Sports
words by > Cecil Harris
B-Ball Bonanza
One of America’s most beloved sports, basketball is played in gyms, parks, driveways and barns from coast to coast. However, the pastime of tossing a large ball into a basket was created in 1891 by a Canadian, Dr. James Naismith, as a form of recreation for his pupils at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Naismith could not have envisioned the high-flying, sharp-shooting, fast-paced excitement of today’s game. Pro superstars have a worldwide following. High school tournaments delight fans across America. But no event captures the public’s imagination quite like the NCAA tournament, otherwise known as “March Madness.”
Office productivity comes to a virtual standstill while we debate the merits of our favorite teams and compare predictions in the ever-popular office pools. Everybody seems to have a rooting interest—for an alma mater, a hometown school, a charismatic player or this year’s “Cinderella team.” Florida won the men’s title last year. This year, the final four teams will compete for the championship in Atlanta, which could be a good omen for Maryland. Their Terrapins won the crown in 2002, when it was last awarded at the Georgia Dome.
Some fun activities have been planned during Final Four week in downtown Atlanta. On March 29, college stars will compete in Slam Dunk and 3-Point Shooting contests. The next day, you can watch all four semifinal teams practice at the Georgia Dome for free. For many spectators, the Dome will be an attraction in itself.
Opened in 1992, the Georgia Dome is the largest cable-supported dome in the world, with a roof made of Teflon-coated fiberglass fabric. The dome is home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and college football’s annual Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the Southeastern Conference championship game. The dome also hosted the Super Bowl in 1994 and 2000, and basketball and gymnastics during the 1996 Summer Olympics.
To Match Your Jersey
Want a basketball displaying the name, uniform number and team logo of your favorite NBA player? Spalding, which makes the official game balls, has created this unique line using actual team graphics for the league’s hottest stars, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. Available for $29.99 at the NBA Store.
www.nba.com
Sporting Event Calendar
March 11
Selection Sunday at NCAA headquarters, Indianapolis
The schools are announced for the 65-team NCAA men’s basketball tournament and the 64-team women’s tourney.
As always, there will be surprises and controversy over who got in and who did not. Start filling out your brackets.
March 12
New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox, Palms Park, Fort Myers, Florida
This is the only meeting during the exhibition baseball season between these American League East rivals. In December, Boston signed Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka, who the Yankees coveted. Will it be enough to end the Yankees’ nine-year reign as division champions?
March 26
Shell Houston Open, Redstone Golf Club, Houston
The final PGA Tour stop before The Masters. Last year, Stuart Appleby of Australia won his second title here and became the first player to lead the event from the first hole to the last.