Basketball
Related: About this forumBack when I got a standing ovation at the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Well, kind of, but a true story.
I was staying at the motel across the parking lot from the James Naismith Basketball Hall of fame back in 2009, about this time of year. I was there to watch the college team I followed that whole season, the Findlay Oilers. They set a record that may never be topped. They went 36 and 0 for the year and won the Division II Championship.
The day before, I went over for the tour of the Hall of Fame. I can't remember his name, but some tall retired pro was taking us around. Out on the court he asked if someone would like to shoot a free throw, I said sure, took one shot and nailed it. Asked if I'd like to try another, I said no, hadn't shot a free throw in over 30 yeas so it was all luck. I did shoot 100% from the line that day.
I pulled him over and told him I have story for him. I told him my mother attend school at the University of Kansas in the early 30s. She was told she had to take a gym class so she signed up for fencing. Her instructor was Dr. James Naismith.
Well, he kind of freaked out and called all of the employees over to meet me and told them about my mother. Standing there, they all applauded me.
He was the man that invented the game of basketball and used a peach basket in that first game.
DURHAM D
(32,835 posts)was the only KU head coach to have a losing record. Didn't know he taught fencing. Cool
multigraincracker
(34,069 posts)was in his mid to late 80s. He was a pyhs ed professor there too.
DURHAM D
(32,835 posts)vacationing at the beach - east coast. I met the couple renting the house next door - her last name was Naismith. I asked her if she was related to James Nasmith. She was stunned as I guess this is not a question she gets very often. She was his great granddaughter. The man who was with her until that moment had never heard of James Naismith.
multigraincracker
(34,069 posts)and take the tour. Well worth it.