Deadlock

When a gymnasium instructor at the International Y. M. C. A. College, Springfield, Mass., set his class to tossing a soccer ball through two bottomless peach baskets one winter afternoon in 1891, he had no idea he was inventing what was to become the most popular U. S. winter sport, basketball. Instructor James A. Naismith was just trying to keep his restless charges from getting bored. The class took to his pastime with such enthusiasm that the Y. M. C. A. began teaching basketball in other cities. By 1893 the game had been brought to Detroit.

Last week Detroit honored Dr. Naismith, now 76, with a banquet at which the original 1893 players, who 32 years ago organized into teams representing Adams "Y" and the Detroit Athletic Club, stuffed themselves with chicken. Afterwards the two teams, refereed by Inventor Naismith, played basketball as it was when baskets were peach baskets. Shoving and tackling under the original catch-as-catch-can rules, the hearty players (the oldest was 61, the youngest 53) battled for all they were worth. When the game was over the score was 2-to-2. Unanimously the players decided to postpone the overtime period until 1939.

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