The Changing Face Of Basketball
Basketball has come a long way since its soccer ball and peach basket beginnings
in that its style, players, facilities and leagues have developed dramatically
and gained tremendous popularity. Salaries have increased from Bob Cousy's
minute $45.00 a game (Minser 37) to Michael Jordan's $300,000 + per game
(Minser 37). Basketball is a sport in which all ages can participate in any way,
shape, or form and is a big part of American society today. In 1891 James A.
Naismith invented basketball at a YMCA gymnasium in Springfield, Massachusetts
(Hollander 4). He told a custodian to nail two peach baskets 10 feet high on
opposite ends of the gymnasium walls. The first teams consisted of nine ...
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in that players have become more flashy, facilities
have become bigger and more complex, and leagues have grown. The 50's marked a
period of fundamentals. Teams practiced shooting, dribbling, and passing. they
also emphasized execution; something lacking in today's game. Execution is the
running of plays to perfection. Basketball in the 50's was dominated by 6'10”
George Mikan of the Minneapolis Lakers (Minsky 14).Mikan was a disciplined team
leader who had a masterful soft shot. Big George led the Lakers to five National
Basketball Association (NBA) championships in six years, making them the first
professional basketball dynasty (Minsky 14). Growing up, George was very
uncoordinated and was cut from almost every basketball team he tried out for;
however, a man named Ray Meyer was the coach of DePaul University and dedicated
his training sessions to Mikan (Minsky 15-16). George worked very hard; he even
took dance lessons to improve his agility and footwork. He also played one - ...
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, being the
best defensive center in the league, prided himself on being able to guard the
best offensive center in the league: Chamberlain. Russell verses Chamberlain
will go down in history as one of the best matchups in the history of the sport.
Throughout the ten years the opposing centers played, they met 162 times (Minsky
30). In those games, Chamberlain's points were down and rebounds were up and
visa versa for Russell (Minsky 30). last, but definitely not least, was Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabbar, unlike Mikan, was predicted and destined to be great.
At 7'2” and with the body of a sprinter, Abdul-Jabbar was expected to reach
unrealistic standards, which he usually met all ...
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"The Changing Face Of Basketball." Essayworld.com. January 4, 2006. Accessed April 24, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Changing-Face-Of-Basketball/39084.
"The Changing Face Of Basketball." Essayworld.com. January 4, 2006. Accessed April 24, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Changing-Face-Of-Basketball/39084.
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