUM floor to define the limits of the
court. 1t has no traditions.
The distinction makes basketball
unique. 1t was the product of a the
DRY. That theory was an idea which
crystallized in the mind of James Mai
smith, who, in 1891. was instructor in
the gymnasium of the Young Mems
Christian Association Training Col
lege, at Springfield, Mass. Naismith
saw that gymnasium work became. as
the winter progressed. pretty much of
bore. For even their most faithful
adherents, continual juggling of
dumb-bells and Indian clubs and tug
ging at chest weights came to lack the
enthusiasm and spontaneity which,
more than any other element, makes
Why not. then, a form of indoor ex-
ercise which should combine muscular
effort with 1.-The rigor of the game"
Built From Nothing.
The sole material aspect of his idea
at the outset was the smooth gymna-
SUM floor and its four walls. His
game must be attractive, that was es-
sential. 1t must be such a delight that
men-and women-would like to play
it for its own sake, and not primarily
for hygienic results the chest
weights did that. 1t should be simple
and easy to learn. so that the transit
ton from class work might be made
Immediately, without any loss of time
in the study of hampering techni-
1t should be a test of skill as well
as of strength; there must be room
for the development of teamwork
Why not a game in which a ball
should be tossd into large baskets sus-
pended at either end of a gymnasium
floor? Here was form of compe-
tition which satisfied all the require
ments. Equipment, too, was readily
available. Here was the floor, and
baskets suitable. at least, for expert
mental purposes, coulo be had for a
few cents. But what of the ball?
This was the cruX OF NaiSmith'S prob
lem.
Having developed the game thus
far. however, he did not intend to let
a mere ball stand in the way of ac-
tual accomplishment. Every possible
sphere was tried, large and small
hard and soft. Practice showed that
it must be large to forestall the temp
tation to carry it. and that it must
be inflated. both for purposes of drib-
bling and to prevent injury to the
| players. Finally the regulation as
ISOLATION football was adopted and
proved wholly satisfactory, the only
alternative was to wait for a ball to
| be manufactured which should ex-
actly match Naismiths DESIRES a
process which would have postponed
the inception of the game.
Growth of the Game.
By 1894 basketball made fair to
span the world; it had reached to
Paris in one direction and clean to
] Melbourne in the other. Even before
this it had been taken up by women
gymnasts- The fame of the game