The Cultural Significance and Early History of Basketball

Origins and Unique Features of Origins and Unique Features of America’s “Post-Industrial” GameAmerica’s “Post-Industrial” Game

I. The “Post-Industrial” Game

Parallels to post-industrial Parallels to post-industrial productionproduction--The “knowledge worker”--The “knowledge worker”

Far removed from climate Far removed from climate and topographyand topography

The role of systematic The role of systematic innovationinnovation--First Game: December, --First Game: December, 18911891--Founder: James Naismith--Founder: James Naismith

I. The “Post-Industrial” Game (cont.) Less rigidly defined Less rigidly defined

and specializedand specialized Organization of Organization of

authority less authority less hierarchicalhierarchical

Continuous action in Continuous action in basketball—not as basketball—not as sequential as baseball sequential as baseball or footballor football

II. The “Latecomer”

Naismith’s Naismith’s backgroundbackground

Context for the Context for the “invention” of “invention” of basketballbasketball

The original 13 rules The original 13 rules of the gameof the game

Spread of the game Spread of the game into foreign countriesinto foreign countries

II. The “Latecomer” (cont.)

Roots in institutions of Roots in institutions of educationeducation

--January, 1896: --January, 1896: University of Iowa vs. University of Iowa vs. University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago

Naismith’s philosophy Naismith’s philosophy toward competitiontoward competition

Forrest “Phog” AllenForrest “Phog” Allen

II. The “Latecomer” (cont.)

Adolph RuppAdolph Rupp

--University of Kentucky, --University of Kentucky, 1930-19721930-1972

Dean SmithDean Smith

--University of North --University of North Carolina, 1962-1997Carolina, 1962-1997

Conference organization Conference organization and similar abuses to and similar abuses to college footballcollege football

II. The “Latecomer” (cont.)

Way game was played Way game was played changed over timechanged over time

““Cagers”Cagers” The freethrowThe freethrow The origins of The origins of

dribblingdribbling Mid-court line and the Mid-court line and the

center jumpcenter jump

II. The “Latecomer” (cont.)

Traditional offensive Traditional offensive strategystrategy

Origins of the “jump shot”Origins of the “jump shot”

--Angelo “Hank” Luisetti, --Angelo “Hank” Luisetti, Stanford UniversityStanford University

Stanford defeats Long Stanford defeats Long Island University, 45-31—Island University, 45-31—December 30, 1936December 30, 1936

Higher scoring games Higher scoring games result from jump shotresult from jump shot

II. The “Latecomer” (cont.)

Tall players begin to Tall players begin to make their mark in the make their mark in the 1940’s1940’s--Bob Kurland, --Bob Kurland, Oklahoma A&MOklahoma A&M--George Mikan, --George Mikan, DePaul UniversityDePaul University

Lane changes and Lane changes and goaltendinggoaltending

II. The “Latecomer” (cont.)

Evolution of the game Evolution of the game and its local appealand its local appeal

National appeal raised National appeal raised in the 1930’s as NYC in the 1930’s as NYC became basketball became basketball capital of the worldcapital of the world

--Ned Irish--Ned Irish

--NIT born in 1938--NIT born in 1938

II. The “Latecomer” (cont.)

New York eclipsed as the New York eclipsed as the center of the basketball center of the basketball worldworld-- “point shaving” -- “point shaving” scandals in 1951scandals in 1951--creation of the NCAA --creation of the NCAA tournament in 1939tournament in 1939

UNC over Kansas in triple UNC over Kansas in triple overtime, 55-54, in 1957overtime, 55-54, in 1957

Emergence of ACC as Emergence of ACC as basketball powerbasketball power

III. The “Grass Roots”

Enthusiasm for Enthusiasm for basketball in Indianabasketball in Indiana

Origins of basketball Origins of basketball in Indianain Indiana

Basketball at Purdue Basketball at Purdue and IUand IU

““Hoosier Hysteria”: Hoosier Hysteria”: High School High School basketballbasketball

III. The “Grass Roots” (cont.)

Reasons for basketball’s Reasons for basketball’s special status in Indianaspecial status in Indiana

State High School State High School Basketball Tournament Basketball Tournament (1911)(1911)

Milan defeats Muncie Milan defeats Muncie Central 32-30 in 1954Central 32-30 in 1954

Butler Field House (1928)Butler Field House (1928) The rise and decline of the The rise and decline of the

nostalgic “myth” of nostalgic “myth” of Indiana high school Indiana high school basketballbasketball

III. The “Grass Roots” (cont.)

Indianapolis Crispus Indianapolis Crispus Attucks defeats Gary Attucks defeats Gary Roosevelt, 97-74, in Roosevelt, 97-74, in 19551955

Two famous Two famous participants in Indiana participants in Indiana high school basketballhigh school basketball--John Wooden--John Wooden--Oscar Robertson--Oscar Robertson

III. The “Grass Roots” (cont.)

Popularity of basketball in Popularity of basketball in large inner-city areaslarge inner-city areas

Waves of immigrants Waves of immigrants invade these areas and take invade these areas and take up basketballup basketball--St. Johns University’s --St. Johns University’s “Wonder Five”“Wonder Five”--Eddie Gottlieb--Eddie Gottlieb

Urban Catholics contribute Urban Catholics contribute to the sportto the sport--Bob Cousy, Al and Dick --Bob Cousy, Al and Dick McGuireMcGuire

III. The “Grass Roots” (cont.)

Impact of the “Great Impact of the “Great Migration” on northern Migration” on northern inner-city basketballinner-city basketball

--Texas Western --Texas Western University defeats University defeats Kentucky, 1966Kentucky, 1966

Role of basketball for Role of basketball for inner-city cultureinner-city culture

Significance of these Significance of these “playground games”“playground games”

III. The “Grass Roots” (cont.)

Distinctive style of Distinctive style of play on inner-city play on inner-city playgroundsplaygrounds

The significance of the The significance of the “dunk”“dunk”

Playground basketball Playground basketball as a source of self-as a source of self-expressionexpression

III. The “Grass Roots” (cont.)

Playground basketball Playground basketball compared to Jazzcompared to Jazz

Significance of age and Significance of age and gender of playground gender of playground playersplayers

Role of lack of space on Role of lack of space on playground courtsplayground courts

Individual versus Individual versus collective ethic in collective ethic in playground basketballplayground basketball