He has receipts, Flansburg and others said, after working with two sports historians who published a book this year called “Nais-MYTH” that purports to prove Herkimer is the true birthplace of basketball. That, Flansburg said, is the linchpin for the rest of his plans. “If I had $100 million, I couldn’t fix downtown and make it last two years,” Flansburg said. “But if this story is true, Herkimer could be like Cooperstown.” Those in Springfield are less impressed. “Count me on the side of this is nuts,” said Matt Zeysing, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s historian.