Canada Early Hoops History
Basketball's Early Days and the Roll of Canadians
Taipei and Toronto and any realms between, no matter where you go, chance's are there's a hoops court somewhere nearby.
We enjoy hoops thanks to the inspired imaginings of Canadian and peach basket-totting James Naismith, who invented the game in Springfield, Mass., in December 1891. (You knew that, eh?)
While an ‘instant’ success – even despite those strange original 13 rules (Sorry, no dribbling), it took Naismith a few stabs to get it right — first iterations blended soccer and lacrosse, which proved a bit rough and unwieldy.
In 1939, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia, Naismith reflected on those early tries: “I didn’t have enough [rules] and that’s where I made my big mistake,” he said in a …radio interview. “The boys began tackling, kicking and punching in the clinches. They ended up in a free-for-all in the middle of the gym floor. ….one boy was knocked out, several had black eyes and one had a dislocated shoulder.”
Naismith then remembered a kid’s game called 'Duck on a Rock,’ a game with medieval roots. He tinkered with it and Voilà! …. Basketball. (Click here for more)
It wasn’t long before the first-ever game was played….and with it, the first-ever starting line-up!
World's 1st Game Starting Line-Up — Canadians Galore
WORLD’S FIRST BASKETBALL TEAM (Springfield, Mass., December 1891) Among hoops’ first players was none other than Lyman Archibald (Canadian) who later brought hoops to St. Stephen, N.B. Canada.
Above Photo: Naismith is middle row, 2nd from right. Interestingly, five of the original players (I’m counting Naismith) were Canadian. They are, 1) John G Thompson, 2) Eugene S. Libby, 3) James Naismith, 4) Finlay G MacDonald and 5) Lyman Archibald.
The first hoops game played outside the United States was in Canada, in St. Stephen, New Brunswick to be be precise. (Not France-see STORY). Link soon, still working on it…
Of that inaugural team, Canadian Lyman Archibald would later bring the game to a small Canadian town, St. Stephen, N.B., where hoopsters played at the St. Stephen YMCA Gymnasium, on trod upon what is now known as the world's oldest basketball court. Its fascinating, if bizarre tale, built, played on, buried and almost burned to a crisp is here. This is the very court. The oldest on the planet. (Peach basket added for effect).
And this, decorative tin molding and all….is the ceiling…..!
Another alum, Canadian Melvin Rideout learned hoops from Naismith and, in France, became the first athletic director of Paris' storied YMCA ( Union Chrétienne des Jeunes Gens de Paris) on 14 rue Trévise, 9th arrondissement, were the first European basketball game was played. The Paris court was a replica of the YMCA in Springfield, Mass.
The French Basketball Federation produced a video on him and basketball which you should watch just for the riot of images...No French required!
THAT PARIS ‘Y’- Creamery and all…
The history of the Paris YMCA should be a HULU feature: when opened it sported (…a deep breath here…) a gym, pool, restaurant, bowling alley, reception & conference room, a concert hall & theater, library, billiards, hostel and ….yah, a creamery. Believe there was also an elevated wooden circular track. The Paris ‘Y’, a historical landmark (1994), was probably the first multi-use building in Paris. It is currently being prettified.
And while many in France believe that 'Y' to be the oldest in the world. It....is.....not! Read more.
ADD LINK
If you play hoops, or any sport, are Canadian, know a Canadian…or are a fan of history or France or simply love a great story…subscribe! Naismith and the team would love you for it!