James A. Naismith

james naismith (http://www.ucjg-ymca-france.org/Html/stk_img_ymca/illustration/naismith_1.jpg)

Hockey and football are great fall/winter sports, but what if you wanted something not as rough as football and you couldn’t skate? Basketball is the answer, and why do we have this magnificent sport? James Naismith. I picked him to be my hero not only because he invented my favourite sport, but because of the hopes and dreams that are coming to young children today. Many people have conquered this sport and brought joy to the viewers. It’s a great way to have fun and keep in shape.

James Naismith grew up in the nice town of Springfield, Mass. As he grew up he was an excellent athlete, star gymnast and was very successful. Once during a football game a teammate swore after the opposition scored a touchdown, he noticed Naismith was there and went over and apologized immediately. While James was growing up he noticed he could do very well at examining physical behaviour. He became a minister with degrees in religion, medicine and as a physical educator.

original tool for basketball (http://istil.univ-lyon1.fr/images/sports/basktpeach.jpg)

James Naismith worked at McGill University and helped out at the YMCA. While at the YMCA he was asked to make a game that didn’t take up too much room and could be played indoors, he was clueless. Then some inspiration came to him in the form of duck on a rock, a game that he played as a child. The sport was fine with the class he had at the YMCA, they took on to it quickly. There were no broken bones and it had rules to restrain the men from fighting. There was a no contact rule in the game and dribbling. Also when the ball went out it went to the first person who got it.

People were feverish to pick up the sport of basketball. It was such a great sport that is was put into the Olympic Games. James Naismith even got put into 8 halls of fame. Then he got an invitation to come and watch a championship women’s basketball game. He was very sceptical that a woman could play basketball. A little time before the invitation they added the dribble into the game. Naismith thought the dribble was a show-off, "look at me" style of play and it risked contact; which James had not wanted in his game.

James Naismith (http://www.uhlsport.com/media/data/6092-media.jpg)

Basketball means a lot to young and old people around the world. It’s brought dreams that could come alive; that’s why I chose Dr .James A. Naismith. Not because of the enlightenment he brought but because of the people he helped and I think the country he saved.