The Cultural Significance and Early History of Basketball

1. The Cultural Significance and Early History of Basketball Origins and Unique Features of America’s “Post-Industrial” Game

2. I. The “Post-Industrial” Game • Parallels to post-industrial production --The “knowledge worker” • Far removed from climate and topography • The role of systematic innovation --First Game: December, 1891 --Founder: James Naismith

3. I. The “Post-Industrial” Game (cont.) • Less rigidly defined and specialized • Organization of authority less hierarchical • Continuous action in basketball—not as sequential as baseball or football

4. II. The “Latecomer” • Naismith’s background • Context for the “invention” of basketball • The original 13 rules of the game • Spread of the game into foreign countries

5. II. The “Latecomer” (cont.) • Roots in institutions of education --January, 1896: University of Iowa vs. University of Chicago • Naismith’s philosophy toward competition • Forrest “Phog” Allen

6. II. The “Latecomer” (cont.) • Adolph Rupp --University of Kentucky, 1930-1972 • Dean Smith --University of North Carolina, 1962-1997 • Conference organization and similar abuses to college football

7. II. The “Latecomer” (cont.) • Way game was played changed over time • “Cagers” • The freethrow • The origins of dribbling • Mid-court line and the center jump

8. II. The “Latecomer” (cont.) • Traditional offensive strategy • Origins of the “jump shot” --Angelo “Hank” Luisetti, Stanford University • Stanford defeats Long Island University, 45-31—December 30, 1936 • Higher scoring games result from jump shot

9. II. The “Latecomer” (cont.) • Tall players begin to make their mark in the 1940’s --Bob Kurland, Oklahoma A&M --George Mikan, DePaul University • Lane changes and goaltending

10. II. The “Latecomer” (cont.) • Evolution of the game and its local appeal • National appeal raised in the 1930’s as NYC became basketball capital of the world --Ned Irish --NIT born in 1938

11. II. The “Latecomer” (cont.) • New York eclipsed as the center of the basketball world -- “point shaving” scandals in 1951 --creation of the NCAA tournament in 1939 • UNC over Kansas in triple overtime, 55-54, in 1957 • Emergence of ACC as basketball power

12. III. The “Grass Roots” • Enthusiasm for basketball in Indiana • Origins of basketball in Indiana • Basketball at Purdue and IU • “Hoosier Hysteria”: High School basketball

13. III. The “Grass Roots” (cont.) • Reasons for basketball’s special status in Indiana • State High School Basketball Tournament (1911) • Milan defeats Muncie Central 32-30 in 1954 • Butler Field House (1928) • The rise and decline of the nostalgic “myth” of Indiana high school basketball

14. III. The “Grass Roots” (cont.) • Indianapolis Crispus Attucks defeats Gary Roosevelt, 97-74, in 1955 • Two famous participants in Indiana high school basketball --John Wooden --Oscar Robertson

15. III. The “Grass Roots” (cont.) • Popularity of basketball in large inner-city areas • Waves of immigrants invade these areas and take up basketball --St. Johns University’s “Wonder Five” --Eddie Gottlieb • Urban Catholics contribute to the sport --Bob Cousy, Al and Dick McGuire

16. III. The “Grass Roots” (cont.) • Impact of the “Great Migration” on northern inner-city basketball --Texas Western University defeats Kentucky, 1966 • Role of basketball for inner-city culture • Significance of these “playground games”

17. III. The “Grass Roots” (cont.) • Distinctive style of play on inner-city playgrounds • The significance of the “dunk” • Playground basketball as a source of self-expression

18. III. The “Grass Roots” (cont.) • Playground basketball compared to Jazz • Significance of age and gender of playground players • Role of lack of space on playground courts • Individual versus collective ethic in playground basketball