Tag: James Naismith

On this day: Bird gets dual honor; Naismith publishes 1st rules

On this day in Celtics history, Larry Bird won two prestigious media awards, and basketball inventor James Naismith published the sport’s original 13 rules.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, legendary small forward Larry Bird was honored with being awarded both Man of the Year by the Sporting News and Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in 1987.

It was the first time in history that any athlete of any sport had won both awards at the same time in the same year. The honor for the Hick from French Lick (as Bird was sometimes called) happened at the apex of his prime years. It may even have been a bit of a jinx if you believe in that sort of thing.

The dual honor ended up being the first time in 5 seasons the Celtics did not make it to the NBA Finals in the Playoffs.

“Here it is,” Scott Flansburg said, …

“Here it is,” Scott Flansburg said, gesturing to a parking lot. “You can kind of imagine it.” It was the site of the old Herkimer YMCA, built in the 1890s but gone since it burned down decades ago. Flansburg and others in town are convinced that this is where basketball was invented — not, as the famous story goes, by James Naismith and his peach baskets 160 miles east in Springfield, Mass., but by a 16-year-old Swedish immigrant named Lambert Will, who tossed cabbages into crates.

He has receipts, Flansburg and others …

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.

The historians, combing through …

The historians, combing through archives, discovered correspondence between Frank J. Basloe and his publisher that showed Basloe had wanted to publish a revision with even grander claims for Herkimer. It was Will, Basloe wrote, who actually sent his rules east to Springfield, not the other way around. The publisher, though, never issued the revision. The writers found other evidence they believe bolstered Basloe’s case, including an 1898 article from the Syracuse Herald that reported on the success of Herkimer’s early basketball team, which it said had been playing since the fall of 1891. “Herkimer Crack Players have lost but two of thirty-five games,” it declared. A 1940 article in Little Falls, a neighboring town, noted a celebration of the 50th anniversary of basketball with Will as grand chairman.

On this day: Bird gets dually honored; Naismith publishes 1st rules

On this day in Celtics history, Larry Bird won two prestigious media awards, and basketball inventor James Naismith published the sport’s original 13 rules.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, legendary small forward Larry Bird was honored with being awarded both Man of the Year by the Sporting News and Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in 1987.

It was the first time in history any athlete of any sport had won both awards at the same time in the same year. The honor for the Hick from French Lick (as Bird was sometimes called) happened at the apex of his prime years. It may even have been a bit of a jinx if you believe in that sort of thing.

The dual honor ended up being the first time in five seasons the Celtics did not make it to the NBA Finals in the Playoffs.

When the Raptors and Grizzlies were …

When the Raptors and Grizzlies were awarded expansion franchises for the 1995-96 season, a healthy rivalry was anticipated. While some rivalries are built on playoff series and animosity, others are based on proximity. A pair of new Canadian teams expected to struggle out of the gate were natural to pit against each other, and putting something on the line was a clever way to make sure both sides had a chance at bragging rights during some lean years. The decision was made that the Raptors and Grizzlies would square off in each preseason, with the winner being awarded The Naismith Cup, in honour of the Canadian inventor of the sport, James Naismith.