Patent ID: 7357366

Claim:
A system comprising: a sports pole having a first end and a second end; a basketball goal attached to the first end of said sports pole; and a mounting structure attached to the second end of said sports pole, said mounting structure comprising: a ground sleeve, said ground sleeve configured to be mounted in the ground; a support member mounted within said ground sleeve such that said support member is positioned below the surface of the ground; a bracket attachable to the second end of said sports pole and engageable with said support member to support said sports pole and inhibit rotation of said sports pole when the second end of said sports pole is inserted into said ground sleeve; and a collar having an aperture and at least one engagement section, the collar receiving the second end of said sports pole through the aperture and the collar being positionable on said sports pole above said bracket such that the at least one engagement section is engageable with said ground sleeve; wherein said bracket includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion and the second protrusion being positioned to receive said support member between the first protrusion and the second protrusion and from below said bracket.