Branislav Antala Petar D. Pavlović Nenad Živanović

Kristina M. Pantelić Babić (Editors)

BASKETBALL IN EUROPE

FIEP Europe – History of

Physical Education and Sport Section

Association of Pedagogues of Physical Education and Sport

FIEP, Niš, Serbia

University of Priština, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education in

Leposavić

Niš - Leposavić, 2017.

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Book: BASKETBALL IN EUROPE Editors: Branislav Antala (Slovakia) Petar D. Pavlović (Republic of Srpska) Nenad Živanović (Serbia) Kristina M. Pantelić Babić (Republic of Srpska) Publishers: FIEP Europe - History of Physical Education and Sport

Section Association of Pedagogues of Physical Education and

Sport FIEP, Niš, Serbia University of Priština, Faculty of Sport and Physical

Education in Leposavić For publishers: Nenad Živanović Veroljub Stanković

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Reviewers: Branislav Antala (Slovakia) Sobyanin Fedor Ivanovich (Russia) Sergii Ivashchenko (Ukraine) Slađana Mijatović (Serbia) Nicolae Ochiana (Romania) Petar D. Pavlović (Republic of Srpska) Veroljub Stanković (Serbia) Violeta Šiljak (Serbia) Nenad Živanović (Serbia) Prepress: Kristina M. Pantelić Babić Book-jacket: Anton Lednicky Circulation: 200 Printed by: SIGRAF Kruševac ISBN:978-86-82329-63-3

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NOTE: No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of the authors.

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Authors:

Arūnas Emeljanovas (Lithuania) Catalin Vasile Ciocan (Romania) Daiva Majauskienė (Lithuania) Daniela Dasheva (Bulgaria) Dejan Milenković (Serbia) Enric Mª Sebastiani i Obrador (Spain) Fabio André Castilha (Brazil) Geoffery Z. Kohe (United Kingdom) Giyasettin Demirhan (Turkey) Gustáv Argaj (Slovakia) Ivashchenko Sergii (Ukraine) Jaroslava Argajová (Slovakia) Jonathan Mandel (United Kingdom) José Fernandes Filho (Brazil) José Rodríguez (Venezuela) Josep Solà i Santesmases (Spain) Kaduzkaya Larisa Anatolievna (Russia) Karabutova Elena Alexandrovna (Russia) Kristina M. Pantelić Babić (Republic of Srpska) Ľubor Tománek (Slovakia) Mariana Borukova (Bulgaria) Mauro Moraes Macêdo (Brazil) Milena Momirović (Serbia) Nenad Živanović (Serbia) Petar D. Pavlović (Republic of Srpska) Selhan Özbey (Turkey) Slobodan Simović (Republic of Srpska) Sobyanin Fedor Ivanovich (Russia) Spirin Mikhail Petrovich (Russia) Uldis Gravitis (Latvia) Voronin Igor Yuryevich (Russia)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD ..................................................................................7

HISTORY OF BULGARIAN BASKETBALL ..............................8

BASKETBALL IN LATVIA ........................................................ 20

BEGINNING OF BASKETBALL IN LITHUANIA ................................................................................. 31

BEGINNINGS OF BASKETBALL IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ................................................................ 46

THE HISTORY OF ROMANIAN BASKETBALL AND OF THE ROMANIAN BASKETBALL FEDERATION ................................................... 63

HISTORY OF BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENT IN RUSSIA ..................................................... 78

SERBIAN BASKETBALL THROUGH THE HISTORY ..................................................................................... 91

BASKETBALL IN SLOVAKIA ................................................ 117

HISTORY OF EUROPEAN BASKETBALL - CONTEMPORARY EVOLUTION IN SPAIN AND CATALONIA .................................................................... 135

HISTORY OF BASKETBALL IN TURKEY ............................ 157

BIRKENHEAD REVISITED: THE EARLY ORIGINS OF BASKETBALL IN BRITAIN ............................. 178

THE DEVELOPMENT OF BASKETBALL IN UKRAINE ................................................................................... 201

BASKETBALL IN BRAZIL ...................................................... 210

VENEZUELAN BASKETBALL PLAYERS IN EUROPE ................................................................................ 240

FOREWORD

During one session of FIEP’s Section for history of Physical Education and Sports held in Niš (Serbia) in 2014 originated the idea and initiative for writing of History of Sports and Physical Education in European countries. By exchange of views with present colleagues, the idea was accepted.

After consent of FIEP Europe’s President Mr. Branislav Antala (Slovakia) regarding this matter, during the following Section’s session the Commission for leading this idea into realization was formed. Elected members of this Commission were: Nenad Živanović, Petar D. Pavlović, Branislav Antala and Kristina M. Pantelić Babić. At the same session was decided to start with writing of History of Physical Education.

With the work of stated Commission members, National Delegates and Assistant of National Delegate of FIEP Europe, as also other associates from most European countries, edition about beginnings of development of Physical Education in European countries was successfully published in 2015.

Due to the fact that first part of the project was very successful, the idea continues also in the following 2016 with same Commission and with edition about history of FOOTBALL IN

EUROPE. This year we continue the tradition and present you the history of BASKETBALL IN EUROPE.

For this publication 14 manuscripts were received, with the interesting fact that we have 12 manuscripts from Europe and 2 “guest” manuscripts, one from Brazil and one from Venezuela. They all successfully passed review process, and all papers are classified by reviewers and editors as scientific papers.

Papers are sorted alphabetically, beginning with countries from Europe which participated in this edition, and with Brazilian and Venezuelan papers at the end.

We thank all authors for being a part of this interesting project and hope to continue our cooperation in 2018.

With kind regards, EDITORS

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BULGARIA

HISTORY OF BULGARIAN BASKETBALL

Mariana Borukova, PhD, National Sports Academy “V. Levski” – Sofia, Bulgaria

Daniela Dasheva, D.Sc., PhD, National Sports Academy “V. Levski” – Sofia, Bulgaria

Correspondence: danieladasheva@abv.bg

dashevadaniela@yahoo.com

Basketball is one of the most popular sports games in the world. According to FIBA from 2016, the Members are 213 countries. The game appeared back in 1891 as a simple small game with only 13 rules. Its creator is James Naismith, professor of anatomy and physical education and sport in SpringfieldCollege, Massachusetts, USA.

We could not determine the exact date of the appearance of basketball in Bulgaria because the existing information is contradictory. There is evidence that in Sofia, many students returned home after the Balkan War, and played basketball on the court behind the Military Academy (1913). Years associated with the emergence of basketball in Bulgaria are 1916/1917. This happened d e to the students who had completed their education abroad and later students from American College in Bulgaria who practiced and promoted the game. The interests in the game grew over the years and in 1919 in Sofia for the first time public courses appeared. The first basketball courts were created in the capital - Sofia and in some coastal cities. Under the influence of the French sports movement in Bulgaria, basketball played mainly girls.

The official year adopted as the beginning of basketball in Bulgaria was 1919. Then "Athletic" club first built a basketball court in Sofia and established Basketball section In its example next year - 1920 game were included in the program of the other clubs in Sofia, which formed the female teams - "Slavia", "Levski", "Slava" and others. Female teams also were started in Rousse, Plovdiv, Varna, Pazardzhik, Bourgas and others.

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UDK 796.323.2 (497.2)

Basketball club "Slavia" is the oldest sports club in Bulgaria. As the sport Basketball in the "white" club was introduced by the founder of the Bulgarian basketball Vladimir Yerusalimov (Vlagera) in 1916. Basketball rules were brought from Constantinople and the team was formed. In 1917 the club was established officially Women movement started in 1921. Slaves were the first women's basketball club in Bulgaria. Regarding to the needs of the practice in 1923 came the first basketball books - "Women basketball" and "Official rules for women's basketball." Slowly, the game began to be practiced also by men. The popularity among men was growing rapidly, and in 1924 the first organized tournament in Sofia were conducted, involving 11 female and 10 male teams, divided into two groups. In the same year, official tournaments for juniors were organized in Rousse and Sofia, and in 1926, they played for the "Basketball player Cup." The first intercity match was in 1928, in which the team of "Slavia" - Sofia visited the city Samokov and American College and the match ended with the result 13:15 for "Slavia". Ten years later the first international match in Bulgarian basketball was played. In 1934 in Bulgaria, the first international basketball event was organized. The "Athletic –Slava 23" won over the "Student Sports Club" of Bucharest with the score22:16. For organised competition activities the first guiding institutes are created:

Committees for various sports in Sofia that manage and controlthe development of almost all sports (later renamed committeesfor special sports);

Committees for the games with a handball.The activities of these committees were very modest. More

sensitive upswing in their work occurred in the period from 1937-1940, when the young people with progressive understanding were included.

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Photo: The players from “Slavia” basketball club

The basketball federation appeared in 1935, and immediately became a member of FIBA and the men national team participated in the first European Basketball Championship in 1935.

On July 4, 1943 the first international match of Bulgarian women's team was held. The team of the Higher School of Physical Education (today the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski") visited the Institute of Physical Education in Budapest and achieved a historic victory with a score of 22: 11.

During the Second World War three national championships for men were held in Sofia:

In 1942 – national champion is Levski; In 1943 – the first is the team of JCK.Because of lack of enough indoor and outdoor playgrounds,

insufficient number of specially trained staff and limited access to organized activities the quality of the game during this period was affected.

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Development of the Basketball after the Second Wold War

The development of basketball since 1944 corresponds to socio-economic progress in the country. Began a period of promoting sport and introducing the scientific foundations for its development.

A national championship in 1945 was conducted and Levski club was the champion for men and for women champion was the team of "Rakovski", Sofia.

Back in 1946 for the first time, the national championships for men and women were conducted.

Concerning the organizational structure the Supreme Committee for Physical Education and Sport was established in 1948 and to it National Basketball section that in 1958 was transformed into Bulgarian Basketball Federation at the Central counsel of Bulgarian union for sport and physical culture.

Along with the improvement of the forms of management of physical culture and sport in Bulgaria, much more attention was paid to sports facilities. Around 2500 outdoors basketball playgrounds in larger cities like Sofia, Varna, Botevgrad, Plovdiv, Yambol, Stara Zagora and others were build as well as about 40 halls. In these centers started to work extremely well-prepared coaches such as Veselin Temkov Dimitar Mitev, Lyudmil Katerinski, Georgi Chomakov, Tsvetan Zheliazkov, Cyril Semov, Neycho Neychev, Ivan Kolev, Ivan Galabov, Tencho Nachev, Ivan Lepichev Todor Nenov. Many Bulgarian coaches were helped to develop the basketball in other countries as Algeria, Nigeria, Angola, Turkey, Cuba, Tunisia, Malaysia, the then German Democratic Republic and other countries.

One of the most notable names in the development of Bulgarian basketball is that of Veselin Temkov - Temkisha. For nearly 70 years wandering in the details of the game with the orange ball for his long coaching and teaching activities, for writing basketball books, he was named Patriarch of the Bulgarian Basketball.

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.Photo: Coach and player (Veselin Temkov and Atanas Golomeev)

Temkov wrote the first textbook for aids and rules in basketball for the students of the Higher Institute of Physical Education and Sport (now National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski"). Besides being a coach of the Bulgarian national teams (men and women), he also led the teams of Singapore and Nigeria and has worked in East Germany and the USA. For him the honorary president of FIBA Boran Stankovic declared to be the father of the Yugoslavian basketball. They said that Temkisha was the man who introduced the style of play, which today distinguishes the Serbian basketball.

Certainly, the important part for development of basketball in Bulgaria was the well-organised system of domestic and international competitions. Various championships and tournaments for men and women, and at a later stage for adolescent were held. The biggest Basketball Sports Clubs assigned great importance to the work with youth basketball players (youth academy) and that leading to an incensement in number of Bulgarian elite basketball players. The generations of talented and amazing basketball players grown as Krystina Gyosheva, Vanya Voynova Nice Borisova, Penka Stoyanova Petkana Makaveeva, Nadya Golcheva, Evladiya Slavcheva Polina Tsekova (only one Bulgarian basketball player became champion in the

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WNBA with the team of "Huston Comets" in 1999), Ilia Mirchev, Atanas Golomeev, Georgi Glushkov (first player from Eastern Europe and the only one Bulgarian basketball played in the NBA with the team of "Phoenix Sun," in 1985), Georgi Mladenov and many others.

Highly qualified judges united in Republican judicial college head competitive activities of Bulgarian basketball players. Many of them obtained the international category and FIBA trusted them to guide the finals of European, world and Olympic championships. The brightest name in the Judges Association during this period was that of Artenik Arabadzhiyan who is elected among the five most influential judges in the history of basketball.

Photo: Doyen of Bulgarian basketball refereeing - Eng. Valentin Lazarov

In 2009, he was memorialized in the Hall of Fame in Madrid. One of the veterans of Bulgarian basketball refereeing - Eng. Valentin Lazarov was also officially introduced into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2013.

International events of Bulgarian basketball

During the years, the Bulgarian presence always was at all major international forums. In 1935 in Geneva, Bulgarian team took part in the first European Championship and till 1977 always was in the first six, but the most important achievement was the II d place in Sofia in 1957, when at the National Stadium "Vassil Levski "40,000 fans watched the final match between the teams of the USSR and Bulgaria. The match ended with the score 57:60 for Bulgarians.

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Photo: Final match during the European Championship in 1957 between teams of the

USSR and Bulgaria

At club level, the greatest successes of the Bulgarian basketball were associated with the name of the women's team "Slavia basketball club". This is the first Bulgarian team to win the trophy in European club tournament:

European champion in1959 and 1963; Vice champion in1960 and 1965; Third place in the Cup of European champions in 1964 and

1966 and semi-finalist for Ronketi cup in 1980.

The best award player in this sport in Bulgaria for all the time who was also from "Slavia" was namely Vanya Voynova. During her long career, she has won all possible trophies at club and national level. In 1998, FIBA named European Basketball Cup on her name. At the home of the game with the orange ball, the USA she also was recognized. In 2001, she entered the "Hall of Fame". Bulgaria gives tribute to this athlete organizing children's tournament in her name and one of the schools in the capital Sofia also bears her name.

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Photo: Vanya Voynova with the maillot of Basketball club „Slavia“

Note dawn the successes of the Bulgarian national teams. In 1961 on the European Championship in Belgrade, Bulgaria occupied the prestigious III-d place. During his introduction into the Women European Championship in 1952 in Moscow, Bulgaria took IV-th place. Coach of the team at this time was the patriarch of Bulgarian basketball Veselin Temkov. In 1958, in Lodz Bulgarian players were adorned with European title beating succulent favourite and traditionally strong team of the USSR. Two years later during the European Championships in Sofia (1960) in the final match at the National Stadium "Vasil Levski" against the team of USSR and in front of the huge crowds in a tie score 45:45 because of rain the meeting moved to a small room and Bulgaria lost in the final seconds with 50:52.

For the period from 1954 to 1989, the female national team won 5 silver and 4 bronze medals at the European Championships.

Participation in the World Cup was more symbolic and was not associated with greater success. For men Bulgaria participated only once in 1950 in Santiago in 1959 and occupied the VII-th places. Women participated in 1953 and in 1959 in Moscow occupied the II-d place, and in Lima in 1964 are on the III-rd place.

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At the Olympic Games in Melbarn’56, male team coached by Lyudmil Katerinski finished at the fifth place, which is the best achievement of the Olympics games for them. Bulgaria has a total four participations at the Olympics games in men's basketball.

The participation in the Olympics games for women is much more outstanding because of the success that they achieved associated with the silver and bronze medal in Moscow ‘80 and Montreal'76 land the last success in Seoul, 1988 - V-th place.

Photo: Women's national team took second place at the Olympic Games in Moscow in

1980

The success of the women's national basketball team ended in 1989 when at the European Championship in Varna, the team was ranked third. Since its last participation at the European Championships in Perugia (Italy) in 1993, where it was ranked in sixth place the 23 years overpassed. Although that the number of participating teams increased from 16 to 24 teams, the Bulgarian national team (women) still suffered the difficulties to qualify for the final phase.

After the changes in 1989, the national basketball team (men) Bulgaria failed to qualify five times for European Championships and did not achieve any significant success. The best performance was the seventh place at the European Championship in Zagreb (Yugoslavia) in 1989. In 2014, the team was defeated at the qualifications and failed to

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qualify for the European Championships in 2015, causing a paradox in 2015 to be declared last and the team did not organise a camp. For the championship in 2017 whose household will be entrusted to the four countries, Bulgaria has again failed to qualify.

That the men and women national teams failed to realize success in the major international competitions does not mean that club teams also perform ordinary in international club competitions. Proof of that is the leading role in the last 16 years of the "Lukoil team. Before the entry of oil giant "Lukoil" the Academic team had 65 years of glorious history, great moments and exclusive persons supported the team maillots and guided the students through the years - Bozhidar Takev, Veselin Temkov, Neycho Neychev and Tsvetan Zheliazkov. The International fame of Academic is connected with the world student title from Paris '57 and two European finals against ASK Riga (1958, 1959). For the past 15 years, this has been the strongest club team in Bulgaria, which has 12 titles and 10 times winner of the "Cup of Bulgaria".

Photo: The team of "Lukoil Academic" multiple champion and winner of the Cup of

Bulgaria

"Lukoil" is the face of Bulgarian basketball in Europe, where it boasts four 1/8 finals in ULEB Cup and Euro cup, with quarter-final in the FIBA Cup and with the trophy in the Southern Conference of FIBA. To date for the organization and development of basketball in Bulgaria

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the responsible is the Bulgarian Basketball Federation (BBF), a member of FIBA since its creation.

For the participation at club level, women's team of "Slavia" Sofia won the first edition of the modern women's Euroleague - in 1959, after the victory of exchanged visits over Dynamo Moscow. "White" reached the three times the final, winning in 1963. "Levski-Spartak" is the second Bulgarian team with European crown. In 1984, the "blue" won the tournament, and twice in 1978 and in 1979 they triumphed with a cup „Liliana Ronketi”. Women's basketball club "Slavia" is the oldest in Bulgaria founded on October 10, 1921 and bears the names over the years: "Slaviya'45" (1945), "Stroitel" (1949-1950), "Udarnik" (1950- 1957) and "Slavia" (1969-1971). The club holds the record with the most won titles in the country - 15 times - 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 2002, 2003 and 2004.Winner of the Cup of Bulgaria 10 times - 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1984, 2001 and 2003.

Today, the dominant female club teams differ depending on funding. Bulgarian club teams do not participate in EuroCup tournaments, and are limited to participate in competitions distributed on a regional basis as the Adriatic League.

Youth and girls' national teams in all age groups suffer serious losses participating in European championships in "B" division. They always are after the first eight, giving rise to Bulgarian Basketball Federation to assess the real situation of youth players in Bulgarian basketball. So in the last two years a policy priority of the Bulgarian Basketball Federation has been the development of the youth basketball players in particular the focus is the work with 14-year-old girls and boys. The aim is after four years the Bulgarian basketball to have the elite basketball players to be competitive, both at national and European level.

According to FIBA Europe data, Bulgaria is on 65th place in the ranking of the International Federation. The country has nearly 5,600 registered players for 152 registered clubs and the number of licensed coaches is 530.

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REFERENCES

Jelyazkov, Tz. Basketball – manual (Medicine and Physical culture, Sofia, 1975).

Krastev, N. 100 years “Slavia” (Tiptop press, Sofia, 2014).

Meranzov, Hr. Bulgarian sport. (Tangra, Sofia, 2008).

Panayotov, M.100 years Temkov (Ars Millennium, MMM, Sofia, 2016).

Peltekov, V et al. Basketball - manual (Sofia, 1993).

Tzvetkov, Vl. et al. Basketball - manual. (Sofia, 2005).

http:// www.baskertball.bg

http://www.bgolympic.org

http://www.bg.wikipedia.org

http://www. slaviasofia.com

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LATVIA

BASKETBALL IN LATVIA

Uldis Gravitis, PhD, Latvia Academy of Sport Education, Sports

Game Department

Correspondence: ULDIS GRAVITIS

Uldis.Gravitis@lspa.lv Phone: +371 28282890

History

The birthday of Latvian basketball should be considered year 1920 when at the sports hall, built by Riga Gymnast’s Union, basketball baskets were fastened. Initially they were used by YMCA(Young Men’s Christian Association) American youngsters who had arrived to Riga to help soldiers of new Latvian National army. YMCA not only taught basketball to Latvian youth but also supported them financially by equipping the sports halls, clubs. Following the sample of YMCA there were established analogue organization in Latvia – Youth Christian Association (JKS), whose members together with YMCA started to popularize basketball in Latvia. In 1922 first basketball teams were organized. In 1923 totally 14 teams admitted their participation to the announced championship by YMCA. Noticing the huge interest, YMCA also invited representatives from Riga secondary schools to acquaint them with basketballand just after one month first school tournament was held with participation of eight teams. On 26th November, 1923 Latvian Basketball Association was established, which announced first Latvian championship almost immediately, which was held from 16th January to 26th March 1924 with rematch on 9th April as two teams had equal points. The winner was Latvian Sports Association’s (LBS) team as they left Youth Christian Association’s (JKS) team on second place. Even though Riga JKS team was playing with Estonian Youth Christian Association’s team already in 1923, however first official Latvian

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Basketball (National) team’s game was on 29th April in 1924 in Tallinn (Estonia) where Latvia won with score 20:16. This game is considered to be the first official game of National teams in Europe in the history of European basketball and the next official game of National teams was held only in 1926 when French National team was playing against Italy. The most important contribution to European and the whole world’s basketball development is considered Latvia’s participation in the foundation of International Basketball Federation. Thanks to Swiss basketball organizer’s active work on 18th June in 1932 in Geneva (Switzerland) gathered representatives from eight countries – Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland – who signed the protocol of foundation of International Basketball Federation (FIBA–Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur). As it’s president was elected citizen of Switzerland Mr.Léon Bouffard and secretary general Mr. Renato William Jones. Latvia was represented by Mr. JazepsShadeiko (Jāzeps Šadeiko). Also Bulgarian and Hungarian representatives were present at the event of signing the protocol but as they both didn’t sign the protocol, in the historical materials of sport those two participants are mentioned rearly.

Photo: Establishing resolution of FIBA

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In 1933 in Geneva was held the first FIBA congress that decided that starting from 1935 every second year should be organized European championship.

Women basketball history in Latvia began almost ten years later than men’s. Only in 1930 the first women basketball tournament was organized where only three teams participated. In 1932 LBS organized first official Latvian championship in basketball for women. During the first Free State time (until 1940) women Latvian National team had only two official games, both games with Lithuania where Latvians lost both times. Men’s Latvian National team during this time had 56 national tournaments and had 38 victories and once a draw game.

Most significant achievements

The best achievement of men’s Latvian National team should be considered the victory at the European championship in 1935 and the second place at the 3rd European championship in 1939. Hereto Latvian men’s team unofficially won the first place in the group of “limited stature”. Little know is the fact that technical commission of the 3rd European championship couldn’t solve the dispute about the participation of long stature players, they decided to divide teams in two groups: limited stature group – height up to 190 cm, and unlimited stature group. In the winning team – Lithuanian National team, was Lithuanian who played in USA PranLubin, in USA called Frank, his height was 206 cm. Nevertheless organizers awarded only the winners in the group of unlimited stature and Latvia was awarded for its second place as limited stature group wasn’t awarded at all. Since independence (in 1990) men’s Latvian National team’s best achievements are eight place in European championships in 2001 and 2015. Women’s Latvian National team’s best achievements are sixth place at 2005 and fourth place at 2007 European championships.

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Participation at Olympic Games

Participation at Olympic Games already means that the team has ranked among 12 best teams in the world. At the Olympic Games in 2008 in Beijing Women’s Latvian National team won 9th place. Latvian women’s national team’s participation at the Olympic Games in Beijing was second time when Latvian basketball is represented at the Olympics. The first time was in 1936 at the Olympic Games in Berlin where men’s Latvian National team participated and it was the first time when men’s basketball was included in the Olympic programme. Latvian teams start was unsuccessful – didn’t make to finals and ranked in 13th – 18th.

The most remarkable teams

During the years of occupation (1940-1990) Latvia as state was unable to participate at the international basketball tournaments. Latvian basketballs most remarkable representatives during this time is women’s club Riga TTT and men’s – ASK. About the greatness and mastery of Riga TTT women’s team witnesses the achievements of Guinness world records. During 26 years ( 1959- 1984) 23 times won the championships of USSR, 18 times became the European championship winner, also Lillian Ronketi cup for women’s clubs in 1987. In 1961 USA women’s National team was visiting USSR and meeting with champions of the USSR Riga TTT team in Leningrad. Riga team won with score 48 to 45! Also men’s basketball club ASK won USSR championship in 1955, 1957 and 1958. As champion of state Riga ASK team participated at European championship cup and got the cup in 1958, 1959 and 1960. When European cup was presented to Riga TTT women’s team in 1960 by FIBA secretary general Mr. W. Jones, he nominated Riga as capital of basketball as both European cups were won by Riga teams – TTT and ASK.

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Photo: Riga TTT team’s captain UljanaSemjonova is receiving European cup in 1969

from Mr. Robert Busel, president of France Federation of Basketball, who was FIBA

president from 1984 to 1990.

Only after 48 years – in 2008, in finals of FIBA Challenge cup Riga Barons/LMT team wins over team Namur Dexia Mons Hainaut (Belgium) with score 63 to 62 and once again brings European Cup to Riga in the men’s competition. Since Latvian second independence time (from 1990) basketball is widely spread through whole country. From ten teams of Latvian higher league only three – VEF, Latvian University (LU) and Barons Kvartāls are Riga teams. Other seven teams are from different cities in Latvia: Ventspils, Valmieras, Valkas, Liepājas, Ogres, Jūrmalas, Jēkabpils. In Latvia youth basketball is also widely developed. There are about 300 youngster teams of different age (age between11 to 19) and 150 girl teams are participating at different tournaments. In2016 there are 41 youth sports educational institutions with 484 training groups in basketball in Latvia where almost seven thousand children and youngsters are participating. With those basketball players work 320 basketball coaches. Evaluating this information it is important to keep in mind that in the beginning of 2015 there were 1 million 986,1 thousand inhabitants in Latvia! That means that on every 6 thousand inhabitants we have one basketball coach. Young Latvian basketball players have showed great results in several European championships.

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Year Age group Championship Gender Place 1998 EUROPEAN FOR JUNIOR MEN 4 1999 EUROPEAN FOR CADETS MEN 5 2001 EUROPEAN FOR CADETS MEN 5 2002 EUROPEAN FOR YOUNG WOMEN WOMEN 4 2005 U20 EUROPEAN WOMEN 3 2007 U18 EUROPEAN MEN 3 2009 U20 EUROPEAN WOMEN 3 2010 U18 EUROPEAN MEN 3 2010 U20 EUROPEAN WOMEN 3 2011 U16 EUROPEAN MEN 6 2012 U18 EUROPEAN MEN 6 2012 U20 EUROPEAN MEN 6 2013 U20 EUROPEAN MEN 2 2013 U18 EUROPEAN MEN 4 2014 U16 EUROPEAN MEN 2 2014 U16 EUROPEAN WOMEN 5 2014 U20 EUROPEAN WOMEN 5 2015 U16 EUROPEAN WOMEN 5 2015 U20 EUROPEAN MEN 5 2016 U18 EUROPEAN WOMEN 4 2016 U20 EUROPEAN MEN 6

Table: Results of young Latvian basketball players in several European Championships.

Photo: Silver medal winners - Latvian team at U20 European Championship 2013 in Tallinn

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The most remarkable tournament places

In 2016 in Latvia there were 710 sport bases and 2035 sport objects where basketball was practiced. The biggest one is in Riga – Arena “Riga” and Olympic Centre, as well as Olympic centres in Liepāja, Venstpils, Valmiera. In 2010 in Liepāja was held European championship for women for the age group of U20, in 2014 in Ogre and Riga Olympic Centre was European championship for men, age group U16, but in 2015 in Riga at Arena “Riga” was held European championships D groups games for men.

The most remarkable basketball players

In Latvian basketball since first achievements – European champions in 1935, we have had some remarkable basketball players. As such we consider all players from 1935 Latvian National team with their captain, with best score centre player Rudolfs Jurcins as leader. Six Latvian basketball players have been medalists of different Olympic games: Jānis Krūmiņš, Maigonis Valdmanis and Valdis Muižnieks are silver medalists in three Olympic games. Cēzatam Ozeram un Jurim Kalniņam has silver medal each but the only gold medalist in latvia is Igors Miglinieks. As European and world’s basketball celebreties we should count previous Riga Vef team players Oļģerts Jurgensons and Visvalis Eglītis accordingly European champions of 1963 and 1965 a well as Valdis Valters – world champion of 1982, silver medalist of 1986 as well as four times European champion who was awarded as European most valuable player 1981. Women didn’t have possibility to play in the Olympic until 1976 therefore afterwar the most popular Latvian basketball player Dzidra Uztupe Karamiševa can be proud of her 4 gold medals at European championships and three times European cup champion team. TTT Riga centere player Silvija Ravdone Krodere has world champion and twice European champions title. The other centere player Skaidrīte Smildziņa Budovska has three world champion and five Eurpean champion gold medals. The most famous Latvian women basketball player is Uljana Semjonova. She has title of two Olympic game champion , three wordl champion and ten European

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champion gold medals. U. Semjonova is included in the hall of fame in springfield, Massachusetts, USA, women basketball hall of fame in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, and FIBA hall of fame in Geneva, Switzerland. All of those basketball players have reached their success playing in National team of USSR. After independence four of our players have played in NBA. Gundars Vētra played seson of 1992/93 at Minesota Timberwolves, Andris Biedrins 2003 -2013 with Goldenstate Warriors and Jutha Jazz, but Davis Bertans San Antonio Spurs and Kristaps Porziņģis New York Knicks play 2016/17 season. Latvian basketball player Janis Timma was drafted by Memphys Grizlies but he has chosen to play this season in Russia. 12 Latvian players this season of 2016/2017 play in Europe in seven different teams. For women the leading league is WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) where two Latvian basketball players have played: Zane Tamane in 2006 for Washington Mystics and 2012 for Phoenix Mercury, but AneteJēkabsone-Žogota 2009 to 2010 for Connecticut Sun and 2014 for Phoenix Mercury. Eight Latvian basketball players have played in five different European teams.

The most remarkable coaches

The success of Latvian basketball players are directly connected with excellent work of coaches. First European Championships – Latvian men team’s coach Valdemārs Baumanis (1905-1992), Rihards Dekšenieks (1899-1981) andĀdolfs Grasis (1905-1976) were founders of basketball coaching in Latvia. Together with August Rubenu ( 1910-1979) they were leading basketball coaches in Latvia in prewars period. Women basketball coaching founder in Latvia was Olģerts Altbergs (1921-1998) who started his work in 1947 and established the well known TTT Rīga women’s team, this duty he handed over in 1962 to previous basketball player from VEF team Raimonds Karnītis (1929-1999). Th founder of men’s basketball coaching in Latvia is considered Alfreds Krauklis (1911-1991) who started his coaching careere as playing coach in 1940. Ā. Grasis and O. Altbergs worked until the of their days in only sports higher educational establishment in Latvia –

27

Latvian Academy of Sport Education where future basketball coaches are taught.

The leading coach in Latvia has to be considered also Aleksandrs Gomelskis (1928-2005) who after graduating War physical culture institution, in 1953 was sent to Leningrad ( now St Petersburg) to work as basketball coach for Riga Army sports club (ASK). New coach showed excellent talent of organisator and attracted to the team Latvian forest worker, 23 years old giant Janis Krumins (218cm) as well as didn’t spare any time or effort to teach him to play basketball. The first success was reached only after two years – title of champion in USSR! Riga ASK team was coached by A. Gomelskis until 1969 when he moved to Moscow where he coached Moscow ACSK team. Latvian basketball development after war wouldn’t be possible without such coaches, organizers as Talivaldis Petersons (1923-2016) and Imants Plavins (1929) who coached new basketball players and also at the same time organized basketball life in Latvia. Latvian women basketball success is also contributed by such coaches as ViktorsStrupovičs(1933-2002), AndrisPurkalns (1935) andJuris Garkalns(1938). Both women and specially men’s basketball development in Latvia wouldn’t be possible without contribution of coach ArmandsKraulins (1939) who parallel his work with Latvian basketball teams he also lead USSR second National team and has worked as coach in Iraq, Ukraine and Russia. Latvian men basketball has gained new players without previously mentioned also coaches Artūrs Puravs (1919-2012), Jānis Rimbenieks(1953) and AivarsBrigmanis (1936-2012), whose student GundarsVetra was first Latvian basketball player who played in NBA. Today Latvian best basketball players Kristaps Porzingis first coach was EdvinsSprude (1942).

The most remarkable referees and organizers

Latvian basketball specialists have also been basketball referees. The first Latvian basketball referee with FIBA category became first coach of Latvian National team Valdemars Baumanis who was referee at Olympic games in Berlin in 1936. In 1951 FIBA category was given to Miervaldis Ramans ( 1925-1996) who was referee at European

28

champinoship in 1953 and World’s Student Sports Games in 1954. In 1953 FIBA category was obtained by Viesturs Baldzens (1924-2003) who was referee for European women’s championships in 1952 and 1956 bu in 1953 for European men’s championship. In 2017 there are six active FIBA referees in Latvia, as the best we can mention Olegs Latisevs who has been referee for all most important basketball tourments including Olympic Games.

From Latvian basketball life organizers as number one we should note Jazeps Shadeiko who signed Resolution of foundation of International Basketball Federatation on behalf of Latvia. In the history of Latvian basketball in long-term the greatest organizers was Miervaldis Ramans who was president of Latvian Federation from 1956 to 1971 and has given great contribution in the development of teams TTT Riga and Riga ASKas well as Riga VEF team establishment and provided for possibilities of work all basketball players being the vice chairman of the Board of Ministers of Latvian SSR. Parallely as excellent organizers were working already mentioned basketball coaches Imants Plavins and Talivaldis Petersons. The most remarkable organizers after independence was economist and poltician Ojars Kehris (1956) who has lead Latvian Association from 1997 to 211 and was vice president of Latvian Olympic committee. Since 2011 Latvian basketball association is lead bu Valdis Voins (1959).

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Čika V.,Gubiņš G. (1970) Latvijas sporta vēsture 1918-1944.Vasteras,ALA Fiziskās audzināšanas un sporta birojs. (Latvian sports history 1918-1944. Vasteras ALA Physical education and sports bureau.)

FederationFocus:Latvia http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_7b0E4jiIIfk6gZwtQpkB30.coid_ GCcu4PUDGXsHamzPQmY7e1.articleMode_on.html

http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_7b0E4jiIIfk6gZwtQpkB30.coid_GCcu4PUDGXsHamzPQmY7e1.articleMode_on.html

http://www.nba.com/players

http://www.nba.com/players

http://www.wnba.com/players/archive/

http://www.wnba.com/players/archive/

Keisels G.( 1988) Latvijas basketbola vēsture.Rīga, Jumava.(History of Latvian basketball.)

Šmits A. un V. Čika (1966) Neaizmirstami sporta brīži un zvaigznes. Rīga, Grāmatu draugs. (Unforgettable sports moments and stars.)

Trimdas latviešu sporta vēsture 1945-1995. Latviešu sporta padome ārzemēs, 2001. (Exile Latvian sports history1945-1995.)

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LITHUANIA

BEGINNING OF BASKETBALL IN LITHUANIA

Daiva Majauskienė, Faculty of Sport Education; Lithuanian Sports University

Arūnas Emeljanovas, Faculty of Sport Education; Lithuanian Sports University

Correspondence: Daiva Majauskiene

Daiva.majauskiene@lsu.lt Phone: +37037302626

In 1918, the newly restored state of Lithuania had to develop the government and authorities and the army, solve issues related with the recognition of the state, carry out reforms and fight independence battles with the Red Army, Bermontians and Polish. After World War I, Lithuania was an agrarian country with weak industry. Thus, many people thought sport was too luxurious for an underpopulated nation and a just restored state (Narbutas, 1978)1. There were no sport facilities (playgrounds, halls) and sport tools, especially money for sport in Lithuania at that time. Therefore, the beginning of the development of sport was difficult and demanded obstinacy, will and self-sacrifice from sport pioneers.

It is not known exactly how basketball came to Lithuania. However, Narbutas (1978)2, sport historian of Independent Lithuania, states the 1920’s are important because of the organization of sport girls who started practising basketball. Although women were the first ones who started playing basketball in Lithuania, the first official match was between the basketball teams of men: Lithuanian Union of Physical Training (LFLS) and Selection of Kaunas on the 23rd of April 1922. The basketball championship of Lithuanian women was organized in the same year. Basketball became popular in Lithuania gradually. However, the development of basketball failed in Lithuania in 1929-1932 because

1Jonas Narbutas, Sportas Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje (Čikaga, 1978). 2 Ibid.

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UDK 796.323.2 (474.5)

no championships were organized – just friendly or training-like matches were sometimes played in certain places. The attention to his game became bigger just at the end of the 1930’s after the great victories: the selection of Lithuanian men became champions of Europe in Riga in 1937 and in Kaunas in 1939 and the selection of Lithuanian women became vice champions of Europe in Rome in 1938 (Lietuvos sporto enciklopedija, 2010)3.

The purpose of this article is to review the beginning of basketball in Lithuania.

The development of basketball in Lithuania supposed the use of descriptive, problematic and comparative analytical methods.

We can find articles about basketball of women in the interwar Lithuanian sport editions „Fiziškas auklėjimas“( Fiziškas auklėjimas, 1931-1940), „Lietuvos sportas“ (Lietuvos sportas, 1922, 1937-1938), „Sportas“ (Sportas, 1923-1928), „Iliustruotasis sportas“ (Iliustruotasis sportas, 1929). The following authors were mentioned: Darius, Šulginas, Stef.

The beginning of Lithuanian basketball history is not rich in historiography. Professor Stonkus, vice champion of Melbourne Olympic Games of 1956, should be mentioned first (Stonkus, 2003)4; he analysed the history, theory and didactics of Lithuanian basketball and mentioned the most important aspects of the development of basketball in interwar Lithuania. Beside other kinds of sport, we can also find some knowledge about basketball in the book by Narbutas, emigration sport historian Sportas Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje (Narbutas, 1978)5

It is not known exactly how basketball came to Lithuania. However, Narbutas (1978)6, sport historian of Independent Lithuania, states the 1920’s are important because of the organization of sport girls who started practising basketball. The biggest initiator of this game was Elena Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė. During World War I, she

3 Lietuvos sporto enciklopedija (Vilnius: Lietuvos sporto informacijos centras, 2010). 4 Stanislovas Stonkus, Krepšinis. Istorija. Teorija. Didaktika (Kaunas, LKKA, 2003). 5 Jonas Narbutas, Sportas Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje (Čikaga, 1978). 6 Ibid.

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immigrated to Russia, and then she returned, joined the Lithuanian Sport Union, was one of the grounders of the Lithuanian Union of Physical Training (LFLS) and submerged herself in the propagation of modern sport in Lithuania. Karnauskaitė-Ingelevičienė joined Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė, equipped a changing room, obtained a ball, studied different kinds of sport and chose basketball (Narbutas, 1978)7. The girls trained to play basketball in Vytautas Park of Kaunas City next to the main path, Vaitelytė-Mačiuikienė, Savickaitė-Reklaitienė, Rimkaitė, Mažonytė, Bulotaitė and Gaižutytė chose a playground in the space of the first basketball playground.

When YMCA football team from Riga, Latvia, came to Kaunas in 1921 and wanted to play basketball with Lithuanians, the men did not have their basketball team yet and were not interested in this game. Women played something like basketball, but their baskets were without backboards. Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė asked the Latvians to send them the rules of basketball. In this way, the rules of basketball developed by J. Naismith got from Riga to Kaunas in 1921. Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė and Karnauskaitė prepared these rules in Lithuanian and printed by means of a shapirograph (Stonkus, 2003) 8

Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė wrote in her memories: “We equipped a playground with exact dimensions and backboards next to baskets according to the received rules. It was the first basketball playground in Lithuania. The playground was in Vytautas Park next to the main path and it enabled watching trainings of girls. Practices of girls attracted many spectators, young people became interested and the number of participants grew up. The girls came from Aušros Gymnasium and the Rifle Union; they developed their teams soon, equipped the own playgrounds and trained. The boys from Aušros Gymnasium, who saw trainings of the girls from Aušros Gymnasium, contributed to them and tried to throw the ball, so they came to the trainings more and more often. Soon, they developed the own team, equipped a playground in the gymnasium yard and had serious trainings.

7 Jonas Narbutas, Sportas Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje (Čikaga, 1978). 8 Stanislovas Stonkus, Krepšinis. Istorija. Teorija. Didaktika (Kaunas: LKKA, 2003).

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We developed the section of women under LFLS in 1921 and had matches (Narbutas, 1978).9

The official rules of basketball were edited soon because the rules printed with the shapirograph were not sufficient. Preparing the rules, Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė used the rules from YMCA – the European centre in Paris.

The basketball of women prospered in 1922 and there were teams of women: the girls from Aušros Gymnasium, LFLS and the Rifle Union developed the own team. Individual girls also came to trainings and sections of women were developed under clubs.

There was a basketball playground in Vytautas Park. There were a lot of passing spectators who grabbed the ball from training basketball players enthusiastically and tried to throw it into the ball. The football and basketball players of LFLS, who returned from the Oak Wood after their trainings and passed our playground, also sometimes had successful competitions with the “selection” of spectators (Narbutas, 1978).10

Men’s attitude towards this game was sceptical. Their interest in this “women’s entertainment” grew very slowly. However, the first official basketball match of men between LFLS and the Selection of Kaunas took place on the 23rd of April 1922. The players of LFLS won the match 8:6. The assessment of this first official match in the press was ambiguous. Stef (1922)11 wrote: “…the match was very interesting

and nicely impressive to the spectators who watched our quick and

cheerful players and felt they lived in an absolutely cultural state”. The

assessment of the match by the Commission (1922) was different and it

was written: “Although the game was characterized with resolution and

obstinacy from the side of spectators like in all first matches, but just a

few old players made the spectators interested in the aspect of

technique.”

The championship of women was also organized in the same year (Moterų basketbolo pirmenybės, 1922)12. The teams, which wanted to

9 Jonas Narbutas, Sportas Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje (Čikaga, 1978). 10 Ibid. 11 Stelf, „Basketbolo rungtynės“, Lietuvos sportas, 5, gegužė 1922, 5. 12 „Moterų basketbolo pirmenybės“, Lietuvos sportas, 9, rugpjūtis 1922, 8.

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participate, had to enrol by the 27th of August and belong to the Lithuanian Sport League (LSL), i.e., the supreme sport authority of Lithuania, which shaped the life of sport. On enrolling, it was necessary to indicate the composition of the team and form and colour of clothing and pay 300 golden coins. The first match between the teams of women of LFLS and Kaunas Rifle Brigade took place on Vytautas Mount on the 10th of September 1922 (LSL Žaidimų komitetas, 1922)13. LFLS won the first friendly match 10:0 LFLS. It was the first match of women in Lithuania. It was the first year the teams had played, but they had mastered the game well. The match between the same teams in the playground of LFLS, i.e., on Vytautas Mount, on the 17th of September was more interesting because the both teams had analysed their mistakes and tried to avoid them. 14:2 LFLS won the friendly match 14:2. The team of LFLS played the match especially well. When forwards Vaitelytė, Kubiliūtė- Garbačiauskienė and Karnauskaitė got the ball, they gave it to the competitors seldom. The forwards and guards of the team of the Lithuanian Rifle Union played badly because they crowded together to one place and were unable to play.

The official basketball match of the Lithuanian Women League was organized after two friendly matches. The first Lithuanian basketball championship was in October. 4 teams of women enrolled in the championship. However, just two teams of women: LFLS I and Rifle Union I came to the playground on the championship day. The first official match was played on the 1st of October. The team of LFLS consisted of Rimkaitė, A.Bulotaitė, Kubiliūnaitė- Garbačiauskienė, Karnauskaitė, Vaitelytė; the team of the Rifle Union consisted of Šulginienė, Valiutytė, Žukauskaitė, Škemaitė, Serafinaitė. Darius was the referee of the match. The team of LFLS was better and won the match 8:2, but the progress of team of the Lithuanian Rifle Union was also remarkable. The second match took place on the 4th of October and Šulginas was the referee. It was difficult to play as the playground was wet, it was dark and it was impossible to see the ball. The match started later, moreover, the referee was absolutely unqualified as he allowed the

13 LSL Žaidimų komitetas, „Moterų basketbolo rungtynės Lietuvos pirmenybėms“, Lietuvos sportas, 11-12, spalis 1922, 7.

35

players of the Rifle team to violate the rules and did not pay any attention to it. LFLS won the match 4:2. The newspaper Lietuvos sportas (1922)14 wrote the match had been very uninteresting and with dispute. Miss Žukauskaitė from the Lithuanian Rifle Union played very badly because she pushed the competitor with her body and held with the hands. She seemed to be revengeful and did not take care of the game. The referee did not pay attention to it and allowed Žukauskaitė to behave like that. (Lietuvos sportas, 1922)15. The third match was on the 8th of October. The team of the Rifle Union won 4:2. The team of the Lithuanian Rifle Union was better in the game, the forwards played very actively, but they did not have any system, the guards did their work very well and did not allow the competitors to approach the basket. The team of LFLS played badly: the forwards passed the ball badly, wing forward Vaitelytė played especially badly and the guards played better. It should have been the last match, but the result was a draw after summing up the results of the second and third match, so the fourth meeting took place on the 10th of October; the team of LFLS won 4:0 and became the first basketball champion of Lithuania. The players of the Lithuanian Rifle Union watched Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė, the best player of LFLS, but the team of LFLS found a way out: Gaižutytė, another team member, scored a basket of the Lithuanian Rifle Union.

Photo: LFLS women basketball team in the 1922

14 „Moterų basketbolo pirmenybės“, Lietuvos sportas, 9, rugpjūtis 1922, 8. 15 Ibid.

36

Darius (1926)16 wrote there had been 2 teams of men and women each in 1922, the men played 2 matches and the women played 6 ones; there were 35 players at all and one basketball playground was built.

Thus, basketball became more and more popular. As soon as the Lithuanian Sport League noticed the importance of the game and realized it was necessary to know the technique and rules of that game, it compiled a working committee; Garbačiauskienė, Karnauskaitė and Darius were included in it and obligated to edit a book about basketball.

In the opinion of Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė, basketball prospered among women in 1923 (Narbutas, 1978)17. There were many teams in the championships of women, but their preparation was not equal, so the championships were organized in groups A and B. Aušros team of LFLS, which consisted of Matulaitytė, Steponaitytė, Bieliauskaitė, Eimaitytė, Limantaitė, won the first position in group A; B the team of MSMRI, which consisted of Šulingienė, Mikučiauskytė, Skalandžiūnaitė, Reivitaitė, Zenkovičaitė, won in group B (Lietuvos moterų basketbolo pirmenybės, 1923)18. The team, which took the last position in group A, had to pass to group B and the team, which took the first position in group B, passed to group A.

The basketball championship of schoolchildren of Kaunas also took place in 1923. Three teams participated in group A of girls: Aušros, Komercijos I, Komercijos II. Aušros team became the winner and it consisted of Steponavičaitė, Eimaitytė, Limontaitė, Matulaitytė, Štašinskaitė (Šulingas, Darius, 1923)19.

Three teams participated in group A of boys: Aušros I, Komercijos I, Aušros II. Aušros I team became the winner (Table 1); Stašinskas, Civinskas, Janikas, K.Karūža, Petrušis played in it.

16 Steponas Darius, Basketbolo žaidimas (Krepšiasvydis) ir Lietuvos Sporto

Lygos Oficialės Basketbolo taisyklės (Kaunas: Valstybinė spaustuvė, 1926). 17 Jonas Narbutas, Sportas Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje ( Čikaga, 1978). 18 “Lietuvos moterų basketbolo pirmenybės 1923-1924“, Sportas, 1, lapkritis 1923, 5. 19 Jurgis Šulingas, Steponas Darius, “Kauno moksleivių basketbolo pirmenybės 1923 m.“ Sportas, 1, lapkritis 1923, 7.

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Teams A of boys Aušra I Komercijos

I Aušra II Points

Aušra I 8:6 11:10 20:3 17:9 8

Komercija I 11:10 20:3 17:9

15:8 2

Aušra II 6:8 8:15 0

Table 1: Results of championship (Šulginas, Darius, 1923)20

Five teams participated in group B of boys: Aušros I, Aušros II, Komercijos I, Komercijos II, Komercijos III (table 2). Aušros I team became the winner; Janulevičius, Čiurlionis, Matulevičius, J.Karūža, Virpša played in it.

Teams B of boys

Aušra I

Aušra II

Komercija I

Komercija II

Komercija III Points

Aušra I 24:12 11:12

18:6 2:0 28:5 20:1 12

Aušra II 12:24 12:11

7:4 2:0 13:0 27:0 8

Komercija I

6:18 0:2

4:7 0:2 10:0 21:4 4

Komercija II 5:28 0:13 0:10 0

Komercija III 1:20 0:27 4:21 0

Table 2: Results of championship (Šulginas, Darius, 1923)21

It is written in the book Basketbolo žaidimas (1926)22 by Darius: Basketball had a lot of followers from the previous years and became a

little more perfect in a technical sense, so it made significant progress in

1923... The total summary of the course of basketball in 1923 is like

20 Ibid. 21 Ibid. 22 Steponas Darius, „Basketbolas“ Sportas, 12-13, 1924, 91-92.

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this: 18 teams of men, 18 official matches and 11 friendly matches; 24

teams of women, 26 official matches and 15 friendly matches; there

were about 300 players and 5 playgrounds.

Thus, 24 basketball teams of women was a very high number in 1923. Garbačiauskas states: Why was the number of basketball teams so

fantastic? It should be stated that women organized teams with pleasure

in the beginning of the development of sport and had a huge wish to

have an element of competitions. There was an advantage: they could

afford basketball in a material sense in those poor times: clothing, a ball

and equipment of playgrounds were inexpensive (Narbutas, 1978)23. In the beginning of April, the Sport League announced: the

teams, which wanted to participate in the Lithuanian basketball championship, had to enrol by the 30th of April. The number of teams is not known, but Pyragius noticed: In 1924, basketball was felt to be a full

member among other kinds of sport. Beside lots of friendly matches,

there was an official basketball championship consisting of the spring

and autumn cycle of men, women and schoolchildren. The teams of

almost all clubs of Kaunas participated in it. Without going deep into

the course of the championship, it can be said it was organized with

much more obstinacy and better technique of the game (Narbutas, 1978)24. The teams of LFLS won the championships of women in groups A and B in 1924” (LSL žaidimų komitetas, 1924)25 (Table 3 and Table 4).

Position Club Played Won Lost Ratio of

goals Points

1 LFLS 5 5 0 64:6 10 2 Kovas I 5 3 2 30:49 6 3 MSMR I 5 1 4 16:47 2 4 MSRM II 3 0 3 2:10 0

Table 3: Basketball championship of Lithuanian women 1924 m. Class A (LSL žaidimų

komitetas, 1924, 18-20, 149)26

23 Jonas Narbutas, Sportas Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje (Čikaga, 1978). 24 Ibid. 25 LSL Žaidimų komitetas, „Lietuvos moterų basketbolo pirmenybės 1924 m.“, Sportas, 18-20, gruodis 1924, 149. 26 Ibid.

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Position Club Played Won Lost Ratio

of goals

Points

1 LFLS I 7 6 1 52:27 12 2 LFLS II 7 5 2 50:25 10 3 MSMRI 6 6 4 26:45 4 4 Kovas I 4 1 3 9:32 2 5 MSMRII 4 0 4 0:8 0

Table 4:. Basketball championship of Lithuanian women 1924 m. Class B (LSL žaidimų

komitetas, 1924, 18-20, 149)27

Aušros team won the championship of schoolchildren in 1924 again (Kauno moksleivių krepšinio pirmenybės, 1924)28.

It was written in Sportas (1924)29: basketball naturalized in Lithuania and its future can be bright. J.Pyragius states that women liked that game more than men (Narbutas, 1978).30

In 1924, the Game Committee of the Lithuanian Sport League organized a short course to obtain the name of a basketball referee (Kamuolys, 1924).31

Darius, Šulginas, Bulvičius, Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė were granted names of referees of category I; Radziulytė, Gudaitytė, Steponaitytė, Bulotaitė, Račūnas, Kondratas, Senkus and Pudimaitis – those of referees of category II. Just these persons compiled the College of Basketball Referees and were allowed to judge competitions.

The basketball championship of women was organized in two more classes in 1925, but class A consisted of two teams only and there

27 Ibid. 28 “Kauno moksleivių krepšinio pirmenybės 1924 m.“, Sportas, 12-13, 1924, 101. 29 Ibid. 30 Jonas Narbutas, Sportas Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje (Čikaga, 1978). 31 Kamuolys, „Basketbolo teisėjams kursai“, Sportas, 12-13, 1924, 101.

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were four ones in class B (Moterų basketbolo pirmenybės 1925 m., 1925)32 (Table 5 and Table 6).

Team Played Won Lost Draw Ratios

of goals

Kovas 1 1 - 2 7:4 LFLS 1 - 1 0 4:7

Table 5. Basketball championship of women 1925 m. Class A (Moterų basketbolo

pirmenybės 1925 m., 1925, 26-27, 228)33

Team Played Won Lost Draw Ratios

of goals

LFLS 3 2 1 4 16:0 LDS 3 2 1 4 9:8

“Makabi” I

3 2 1 4 8:7

“Makabi” II

3 0 3 0 4:22

Table 6. Basketball championship of women 1925. Class B (Moterų basketbolo

pirmenybės 1925 m., 1925, 26-27, 228)34

Šančių Kovas teams of men and women became basketball champions of Lithuania. Kovas team of men consisted of Balčiūnas, Heningas, Sabaliauskas, Bučinskas, Rakickas.

After the Lithuanian basketball championship was over, the then basketball heads agreed with Latvians to organize the first international basketball match: Lithuania-Latvia and the intercity match: Kaunas-Riga. The international match took place in Riga on the 13th of

32 “Moterų basketbolo pirmenybės 1925 m.“, Sportas, 26-27, birželis-liepa 1925, 228. 33 Ibid. 34 Ibid.

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December and Latvia won it 41: 20. Sabaliauskas, Balčiūnas, Heningas, Norvaiša, Kumpis played in the first national basketball selection. The team of Riga won a big victory in the intercity match Kaunas-Riga 57-6 (Narbutas, 1978)35.

The first basketball cup match was organized in Lithuania in 1925. The challenger cup for the best basketball team of women was established by Jonuškaitė, opera singer. The team, which would win the cup three times consecutively or five times at all, would get it as eternal property. 4 basketball teams of women competed for this cup. In 1925, the basketball players of LFLS won in the final against the players of Makabi 20:2; Makabi won in 1926; LFLS won again in 1927 and 1928. However, the tournaments were interrupted in 1928 and the destiny of the cup remained unknown.

Picture: LFLS women's team in 1925 together with the cup-founder V. Jonuškaitė

Zaunienė (Kaunas.mvb.lt photo.)

Just class A remained in the Lithuanian basketball championship of women in 1926 (table 7) (Basketbolas, 1926)36.

35 Jonas Narbutas, Sportas Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje (Čikaga, 1978). 36 Steponas Darius, Basketbolo žaidimas (Krepšiasvydis) ir Lietuvos Sporto

Lygos Oficialės Basketbolo taisyklės (Kaunas: Valstybinė spaustuvė, 1926).

42

Position Team Points Played Won Lost Draw Ratios

of goals

1 LFLS 5 3 2 - 1 32:10 2 Makabi 4 3 2 1 - 17:19 3 Kovas 2 3 1 1 1 12:7 4 Žak - 3 - 3 - 1:21

Table 7: Basketball championship of Lithuanian women 1926 (Basketbolas, 1926, 44)37

The ratio of points was so low because they only played one cycle and the winner became the champion of Lithuania.

In 1926, the Basketball Committee got a proposal from Latvians to organize an international match between Lithuania and Latvia in the beginning of May, but the Lithuanian committee rejected the proposal (Basketbolo komitetas, 1926)38.

Basketball was really choked in Lithuania in 1927-1932. Narbutas (1978) 39 said that the activity of all sport clubs in all kinds of sport had become more vivid and progressed, but basketball showed the first signs of failure. LFLS teams of men and women became basketball champions of Lithuania in 1928 again. It was the last championship of the first stage of the development of Lithuanian basketball.

There was a meeting of representatives of sport organizations of Kaunas in the hall of KSK-Kultus on the 10th of April 1929 in order to compile different sport committees. The chairman of LSL and 18 representatives of 12 sport organizations participated in the meeting. Track-and-Field Athletics, Weightlifting, Bicycle Sport, Motorcycle Sport, Table Tennis, Water Sport, Winter Sport, Tennis, Basketball and Women Committees were compiled. The Basketball Committee was represented by Rozenholcas (Makabi), Petrauskas (LFLS), Kavaliauskas (KSK-Kultus), Heningas (LFLS), Ržečickis (RSO).

There were no basketball championships in Lithuania in 1929-1932. Just friendly or training-like matches were sometimes played in

37 Ibid. 38 „Basketbolo komitetas“, Sportas, 36, balandis 1926, 387. 39 Jonas Narbutas, Sportas Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje (Čikaga, 1978).

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certain places. There was no one match in 1929. A basketball match was organized in the festival of women in 1930. In 1931, the university students played – mostly thanks to Tulys, long-year referee.

Thus, the basketball players and sport heads did not make any effort to resurrect this kind of sport for four years and may have expected a wonder, but Latvians and Estonians progressed in that period.

Why did basketball fail in that period? First, it was overshadowed by football that progressed in spite of losses and failures. Meanwhile, basketball was played in a very primitive way since the first championship to that year and there was no progress, so it was unable to lure new sportspeople. Moreover, it was possible to play basketball in summer only and in very primitive playgrounds, but there were many other kinds of summer sport and they lured sportspeople. It was even impossible to think about this kind of sport in winter because there was no hall for basketball. Under such conditions, the enthusiasm of basketball players flagged and “went on holiday” for four years (Narbutas, 1978).40

Conclusions

It is not known exactly how basketball came to Lithuania. It is known that women already played this game in 1920. However, the first official match was played between the teams of men on the 23rd of April 1922. This date is considered the official birthday of basketball in Lithuania.

However, basketball was more popular among women than among men in the 1920’s.

Basketball championships were organized until 1929, but this game was not popular and was unable to compete against football, so there was a period of stagnation in the development of Lithuanian basketball in 1929- 1932.

40 Jonas Narbutas, Sportas Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje (Čikaga, 1978).

44

REFERENCES

„Basketbolas“, Sportas, 44, lapkritis 1926, 456-457.

„Basketbolo komitetas“, Sportas, 36, balandis 1926, 387.

„Kauno moksleivių krepšinio pirmenybės 1924 m.“, Sportas, 12-13, 1924, 101.

„Lietuvos moterų basketbolo pirmenybės 1923-1924“, Sportas, 1, lapkritis 1923, 5.

„Moterų basketbolo pirmenybės 1925 m.“, Sportas, 26-27, birželis-liepa 1925, 228.

„Moterų basketbolo pirmenybės“. Lietuvos sportas, 9, rugpjūtis 1922, 8.

Darius, Steponas. „Basketbolas“. Sportas, 12-13, 1924, 91-92.

Darius, Steponas. Basketbolo žaidimas (Krepšiasvydis) ir Lietuvos Sporto Lygos Oficialės Basketbolo taisyklės, Kaunas: Valstybinė spaustuvė, 1926.

Kamuolys. Basketbolo teisėjams kursai, Sportas, 12-13, 1924, 101.

Komisija. Bastketbolas. Lietuvos sportas, 11-12, spalis 1922, 2.

Lietuvos sporto enciklopedija. Vilnius: Lietuvos sporto informacijos centras, 2010.

LSL Žaidimų komitetas. „Lietuvos moterų basketbolo pirmenybės 1924 m., Sportas, 18-20, gruodis 1924, 149.

LSL Žaidimų komitetas. „Moterų basketbolo rungtynės Lietuvos pirmenybėms 1922 m.“. Lietuvos sportas, 11-12, spalis 1922, 7.

Narbutas, Jonas. Sportas Nepriklausomoje Lietuvoje, Čikaga, 1978.

Stelf. „Basketbolo rungtynės“. Lietuvos sportas, 5, gegužė 1922, 5.

Stonkus, Stanislovas. Krepšinis. Istorija. Teorija. Didaktika. Kaunas: LKKA, 2003.

Šulingas, Jurgis, Darius, Steponas. „Kauno moksleivių basketbolo pirmenybės 1923 m.“ Sportas, 1, lapkritis 1923, 7.

45

REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA

BEGINNINGS OF BASKETBALL IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Petar D. Pavlović, Faculty of PE and Sports, University of Banja Luka,

Republic of Srpska

Slobodan Simović, Faculty of PE and Sports, University of Banja Luka,

Republic of Srpska

Kristina M. Pantelić Babić, Faculty of PE and Sports, University of Banja

Luka, Republic of Srpska

Correspondence Kristina M. Pantelić Babić

kristina.pantelic-babic@ffvs.unibl.org Phone: +387 65 597 685

Introduction

A Canadian, Dr. James Naismith in 1891 in International

Y.M.C.A. Training School in Massachusetts (later Springfield College) invented a new game named basketball. But, even before 1891, in ancient civilizations such as Aztecs, Incas, Mayas, Indian native people and others, all kind of ball-games that reminded on basketball were played.

Beginnings of basketball in Serbia (Belgrade) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo) are connected with arrival of William A. Wieland, envoy of Red Cross. In late September 1923 he arrived in Belgrade for organization of children games and playgrounds. In period September 27th – October 18th 1923, on playgrounds of primary school in Savamala and school near Orthodox Church, he organized a course for teachers in primary schools, gymnastic teachers, Sokol and scout leaders. Wieland, among other games, demonstrated also basketball game, at the time called “Basket Ball”.

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UDK 796.323.2 (497.15) (091)

This means that course participants were introduced with basketball in beginning of October 1923. After the course students of 2nd Male Belgrade Gymnasium started to play it.1

Main object of this paper is basketball in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and goal to research the very beginnings of this game in that area. During writing authors used historical method.

Sarajevo

The best confirmation of Wieland’s work in cities of Kingdom od Serbs, Croats and Slovenians (Kingdom of SCS) is his report to C. W. Waddington, director of youth division of Red Cross Society League. In regards of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he wrote as follows:

“In Belgrade I got the opportunity to meet Mr. Žakula2, school inspector and president of Committee of Red Cross for Youth in Bosnia. He agreed with all arrangements for my course in Sarajevo. I also met Mr. Brigljević, school inspector and officer of Red Cross for Zagreb, and asked him to arrange certain things for me. These meeting were valuable for preparation of course without waste of time.”3

After successful course in Belgrade, on October 21st 1923 Wieland went to Sarajevo to teach the same course there. This course

1 Слободан Симовић и Петар Павловић: Почеци кошарке на просторима бивше Југославије до 1930. године, у Ненад Живановић, уредник, Пети европски и Други српски конгрес „Компетенције наставника физичког васпитања у XXI веку“, ПАНОПТИКУМ Ниш и Друштво педагога физичке културе Србије, Ниш, 2009. 2 Stevan Žakula (1875 – 1939), professor, one of establishers and leaders of Serbian gymnastic society „Obilić“ in Mostar, establisher and leader of „Serbian Sokol“ in Tuzla, leader of Serbian Sokol Parish of Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1910 to 1914, during high-treason process in Banja Luka in 1916 he was sentenced to 10 years of slavery. After the WW1 he was a Secretary general of Sokol Union of Kingdom of SCS (from 1929: Kingdom of Yugoslavia). 3 Report of Two Months Work in Jugo-Slavia, 1923, p. 2, cited in: П. Јелић: Почеци кошарке у Југославији 1923 – 1940, Годишњак за друштвену историју, год. 10, бр. 1-3, 2003, pp. 129 – 130.

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lasted two weeks (14 days), it had 22 participants (Sokol members, Scouts and school teachers), and after course they were trained for different games. Practical part was performed on playground of Red Cross for Youth in Sarajevo. In his work Wieland was assisted by Stevan Žakula and translator, Miss Švatelova. About this work, among other things, Wieland wrote as follows:

“I went to Sarajevo on October 21st. All previously asked arrangements were made. Mr. Žakula even waited for me at the station and took care of my personal needs. The next day, Monday, there was a big meeting with professors. I held a speech for introduction and organized a class. Once again pre-arrangements proved to be good, especially in regards of translation of my speech. The translator was young Serbian man who was in army at the moment. His translation was the best I had until that moment in Yugo-Slavia. Right after the introduction we started to work. For practical part was selected playground of Red Cross for Youth in Sarajevo. Course lasted for two weeks and it achieved satisfying results every day. In total 22 professors were trained for different games. They told me that a sports club based on this course was formed and will continue to practice this game. Playground of Red Cross for youth in Sarajevo was on ground formerly used in military purposes. It is close to downtown area, it has good shade and is good reorganized for games. Still there in no fence, no buildings were kids could hide in case of bad weather, and a former professor was hired as a playground inspector. The results of the playground course will vary depending on the program activities and I hope they will practice this game at gymnastic classes in schools. While Sarajevo course was led by school professors, among them were also some ‘Sokol’ members and one scout. During my stay in

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Sarajevo Mr. Žakula helped me a lot, as also Miss Švatoleva who was translator for our practical part.”4

In letter addressed to Mr. C.W. Waddington, director of Junior Division of League of Red Cross Societies in Paris, sent on October 29th 1923 from Sarajevo, Wieland wrote about his impressions from Sarajevo:

“Dear Mr. Waddington, I am happy to inform you that my pre-arrangements for course in Sarajevo made by Mr. Žakula, school inspector and president of Sarajevo Junior Committee, were so good, that there was no waste of any time. I arrived last Sunday; on Monday was meeting with representatives of all schools, groups were formed and we started to work on playground. We were also very lucky with autumn weather, what was not usual for Bosnia in this time of year…”5

In his report for October, Wieland wrote down few more details:

“… Playground in Sarajevo is on a former military property. It is not big, maybe 20 x 70 meters, but surrounded with trees and adapted quite good for this purpose. A lot of kids come here to play, and they are supervised by older man Her Hofniaer, who kids adore. Kids show good initiative for games and groups are holding up. For wxample ‘Rapid Club’ exists for a year, and now they have uniforms. None of the team members is older than 13. There are also some smaller groups, and for now we know ‘Hugo’ and ‘Nitso’, and they show great

4 Augustin William Wieland, Report of Two Months Work in Jugo-Slavia, American Red Cross Archive, 962.11/09 gr.R.C., 1923. 5 Augustin William Wieland, Letter C.W. Waddington (translated by M. Tasić), October 29th 1923. Original in possession of American Red Cross Archive 962.11/09 gr.R.C., p. 8.

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solidarity. Basically, kids are fair and obedient, regardless to the fact that there are no sanctions. I think that I made my biggest success on Sarajevo playground. It would be even better if there was some object nearby so we can keep our equipment and material.”6

About some problems in regards of playing basketball and court for this game, Wieland wrote as follows:

“In Belgrade I told Mr. Žakula about my goals, how a court should look like, and he told people how things should be done. Because of misunderstanding only one basket was built. On first day of the course I asked for one more. Besides going to the carpenter every day, basket is still not finished. I had an argument with him yesterday. Now I am not sure if we will finish this at all. Unfortunately, carpenter understood Italian. Also, unfortunately, swearing sounds really bad in Italian. We hope to receive material soon. For the time needed two boys acted as substitutions for one basket. One of them was basket and was trying to catch the ball. The other one tried to stop the players from throwing the ball… Then we almost had a strike on playground. Some professors didn’t want to play until all kids were sent off the court. At the end this was also done without many problems.”7

Mostar

Basketball in Mostar started during 1926. Students and pupils educated in European or some other countries of the world, or the

6 Augustin William Wieland, Report for Month of October, 1923, American Red Cross Archive 962.11/09 gr.R.C. 7 Augustin William Wieland, Report for Month of October, 1923, American Red Cross Archive 962.11/09 gr.R.C, p. 7.

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ones who came to educate in Herzegovina and Bosnia, during their stay spread their knowledge about new sports popular in that time. That is how first information about basketball came to this territory.

Paja Radosavljević, Serb from Serbia, went to America to work as a university professor at the New York University. As Radosavljević loved Serbian customs, his Serbian language, and for his kids not to forget language of their ancestors he sent his son Milenko, who’s mother was born in Mostar, to finish school in Mostar Gymnasium, on Serbian language.

Milenko Radosavljević, when going to high school in New York, got familiar with many sports, among which also basketball, and when he came to Mostar, he started to pass his knowledge to his schoolmates and friends.

Radosavljević’s schoolmate Fazlija Alikafić described him as follows: “Milenko was simple and modest. But, to everybody from his class, he looked like a knight from a promised land of America. Tall, athletic, vivacious. He was especially remembered as a sportsmen.”8

When writing about development of basketball in Mostar, Sefik Pašić wrote that Milenko Radosavljević that he was “… very communicative and direct and he quickly adapted in his environment and started to work. Namely, he introduced his friends with certain things, better said sports that did not exist in our country but were very popular in USA. That is how he, among other things, introduced them with Stega scout organization, because until then they were straggling with work methods. Besides, he introduced his schoolmates with rules and way of playing basketball.9

Hajrudin Ćurić, a former student of Mostar Gymnasium (from 1920 to 1927), and member of Mostar Sokol society, about those first beginnings of basketball in Mostar, inter alia, wrote that

8 Cited in: D. Miladinović: Mostar kolijevka sporta, EU Administration of Mostar, Mostar, 1996, p. 35. 9 Šefik Pašić: Košarka u Mostaru, Prilozi za istoriju fizičke kulture u Bosni i Hercegovini, god. 4, br. , Sarajevo, 1971, p. 49.

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Milenko Radosavljavić came from New York (America) to Mostar at the end of his high school education, to be able to graduate in Mostar Gymnasium on Serbian language. His schoolmates called him “the American”. Besides being a member of Gymnasium scout organization, where he stand out with his work, he

“… brought to Mostar one sport game, basketball, until then unknown in this town. My classmates, respectively students of Mostar Gymnasium, practiced it already in 1926, when hardly any town in Yugoslavia was familiar with that game. We played basketball on gymnasium playground and on that part closer to building of neighboring primary school.”10

Šefik Pašić recorded memories of few more Mostar Gymnasium students from that time (Vlado Vujica, Šalzudin Zupčević, Ahmed Milavić).

Vlado Vujica, member of Mostar Sokol society, often came to gymnasium playground to watch basketball game. When remembering about it, he said: “I was interested in basketball as kind of sports and very often I went to Gymnasium to see the way of play, rules and etc. I remember we discussed about implementing basketball in Sokol society, but we had no suitable court at the time.”11

Šahzudin Zupčević, also a member of Mostar Sokol society, went to playground to see how youngsters play that new American game. “I remember some good basketball players. We have tried to introduce basketball in Sokol but we didn’t have suitable court.”12

Ahmed Milavić gladly remembers those school days:

10 Hajrudin Ćurić: O fiskulturnoj aktivnosti u Mostaru poslije Prvog svjetskog rata, Prilozi za istoriju fizičke kulture u Bosni i Hercegovini, god. 1, br. 1, Sarajevo, 1968, str. 54 – 55. 11 Cited in Šefik Pašić: Košarka u Mostaru, Prilozi za istoriju fizičke kulture u Bosni i Hercegovini, god. 4, br. , Sarajevo, 1971, p. 50. 12 Ibid, p. 51.

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“I was a kid, second or third grade of Gymnasium I think, when older friends led by some American, or they called him like that, played basketball in schoolyard. Some of us younger boys came and watched their play. I think this was in 1925 or 1926 and further. Later I myself also played basketball, but not so often, because we had no space from older friends.”13

Scouts from Mostar during 1926 and 1927 organized camping in Makarska (Adriatic coast) for Mostar students. Among those students was also Milenko Radosavljević. Besides Mostar students, in Makarska were also students from Tuzla Gymnasium and from some other places. Student activities were organized and performed according to scout curricula, and among those activities was also basketball. At the beginning basketball was played only by Mostar students, because others were not familiar with this game, but after some time other students started to join them. They played every day, and occasionally Mostar students played against students from other schools, mostly students from Tuzla.

Students of Mostar Gymnasium already had “… good and synchronized team, spiced by ‘the American’ with his experience”14 and almost always they were the winners.

Besides Milenko Radosavljević, sokols Dušan Mučibabić and Hajrudin Ćurić, members of that basketball team were also: Gojko Bogdanović, Vinko Bukvić, Mario Kerčević, Borivoj Knežić, Ćazim Nozić, Žarko Pecelj, Vasilije Spremo, Slobodan Tošović, Alija Hadžić and Šimun Šunjić. All of them finished their school time in Mostar Gymnasium in school year 1926/27.

After 1927, when Milenko Radosavljević and Hajrudin Ćurić finished their school, basketball continues among Gymnasium students and members of Mostar Sokol society.

13 Ibid, p. 50. 14 Ibid, p. 50.

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Female basketball player of Mostar Sokol society team, Rava Kolak Andabak, in conversation with Šefik Pašić in 1966, among other things, about basketball said as follows: “During 1938 I played basketball in female team of Mostar Sokol society. Few of us friends from youth who were mature enough started to play for first team. We played in front of Gymnasium, where we had one meeting with our friends from Matković and Korčula.”15

In Sokol team, besides Kolak, as she recalls, played also Slobodanka Brkić and Biljana Jelačić.

As a part of Public class and Academy of Mostar Sokol Society, on June 12th 1938 in Mostar one basketball game was played. The game was between teams of Sokol members and Sokol youth of that society, and it lasted 20 minutes (2x10). We didn’t find more data about this game, except: “5) basketball game – 2x10 min between members and male youth.” 16

Tuzla

Basketball in Tuzla started in first part of 1927. First ones to play it were students of Tuzla Gymnasium who were together with students from Mostar on camping in Makarska in 1926 and 1927. Soon after, basketball started also in Sokol and Scout societies in Tuzla. They played it on playground between Gymnasium and Sokol Gym, and very quickly started also first games between Gymnasium, Sokol and Scout teams.

Teacher in Tuzla Sokol Society and professor of gymnastics (Physical Education) in Tuzla Gymnasium, at the time was Julijan Kovalski. He had a brother in London, also gymnastic teacher. They were in constant contact through letters, and in one of them Julijan’s brother wrote him that in London started some new ball game called

15 Ibid, p. 51. 16 Јавни час и академија друштва Мостар, Knjiga za sokolsko selo, год. 4, бр. 6, Мостар, јуни 1938, p. 107.

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basketball. Julijan asked his brother to send him rules of that game and one ball. Soon he received from his brother what he asked for.

Kovalski didn’t know the rules of the game so he explained them by reading and “… according to those instructions students measured the court, marked it with lime (calx) and measured heptameter. Locksmith made iron frame and carpenter wooden board.”17

That is how basic conditions for this game were achieved and sokols, scauts and students started to play it almost every day. Soon after were formed teams of Tuzla Sokol society and Stega scouts and they started to play first games.

According to Radović, first game was played between Tuzla Sokol Society team and team of Scauts from Tuzla in May 1927. Radović didn’t state the exact date of this match, because even participants (Ljudevit Gerl and Dimitrije Đuranović from Sokol team and Vojislav Jovanović from Scout team) that Radović interviewed do not recall the exact date.

As members of Sokol team, there were four names recorded: Ljudevit Gerl, Ljudevit Đuranović, Kozinski and Rade Pavlović; and for Scout team: Vojislav Jovanović, Dojčin Jovanović, Borislav Marković, Sergije Pandurović and Pejinović. Names of other players were not recorded.

Sokols were wearing: red t-shirts with Sokol sign in front, white shorts, knee breeches and shoes; and Scouts: white athletic t-shirts with Scout sign in front (the captain was wearing dark t-shirt), dark shorts, knee breeches and their everyday shoes. Scout captain was Vojislav Jovanović.

17 Milivoje Radović: Prilog poznavanju prvog igranja košarke u Tuzli, Povijest sporta, god. 14, br. 56, Zagreb, 1983, p. 224.

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Picture 1: Scout basketball team. From right to left: Borislav Marković, Dojčin

Jovanović, Vojislav Jovanović, Sergije Pandurović i Pejinović.18

There were approximately 100 spectators in this match. The exact score was not recorded, but the winner was Sokol team. The arbiter for this match that lasted 2x20 minutes was Julijan Kovalski “… who measured the time with his wristwatch… the game lasted 2x20 min, without substitutions. During halftime teams switched sides. Sokol team won but the score was not remembered.”19

According to Radović, best players were sokols Ljudevit Gerl and Dimitrije Đuranović.

Acceptance of Sokol Union of Kngdom of Yugoslavija in

International Basketball Federation

Based on the fact that basketball in Kingdom of Yugoslavia (by that in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well) first started in Sokol societies and that Sokols were initiators of first basketball matches, the logical sequence of events is that initiative for acceptance of

18 Ibid, p. 224. 19 Ibid, p. 224.

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Kingdom of Yugoslavia in International Basketball Federation started from Sokol Union of Kingdom of Yugoslavia.20

Sokol Union of Kingdom of Yugoslavia on May 16th 1936 addressed a letter to International Basketball Federation informing them that Sokol Union is the only organization in Kingdom of Yugoslavia where basketball game is played. In this letter they also expressed their desire to be accepted in that international organization. International Basketball Federation after receipt of this letter, on May 20th 1936 replied and expressed their gratitude to Sokol Union of Kingdom of Yugoslavia for their wish to be a part of their international family. Along with their reply they also sent instructions about all necessary and formal things they need to do in order to apply for acceptance. As instructed and soon as all necessary documents were gathered, Sokol Union of Kingdom of Yugoslavia addressed acceptance application to International Basketball Federation.

International Basketball Federation in letter (no. §. 581/25002) from December 12th 1936, addressed to Senior of Sokol Union of Kingdom of Yugoslavia, informed them that their application has been accepted and that they are welcoming them in their membership.21

Basketball players from BIH in America (USA)

According to available sources, first basketball player with Bosnian-Herzegovinian origins to play in NBA was Zdravko Govedarica Bato, born in 1928 in Chicago. His father, Todor Govedarica, born in place Avtovac near town of Gacko in Herzegovina, before 1914 went to America searching for better way

20 Петар Д. Павловић, Слободан Симовић, Зринко Гргић и Кристина Пантелић: Међународне кошаркашке активности у Краљевини Југославији, Sport Science, год. 3, бр. 1, Београд, 2010. 21 See more in: Slobodan Simović and Petar D. Pavlović: Košarka na prostorima bivše Jugoslavije do maja 1945 godine, Univerzitet u Banja Luci, Fakultet fizičkog vaspitanja i sporta, Banja Luka, 2013.

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of life. At the end of his journey he settled in Chicago where he met Ana, his future wife.

After four kids (three daughters and one son) in 1928 God blessed them with fifth child, son named Zdravko. Nickname Bato (Brother) was probably because he was the youngest in his family.

Picture 2: Zdravko Govedarica Bato22

During his high school time in Chicago in period 1944 – 1947 he started to play basketball. Watching his play, scouts of DePaul University from Chicago offered him a scholarship for their University. Govedarica accepted their offer and after high school, in 1947 enrolled at their University. Right away he became a member of DePaul University basketball team called: “DePaul Blue Demons”.

At the time team competed in first NCAA division and was one of the best university basketball teams in USA. During 1951, in his final year, he was best scorer of the team. The same year he was elected as part of “All American”, “… respectively he became a member of NCAA ideal team and he had very remarkable

22 Slobodan Simović and Petar D. Pavlović: Košarka na prostorima bivše Jugoslavije do maja 1945 godine, Univerzitet u Banja Luci, Fakultet fizičkog vaspitanja i sporta, Banja Luka, 2013, p. 226.

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performance during a show duel between best NCAA selection and famous basketball masters and entertainers Harlem Globetrotters.”23

Picture 3: Basketball team of DePaul University in season 1950/51 Zdravko Govedarica Bato, first one in the first row from right to left.

“Syracuse Nationals”, professional basketball team from that time (forerunner of today “Philadelphia 76ers”), took him for a team member after season 1950/51, but he didn’t play for the team right away, because after selection he was sent to war in Korea. After the war he performed for initial team. He played only one season (1953/54) as a professional, with 23 performances.

Twenty years after his professional career he was given some significant acknowledges for his achievement in basketball. He was elected in a Hall of Fame of DePaul University in 1974, and in Hall of Fame of Illinois State in 1975. In 2006 he was elected as one of

23 Cited in: Slobodan Simović and Petar D. Pavlović: Košarka na prostorima bivše Jugoslavije do maja 1945 godine, Univerzitet u Banja Luci, Fakultet fizičkog vaspitanja i sporta, Banja Luka, 2013, p. 226.

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top 50 basketball players born in Chicago. That same year, on March 13th , Zdravko Govedarica Bato passed away.

Conclusion

At the end we can state that most credits for development of basketball in Herzegovina and Bosnia goes to Sokols and Sokol societies; an American William Wieland who presented basketball game in Sarajevo; to Sarajevo course participants; Scouts; Dr Paja Radosavljević, professor at New York University and his son Milenko, who already knew that game and who was sent by his father to Mostar to finish high school in his Serbian language; to school youth which accepted this new game with great satisfaction and also to all other fans of this game.

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REFERENCES

Ćurić, Hajrudin: O fiskulturnoj aktivnosti u Mostaru poslije Prvog svjetskog rata, Prilozi za istoriju fizičke kulture u Bosni i Hercegovini, god. 1, br. 1, Sarajevo, 1968, str. 54 – 55.

Јавни час и академија друштва Мостар, Knjiga za sokolsko selo, год. 4, бр. 6, Мостар, јуни 1938, pp. 106 – 107.

Јелић, П.: Почеци кошарке у Југославији 1923 – 1940, Годишњак за друштвену историју, год. 10, бр. 1-3, 2003, pp. 125 – 140.

Miladinović, D.: Mostar kolijevka sporta, EU Administration of Mostar, Mostar, 1996.

Pašić, Šefik: Košarka u Mostaru, Prilozi za istoriju fizičke kulture u Bosni i Hercegovini, god. 4, br. , Sarajevo, 1971, pp. 49 – 52.

Павловић, Д. Петар; Симовић, Слободан; Гргић, Зринко и Пантелић, Кристина: Међународне кошаркашке активности у Краљевини Југославији, Sport Science, год. 3, бр. 1, Београд, 2010, pp. 95 – 102.

Radović, Milivoje: Prilog poznavanju prvog igranja košarke u Tuzli, Povijest sporta, god. 14, br. 56, Zagreb, 1983, p. 224 – 225.

Simović, Slobodan and Pavlović, D. Petar: Košarka na prostorima bivše Jugoslavije do maja 1945 godine, Univerzitet u Banja Luci, Fakultet fizičkog vaspitanja i sporta, Banja Luka, 2013.

Симовић, Слободан и Павловић, Петар: Почеци кошарке на просторима бивше Југославије до 1930. године, у Ненад Живановић, уредник, Пети европски и Други српски конгрес „Компетенције наставника физичког васпитања у

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XXI веку“, ПАНОПТИКУМ Ниш и Друштво педагога физичке културе Србије, Ниш, 2009, pp. 285 – 299.

Wieland, William Augustin, Letter C.W. Waddington (translated by M. Tasić), October 29th 1923. Original in possession of American Red Cross Archive 962.11/09 gr.R.C., p. 8.

Wieland, William Augustin, Report for Month of October, 1923, American Red Cross Archive 962.11/09 gr.R.C.

Wieland, William Augustin, Report of Two Months Work in Jugo-Slavia, American Red Cross Archive, 962.11/09 gr.R.C., 1923.

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ROMANIA

THE HISTORY OF ROMANIAN BASKETBALL AND OF THE ROMANIAN BASKETBALL FEDERATION

Catalin Vasile Ciocan, PhD, University "Vasile Alecsandri" of

Bacau, Faculty of Movement, Sport and Health Sciences,

Department of Physical Education and Sports

Performance

Correspondence: Catalin Vasile CIOCAN, PhD.

157 Marasesti Av. 600115 Bacau, România

Tel/Fax: +40 234 517715

The history of Romanian basketball leads to the United States High Command staff. They decided, right after the capitulation of the German forces in World War One, to import in Romania the sport invented by Professor Naismith. The U.S. High Command leadership decided to stop carrying across the ocean the sports equipment used by the American soldiers to pass time, and donated it to the Allied countries. Among this equipment there were several basketballs and wooden backboards with wire hoops. The same military origin have the first information about basketball in Bucharest, the game regulation being published in December 1921. A short time after that, the American Young Men's Christian Association built quickly the first basketball courts on a vacant land in the center of the capital, around the Intercontinental Hotel area. In 1922 the first regulation-based basketball court is built in Bucharest, in the yard of the Mihai Viteazu High-School. A short time afterwards, the first inter-school championship is organized. The first official basketball match in Romania was won by the Mihai Viteazu High-School team, against the Dimitrie Cantemir High-School team. In 1922, the first Muntenia regional championship is organized. Seven years later, the first Bucharest championship is organized.

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In 1931, the Romanian Basketball and Volleyball Federation (RBVF) is created, with I.C. Marinescu as its President. In 1932, the RBVF is affiliated to the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA), Romania being one of its eight founding members, together with Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, and Switzerland.

Dinamo Bucharest - club flag

Dinamo's prestige among basketball teams is not owed only to the 20 national titles and four Romanian Cups it had won, but also the the fact that throughout the years, this formidable team has managed to qualify once for the quarter finals of the 1972-1973 European Champions Cup.

One of the most popular games in the world, basketball is characterized by the finesse, precision, and imagination of its technical and tactical exercises, by the athletes' tall height and remarkable physical qualities, all of these being involved in a sportive challenge that demands team spirit, sacrifice, intelligence, and resilience.

The history of how basketball appeared in Romania is lost among the grains of sand that trickle in the hourglass of time, the data gathered in the Romanian professional literature being inconsistent and even controversial. Nevertheless, history sources seem to lead to the United States High Command staff, who decided, right after the capitulation of the German army, to import in Romania the sport invented by Professor James Naismith. Even if the smell of gunpowder could still be felt on the Old Continent, the U.S. High Command leadership decided to stop carrying across the ocean the sports equipment used by the American soldiers to pass time, and donated it to the Allied countries. Among this equipment there were several basketballs and wooden backboards with wire hoops. The same military origin, responsible also for the "Soldier Houses", have the first information about basketball in Bucharest, the first "Basketball game regulation" being published in the daily newspaper "Ecoul sportiv" ("The Sports Echo") on December 4, 1921, in a suggestively entitled article, "Hoop ball". The data from that period also show that in the summer of 1921, in Brasov, there were summer

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courses organized by the "Soldier Houses", courses that will later transform into training camps. A short time after the American initiative took roots the American Young Men's Christian Association built quickly the first basketball courts on a vacant land in the center of the capital, somewhere around the current area of the Intercontinental Hotel. Proving to be a very popular sport, especially with the younger generation, in 1922 the first regulation-based basketball court is built in Bucharest, in the yard of the Mihai Viteazu High-School, thanks to Professor Sebastian Chinie, who, as a former lieutenant, had learned the secrets of basketball in the "Soildier Houses". A short time afterwards, the first inter-school championship is organized, entitled the "YMCA Cup", and won, obviously, by the host team from the Mihai Viteazu High-School, with a score of 12-11. At the same time, the history of Romanian basketball shows that the first official basketball match in Romania was won by the Mihai Viteazu High-School team, against the Dimitrie Cantemir High-School team, with a score of 11-9. In 1922, the first Muntenia regional championship is organized, with the participation of 15 teams, from eight sports clubs. The same year, the "Avantul" Club manages to form the first Romanian women's basketball team. The high-school example is extended to universities, and in 1924, basketball is introduced in the syllabus of the Bucharest Physical Education Institute (PEI). The dominance of the Mihai Viteazu High-School is interrupted after seven years, in 1928, by the Spiru Haret High-School, who wins the inter-school trophy. Also in 1928, basketball attracts an increasing number of practitioners, arriving in Focsani through the military, but also in Eforie, with the help of the PEI students who were there for their swimming classes. One year later, the five-player game starts to take even stronger roots, in 1929 being organized the first Bucharest championship, played in May, with five teams: Romanian Tennis Club (RTC), PTT, YMCA, Viforul Dacia and Romanian Rugby Club. RTC and YMCA entered in the final act of the competition, RTC winning the first tournament in the capital, with a score of 38-32. At the same time, the organizers named Richard Hillard the most valuable player, and he later proved to be one of the most important promoters of Romanian basketball. On November 10, 1931, the Romanian Basketball and Volleyball Federation (RBVF) is created,

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with I.C. Marinescu as its President. Gradually, just like in Romania, basketball extends in all corners of Europe, the American idea finding easily adepts in many countries, which led to the initiative to form a specialized international group. In 1932, the RBVF is affiliated to the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA), Romania being one of its eight founding members, together with Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, and Switzerland. At the festive founding meeting of FIBA, an event hosted by Geneva, on June 18th 1932, Romania was represented by a famous boxer, D. D. Teica, who was in Switzerland on a YMCA scholarship. Two years later, Romanian basketball enters the international stage through Juventus Bucharest, which was the first Romanian team participating in a continental tournament. Unfortunately, at the Czechoslovakia competition, Juventus did not have any victory during its five matches, but the participation of the Romanian players was captured with golden letters in the history of world basketball. Also in 1934 there was the first Romanian university championship, won by the Commercial Academy, and the participation of the famous Costi Herold, believed to be the greatest basketball player at that time, and not only, him being a great athlete overall (national champion at 110 m hurdles and decathlon, and positioned very highly in other sports), was a serious imprint on the future of the hoop sport. Concomitantly with the university competition, also in 1934, the Muntenia League was formed, the first national championship. One year later Romania enters the international basketball circuit for good, and participates in the first edition of the European Basketball Championship, in Geneva, the Romanian team finishing in the last position, out of the ten participating teams. And because basketball cannot exist without referees, in 1935 there was the first attempt to organize a referee competition, which admitted people over 18 years of age. Starting with 1936, basketball enters other cities, the competitions including now teams from Sibiu, Timişoara, Iaşi, and Braşov, while Bucharest had 32 official teams.

After a period of non-activity, caused by World War II, in 1945 basketball is reinvigorated with the help of the People's Sports Organization, which programs school and university championships, as well as union inter-city competitions. The first edition of the City Cup is

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won by "Viforul Dacia" for men and by "Sportul Studenţesc" for women, and in 1947 the Romanian national team participates in the European championships, ending in the 10th position. The first medal is won at the Balkan Games, where the Romanians end in third place, in Tirana. Starting with 1950, the national championship is organized under several divisions, the first trophies being won by Locomotiva CFR, for the women, and Metalul 23 August, for the men. After 1953, the male division competition becomes a two-team challenge, CCA (Steaua) and Dinamo fighting for supremacy until 1991. Throughout this time, Dinamo won 18 national titles, while CCA (Steaua) won 21 trophies. In regards to the women, the division battle is much more open, Ştiinţa (Politehnica) Bucharest (11 titles), Rapid (7 titles) and Universitatea Cluj (11 titles) being the teams that inscribed their names in history. On an international level, the Romanian women's national team has ranked multiple times fourth at the European Championships (France 1962, 1964, Hungary 1966). In the next years, except for the good results recorded by the Romanian female players at the World University Games (Bucharest and Edmonton), where they won bronze and silver medals, respectively, Romanian basketball stagnates. After December 1989, a year in which a silver medal was won in the summer at the Timisoara female cadet European Championships, a decade had to pass until a new medal (bronze) is won in 2000, at the Slovak youth European Championship. The men also had some notable results, the juniors getting in the fourth position at the Netherlands European Championships (1990), while the youths score an honorable fifth place at the Canadian World Championships.

In 2001, the RBF is reorganized in accordance with Law 69/2000, the General Assembly of November 29 recording this change. The new Statute is adopted, and the new Federal Office is presided by Ioan Dobrescu, while Radu Drăgănescu is named General Secretary. Starting with 2005, the new President, Carmen Tocală, starts to promote an innovative national strategy that touches on almost all problems in the post-revolutionary history: top performance, mass sports, image, and communication. This was doubled by a modern and aggressive management that would stimulate Romanian basketball to reach top athletic performance.

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The effects of the RBF actions and programs were seen without delay, producing emulation, which led to a substantial increase in the number of club players. If in 1997 the RBF recorded an approximate number of 6000 athletes in the Romanian sports clubs, at the beginning of 2010 there were over 13000, basketball being played in most Romanian counties! Plus, in 2008, the RBF managed to have over 200 affiliated clubs, new important basketball centers appearing on the map. Their number is increasing, and at the beginning of 2010 the RBF has 215 basketball club teams, while the Ministry of Youth and Sports has in its Sports Registry over 900 clubs with basketball sections. That is one point scored by the RBF management team, if one takes into account also that beside maintaining tradition centers, such as Bucharest, Cluj, Timişoara, Oradea or Sibiu, several other important centers were founded, such as Tg. Mureş, Târgovişte, Arad, Ploieşti, Satu-Mare or Sf. Gheorghe, new ones being added, such as Alexandria, Craiova, Alba Iulia, Tg. Secuiesc, Tg. Jiu. All of these were possible also because of the increasing number of internal competitions (22 national championships for all age categories), as well as of the increasing number of Division A participants (16 teams). There was also the relaunch of the National Mini-basketball Festival, a competition that attracts annually 150 children's teams, with over 2000 participants, and the regional and national street-ball competitions, attractive events not only for professional athletes. More than that, the number of basketball practitioners in Romania has reached 33000 in 2010 and increases with every year!

At the same time, the RBF emphasized the words of the father of modern Olympism, "what's important is to participate," and sent a record number of national teams to international competitions (eight, for all age categories). Without neglecting throughout this time the perfecting of the specialists, the RBF started to organize annually national training seminars for coaches, commissioners and referees, to which renowned guests are invited to speak, experts who put their mark on the enrichment of the fields Theory and Methods of Sports Training, and Referee Mechanics.

In regards to its image, the RBF scored positively a few years ago by perfecting several partnerships with various media outlets, creating

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the official RBF website and the magazine "FRBaschet Magazin," as well as contracts for live television transmissions of Division A games, thus forming a new image of Romanian basketball. The impact was positive and helped attract several important sponsors for the national and club teams. On the other hand, the RBF respected also the traditions and the old talent, and starting with 2005, it organizes the "Basketball Gala," an event that brings together legendary players and coaches with present-day top players and politicians, and in which FIBA Europe representatives also participated. The peak was reached at the 75th Anniversary, when in December 2006 the RBF was honored to greet the most important members of the international organization, including its President, Giorgos Vasilakopoullos and its General Secretary, Nar Zanolin. Speaking of FIBA Europe, it must be said that Romania organized in premiere, in Bucharest, a meeting of the European board members, in March 2008, and received permission to organize four major competitions in four years - four final tournaments of the European Championships, at Sibiu, Timişoara, and Tg. Mureş. Keeping it international, it must be said also that the RBF has participated as a founding member to the creation of the inter-club Balkan League, in 2008, having also a word to say in the reiteration of the Balkan Championships.

"Top performances cannot appear overnight. They are the result of intense effort, so that you could reap what you have sown," used to say the former President of the Romanian Olympic Committee, Ion Ţiriac. And Romanian basketball continued to show that this is true, recording, over the last decade, a series of notable results, with both the national teams and the club teams. The peak was reached by the women's team, coached by Gheorghe Mandache and Alina Moanţa, which won for the first time the golden medal at the Francophone Games, in Beirut, 2009. A great result, coming after another notable result, recorded by the men's U18 team, coached by Ioan Constantin, Cristian Achim and Dan Dacian, which got promoted into the European elite, after winning the final tournament of the Euro 2006, at Sibiu. Speaking of first times, it must be noted that the ice was broken by CSU Ploieşti, which won the first European cup in the history of Romanian basketball, at the 2005 FIBA Europe Cup. These top performances were

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based also on several exceptional players, the leading one being Cătălin Burlacu, who was called, for the first time after the 1989 Revolution, to take part in the Euro All Star Game, in 2006. The list of Romanians who asserted themselves internationally in the last decade continues with the ones drafted in the NBA and WNBA, like Cristina Ciocan, Florina Pascalau, Gabriela Mărginean, and Vlad Moldoveanu, who continued a tradition started by Gheorghe Mureşan and Constantin Popa. Speaking of basketball stars, it can be said that the RBF tried to increase the showmanship of the matches and the value level in Division A, also by reinstating the All Star Game, the only such event in all Romanian sports – 2007 (Cluj, Târgovişte), 2008 (Tg. Mureş and Sf. Gheorghe), 2009 (Braşov and Alexandria), 2010 (Oradea and Drobeta Turnu Severin). At the same time, one can also mention the number of foreign players in Division A (over 120 in both championships), as well as the high number of foreign coaches.

Returning to the RBF promoted projects, one could enumerate some of the one initiated by President Carmen Tocală: Education through Sport (2006), Basketball in Kindergarten - Let's grow healthy (2007), Basketball between the Blocks (a government program applied din the territory with the help of the mayors and county councils) (2007), University Education through Sport (2008), Education through and for Basketball (2009, a project financed by FIBA-Europe), "I want to play basketball" (2010). At the same time, the RBF has obtained funds from the Romanian Government to use freely a hall, "The Basketball Arena," containing 500 seats, modernized according to the highest international standards, inaugurated on December 17, 2009, in the presence of numerous important guests, including the President of FIBA-Europe, Giorgos Vassilakopoulos. This event coincided with the inauguration of a Hall of Fame of Romanian basketball, the wall containing many former Romanian glories of the sport, such as Mihai Nedef, Costel Cernat, Dan Niculescu, Ileana Chiraleu, Titus Tarău, Petre Brănişteanu, Florentin Ermurache, Nicolae Pârşu, Teodora Predescu, Margareta Pruncu, Mariana Bădinici, Ecaterina Savu-Voggel, Suzana Pârşu, Geta Ivanovici, Maria Roşianu, and many others, not to mention, of course, Gheorghe Mureşan, the only Romanian who played in the

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NBA. The list remains open for other top performances and future great basketball players.

(The Image and Communication Department of the Romanian Basketball Federation)

Photo: The Men's Basketball Section of SC Dinamo Bucharest

The Senior Men's Basketball Team, 2015 - 2016 Championship

Photo: The Men's Basketball Section of SC Dinamo Bucharest

The hoop game is indisputably one of the most popular athletic activities on the planet.

Invented in the United States (around 1891) by a student, basketball quickly spreads everywhere, so that in 1920 it can be found in

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Romania, during some demonstrations in the yard of the Mihai Viteazu high school of Bucharest.

After 1944, in accordance with the times, basketball becomes a "mass sport," teams being created almost everywhere: in universities, in most institutions, and even factories.

In the spring of 1949 the Dinamo basketball team was founded. A short time after that, the Ştefan cel Mare street team becomes one of the national championship protagonists, so much that in 1953 Dinamo becomes Romania's champion.

In the following years, the matches between Dinamo and CCA (future Steaua Bucharest) were considered great events that filled up the Floreasca Hall (built on the occasion of the 1953 World Youth Festival). The Dinamo games filled up stadiums and sports courts, creating true shows.

In 1960, Dan Niculescu (a player since the creation of the Dinamo basketball team, together with Lucian Vasilescu, Gabriel Zugravescu, Lita Cosma - the one who would later become the club president) is named head coach of the team.

Dinamo has won no less than 21 national titles (out of which four after 1989), many victories in memorable international games that the fans could never forget.

At the Floreasca Hall, one had to be lucky to find a ticket for the Dinamo-Steaua games, the heated atmosphere during these matches

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irritating Ceausescu himself, who even forbid at one point basketball games in this hall.

Let us remember several famous names: Strugaru, Giurgiu, Visner, Spiridon, Viciu, Albu, Cernea, Gheorghe Novac (another basketball player who got to be the club president!), Diaconescu, Chivulescu, Popa, Niculescu, as well as the formidable Sandu Vinereanu. And so many others... up to Claudiu Fometescu - the peak of the 2000 generation.

It must be also said that after 1989, this team had a short period of glory (especially between 2000 and 2007), but later the provincial teams took over this sport.

In 2011, the team promoted into the First League, after a year in the Division B. One can only hope that soon a new Dinamo team would rekindle the top performance fire, giving the audience a superb show.

Men's Basketball Track record National Championship 22 titles

Romania's Cup 4 trophies

International "Dinamoviad" 2 first places

European Champions Cup prestige victories

Romanian basketball takes off!

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For the first time in the 85 year old history of Romanian basketball, the men's and women's national teams have, starting today, a brand identity. This premiere paves the road for top performance, Romanian basketball stating to take off, with its preparations for the EuroBasket 2017, which will take place in the Polyvalent Hall of Cluj-Napoca, and also with their last qualification games for the EuroBasket Women 2017. Thus, according to the announcement during a press conference by the RBF President, Horia Paun, the men's national team will be called the "Vultures," while the women's national team will be called the "Eagles," while the Romanian basketball anthem will be "Tot mai sus," the famous song by Guess Who feat deMoga.

For the first time in history, the Romanian national teams will have an identity, in the context in which assuming an identity means assuming certain values. Together with the captain with the women's national team, Gabriela Marginean, the men's national team representative, Andrei Mandache, and the General Manager of Transilvania Bank, Omer Tetik, the RBF President, Horia Paun announced officially that the men's national team will be called the "Vultures," while the women's national team will be called the "Eagles," while the Romanian basketball anthem will be "Tot mai sus" (Higher and higher), the famous song by Guess Who feat deMoga.

As main argument for the new identity it must be said that basketball is a sport easily associated with the concept of flying, and that is why birds were chosen as symbols. And because the symbols of the national teams can be related only to the national identity, their new identity is closely linked to the main symbol in the Romania's coat of arms, the eagle. The mountain eagle, also called a vulture, appears in Wallachian coats of arms for hundreds of years, inspiring values such as agility, strength, and intelligence. From a chromatic point of view, two out of the three colors in the Romanian flag were chosen to represent the "Eagles" and " Vultures," because red is considered to be a warm color, the color of passion, a value easily associated with the "Eagles," while the blue color gives a cold impression, its darker nuances being considered masculine, this being the reason why it was used for the "Vultures". "The presentation of the new official identities of the two

national basketball teams is not only a historical moment of a federation

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with tradition, but also a stage marking the comeback of Romanian

basketball in the ranks of the European top performance sports. We

wanted to mark Romania's participation to the EuroBasket 2017,

considering that the last time we participated in the European

competitions was three decades ago, in 1987. The visual identity of the

national basketball teams represents three vultures, symbolizing the

players' agility and courage, but also team work and the new heights

that we would like Romanian basketball to reach. Starting with today,

we will have Eagles and Vultures," said in his press conference opening Horia Paun, President of the Romanian Basketball Federation. And, as basketball is the sport that requires players to "fly," the new identity of the Romanian national teams was was launched under the slogan "Romania takes off," the "Vultures" and "Eagles" entering from now on in the court on the song "Tot mai sus" (Higher and higher), by Guess Who feat deMoga. "The new anthem of Romanian basketball, 'Tot mai sus' (Higher and higher), by Guess Who feat deMoga, indicates clearly the direction toward Romanian basketball is aiming, a very popular sport in this country, right after soccer in regards to its number of practitioners, and its official players. We also thank Guess Who (the stage name of rapper Laurentiu Mocanu), who is with us at this official launch," said the RBF President, announcing also that the Romania - Israel match during the qualification tournament for the EuroBasket Women 2017, scheduled for November, at the Polyvalent Hall of Cluj-Napoca, will be officially the first event in which the national team will be playing using the new brand.

"As main partner of Romanian basketball, Transilvania Bank

salutes the new identity of the national teams. We wish them to identify

themselves with the symbols they will be wearing, to be agile and

winners," emphasized Omer Tetik, the General Manager of Transilvania Bank, the main partner of the RBF.

In her turn, the captain of the women's national team, Gabriela Marginean, said that: "We are proud to be the eagles of Romanian

sports, and we hope that this new element will be followed by

exceptional results. Our new visual identity comes at the best of times

now, considering also the new Rio Olympic Games. We would like for

the Romanian team sports to be represented in all major competitions,

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European, World, or Olympic, where they are not watched only by

Romanians, but worldwide fans."

Also present at the press conference, and in rehabilitation after his injury during the China tournament, Andrei Mandache, one of the main players of the men's national basketball team, said that: "The new

identity makes us happy and commits at the same time - we will try to be

like vultures, or, at any rate, to prove that we have some of their agility

and intelligence. To the pride and honor to represent Romania is added

now a stronger feeling of national belonging. We hope that our fans will

receive well this change and will join us in our journey toward more

meaningful basketball!"

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.csdinamo.eu/sectia-jocuri-sportive/baschet-masculin/

http://www.scritub.com/timp-liber/sport/Baschet-Baschetul-in-Romania21582438.php

http://www.qreferat.com/referate/medicina/Istoricul-jocului-de-baschet-i151.php

http://www.ticataca.ro/2009/08/istoria-baschetului/

www.frbaschet.ro/documente/altele/istoric.doc

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RUSSIA

HISTORY OF BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENT IN RUSSIA

Sobyanin Fedor Ivanovich, Faculty of Physical Culture, Belgorod

state national research University

Spirin Mikhail Petrovich, Faculty of Physical Culture, Belgorod

state national research University

Kaduzkaya Larisa Anatolievna, Faculty of Physical Culture,

Belgorod state national research University

Voronin Igor Yuryevich, Faculty of Physical Culture, Belgorod state

national research University

Karabutova Elena Alexandrovna, Faculty of foreign languages,

Belgorod state national research University

Correspondence: Sobyanin Fedor Ivanovich

Sobyanin@bsu.edu.ru Phone: 8-909-206-00-53

Birthplace of Russian basketball is St. Petersburg. Basketball was first mentioned in Russia in 1901. It is associated with the name of George Dupperon – a well known Russian extensionist of physical culture and sports. According to another version basketball was first described in Russia in 1901-1902 by A.A. Skotak and P.P. Bokin. Basketball match was first seen in Russia in 1906, when in St.-Petersburg the American Eric Moraller introduced the invention of D. Naismith1 to the members of the sports society “Mayak”. At the end of 1906 the society held the first basketball matches, in which the team headed by S. Vasiliev2 often won. Later S. Vasiliev was called the “grandfather of the Russian basketball”. In St.-Petersburg in the gym of

1 Собянин Федор и Замогильнов Алексей. 2006. Основы теории физической культуры 10-11 классы. Учебное пособие. М.: Гуманитарный издательский центр ВЛАДОС.2 Квасков Владимир.2006. 100 лет российского баскетбола: история, события, люди. Справочник. М.: Советский спорт.

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the society “Mayak” the first international basketball match was held in Russia in 1909. A team of members of the American Association of Christians and the team of society “Mayak” competed in this match.

In 1921 the first basketball League was established in St. Petersburg. F. Jurgenson was its president. Having become the prototype of the Basketball Federation in Russia, the League organized St. Petersburg Basketball Championship. In 1930 the National Physical Culture Council established a national basketball section, which joined FIBA in 1947 and gained the right to participate in international competitions. In 1959, as the result of the Sports Societies and Organizations Union formation of the USSR the Basketball Section was transformed into the Basketball Federation.

The Basketball Federation of modern Russia (RBF) was established at the founding conference on 27 October 1991, and in March 1992 the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) considered RBF to be a successor of the Basketball Federation of the USSR.

The fact is there are several stages in the Russian basketball history3. After the basketball emergence and initial basketball development the "postwar-stage" (1947-1956) is considered.

Photo: Basketball of the USSR in 1940-s.

3 Портнов Юрий. 1997. Баскетбол. Учебник для вузов физической культуры. М.: АО Астра семь.

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A peculiar feature of that stage was the entry of national basketball team of the USSR in the FIBA (1947). Thanks to that fact, national basketball team first participated in the European championship that year.

The men's team became the winner (the second place) of the Olympic Games in Helsinki (1952)4. That stage was the starting point of the year-round system training implementation.

There have been organizational and methodological basis of the team training program, proved its effectiveness on main international competitions. Strict distinguish of the team gaming functions appeared, the protective action was reduced and the dominance of the game in attack was mentioned, a team game cohesion was focused on. There was a tendency to play through the center tall player. Two basketball schools appeared – "Russian" and "Baltic". During this period a scientific and methodological substantiation of a basketball game took place. Basketball, as an element of academic subject "Physical culture", introduced in 1920 in secondary schools along with football, gained ongoing training and methodological support.

The 1957-1964 stage of Russian basketball development can be called the dominant one in the European and global scale. The team of men and women got the definite success on the international arena (see table). Sports contacts with USA basketball players were developed at that time. The basketball schools for children were organized, and junior basketball team started to compete successfully in international competitions.

The growth of the volume and intensity of trainings resulted in a clear periods distinguishing of the certain training courses, the distinction of general and special training of the players and some detailed components of the training program were formed. There was a game schematic mechanism, which became a conservative and typical feature of basketball players of different professional competence.

It is interesting to mention, a tendency of the selection of team tall players with big game mobility was one of the main features of basketball of that stage. At the end of that period conservatism in the

4 http://www.slamdunk.ru/history/basketballhistory.

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technical and tactical part of the game was overcome. Basketball became more diverse and active sport. Junior basketball championships of the USSR were held at that time. Basketball was considered to be one of the sports in the national school sports events.

Photo: Women's national basketball team of the USSR (1950-s).

The theory and methodology of basketball playing, as a scientific discipline, developed very quickly. During that period the definite aspects were in the focus, in particular, the problems of the basketball biomechanics during the attack, the players protection; pedagogical and medical issues in the basketball players training; psychological aspects of the training and the competitive activities of players; the operational methods of monitoring the condition of functional systems of athletes; the issues of the players adaptation in sports activities. The creation of integrated scientific group (ISG), carrying out scientific and methodological support of teams on a permanent basis, was a particular achievement of that time.

The next stage of basketball development in Russia is referred to the period of 1965-1972. It was not only teams’ sports skill improvement in basketball, but a sensational victory of the USSR team over USA team in the Olympic games in Munich in 1972, when for three seconds before the end of the final match A. Belov after the filing of I. Edeshko threw the winning goal and the team of the USSR won by a margin of just 2 points. In the European Championships the men won

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in the period from 1965 to 1971. In 1969 and 1971 CSCA (Central Sports Club of the Army) team won the European Champions Cup. In 1970 student team won gold medal in Turin Universiade (Italy) and women's national team of the USSR won 5 Championships, in 1967 and 1971 they won the World Cup, TTT club team (Riga) won 7 gold medals in the European Champions Cup.

Photo: Men's national basketball team of the USSR – winner of Olympic Games of 1972.

The country developed a coherent system of gradual transition of young athletes from junior players’ teams to the main national teams. The training process has become more intensive and diverse.

The training process planning was to be based on different cycles. A complex of training and restorative means was expanded. The method of "paired influence" of Professor V.M. Dyachkov, new training methods based on maximal and submaximal intensity, methods of psychological regulation of athletes’ condition were applied. Special attention was paid to team methodology training in the Midlands. High-speed implementation of technical-tactical actions and taking it to the hole while jumping, quick transition from attack position to defense one were practiced.

The definite scientific and methodological support was focused on the following issues: the Olympic training methodology; the localization of fatigue and recovery mechanisms exploration; the deep analysis of the techniques committee manner in the game; the specifics

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of junior sports study; the body resistance to hypoxia study; the development of new methods of biochemical and bio-medical examination of basketball players5.

The period of 1973-1980 in the USSR was characterized by the development of women's and youth basketball. In 1976 in the program of Olympic Games in Montreal the women's basketball teams became the participants of competitions for the first time. In the final match the USSR national team won a convincing victory over USA team with a score of 112:77. Again, the women's team took the first place at the Olympics in Moscow in 1980. Then the women's team won the European Championships four times and in 1975 they won the World Championship.

The men's team were less successful, although they were prize-winners of Olympic Games in Montreal, Moscow, the winners in Turin and medalists of the European Championships; they won a gold medal in the World Championship in 1974 and became the silver medalists of the World Championship in 1978.

Since 1976 the European Championships among girls and boys were held. The girls were more successful, they were the Champions of Europe in the period of 1976-1980. The boys also won that competition and became winners twice in 1973 and in 1975. In the basketball World Championships junior Russian athletes competed less successfully since 1979. In the women's Cup tournaments foreign teams were more likely to defeat, and in 1973 and 1975 the men team "Spartak" (Leningrad) became the Cup winner of European countries Cups. The fact is, the basketball players were more successful in the student basketball teams’ competitions, including Universiades.

In the domestic events of the Soviet Union there were evident leaders: women's basketball teams – TTT (Riga), "Spartak" (Leningrad), "Spartak" (Moscow), then a strong team headed by A.J. Homelsky appeared; men’s basketball teams – CSCA and "Spartak" (Leningrad). Youth basketball teams of Ukraine, Latvia and Russia were the strongest ones.

5Журавлева Наталья. 1966. Экспериментальное обоснование совершенствования точности произвольных движений (на примере баскетбола). Диссертация кандидата пед. наук. М.

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That period was characterized by the development of system-structural approach in the pre-Olympic training of basketball players, a system of youth basketball forming, the inclusion of youth and junior national teams in high-level sport, stabilization of the indices of training load, the construction of flexible options of training programs, development and implementation of innovative training means and methods, tall basketball players recruiting, the trend of swing men training, playing activities individualization.

Scientific research projects were often devoted to such problems as: the Olympic training structuring in basketball which can be seen in works of V.V. Kuznetsov, A.A. Novikov, L.P. Matveyev, V.M. Zatsiorsky and others; the identification of the deep biological regularities of sports training improvement in games-based sports; the creation of new methods of strength, speed-power and coordination abilities development; the determination of the interrelation of dynamics of the development of basketball players’ power with the characteristics of the energy supply, recovery and training work; the study of the comparative characteristics of different height basketball players; the analysis of the factors determining the formation of basketball team members’ collaborative activity, the specific intra-group psycho-emotional reactions, social dynamics of the sports teams in games-based sports; the justification of application of new biomedical methods of operative, current and stage control of athletes’ physical fitness.

The next stage (1981-1988) was the result of the Olympic Games of 1980, held in Moscow, and its specificity was determined by the necessity of reflection of the internal problems of the national basketball. The result of that process was the growth of mass sports movement in the country, including the basketball development. New competitions were held to involve more population into the systematic sports activities. For example, in 1981 members of groups of physical culture and sports clubs competed for the Cup of the Trade Union organizations 5 times a year. Many competitions were organized for children and students of different educational institutions. To promote basketball, young people were engaged in several age groups and they competed separately. For example, in 1981 more than 1000 teams were the competitors of such competitions.

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Arranging process of a large number of basketball competitions allowed not only to engage a great number of children and students of all regions of the USSR in active sports activities, but also to identify the most talented young athletes, who later became very famous not only in Russia but abroad as well. Among them there were such athletes as S. Marchiulenis, A Sabonis, M. Tkachenko, and many others.

Participating in the competitions, sports contests and other sports events, many people got interested in the systematic basketball playing and a healthy, active lifestyle living. Traditionally strongest basketball schools were identified as a result of Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Russian teams competing. Among women’s teams a TTT Riga team was the leader, and among men’s teams – CSCA team from Moscow. The basketball teams were very strong and they proved their high qualification status in the main international basketball tournaments. In the period of 1981-1982 men's basketball team of the USSR became the champion of Europe (Czechoslovakia), as well as national women's basketball teams (Italy), junior women's basketball team (Hungary), junior men's basketball team (Bulgaria). Men’s and women’s teams won in the basketball competitions of the World Universiade, got the European Cup and L. Ronkhetti Cup.

In that period the teams developed according to the world tendencies – the average height of players of all national teams proceeded to increase. As well as in all national teams, in the USSR, for example, in the men's national team the average height of players was actually nearly 2 meters.

At the same time the effectiveness of the national USSR teams’ activities began to decrease gradually on the bases of noticeable aggravation of rivalry on the international sports arena. In particular, the national team of Yugoslavia became new and very strong competitor in basketball competitions of the Olympic Games, the World and European Cups. For example, junior women’s team of Yugoslavia won persistent fight in the European Championships in 1984. Men's, women's and youth teams of Yugoslavia became the winners and prize-winners of the largest international competitions.

The national team of Greece, managing to become the champion of Europe among men’ teams in 1987 became one more strong rival.

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However, at the end of that stage the men's national team of the USSR won gold medals in the Olympic Games in South Korea (1988), and the women's national team of the USSR took the third place after the USA team and the national team of Yugoslavia.

Estimating results of basketball development at that stage, it should be noted that in general outstanding achievements were visible as within the country competitions, as in the high international level sports events. On the international scene good results were achieved for the first time due to implementation of target comprehensive training programs of athletes while preparing them to compete in the Olympic Games. At the same time the national teams of the USSR did not participate in the number of the largest competitions during that period. The content of training process changed the line towards the maximum realization of internal reserves of human organism, technique of complication of training process structure in terms of two- and the three-parted micro cycles.

The training process became more effective due to increase of its rationality, psychological reliability of athletes, and sharp increase of their physical fitness, advanced technical equipment of tall players. Strengthening of strategy of collaborative defensive play and attack, the shift of tactical actions to attack efficiency and effectiveness of long distance 3-point throws allowed sustaining tensely increasing competition with the strong national teams of other countries.

During that period scientific and methodological support was focused on gradual formation of integration of scientific knowledge about an athlete and his specific training level; increase of knowledge about a team as an operated system; research of athlete’s and team’s behavior in extreme conditions during the most responsible games; study of the problem of athlete’s adaptation to physical loadings; study of the methodological problems of control of athletes; creation of model characteristics of sports proficiency of differently skilled athletes6.

The most specific feature of the period of 1989-1992 was, first of all, the fact that for the first time in the history of the Russian basketball

6 Задворнов Константин. 1983. Пути и средства повышения результативности действий баскетболисток 16-18 лет в нападении быстрым прорывом. Диссертация кандидата пед наук. Л.

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several strongest athletes of the men's and women's national teams left the native sports societies for foreign clubs. Evidently, it was necessary to do urgently selection of new candidates of basketball players of national teams. Nevertheless, the women's national team managed to win the European championship in 1989, and junior women's team won one more World Cup in Spain. The men's national basketball team competed less successfully; at least they became prize-winners of large international competitions.

In 1991 after the collapse of the USSR there was the evident weakening of the Russian teams and at the same time – strengthening of teams of other countries; that situation reflected in aggravation of the sports competition. CSCA teams occupied the leading position among men's and women's basketball teams in Russia. In 1992 FIBA considered Russia to be the successor of the USSR. However, the joint team of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) competed in the Olympic Games in Barcelona. It strengthened the basketball national teams and women’s team could win gold medals, having beaten team of China in the final part of competitions.

But the men's team became only the 4th. In general, there was a real decrease of sports mastery in the Russian basketball. Trying to save the former scientific and methodological traditions of the theory and technique of basketball players training the Russian experts tried to take into consideration new tendencies of world basketball development and take up the reached position.

Scientific research concerned sports technology of training process management, adaptation to new basketball operating conditions in the changing social and economic spheres, model athletes’ characteristics creation; more attention was payed to individualization of players’ actions study; the problems of detection of genetic athletes’ predisposition to game-based sports were in the focus of the study.

The final stage of basketball development in Russia covers the period since 1993 to present time. It is characterized by contrariety of basketball development in the country. At the beginning of this stage the strongest basketball players of Russia continued to leave actively national sports societies and clubs for foreign ones. That’s why the position of central clubs weakened and the position of basketball clubs

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in the province strengthened. But some athletes have returned home and strengthened the position of the teams. Besides, a new tendency has appeared – basketball players (men and women) of others countries are joining Russian basketball club’s teams. The Russian system of construction and management, scientific and methodological support of basketball development has changed7. Along with amateur, the professional basketball has appeared. On the international level the men's and women's national basketball teams have considerably reduced their achievements, but the Russian basketball system has got a new style, a new approach has been developed in this sphere within the country and in the world. In the new millennium the best sports traditions and the Russian basketball players’ victories give a good possibility to hope that the main achievements will be in the future.

7 Гомельский Евгений. 2010. Психологические аспекты современного баскетбола. М.: Проспект.

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Table: Sport high-places of men’s and women’s teams of Russia (USSR) in basketball

competitions

Competitions range

Winners and prize-

winners

Date of competitions

Men’s teams Women’

teams

Olympic Games Winners 1972, 1988 1976, 1980,

1992 Silver medal

winners 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964

-

Bronze medal winners

1968, 1976, 1980, 2012

1988, 2004, 2008

World Championships

World champions

1967, 1974, 1982

1959, 1964, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1983

Silver medal winners

1978, 1986, 1990, 1994,

1998

1957, 1986, 1998, 2002,

2006 Bronze medal

winners 1963, 1970 -

European Championships

European champions

1947, 1951, 1953. 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1979, 1981, 1985,

2007

1950-1956 (4 победы), 1960-1991 (17 побед), 2003, 2007,

2011

Silver medal winners

1975, 1977, 1987, 1993

1958, 2001, 2005, 2009

Bronze medal winners

1955, 1973, 1983, 1989, 1997, 2011

1995, 1999

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REFERENCES

Собянин, Федор, и Замогильнов, Алексей. 2006. Основы теории физической культуры 10-11 классы. Учебное пособие. М.: Гуманитарный издательский центр ВЛАДОС.

Квасков, Владимир. 2006. 100 лет российского баскетбола: история, события, люди. Справочник. М.: Советский спорт.

Портнов, Юрий. 1997. Учебник для вузов физической культуры. М.: АО Астра семь.

http://www.slamdunk.ru/history/basketballhistory.

Журавлева, Наталья. 1966. Экспериментальное обоснование совершенствования точности произвольных движений (на примере баскетбола). Диссертация кандидата пед. наук. М.

Задворнов, Константин. 1983. Пути и средства повышения результативности действий баскетболисток 16-18 лет в нападении быстрым прорывом. Диссертация кандидата пед. наук. Л.

Гомельский, Евгений. 2010. Психологические аспекты современного баскетбола. М.: Проспект.

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SERBIA

SERBIAN BASKETBALL THROUGH THE HISTORY

Dejan Milenković, Faculty of sport, University „Union-Nikola Tesla“,

Belgrade, Serbia

Milena Momirović, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Niš, Serbia

Nenad Živanović, FIEP Europe - President of the Section of History of

Physical Education and Sport

Correspondence: Nenad Živanović

nenad.zivanovic46@gmail.com

Summary: As a country of basketball Serbia began to gain its contours in the 1960s, however, the introduction to this game took place between the two world wars, some 40 years earlier. The following article describes the occurrence of basketball in Serbia, and its subsequent development, which created a well-known and wordlwide-recognized so-called „Serbian school of basketball“, and participation of Serbian clubs and the national team at international continental and world competitions and the Olympics. The paper follows the period of development of basketball in Serbia as a member of former states (the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia), but also the period after gaining its independence in 2006.

Key words: basketball, national team, clubs, international competition.

INTRODUCTION

The appearance of modern sport and discontinuity with the ancient form had lasted for centuries. It is believed that the process started at the end of the Middle Ages and early Renaissance era, when there was a need of „brutality to be replaced by sophistication“1. Norbert Elias2 explained it as a civilizing of man in all areas of society, including

1 Jean Michael Mehl, Jeix, Sports et Divertissements au Moyen Age et à l’Age Classique (Paris: Editions du Comité des Travaux Historiques et Scientifiques, 1993). (according to Graham Scambler, Sport and Society: History, Power and Culture (Belgrade: Clio, 2007)). 2 Norbert Elias, The Civilizing Process. Vol 1: The History of Manners (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1978). (according to Graham Scambler, Sport and Society: History, Power and

Culture (Belgrade: Clio, 2007)).

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UDK 796.323.2 (497.11) (091)

sport. Furthermore Elias and Dunning felt that the modern sport was created by sportization of leisure3 in England, its first phase occured in to the seventeenth and eighteenth century when a radical transformation of entertainment such as cricket, boxing, and horse racing took place. It continued in the early to mid-nineteenth century through the profiling of football, rugby, tennis and athletics, and then through further spreading of English sports in Europe and on other continents. This was the environment in which basketball appeared in America in the late nineteenth century.

Wishing to design a game that would be suitable for being performed indoors during the winter months, Canadian Dr. James Naismith created basketball for the needs of his students in 1891. As a lecturer at the College of the Association of Christian Youth, he was faced, along with his colleagues, with disinterest of his students for physical education in winter. Sport spirit of his students greatly exceeded earlier physical activities such as marching and gymnastics. To solve this problem, the management of the College proposed the creation of a new game. Dr. Naismith accepted the task. Thinking in a manner that could be described as a concept of sophistication rather than brutality, Dr. Naismith gave preference to technique, skill and precision in designing basic rules, avoiding roughness and superiority in strength. This approach points to the „Christian principles of charity and non-violence“4.

The first rules with 13 items were published in 1892. In the same year, Senda Berenson, a professor of physical education at Smith College of Northampton, adapted Naismith rules for the purposes of women's basketball 5 . Primarily, the original rules were adjusted and changed spontaneously and later on they were evaluated through professional observation and assessment. Basketball eventually strengthened and developed, first in America and Canada, and then it spread to other countries.

In North America, the American colleges that began with the establishment of their teams had the key role in the development and expansion of basketball, both in men's, and women's competitions. Basketball was demonstrated by Naismith’s students on December 21st, 1891. The score was 1:0, and the only point was scored by William

3 Norbert Elias & Eric Dunning, Quest for Excitement: Sport and Leisure in the Civilizing Process (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1986). (according to Graham Scambler, Sport and

Society: History, Power and Culture (Belgrade: Clio, 2007)). 4 Ivan Jovanović, Basketball - theory and methodics (Niš: mr Dragana Jovanović, 1999). 5 Basketball, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball (found 04.03.2017).

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Chase. The first public game was played in Springfield a month later (January 20th, 1892)6. Female students of the first and the second year of Smith College played the first women's match on March 21st 1893, while in 1896 the first female match between Stanford and Berkeley Universities was played7.

The spread of basketball outside the US was firstly recorded in France in 1893. Followed by England in the same year, and gradually but assuredly it kept expanding over the Old continent. At the same time, it appeared in Asia (China, 1894) and South America (Puerto Rico, 1902). In 1932, FIBA was founded and three years later, by the decision of the IOC basketball was introduced as an Olympic sport and included in the program of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

This paper will analyze the historical events related to the occurrence of basketball in Serbia, its development, and taking of a position as one of the most successful sports in this region.

ТHEORETICAL BASIS

The aim of scientific research in this study is to provide objective and impartial evaluation of the results and research data. During the preparation of this paper, a combination of different scientific methods and research techniques was used. Their choice is determined by the selected theme of the paper, as well as relevant research goals. Collection of data that were relevant for the work was carried out using descriptive-explicatory method, historical method, the method of theoretical analysis and analytical-interpretative method.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Basketball in Serbia until 1945.

Like most novelties that have arrived to Serbia throughout history, the appearance of basketball was linked to the capital city. Historical sources indicate that there are different opinions about the moment of the encounter with the new game. It is claimed that this

6 History of basketball, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_basketball (found 04.03.2017). 7 Women’s basketball, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_basketball (found 04.03.2017).

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happened between 1922 and 1924 (19228; 19239; 192410). However, the largest number of sources indicates that it was at the end of September and the beginning of October of 1923, which is accepted by Serbian Basketball Association as the historic moment of appearance of basketball in Serbia11. On the other hand, all sources indicate that the appearance of basketball in Serbia was undoubtedly linked to professor William Weiland, the American emissary of the Red Cross he visited Serbia to give lectures on children's games, which included basketball. Participants of the courses that Weiland held in several cities of former Yugoslavia, were physical education teachers, elementary school teachers, teachers of gymnastics and sokol and scout leaders12.

The new game quickly found its way into the Second Gymnasium For Boys in Belgrade where the school championship was organized with the approval of its principal 13 . However the initial enthusiasm did not last long; there were some difficulties in the following efforts to organize school championships in other schools, primarily due to the lack of financial resources for purchasing the equipment and to the rigid school curriculums which did not stipulate the time or place for this activity.

In 1924, the first basketball rules titled “Basket-Ball“ were published in Belgrade14. In the spring of 1924, William Weiland also

8M. Sokolović, Everything about basketball (Gornji Milanovac: NIP „Children Gazette“, 1975). (according to Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013)). 9 M. Kobali, Basketball (Zagreb: Sports specialist library, Croatian Sports Federation, 1957). (according to Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former

Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013)). 10M. Jokić, Stanković smile on seven languages (Belgrade: self-published by the author, 2004). (according to Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former

Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013)). 11 History of basketball, http://www.kss.rs/istorijat/istorija-kosarke/istorija-kosarke/ (found 28.02.2017). 12 Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until

May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013). 13 Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, The beginnings of basketball in former Yugoslavia until 1930 (the paper presented at the Fifth European and Second Serbian Congress „Competence of teachers of physical education at XXI century, Niš, Serbia, 2009). 14 Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013, 2013).

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presented basketball in Novi Sad, where the first basketball game took place on May 17th. In 1925, basketball began to be played in Niš, from time to time, as confirmed by Zdenko Pavić, member of the Sokol Association of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, who, while taking a trip through this city, saw the pillar with the attached basket. This observation was confirmed by the list of basketball equipment that William Weiland was sending to towns in Serbia, including Niš. A while later, in 1939, the appearance of basketball was also recorded in Sokol clubs in Petrovrgrad, now Zrenjanin15.

However, despite the fact that organizing of basketball championships in schools did not last for long, the Belgrade high school graduates went on playing this game within the sections of Belgrade sports associations, which later gave birth to the first basketball clubs16. It is believed that several basketball teams were established in Belgrade before World War II: BASK (Belgrade academic sport club), Yugoslavia, BSK (Belgrade sport club) etc., and is assumed that the first-mentioned section was SK Soko founded in 1927. These states were found in the sports journal Sportsman

17. A mоre intensive development of basketball in Belgrade was

restarted in 1935. Baskets were mounted in many schools and since there were no adequate balls, basketball was played with balls for volleyball and football. The school and the interschool competitions were oganized. Along with the students from Belgrade schools prosperity of basketball was also supported by members of the Sokol clubs who organized special sections for the new game 18 . Sokol movement in Serbia appeared in Belgrade in 1892, when gymnastics society got its new name Soko

19. From that moment Sokol movement assisted in the development of many sports in Serbia by organizing special sections within their clubs.

15 Ibid. 16 Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, The beginnings of basketball in former Yugoslavia until 1930 (the paper presented at the Fifth European and Second Serbian Congress „Competence of teachers of physical education at XXI century, Niš, Serbia, 2009). 17 Basket-ball, Sportsman, 340, 3 1927. (according to Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013). 18 Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013). 19 Žarko Dimić, Zoran Milošević & Velimir Šešum, „Establishment of Serbian Soko in Sremski Karlovci in 1904“. Physical education and sport through the centuries, 1, 2 (2014): 24.

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The person most merited for the development and improvement of basketball in Belgrade until World War II was Zdenko Pavić, the head for competitive games at the district office of the Sokol Association, who advocated for basketball through SOKO and school sports. He was the chief organizer of the basketball tournament for high school students in Belgrade in the second half of the 1930s. He formed a basketball team within Belgrade Soko X, translated the basketball rules and worked on the construction of basketball courts and baskets20.

In 1936, at the initiative of the Sokol Association of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, with Serbia being a part of the Kingdom, а written request for membership to the International Basketball Federation was sent and the affirmative answer was obtained21.

In the summer of 1938, a decision was made at the Ministry of Physical Education and the Ministry of Education about organizing a one-year Course for education of teachers of physical education. The curriculum included the subject named Games within which basketball was also studied22.

In the Yugoslav sports and aviation journal Marijan Maržan announced the first public women's basketball game played on December 8th 1940 in Belgrade between students of physical education school in Belgrade and members of Sokol club Beograd-Matica. The match was organized as a prelude to men's teams23.

It was noted that the first basketball competition in the former Yugoslavia was organized within the Sokol rally. The first competition of the kind took place in Skopje in June 193724 with the participation of three teams: Belgrade Х, Загреб II, and Sokol club Štip. It is not known

20 History of basketball, http://www.kss.rs/istorijat/istorija-kosarke/istorija-kosarke/ (found 28.02.2017). 21 Petar D. Pavlović, Slobodan Simović, Zrinko Grgić & Kristina Pantelić, „International basketball activity in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia“, Sport science, 3, 1 (2010): 95-102. 22 Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until

May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013). 23 Marijan Maržan, „Basketball match in Belgrade“, Yugoslav sports and aviation, 2, (1941): 38. (according to Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013)). 24 Slobodan Simović, Petar D. Pavlović, Zrinko Grgić & Kristina Pantelić, „The first basketball competitions in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia“, Facta Universitatis, 8, 2 (2010): 149-161.

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for sure who the winner was, Загреб II or Štip. Female competition was also planned, but it was not held25.

The next championship took place at the All-Sokol rally in Borovo in September 1940. Both men's and women's teams competed in different age groups with the participation of seven Sokol parishes: Belgrade, Karlovac, Osijek, Petrovgrad, Sarajevo, Sušak and Zagreb. Zagreb won in the oldest men group, while Yugoslav champion in women's competition was Belgrade

26.

The years of war (1941–1945)

The whirlwind of World War II, only briefly interrupted most of social activities in Serbia. As soon as it was possible the population again began to lead a normal life and went on, among other things, going in for sports, including basketball. That time is mainly evidenced by memoirs and journalistic material. Nebojša Popović claimed that basketball was intensely played in Belgrade during the war and that there were seven or eight active teams (SK 1913, BASK, BSK, Obilić,Mitić, BTK - Belgrade tennis club, BOB - Belgrade tennis club at

Kalemegdan, National service etc). Basketball was played both by the pre-war players and by school youth27.

It was mentioned that dr. Bata Vulović, a member of the Belgrade tennis club, was responsible for the revival of basketball during the occupation, he provided one of the tennis courts for the purpose of playing basketball and participated in organizing the matches. Since the occupation authorities banned the activities of the Soko the athletes from the Sokol clubs moved to sport clubs where they played in different sections. The number of sport clubs and sections was increasing, and besides the already mentioned ones, the following clubs were also formed: SASK (High school amateur sport club), Bankarac, Refugees, Omladinac, Matica, Dušanovac, SK Serbia etc. All the clubs in then Belgrade had very good players, and the matches, which were usually played at Tašmajdan, Kalemegdan and SK 1913 court (today it is the Red Star Stadium – Rajko Mitić), were very interesting28.

25 Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013). 26 Ibid. 27 Ibid. 28 Ibid.

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Photo: BTK playground Beograd, Tašmajda; July 10th 1943; penalties against BTK (29:17)

player Ivan Dimic-the Swiss; player of SK 191329

СК 1913 (SК Yugoslavia before the war), among all other clubs in Belgrade, had the most important role in developing and spreading basketball not only in the capital, but in the whole country as well. This club was the engine of development of the new game which provided support to other collectives in forming their own basketball sections, both in male and female competitions. Aleksandar Petrović regarded that in that time training in SK 1913 was very serious, as evidenced by the number of great players (Nebojša Popović, Vasa Stojković, Bata Aksentijević, Mija Stefanović etc)30.

On September 27th and 28th 1941, the first championship in occupied Belgrade was organized with the participation of seven teams, five male (Matica, Omladinac, SASK, Refugees and Yugoslavia) and two female (Yugoslavia and the other was unbooked). SK Yugoslavia

accepted the organization (later СК 1913), whereas the winner of the competition was Маtica

31 . The establishment of the Serbian Associations of basketball and volleyball was agreed as well. The president of the Association was Svetislav Bata Vulović, a former

29 Ibid. 30 Aleksandar Petrović, interview of Stanislav Paunić, June 18th 1979. (according to Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013)). 31 Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013).

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student of the William Weiland course of 1923. The Association worked on spreading basketball on the whole territory of Serbia, and participated in organizing of competitions, making rules and training new referees. In less than a year Association had 23 clubs, and in this period, basketball and volleyball games were watched by 15.000 people in total32.

During the occupation, apart from Belgrade championships, there were other competitions for trophies. The ones that should be mentioned are three-month competition for the BTK cup during 1942, then competition for the Dušan M. Simić cup of October 1942, tournament for BOB trophy of July 1943, and tournament for engineer Antić cup of September 194333.

During 1944, basketball activities were significantly reduced. According to Nebojša Popović, the reason was the imminent end of the war, the struggle for the liberation of Belgrade, and then the Srem front to which many of the young basketball players went34.

In the last year of World War II, in already liberated Belgrade, on March 4th 1945 the new youth sporting society Red Star was founded. The Society was formed from the remains of SК Yugoslavia (SК 1913

during the war), a part of it was a basketball section with men's and women's teams. Mira Petrović was appointed as the section chief. The basketball section had its headquarters in Mali Kalemegdan and played on the former tennis courts covered with red slag35.

Basketball was also played in other cities in Serbia which contributed to a lesser extent, but still significantly, to the spread of basketball in the country during the occupation. In Novi Sad, Subotica and Petrovgrad, high school competitions were organized within the so-called South Hungary

championship 36 . It was recorded that two basketball teams were formed in Šabac: SК 1913 - Šabac and the team which consisted of the Third group members of the National Service.

32 History of basketball, http://www.kss.rs/istorijat/istorija-kosarke/istorija-kosarke/ (found 28.02.2017). 33 Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013). 34 Slavo Stojković, Nebojša Popović - always the first (Belgrade: Basketball Association of Serbia and Montenegro, Basketball foundation, 2005). (according to Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013)). 35 The story about SD, http://sd-crvenazvezda.net/istorija/ (found 02.03.2017). 36 Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013).

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The same source stated that a basketball team was also formed in Niš37. Basketball was occasionally played in Kragujevac at female gymnasium court. In Prizren, the Italian soldiers occasionally organized matches38.

All events in the first 20 years of the appearance and development of basketball were only a prelude to the real expansion of the sport and the quality of the international results of both clubs and the national team after the Second World War.

Basketball in Serbia after World War II

The expansion of basketball in Serbia after World War II is virtually inseparable from its development in Yugoslavia, of which Serbia was one of the constitutional republics. The Serbian players and coaches had a major role in all national teams’ successes on the international scene; moreover, Serbian basketball federation was recognized by FIBA as a direct successor of the Basketball Federation of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) after its dissolution in 2006 and retained its place as a FIBA member.39 For that reason, basketball in Serbia cannot be analyzed separately from the history of this sport in the former federations.

The country emerged from the World War II with a series of issues regarding the development of basketball. Admittedly, it was fast-developing and had a large number of basketball enthusiasts and top-quality players; however, the overall infrastructure was poor, and basketball was still played on the outdoor courts.40 Furthermore, at that time, most of the players held a full-time job aside from their sporting commitments. Nevertheless, the country quickly rose through the ranks to establish itself as one of the world’s strongest basketball nations.

Immediately after the war, Serbian basketball players started participating in international matches. In 1945, the men’s and women’s selections representing Belgrade played against their counterparts from

37 The tournament in basketball and volleyball for the cup of BTK, New Time, May 16th, 1942, 5. (according to Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former

Yugoslavia until May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013)). 38 Slobodan S. Simović & Petar D. Pavlović, Basketball in the former Yugoslavia until

May 1945. (Banja Luka: University of Banja Luka, Faculty of physical education and sport, 2013). 39“PR no.22: Montenegro Becomes 213th FIBA Member,”FIBA, last modified August 28, 2006, http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/06_wcm/news/lateNews/FE_news_lateNews_arti.asp?newsID=16063. 40Duško Miletković, The fairy tale of Yugoslav men’s basketball (Raleigh: Lulu, 2015): 3.

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Sofia.41 The year 1946 marked the international debut of the women’s national team, which won the match against Romania at the 1st Balkan Championship in Bucharest.42 The men’s national teamentered the 1947 FIBA European Championship in Prague, Czechoslovakia; they lost both matches in Group B, taking the modest 13th place.43 Basketball Federation of Yugoslavia was founded in 1948. In 1950, the country went on to participate in the 1st World Championship for Men in Buenos Aires, Brazil; the team’s appearance was marked by an “unforgettable incident,” in which “Yugoslavia refused to face Franco’s Spain, a withdrawal which resulted in the Yugoslav team being suspended for nine months.”44

By the end of the 1950s, basketball attained popularity throughout the country. The future world-class stars were on the rise, including Radivoj Korać, Miodrag Nikolić, Nemanja Đurić, Slobodan Gordić, and others. The outstanding coach Aleksandar Nikolić, later known as the “father of the Yugoslavian basketball”, took over the national team in 1953. 45 In 1954, Belgrade was the location of the European Championship for Women, the first major international competition held in Serbia. Radomir Šaper and Borislav Stanković took an active part in the work of the Basketball Federation. While the men’s national team achieved modest resultsat the European and world championships, it “won the 1959 Mediterranean Games in Beirut and [was] placed sixth in the final standings of the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.”46 Meanwhile, the women’s selection won the fourth place at the 1959 World Championship in Moscow.47 It all resulted in the national teams slowly but surely becoming a veritable European basketball force.

In the 1960s, the national selections started accumulating medals from the major European and world basketball competitions. The 1961 European Championship in Belgrade “opened a new chapter in the

41 “History of Basketball,” Basketball Federation Serbia, accessed April 12, 2017, http://kss.rs/eng/history/history-of-basketball/history-of-basketball-1/. 42Duško Miletković, The fairy tale of Yugoslav men’s basketball (Raleigh: Lulu, 2015): 17. 43 “Yugoslavia,” FIBA Europe, accessed April 12, 2017, http://www.fibaeurope.com/pageID_t3,GEQbOIkAdkGjlGfs7J1.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_1947.roundID_2241.teamID_390.html 44 “FIBA – History: FIBA World Championships.” International Basketball Federation. Last modified May 15, 2006, http://www.fiba.com/downloads/event/2006_wcm/eng/pres/hist/flash_back.pdf 45 “Aleksandar ‘Aca’ Nikolic,” The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, accessed April 12, 2017, http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/aleksandar-nikolic/ 46 “History of Basketball,” Basketball Federation Serbia, accessed April 12, 2017, http://kss.rs/eng/history/history-of-basketball/history-of-basketball-1/. 47Duško Miletković, The fairy tale of Yugoslav men’s basketball (Raleigh: Lulu, 2015): 17.

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history” – the second place was “just the beginning in a series of medals to be won in the decades to come.”48 The men’s national team went on to win the third place (1963) and two more second places at the European championships (1965 and 1969); it also won two silver medals at the world championships (1963 and 1967). The only gold medal in the decade was won at the unofficial world championship held in Santiago, Chile, in 1966.49 In 1968, the men’s squad, helmed by Ranko Žeravica and led by Radivoj Korać, went on to claim its first Olympic silver (Mexico City); in the same year, the women’s selection, led by the masterly Marija Veger, won the second place at the European Championship in Messina, Italy. 50 The exceptional generation that greatly contributed to the popularity of basketball in the country reached its peak in 1970. At the 6th World Championship held in Ljubljana, cheered by “20.000 fanatical supporters” in the Tivoli hall, the national selection won its first official World Champion title, 51 whereas the women’s team claimed the bronze medal at the 1970 European Championship in Rotterdam.52

This period marked the rise of the popularity of basketball in Serbia. The national season 1967/68 was the first one held exclusively in the sports halls; since then, a large number of sporting centers emerged throughout the country. The international success of national teams and clubs, followed by the ever-popular TV broadcasts of basketball matches, was extremely important for promoting basketball and creating an even stronger player base.

Throughout the 1970s, the men’s national team dominated the world basketball scene. A number of brilliant young players, including Dragan Kićanović, Dražen Dalipagić, Zoran Slavnić, Dušan Ivković, Žarko Knežević, and others, went on to claim the European Championship title three times in a row (Barcelona, 1973; Belgrade, 1975; and Liege, 1977) and win the third place in 1979 (Turin).53 After

48 “History of Basketball,” Basketball Federation Serbia, accessed April 12, 2017, http://kss.rs/eng/history/history-of-basketball/history-of-basketball-1/. 49 Vladimir Stanković, “History: 50 years from the first gold,“ KOŠ Magazin, last modified April 30, 2016, http://kosmagazin.com/istorija-pedeset-godina-od-prvog-zlata/. 50Duško Miletković, The fairy tale of Yugoslav men’s basketball (Raleigh: Lulu, 2015): 17. 51 “FIBA – History: FIBA World Championships.” International Basketball Federation. Last modified May 15, 2006, http://www.fiba.com/downloads/event/2006_wcm/eng/pres/hist/flash_back.pdf 52“History of Women’s Basketball,” Basketball Federation Serbia, accessed April 12, 2017, http://kss.rs/eng/history/history-of-womens-basketball/. 53 “Yugoslavia,” FIBA Europe, accessed April 12, 2017, http://www.fibaeurope.com/pageID_t3,GEQbOIkAdkGjlGfs7J1.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_1947.roundID_2241.teamID_390.html

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winning the silver medal at the 1974 World Championship in Puerto Rico, the team reclaimed the gold at the 1978 World Championship in Philippines: “Using the brilliance of its trio Dražen Dalipagić, Dragan Kićanović and Krešimir Ćosić and a team which was more offensive than defensive, Yugoslavia finished the championship without having experienced a single defeat.”54 The national selection was successful at the Olympic Games as well: after claiming the modest fifth place in 1972 (Munich) and the silver in 1976 (Montreal), in 1980 (Moscow), the team won the first and only gold Olympic medal for Yugoslavia (including its successors) to date.55

This period marked the international success of all national selections and several basketball clubs. After claiming the silver medals at the European championships two times in a row (1978 and 1980), the women’s national team won the bronze medal in their Olympic debut (Moscow, 1980).56 Moreover, from 1966 to 1980, the junior and cadet national teams won twelve medals at the European championships, five of which were gold. 57 The club basketball also achieved significant success during the 1970s. The FIBA Korać Cup, the third-tier level European club competition, was established in the season 1971/72 in honor of the legendary Radivoj Korać, who was killed in 1969 in a car accident; in the first tournament for the famous “Žućko’s Left”, OKK Beograd (Belgrade) took the second place. In 1974, Crvena zvezda (Belgrade) won the European Cup of Cups, whereas Radnički (Belgrade) claimed the fourth place in the Cup of Champions. After reaching the semifinals of the Korać Cup in 1975, Partizan (Belgrade) went on to claim it three times in a row (1977–1979). In 1979, Crvena

zvezda women’s team won the title of the European Champion.58 The amazing generation of basketball players of the 1970s

continued winning the medals at the beginning of the next decade: they took the second place at the 1981 European Championship and the third place at the 1982 World Championship. However, the team disbanded after coming in the disappointing seventh place at the 1983 European Championship in France, leaving only several veterans, including Dražen Dalipagić, to add the much-needed experience to the emerging

54 “FIBA – History: FIBA World Championships.” International Basketball Federation. Last modified May 15, 2006, http://www.fiba.com/downloads/event/2006_wcm/eng/pres/hist/flash_back.pdf 55Duško Miletković, The fairy tale of Yugoslav men’s basketball (Raleigh: Lulu, 2015): 12. 56 Ibid. 57 Ibid. 58 “History of Basketball,” Basketball Federation Serbia, accessed April 12, 2017, http://kss.rs/eng/history/history-of-basketball/history-of-basketball-1/.

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golden generation of Yugoslavian players. The national selection won the bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic Games (Los Angeles) but once again came seventh at the 1985 European Championship. The year 1986 marked the debut of Vlade Divac for the national team, which reached the third place at the World Championship in Barcelona. A year later, a junior national selection helmed by Svetislav Pešić, which included talented youngsters such as Vlade Divac and Aleksandar Đorđević, won the 1987 World Championship for Junior Men in Bormio, Italia; the teenagers then joined the senior squad at the European Championship in Athens and claimed the bronze.59 In 1987, the women’s selection won the gold medal at the 1987 University Games in Zagreb and the silver at the European Championship in Cadiz, France.60 At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, both national teams won the silver medals.

During the next three years, the men’s basketball selection was the undisputed rulerof the European and world basketball scene. “The new golden era” started at the 1989 European Championship in Zagreb, where the squad claimed the gold “by winning all the games with a margin of 20 or more points in excess.”61 The team went on to win the 1990 World Championship in Buenos Aires and successfully defend the gold from Zagreb at the 1991 European Championship in Rome. The women’s squad, led by the brilliant Anđelija Arbutina, won the second places at the 1990 World Championship in Malaysia and the 1991 European Championship in Israel. 62 On the Serbian basketball club scene, Partizan won its third Korać Cup in 1989 and triumphed in the FIBA European League in 1992.

The incredible generation of basketball players, joined by the future world-class stars such as Predrag Danilović, Zoran Savić, Zoran Sretenović, and Žarko Paspalj, announced the “encounter of the century” between the American and the Yugoslavian “Dream Teams” at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.63 Unfortunately, the epic match never happened. SFRY collapsed in the early 1990s; its successor, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – a federation of Serbia and Montenegro – was banned from the Olympic Games.

59Duško Miletković, The fairy tale of Yugoslav men’s basketball (Raleigh: Lulu, 2015): 13. 60“History of Women’s Basketball,” Basketball Federation Serbia, accessed April 12, 2017, http://kss.rs/eng/history/history-of-womens-basketball/. 61“History of Basketball,” Basketball Federation Serbia, accessed April 12, 2017, http://kss.rs/eng/history/history-of-basketball/history-of-basketball-1/ 62“History of Women’s Basketball,” Basketball Federation Serbia, accessed April 12, 2017, http://kss.rs/eng/history/history-of-womens-basketball/. 63Ibid.

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After missing the 1992 Olympic Games, 1993 European Championship, and 1994 World Championship due to the sanctions imposed on the country, the new national team entered the 1995 European Championship in Athens. The “European Nightmare”, helmed by the masterly coaches Dušan Ivković and Željko Obradović, with stars such as Danilović, Divac, Đorđević, Savić, Sretenović, and Paspalj assisted by the talented youngsters such as Dejan Bodiroga, Dejan Tomašević, Saša Obradović, and Željko Rebrača, immediately reclaimed the European gold.64 The superior national squad went on to win the second place at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, 1997 and 2001 European Championship golds and 1999 European Championship bronze, as well as 1998 and 2002 World Championship golds. At the 2002 World Championship in Indianapolis, the team led by the inspired Dejan Bodiroga, Vlade Divac, Marko Jarić, Predrag Stojaković, and others, defeated the USA squad in the quarterfinals and went on to play – and win – “one of the most exciting games in the history of worldchampionships against Argentina.”65

Unfortunately, after that historical success, the national selections virtually dropped off the map. After failing to make the final stages at the 2004 Olympic Games, the men’s team did not qualify for the 2008 and 2012 tournaments; until 2009, there were no significant results at the European and world championships as well. Throughout the decade, the only results of the women’s squad worth mentioning were the fifth place at the 2001 World Championship in France and the second place at the 2005 University Games in Turkey.66

In 2007, the national selections appeared under the name Serbia. Dušan Ivković took over the men’s squad in 2008, assuming “the responsibility of putting together a new, talented, and prosperous team.”67 In the following years, it was clear that Serbia “had a team for the highest achievements;”68 however, the results were mixed. At the 2009 European Championship in Poland, the Serbian team, led by Miloš Teodosić, claimed the second place after losing the final match against Spain. After dropping out in the quarterfinals in 2011 and 2013, the squad finished fourth at the 2015 European Championship. Meanwhile,

64“History of Basketball,” Basketball Federation Serbia, accessed April 12, 2017, http://kss.rs/eng/history/history-of-basketball/history-of-basketball-1/. 65Ibid. 66“History of Women’s Basketball,” Basketball Federation Serbia, accessed April 12, 2017, http://kss.rs/eng/history/history-of-womens-basketball/. 67“History of Basketball,” Basketball Federation Serbia, accessed April 12, 2017, http://kss.rs/eng/history/history-of-basketball/history-of-basketball-1/. 68Ibid.

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after the fourth place at the 2010 World Championship in Turkey, the team won the silver medal at the 2014 World Championship in Spain. Another silver medal for the Serbian selection was claimed at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.69 The women’s squad, helmed by the brilliant coach Marina Maljković, claimed the fourth place at the 2013 European Championship in France and the gold medal at the 2015 European Championship in Hungary and Romania. The outstanding results were confirmed at the 2016 Olympic Games, where the team won the bronze.70

Judging by the achievements of Serbian national selections, the country is a veritable trove of basketball talents and world-class players. Moreover, the recent successes made Serbia one of the highest-ranking national teams according to the FIBA World Rankings: the men are ranked third out of 91 countries;71 the women are ninth out of 77;72 which puts the combined national selection at the reasonably high fourth place out of 132 countries, immediately after USA, Spain, and France.73 Both teams are scheduled to participate in the 2017 FIBA Euro Basket tournaments; furthermore, both are considered among favorites to win a medal. Cultivating new top-quality players of both genders and securing a future of the national selections is an ongoing and arduous process; however, according to the most recent results, Serbia has clearly reclaimed its rightful place as one of the leading nations in the world’s basketball.

69“ Sebia men’s national basketball team,“ Wikipedia, аccessedMay 02, 2017, https://sr.wikipedia.org/sr/Кошаркашка_репрезентација_Србије. 70“ Sebia women’s national basketball team,“ Wikipedia,аccessedMay 02, 2017, https://sr.wikipedia.org/sr/Женска_кошаркашка_репрезентација_Србије. 71“Ranking Men after Olympic Games: Tournament for Men (2016),” NIKE FIBA World

Ranking, last modified August 21, 2016, http://www.fiba.com/rankingmen 72“Ranking Women after Olympic Games: Tournament for Women (2016),” NIKE FIBA

World Ranking, last modified August 20, 2016, http://www.fiba.com/rankingwomen73“Ranking Men/Women combined after FIBA U18 European Championship (2016),” NIKE FIBA World Ranking, last modified December 22, 2016, http://www.fiba.com/rankingcombined

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Таble 1: Men's national basketball team on the international stage 74,75

gold silver bronze

EuroBasket

Spain 1973. SFRY76 1975. Belgium 1977. SFRY 1989. Italy 1991.

Greece 1995. Spain 1997.

Тurkey 2001.

SFRY 1961. USSR77 1965.

Italy 1969. West Germany 1971.

Czechoslovakia 1981.

Poland 2009.

Poland 1963. Italy 1979.

Greece 1987. France 1999.

World Cup

SFRY 1970. Philippines

1978. Аrgentinа

1990. Greece 1998. USA 2002.

Rio de Janeiro 1963. Uruguay 1967.

Puerto Rico 1974. Spain 2014.

Colombia 1982. Spain 1986.

Olympic Games Моscow 1980.

Mexico City 1968. Montreal1976.

Seoul 1988. Atlanta 1996.

Rio de Janeiro 2016.

Los Angeles 1984.

Photo: Dejan Bodiroga and Predrag Stojaković

World Champions in Indianapolis 2002

74 Serbia men’s national basketball team, https://sr.wikipedia.org/sr-el/Košarkaška_reprezentacija_Srbije (found 29.11.2016). 75 Yugoslavia men’s national basketball team, https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Košarkaška_reprezentacija_Jugoslavije (found 29. 11. 2016). 76 Socialistic Federativ Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRJ). 77 Soviet Union (SSSR).

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Таble 2: Women's national basketball team on the international stage 78,79

gold silver bronze

Euro Basket Hungary and Romania 2015.

Italy 1968. Poland 1978. Spain 1987. Israel 1991.

Holland 1970. SFRY 1980.

World Cup / Malaysia 1990. /

Olympic Games / Seoul 1988.

Моscow 1980. Rio de Janeiro

2016.

Таble 3: Total eurocups in men’s club competitions80,81,82

Euroleague FIBA SaportaCup

FIBA Korać Cup

Partizan Belgrade 1991/92. /

1977/78; 1978/79; 1988/89.

Red Star Belgrade / 1973/74. /

Таble 4: Total eurocups in women’s club competitions 83

Euroleague

Red Star Belgrade 1978/79

78 Yugoslavia women’s national basketball team, https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ženska_košarkaška_reprezentacija_Jugoslavije (found 29. 11. 2016). 79 Serbia women’s national basketball team, https://sr.wikipedia.org/wikiŽenska_košarkaška_reprezentacija_Srbije (found 29. 11. 2016). 80 ULEB Euroliga, https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/ULEB_Euroliga (found 29.11.2016). 81 FIBA Saporta Cup, https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kup_Raymonda_Saporte (found 29.11.2016). 82 FIBA Korać Cup, https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kup_Radivoja_Koraća (found 29.11.2016). 83 FIBA Euroliga za žene, https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIBA_Euroliga_za_žene (преузето 29.11.2016).

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CONCLUSION

Serbia was, and is, a veritable hotbed of talent in team sports. Skills in ball games and perennial top results in international competitions provoke jealousy in a much larger and richer sports nations. One of these, 'small', indoor sports, which is extremely rich in medals, is basketball as well.

The genuine explosion of enthusiasm among supporters occurred after the first gold for the men's national team won at the 1970 World Cup in Ljubljana. However, that moment was only the culmination of a hard and long-term work which started in the 1920s, and continued intensively after World War II in Belgrade with the efforts of a group of enthusiasts and basketball pioneers led by Nebojša Popović, Aleksandar Nikolić, Bora Stanković and Radomir Šaper. This process laid the foundations of what is now known worldwide as the Serbian basketball school. At major competitions, which preceded almost a decade before the first gold in Ljubljana, the national team usually won the second place. The first men’s gold together with very good results achieved by women’s national team opened the door to future successes that kept repeating.

Nowadays, primarily the results of men’s, and in the last few years of women’s national team, further strengthened the position of Serbia as one of the world's leading basketball nations. Nine titles of European (eight in male and one in female competition), five titles of World champions, one Olympic gold and many other medals in team competitions highly promoted basketball in the sports family of Serbia.

Regarding the clubs, the Serbian league was one of the best leagues in Europe, with clubs playing significant part in both male and female European competitions. In the last 20 years due to the sufficient funds available to the Serbian basketball clubs, much lower than those which are at the disposal of the European giants, their role in international competitions is not so great. For years, the honor of the Serbian basketball was defended by BC Partizan, who has lately been accompanied by Crvena zvezda with its regular appearances in the Euroleague.

The Serbian basketball school has developed a style of basketball for which only the American NBA stars have had the solution at the last two world competitions (2014 Basketball World Cup 84 and 2016

84 2014 FIBA Basketball World_Cup, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIBA_Basketball_World_Cup

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Olympic Games85). Apart from the national team and domestic clubs, the players themselves also contribute to the glory of Serbian basketball, with their playing roles in foreign clubs, both in European competitions and in the American NBA league.

However, in listing the names of our famous male and female basketball players, we should mention those who were the first to show their basketball talent: Radivoj Žućko Korać, Dražen Dalipagić, Dragan Kićanović, Zoran Moka Slavnić, Jasmina Perazić, Zorica Đurković, Sofija Pekić, Vukica Mitić and others. Then, a little bit younger generation like Žarko Paspalj, Vlade Divac, Anđelija Arbutina, Aleksandar Đorđević, Predrag Danilović, Dejan Bodiroga, Predrag Stojaković and the current generation of female Serbian basketball players: sisters Milica and Ana Dabović, Sonja Petrović and the basketball players: Miloš Teodosić, Bogdan Bogdanović, Nemanja Bjelica, Nikola Jokić and others.

Many of these have won not only European club competitions, but also thrilled the NBA basketball fans with their play. From Vlade Divac, the first Serbian basketball player who made a great career in America, over Predrag Stojaković, championship ring owner and one of the best three-point shooter in the history of NBA86, to Nikola Jokić, potentially big international basketball star in the years to come, who is signified as a representative of Serbian basketball style by American commentators 87 and Ana Dabović, a championship ring owner in WNBA.

Serbian basketball is not only famous for extraordinary male and female players but also for great basketball coaches. It all started with the father of Serbian basketball Nebojša Popović, followed by those who have won a great number of trophies, such as Aleksandar Aca Nikolić, Ranko Žeravica, Dušan Duda Ivković, Željko Obradović, Svetislav Pešić, Marina Maljković and Aleksandar Đorđević. These names confirm that the Serbian basketball is equally good at player squad as well as at the coaching one, which is a sufficient prerequisite for excellent results that have been already achieved, but also for those which are expected to be achieved in time to come.

85 Basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_–_Men's_tournament 86 List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Basketball_Association_career_3-point_scoring_leaders 87 Nikola Jokic Full Highlights 2017.03.04 vs Hornets - 31 Pts, 14 Rebs, 4 Assists!, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvD_f2oVlZs#t=142.705792 (2:18 sec).

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PHOTOS:

Photo: Serbia women's national basketball team

European champions and bronze medalists at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016

Photo: Serbia men's national basketball team

European vice-champions and silver medalists at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in

2016

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SLOVAKIA

BASKETBALL IN SLOVAKIA

Gustáv Argaj, PhD, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports,

Comenius University in Bratislava

Jaroslava Argajová, PhD, Faculty of Law, Comenius University in

Bratislava

Ľubor Tománek, PhD, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports,

Comenius University in Bratislava

Correspondence: Jaroslava Argajov

Comenius University in Bratislava jaroslava.argajova@gmail.com

The History of Basketball in Slovakia Area within Czechoslovakia

from 1918 to 1992

Slovak republic as an independent state came into existence in 1993. Therefore we introduce the history of basketball in Slovak area within Czechoslovakia in the period from 1918 to 1993 in the first part of our contribution.

After Czechoslovakia was proclaimed on 28th October 1918 there started the development not only of the new state in the area of now-a-days Slovakia, but also the development of its national economy, culture and physical education and sport movement. Football had predominated in sport activities, however other kinds of sports gradually started to get promoted, including basketball. According to Perútka (1967) an important role in the advancement of basketball was played by Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) and Young Women Christian Association (YWCA). According to historical sources, YMCA arrived in Czechoslovakia in 1918 alongside with the first transports of legionnaires coming back to the liberated homeland. Within the framework of missionary work, YMCA built old soldiers' homes and organized educational courses. In summer 1919, YMCA old soldiers'

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UDK 796.323.2 (437.6)

home in Žilina was the first one to organize an instructor course where under the guidance of J.A. Pípala and J.F. Machotka the participants were acquainted with American games, mainly basketball and volleyball (Nábělek 1975).The development of basketball was also aided by YMCA regular recurring summer training camp in Oravský Podzámok from where it spread to other towns. The first rules of basketball in Slovakia were published in 1921 by J. Kopal and F. M. Marek (Bažant and Závozda 2014). In December 1923 a new YMCA building was opened in Bratislava (Fig. 1) and the first basketball tournament was organized there a year later. Even though there still was not a gymnasium built, and therefore we are not sure which premises were used for playing (probably some bigger rooms), five teams participated (Viktorinová 1971).

Fig. 1: YMCA building in Bratislava in 1933 (source: personal ownership of Mr Gustáv

Herrmann)

According to Bratislava YMCA overview from this period there were 817 men and 1753 boys participating in basketball practise (YMCA in Bratislava, 1933). In 1927 the first gymnasium was completed in YMCA building at Karpatská Street in Bratislava where the first female team from a business school was created. They were led by J. Kopal who was the founder of Basketball in Bratislava and the YMCA secretary from 1922 to 1928. With the female basketball team “Sokol Bratislava IV” he won the title at Czechoslovakia Sokol Movement Championships in Prague (Machajdík 2003a). Thanks to the

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activities of the students of newly-opened Comenius University in Bratislava there was created “Academic YMCA” which built basketball courts in “Medická záhrada” (Medical Garden) and created a strong impulse for basketball development in Slovakia. As stated by historical sources, one of the first official games in Slovakia was played in Bratislava on 19th December 1931. The contestants were the teams “YMCA Bratislava” and “Sokol Brno - Královo Pole” (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2: “YMCA Bratislava” in dark game jerseys and “Sokol Brno - Královo Pole” in

light game jerseys (source: personal ownership Ivan Lukáč)

In Slovakia there did not exist an official association that would organize long-term championship competitions. Basketball was developing gradually and it was centralized in YMCA and YWCA centres. There originated teams and groups with romantic names: “Uncas”, “Cansas”, “Byrd”, “Albatros”, “King”, “Winetou”, “Amundsen”, “Mohykáni” (Mohicans), “Woodan”, “Yukon” or with more realistic names, such as “Vatra” (Bonfire), “Kamaráti” (Mates), “Blesk” (Lighting), “Hviezda” (Star), “Hej rup”(Yo-heave-ho). Basketball was also developing in “Sokol” and working-class gym clubs (Machajdík 2003b).

Basketball was successfully settled also in Banská Bystrica. In 1924, players of local YMCA became the Champions of Czechoslovakia at the “Game Championships” in Olomouc (Vasiľko 2004). In 1935

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“YMCA Bratislava” was organizing a basketball league. One of the participants of this league was team “Winnetou” which was founded by students of Realgymnasium (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3: Basketball team “Winnetou” (source: personal ownership of Mr Gustáv

Herrmann)

Team “Winnetou” won the leage in 1936/1937 and 1937/1938 season. In this period the player list included from left to right: back row - Semian, Karovič, team manager Skácelová, Bobocký, Herrmann, front row - Gross, Jedľovský, Lukáč (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4: Team “Winnetou” during 1936/1937 season (source: personal ownership of Mr

Gustáv Herrmann)

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The first preserved official score sheet recorded a competitive game of the basketball league which took place at YMCA gymnasium at Karpatská Street in Bratislava on 23rd of November 1935 (Fig. 5). Winnetou defeated King 7:4; first half-time score was 0:0. The players of 5-member winning team were Václav Vážny, Herrmann, Hrbáček, Ján Vážny and Václav Krása.

Fig. 5: The first official score sheet of a competitive basketball game in Slovakia (source:

personal ownership of Mr Gustáv Herrmann)

From 1938 to 1945 a lot of physical education organizations were terminated. Associations started to emerge, basketball groups turned to basketball clubs. The first Championships organized by new Volleyball and Basketball Association took place in 1941. The first title was claimed by “VŠ Bratislava” (Universities of Bratislava), in the years that followed by “ŠK Bratislava” (Sports Club Bratislava), formerly team “Winnetou”.

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International achievements of Slovak players

The first international basketball games were played by “ŠK Bratislava” under the leadership of Dr Chovan in Bulgaria and Romania in 1942. A year later the intercity tournament for men and women took place in Budapest (Riecky 1982).

European Championships in 1946 were a great success for Czechoslovak basketball players. Four players from Slovakia contributed to winning gold medals, namely Josef Křepela (best shooter), Miloš Bobocký, Ján Hluchý and Gustáv Herrmann (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6: The Champions of Europe 1946 Josef Křepela, Miloš Bobocký, Ján Hluchý

and Gustáv Herrmann (source: personal ownership of Mr Gustáv Herrmann)

Significant Slovak Functionaries within Czechoslovakia

The most significant personality of this period was PhDr. Gustáv Herrmann (16/3/1920 – 31/3/2010). He played in different teams such as “Winnetou”, “ŠK Bratislava”, “NV Bratislava”, “Slávia Bratislava”. He started his coaching career in the team “Náuka Bratislava” (1952) and later he coached the players of “Slávia Bratislava” and “Inter

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Bratislava”. He was successful also as a Czechoslovak national team coach at European Championships in 1957 where he and his team came third and in 1959 they came second. He was awarded the best coach of 20th century in Slovakia in 2000. As a basketball functionary he held important positions within basketball associations in Czechoslovakia, Slovakia and International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as well. During the Women´s World Championship he met with FIBA president Robert Busnel in Bratislava (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7: Gustáv Herrmann (on the left) and Robert Busnel (source: personal ownership of

Mr Gustáv Herrmann)

Within FIBA, Mr Herrmann cooperated with all the main functionaries, mostly with the long-time secretary general Borislav Stankovič (Fig. 8).

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Fig. 8: FIBA Functionaries: 1st row - Ursula Frank, GER, William Jones, GBR, Elisabeth

Huttary, GER, Robert Busnel, FRA; 2nd row - Miloslav Kriz, CZE, Raimundo Saporta,

ESP, Borislav Stankovic, SRB; 3rd row - Guido Canaletti, ITA, Aldo Vitale, Aurel

Predescu, ROU; 4th row - Rene Balieus, BEL, Kajetan Hadzelek, POL; 5th row - Leon

Wandel, BEL, Gustáv Hermann, SVK, Ferenc Hepp, HUN (source: personal ownership

of Mr Gustáv Herrmann)

Another significant Slovak functionary is Ing Ľubomír Kotleba (born 31st March 1946 in Bratislava). From 1975 to 1989 he was a FIBA official; he refereed WC, WE and he is a three times OG referee (Moscow, Los Angeles and Soul). Since 1989 he worked in FIBA Headquarters in Munich and in 1996 he became the Sports Director of FIBA. He held this function until 1st November 2014 (Fig. 9).

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Fig. 9: FIBA Sports Director Ľubomír Kotleba (Source: Ľubomír Kotleba: e-mail message

to author,

29 November 2016)

Achievements of Slovak Teams within Czechoslovakia Championships

(from 1918 to 1992)

From 1934 to 1993 there was a basketball Championship competition for both Slovakia and Czech Republic within Czechoslovakia. 1993 was the last year when the competition was played within the common state. First title for Slovakia in men´s category was won by “Iskra Svit” in 1961 (Fig. 10). Coach of the team was Pavol Antal. The picture shows: in the back row from the left - manager Strýček František, players Kočík Imrich, Setnička Zdeno, Lukášik Dušan, Vraniak Rudolf, Hrúz Kvetoslav; in the front row from the left - Brychta Vladislav, tréner Antal Pavol, Fabišík Jozef, Lukášik Boris, Vass Štefan, Lehotzký Ján.

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Fig. 10: Iskra Svit – Champions of Czechoslovakia in 1961 (source: personal ownership of

Mr Štefan Vass)

In women´s category Slovakia was able to win the Championships much later – in 1990. First team to claim the title was “Slávia PF Banská Bystrica” (Fig. 11). In the back row from the left: coach assistant P. Cuker, coach T. Klein, players M. Bédiová, M. Kalistová, E. Antalecová, B. Mečiarová, T. Golanová, D. Huťková, masseur P. Cvenga, front row – M. Klimentová, A. Slosiarová, Z. Halmaiová, V. Danišková, E. Dobrovičová, A. Janoštinová.

Fig. 11: Slávia PF Banská Bystrica – Champions of Czechoslovakia in 1990 (source:

personal ownership of Mr Tibor Vasiľko)

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The most successful men´s team in this period was “Inter Bratislava”, winning the championships four times (Fig. 12) and the second was “Baník Cígeľ Prievidza”. The most successful team in the women´s category was “SCP Ružomberok”, winning three titles of Czechoslovakia champions.

Fig. 12: Inter Bratislava – four-time Champions of Czechoslovakia (source: personal

ownership of Mr Stanislav Kropilák)

The overview of the champions of Czechoslovakia starts 1930, as that was the first year when the results of the competitions were recorded (Šimák 1985; Bažant and Zázvozda 2014). First men´s champion was the team “YMCA Praha” (YMCA Prague) in 1930 and “VBVS Praha” (VBVS Prague) in 1931 (Tab. 1). Table shows the champions of Czechoslovakia (men and women), Slovak teams are in bold.

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Tab. 1: Champions of Czechoslovakia from 1930 to 1992

YEAR MEN WOMEN

1930 1st YMCA Praha, 3rd YMCA Bratislava -

1931 YMCA Praha I VBVS Praha 1932 YMCA Praha I VBVS Praha 1933 YMCA Praha I VBVS Praha

1934 1. YMCA Praha I, 3. YMCABratislava VBVS Praha

1935 1. YMCA Praha, 2. YMCABratislava VBVS Praha

1936 YMCA Praha I VBVS Praha 1937 Uncas Praha Strakova akademie Praha 1938 Uncas Praha Strakova akademie Praha 1939 Sokol Královo Pole Strakova akademie Praha 1940 Sparta Praha Strakova akademie Praha 1941 Sokol Pražský Uncas Praha 1942 SK Žabovřesky Uncas Praha 1943 SK Žabovřesky Uncas Praha 1944 Uncas Praha Uncas Praha 1945 Uncas Praha Majstrovstvá sa nehrali

1946 1. Sokol Brno I, 2. VŠBratislava Železničiarky Hradec Králové

1947 1. Sokol Brno I, 3. VŠBratislava Železničiarky Hradec Králové

1948 1. Sokol Brno I, 2. VŠBratislava AC Sparta Praha

1949 Sokol Brno I Sparta Praha 1950 Sokol Brno I Bratrství Praha 1951 Zbrojovka Brno Žabovřesky Brno 1952 Pedagogická fakulta Brno Spartak ČKD Sokolovo 1953 Slavia Brno Spartak Praha Sokolovo

1954 1. ÚDA Praha, 3. SlovanBratislava Slovan Orbis Praha

1955 1. ÚDA Praha, 3. SláviaBratislava

1. Slavia PF Praha, 3. SlovanBratislava

1956 1. ÚDA Praha, 3. SláviaBratislava Slovan Orbis Praha

1957 Slovan Orbis Praha Slovan Orbis Praha

1958 1. Spartak Brno ZJŠ, 2.Slávia Bratislava

1. Spartak Sokolovo, 3.Lokomotíva Bratislava

1959 1. Slovan Orbis Praha, 2.Slávia Bratislava Slovan Orbis Praha

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1960 Spartak Sokolovo Slovan Orbis Praha 1961 Iskra Svit Slovan Orbis Praha

1962 1. Spartak Brno ZJŠ, 2. IskraSvit

1. Slovan Orbis Praha, 2.Lokomotíva Bratislava

1963 1. Spartak Brno ZJŠ, 3. IskraSvit Spartak Sokolovo

1964 Spartak Brno ZJŠ Slovan Orbis Praha

1965 1. Slavia VŠ Praha, 3. IskraSvit

1. Slovan Orbis Praha, 3.Lokomotíva Bratislava

1966 Slavia VŠ Praha 1. Sparta Praha, 3. LokomotívaBratislava

1967 Spartak Brno ZJŠ Sparta Praha 1968 Spartak Brno ZJŠ 1. Sparta Praha, 2. Lokomotíva

Bratislava 1969 Slavia VŠ Praha 1. Sparta Praha, Lokomotíva

Bratislava 1970 Slavia VŠ Praha 1. Slavia VŠ Praha, 3.

Lokomotíva Bratislava 1971 Slavia VŠ Praha Sparta Praha 1972 Slavia VŠ Praha 1. Sparta Praha, 3. Slovan

Bratislava 1973 Dukla Olomouc Slavia VŠ Praha 1974 Slavia VŠ Praha Sparta Praha 1975 Dukla Olomouc Sparta Praha 1976 Zbrojovka Brno 1. Sparta Praha, 3. Slovan

Bratislava 1977 1. Zbrojovka Brno, 3. Inter

Bratislava 1. Sparta Praha, 3. Slovan

Bratislava 1978 Zbrojovka Brno 1. Sparta Praha, 2. Lokomotíva

Košice 1979 Inter Bratislava 1. Sparta Praha, 2. Slovan

Bratislava 1980 Inter Bratislava Sparta Praha 1981 1. VŠ Praha, 2. Inter

Bratislava Sparta Praha

1982 1. VŠ Praha, 2. InterBratislava

1. VŠ Praha, 3. LokomotívaKošice

1983 Inter Bratislava VŠ Praha 1984 Zbrojovka Brno 1. VŠ Praha, 3. Slovan

Bratislava 1985 Inter Bratislava 1. VŠ Praha, 2. Slovan

Bratislava 1986 Zbrojovka Brno Sparta ČKD Praha 1987 Zbrojovka Brno Sparta ČKD Praha 1988 1. Zbrojovka Brno, 2. Inter 1. VŠ Praha, 2. Slávia PF

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Bratislava Banská Bystrica 1989 Baník Cígeľ Prievidza 1. VŠ Praha, 2. Slávia PF

Banská Bystrica 1990 Zbrojovka Brno Slávia PF Banská Bystrica 1991 VŠ Praha SCP Ružomberok 1992 1. USK Praha, 2. Baník

Cígeľ Prievidza SCP Ružomberok

1993 Baník Cígeľ Prievidza SCP Ružomberok

History of Basketball in Slovakia from 1993 to 2016 (Period of

Independent Slovak Republic)

An important moment of basketball development in Slovakia was the formation of Slovak Basketball Association (SBA) on 17 February 1990; the first president was Ján Hluchý. After the establishment of Slovakia as an independent republic, national teams have been participating in international competitions. Slovakia has been successful mainly in women´s categories. Tab. 2 shows the placing of Slovakia women´s national team at Olympic Games, (OG), World Cup (WC) and European Cup (EC). Table shows only the years in which Slovakia national team qualified.

Tab. 2: Results of Slovakia (Women)at the OG, WC and EC

WOMEN Year, Location, SVK Placing OG 2000 - Sydney (SVK 7th) WC 1994 - Australia (SVK 5th), 1998 - Germany (SVK 8th)

EC

1993 - Italy (SVK 3rd), 1995 - Czech rep. (SVK 4th), 1997 - Hungary (SVK 2nd), 1999 - Poland (SVK 4th), 2001 - France (SVK 8th), 2003 - Greece (SVK 7th), 2009 - Latvia (SVK 8th), 2011 - Poland (SVK 13th), 2013 - France (SVK 11th), 2015 - Hungary (SVK 9th)

When it comes to basketball clubs, the most successful one has been “SCP Ružomberok”. Players of this women´s club won FIBA Euro League in 1999 and 2000 which has been the most valuable club trophy

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in female category. In 1999 they defeated Italian team Societa Ginnastica 63:48 and in 2000 they beat French CMJ Bourges Basket 67:64 (Fig. 13).

Fig. 13: “SCP Ružomberok” after victory in 1999 (source: personal ownership of Mr

Jozef Svobodník)

Later on, women´s club “Good Angels Košice” carried on the success of “SCP Ružomberok” when they set a European league record in attendance. On 18th December 2013 there were 8597 spectators to witness the game Good Angels Košice – Tango Bourges in the town of Košice (Fig. 14).

Fig. 14: Košice, “Steel aréna” (Steel arena), 8 597 spectators (source: Biznis a šport

2013)

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A part of the history of basketball in Slovakia is awarding the best individuals and teams. The largest survey so far has been the voting of best male and female player and the best male and female coach of the 20th century. Stanislav Kropilák was awarded the best player and Anna Kotočová was awarded the best female player (Fig. 15), Gustáv Herrmann became the best coach and Natália Hejková became the best female coach (Fig. 16).

Fig. 15: Best players of 20th century in Slovakia: Stanislav Kropilák and Anna Kotočová

(source: personal ownership of Mr Stanislav Kropilák and Mr Tibor Vasiľko)

Fig. 16: Best coaches of 20th century in Slovakia: Natália Hejková and Gustáv (source:

personal ownership of Mr. Jozef Svobodník and Mr Gustáv Herrmann)

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Since 1993 there have been organized national competitions in all categories in Slovakia. The overview of men´s and women´s champions from 1993 to 2016 is in Tab. 3.

Tab. 3: Champions of Slovakia in men´s and women´s categories from 1993 to 2016

YEAR MEN WOMEN 1993 BK Davay Pezinok SCP Ružomberok 1994 BC Prievidza SIPOX Ružomberok 1995 BC Prievidza SIPOX Ružomberok

1996 BK Inter Slovnaft Bratislava MŠK SIPOX Ružomberok

1997 BK Slovakofarma Pezinok SCP Ružomberok 1998 BK Slovakofarma Pezinok SCP Ružomberok 1999 BK Slovakofarma Pezinok SCP Ružomberok 2000 BK Slovakofarma Pezinok SCP Ružomberok 2001 BK Slovakofarma Pezinok SCP Ružomberok 2002 BK Slovakofarma Pezinok SCP Ružomberok 2003 BK Chemosvit Svit SCP Ružomberok 2004 E.S.O. Lučenec Delta I.C.P. Košice 2005 K CERO SPU Nitra Delta I.C.P. Košice 2006 E.S.O. Lučenec K CERO I.C.P. Košice 2007 Slávia TU Košice K CERO VODS Košice 2008 BC Skanska Pezinok KOSIT 2013 Košice 2009 BK AX SPU Nitra Maxima Broker Košice 2010 AB Cosmetics Pezinok Dobrí anjeli Košice 2011 BK Astrum Levice Dobrí anjeli Košice 2012 BC Prievidza Good Angels Košice 2013 BK Inter Incheba Bratislava Good Angels Košice 2014 BK Inter Incheba Bratislava Good Angels Košice 2015 MBK Rieker Com Therm

Komárno Good Angels Košice

2016 BC Prievidza Good Angels Košice

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REFERENCES

Bažant, Jakub. and Jiří Závozda. 2014. Nebáli se své odvahy. Prague: Nakladatelství Olympia.

Biznis a šport. 2013. “Good Angels pred vypredanou Steel arénou vyzve na súboj Bourges.” Accesed 20 January 2017. http://www.biznisasport.sk/2013/12/good-angels-pred-vypredanou-steel-arenou-vyzve-na-suboj-bourges/

Machajdík, Igor. 2003a. “Na prvý basketbalový zápas žien sa muži pozerať nesmeli.” SME príloha Bratislava, p. 4. Accessed 3 July 2003. http://www.bratislava.sme.sk

Machajdík, Igor. 2003b. “Novú skupinu pomenovali podľa náčelníka Winnetoua.” SME príloha Bratislava, p. 4. Accessed: 20 June 2003. http://www.bratislava.sme.sk

Nábělek, M. 1975. “História basketbalu v Banskej Bystrici od roku 1919 do roku 1939.” Diploma thesis. Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport.

Perútka, Jaromír et al. 1967. Športy na Slovensku. Bratislava: Šport.

Riecky, Alexander. 1982. “Vznik a vývoj basketbalu.” In: Riecky, A. et al. 1982. Basketbal : učebné texty pre školenie trénerov III. triedy. Bratislava : Šport, 1982. s. 6-12.

Šimák, Pavel. 1985. Historie Československého basketbalu v číslech (1932 - 1985). Prague: Basketbalový svaz ÚV ČSTV.

Vasiľko, Tibor. 2004. História basketbalu (1923 - 2003) z pohľadu Banskej Bystrice. Banská Bystrica: Magenta.

Viktorinová, Oľga. 1971. “História basketbalu v Bratislave od založenia do roku 1945.” Diploma thesis, Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport.

YMCA v Bratislave 1923 – 1933 (brochure), 1933. Bratislava: YMCA.

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SPAIN

HISTORY OF EUROPEAN BASKETBALL CONTEMPORARY EVOLUTION IN SPAIN AND

CATALONIA

Josep Solà i Santesmases FPCEE Blanquerna (Universitat Ramon

Llull, Barcelona), SAFE (Research Group on Health, Physical

Activity and Sport )

Enric Mª Sebastiani i Obrador FPCEE Blanquerna (Universitat

Ramon Llull, Barcelona), GRIES (Research and Innovation

Group on Sport and Society)

Correspondence: Josep Solà i Santesmases

josepss@blanquerna.edu Enric Mª Sebastiani i Obrador enricmariaso@blanquerna.edu

Introduction: remembering the origin of basketball

The 125th anniversary of the first simple regulations of basketball has recently been celebrated. It all started on December 1881. The history of modern basketball forefather, known as it may be, does not cease to surprise when it comes to revising it. Luther Gulick, headmaster of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), today Springfield College, was worried about the lack of motivation of students toward sport during hard winters in Massachusetts (EUA). He entrusted P.E. Teacher James Naismith with the invention of some new game which could be played indoors. The aim of the new sport was to throw a ball into the two peach baskets that the janitor used to keep in the storehouse. Teacher Naismith hung them from a ten feet high bar – Height which has been maintained until present times. The first official

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UDK 796.323.2 (091)UDK 796.323.2 (460)

basketball match was played in the aforesaid institution on January 1882:

“ YMCA was the first institution to put forward

systematic training and team gaming as methods to take

profit of idle time of poor town children and instil

hygiene habits, self-discipline and respect to superiors.

Basketball was specially thought by a higher-up of

YMCA in 1882 for the annual small tournaments which

were held in the indoor fields of YMCA gyms.”

(Mandel, 1986, p.197)

YMCA was founded in London in 1844 by George Williams of King’s College (Cambridge) and the female section (YWCA) in 1855. The main aim was the moral formation of deprived youngsters through religion and physical education. In 1851 the first American branches appeared, in Montreal (Canada) so to speak and later in Boston (EUA). As Bolós and Vilanou explain (2004) the first efforts were made among working class youth, but shifted increasingly to middle classes after the American Civil War (1861-1865) as sport began to grow in universities. Yet, modern basketball refers to precedents in history which go back to remote times. Olivera (1987) suggests two very different theories of the origins of basketball. The first and the best-known as well “...the

clearest primal precedent of modern basketball” (Olivera, 1987, p. 78), refers to the pre-Columbian game called Tlatchli in Aztec language, with roots in the Olmec civilization 3000 thousand years ago. It was a game with very changing regulations and a widespread area, due to the vast geographical extension where each civilization evolved. The problem with such theory is that recent articles suggest that Tlatchli was the forefather of team sports in general and not exclusively of basketball. In later publications (Olivera and Ticó, 1993) it is admitted the resemblance to football in China related to collective activities (2500 b. C), Japanese Kemari, ancient greek Episkeo, roman Harpastum orCalcio in medieval Florence. In that regard, the particular references by Bromberger (1995/2016) are well-known, as he connects the Meso-american activity of Tlatchli with modern football. The author justifies the existence of championships only in cultures based on people’s

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equality and when each citizen from the same social status is invited to take part:

“In the light of this, it is significant that competitive

sport took form in those societies built on the ideal of

democracy (ancient Greece, nineteenth-century

England) and where social competition and a charge in

hierarchical structures were conceivable. There could

be nothing more different from football, on the other

hand, than tlatchli, the ball game played by Aztecs

which has several formal similarities with today’s

sport” (Bromberger, 1995, p. 296).

The second theory put forward by Olivera is well known, too. The author mentions the bask game called caldero, which shepherds used to play in the Pyrenees. It consisted of digging a hole on the ground into which players had to throw stones in a parabolic way from a certain distance. According to such theory, the Basque migrants in the XVI th. Century to Canada could have taken the game to Terranova. Despite the unseemliness of the theory, it is worth mentioning that Teacher Naismith, born in Ontario, Canada, created the new sport inspired by a game he had played as a child called duck-on-a-rock. It consisted, curiously, of hitting an object with stones placed on top of a rock. The accurate study of basketball regulation evolution based on the initial thirteen rules written by teacher Naismith, reflect North-American Puritanism- for instance, the public acknowledgement of personal foul. The magnificent revision by Bolós and Vilanou, (2004) highlight basketball as a synthesis of the industrial and mechanised society in which the sport was born. As the authors state “... it seems that

basketball was born as an alternative to football, which was rejected

from a pedagogical point of view in some educational circles of YMCA.

It was considered a violent, contact and injury-leading sport.” (Bolós and Vilanou, 2004, p. 36) According to the authors basketball replaces strength by ability-They remind us that the score depends on the difficulty posed by distance: one, two or three points- and, in this sense, the change of playing with your hands rather than with your feet is not haphazard.

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Dewey’s active pedagogy stresses manual activities in order to improve wrist accuracy, important skill in an increasing technological society. Furthermore, the thorough time monitoring is a metaphor for capitalism and a draw is not allowed: modern world needs either winners or losers. On the other hand, the game control through the air horn may echo the changing of working shifts in factories. The newest information sciences may be hinted behind the time breaks, when trainers instruct players.

Female basketball did not take long to appear as contact penalty among players fuelled its practice (Olivera and Ticó, 1993) In 1892 Senda Berenson adapted regulations to the new born female basketball and introduced it in a private institution, Smith College, Massachusetts, where she taught P.E. Since then, the development of female basketball has not stopped growing. A few years later, in 1899, the Formation of

Women’s Basketball Rules Committee was set up. The Berenson regulations were published by Spalding, firm which has been connected to this sport ever since. Nevertheless, female basketball as an Olympic sport is relatively new. It made its debut in the Olympic games of Montreal in 1976, teacher’s Naismith very homeland.

The development of basketball has been permeable to changes in American society. President Lincoln may have abolished slavery after the American Civil War (1861-1865), yet, Afro-American discrimination lived on well into the XX th Century (Vilanou and Turró, 2012). It was not until 1950, when the first afro-American, Charles Henry Cooper, was drafted to play in the National Basket Association, NBA. He was chosen in the second round by Boston Celtics. Curiously enough, Afro-American players adapted themselves fine to the sport expectations and since 1990 the percentage of Afro-American players in the NBA has been 75% (Lapchick and Guiao, 2015).

Basketball has been the only American sport which has been exported successfully. Baseball had indeed been an Olympic game, but only during short time, from 1992 to 2008. Furthermore, basketball has adapted itself to the urban reality, following post-modern sport trends. It is played in streets and squares (street ball). As Vilanova and Turró thoroughly explain, such factors have launched basketball toward modernization and globalization.

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Figure 1. Evolution stages (Olivera and Ticó, 1993)

The classical books by Primo (1986a and 1986b) reassert the idea of basketball being the most worldwide diffused sport since its invention. Moreover, the well-known Italian trainer outlined the historical evolution of basketball in different stages according to tactical predominance of attack and defence which fostered further studies such as those by Olivera and Ticó (1993,table 1). Such evolution stages do not differentiate geographical areas, but the main technical and institutional facts for each period. Yet, Primo (1986a and 1986b) insists that: “European basketball has followed the same patterns as the sport

in the USA, albeit with considerable delay in relation to its technical,

tactical and strategic evolution.” (Primo, 1986a, p.17).

Arrival of basketball in Europe - Catalonia, cradle of Spanish

basketball

Basketball crossed over the ocean and arrived in Europe through two ways very agreed upon by bibliography: The educational and the military way. The first one is based on the multiple YMCA headquarters, where basketball was explained and exported as a new playful formation; following Olivera and Ticó (1993), such educational

Evolution Stages Rule, tactics and technical evolution Origins of basketball (1891-1915)

Structuring the game: looking for a club (1891-1913)

Game development (1915-1930) Institutionalising process (1930-1945)

Defence surpasses attack (1914-1945)

International consolidation (1945-75)

Attack surpasses defence (1945-1960) Aggressive / surprise defences (1960-75)

Basketball as a show (1975- Balance attack / defence (1977-

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path was to be reinforced by exhibitions that Naismith’s disciples offered in different European capital cities. However, the military way seems to have been the most relevant when it comes to justifying the arrival of basketball in the old continent. In the same way as the American soldiers who invaded Cuba (1905) introduced basketball in that island, the presence of American troops in Europe during First World War (1914-1918) made it possible for basketball to be introduced. Actually, American troops did not take part in the conflict until 1917, but it was enough time to spread the sport, which was played by soldiers during trench lull. The military way has been reasserted by Bolós and Vilanou (2004), and by Vilanou and Turró (2012). They state that from all American-born sports, basketball has been the one with the highest rate of followers since its arrival with the American troops during First World War:

“It is true that such arrival has sometimes been mocked

showing the shallow aspects of the American presence,

such as the chewing-gum, jazz and Charleston. It is no

to be omitted that American soldiers practiced sports

such as basketball and volleyball, which appeared in

the end of nineteenth century in the YMCA college

atmosphere…” (Vilanova and Turró, 2012, p. 230).

When peace arrived, the first country to introduce basketball teams was France, because it was the nation where American troops had been stationed the longest. (Olivera, 1987). Since then the brisk widespread throughout different countries (Belgium, Switzerland, England, Sweden…) was a fact.

There is no doubt nowadays that in Spain, basketball was first played in Catalonia. The recent paper published by Torrabadella and Ticó (2016) singles out Catalonia as being the cradle of Spanish basketball. It is not about harping on the habitual old bickering between both territories, but being truthful to the specialised biography. Catalan basketball has pedagogical roots, similar to the American YMCA. As Puyaltó explains (2008), basketball in Catalonia set in the context of renewal pedagogical movement that Escola Nova (New school) was leading at the beginning of XXth. Century. Its aims were the country’s

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modernization and regeneration through citizens’ personal growth. Escola Nova intended to break the passivity of traditional education and the lack of freedom and personal initiative. It proposed the building of new schools that could allow the full development of students’ potential. In this sense Escola Nova strengthened leisure areas and more practical, closer to reality classes, the discovery of nature and physical education. It is in such a context that teacher Eladi Homs, awarded a scholarship given by Barcelona town hall, travelled to Chicago between 1907-1910 in order to study the American school system. When Homs came back to be in charge of Escola de Mestres (School for teachers), he had already discovered the importance of physical education and sports (basketball, for instance) for youth’s well-rounded education.

Different Catalan schools developed pedagogical renewal projects in those days. Homs’ new post enabled him to enrich local initiatives with his American experience. Among such educational centres, Escola Vallparadis from Terrassa stands out, ran by Alexandre Galí and where the recognised Artur Martorell worked as a teacher. As Puyaltó states: “the discovery of basketball by Artur Martorell brought

about the first matches and exhibitions from which there is actual

evidence: in Vallparadis school, Terrassa.” (Puyaltó and Navarro, 2000 p.31) Some writings by Artur Martorell offer biographical references of basketball practice in such school at the beginning of 1913. Therefore, the pedagogical side of basketball appeared before the competitive institutionalized aspect.

The beginnings of basketball competition in Catalonia date from 1922. The first Catalan club was founded this year, Laietà Basket. The first official basketball match that we have evidence for was also played in 1922: Laietà Basketball vs. Europa, December, 8th. (Ticó and Torrebadella, 2016; Puyaltó and Navarro, 2000). It is yet of paramount importance to point out that the first matches and championships were fostered by Piarist father Eusebio Millán in the education field one year before. He introduced the practising of the sport in the Piarist School Sant Antoni in Barcelona. Father Millán knew basketball as a missionary in Cuba (1911-1921). His personality is very important in the development of basketball in Catalonia as well as in Spain. However, he has been considered erroneously the pioneer of basketball: “Father

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Eusebio Millán Alonso (1886-1956) is generally considered the founder

of basketball in Spain, in the Piarist School of Sant Antoni, Barcelona in

1921-1922)…” However, as mentioned above, “the first news of

basketball in Spain appeared at the end of XIX th. Beginning of XX th.

Century” (Ticó and Torrebadella, 2016, p.178). Millán’s influence takes us back to the first team that was officially founded, because the C.E. Laietà was just a group of former students belonging to the Piarist schools. Moreover, Father Millán took part in the statutory commission so as to set up the Basketball National Federation in 1923. It was headquartered in Barcelona and had the aim of representing Spain as a whole. Such new-born federation, gave way eventually to the Federació

Catalana de Bàsquet (Catalan basketball Federation), sanctioned by the Authorities in 1925 (Puyaltó and Navarro, 2000)

The first Catalan championship was held in April 1923. Eight teams took part and it was acknowledged as the first all-Spain nationwide championship. It is worth to remember here that La Patrie, the team from Escoles Franceses (French School), was the winner. Its players were trained by Emile Tiberghien, P.E. teacher. He is an outstanding figure as he was the founder of the gym where Sociedad Deportiva Patrie took shape, one of the institutions that promoted Catalan basketball at its most in the 1920s. (Ticó and Torrebadella, 2016). Furthermore, the gym was the heir of the first gyms that pioneered the sport in Barcelona city at the beginning of the XXth. Century. (We have evidence of those belonging to Francisco Solé, Jaime Garcia Alsina and Fidel Bricall). One of the key moments in the development of institutional basketball was the first international match played by the Catalan selection against the Hindú Club from Buenos Aires on March 25th 1927 (Fundació del Basquet Català, 2007) It was a decisive moment because the first international event forced the Federació Catalana (Catalan federation) to change some rules: adjusting field measures and forming five-player teams instead of the former seven-player ones. (Puyaltó and Navarro, 2000)

The Catalan Championship grew in terms of participants and organization every season. A big effort was made in 1929, taking advantage of the International Exhibition held in Barcelona in order to make basketball notorious. Thus, some exhibition tournaments were

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played. Red tape problems had to be solved with the newborn national federation and the most important match was finally played. It was against Ambrosiana from Milan, on December 8th 1929, the same day and month of the first official match seven years before) There were also female documented matches, but they were organized apart from the federation. The North-American presence in Barcelona is to be stressed on this lines, probably to force the country’s democratization, then under general Primo de Rivera’s military and authoritarian rule:

“…we think it is not by chance that USA Navy anchored

in Barcelona harbour in 1929 during the International

Exhibition, event that promoted sport, and not only

Athletics and swimming with the building of the Stadium

and the Montjuïc pools, but also basketball. With the

visit of foreign teams (such as Ambrosiana from Milan),

which brought new technics and tactics.” (Vilanou and Turró, 2012, p.240)

International meetings took place after that historical event and strengthened the consolidation of institutional basketball. Club de Futbol Barcelona created its own basketball section in 1926. La Penya, Spirit of Badalona, the core of today’s Club Joventut Badalona, was set up in 1930. The latter had gathered a city’s long basketball tradition since 1925. (Ateneu Obrer de Badalona, later Sociedad Gimnástica de Badalona). That very same year of 1930, Foyer Alsacien from Mulhouse, France’s champion team, visits Barcelona. (Puyaltó and Navarro, 2000). Basketball spreads geographically throughout Maresme, such as Mataró, Calella and Arenys, industrialized cities near Barcelona, and with a solid school network for basketball to be promoted. (Pierist school Santa Anna from Mataró. The military connection is also to be mentioned (Servicio Nacional de Educación Física y Premilitar). At the same time, basketball started to be played in Manresa, 1928, a city that later with become very attached to this sport. The arts and crafts school pedagogical way was also a pioneer and on August 1929, the first documented match was played.

Female basketball challenged women’s passive role that the political situation established. The Club Femení d’Esports (1928) fought

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against conservatism in Catalan sport. Federació Catalana (Catalan Federation) did not actually admit female basketball until 1931, forced by some leisure associations. It is to be pointed out that by the year 1931, the 9th Catalan championship was a consolidated reality with twenty-two teams taking part in it. Such teams were divided into two groups, A and B. (Puyaltó and Navarro, 2000). From that date on a strong expansion of female basketball begins and many clubs are set up all along the country. This reality enables the celebration of:

“…a competition sponsored by newspaper L’opinió

(leftist and republican orientated). The event has La

Generalitat valuable help, the regional government, and

that of the town hall. Such event was presented to the

public opinion as the second Catalan Championship. It

is here to be supposed that the first one was the

tournament held in 1929, during the International

Exhibition…” (Puyaltó and Navarro, 2000, p. 234).

Ticó and Torrebadella (2016) point out the positive development of basketball at children’s level with well-known tournaments such as Soler Tournament, organized by F. C. Barcelona (1928) or Millán cup, organized by Centre Catòlic de Mataró (Mataró’s Catholic Centre) in 1930.

During republican period (1931-1938) and before the social and sport breakdown caused by the Spanish civil War (1936-1939), Federació de Joves Cristians de Catalunya (FJC) must be mentioned here. It was founded in 1931 and its members were popularly called “fejocistes”. They were ideologically conservative and Catalan nationalists and defended a dialogue attitude with the Spanish state according to the political ideas of demo-Christian party Unió Democràtica. FJC spread quickly in a lot of parishes all around the Catalan shires. They started their own basketball tournaments since 1932 (Puyaltó and Navarro, 2000). The not so large basketball field suited perfectly the average school playground dimensions and the fields around parishes. The growth of such teams was so striking that in 1936 an all-Catalonia shire competition was held with different groups and categories. There were fifty teams, almost the same quantity belonging

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to the Catalan Federation (Ticó and Torrebadella, 2016). Therefore, sport practice developed in Catalonia much the same way as YMCA had been promoting it in the USA. It was thanks to “…Young people from

Acción Católica, whose basketball teams had the same initials as JAC,

that is to say, Juventud de Acción Católica.” (Vilanou and Turró, 2012, p.238). One example is JAC from Sants. The same authors call to mindCírcol Catòlic from Badalona, founded in that context and one of the clubs that played in the first national league (1957). It would have later a brilliant career even at European level when it was sponsored by the firm Cotonificio in the 1980s. As it had happened in France, the parish boards from different orders spread basketball from the very beginning so as to offer a pedagogical alternative to the roughness of football, the dominant sport at the time.

“… In Catalonia, some religious orders, for instance the

Marist brothers, from French origin and the Claretian

brothers, always attentive to what was going on in

America. Pierist fathers are not to be forgotten. They all

have fostered games in their playgrounds that imply the

use of hands, such as volleyball, basketball and roller

hockey to the extent of sometimes even banning ball

kicking” (Vilanou and Turró, 2012, p. 251).

Basketball expands all over Spain

Ticó and Torrebadella (2016) state that the only place in Spain where basketball was played till the beginning of the 1930s was Barcelona and its influence surrounding area. Contrary to the Catalan case, the introduction method in the rest of Spain was the military one:

“… Basketball used the army as a way of spreading (…)

The military personnel manual for infantry troops

(1929), which is still in use for the physical training of

soldiers, considers several sport games among which

volley, basketball and football are found” (Vilanou and Turró, 2012, p.257).

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There is therefore enough evidence to justify that general Primo de Rivera fostered basketball through Sevicio Nacional de Educación Física, which, as seen before, dealt with the promotion of basketball in cities from Maresme shire, like Mataró. Football practising, on the contrary, was suggested by army regulations only for those stronger soldiers because it was considered a rough sport and weaker soldiers were not allowed to play the game. The alternative for less fit soldiers was basketball. In this way, Escuela Central de Gimnasia, headquartered in Toledo, held exhibition matches in Madrid and further regulations dating between 1925 and 1927 added tactical and technical aspects. (Ticó and Torrebadella, 2016).

However, the new game evolution overtook the military field and was soon fostered by the university world. Male basketball took another step forward with the foundation of Federación Universitaria Escolar (FUE). Some new teams were born, such as BBC Piratas or the famous Rayo Club, which was to become national champion in the future. The powerful basketball section had its origins in the late 1920s. The promoter was Ángel Cabrera, who had played basketball in Argentina and was in charge of building the first teams in 1931. The club web curiously stresses the idea that basketball arrived late in Spain (in contrast to Catalonia’s situation) and Civil War did not contribute to its consolidation. After the war, Real Madrid and Rayo kept the local rivalry until the potential of Real Madrid bought off the most valuable Rayo players and brought the latter to financial collapse. From then on, Real Madrid basketball section rocketed and started to dominate the Castilian championships. It would later achieve important international trophies, too. On the other hand, the other iconic team had a school origin and its name speaks for it: Estudiantes. According to Vilanova and Turró (2012), it is quite clear that Instituto Ramiro de Maeztu, set up just in post-war period, intended to be an alternative and different pedagogical offer from the institutional system. “... Pedagogy underlies

Estudiantes. It was a college team which was remotely inspired in the

Institución Libre de Enseñanza principles” (Vilanova and Turró, 2012, p. 256.) The pedagogical project, started by Francisco Giner de los Rios,combined intellectual formation as well as physical education and Christian inspired religiosity. It is worth mentioning here the name of

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Antonio Magariños (pavilion name). He was a Latin teacher who defended Juvenal’s motto: “Mens sana in corpore sano” and introduced basketball in the institution during the course 1948-49, late in time if compared with Real Madrid.

Ticó and Torrebadella mention that ten teams had already joined Federación Centro de Basketball in 1931. Meanwhile, the development of university sport went on growing. FUE was able to organize ninety matches during the course 1932-33. Philosophy and Arts colleges, college of engineers, trade, medicine and law colleges took part in them. Nevertheless, federative basketball started playing international matches with the debut of the Castilian selection against a Lisbon team (1933). Castilian and Catalan initiatives would finally join thanks to basketball constant progress. The first national championship was not free from traditional disagreements between Madrid and Barcelona. It was held in Barcelona and was won by La Patrie (1935). The second championship was held in Madrid and Rayo club came first. Years later, after the post-war period (1957) the first edition of Liga Nacional started with only six teams, four of which were Catalan (Joventut from Badalona, Aismalibar CB, Orillo Verde CB and FC Barcelona). The rest were from Madrid (Estudiantes and Real Madrid). As Puyaltó and Navarro stress, such important event brought about a crisis in the Catalan Federation, which had been decisive in the introduction of basketball. In later tournaments, the main Catalan teams were going to take part in the Spanish National League (CC Badalona, RCE Espanyol, UD Montgat, La Salle Josepets...)

The Spanish selection made its international debut against Portugal (1935) at Chamartin Stadium. It was a first round match for the first European Championship, which was to be held in Geneva and organized by the amateur International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The selection was basically made up by Catalan and Castilian players and, surprisingly enough, reached the European under-championship, when it lost the final match against Latvia. Such magnificent result awarded the selection a place to take part in the Olympic Games of Berlin (1936). It was the first Olympic meeting where male basketball was recognized as official sport. The Spanish selection had to make its debut against USA but finally could not play because of the outbreak of

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Spanish Civil War. However, there were also a lot of initiatives of popular leftist character, which considered that the Olympic games did no convey the moral and educational values anymore and promoted the Popular Olympic Games of Barcelona: “...the call for the Popular

Olympic Games and the organizer’s petition that the Catalan federation

be the basketball tournament designer was solved ambiguously.” (Puyaltó and Navarro, 2000, p. 202). In this sense, a Spanish selection made up exclusively by Catalan players took part during the Civil War in the III Workers’ Olympiad in Antwerp (Santacana and Pujades, 2006).

The booming of basketball: a personal story

The previous paragraphs have dealt with a historical overview of the arrival of basketball in Spain and Catalonia. Attention has been focused on the origins and the ties to the community from the beginning of XXth Century to the Spanish Civil War. It is not our aim to pursue an accurate revision of basketball since those years until present time. It would not meet the scientific standards trying to summarize the great amount of events and facts that have turned basketball into the mass show sport it is these days. A variety of publications exist to explain thoroughly the further stages of basketball development in Spain. Among such bibliographical references the well documented work (two books published in 2006 on Catalan basketball) by Lluis Puyaltó is worth reading. Therefore, the reader’s indulgence may allow us the time leap and focus on the period that witnessed the so called Spanish basketball boom. It started at the beginning of the 1970s and takes us to present day basketball. It consists mainly of personal recollections.

Saint Joseph’s parish basketball school was set up in 1974, very much in the tradition of basketball fostering Christian associations. This author’s relationship with basketball started then, as he was one of the first to put his name down. The first CP St. Josep team had played in the national league until season 1973-74. (That league gathered three teams from the same city, Badalona: Circol Catòlic and Joventut together with CP St. Josep. The team was relegated into the second tier as the club could not cope with first division expenses. In this sense, the firm

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IRPEN stopped sponsoring the team and the transferring of American players meant too high a cost for a humble club with scarce income sources. The board of trustees voted for relegation and the setting up of a basketball school, offering sport and education to the city (http://www.cbsantjosep.net/historia/).

We were eight-year olds who, evidently, played mini-basket. Mini-basket had been expanding since 1964 throughout Spain thanks to Anselmo López from the club Nacional Hesperia, headquartered in all provinces and cities. The institution great job in terms of making the sport popular and the thorough instructor formation made it possible to increase the number of young players in very few years inasmuch as doubling the figures by 1970. The disappearing of Hesperia due to Anselmo Lopez’s promotion to the National Olympic Committee (1969) starts a second phase. In this, mini-basket development was fostered by Delegación Nacional de Juventudes, a Franco’s regime institution: “For

the people linked to basketball world, it meant a step backward. The

taking over of sport by state organisms and therefore the loss of control

over basketball activity brought about a crisis in the basketball world”. (Puyaltó, 2006 p.220).

Such was the mini-basket we used to play and shaped our values. In 1975 just about the ending of Franco’s dictatorship, Catalan federation president, Andreu Ponsirenas (he was also St. Joseph president) regained the organization powers for lower categories. From that mini-basket I keep cherished memories, such as the Rubi twenty-four hour rally (1977) with hundreds of players parading to the mini-basket hymn.

In those post-Franco days, kids who could play sport felt privileged. Life hinged around school and the basketball club and we made friends from both worlds. And that was all and it was indeed a lot and enough because it filled us and shaped us and shaped our moral values. Everything was nearby and that eased a neighbourhood and basketball club connection. Technology was not very developed and cultural offer was scarce and costly. Yet, the club had other sections such as chess, theatre and hockey. We could see the first theatre plays of our lives and discover other sports. Integration was so deep that we used to spend Sundays from 9 a.m. to 14 p. watching young, junior and senior

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category matches. We played on Saturdays and all players knew each other. We also travelled together with our families around the country to see the first team play. I remember my first excursions far from home. In 1981 the first basketball school promotion came on fourth in the Spain children championship held in A Coruña. We were trained by prestigious coach Franco Pinotti, founder of magazine Nuevo Basket (1980-1991). Such success, lead the way for further generations. The club also played lots of Catalonia-Spain Championships. That same year 1981, Federación Castellana de Baloncesto, presided over by Ángel Alonso suggested bringing back to life the classical Catalan-Castillian encounters. In order to carry out this post-Franco first experience two children and young category matches were organized. They were played in the iconic Antonio Magariños pavilion. It was not easy to re-start such matches since in February 1981 there was a failed coup attempt lead by colonel Antonio Tejero. Those first regional matches were the germ of the present Spain championships through regional children and cadet, male and female selections. They have been taking place non-stop and officially since season 1982-83 with outstanding results for the Catalan selection.

The ancient CP St. Josep Pavilion (It had been opened 19th March 1970) was the place where Círcol Catòlic from Badalona played. In the 1980s reached its best results trained by Aito García Reneses and the rivalry with the other city team, Club Joventut Badalona, was at its highest during those years. In that pavilion we saw the best league teams play (Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Nautico from Tenerife…) It was the scenery of high-level European competitions such as Korak cup. (We call to mind Arrigoni from Rieti with the American Sojourner or point guard Brunamonti).

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Figure 2. First Catalonian Children National Team (Nuevo Basket, 1981).

Our children trained interspersed with those of the first team

and so we eagerly learned new tactics and training discipline. That team made up by teenagers became the team to play the national league preliminary match on Saturday afternoon. They were Circol Catòlic warm ups, with whom we shared training field during the week. That meant a high degree of comradeship, respect and admiration. We used to come across the team American players (Dave Angstaad, Jack Schrader or Brian Jackson) in the street as we left school every day and on our way home. We knew each other and greeted. In 1983 Agustí Cuesta, a player in that team and Alfred Julbe, asked me if I would like to start a career as a trainer for real in the same basketball school that had shaped me as a player since its foundation.

Basketball in the 1980s reached bigger spectator rates and investment grew. Teams were rooted to their followers and a lot of fans still remember those rosters today. It was the time when Christmas Basketball International Tournament was played, germ of later international events. It was organized by Real Madrid, a true sport fosterer of different categories. As above mentioned, European competitions were highly prestigious and taking part in them was the award of a well-played season. Thus, European Cup was played by each country’s national champion, the cup-winners’ cup was played by the

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cup champions and the Korak cup by the first best teams of each European league which had not won any of the former awards. Nothing to do with today’s structure: No one knows who plays in each competition. (It is possible to play ACB final phase and on the contrary be left out of Euro-league (Pedro Martinez’s Gran Canaria). Hardly any one follows the rest of competitions except Euro-league. That basketball was attractive and dragged crowds of young people to the Stadiums. It had worldwide star players who polarized the game to the extent that sometimes matches looked like a one to one duel rather than a five to five match. That did not mean that the rest of the players performed badly. In this sense, it is worth remembering in this paper some of those matches such as the cup-winners’ cup final in 1989, Real Madrid 117-Snadeiro from Caserta 113 (Drazen Petrovic, 62 points and Oscar Smith, 45 points) or at selection level, we may call to mind the Euro-basket final 1995, Yugoslavia 96 – Latvia 90 (Djordjevic, 41 points and Marciulionis, 32 points). Such scores are unthinkable in today’s basketball. They belong to a certain way of playing that does not exist anymore. I may recall here the match Joventut 93 – Askatuak 90 (1978), during which Essie Hollis scored 63 points for the visitor’s team.

The basketball boom was taking shape in Spain. It was a real explosion backed by educational and organization improvement and sports results. The paramount moment was the silver medal awarded to the unmatched Antonio Miguel’s roster in the Olympic Games of Los Angeles (1984). On 3th March 1982 Associació de Clubs de Basket (ACB) is set up with revolutionary approaches as for the traditional structure of Spanish basketball is concerned: “…There was an increase

on radio and TV audience. Basketball took up more headlines and space

on the written press. Some specialized magazines were published. There

was a booming in terms of advertisement and sponsoring and stadiums

were easily filled to the brim (Ticó and Torrebadella, 1993, p. 12). The first Spanish player to be drafted by NBA, Fernando

Martín, had already made his debut in 1986. Today, Spanish national selection has more than half of its players in the NBA (In this sense Pau and Marc Gasol’s professional careers are worth mentioning). Furthermore, the first McDonald’s Open tournament brings together the two most important international basket associations, NBA and FIBA

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and fosters the game progression to unexpected limits. In the 1991 Paris edition, Club Joventut Badalona almost beats Magic Johnson’s L. A. Lakers in a very contended match, proving that the gap between both basketball stiles was getting narrower.

At the same time, basketball regulations changed every year to make the sport more enticing. The 3-metre line was not established in European basketball until 1984. It had been placed at 6,25 cm from the basket (6,75 cm Today) It was not an easy change for eighteen-year-old players, already grown ups, to meet the new request and to get used to the new regulation. Geometry of 3 second restricted zone evolved as well and the same happened with the re-shaping of playing times from the traditional two halves of twenty minutes each to four ten-minute quarters and particularly ball possession time in the attack period. In 2000 it was reduced from 30 to 24 seconds. A part from FIBA and NBA regulations being more similar, time reduction was also a reaction against the so-called control basketball, which lengthened ball possessions to the maximum. That way of playing was behind lower scores of the time. For instance, European Cup was won with less than 60 points (1993). Coach Bozidar Maljkovic made his team, Limoges, champion with only 59 points against Benneton from Treviso, 55.

In such parameters, Club Joventut Badalona, that Spirit of Badalona founded in 1939, felt over the Moon when it won European Cup in Tel-Aviv (1994) just with a very low score: CJB, 59-Olympiakos, 57. That was a well-remembered team with players such as Villacampa, the Jofresa brothers, Ferran Martínez or Corny Thomson. That evening of 1994, they made city life halt to a grind with excitement. The coach was the serb Zelkjo Obradovic, who, curiously, had won the same trophy against CJB two years before, when he was training Partizan from Belgrade. It was the second European Cup for this prestigious trainer, who has won eight so far. Club de Futbol Barcelona basketball section had to wait almost a decade to obtain the most important trophy. It was in 2003 with coach Dejan Bodiroga.

Today’s basketball has also ground for criticism. Sport globalization and competition financial demands have turned tactical strategies to play better into a fight for economic power. Teams that come last in the ranking list are not degraded or the other way round and

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such practices have been taking place for too long now. Teams that have performed well during the season do not get the deserved promotion. Such facts distort the every day work and hard training in order to improve. Moreover, an organization failure in competition organization can be evinced, as tournaments do not fit the present demands: Where is the EBA league foundational spirit to be traced? The values it used to uphold, as a promotion league for young players is nowhere to be found in present day. Where is LEB bronze? How is it possible for tournaments to have an odd number of teams? At the same time, sport instructor formation has fallen to the educational system, hindering Federations their pedagogical and teaching vocation in which many of us were brought up.

Logically, the account of historical events is always a biased choice of written and personal memories. It is neither thorough nor objective, particularly if one has been a player and a coach for many seasons. I would like this article to render a tribute to those coaches that trained me. I thank them for their devotion and patience, virtues not always acknowledged. I would like as well to thank all the players that I had the chance to train for their constancy and attitude and from whom I learned a lot as a person.

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REFERENCES

Bolós de, O. & Vilanou, C. (2004). Sobre l’origen del bàsquet: quan la religió esdevé esport. Ars brevis (Càtedra Ramon Llull), 10, p 11-42.

Bromberger, C. (1995). Football as world-view and as ritual. French

Cultural Studies, 6, p 293-311.

Bromberger, C. (2016). Le football entre fierté locale et globalisation. Hal (archives-ouvertes)-01410581.

Fundació del Bàsquet Català (2007). Selecció Catalana – Hindú Club de

Buenos Aires. 80 anys. Barcelona: Fundació del Bàsquet Català.

Historia del Basket español (1986). El Mundo Deportivo

Lapchick, R. & Guiao, A. (2015). The 2015 Racial and Gender Report

Card: National Basketball Association. Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport. College of Bussiness Administration UCF www.tidesport.org

Mandel, R. D. (1986). Historia cultural del deporte. Barcelona: Ediciones Bellaterra.

Olivera, J. & Ticó (1993). Gènesi i etapes evolutives del bàsquet com a esport contemporani. Taules cronològiques (1891-1992). Apunts

d’Educació Física i Esport, 34, p. 6-42.

Olivera, J. (1987). L’evolució histórica. Apunts d’Educació Física i

Esport, 7-8, p. 75-84.

Primo, G. (1986a). Baloncesto. La defensa. Barcelona: Martínez Roca, S.A. Col. Deportes.

Primo, G. (1986b). Baloncesto. El ataque. Barcelona: Martínez Roca, S.A. Col. Deportes.

Puyalto, LL. (2006a). El Bàsquet a Catalunya. Un lent despertar (1939

a 1955). Barcelona: Fundació del Bàsquet Català.

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Puyalto, LL. (2006b). El Bàsquet a Catalunya. El desenvolupament

d’una nova estructura esportiva (1956 a 1982). Barcelona: Fundació del Bàsquet Català.

Puyalto, LL. (2008). La popularització del bàsquet a Catalunya. De

l’escola a la pista. Barcelona: Consell Català de l’Esport.

Puyalto, LL., & Navarro, V. (2000). El Bàsquet a Catalunya. Des dels

orígens fins a l’any 1938. Barcelona: Fundació del Bàsquet Català.

Santacana, C. & Pujades, X. (2006). L Altra olimpíada, Barcelona 36 : esport, societat i política a Catalunya (1900-1936). Barcelona: Llibres de l’Index.

Torrebadella, X. & Ticó, J. (2014). Notas para la historia del centenario del baloncesto español. Un deporte escolar y popular para ambos sexos (1897-1938). e-balonmano.com: Revista de Ciencias del

Deporte, 10 (3), P. 177-198.

Vilanou, C. & Turró, G. (2012). El baloncesto, 121 años después de su invención: entre el deporte y la americanización. Ars brevis

(Càtedra Ramon Llull), 18, p 226-271.

WEB PAGES:

“Club de Bàsquet Sant Josep de Badalona”, http://www.cbsantjosep.net/historia/

“Minibasket national himn!, http://www.goear.com/listen/5c00c58/himno-nacional-del-mini-basket- 1968-coro-colegio-san-estanislao-de-kostka

“Real Madrid CF”, http://www.realmadrid.com/sobre-el-real-madrid/historia/baloncesto

“Women’s basketball Hall of Fame”, http://www.wbhof.com/Timeline.html

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TURKEY

HISTORY OF BASKETBALL IN TURKEY

Selhan Özbey, Ph.D., Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Sports

Sciences, Department of Sport Managment, Manisa/TURKEY

Giyasettin Demirhan, Ph.D., Hacettepe University, Faculty of Sport

Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sport

Teacher, Ankara/TURKEY

Correspondence: Selhan Özbey, Ph.D.

selhan.ozbey@cbu.edu.com

Giyasettin Demirhan, Ph.D. demirhan@hacettepe.edu.tr

Introduction

Basketball has always been one of the most popular sports in Turkey. The history of Turkish Basketball has two important periods among the other popular team sports. The first one was during the late period of Ottoman Empire (1904-1919) and the second was during the establishment of young Turkish Republic (1920).

The Ottoman society adopted so called the European reformative life style and developed a taste for the popular sports. The non-Muslim communities especially Jewish, Armenian, American, and British and their familiarity to sports like football, gymnastics and basketball created an awareness in everyday life of Istanbul’s city life during the same period. Only then started the imperial organizations for some of the sports branches as well as the concept of “sports press” was introduced by the influence of the European counterparts in the form of published newspapers and magazines.

According to the official records, Basketball was played for the first time ever in 1904 at the Dodge Gymnasium of Robert College, Istanbul with instructions of a PE teacher with USA nationality.

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UDK 796.323.2 (560) (091)

Picture 1: The first basketball games played at Robert College in Istanbul

Basketball spread throughout the nation and among the PE teachers. Mr. Ahmet Robenson was one of them who was working as a PE teacher at an iconic High School, Galatasaray. Mr. Robenson became an important figure in sports history of Turkey by pioneering many sports branches during the late Ottoman and First Republic Era.

Picture 2: Ahmet Robenson

Originally from Liverpool, Englang he lived most of his life in Istanbul as a Turkish citizen. After graduating from Galatasaray High School, Robenson grew interest in new sports which were not known at the time. He was known as starting the first organizations of Basketball,

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Hockey, Tennis and Scouting activities. He mostly introduced these new sports to his students in Galatasaray High School and later he became the President of the Galatasaray Sport Club in 1926. When he was the PE teacher of the Galatasaray High School, he translated the rules of basketball into Turkish (Atalay 2007; 32) and the first game was played between two teams in Galatasaray High school Gym in 1911.

Another popular and historic sport club of Turkey, Fenerbahçe Sports Clup, started basketball which was written at “IDMAN” magazine in 1913. On the other hand, Fenerbahce sports club has made its first serious attempt to start the game of basketball in the year 1919 with assistance of another foreigner teacher. The “Fenerbahçe” magazine dated 10.7.1919 with the issue number 3 published by the “Terbiye-i

Fikriye” department of the club announced the official beginning of the basketball section.

In the year 1920, YMCA (Young Male Christians Association) was established in Turkey and this created an acceleration of the game being played and recognized by more people.

Post Republican Era (1920)

The first known basketball in Turkey was played in the garden of the Cagaloglu Teachers School on April 4, 1921 with the assistance of Mr. Selim Sırrı Tarcan between the Turkish students and teachers and the foreigners residing in Turkey. This historical game ended in favor of the Foreigners team with score of 18 to 14. The referee was Mr. Stricker, the president of YMCA of Turkey.

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Picture 3: The First basketball match in Turkey (April 4,1921)

Turkish Team Ahmet Robenson (the founder of the team, captain and center) Mr. Hilmi and Mr. Mishel (forwards) Ziya and Mr. Armenak (guards)

American Team Dr. Diver (captain and center) Mr. Repp and Mr. Fichen (forwards) Mr. Stevans and Mr. Alpay (guards)

Turkiye Ìdman Cemiyeti Ìttifakı - T. Ì. C. Ì (Turkey Club Union Association-1922-1936) period started with an establishment of an autonomous organization of sport clubs in 1923. This organization was very powerful during this period and was supported by the government as well (Kılıç, 2013).

Basketball was recognized by the entire nation from then on. The first unofficial league of Turkey was established in 1927. With the foundation of the Team Istanbul Basketball Mıntıka and its guidance, Istanbul league was founded and the participants were Kurtulus, Maccabi, Barkhoba, Beyogluspor, Protkeba and Italian Eagle. This league was dominated by Maccabi whose entire roster was Jewish people living in Istanbul. They kept the title until the year 1933.

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Picture 4: Istanbul Basketball Championship, Makkabi in1931

The Turkish Sports Society which was founded in 1933 pioneered the first official games. Maccabi’s reign came to an end and the first champion was Istanbulspor. Three consecutive championships of Galatasaray followed this periods (Tekil, 1983).

The Establishment of the Federation and Olympic Games

The Turkish Sports Games Federation was founded in 1934. First president was Prof. Sureyya Genca who would later become the president of the Turkish Basketball Federation (picture 6). The sports games Federation was founded in order to fulfill the need to assist the development of Turkish sports movement by focusing on mainly basketball, handball and tennis (Atabeyoglu, 1991). An ex-Dean, Mr. Genca focused mainly on the development, progress and improvement of Turkish basketball between 1934 and 1938.

Picture 6: Prof. Sureyya Genca (President of Sports Games Federation)

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Turkish Sport Institution, TSK (1936-1938) had a short term. German Professor Dr. Karl Diem came to Turkey in 1936 and established TSK in Ankara. This Institution governed all federations in Turkey including Turkish Basketball Federation. The 1936 Turkish National Team played its first official game versus Greece basketball team on the 24th of June, 1936 in Beyoglu Halkevi Sports Hall and won it with the score of 49-12 (picture 8).

Pic. 7: Men National Basketball Team in 1934-36

Pic. 8: First international match Turkey vs. Greece

Naili Moran

Naili Moran was the grandson of the last grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire. He was a great sportsman and athlete in the Turkish sports history. When he was a student at Robert College, he started to play basketball in 1923. He went to the USA and France to get

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university education about physical education and sports. He was captain of the first national basketball team in 1934 (picture 8). He also played basketball at DePaul-Chicago University Basketball Team during 1936-37 season (picture 9).

Pic. 8: Naili Moran, captain of first national team

Pic. 9: DePaul-Chicago University Basketball Team

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Prof. Genca was the sports group leader of the Olympic National Basketball Team who attended the Olympics for the first time (picture 10).

Picture 10: Turkish national basketball team in 1936 Berlin Olympic Games

The first representation of Turkish basketball in overseas ended with a loss to Chilean and another one to Egypt with the scores of 30-16 and 33-23, respectively (pictures 11, 12).

Picture 11: Berlin Olympic Games in 1936

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Picture 12: Berlin Olympic Games in1936

Naili Moran was player in Berlin Olympic Games with Turkish Basketball Team. He was also became an international basketball referee and went to the London Olympic Games to manage final basketball match in 1948 (Picture 13).

Picture 13: Naili Moran and 1948 London Olympic Games, Opening Ceremony

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The national team attended to the 6th European Basketball Championship in Cairo in 1949 and ended in 4 th spot. Starting with the 1950s, basketball became a more popular sports. The International Istanbul Tournament was organized in 1950 with the aim of repeating the organization every year. The year 1951 was when Turkish National Team ended in 7th spot out of 7 teams in the 7th European Basketball Championship. A Turkish referee, Izzettin Somer, was in charge of the final game.

The capital of Turkey, Ankara joined the progress with Gazi University (Orta Muallim Mektebi ve Terbiye Enstitüsü) and Mulkiye College. On the other hand in Istanbul a new club, Istanbul Kadıkoy was started.

Picture14: National Basketball Team in 1950’s

In the years 1954 and 1955 were important years in the progress. Fenerbahce Sport Club assigned a general secretary for the basketball branch and with the assistance of Turgut Atakol, Osman Solakoglu of Galatasaray and Rustu Daglaroglu of Fenerbahce, the games were moved from the ITU Sports Hall of 1000 capacity to the Sports and Exhibition Center of 5000. This led to the increase of the ticket sales which in return provided extra income for the clubs and the progress of Turkish basketball.

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Picture 15: FB Women Basketball Team

Picture 16: FB Young Men Basketball Team

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The first Women Basketball team was founded with the cooperation of Fenerbahce and Camlica High school (picture 15). Soon, Galatasaray, Besiktas and Kadıkoy started their own Women’s Teams which led to the start of the Istanbul Women’s Teams Basketball League. Fenerbahce won the first year. In 1956, a preparatory national tournament between the same Women Teams was organized and Fenerbahce won that one as well (Dağlaroglu,1957).

On the other hand, Fenerbahce Mens Team won in the 1955-56 season. With the addition of young and to be great stars Can Bartu, Metin Çabukel and Mehmet Baturalp to their roster, they went on to win the NATO Cup final of 1956 in Ankara against the team Jammet of America with the score of 79-70. In the same year, they also won the Turkish league undefeated for the first time.

Picture 17: Turgut Atakol

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Picture 18: National basketball team in 1960’s

The Turkish Basketball Federation was founded in the year 1958 and Turkey hosted the European Basketball Championship for the first time in Turkish basketball history. Turgut Atakol was the co-founder and president of the Turkish Basketball Federation (1958-1964). He was a basketball player in Galatasaray Spor Clup, referee and sports official. Upon retiring, he became a referee, calling many international games, including the Hungary-Czechoslovakia final of the 1955 European Championship. Turgut Atakol also wrote a book "Techniques of

Basketball Refereeing", which was adopted as a guidebook by FIBA. He was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2007.

In the year 1961, Galatasaray became the first team to pass a round in European Champions Cup by eliminating Olympiakos by winning both games. The first U21 national team was founded in 1963.

The Turkish National League started to include away teams and became the official Turkish Basketball League with in 1966/1967 season. In the same year, Turkish Basketball Federation started organizing tournaments with the name “Anatolian Cup”. The Turkish Basketball 2nd League started in 1967-68 season when also the national championships for the boys and girls elementary, middle and high school teams took start.

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The firsts…..

Erman Kunter, the current coach of French team Le Mans and one of the biggest starts of Turkish basketball. He was the player who scored the most points in a game with 153 points (picture 19). He was also the first coach to win a championship in D1 France in 2009-10 season with Cholet.

Picture 19: Erman Kunter (basketball player and coach)

Mirsad Turkcan was the first basketball player from Turkey to make it to the NBA. He was also the first player to be chosen to MVP of the Euroleague with the team CSKA Moscow.

Hidayet Turkoglu who also played in the NBA. He was the Turkish player with the most number of games played and with the biggest salary made. Turkoglu is the current president of the Turkish Basketball Federation since 2016 (picture20).

Picture 20: Hidayet Türkoglu

Picture 21: Mehmet Okur

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Mehmet Okur was well known other player from Turkey who played in NBA. Okur was the first player to win an NBA championship in 2003-2004 and also the first player to make it to the NBA All Stars with West Conference Team. Okur was also officially named a player development coach for the Phoenix Suns, thus becoming the first Turkish person to enter the coaching world in the NBA (picture 21).

Although the first person to play in a foreign team was Yalcın Granit, Ibrahim Kutluay was the first to play for a Greece team. Not only did he win the 2001-2002 European League Championship with Panathinaikos, but also he was the first player to win the cup. Kerem Tunceri won the ULEB Cup and experienced another first time for Turkish basketball in 2007.

Ergin Ataman, the first person from Turkey to coach a foreign team, won the Europe Raimundo Saporta Cup with the Italian team Montepaschi Siena.

Anadolu Efes Sport Clup, (ex-name was Efes Pilsen) became the first Turkish team to win the European Korac Cup with coach Aydın Ors in 1996. He was the head-coach of Efes Pilsen sport clup in 1992 when he won couple of titles. He was known as the architect of “death” zone defense. Another success by Efes Spor Clup was that they made it to the Final Four of Euroleague and finished 3rd in 1999-2000 season.

Aydın Ors was also the head coach of the Turkish National Basketball Team when they played in the final of the Men’s European Basketball Championship in 2001. An important successes achieved by the were a silver medal Next year in 2002 Turkish basketball team was 9th spot at the World Championship.

The President of FIBA Europe from Turkey

Turgay Demirel is the former president of Turkish National Basketball Federation and now he is elected as the president of FIBA Europe. Demirel became the first president from Turkey to lead the international organization till the end of 2018. He believes that;

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“A strong FIBA Europe should help all federations (52 members)

develop young talented people as this is the cornerstone for the

advancement of European sport”.

Turkish Air Line EuroLeague

Turkish Airlines and Euroleague Basketball signed strategic partnership agreement to title sponsorship for the top European basketball competition across the globe for seven times. With this agreement Turkish brand has been able to be represented not only in basketball but also as an economic stimulator of sports. Similarly the Euroleague Final four would be named as the Turkish Air Line

EuroLeague Final Four. It will also sponsor the future final four in Istanbul in Sinan Erdem Sports Hall May 19-21th, 2017.

Euroleague Basketball is followed across the globe by fans of all age, gender, and social background. Turkish Airlines and EuroLeague Basketball agreed to extend their partnership up to 2020. In addition, this is the first time 4 Euroleague Clubs; Anadolu Efes, Darüşşafaka Doğuş, Fenerbahçe, and Galatasaray Odeabank are all represented from same city, Istanbul in 2016-2017 competition season.

Motto for National Women (Faires of Basketball) and Men (12 Giant Men) Basketball Players

Fairies of Basketball

The Turkish women's basketball confirmed expectations, as the national team won the bronze medal at the FIBA European Championships. Turkey made its debut at London 2012, when it reached the quarter-finals. This team had the podium at two recent editions of the European championship, winning silver in 2011 and bronze in 2013, and was a semi-finalist at the 2014 world championship.

Turkish Senior Women’s National Team set a high standard, finishing fifth at EuroBasket 2015 in Romania and Hungary with a thrilling overtime win against Russia. The win secured Turkish team a spot in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women and

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the possibility of returning to the Olympics after finishing fifth in London in 2012.

Picture 22: Fairies of Basketball

The 12 Giant Man

The 12 Giant Men battled hard at EuroBasket, advancing out of the tournament’s toughest group with wins over Italy, Germany, and Iceland before falling to host France. But some of the most exciting results came at the youth level (picture 23)

Picture 23: U18 European Championship Men, Turkey in 2014

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For the first time ever, Turkey was medalled at the FIBA U19 World Championship, taking home a bronze. Turkey also won bronze at the U16 European Championship Men, silver at the U18 European Championship Men, and bronze at the U20 European Championship Men. This marked the first time Turkey was medalled in all three European Championship age categories in the same year. U16, U18, and U20 women’s youth national teams secured their places in Division A for 2016, one of our major goals.

FIBA World Ranking, women, men and combined

FIBA World is ranking of national basketball teams. The last ranking is designed after 2016 Rio Olympic Games. According to this, Turkey is ranking 8th in Men Basketball over 91 countries and 7th in Women Basketball over 77 countries all over the World. In FIBA World men/women combined, ranking of Turkey is 10th over 132 countries. Many famous European basketball nations are below the Turkey ranking such as Lithuania and Greece. Actually, this is such an important success for both men and women basketball teams in Turkey.

Picture 24: 12 Giant Men

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Conclusion

Contemporarily, Basketball has become one of the most popular sports in Turkey with an institutionalized federation, senior administrators who works for international organizations, with the players who take playing time in European and American leagues, with coaches employed by the European clubs, successful clubs competing in Europe leagues and National Team's take place in world classification in FIBA. Besides, it increased experience by hosting big events in modern sports complexes. The last but not the least the ever growing interest of the media, the increasing support of the sponsors, and the successful international referee training and getting share from the European funds shows the positioning of Turkish Basketball of 21th century.

The development of Basketball in Turkey is continuing with the increase of love of Basketball, especially with young children.

Photo 25: Young players with their hunger towards basketball .

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REFERENCES

Ahmet Robenson, http://tr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmet_Robenson (downloaded 03.11.2016).

Atabeyoglu, Cem.: “1453-1991” Türk Spor Tarihi Ansiklopedisi. Istanbul: AN Grafik ve Basım

Atalay, Ayse. (2007) : “Osmanlı ve Genç Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Döneminde Sporda Batılılaşma Hareketleri.” Spor Yönetimi ve

Bilgi Teknolojileri Dergisi, 2, 2(2007), 32-33.

Basketball history, http://www.sabah.com.tr/galeri/spor/turkiyenin_basketbol_tarihi (downloaded 03.11.2016)

Basketball news, Cumhuriyet, http://www.ajansspor.com/basketbol/genel/h/20101027/cumhuriy et_tarihinde_turk_basketbolu.html (downloaded 27.10.2016).

Daglaroglu, Rüştü, 1907-1957 Fenerbahce Spor Klubu Tarihi. https://fenerleaks.wordpress.com/2012/10/ (downloaded 10.10.2016).

FIBA EUROPE, www.fibaeurope.com (downloaded 05.12.2016).

FIBA, International Basketball Federation, www.fiba.com (downloaded 09.11.2017).

History of Basketball, http://basketbolegitim.com/basketbolun-tarihcesi (downloaded 03.11.2016).

Jewish basketball players in Turkish Basketball team, http://www.salom.com.tr/haber-100018 olimpiyatlardaki_turk_yahudi_basketciler_____.html (downloaded 07.11.2016).

Kılıç, Metin. Tek Partili Dönemde Türkiye’de Modern Sporun Teşekkülü”. The History School, 14(2013), 27-53.

Naili Moran Atletizm Vakfı, www.nailimoran.org/IcerikGetir/820.aspx (downloaded 03.01.2017).

Ȍzmaden, Murat. “Turkiye Idman Cemiyetleri Ittifaki (TİCİ) dönemi milli ruh ve milli

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Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Fotospor Yayini, 1991.

Tekil, Süleyman. “Galatasaray Memories”: 190-1982. (Istanbul: Arset Matbaacilik Koll. Sirketi, 1983), 303.

temsil, siyasi ve milli proboganda ile ülkeyi tanıtma çabaları.” Uluslararası İnsan Bilimleri Dergisi, 7(2010), 1.

The coach, Aydın Örs, http://tr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aydın_Örs (downloaded 03.11.2016).

The First and Records of Turkish Basketball History, http://taylanyerlikaya.com/basketbol-makaleleri/turk-basketbolunun-ilkleri-ve-rekorlari.html (downloade 14.10.2016).

The First Olympiads, Berlin Olympic Games, http://technicalfaul.blogspot.com.tr/2016/04/basketbolun-ilk-olimpiyat-1936-berlin.html (downloaded 04.11.2016).

Turgut Atakol, http://tr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turgut_Atakol (downloaded 03.01.2017).

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, www.euroleague.net (downloaded 03.01.2017).

Turkish Basketball Federation, www.tbf.org.tr (downloaded 06.11.2017).

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UNITED KINGDOM

BIRKENHEAD REVISITED: THE EARLY ORIGINS OF BASKETBALL IN

BRITAIN

Jonathan Mandel, Independent scholar

Geoffery Z. Kohe, Institute of Sport & Exercise Science,

University of Worcester

Correspondence: Dr Geoffery Z. Kohe g.kohe@worc.ac.uk

Phone: +44 1905 85 5590 Introduction

Not unlike nations elsewhere, Britain’s vibrant sporting histories and traditions have received considerable scholarly attention.1 Such contributions have mapped national sporting landscapes and provided critique of sociocultural forces, structural inequalities, notions of agency and the politicisation of memory making. As rich and valuable as some of this work has been in (re)producing and challenging beliefs and

1 Mike Huggins, The Victorians and Sport (London: Hambledon Continuum, 2004); Martin Johnes, ‘Great Britain’ in Steve Pope and John Nauright, eds., Routledge Companion to Sports History (Abingdon: Routledge, 2012) 444-460; Geoffery Z. Kohe, “For the good of the game(?): The legacy of the Football Trust, the Football Pools & the danger seduction of political promise,” The International Journal of the History of Sport (2015) DOI: 10.1080/09523367.2015.1077810; Tony Mason, ed., Sport in Britain: A Social History (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989); John Nauright and Charles Parish, eds., ‘British Isles and Europe’ (Volume 2) in Sports around the World: History, Culture, and Practice (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2012); Martin Polley, Moving the goalpost: A history of sport and society since 1945 (London: Routledge, 1998); (ed.) A history of sport in Britain, 1884-1914 (London: Routledge, 2003); Neil Tranter, Economy and Society in Britain, 1750- 1914 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998).

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UDK 796.323.2 (410) (091)

assumptions, work remains to be done to diversify representations and critical understandings of sporting pasts. Commenting on the utility of advancing scholarly analysis, Johnes adds, ‘the history of sport has much to contribute to wider understanding of the past. Sport was part of the fabric of the lives of so many people and places’.2 One area that has received marginal attention within the context of British sport history is the early genesis and evolution of basketball3. Although, invariably, not generally considered a predominant contemporary sport in Britain (in the same way that football, cricket and the two rugby codes are), basketball may still be considered a significant constituent of the nation’s collective sporting histories. While across the course of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries basketball has developed a discernible public profile and popular following (if albeit still being relatively marginalised), closer investigation of its early history remains warranted. Foregrounding its arrival from abroad in 1892, predominant narratives of the time have largely emphasised a linear and systematic diffusion of the sport via the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA); the agency, entrepreneurialism and advocacy of its early proponents such as C. J. Proctor; and, the advantageous power of structural, ideological and moral forces (such as modernisation, Victorian ideals of morality, and muscular Christianity).4 While we acknowledge these may be considered fundamental components to the historical and contextual framework of the sport and its development, they have also obscured more nuanced interpretations and inhibited alternate forms of meaning making that might advance new appreciations for basketball’s contributions to British sports history.

2 Johnes, ‘Great Britain’, 445. 3 The origins and substantive contents of this chapter has been developed from the recent Master’s thesis of the lead author; Jonathan Mandel, ‘The arrival of basketball in England revisited’, unpublished M.A thesis (De Montfort University, 2015). The research advances critical historical understandings of basketball in England specifically, and draws attention to the ideological forces and mythologizing that influence and contour our collective contemporary sport readings and meaning making. 4 Keith Myerscough, ‘The Development of Basketball in England & the USA: The Contribution of the YMCA Movement’, Unpublished M.A. Thesis (Manchester University, 1993).

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Basketball’s liminal place within the British sport has, on occasion, also led to unchallenged and perpetuated historiographical errors and omissions. Allen Guttmann and John Bale, for example, both claim basketball was introduced in England in 1895 when, as this chapter later details, evidence suggests the game was played in Birkenhead (near Liverpool) as early as 1892 (mere months after the game emerged in North America).5

In response to some of the concerns above, this chapter focuses on, and critiques, basketball’s early history in Britain. Taking the late nineteenth and early twentieth century as contextual parameters, we contend that examination of the nascent development of the sport is useful in revealing, variously: the ways the sport was accommodated within a new context; how issues of agency and structure were intertwined in regional and national settings; how broader forces aided diffusion; and, how selective components of the past have been utilised within contemporary myth making and memory creation. First, we begin by locating basketball within Britain’s historiographical sporting traditions. Academic analysis of the nation’s sport cultures, we suggest, has done well to crystalize intersections of sport and social themes such as religion, class, gender, industrialisation, education, economy, empire and local and national identity. With its origins abroad, basketball affords a useful counterpoint to the centrality of discussions about the evolution of ‘local’/‘domestic’ sports nurtured from within and disseminated outward. As part of crafting a history of basketball in Britain anew, we consider the ‘diffusion’ of the sport to and from its alleged Birkenhead origins. We briefly document the disrupted, sporadic and peripatetic movement of the sport in its nascent days, and consider the contestable roles that some individual agents and groups played in its proliferation. Specific individuals may have been at the heart of new ideas, discoveries, inventions, and ‘moving’ basketball, during this time,

5 John Bale, Sport and place: A Geography of Sport in England, Scotland and

Wales (London: Hurst, 1982), 137; Allen Guttmann, Games and Empires:

Modern Sports and Cultural Imperialism (New York: Columbia University Press, 1994), 104; Birkenhead YMCA General Committee minutes, November 8 1892 (Wirral Archive, ymc/1/1); Myerscough, ‘The Development of Basketball in England & the USA’.

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however, their agency (and, specifically, their efficacy in influencing the strategic, rational, logical and linear development of the sport) deserves scrutiny. Following our contextualisation of the early history of the sport, we conclude by arguing for basketball’s contribution to future sport historiography.

Getting basketball off the bench: Locating ‘origins’ in British sport

histories

Overviewing British sport historiography, Martin Johnes identifies four key contextual themes; specifically, class, economics, identities of place and the British Empire.6 These themes, Johnes (and others too) have contested have been evidenced through, and shaped, the nation’s most popular sports - football, rugby and cricket. Other contemporaneous sports and pastimes, too, have also been shaped by these forces and provide sites for scholarly examination. However, within academe Britain’s marginal/minor sports (and their subcultures) have received insufficient attention. Basketball is one such sport. Notwithstanding having a vibrant and devoted cohort of participants and spectators in recent years, and its noted role as a mechanism of sport-labour-migration,7 basketball has remained on the courtside of British historiography. In Richard Holt’s key work, Sport and the British: A

Modern History,8 basketball is entirely absent from the line-up. While

Johnes refers, rightly so, to Holt’s work as ‘a masterly synthesis of British sports history that has yet to be superseded’,9 the omission is

6 Johnes, ‘Great Britain’. 7 Christopher Faulkner, ‘Shooting from beyond the arc: An examination of Basketball player’s migratory experiences’, Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis (University of Worcester, 2017); Joseph Maguire, ‘American Labour Migrants, Globalization and the Making of English Basketball’ in John Bale and Joseph Maguire, eds., The Global Sports Arena: Athletics Talent Migration in an

Interdependent World (London: Frank Cass, 1994), 226-255; Joseph Maguire, “The Commercialization of English Elite Basketball 1972-1988: A Figurational Perspective,” International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 23 (4), (1988): 305-323. 8 Richard Holt, Sport and the British: A Modern History (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989). 9 Johnes, ‘Great Britain’, 444.

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unfortunate and indicative of the privileged space some sports are afforded within national narrative making. Holt does, to his credit, explain that ‘it is impossible to give each sport the space it deserves’ and goes on to list the sports he has omitted – yet even the omissions omit basketball.10 The exclusion of basketball was also replicated in Tony Mason’s parallel collection of essays, Sport in Britain: A Social

History.11 While authors always make decisions over content matter, basketball seems to have fallen foul of historians’ choices during the early evolution of the field.

One area where basketball has been cited has been in relation to the development of women’s sport and sporting participation during the turn of the 19th century.12 As American James Naismith noted in his own book on the origins and development of basketball, shortly after he invented the sport in December 1891 women started playing basketball.13 Though not explicit to Britain, and although his position as basketball’s founder and the veracity of his claims about women’s early involvement may be contested, Naismith’s work stands as a seminal source underpinning existing histories of the game abroad and within Britain’s borders. Adding to Naismith’s work, scholars have continued to examine women’s historical participation in the game and the sport’s role as a site for gender issues.14 The last two volumes of Derek Birley’s trilogy on sport in Britain (chronically 1887-1910 and 1910-1945), contain three references to basketball; all in connection to the women’s game and Swedish-born Martina Bergman-Osterberg.15 To note, in 1895 Bergman-Osterberg owned and ran a number of colleges of physical education in England. At one such institution, Hampstead Physical

10 Holt, Sport and the British, 10. 11 Mason, Sport in Britain 12 James Naismith, Basketball: Its Origins and Development (New York: Association Press, 1941), 161-170. 13 Ibid 14 John Hargreaves, Sport, Power and Culture – A Social and Historical

Analysis of Popular Sports in Britain (Cambridge: Polity, 1986). 15 Derek Birley, Land of Sport and Glory: Sport and British Society 1887-1910

(Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1995), 101; Derek Birley, Playing

the Game: Sport and British Society 1910-45 (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1996), 207-208.

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Training College, Bergman-Osterberg introduced the game to female students following a visit there by an American professor.16 Bergman-Osterberg does, in fact, feature in both Holt’s work and that of contemporary Mike Huggins in his work, The Victorians and Sport, in light of her contributions to advancing women’s physical education. Neither works, however, note Bergman-Osterberg’s value to the genesis of basketball.17 Added to this is Neil Tranter’s Sport, Economy and

Society in Britain 1750-1914’ which also makes passing reference to women’s growing participation in sport (including basketball) in the second part of the nineteenth century.18 Tranter’s observation was also noted earlier by Naismith in his evaluation of the slow development of game in England. Although offering no specific evidence for his remarks, Naismith argued that ‘the acceptance of basketball by the girls of that country [England] stamped the game as one that was played by women, and the English men therefore refused to play it.’19 The Bergman-Osterberg origins are furthered again by John Bale in his assertions that ‘the sport was brought to Britain in 1895 by the physical educationalist, ‘Mme Osterberg who introduced it to her college in Hampstead.’ 20 While Bale may have accurately located Bergman-Osterberg as one key agent in the origins of the game, as will be discussed later in the chapter, Bale’s account replicates the less accurate assertions that the game began circa 1895 rather than in 1892.

Specific date debates aside for the time being, the earliest coherent examination of basketball did not come until 1993 with Keith Myerscough’s short but informative M.A dissertation titled ‘The

Development of Basketball in England & the USA: The Contribution of

the YMCA’.21 To date, and notwithstanding one the authors of this chapter’s own recent research,22 Myerscough’s analysis is the only other academic work to offer an historical consideration of basketball in Britain as a subject in its own right. Although acknowledging the role of

16 Ibid. 17 Huggins, The Victorians and Sport, 82. 18 Tranter, Sport, Economy and Society in Britain, 81. 19 Naismith, Basketball, 152-3. 20 John Bale, Sport and place, 137. 21 Myerscough, ‘The Development of Basketball in England & the USA’. 22 Mandel, ‘The arrival of basketball in England revisited’.

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the YMCA in the development of the game, Myerscough’s focus is, however, not about how and why basketball arrived when it did. Myerscough merely writes, in passing, that basketball was introduced in Birkenhead YMCA by C.J. Procter after a business trip to Canada.23 As his source, Myerscough quotes a short section from Margery Griffiths’ Set of the Sails: A Century of Service to Birkenhead and Merseyside

1874-1974.24 However, the information is not sourced by Griffiths. As Griffiths writes,

Now the world’s most popular game, basketball was invented by a Canadian YMCA Physical Director, James Naismith, in 1891; in 1892 it was being played in Birkenhead YMCA, news of the new game

having been brought by the president, Mr. Proctor [sic] after a business trip to Canada.25

In addition to further crystalizing the agency of Naismith in the sport’s creation and evolution, Myerscough’s later work reiterated Procter as the prime protagonist in Britain.26 Myerscough’s crafting of Procter and the early historical narrative he laid about the sport has also been reflected, and treated au fait accompli, in subsequent scholarship. Guttmann, for example, charts the trajectory of a selection of sports from Europe and the United States to other parts of the world, devoting one paragraph to basketball in England; most of it to the women’s game.27 Like Bale, Guttmann begins to chart basketball in England from 1895, writing that ‘Swedish-born Martina Bergman-Osterberg experimented with the girls’ version of the game at the Hampstead Physical Training College.’28 Nauright and Parrish also accept the priori ‘fact’ that C.J. Procter saw the game in Canada during a business trip and brought it back with him to England in 1892.29

23 Myerscough, ‘The Development of Basketball in England & the USA’, 36. 24 Margery Griffiths, The Set of the Sails: A Century of Service to Birkenhead

and Merseyside 1874-1974 (Birkenhead Press, 1974). 25 Griffiths, Set of the Sails, 60. 26 Keith Myerscough, ‘The Game with No Name: The Invention of Basketball, The International Journal of the History of Sport, 12 (1), (1995): 137-152. 27 Guttmann, Games and Empires, 104-5. 28 Guttmann, Games and Empires, 104. 29 Nauright and Parrish, ‘British Isles and Europe’, 35.

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The contested connection is further consolidated (again without supporting evidence) by Rob Steen who maintains that it was C.J. Procter who brought basketball to England after he ‘discovered the game in Canada’.30 The proliferation of Procter as the sports’ agent provocateur has also continued in the digital world in the history of basketball provided on Basketball England’s official website. 31

Notwithstanding the notable historiographical debates over the veracity of Procter’s connection and centrality to the arrival of Basketball in Britain, and the (re)production and blurring of fact, reality and myth, the narrative has – in lieu of counter narratives, rigorous critique and scholarly contestation - gained considerable legitimacy in contemporary accounts of the sport. While Myerscough rightly may deserve credit for being the first academic to write about the Birkenhead connection with respect to basketball’s early days in England, the overemphasis placed on Procter’s connection, and the limited contextualisation and recognition afforded broader forces, structures, agents and ideologies, has effectively served to mask a more nuanced reading of basketball’s British origins. One area in which closer analysis of the sport and its national origins and diffusion may be made is in relation to the ideological and political force of the YMCA in its ability to utilise basketball to fulfil moral and citizenry related agenda.

Morality, order and basketball

In December 1891, less than fifty years after the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was established in London, England, in June 1844, the game of basketball emerged in the American town of Springfield, Massachusetts32. Though geographically distant, a strong historical link binds the two events. For it was in the Springfield YMCA that the game was conceived and devised, and it was in part through

30 Rob Steen, Floodlights and Touchlines: A History of Spectator Sport (London: Bloomsbury, 2014), 107. 31 Basketball England Official Website, http://www.basketballengland.co.uk/articles/article.aspx?aid=1&pid=3 (Accessed on 28/12/14). 32 Naismith, Basketball.

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basketball that the YMCA reached many parts of the world. As mentioned briefly above, the YMCA’s associations to basketball’s origins, development and movement have been considered crucial by some scholars. Within his work on religion and sport Baker, for example cites the saliency of the organisation and their early internal frictions over whether ‘praying’ or ‘playing’ lay at the heart of the association .33 Baker’s focus on the YMCA and basketball is also followed by numerous others; many of who have continued to highlight the importance of the YMCA within Britain, the regional politics and purposes of the organisation and its use of sport as a social and ideological mechanism.34 The YMCA was not, however, established in a social vacuum, but rather part of broader social, cultural and political responses to wider assumptions about a lack of order, moral virtue and spiritual meaning allegedly plaguing civic life.

The pursuit of moral progress – or more specifically, the work of some religious organisations and development of social movements that aimed to influence public order and civil citizenry – was inextricably linked to the 35contemporary forces of urbanisation and industrialisation manifesting themselves upon Britain (and elsewhere) over the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1844, the progress of the Industrial Revolution, which created work opportunities for people in the cities, and aided by advances in the railway system, helped support mass

33 William J. Baker, ‘Religion’ in S.W. Pope and John Nauright, eds., Routledge

Companion to Sports History (Abingdon: Routledge, 2012), 217-218; William J. Baker, ‘To Pray or to Play? The YMCA question in the United Kingdom and the United States, 1850-1900’ in J.A. Mangan, ed., A Sport-Loving Society:

Victorian and Edwardian Middle-Class England at Play (London: Routledge, 2006), 198-216.34 Clyde Binfield, George Williams and the YMCA: A Study in Victorian and

Social Attitudes (London: Hienemann, 1973); Neal Garnham, “Both Playing and Praying: ‘Muscular Christianity’ and the YMCA in North-East County Durham,” Journal of Social History, 35 (2), (2001): 397-407; L. Elmer Johnson, The History of YMCA Physical Education (Chicago: Association Press, 1979); Robert W. Peterson, Cages to Jump shots: Pro Basketball’s Early Years (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990); Clifford Putney, Muscular

Christianity: Manhood and Sports in Protestant America 1880-1920

(Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2001); Maarten Van Bottenburg, Global Games (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2001), 88-90 35 Binfield, George Williams.

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urbanisation of many of Britain’s towns and cities. Among the new urban dwellers was George Williams. Born in Ashway farm on the Devon-Somerset border, Williams arrived in London, aged twenty, as an already devout Christian in the autumn of 1841.36 Religion, according to his biographer, was ‘the only influence which Williams would have recognized or to which he would have attached any vital importance.’37 The London Williams saw upon his arrival ‘threw him into severe culture shock’ – he found the city an ‘ungodly, intimidating place’. His response was to begin meeting with other like-minded people for prayer and Bible studies. After three years of meetings, in June 1844, Williams and a group of others designated themselves the Young Men’s Christian Association with the purpose of establishing a society that would instil in people a ‘sense of their obligation and responsibility as Christians in diffusing religious knowledge to those around them either through the medium of prayer meeting or any other meeting they think proper.’38

The YMCA effectively capitalised on the prevailing concept, and ideological force, of ‘muscular Christianity’ – which pronounced, and entwined, advantageous virtues of physical rigor with religious servitude and public morality – to help legitimise their existence and rationalise their contributions to alleviating the nation’s supposed public health crises and uncivilised sporting practices. As Holt observed in this regard, ‘by the standards of our day the level of violence tolerated in sport [in the nineteenth century] was remarkable’.39 For example, a number of violent ‘sports’ involved the killing or baiting of animals; throwing stones at cocks on Shrove Tuesday, cock-fighting and bull-baiting were all popular ‘sports’.40 While not specifically targeting sporting pursuits per se, religious believers, emerged as a force against violence and what they considered immoral behaviour in general. In the view of some Christians (particularly Methodists), Holt writes, ‘to save the souls of the living from torment in hell, the abuse of the Sabbath for

36 Ibid. 37 Ibid.14 38 Ibid, 120. 39 Holt, Sport and the British, 18. 40 Ibid.

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drinking and sports had to be stopped’.41 Additionally, ‘Methodists tried to provide alternative religious activities’ to counter the ongoing violence. In Tranter’s view, a key reason for the decline of blood sports was the ‘pursuit of higher standards of private and public behaviour triggered by a wider acceptance of Enlightenment, Evangelical and Methodist values repugnant to unnecessary violence and cruelty’.42

To note, the ethos of muscular Christianity had already emerged and was heavily embedded within the British Public School system. In the public schools of the period, Holt writes, ‘violence and pain were taken for granted not only between the boys but also as a means of discipline’, and, ‘sports’ involving the killing of animals – such as chasing and killing birds, duck-hunting and boar-hunting – were also common in public school life. Holt points out that ‘this brutal and disorderly dimension was one of the aspects of the public schools that Thomas Arnold and his followers set out to reform’.43 As Head teacher of Rugby school from 1828 to 1842, Arnold did not care much for sport and games, but nonetheless sensed their potential for building character in young men. Together with ‘sermons replete with Christian doctrine’, the Rugby school’s curriculum fused physical activity and religion.44 Comparable to the Public School system, Baker notes, both in England and America the YMCA became the ‘organisational expression’ of muscular Christianity as it sought to ‘develop Christian gentlemen through its philosophy that a strong mind and a healthy body supported the spirit’.45 As a direct consequence, YMCA branches began to include gymnastics and calisthenics in purposefully built gymnasiums as part of their programmes. By 1886, over a thousand YMCA branches in North America had over a hundred gymnasiums but only thirty-five physical education directors.46 Baker notes that ‘beginning in the mid-1880s, secretaries and physical directors embarked on a process of professionalization’, which included theoretical study and practical

41 Ibid, 33. 42 Tranter, Society in Britain, 10. 43 Holt, Sport and the British, 78-80. 44 Guttmann, A Whole New Ball Game, 75. 45 Steven A. Riess, Sport in Industrial America 1850-1920 (Wheeling IL, Harlan Davidson, 1995), 19. 46 Baker, ‘To Pray or to Play?’, 206.’

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application in professional schools’.47 This was the nexus at which James Naismith, driven by his own sporting past and the ideological convictions was presented with a challenge by his employer and mentor to invent a new game.

To summarise at this juncture, the invention of basketball, to an extent, was triggered by extraneous developments and circumstances. The broader civilization processes influencing British and American societies during the late nineteenth century were a major underlying factor in the establishment of the YMCA. The establishment of the YMCA, and subsequent introduction into America, invariably precipitated conditions that made the creation of basketball possible. In turn, the YMCA in Britain became a key conduit in the passage and early development of the sport from North America to Britain (and beyond). While this may be an accurate summation, assertions that ‘the international character of the YMCA facilitated the global diffusion of the gospel of basketball throughout the world’,48 and that ‘rather than being spread through a trickle-down effect, basketball was deliberately propagated by the YMCA’,49 are too simplistic and need to be examined further. Various print publications that mention basketball, for instance, raise the possibility that others, unrelated to the YMCA, advocated the new game and contributed to its ‘movement’ to areas beyond the reach of the YMCA.50 In the case of basketball ‘moving’ from America to England, it is also possible that C.J. Procter – with his YMCA ties – was the ‘primary mover’ of the game, but as discussed next the proposition that basketball’s initial ‘arrival’ in England was, exclusively, and ‘deliberately propagated’ by the YMCA is highly debatable.

47 Ibid. 48 Baker, ‘Religion’, 218. 49 Van Bottenburg, Global Games, 89. 50 The New York Times, ‘A New Game of Ball: A Substitute for Football Without Its Rough Features’, April 26 1892; http://www.nytimes.com/times-insider/2015/03/03/1892-a-newborn-called-basket-ball/ (Accessed August 7 2015); The New York Times, ‘Basket Ball and Its Success: A Game that has Become Popular in Girls’ Colleges – How It Is Played’, November 12 1893; http://www.nytimes.com/times-insider/2015/03/03/1892-a-newborn-called-basket-ball/ (Accessed August 7 2015).

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Disputing diffusion: Birkenhead revisited

As outlined above, several works that discuss the introduction of basketball in England share a similar story; namely, Birkenhead YMCA President C.J. Procter ‘seeing’ or ‘discovering’ the game whilst on a business trip to Canada and introducing it in Birkenhead upon his return to England. This narrative appears to have gained credence as a result of Myerscough’s thesis publication. Myerscough, who deserves credit for being the first academic to locate the Birkenhead genesis of the sport, subsequently reiterates this cornerstone of the historical narrative in subsequent work.51 Consumed and replicated by other scholars, this account has been afforded legitimacy as historical fact. Yet until now, no research has been done to verify the authenticity of this account. Myerscough’s key archival source on Procter was secondary material from Margery Griffiths’ Set of the Sails tribute to the YMCA’s involvement in Birkenhead. Crucially, however, Griffiths lacked considerable rigor in referencing and establishing the veracity of her primary sources. She also misspelled Procter’s name.52 Though Griffiths produced a coherent and valuable document of local history, the lack of attribution and scholarly rigor have had consequences for, and call into question, the very foundations upon which the early history of the sport in Britain may be based. Griffiths’ ambivalent bibliography, headed ‘Some sources consulted’, notes that ‘older [YMCA] members…recalled events and personalities of the past’.53 As such, it may be possible to indulge in conjecture that she may have heard the Procter story in an oral interview during her research. Moreover, oral history invariably may be heavily swayed by nostalgia; in this case, subjective recollections that romanticise affiliation and affections for the basketball and the YMCA’s pasts and its constituents.54 Subsequent

51 British Sporting Legacies: The Origins of Basketball in Britain’, http://sportinglives.blogspot.co.uk/2011_05_01_archive.html (Accessed on 16/7/15). 52 Birkenhead YMCA Magazine, 1 (1) March 1892, ‘Secretarial Notes’ (Wirral Archives, ymc/8/1), 1. 53 Griffiths, Set of the Sails, 67. 54 Greg Ramshaw and Sean Gammon, More than just nostalgia? Exploring the heritage/sport tourism nexus,” Journal of Sport Tourism 10 (4), (2005): 229-241.

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research by one of the authors of this chapter into travel records from England to North America – cross-referenced with YMCA meetings from which Procter was absent during 1892 – did not yield conclusive evidence that he indeed travelled to Canada (though it should be noted that travel records from that period can be inconsistent and sketchy).

In reprising Griffiths’ account, Myerscough writes that ‘basketball was introduced into the gymnasium between March, 1892 and January, 1893 by the president of Birkenhead YMCA, Mr C.J. Proctor after a business trip to Canada’.55 Myerscough adds in a footnote that this information also appears on page 124 of the January 1894 Birkenhead YMCA magazine. However, a closer second reading of the source reveals a different story. The writer, Arthur Day – the gym instructor at Birkenhead YMCA in 189456 – describes a ‘hard-fought [basketball game] in which Birkenhead lost to a team from Tranmere. Describing the game, he writes:

To begin with, the gym gallery is still there after accommodating the greatest crowd on record; and it would have been gratifying to our dear president if he had seen the enthusiasm displayed of the game he introduced from America.57

Whether Day meant that the game was originally from America is not known. Regardless, Day’s account, adds to the confusion and lack of clarity surrounding basketball’s Birkenhead birth. The story is muddled further when Day links Procter to America not Canada. Day’s involvement here is also critical with respect to challenging assumptions about the centrality of the YMCA’s (and specifically Procter’s) propagation of the game from America to Britain, and, the overall agency ascribed to some agents over others in the narrative making process. Acknowledging the limitations in Griffiths’ historiography is

55 Myerscough, The Development of Basketball, 36. 56 Birkenhead YMCA Magazine, Vol 3, No.1, March 1894, (Wirral Archives, ymc/8/1), Front Cover. 57 Birkenhead YMCA Magazine, Vol 2, No.11, January 1894, ‘Gym. Jottings’, (Wirral Archive, ymc/8/1), 124.

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also useful as it enables doubt to be cast on Myerscough’s subsequent interpretation of basketball’s origins, and raises questions about the reinforced assumptions that the YMCA were the driving force and Birkenhead the primary context in the historical narrative.

Recent archival examinations now, for example, reveal that the existence of basketball in Birkenhead is first mentioned in a local YMCA meeting of 8 November 1892,58 antedating the accounts of Bale and Guttmann by more than two years. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that basketball was played in other parts of England well before 1895. A report in The New York Times from November 12, 1893, notes that basketball ‘has found favor [sic] at Oxford and Cambridge in England.’59 By then, basketball had been played in Birkenhead for more than a year. The minutes of the 8th November 1892 meeting refer to basketball as the ‘new game’, and the Birkenhead YMCA magazine from December 1892 mentions that the gymnasium’s busy period ‘may be accounted for in great measure by the timely introduction of the game of basketball, which, judging by the earnest way in which it is played, seems to have “caught on” wonderfully.’ The same page also lists the original thirteen rules of basketball, first published by Naismith in January 1892.60 The references to the ‘new game’ in November 1892 and to the ‘introduction of the game of basketball’ together with the publication of the rules the following month, suggest that basketball was introduced in Birkenhead around this time. Therefore, it may be reasonably argued that Myerscough’s claim that the game was first played in Birkenhead between March 1892 and January 1893 can be more accurately narrowed to September or October of 1892.

In addition to notions of an origin, further points that reforge the narrative may also be addressed. Before basketball reached Birkenhead, for instance, and immediately following the first game in Springfield, U.S.A in December 1891, the game started to ‘move’ in a variety of ways. Five of the men who played in the basketball game in Springfield

58 Birkenhead YMCA General Committee minutes, November 8 1892 (Wirral Archive, ymc/1/1). 59 The New York Times, November 12 1893, ‘Basket Ball and Its Success. 60 Birkenhead YMCA Magazine, 1 (10) December 1892, ‘Gym. Jottings’, 113; The Triangle, 1 (10) January 15 1892, ‘Basket Ball’, 144-147.

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were from Canada. As Naismith’s noted, ‘McDonald was from Nova Scotia, Archibald and Thompson were from New Brunswick, and Patton and I from Ontario. All of those men, with the exception of myself, returned to Canada and took basketball with them.’61 Furthermore, according to Naismith, ‘at the Christmas vacation a number of the students went home and some of them started the game in their local YMCAs.’ Thus, Canada is almost certainly the first country outside the United States where basketball was played.62 In terms of the ‘movement’ of sports, basketball was carried, at least initially, in the simplest way imaginable: by individuals who travelled.

In January 1892 Naismith published an article in his school’s paper, The Triangle, which contained a description of the new game and its rules.63 According to Van Bottenburg, the article was read ‘by tens of thousands of [YMCA] members’.64 Similarly, Naismith believed that the article was a key factor in the game’s ‘spread’ as it ‘went to the branches of the YMCA all over the country’ where, crucially, there were gymnasiums in which to play the game.65 Peterson writes that during 1892 Naismith’s players organised games at the school in Springfield and ‘may have also demonstrated the game at YMCAs in New England and upstate New York’. He adds that ‘in May, Physical Education, the YMCA’s monthly for physical directors, published the team’s picture and reported that it had never lost a game.’66 Van Bottenburg, too, points out that ‘many of those who attended the YMCA Training school found jobs as sports instructors at high schools and colleges, where they included basketball in their curriculum’, including Charles Bernies, who established the first college team at Geneva College, Pennsylvania, in 1892.67 Significantly, on April 15, 1892, The New York Times carried a

61 Naismith, Basketball,144. 62 Naismith, Basketball, 59; 144 63 The Triangle, (1) (10) January 15 1892, ‘Basket Ball’, 144-147; http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll3/id/485 (Accessed 13 August 2015) 64 Van Bottenburg, Global Games, 89. 65 Naismith, Basketball, 111. 66 Peterson, Cages to Jump shots, 22. 67 Van Bottenburg, Global Games, 8-9

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description of the game,68 showing that people outside the YMCA were exposed to Naismith’s invention.

In the Triangle article Naismith noted that in his opinion the optimal number of players on a team was nine: three defenders, three centre men and three offensive men.69 By January 1893, not long after the game was introduced in Birkenhead, the local YMCA magazine reported that a nine-man team would be chosen to play against a team from the Liverpool gym.70 It is therefore plausible that Naismith’s article was used as a point of reference during the game’s early development in England. To entertain conjecture here, Procter may have simply bought a copy of the Triangle and been encouraged by what he read. Naismith, for his part, wrote that following the publication of the rules of the game, he received requests for further details ‘from widely scattered points, but practically all of them were from YMCA branches’71 though he did not specify which branches. In any event, Naismith’s article was clearly one of the first spurs to the game’s ‘movement’ and ‘spread’.

Considering passing and catching the game anew

Basketball’s ‘movement’ from Springfield outwards toward Britain occurred at pace. In addition to the role of agents, ideologies and organisations, the rapid development was also aided by the communication technology – including cable telegraphy and the telephone – that were quickly improving and changing the ways in which new ideas ‘moved’ from place to place.72 At the same time, given the game’s diverse early ‘movements’ and its multiple directions, compounded by the various ways in which news ‘travelled’, it is virtually impossible to pinpoint and trace its precise trajectory. As Naismith noted,

68 The New York Times, April 26 1892, ‘A New Game of Ball: A Substitute for Football Without Its Rough Features’; Guttmann, Games and Empires, 99. 69 Peterson, Cages to Jump Shots, 20. 70 Birkenhead YMCA Magazine, 1 (11) January 1893, ‘Gym Jottings’, 127. 71 Naismith, Basketball, 111. 72 Taylor, ‘Editorial’, 205.

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The spread of basketball has been both extensive and rapid. The game was introduced into the foreign countries soon after its origins, and it spread here in the United States so rapidly that I have been unable to determine accurately just when many parts of the country took up the game.73

Naismith found it an equally daunting task to chart the game’s global ‘spread’. Commenting on the research he did for his book, he wrote that ‘in spite of the fact that I have written many letters trying to determine just when basketball was introduced into other countries, I have been unable to gather complete and accurate data.’74 Naismith also refers specifically to the difficulty he encountered in trying to chart the history of basketball in England, observing that ‘in searching for a record of some English team, I find mention only of the London YMCA, and there is little in regard to history of this group.’ Interestingly, Naismith writes that ‘soon after the origin of basketball, Miss Bessie Fotheringham went to England and introduced the girls’ game’, though he does not specify exactly where Fotheringham went to or what he meant by ‘soon after’. In any event, the claim is unsourced or backed up by factual evidence.75

The myriad visible and hidden ways in which basketball ‘moved’ following its invention, the messiness of the archival evidence as to how the game ‘crossed’ from America to Britain, and instances of inaccurate information raise questions about the game’s ‘journey’ to and through Britain, and subsequently call for a re-examination of the existing historical narratives. There is, we argue, enough contextual, archival and scholarly uncertainty to destabilise the permanence of Procter as the

central agent of basketball’s British origins. It is evident that more needs to be done in order to verify Procter’s exact role in ‘bringing’ basketball to Birkenhead. We contend that it may be entirely plausible that basketball ‘arrived’ in Britain via ways other than Procter ‘bringing’ the game with him from North America. Basketball may have, we

73 Naismith, Basketball, 110. 74 Naismith, Basketball, 143-144. 75 Naismith, Basketball, 152.

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recognise, also started by other individuals or groups; indeed, perhaps by fellow members of the YMCA or readers of its various publications. We might also conjecture, given the existence of other physical activity and sport outlets around the nation at the time, that the YMCA were not the only organisation and space where the game found favour and fervour. With no clear evidence to prove that it was exclusively C.J Procter who ‘brought’ the game – and if it was him, the exact way in which he did it – the possibility that the game ‘moved’ and ‘arrived’ via a route different from the existing story needs to be entertained in academic renderings anew.

Conclusion

This chapter has presented a particular narrative of the nascent history of basketball in Britain. Our reconstruction has sought to locate basketball within sport historiography and, in so doing, present a case for its significance within the country’s collective imagining about its’ sporting pasts. We also afforded focus in this chapter on some of the contextual forces (namely the YMCA and its associated agendas toward public morality) that were at play during basketball’s establishment. Discerning the specific influence of forces is difficult and require exercising caution in contextual analysis. Cogniscent of such limitations, we sought to destabilise existing assumptions that have tended toward a distinct ‘origin’ for the sport, a linear progression of the game, and the uncritical acceptance of particular protagonists in this process. Given these issues, and recent development of a new archival repository at the University of Worcester’s National Basketball Heritage Archive and Study Centre, we recognise there is still scope to improve understandings about the origins and the game, the consequences and influence the sport had within particular local and regional settings, and the wider social and cultural histories that have emerged through and the beyond the 20th century. Basketball was, clearly, part of the programme of many YMCA branches, which acted as a major hub for many communities in England and other parts of Britain at the turn of the 20th century. Between 1911 and 1936, for example, a series of individuals and groups (within YMCA, educational, industry and military

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establishments) continued to develop and spread basketball further and promote participation among communities; most notably to Birmingham and other parts of the north of England. Beyond this period, from c.1936 through to 1972, and not unlike other sport organisations in the country, basketball went through substantial modernisation. Significant in this regard was the formation of the Amateur Basketball Association of England and Wales. The game since has gone on to have considerable popular, commercial and media following within Britain and the wider European context.76

A critique of basketball’s early histories in Britain is of value in highlighting the importance of contextual considerations and the influences of particular social, cultural, ideological and political forces on the production and the entrenchment of sporting sub-cultures within the national landscape. The early phase of basketball in Britain reveals much about past sporting cultures, the people who played (and who did not), places where the game took hold, and the sport’s early organisation and public reception. By continuing to examine basketball’s histories in Britain it may be also possible to add to our wider articulations and understanding about the idiosyncrasies of sports’ movement within, across and through national, transnational and global contexts. Moreover, the contestable (re)presentation and interpretations offered above also illuminate broader historiographical malaise with regards to the centrality of human agency in sports’ early developments and diffusions, the conundrums of unchecked ‘factual’ assertions, and the nostalgic romanticism and utilisations of particular mythologies within sport history. These issues, we believe, go beyond basketball to the heart of our collective work, thought and responsibilities in advancing the discipline.

76 Mark Falcous and Joseph Maguire. "Making it local? National Basketball Association expansion and English basketball subcultures." in Mike Silk, David Andrews and C. L. Cole (eds.) Corporate Nationalisms: Sport, Cultural Identity

and Transnational Marketing (Oxford: Berg, 2005), 13-34; Faulkner, ‘Shooting beyond the arc’; Maguire, ‘American Labour Migrants’; Maguire, ‘The Commercialization of English Elite Basketball’

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Garnham, Neal. “Both Playing and Praying: ‘Muscular Christianity’ and the YMCA in North-East County Durham,” Journal of Social History, 35 (2), (2001): 397-407.

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Johnson, L. Elmer. The History of YMCA Physical Education (Chicago: Association Press, 1979).

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UKRAINE

THE DEVELOPMENT OF BASKETBALL IN UKRAINE

Ivashchenko Sergii, National University of Physical Education and

Sport of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine

Correspondence: Ivashchenko Sergii

Algis6274hotmail.com Phone: 038 099 7 22 65 64

The history of the emergence and formation of basketball in Ukraine is extremely interesting. Despite the fact that the birthplace of many sports in the Ukraine in the pre-revolutionary years were cities such as Kiev, Odessa and Kharkiv (at least remember the story of the emergence and development in Ukraine sports such as football, athletics, tennis, etc.), distribution basketball on the whole territory of Ukraine began with the regional city of Chernihiv. In 1919, young athletes Chernihiv began to play an unusual game with a ball, which was necessary to throw in the basket [2,6]. At first, this extraordinary game was accepted by the majority of sports fans with a grain of salt, but for just two years, it has become very popular. Thus, the first city in Ukraine, where basketball has acquired the status of a popular team game became Chernihiv.

The first two teams in basketball, "Star" and "Victoria" were organized on the basis of the Chernigov Military Sports Club in July 6, 1921. A bit later three new men's basketball teams were created in Chernigov and one female team. In the 1922 it was held the first city championship of basketball in Chernigov. All matches took place in the city park in the open area. In the absence of an equal sparring partner, the only women's team competed against men's teams during that championship[4,9].

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UDK 796.323.2 (477) (091)

One of the problems that are somewhat slowed the spread of basketball in other parts of Ukraine, was the lack of a sufficient number of competitors, which could be considered an expert in the field of basketbola.Poetomu to further popularize basketball Ukrainian Olympic Committee made a proposal to organize in the city of Kharkiv Special national sports committee responsible for the promotion of basketball in the country. In Kiev, the first basketball games held in 1922 during the opening of the navigation season for boaters [13]. The celebratory program was organized by the Kiev Proletarian Yacht Club on the occasion of the opening of navigation; it consisted not only of swimming lessons, diving, water polo and canoeing, but also of sports on the ground, including basketball [7,15].

Historians believe that basketball is a special kind of began to spread throughout the country since 1922. It was this year, and should be considered as the date of birth of basketball in our country. Despite the fact that already in 1921, basketball was widespread in Chernihiv and its suburbs, but widespread throughout the country, he received it in 1922, when they were formally approved by the common rules of the competition on the Ukrainian basketball. During this period there is a significant increase in the number of basketball sports clubs, to create new male and female basketball teams systematically conductive championships within the cities, districts and regions of Ukraine.

During these years, almost all young people in Chernihiv and other regions of Ukraine were involved in the sports movement within the basketball clubs. One of the most popular basketball clubs was club "Spartak", which is composed of 8 men and 3 women's team. In addition, each university has its own basketball sports club. Friendlies FIBA conducted weekly training conducted every day from 12 am to 8 pm. The media covered the results of competitions in basketball [1,8,14].

In many public schools in various cities of Ukraine are numerous basketball section. There are all new basketball sports clubs and associations (especially popular among them were "Spratak for boys", "Red railroad", "Metalist" and others). Systematically conducted local, regional and national championships in basketball. During this time, many sports arenas regional level are built and equipped with new

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basketball courts. In the city of Novgorod-Seversky special courses on the rules of basketball were organized [8]. This gave rise to the development of coaches and referees training system for this type of sports. Many sport facilities are just a few basketball upkeep, both outdoors and indoors that obespetsilo opportunity to conduct intensive training in basketball throughout the year. Thus, in Ukraine grows younger generation of people, who are well aware of rules of the game of basketball and know how to play basketball.

The final recognition of this game was in Ukraine in 1924, when basketball was officially included in the program of the summer sporting events. And although, there were large amount of basketball teams, participating in those competitions. So, these games can rightly be called the first official competition of the national total. Interesting is the fact that the press regularly highlights an unspoken rivalry between basketball and football relative popularity among the population [3,10]. Many in the crowd could not change our commitment to football in favor of a new and dynamic so popular games like basketball. Especially tempted fans the opportunity to the players during matches in basketball use a high level of technology of the ball, and the ingenious combination of long accurate throws in the ring.

During the period of existence of Ukraine as an independent state, rzvitiyu basketball in the country has received considerable attention. Many modern Ukrainian basketball teams considered strong enough [5,12]. The sport continues to grow in all regions of the country and has become part of the lifestyle of the young generation. In recent years the leading position occupied Ukrainian Basketball Super League the following commands:

• «Azovmash" (Mariupol)• «Construction" (Kiev)• «Goverla" (Ivano-Frankivsk)• «Dnepr" (Dnepropetrovsk)• «Dniproazot" (Dnepropetrovsk)• «BKDonetsk» (Donetsk)• «BKKyyiv" (Kiev)• «Kryvbasbasket" (KryvyyRih)

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• «Nikolaev" (Nikolaev)• «Odessa" (Odessa)• «Politehnica-Galicia" (Lviv)• «Ferro-ZNTU" (Zaporozhye)• «Chemist" (South)• «Cherkassy monkeys" (Cherkasy).

The most titled team of experts consider such as the Ukrainian team in Kiev "Builder". This team is the first champion of independent Ukraine. The last time she kept six consecutive league titles. It should be noted that Ukrainian basketball team is always open to foreign athletes. This is international practice, used as part of the team of foreign players from other countries. In many cases, this practice is justified. Foreign athletes almost always occupy a worthy place in the leading team, thanks to the high level of their sports skills [11].

Since independence, the team played six times in the European Championship. The achievement of the Ukrainian team was the fact that she managed to win the 6th place. This happened in 2013.

Figure 1. Members of the men's basketball team of Ukraine.

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Some results of Ukraine's national team performances in basketball international competitions:

1997 EuroBasket: finished 13th among 16 teams

Yevheniy Murzin, Oleksandr Lokhmanchuk, Grihoriy Khyzhniak, Oleksandr Okunsky, Leonid Yaylo, Ihor Kharchenko, Ihor Molchanov, Viktor Savchenko, Vadym Pudzyrey, Dmytro Bazelevsky, Denys Zhuravlov, Roman Rubchenko (Coach: Zaurbek Khromaev)

2001 EuroBasket: finished 14th among 16 teams

Oleksandr Okunsky, Andriy Lebedev, Serhiy Lishchuk, Mykola Khriapa, Volodymyr Rizhov, Stanislav Balashov, Dmytro Korablov, Oleksandr Raevsky, Viacheslav Yevstratenko, Dmytro Markov, Vadym Pudzyrey, Viktor Kobzysty (Coach: Henadiy Zashchuk)

2003 EuroBasket: finished 14th among 16 teams

Oleksandr Okunsky, Grihoriy Khyzhniak, Oleksandr Lokhmanchuk, Artur Drozdov, Andriy Lebedev, Stanislav Balashov, Mykola Khriapa, Andriy Botichev, Viacheslav Yevstratenko, Serhiy Moskalenko, Oleksandr Raevsky, Oleksandr Skutelnyk (Coach: Henadiy Zashchuk)

2005 EuroBasket: finished 16th among 16 teams

Stanislav Medvedenko, Serhiy Lishchuk, Andriy Lebedev, Stanislav Balashov, Oleksiy Pecherov, Volodymyr Hurtovy, Ihor Kryvych, Volodymyr Koval, Artem Butsky, Viktor Kobzysty, Oleksandr Raevsky, Rostyslav Kryvych (Coach: Henadiy Zashchuk)

Artem Shvets (BC Kyiv), Ihor Loktionov (Azovmash Mariupol), Oleksiy Onufriyev (MBK Mykolaiv), Oleksandr Kolchenko (Khimik Yuzhny), Artur Drozdov (BC Kyiv), Volodymyr Koval (BC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Volodymyr Hurtovy (SK Cherkasy Monkeys), Oleksiy Poltoratskiy(BC Odessa), Serhiy Lishchuk (Azovmash Mariupol),

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Yevheniy Pidirvany (Azovmash Mariupol), Viacheslav Kravtsov (BC Kyiv), Artem Butsky (SK Cherkasy Monkeys). Coaches-Vitaliy Lebedyntsev, Valentyn Berestnev

Denys Lukashov, Maksym Vylkhovetskyi, Serhiy Popov, Serhiy Hladyr, Oleksiy Onufriyev, Dmytro Hliebov, Oleksandr Kolchenko, Sergiy Lishchuk, Oleh Saltovets, Oleksiy Pecherov, Maksym Pustozvonov, Andriy Ahafonov (Coach-Valentyn Melnychuk)

2011 EuroBasket: finished 17th among 24 teams

Maksym Pustozvonov, Denys Lukashov, Steve Burtt, Jr., Oleksandr Kolchenko, Oleksandr Lypovyy, Dmytro Zabirchenko, Oleg Saltovets, Oleksiy Pecherov, Serhiy Lishchuk, Danylo Kozlov, Kyrylo Fesenko, Viacheslav Kravtsov. (Coach - Mike Fratello; Assistant Coaches - Brian Hill, Denys Zhuravlov)

2013 EuroBasket: finished 6th among 24 teams

Maksym Pustozvonov, Eugene "Pooh" Jeter, Olexandr Mishula, Dmytro Gilebov, Sergii Gladyr, Oleksandr Lypovyy, Kyryl Natyazhko, Dmytro Zabirchenko, Maksym Korniyenko, Ihor Zaytsev, Artem Pustovyi, Viacheslav Kravtsov. (Coach - Mike Fratello; Assistant Coach - Bob Hill)

2014 FIBA World Cup: finished 18th among 24 teams

Sergii Gladyr, Eugene "Pooh" Jeter, Dmytro Zabirchenko, Ihor Zaytsev, Maksym Korniyenko, Viacheslav Kravtsov, Oleksandr Lypovyy, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Olexandr Mishula, Kyryl Natyazhko, Artem Pustovyi, Maksym Pustozvonov. (Coach – Mike Fratello; Assistant Coach - Bob Hill)

2015 EuroBasket: automatically qualified (Through Eurobasket 2013)

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Figure 2. Members of the women's basketball team of Ukraine.

Preparation of professional players for basketball produced in Ukraine using modern science-based methods and is subject to special sports bazah.Za right to participate in the "Super League of Ukraine" are competing for more than 14 professional teams. Among other distinguished teams such as the basketball club "Azovmash" - men's basketball team from Mariupol and seven-time champion of Ukraine, five-time winner of the Cup of Ukraine basketball club "Kiev" - Ukrainian basketball club, founded in 1999 by Alexander Volkov.

These clubs according to many experts is the leading clubs in Ukraine. Among the young players should be noted such famous athletes as Dmitry Zabirchenko "Builder", Andrei Malyshev, "BC" Ferro ", Vyacheslav Kravtsov, Sergei Lischuk - Ukrainian team and many others. Now basketball - one of the most popular games in the Ukraine.

The massive, truly popular sport basketball fans gained recognition for its unique character, high emotion and availability, which is based on simple rules of the game by using simple equipment. A particular advantage of basketball as a means of physical education lies in its specific qualities - the ability to self-regulation of sports load level. This makes the game of basketball, accessible to people of all ages.

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REFERENCES

1. Astrup Р., Jorgensen К., Siggaard- Anders en О., Engel К. Theand-base metabolism a new approach. - Lancet,1960, I, p.1035-1039.

2. Auerbach Basketball. M .: Physical Education and Sports, 1961.-159 p.

3. Basketball: competition rules. ~ M .: Physical Education andSports, 1978. 72 p.

4. Boreham C.A. Physical Activity and Health across the Lifespan.Perspectives on Health and Exercise / C.A. Boreham, C.J. Riddoch. – 2000. – 248 p.

5. Brill P. Muscular strength and physical function / P. Brill // Med.Sci. Sports and Exer. – 2000. – № 32. – P. 412 – 432.

6. Corbin C.B. Physical activity for everyone: What every physicaleducator should know about promoting lifelong physical activity / C.B. Corbin // J. Teach. in Phys. Education. – 2002. – № 21. – P. 128 – 144.

7. Golomazov SV Accuracy of basketball. Sports Games 1971, № 3,p. 28.

8. Grasys AD Methods of preparing a basketball player. M .: PhysicalEducation and Sports, 1958. - 194 p.

9. Ludovici – Connolly A.M. Winning Health Promotion Strategies /A.M. Ludovici – Connolly. – Human Kinetics, 2009. – 180 p.

10. Morcus B.H. Motivating People to Be Physically Active / B.H.Marcus, L.A. Forsyth. – [2th ed.]. – Human Kinetics, 2009. – 182 p.

11. Physical activity and health in Europe: evidence for action / editedby N. Cavill, S. Kahlmeier, F. Racioppi. – WHO Library Cataloguing in Publication Data, 2006. – 55 p.

12. Romm MD Basketball. Training, equipment, tactics and training.M .: Sports and Tourism, 1932. - 120 p.

13. Skinner B.F. The science of learning and the art of teaching.Harvord Education Review, 1954, No.2,p.86-97.

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14. The world health report: health systems financing: the path touniversal coverage. – WHO Library Cataloguing in PublicationData, 2010. – 128 p.

15. Warburton D.E. Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence /D.E. Warburton, C.W. Nicol, S.S. Bredin // Canad. Med. Ass. J. –2006. - № 174 (6). – P. 801 – 824.

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BRAZIL

BASKETBALL IN BRAZIL

Mauro Moraes Macêdo- IBMR - Instituto Brasileiro de Medicina e

Reabilitação/Laureate - Brasil

Fabio André Castilha– Manaus Military School, Brazilian Army

José Fernandes Filho – Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – Brasil

Correspondence:

Prof. Dr. José Fernandes Filho centrodeexcelencia@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION

Soon after James Naismith invented basketball, back in 1891, Brazil was one of the pioneer countries to adopt basketball as a sport. According to the CBB - Brazilian Basketball Confederation (2017), Mr. Augusto Shaw, an American student from Yale University who had contact with the new sport at this university, where he graduated in Arts in 1892, brought it into the country. In 1894, he received an invitation to teach in Brazil at the traditional Mackenzie College in São Paulo, and brought along a basket ball. All of a sudden, the sport was being practiced in Brazil, in smaller proportions than in the USA, of course. According to the CBB (2017), this new sport quickly became popular among women only, which somehow disrupted the diffusion among the boys due to the chauvinism present in the society at that time.

Due to this, the first basketball team was only formed by Prof. Augusto Shaw in 1896, when he managed to convince his students that basketball was not a women's sport, and was able to set up the first team at Mackenzie College (CBB, 2017). This team was formed by Horacio Nogueira and Edgar de Barros (above in photo 1), Pedro Saturnino, Augusto Marques Guerra, Theodoro Joyce, José Almeida and Mário Eppinghauss (below in photo 1).

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UDK 796.323.2 (81) (091)

Photo 1: First basketball team of Mackenzie College in Brazil, 1896 (Source: Photo by

Augusto Shaw and the 1st Basketball Team in Brazil - Image taken and adapted from CBB,

2017)

Shaw was able to see the growth of the sport in Brazil before he passed away in 1939, the same year of James Naismith’s death, who was granted with only a single trip to Berlin for the invention of a game practiced by millions of youngsters throughout the world. Thus, the task of keeping up Shaw’s hard work regarding the acceptance of basketball was put under the responsibility of professors Oscar Thompson and Henry J. Sims, the last one being the director of Physical Education at Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Rio de Janeiro (MARQUES, 1980).

Marques (1980) still reports that the spreading of the sport throughout the country has only taken place thanks to the actions of professors Oscar Thompson at the São Paulo National School, and Henry J. Sims, director of Physical Education at the YMCA in Rio de Janeiro.

The first basketball tournaments took place at the YMCA’s gymnasium in 1912, in the central area of Rio de Janeiro. Then, in the following year, these tournaments were transferred to the “America” Football Club (FC) gymnasium in “Tijuca” area, Rio de Janeiro, due to the intervention of Professor Henry J. Sims. A match was organized, between YMCA members dressed on America’s uniforms, and athletes of the Chilean soccer team, who were hanging out and wanted to have

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some fun. The final score of this game was 5 x 4 to ACM’s members. After this victory, America FC became the first club offer basketball as a sport in Rio de Janeiro (CBB, 2017).

The first basketball rules were translated in 1915, and in that same year, the first South American tournament took place, and was held at YMCA in Rio de Janeiro. Due the great success of this tournament, the Metropolitan Athletic Sports League, which was in charge of the ground sports in Rio de Janeiro, adopted basketball as a sport in 1916. However, only in 1919, the league organized the first official championship, which was won by “Flamengo” club.

According to Oliveira (2012), the Brazilian men's basketball team was called for the first time in 1922, for the celebration of the Centennial of Brazil in the Latin American Games, a continental tournament between Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, which Brazil won. In 1930, the first South American basketball championship took place, and was held in Montevideo, Uruguay, also with the participation of Brazil.

According to Rio de Janeiro State Basketball Federation (2015), in 1933, the clubs that held professional football teams started creating specific entities for different other sports, and that was when the Brazilian Basketball Federation was founded, on December 25th, in Rio de Janeiro. Then, aiming the dissemination of the sport in other Brazilian states, in 1941, the current name “Brazilian Basketball Confederation” (CBB) was approved; an organization that plans, manages, and takes care of the sport diffusion around the country.

CBB (2017) has got 27 state federations affiliated to its board, and is the only basketball institution recognized by the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB). Its first president was Mr. Gerdal Gonzaga Bóscoli (1933 - 1938), who had seven successors until the present day: Mr. Paulo Martins Meira, Mr. Alberto Cúri, Mr. Carlos de Oliveira Dias, Mr. Renato Brito Cunha, Mr. Gerasime Grego Bozikis, Mr. Carlos Nunes, and the current Mr. Guilherme Peixoto, a former athlete of the Brazilian team known as “Guy”, who took over the presidency of the entity in March 2017.

According to the Brazilian Olympic Committee - COB (2004), the Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA), was created in

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1932, two years after the sport being officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and is the organization in charge of managing all international basketball competitions. It has already had three venues: the first one in Rome, the second one in Berne, Switzerland, and the third one in Berlin in 1956, before definitively returning to Switzerland, but in Geneva.

The creation of FIBA came after meetings held by a small group of basketball representatives from eight different countries: Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland, who signed a document on June 18th, 1932, (FIBA, 2017). Nowadays, FIBA is made up of 214 national affiliated federations, and is the only entity in charge of promoting official international championships among the affiliated national teams (FIBA, 2017).

It is important to note that the total number of countries, according to the United Nations (UN), is 193, therefore, FIBA includes a larger number of countries than what’s registered by this organization (UN, 2017).

Both men and women Brazilian teams, starting from 1935 - year of joining into FIBA, have been taking part on international competitions promoted by the international federation, which are: the American Cup, which is the Pre-World Championship, the World Championship, which, after 16 editions, had its name changed to Basketball World Cup, the Pre Olympic Tournament, the Olympic Games, the Pan American Games, and South American Championship, in the various categories.

Currently, the FIBA competition calendar features the following competitions for the adult, under-22, under-21, under-19, under-18, under-17 and under-16 categories, in the men's category: America Cup, Pre World Championship, World Championship (currently known as Basketball World Cup), Pre Olympic Tournament, Olympic Games, Pan American Games and South American Championship.

The South American Basketball Association, or Asociación Del

Básquetbol Sudamericano (ABASU, 2017), is the entity in charge of the organization and development of basketball championships. However, it operates in partnership with FIBA Americas. The South American Championship is an example of a tournament held by ABASU, and the

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categories are: adult, under-17, and under-15. The top three athletes from the South American Games are ranked for the Pan American Games (FIBA AMERICAS, 2009).

According to CBB (2017), basketball in Brazil presents its state championships ruled by the various state basketball federations in its various categories: adult, under-22, under-19, under-17, under-15, under-13, and festivals for the under-12 age group.

BRAZIL AND ITS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

According to CBB (2017), between 1965 and 1989, the competition was called Brazil Cup. In 1990, the competition was renamed after National Men's Championship, and from 2009 on, it was renamed after New Brazil Basketball (NBB). Below are shown the men champion clubs in the various national championships:

BRAZIL CUP

1965 – CORINTHIANS (SP) 1966 – CORINTHIANS (SP) 1967 – BOTAFOGO (RJ) 1968 – SÍRIO (SP) 1969 – CORINTHIANS (SP) 1970 – SÍRIO (SP) 1971 – BAGRES DE FRANCA CLUB (SP) 1972 – SÍRIO (SP) 1973 – VILA NOVA (GO) 1974 – EMANUEL FRANCA (SP) 1975 – AMAZONAS DE FRANCA (SP) 1977 – PALMEIRAS (SP) 1978 – SÍRIO (SP) 1979 – SÍRIO (SP) 1980 – FRANCANA (SP) 1981 – TENNIS CLUB/SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS (SP) 1981 – FRANCANA (SP) 1982 – MONTE LÍBANO (SP) 1983 – SÍRIO (SP) 1984/1985 – MONTE LÍBANO (SP) 1985/1986 – MONTE LÍBANO (SP) 1986 – MONTE LÍBANO (SP) 1987 – MONTE LÍBANO (SP) 1988/1989 – SÍRIO (SP)

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

1990 – RAVELLI/FRANCA (SP) 1991 – RAVELLI/FRANCA (SP) 1992 – RIO CLARO (SP) 1993 – SABESP/FRANCA (SP) 1994 – CORINTHIANS/PONY (RS) 1995 – RIO CLARO (SP) 1996 – CORINTHIANS/AMWAY (SP) 1997 – FRANCA/COUGAR (SP) 1998 – FRANCA/MARATHON (SP) 1999 – FRANCA/MARATHON (SP) 2000 – VASCO DA GAMA (RJ) 2001 – VASCO DA GAMA (RJ) 2002 – BAURU/TILIBRA/COPIMAX (SP) 2003 – COC/RIBEIRÃO PRETO (SP) 2004 – UNIT/UBERLÂNDIA (MG) 2005 – TELEMAR (RJ) 2007 – UNIVERSO/BRB (DF) 2008 – FLAMENGO/PETROBRAS (RJ)

NEW BRAZIL BASKETBALL

2009 – FLAMENGO/PETROBRAS (RJ) 2009/2010 – UNICEUB/BRASÍLIA (DF) 2010/2011 – UNICEUB/BRASÍLIA (DF) 2011/2012 – UNICEUB/BRASÍLIA (DF)

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2012/2013 – FLAMENGO/BMG (RJ) 2013/2014 – FLAMENGO/BMG - ESTÁCIO DE SÁ UNIVERSITY (RJ) 2014/2015 – BAURU/PASCHOALOTTO (SP)

2015/2016 – FLAMENGO/ESTÁCIO DE SÁ UNIVERSITY (RJ)

Regarding the women’s championship, it was first known as Brazil Cup, and was disputed between 1984 and 1997. In 1998, with a new format, it was renamed after National Women’s Championship. Then, in 2010 the National Women's Basketball League was founded, and based in São Paulo, this entity is in charge of organizing the national women's championships (CBB, 2017).

The Brazilian women champion clubs were the following:

BRAZIL CUP

1984 – PRUDENTINA (SP) 1985 – UNIMEP (SP) 1986 – UNIMEP (SP) 1988 – MINERCAL (SP) 1988 – ADC BCN (SP) 1989 – PERDIGÃO DIVINO (SP) 1990/1991 – ADC BCN (SP) 1991/1992 – CONSTECCA/SEDOX (SP) 1992 – LEITE MOÇA/SOROCABA (SP) 1994 – PONTE PRETA/NOSSA CAIXA NOSSO BANCO (SP) 1995 – PONTE PRETA/NOSSA CAIXA NOSSO BANCO (SP) 1996 – UNIMEP (SP) 1997 – DATA CONTROL/AMERICANA (SP)

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

1998 – FLUMINENSE/OCEÂNICA (RJ) 1999 – ARCOR/SANTO ANDRÉ (SP) 2000 – PARANÁ BASQUETE (SP) 2001 – VASCO DA GAMA (RJ) 2002 – SÃO PAULO/GUARU (SP) 2003 – UNIMED/AMERICANA (SP) 2004 – UNIMED/OURINHOS (SP) 2005 – UNIMED/OURINHOS (SP) 2006 – UNIMED/OURINHOS (SP) 2007 – UNIMED/OURINHOS (SP) 2008 – UNIMED/OURINHOS (SP) 2009 – AÇUCAR COMETA/UNIMED/CATANDUVA (SP)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LEAGUE

2010/2011 – SANTO ANDRÉ (SP) 2011/2012 – UNIMED/AMERICANA (SP) 2013 – SPORT (PE) 2013/2014 – UNIMED/AMERICANA (SP) 2014/2015 – UNIMED/AMERICANA (SP) 2015/2016 – SAMPAIO CORRÊA (MA)

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BRAZIL IN INTERNATIONAL ADULT CHAMPIONSHIPS

In international championships, both men’s and women’s adult category, Brazil presents the following retrospective (table 1), according to FIBA (2017):

Table 01: Number of entries of the Brazilian teams in both men’s and women’s adult

category, in all international competitions (Source: FIBA, 2017)

GE

ND

ER

TO

TA

L

AM

ER

ICA

CU

P

WO

RL

D

PRE

OL

YM

PIC

OL

YM

PIC

GA

ME

S

PAN

-AM

ER

ICA

N

SOU

TH

AM

ER

ICA

N

Men 109 7 17 10 16 16 44

Women 81 7 16 9 7 14 29

According to FIBA (2017), both men and women Brazil teams have won numerous medals in the various international adult championships, as shown in table 2:

Table 02: Number of medals won by the Brazilian teams in both men’s and women’s adult

category , in all the international competitions (Source: FIBA, 2017)

GE

ND

ER

TO

TA

L

AM

ER

ICA

CU

P

WO

RL

D

PRE

OL

YM

PIC

OL

YM

PIC

GA

ME

S

PAN

-AM

ER

ICA

N

SOU

TH

A

ME

RIC

AN

Men 72 5 6 5 4 13 39 Women 60 7 2 6 2 11 32

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Brazil in South American Championships - adult category

According to CBB (2017), although the South American men's championships began in 1930, in the city of Montevideo, Uruguay, the Brazilian team only became winner for the first time in 1939, when the games were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ever since its first edition, this championship tries to keep its frequency biannually, as it’s happened in most of its editions. With regards to the Brazilian national men and women’s teams, in addition to having been crowned adult male champion in 1939, the teams have conquered the following number of medals in the South American championships until 2016:

Table 03: Number of medals won by Brazil men and women adult teams in the South

American championships (Source: FIBA, 2017)

Brazil in Pan American Championships - adult category

The Brazilian men's basketball team takes part on the Pan American Championships since its first edition, which was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, back in 1951. The women's edition only began in 1955 in Mexico City, where the second edition of the Pan American Games were held. In 1987, during the Indianapolis Games in the United States, in a historic game against the U.S. team, the Brazilian men's basketball team won the competition, after being 22 points behind the scoreboard at the end of the first half of the game. It was the first U.S. team loss on American soil, and the fact that the Brazilian team had broken the unbeaten 34 matches of the U. S. team, triggered the presence of NBA professional athletes in the future American teams in international games (CBB, 2017).

Gender Gold Silver Bronze Total

Men 18 13 8 39

Women 25 5 2 32

Brazil Total 43 18 10 71

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Table 04: Number of medals won by Adults Men and Women Brazil teams in the Pan

American Championships (Source: FIBA, 2017)

Gender Gold Silver Bronze Total

Men 6 2 6 14

Women 3 4 4 11

Brazil Total 9 6 10 25

The Brazil adult team in America Cup

This cup, held by FIBA America every four years, brings together all the American teams; it began in 1980, and qualifies for the world championships. Below (table 05) are the number of medals won by Brazil, both men and women teams, in all competitions disputed in America Cup.

Table 05: Number of medals won by Brazil Adult Men and Women teams in America Cup

(Source: FIBA, 2017)

Gender Gold Silver Bronze Total

Men 4 2 4 14

Women 5 4 2 11

Brazil Total 9 6 10 25

Brazil in World Championships - adult category

The men's and women's World Basketball Championships are held every 4 years, alternating with the Olympic Games, and had its first edition in 1950 (only for men), when Argentina became champion. The first women’s edition of the games occurred in 1953, when the U.S. team became the winner. Brazil men's team won twice - in 1959, and again in 1963, while the women's team won in 1994.

Table 06: Number of medals won by Brazil in the Adult World Championships - Men and

Women (Source: FIBA, 2017)

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Gender Gold Silver Bronze Total

Men 2 2 2 6

Women 1 0 1 2

Brazil Total 3 2 3 8

Brazil in the Olympics - adult category

According to De Rose Junior (2017), Brazil debuted at the Olympic Games in 1904, in Saint Louis, USA, when the competition was called the Olympic Basketball World Championship. Basketball was included as a demonstration sport, and had only American teams. In the Olympic Games, as we see nowadays, Basketball would be seen as a sport only in Berlim’s edition, in Germany, in 1936, according to Tubino et al. (2007). Tubino (2004) states that, in such games edition, there was still no counting of the number of gold, silver, or bronze medals, in order to proclaim a country winner. Germany, at the end of the games, had got a total of 90 medals, 24 of them being gold, while the USA received a total of 56 medals, including 24 gold medals. Thanks to this “no medals counting” for the consecration of a winning country at that time, Hitler could not use these data for his purposes.

Brazil men’s basketball team only reached the Olympic podium in 1948, at the London Olympic Games edition, winning a bronze medal for the first time. There were a total of three podiums in all of Brazil men’s basketball team history - bronze at all times, (1948, 1960, and 1964). With regards to the women’s team, De Rose Junior (2017) tells us that unknown reasons led the women's basketball team to the Olympic Games only in 1976, in Montreal, Canada. Brazil women's basketball team had its first appearance in 1992, and achieved its best result in 1996, becoming a silver medalist at the Atlanta Olympic Games, USA, and a bronze medalist at the Sydney Games in Australia in 2000.

Table 07: Number of medals won by Brazil in the Olympic Games in the adult men and

women teams (Source: FIBA, 2017)

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Gender Gold Silver Bronze Total

Men 0 0 3 3

Women 0 1 1 2

Brazil Total 0 1 4 5

BRAZIL IN INTERNATIONAL BASE COMPETITIONS

Nowadays, FIBA competition calendar (2017) has the following competitions in the base divisions: for the under-22, under-21, under-19, under -18, under -17, and under -16, both men and women's categories: America Cup – Pre World Cup, The World Championship (currently called World Basketball Cup) and South American Championship

So far, there have been no women competitions in the under-22 category (table 08). Competitions in both genders have been on only for the under-21 category (table 09).

Table 08: Number of medals won by the Brazilian under-22 teams, in all international

competitions participated (Source: FIBA, 2017)

GENDER TOTAL AMERICA CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SOUTH AMERICAN

Men 4 1 1 2

Table 09: Number of medals won by the Brazilian under-21 men and women teams, in all

international competitions participated (Source: FIBA, 2017)

The tables below (10, 11, 12 and 13) show the results of all competitions which Brazil under-19, under-18, under-17, and under-16 category teams have participated, in both genders.

GENDER TOTAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SOUTH AMERICAN

Men 2 0 2 Women 1 1 2

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Table 10: Number of medals won by the Brazilian under-19 teams in all international

competitions participated (Source: FIBA, 2017)

.

Table 11: Number of medals won by the Brazilian under-18 teams in all international

competitions participated (Source: FIBA, 2017)

Table 12: Number of medals won by the Brazilian under-17 teams in all international

competitions participated (Source: FIBA, 2017)

Table 13: Number of medals won by the Brazilian under-16 teams in all international

competitions participated (Source: FIBA, 2017)

GENDER TOTAL WORLD

Men 2 2 Women 1 1

GENDER TOTAL AMERICA CUP

Men 4 4 Women 5 5

GENDER TOTAL SOUTH AMERICAN

Men 18 18 Women 13 13

GENDER TOTAL AMERICA CUP

Men 0 0 Women 2 2

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HISTORY OF THE MAIN DISPUTES, WITH THE RESPECTIVE BRAZILIAN BASKETBALL TEAM ATHLETE NAMES

As Brazil is World Bi-Champion in basketball, three-time Bronze medalist in the Olympics, and Pan American Champion in the United States of America with the men’s team, and still, World Champion and Silver Medal in the Olympics with the women’s team, it is clear the importance of its history in such competitions, as well as the characters of such achievements.

According to De Rose Junior (2017), the international Brazilian achievements started in the 1948 London Olympic Games, with the Bronze Medal with men's basketball team. With an outstanding campaign, with only one defeat (for France in the semi-final), Brazil’s team achieved the victory over the Mexican team in the race for the third place in the competition. The base team (in bold), was formed by: Ruy de Freitas (AA Grajaú - RJ), Alfredo da Motta (Flamengo - RJ), Algodão (Flamengo - RJ), the veteran Affonso Évora (Flamengo - RJ), Nilton Pacheco (Fluminense - RJ), Marcus Vinícius Dias (Fluminense - RJ), João Francisco Bráz (Corinthians - SP), Alberto Marson (São José Tennis Club - SP), Alexandre Gemignani (Espéria - SP), and Massinet Sorcinelli (Espéria - SP). The coach was Moacyr Brondi Daiuto, from Corinthians. According to De Rose Junior (2017), Brazil games and its results in such competition were:

Brazil 45 x 41 Hungary (39x39 in the regular time) Brazil 36 x 32 Uruguay Brazil 76 x 11 Great Britain Brazil 57 x 35 Canada Brazil 47 x 31 Italy Brazil 28 x 23 Czechoslovakia Brazil 33 x 43 France (semi-final) Brazil 52 x 47 Mexico (3rd place dispute)

CBB (2017) states that, in 1951 a new era for the Brazilian basketball begins, and lasts until 1971, when Togo Renan Soares, known as "Kanela" takes over the leading of the Brazilian men's adult team,

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which had recently achieved a fourth place in the 1950 Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Kanela, the main Brazilian basketball coach, then changes this scenario and, in the following years, presents the following results with the Brazilian men's adult team: Vice World Champion in 1954, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Bi-World Champion, in 1959 in Santiago, Chile, and in 1963 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The team was again Vice World Champion in 1963 in Ljubljana – the extinct Yugoslavia. And in Pan American Games, Brazil won a Silver Medal in 1963, and Bronze Medals in 1951, 1955 and 1959. Brazil was also a Bronze Medalist in the Olympic Games in 1960, and five times South American Champion, in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, and 1971.

After winning the South American men's basketball championship for the third time in 1958, in Santiago, Chile, Kanela organizes the team that would bring the first world title to Brazil, again in the city of Santiago, Chile, in 1959. This team, apart from its coach Kanela (Flamengo - RJ), had João Francisco Bráz (XV de Piracicaba - SP), a bronze medalist athlete in the 1948 Olympic Games. The main world champion team was formed by: Algodão (Flamengo - RJ), Édson Bispo (CR Vasco da Gama - RJ), Wlamir Marques (XV of Piracicaba - SP), Amaury Passos (Sirio - SP), and Waldemar Blatskauskas (XV of Piracicaba - SP). The other team athletes were the following: Pacente (XV de Piracicaba - SP), Zezinho (Tijuca Tennis Club - RJ), Waldyr Boccardo (Flamengo - RJ), Fernando Brobró (Flamengo - RJ), Jatyr Schall Branca (Palmeiras - SP), and Otto Nóbrega (Fluminense - RJ). It is noteworthy that Brazil inherited this championship from the extinct Soviet Union, after they refused to go in court against Formosa team, and ended up being eliminated off the competition by FIBA (CBB, 2017).

In this Cup, two of the main stars of Brazilian basketball were solidified: Amaury Passos and Wlamir Marques, both from São Paulo, SP, being this last one, along with the veteran Algodão, chosen for the quintet of 1959 World Cup.

According to FIBA (2017) and De Rose Junior (2017), in 1960 Rome Olympic Games, in Italy, Brazil won its second Bronze Medal, with Kanela again as the team coach, and the following team initial formation: Amaury Passos (Sírio - SP), Wlamir Marques (XV of

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Piracicaba - SP), Rosa Branca (Palmeira), Édson Bispo (Palmeiras -SP), and Waldemar Blatskauskas (XV of Piracicaba - SP). As substitutes, the team had: Antonio Sucar (Sírio - SP), Mosquito (Palmeiras - SP), Jatyr Schall (Palmeiras - SP), Algodão (Flamengo), Fernando Brobró (Flamengo - RJ), Waldyr Boccardo (Flamengo - RJ), and Moysés Blás (Minas Tennis Club - MG).

The path Brazil took for achieving this new bronze medal, according to De Rose Junior (2017), was the following:

Brazil 75 x 72 Puerto Rico Brazil 58 x 54 Soviet Union Brazil 80 x 72 Mexico (61 x 61 in regular time) Brazil 78 x 75 Italy (70 x 70 in the regular time) Brazil 77 x 68 Poland Brazil 85 x 78 Czechoslovakia Brazil 62 x 64 Soviet Union Brazil 63 x 90 United States

Again, according to CBB (2017), in 1961, Brazil won the Tri South American championship, and in 1963, the Tetra championship. Brazil team had Palmeiras (SP) team as its base: Rosa Branca, Mosquito, Victor Mirshauswka, Jatyr Schall, and Édson Bishop.

For the 1963 World Championship, coach Kanela calls the following athletes: Amaury Passos (Sirio - SP), Luiz Cláudio Menon (Sirio - SP), Antonio Sucar (Sirio - SP), Wlamir Marques (Corinthians - SP), Ubiratan Maciel (Corinthians - SP), Waldemar Blatskauskas (XV of Piracicaba - SP), Rosa Branca (Palmeiras - SP), Mosquito (Palmeiras - SP), Jatyr Schall (Palmeiras - SP), Victor Mirshauswka (Palmeiras - SP), Fritz (Fluminense - RJ) and Paulista (Vasco da Gama - RJ). This team presented an outstanding campaign in this championship, beating Puerto Rico, Italy and France, as well as the very strong teams of Yugoslavia (90 x 71), Soviet Union (79 x 90), and the United States (81 x 85).

According to De Rose Junior (2017), the team changes a little for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964, including the coach, who is Renato Brito Cunha at this time. Brazil achieves its third Bronze Medal, after

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beating Puerto Rico by 76 to 60. In this competition, Brazil has only two losses, losing for the two powers in the sport of that time: the USA (53 x 86), and the USSR (47 x 53). The main team for these games was formed by: Ubiratan Maciel (Corinthians - SP), Wlamir Marques (Corinthians - SP), Amaury Passos (Sirio - SP), Victor Mirshauswka (Palmeiras - SP) and Mosquito (Palmeiras - SP). The remaining athletes of the team were: Rosa Branca (Palmeiras - SP), Jatyr Schall (Palmeiras - SP), Antonio Sucar (Sirio - SP), Édson Bispo (Palmeiras -SP), Edvar Simões (Corinthians - SP), Fritz (Fluminense – RJ), and Sergio Macarrão (Botafogo - RJ). Below all Brazil results in that event:

Brazil 50 x 58 Peru Brazil 68 x 64 Yugoslavia Brazil 92 x 65 South Korea Brazil 61 x 54 Finland Brazil 80 x 68 Uruguay Brazil 53 x 86 United States Brazil 69 x 57 Australia Brazil 47 x 53 Soviet Union Brazil 76 x 60 Puerto Rico (3rd place dispute)

In the 1967 World Cup, Brazil’s team, coached by Kanela and his young technical assistant Ary Vidal, came Third with the following team: Amaury Passos (Sirio - SP), Mosquito (Palmeiras - SP), Jatyr Schall (Palmeiras - SP), Ubiratan Maciel (Corinthians - SP), and Luis Claudio Menon (Sírio - SP). The team also had Antonio Sucar (Sirio - SP), Edvar Simões (Corinthians - SP), Hélio Rubens (Bagres Club - SP), Cézar Sebba (Botafogo - RJ) and Sérgio Macarrão (Vasco da Gama - RJ). In 1968, the same team achieved the fourth place in the Olympic Games held in the City of Mexico.

According to CBB (2017), ending a “golden” decade for Brazil men's basketball team, Kanela calls the team that will compete for the 1970 World Championship, with the following players: Hélio Rubens (Bagres Club - SP), Wlamir Marques (Corinthians - SP), Edvar Simões (São José dos Campos Tennis Club - SP), Luis Claudio Menon (Sírio - SP), and Ubiratan Maciel (Splugen Reyer Venezia - Italy). Also part of the team, as reserves, were Mosquito (Sírio - SP), Rosa Branca

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(Corinthians - SP), Zé Olaio (São José dos Campos Tennis Club - SP), José "Joi" Aparecido (Corinthians - SP), Sérgio Macarrão (São Caetano - SP), Pedrinho Ferrer (Flamengo - RJ) and Marquinhos Abdalla (Fluminense - RJ).

In 1971, Brazil goes through a very hard time, with coach Kanela leaving, and the stars Amaury Passos and Wlamir Marques; the renewal of the team would be an extremely hard task.

In 1972 in the Olympic Games held in Munich, Germany, the team coached by Kanele, and Pedroca from Bagres Club of Franca - SP as his technical assistant, ended the games in the seventh place. According to De Rose Junior (2017), the team was formed by (main team in bold): Marquinhos Abdalah, Ubiratan, Hélio Rubens, Adilson Nascimento, Menon, Wahington Joseph - Dodi, Fransérgio Garcia, Joy, Radvilas Gorauskas, Mosquito, José Geraldo, José Edvar (0-0) Below are Brazil results on these games:

Brazil 110 x 55 Japan Brazil 110 x 84 Egypt Brazil 72 x 69 Spain Brazil 54 x 61 United States Brazil 83 x 82 Czechoslovakia Brazil 69 x 75 Australia Brazil 63 x 64 Cuba Brazil 83 x 87 Puerto Rico Brazil 87 x 69 Czechoslovakia (7th place dispute)

In 1974, in the World Championship held in Puerto Rico, the renewed team, now coached by Édson Bispo, only reached the sixth place. The main team was formed by: Hélio Rubens, Carioquinha, Adílson, Ubiratan and Marquinhos Abdalla.

In 1976 the first Pre-Olympic championship took place, and Brazil, still coached by Édson Bispo, had Franca team (SP) as its base, with the following players: Hélio Rubens, Carioquinha, Fausto Giannechini, Ubiratan and Marquinhos Abdalla as the main team, and also Gilson Trindade, Adilson, Zé Geraldo, Robertão and Marcel as reserves. For the first time, Brazil did not qualify for the Olympic

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Games because it ended in the fourth place, and only the three first ones classified.

In the following year, 1977, Brazil became the South American champion under the command of Ary Vidal, who coached the team again in 1978, in the World Championship held in the Philippines, when Brazil was Bronze. The team was formed by: Fausto Giannechini (Franca), Robertão (Franca), Adilson Nascimento (Franca), Gilson Trindade (France), Hélio Rubens (France), Marquinhos Abdalla (Emerson Genôva - Italy), Carioquinha (Palmeiras), Ubiratan Maciel (Palmeiras), Oscar Schmidt (Palmeiras), Marcel Souza (Sirio), Marcelo Vido (Sirio) and Eduardo Agra (Sirio) (CBB, 2017). Ary Vidal leaves the coaching of the team, while the world cup champion Claudio Mortari (champion for the Syrio - SP) takes over, and along with Pedroca (Franca-SP) as his assistant, leads the team to a fifth place in the 1980 Olympic Games.

According to De Rose Junior (2017), the team was formed by: Oscar Schmidt, Marquinhos, Marcel de Souza, Milton Setrini Jr. (Carioquinha), Adilson, Gilson Trindade, Marcelo Vido, José Carlos Saiani, Wagner Machado, André Stoffel, Ricardo Cardoso Guimarães (Cadum), and Luis Gustavo Lage. Brazil had the following results on such competition:

Brazil 72 x 70 Czechoslovakia Brazil 88 x 101 Soviet Union Brazil 137 x 64 India Brazil 94 x 93 Cuba Brazil 91 x 110 Spain Brazil 90 x 77 Italy Brazil 95 x 96 Yugoslavia

For the 5th to 12th classification, the general campaign of the countries was considered.

In 1982, the team coach is changed, and now Edvar Simões is in charge, leading the team to an eighth place in the World Cup held in Colombia.

Then, in the following Olympic Games - 1984 in Los Angeles, USA, Brazil’s campaign drops even more, ending the competition in

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ninth. Being coached by Renato Brito Cunha, and assisted by José Medalha, the team: Oscar Schmidt, Israel Andrade, Marcel de Souza, Marquinhos, Nilo, Cadum, Silvio, Gerson, Adilson, Agra, and Marcelo Vido, ended the competition with the following results (De Rose Junior (2017):

Brazil 72 x 76 Australia Brazil 91 x 82 Egypt Brazil 78 x 89 Italy Brazil 85 x 98 Yugoslavia Brazil 75 x 78 Germany Brazil 100 x 86 France Brazil 86 x 76 China

Ary Vidal returns in 1986, and Brazil is fourth place in the World Cup in Spain. Then, a Gold Medal came at the Pan American Games of Indianapolis, USA, one of the greatest victories achieved in basketball in the whole history of the sport in Brazil: Brazil (120 points) against The United States (115 points). The team was formed by Oscar Schmidt (Caserta - Italy), Marcel de Souza (Fabriano - Italy), Israel Andrade (Fabriano - Italy), Maury de Souza (Monte Líbano - SP), Ricardo "Cadum" Guimarães (Monte Líbano - SP), Pipoka (Monte Líbano - SP), André Stoffel (Monte Líbano - SP), Guerrinha (Franca - SP), Paulinho Villas-Bôas (Sírio - SP), Gérson Victalino (Corinthians), Silvio Malvesi (Pirelli - SP), and Rolando Ferreira (University of Houston - USA).

According to De Rose Junior (2017), in 1988 Brazil was the Pre-Olympic champion in Uruguay, but only reached the fifth place in the Seoul Olympics in South Korea. The main team, led by Ary Vidal and having Jose Medal as the technical assistant, was formed by: Maury de Souza (Monte Líbano - SP), Oscar Schmidt (Caserta - Italy), Marcel de Souza (Fabriano - Italy), Gérson Victalino (Corinthians) and Israel Andrade (Fabriano - Italy). As reserves, the team had: Guerrinha (Franca - SP), Rolando (Sírio - SP), Pipoka (Monte Líbano - SP), Ricardo "Cadum" Guimarães (Monte Líbano - SP), Fernando Minucci (Franca - SP), Luis Felipe (Lwart / Lwarcel - SP), and Paulão (Rio Claro -SP). Brazil results in these Olympic Games were:

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Brazil 125 x 109 Canada Brazil 130 x 108 China Brazil 87 x 102 United States Brazil 138 x 85 Egypt Brazil 110 x 118 Spain Brazil 105 x 110 Soviet Union Brazil 104 x 86 Puerto Rico Brazil 106 x 90 Canada (5th place match)

In 1990, Brazil, coached by Hélio Rubens, was fifth place in the World Cup held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This poor result led Brazil to change its coach, leaving the men’s team under the command of José Medalha, who managed only get the fifth place for Brazil in the Pan American Games, in Havana, Cuba, in the following year. Also in 1991, at the Pan American Games held in Havana, Cuba, the women’s basketball team, led by Maria Helena Cardoso, and Heleninha as her assistant, managed to win the competition, by defeating Cuba in the Gold Medal. The team was formed by: Paula, Hortencia, Janeth, Marta Sobral and Ruth, besides Nadia, Vânia, Simone, Ana Motta, Joyce, Roseli and Adriana. The men's team, led by José Medalha, did not figure among the top three finalists, as mentioned before.

But in 1992, placing third in the Portland Pre Olympic games, Brazil men’s team qualified for the Barcelona Olympic Games in Spain, and was coached by José Medalha, along with the American Mike Frink as his technical assistant. In the Olympics, according to De Rose Junior (2017), the team was formed by: Maury de Souza, Oscar Schmidt, Marcel de Souza, Gérson Victalino and Pipoka, along with Guerrinha, Cadum, Fernando Minucci, Paulinho Villas-Bôas, Israel, Josuel and Rolando as reserves. This team only reached the fifth place, and had the following results in all games:

Brazil 76 x 93 Croatia Brazil 100 x 101 Spain Brazil 76 x 66 Angola Brazil 83 x 127 United States Brazil 85 x 76 Germany

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Brazil 96 x 114 Lithuania Brazil 86 x 84 Puerto Rico Brazil 70 x 60 Australia (5th place dispute)

According to CBB (2017), the Brazilian Basketball Confederation bets on a renovation in 1999, due to the end of Oscar Schmidt and Marcel Era, and leads Ênio Vecchi to the command of the Brazilian men’s team. The team qualifies for the World Cup in Toronto, Canada, in 1994, but ends the competition in the eleventh place. The team was formed by: Maury, Chuí, Fernando Minucci, Pipoka and Josuel. As reserves, the team had "Ratto", Demétrius, Rogério, Rolando, Janjão, Luis Fernando and "Olívia".

In the same year (1994), according to Gitti, V. & De Rose Junior (2005), the women’s team also bets on the renewal of the team and the coaches. Miguel Angelo da Luz Coelho becomes the coach of the Brazilian women's basketball team, with Sergio Maronezi as his technical assistant, bringing along six athletes from the youth team, Brazil becomes World Champion this year. The women's basketball world champion team included: Paula (Magic), Hortência, Janeth, Alessandra, and Vânia Hernandes, along with Adriana Santos, Cintia Tuiú, Leila Sobral, Ruth Vânia Teixeira, and Silvinha as reserves.

In 1995, Ary Vidal once again took the leading of the men’s team, when they were third place - Bronze Medal, at the Pan American Games in Argentina, qualifying then for the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. The Pan American team was formed by: Chuí, Fernando Minucci, Rogério Klafke, Luis Felipe and Josuel, along with Alberto, Gemma, João Batista, Ratto, Pipoka, Marcio Azevedo, and Caio Cazziolato as reserves.

In the 1996 Olympics, the Brazilian men's team was sixth placed, with: Ratto, Fernando Minucci, Rogério Klafke, Oscar Schmidt and Josuel. The reserves were Ratto, Demétrius, Caio Cazziolato, Olívia, Pipoka, Janjão, Tonico and Caio Silveira.

Gitti, V. & De Rose Junior (2005), comment that unlike the men's team, the women's one, still led by Miguel Angelo da Luz Coelho, was able to conquer outstanding results, including the Silver Medal in Atlanta 1996, being defeated in the final game by the United States

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team. The silver medalists were: Paula (Magic), Hortencia, Janeth, Alessandra, and Martha Sobral. As alternates, the team had Adriana Santos, Cintia Tuiú, Maria Angelica (Branca), Roseli, Claudia Pastor, Leila Sobral, and Silvinha.

In the 1998 World Cup held in Greece, the men’s team, now under the command of Hélio Rubens, played with Demétrius, Chuí, Rogério, Pipoka, and Josuel in the main team, and the alternates were Marcelinho, Ratto, Helinho (son of Hélio Rubens), Caio Cazziolato, Sandro Varejão, and Janjão. Once again, a really bad campaign led Brazil to the tenth place.

In 1999 the men’s team was reorganized, and won the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada (Tubino, 2004). The players were Ratto (Flamengo - RJ), Caio Cazziolato (Flamengo - RJ), Josuel (Flamengo - RJ), Helinho (Vasco da Gama - RJ), Demétrius (Vasco da Gama - RJ), Rogério Klafke (Vasco da Gama - RJ), Sandro Varejão (Vasco da Gama - RJ), Aylton (Vasco da Gama - RJ), Marcelinho (Botafogo - RJ), Vanderlei (Bauru - SP), Michel Nascimento (Bauru - SP) and Luiz Fernando (Minas Tennis Club - MG). But this very same team failed to qualify for the year 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Then, in 2002, the Indianapolis World Cup took place, and coach Hélio Rubens presented the following team, with players who were already playing in the NBA: Demétrius, Marcelinho Machado, Rogério Klafke, Guilherme Giovannoni, and Anderson Varejão. As reserves: Helinho, Alex Garcia, Vanderlei Mazzuchini, Márcio Dornelles, Anderson Varejão, Tiagão and Estevam. Brazil was eighth at the end of the cup.

According to the CBB (2017), the men’s coach was changed by CBB in 2003, and Lula Ferreira took over. He was South American Champion in 2003, and won the Gold Medal at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The champion team was formed by: Marcelinho, Valtinho, Alex, Guilherme Giovannoni, and Tiago Splitter. Demétrius, Renato, Sandro Varejão, Anderson Varejão, and Murilo Becker were the reserves. This pre-Olympic team failed to qualify for the Athens Olympics in Greece in 2004. But this same team was crowned America's Cup winner in 2005.

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At the 2006 World Cup in Japan, coach Lula Fereira was kept in the position, and the team remained with Leandrinho, Alex, Marcelinho Machado, Marcelinho Huertas and Tiago Splitter. It had also Nezinho, Alex, João Paulo, Guilherme, Nenê, Marquinhos and Murilo Becker. Brazil managed to win only a single match, and had the worst classification of its whole history, the seventeenth place.

Still with Lula as coach, the Brazilian men's team went to the Las Vegas Pre Olympic in order to try qualifying for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, but again finished fourth, not reaching the standings. This was the third Pre-Olympic that the Brazilian basketball team could not qualify. The team was formed by Marcelinho, Nezinho, Murilo, Marcelo Huertas, Alex, Valtinho, Leandrinho, João Paulo Batista (JP), Guilherme, Nenê, Marquinhos and Tiago Splitter.

In 2008, the Spanish coach Moncho Monsalve, takes over the hard task of rebuilding the national team. With Mocho in charge, despite numerous embezzlements, including the players that were paying for NBA, Brazil became Bi-Champion of the America Cup. The team had: Marcelinho Huertas, Alex Garcia, Leandrinho, Thiago Splitter, and Anderson Varejão, Marcelinho Machado, Jonathan Tavernari, Guilherme Giovannoni, Alexandre (Olivinha) (13), JP Batista, Duda Machado, and Diego Pinheiro.

Despite the victories, Moncho was replaced by the argentine coach Ruben Magnano, who had in his resume the 2004 Gold Medal for his home country, Argentina.

Then, in the 2010 World Cup in Turkey, Brazil had basically the same team as coach Moncho, and continues its poor results, finishing in the ninth place. Brazil played with: Marcelinho Huertas, Alex Garcia, Leandrinho, Tiago Splitter, and Anderson Varejão as the main team, and Nezinho, Marcelinho Machado, Marquinhos, Guilherme Giovanonni, Murilo Becker, and the young players Raulzinho and JP Batista, as reserves.

Once again, Brazil starts for a new Pre-Olympic championship, now in Mar Del Plata in Argentina, and ends up in second place, qualifying at last for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. There were exactly 16 years out of the Olympics, and the return was with the following team: Marcelinho Huertas, Alex Garcia,

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Marquinhos, Guilherme Giovanonni, and Tiago Splitter. Rafael Luz, Vitor Benite, Marcelinho Machado, Rafael Hettsheimeir, Caio Torres, Nezinho, Augusto Lima were also on the team, as reserves.

According to De Rose Junior (2017), for the 2012 Olympic Games, Ruben Magnano and his assistant Jose Neto called: Tiago Splitter (San Antonio Spurs - NBA), Anderson Varejão (Cleveland Cavaliers - NBA), Leandro Barbosa (Indiana Pacers - NBA), Nenê Hilário (Washington Wizards - NBA), Marcelinho Huertas (Barcelona - Spain), Raulzinho (Lagun Aro - Spain), Alex Garcia (UniCeub Brasilia - DF), Guilherme Giovannoni (UniCeub Brasilia - DF), Marcelinho Machado (Flamengo - RJ), Caio Torres (Flamengo - RJ), Marquinhos (Pinheiros - SP), and Larry Taylor (Bauru - SP). In this competition, Brazil was able to reach good results, finishing in fifth place. Below are shown Brazil results in these games:

Brazil 75 x 71 Australia Brazil 67 x 62 Great Britain Brazil 98 x 59 China Brazil 88 x 82 Spain Brazil 74 x 75 Russia Brazil 77 x 82 Argentina

In both America Cup and 2013 Pre-Olympics, Brazil men’s team got back to have bad results, losing all the matches the team played, and was eliminated in the first phases of these cups. The women's team ended the competition in Mexico in third place, qualifying for the World Cup in Turkey in 2014, where Brazil did not go well, being soon eliminated from the competition.

The CBB (2017) mentions that, in the World Cup held in Spain in 2014, Brazil men's basketball team got back to be among the greater world teams, finishing its participation in the sixth place, but with great performances. Ruben Magnano was still the coach, and the team was formed by: Marcelinho Huertas, Leandrinho, Marquinhos, Rafael Hettsheimeir, and Nenê Hilário; Alex Garcia, Guilherme Giovanonni, Marcelinho Machado, Larry Taylor, Anderson Varejão, Raulzinho, and Tiago Splitter.

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For the 2016 Olympic Games edition held in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, both men's and women's teams were automatically classified, due to being the host country. Unfortunately both teams performed mediocre campaigns, finishing in the ninth place (men’s team), and in the eleventh place (women’s team).

According to De Rose Junior (2017), the men's team led by Ruben Magnano and his assistant José Neto had the following players (main team in bold): Nenê, Leandrinho, Marcelinho Huertas, Alex, Marcus Vinícius - Marquinhos, Vitor Benite, Augusto Lima, Guilherme Giovannonni, Raulzinho, Cristiano Felicio, Rafael Luz. The men’s team were the following:

Brazil 76 x 82 Lithuania Brazil 66 x 65 Spain Brazil 76 x 80 Croatia Brazil 107 x 111 Argentina (85x85 in the regular time, and 95x95

in the first extension) Brazil 86 x 69 Nigeria

According to CBB (2017), the women's team ranked 11th in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016, with the following athletes: Isabela Ramona, Adriana Pinto, Clarissa Santos, Érika de Souza, Tatiane Pacheco, Nádia Colhada, Damiris Dantas, Palmira, Tainá Paixão, Iziane Marques, Joice de Souza, and Kelly.

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CONCLUSION

This chapter aimed to show the history of Brazil basketball in the country throughout the years, as well as its national basketball teams ups and downs. The tables 14 and 15 below show the athletes who mostly played for the Brazilian teams, accounting all categories, in both genders.

Table 14: Men athletes who mostly played for the Brazilian team, and the respective

number of medals won in total, and in each competition, in all categories.

Ath

lete

s

Part

icip

atio

ns in

T

otal

Tot

al o

f M

edal

s

Am

eric

a C

up

Wor

ld C

up

Pre-

O

lym

pic

Oly

mpi

c G

ames

Pan

Am

eric

an

Sout

h A

mer

ican

Pan

Am

eric

an

Mar

cel d

e So

uza

28 (18) 1 (1) 5 (1) 4 (3) 4 (-) 5 (4) 8 (8) 1 (1)

Osc

ar

Schm

dit

26 (17) 1 (1) 4 (1) 5 (4) 5 (-) 2 (2) 8 (8) 1 (1)

Source: CBB (2017).

In table 14, it can be seen that Marcel Ramon Ponikwar de Souza, and Oscar Daniel Bezerra Schmidt are the basketball men athletes who’ve had more participations in official competitions for the Brazilian team, in all categories, and have also got the highest number of medals won in all times. Marcel had 28 participations in total, and has won 18 medals, while Oscar had 26 participations in total, and has won 17 medals.

The athlete Marcel had eight participations in South American Championships, two of them in the Youth category. At the 1978 World Championship in the Philippines, this player converted the victory point,

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allowing Brazil to win the last medal won in World Cups (Bronze) (CBB, 2017); he has also participated in achieving the Gold medal in the 1987 Pan American Games (CUNHA, ODIR, 2007).

In this very same game (1987 Pan American final game), Oscar Schmidt was the player who converted most of the points (46 points) (CUNHA, 2007), being the holder of some records within the Brazilian national team. In 1994, he was invited to play in the NBA, but refused the invitation in order to play for the Brazilian national team - at that time, NBA foreign players were not allowed to play for their national teams). With regards to Oscar records, he is seen as the basketball athlete with more participations in the Olympic Games in Brazil teams; the player who has converted more points in the history of Brazilian basketball, among other exploits. Oscar Schmidt is among the top 100 basketball players in history - this list only shows five non-American players (FIBA, 2017). Oscar is also one of the biggest basketball honors; in 2010, he joined the FIBA Hall of Fame (FIBA, 2017), and in 2014, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, built to honor Naismith, the inventor of basketball.

Table 15: Women athletes who mostly played for the Brazilian team, and the respective

number of medals won in total, and in each competition, in all categories.

Ath

lete

s

Part

icip

atio

ns in

T

otal

Tot

al o

f M

edal

s

Am

eric

a C

up

Wor

ld C

up

Pre-

O

lym

pic

Oly

mpi

c G

ames

Pan

Am

eric

an

Sout

h A

mer

ican

Pan

Am

eric

an

Paul

a da

Si

lva 29 (19) 3 (3)

6 (1) 4 (1) 2 (1) 4 (3) 7 (7) 3 (3)

Hor

tênc

ia

Mar

cari

25 (16) 2 (2) 5 (1)

4 (1) 2 (1) 4 (3) 6 (6) 2 (2)

Source: CBB (2017).

In table 15, it is seen that Maria Paula Gonçalves da Silva, and Hortência de Fátima Marcari are the basketball athletes who have the most participations in official competitions by the Brazilian team, in all

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categories, while owning the highest number of medals won. Paula played 29 competitions for the Brazilian national team, while Hortencia played 25 official international competitions, winning 16 medals.

The athlete Paula, also known as Magic Paula, was invited for playing at the Brazilian national team at the age of only fourteen years old. She is the second highest scorer in the history of the Brazilian national team, with 2,537 points converted in official matches (CBB, 2017). In 2013, "Magic" Paula has also been invited to join the FIBA Hall of Fame (FIBA, 2017).

Hortencia was present on six Pan American Games, however, two of these in the juvenile teams. And among the six South American appearances, one of them was also in the juvenile category. This athlete is the highest scorer in the history of the women's team. In 2009, she was elected director of the Brazilian Women's Basketball Team, from the Brazilian Basketball Confederation (CBB, 2017). Hortência has been a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame since 2007 (FIBA, 2007), and was invited to join the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005.

By ending this chapter, it can be seen that Brazil presents a prominent position in basketball world sport scenario. Nowadays it suffers from the team renovation, structural problems and bad management, but one can never forget all the remarkable performances, the great achievements, and the emotion provided by each moment of glory, or disappointment, out of so many uncertainties, until the end of the match.

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REFERENCES

ASSOCIAÇÃO DE BASQUETEBOL SUL AMERICANO –ABASU. Campeonatos sul americanos. Disponível em http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=7349&pID=11. Acesso em 10/04/2017.

COMITÊ OLÍMPICO BRASILEIRO. Sonho e Conquista - O Brasil nos Jogos Olímpicos do Século XX, Rio de Janeiro: COB, 2004.

CONFEDERAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE BASKETBALL. A história

oficial do basquete. Disponível em: http://www.cbb.com.br/conheca_basquete/hist_oficial.asp. Acesso em 07/04/2017.

CUNHA, O. Heróis da América: História Completa dos Jogos Pan-Americanos, São Paulo: Editora Planeta, 2007.

FEDERAÇÃO DE BASQUETEBOL DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO. A Fundação da FIBA. Disponível em: www.fberj.com.br. Acesso em 10/04/2017.

GITTI, V.; DE ROSE JUNIOR, D. Histórico em números do basquetebol feminino em Campeonatos Mundiais e Jogos Olímpicos. Revista Digital, v.10, n.81, 2005. Disponível em http://www.efdeportes.com/efd81/basquete.htm. Acesso e 10/04/2017.

MARQUES, W. Caderno Técnico-Didático Basquetebol. Brasília: MEC, 1980.

OLIVEIRA, J.E.C. Basquetebol. Aspectos Históricos e Funcionais. Revista Digital, ano 17, nº 174, 2012. Disponível em http://www.efdeportes.com. Acesso em 08/04/2017.

ORGANIZAÇÕES DAS NAÇÕES UNIDAS – ONU. Quantos países existem no mundo? Disponível em http://www.jornalissimo.com/curiosidades. Acesso em 06/04/2017.

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THOMAS, J.R., NELSON, J.K. & SILVERMAN, S.J. Métodos de Pesquisa em Atividade Física, 6ª ed., Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2012.

TUBINO, M.J.G., GARRIDO, F. & TUBINO, F. Brasil Potência Esportiva Pan-Americana. Belo Horizonte: Casa da Educação Física, 2004.

TUBINO, M.J.G., TUBINO, F & GARRIDO, F. Dicionário Enciclopédico - Tubino do Esporte. Rio de Janeiro: Senac Rio, 2007.

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VENEZUELA

VENEZUELAN BASKETBALL PLAYERS IN EUROPE

José Rodríguez Federation Internationale d’ Education

Physique, Mérida Delegation, Venezuela, University of

Los Andes

Correspondence: Dr. José Rodríguez

fiep.merida@gmail.com

Introduction

The Venezuelan Basketball Team is formed by players of Venezuelan nationality who represent the Venezuelan Basketball Federation (FVB) in the international competitions organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) or the International Olympic Committee (IOC): The Olympic Games, World Cup, the FIBA Americas Championship among others.

A difference of other sports that are practiced in the country, the basketball is the discipline of set that has exported more players to other countries of the world and that has given more successes to the country.

Its debut in an international competition occurred in February of 1938 before the selection of Mexico in the IV Central American and Caribbean Games of that year. On the other hand, Venezuela qualified for the 1992 Olympic Games and 2016 Olympic Games. In turn, it hosted the FIBA 2012 Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship.

Currently the defending champions of FIBA Americas win the FIBA Americas Championship held in Mexico in 2015.

Several Venezuelan players have played in the prestigious European league basketball which has been of great relevance for the development of basketball in Venezuela.

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UDK 796.323.2 - 055.1 (87)

History of basketball in Venezuela

Venezuela won its first bronze medal at the Bolivarian Games in Barranquilla in 1961, having recorded two victories (against Colombia) and four defeats (against Panama and Peru) and leave a good impression. After that Venezuela would return to the international competitions when disputing the Centrobasket 1969 in Havana, Cuba, where it was of fourth place. Another bronze in the Bolivarian Games of Maracaibo of 1970 and its first bronze in competitions organized by FIBA to be third in the Centrobasket 1971 disputed in Caracas, behind Cuba and Puerto Rico.

In the meantime, in Venezuela, the Special Basketball League (predecessor of the Professional Basketball League) would begin, which allowed him to attract talents for the selection of tournaments such as Centrobasket 1975 (6th place) and his second South American Basketball Championship of 1977, where obtained a fourth place. Its most outstanding triumph was the gold medal of the Bolivarian Games of 1977, when prevailing to the selections of Peru and Bolivia, with a selection of players of the Special League directed by Francisco "Paco" Diez, in control from 1975.

World debut

Venezuela will continue to reap success and demonstrate its growth in the selection, as evidenced by its first podium in a South American Championship, in this case, that of 1987 in Asunción, Paraguay breaking with the hegemony of the South American basketball and its classification to premier tournaments and Pre-Olympic that would be a constant in the selection.

His first Pre-Olympic was the Tournament of the Americas of 1988 in Montevideo, Uruguay where it was a failure. However, it was better than in its first premier, since in the FIBA Americas Championship of 1989 in Mexico, it obtained the fourth position, after a record of five victories and three defeats and several triumphs against

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Canada and Argentina that gave the classification to the World-wide Championship of Basketball of 1990, disputed in Argentina under the direction of recognized Venezuelan coach Jesus Cordovez.

The World Cup debut of Venezuela was preceded by a preparatory stage against North American University teams and a small tour in Europe. Already in the World Cup, Venezuela would show their evolution in basketball at the end of 11th with a record of 4-4, several good games with European teams and victories against Asian and African teams to finish beating Canada. They emphasized the good performances of Gabriel Estaba (rebound leader), Carl Herrera and Sam Sheppard. This World Cup would be a reminder of what would come next year.

The heroes of Portland

On May 18, 1991 the South American Basketball Championship of 1991 was inaugurated by Consubasket and for the first time Venezuela was the seat of that Subcontinental competition. Eight nations would dispute the scepter of champion of South America and Venezuela had a great opportunity to improve the second place obtained in Paraguay in the match of 1987.

On May 26, 12,000 people filled the Valencia Forum, a newly inaugurated gym, and after finishing the regular time matched with Brazil by a score of 112, Venezuela was able to win in extra time 122 to 121, with the last 5 points of Venezuela being scored by forward Luis Jimenez to seal the victory and his first title of South American champion.. That title earned him the qualification for the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba and the 1992 Pre-Olympic tournament, to be played in the North American city of Portland. That same year, the Special League would be called Professional League of Basketball.

In the Pre-Olympic tournament, they started with victory against Uruguay, then fell to Brazil and Puerto Rico. They had to beat Mexico to advance to the next phase and it was. They defeated Canada in the first round of postseason to once again compete against Brazil, winning the victory for the pass to the final. They would face the United States,

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played on July 5, 1992 before a "Dream Team" directed by Chuck Daly and integrated, among others, by Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Chris Mullin, Karl Malone and David Robinson. Venezuela would end up losing with a score of 127-80, but their silver medal would qualify them to the Olympic Games of Barcelona 1992, where they would finish in a discreet 11º place, with record of 2 victories (against China) and five defeats.

The team was composed of Carl Herrera, Luis Jimenez, Gabriel Estaba, Ivan Olivares, Sam Sheppard, Rostin Gonzalez, Victor David Diaz, Alexander Nelcha, Melquiades Jaramillo, Armando Palacios, Nelson "Kako" Solórzano and Omar Walcott Roberts. The coach was the Puerto Rican Julio Toro.

The change

After 1992, Venezuela had more discreet performances in international competitions. A second place in the South American Championship of Basketball of 1997 celebrated in Maracaibo, Venezuela and several podios in different South American tournaments as well as outstanding performances in Pre-Olympic and before world tournaments.

In 2002 he qualified for the 2002 World Basketball Championship, this time in Indianapolis, where he had a disappointing performance when he won only one victory (against Algeria) and finished 14th. The disappointment followed only to obtain a third place in the South American Championship of Basketball of 2004 and a silver medal in the Bolivarian Games of 2005 after its first defeat before Colombia in 33 years.

They claimed the 2005 FIBA Americas Championship by winning third place and qualifying for the 2006 World Basketball Championship in Japan. However, their irregularity in the game and several injured players prevented Venezuela from having a good figure in the 2006 South American Basketball Championship in Caracas, Venezuela and in the World Cup in Japan, where they only had a victory against Nigeria.

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For the year 2007. the selection decides to enter a process of renewal, when leaving of players like Victor David Diaz and Richard Lugo, and to enter young talents like Luis Bethelmy, Keving Palacios and the player of NCAA Greivis Vásquez. The inexperience was key to the 8th place in the pre-Olympic Las Vegas of 2007. For 2008 they obtained a podium in the South American Championship of Basketball of Puerto Montt 2008, but logistical difficulties threw that effort the following year with a disappointing performance At the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship in San Juan.

Things would not improve in 2010, when in the South American Championship of Basketball of 2010 they obtained a fourth position. The following year, US coach Eric Musselman and assistant coaches Brad Greenberg and Henry Paruta joined the squad for the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata, where they won fifth place and the right to compete in the FIBA 2012 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Motivated by the grant to Venezuela of the venue of the Olympic repechage, the selection decided to have a preparation process with a view to the repechaje and South American Chaco 2012. Venezuela would reach final instances after more of twenty years without disputing an end. They faced a selection of Argentina that already had defeated and they fall again defeated to stay with the silver and its classification to the Pre-World of 2013.

In the Pre-Olympic tournament, Venezuela was grouped in group B alongside Nigeria and Lithuania. He won with relative difficulty the Nigerians and charged with defeat against a difficult Lithuanian team that surprisingly was fifth in the Eurobasket 2011. A Lithuania victory over Nigeria ranked Venezuela in the second round, but Nigeria (with one more day off) ended winning the match and Venezuela would be eliminated.

From 2013, Argentine Néstor "El Ché" García took over the reins of the Venezuelan basketball team. Under his leadership the team won the title of the South American Basketball Championship of 2014 held in La Asunción, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela, after beating the Argentine team 74-65 in the final.

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In 2015, the FIBA Americas Championship of 2015 would be held in Mexico, and Venezuela defeats important teams like Brazil, Canada, México, Puerto Rico, and República Dominicana, them the Venezuelan team would be crowned champion for the first time after beating Argentina in the decisive game. This would confirm the second participation in an Olympic Games and its first title of a FIBA Americas Championship.

The following year, Venezuela managed to revalidate its 2014 title in the South American Championship of Basketball of 2016 when winning in the end to the Brazilian selection 64-58. With this they would achieve their second consecutive title and their third title in the history of the match. In the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the Vinotinto (Venezuela) team did not have a good performance, and failed to qualify to the quarterfinals, being penultimate in Group "A", obtaining a victory and four defeats.

European technical directors who have directed the selection of men's

basketball of majors of Venezuela

These include two of them: 1955 Eugène Torchio (France) 1970-1971 Constantin Statamescu (Romania)

European coaches and assistants with teams from the professional

league of Basketball of Venezuela (LPB)

Until the year 2016 in Venezuela have been worked the following trainers and European assistants with teams of Professional League of Basketball (LPB), and among them of Spain: The coaches headed by Sergio Valdeolmillos with the several times champion of the league, Marinos de Anzoátegui, followed in the list Lluis Pino in Pan of Miranda, Gustavo Aranzana in Guaiqueríes of Margarita, Natxo Lezkano in Toros de Aragua and Luis Guil of Bucaneros of La Guaira.

Sergio Valdeolmillos in Marinos was assisted by another Spaniard, Ramón Díaz Sánchez, and shares his work with the Mexican national team with whom he won three golds in the championships: in

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2013, the Cocaca (Confederación Centroamericana de Baloncesto) and FIBA Americas and in 2014 The Centrobasket, which groups Central America and the Caribbean. The leadership of the Venezuelan team chose the coach from Granada for his reputation as methodical and disciplined, as well as meet several players of the currency.

Valdeolmillos understood that he had arrived at a club that has been a winner in the last two years and has 11 titles in Venezuela. "One of my goals is to get him a champion again," he said when he was introduced.

Catalan Pino assumed the reins of Panteras of Miranda premiered as head coach in January 2015, when he was named in Hurricanes of Tampico in Mexico, which makes him the youngest also by his age, 30 years.

The Guaiqueríes of Margarita coach, Gustavo Aranzana, is the one with the most successful and long career among the Spaniards who disembark in the LPB with a list of multiple teams under his hand in the Spanish Professional Basketball League (ACB) and the Spanish Liga de Gold Basketball (LEB).

The vallisoletano faced his third year in Venezuela, second with the team of Guaiqueries of Margarita, after his passage through World War II. This season intends to continue the work that began with the insular ones that he described as "change of model and method of club".

Like Valdeolmillos, he aspired to great achievements after he qualified for the playoff in his first year, so he had insured he wanted to "take a step closer" with his assistant Raúl Rodríguez, of Canarian origin.

Vizcaino Natxo Lezkano made his debut in Toros of Aragua with Pino in Panteras, bringing with him a Spanish ACB title, a vast experience in basketball and as the boss of the Ivory Coast National Team in the 2011 and 2013 Afrobasket tournaments, With which he reached the semifinals. He arrives in the South American country on the recommendation of other Spanish coaches, attracted by the comments that the LPB is "very good league and competitive".

Coach Guil Torres was with Bucaneros with the challenge advancing to decisive instances, as the club had advanced to the

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postseason in three of the last four campaigns. The Sevillian, who has done a lot of work in Spanish youth teams and is still the leader of the sub-16 category, was already awarded in Venezuela with the 'Technician of the Year' award in another last season.

Venezuelan players in Europe

Below are the Venezuelan players who have played in Europe and some who currently play in this continent.

Carl Herrera Allen

Date of birth: December 14, 1966, Trinidad and Tobago, Nationalized and developed as a player in Venezuela.

Height: 2, 06 mts. Position: Forward In 1984 he is selected as rookie of the year in the extinct

Basketball Special League of Venezuela, now known as Professional Basketball League of Venezuela with the Bravos of Portuguesa team. He began his career in the United States at Jacksonville Community College in Texas before joining the University of Houston (1989-90).

Elected by the Miami Heat in the second round (turn 30) of the 1990 NBA Draft.

His rights were exchanged by the Heat along with those of Dave Jamerson to Houston in exchange for Alec Kessler on June 27, 1990.

He played in Spain for Real Madrid in the season 1990-91 and was signed as a free agent with the Houston Rockets on September 29, 1992. He won two NBA titles consecutively in the seasons (1994 and 1995). His homework was virtually testimonial in Houston basing his game on defense, his second season in the team improved with averages of 7.5 points, 5.6 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game in which would be his best campaign. In the later ones he was only a player of filling in the equipment where he played, enjoying few minutes.

Carl signed with the San Antonio Spurs like free agent 29 of September of 1995. He disputed 41 parties and had records of 1.9 points

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and 1.8 rebounds in 8.9 minutes. He was on the roster of injured players twice.

In the following season - June 25, 1998 - was traded to Vancouver Grizzlies along with the rights of Dominican Felipe López in exchange for Antonio Daniels.

Herrera played four games with the Grizzlies before being released on February 29, 1999 and then signed with the Denver Nuggets on March 3 where he participated in 24 games in the remainder of the season.

Herrera returned to the Professional Basketball League of Venezuela for the 1999 season with the Bravos of Portuguesa who later became Guaros of Lara where he also played. He then played with Trotamundos of Carabobo in the 2000 season.

At the end of the 2000 season of professional basketball in Venezuela, he ranked eighth in all-time rebounds (2,560), second in blocks (547) and number 20 in points (4971). He was elected in the seasons 1989 and 1990 in the All-Star Team of Professional Basketball of Venezuela.

In 2004 he was part of the Guaiqueríes of Margarita (LPB): where he played 22 games and had averages of 8.7 points and 3.9 rebounds. In 2013 he is selected as coach of the year in the Professional Basketball League of Venezuela with the Gigantes of Guayana.

Alexander Nelcha

Date of Birth: January 21, 1968, Caracas, Venezuela Height: 2,03 mts Position: Pivot

Nelcha played professionally in France with JDA Dijon of France and Hyères-Toulon Var Basket of France too, as well as in Italy with Mabo Pistoia and in Spain with CB Murcia. He has played with the Venezuela national basketball team at the 1990 FIBA World Championship (12th place) and 1992 Summer Olympics (11th place).

After being champion in the 2011-2012 season of the German basketball fifth division, Alexander Nelcha, one of Portland's 44-year-

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old heroes, had not yet retired from the courts and participated in another season with EVL Baskets Limburg , Of the fourth division of Germany.

The championship obtained in the campaign 2011-2012, gave the promotion to Limburg to the fourth division (First Regional League).

Photo: Venezuelan Player in Europe Alexander Nelcha

Gabriel Estaba

Date of Birth: March 24, 1967, Sucre, Venezuela Height: 1,98 mts Position: Forward

He had his first experiences in the Special Basketball League with the Lara Panthers team and in 1985 made his way to the United States to play in school basketball, defending the colors of the Jacksonville JC for three seasons, completing his senior year with the team. The University of South Alabama in the 1988-89 campaign. During his university career he continued playing the league of his country once finished the season in the north, defending the colors of Panteras of Miranda in Venezuela. He began his real career, staying in the United States, where he tried several times to obtain a place in some professional franchise without success, never fails to do that if his national league and in 1990 defends

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Marinos of Oriente. After being cut in the preseason by the Charlotte Hornets in 1990, he goes to Europe to play in Portugal with Académica de Coimbra, where he settled a good season in the personal, being noticed in the one club of the League ACB like Box San Fernando, although Never played in an official match with the Sevillians, after another season with Marinos of Oriente in which they achieve the Title of the Special League, in 1992 it goes to Bravos of Portuguesa, but in February it returns to the Iberian peninsula to play in the 1st division of Spain with Lagisa Gijón where it was temporary substitute of Bob Harstad to later rejoin to the Venezuelan equipment. The following season would commit to the C.B. Askatuak, also of the 1st division of Spain. He continued playing for Bravos of Portuguesa and Malteros of Lara (current Guaros of Lara) until 1995, while he had a pair of outings playing for Hatillo Cattlemen in Puerto Rico where he won the league organized by COLICEBA and also with Mauricio Báez in the Dominican Republic.

From 1996 he defended the colors of the Gaiteros of Zulia until his retirement in 2002. With Maracaibo he won two more LPB titles in 1996 and 2001. In 1997 he was called by the ACB of Spain to cover the loss due to injury, Again, of Bob Harstad in Caja Cantabria, making the preseason with the team that directed Quino Salvo and playing the first two days of league. In 1999 he announced a first withdrawal, but returned in 2000 playing until 2002. He reappeared in 2004 playing a single game that season with the Gaiteros of Zulia.

Oscar Torres

Date of birth: December 18, 1976, Caracas, Venezuela Height: 1,98 mts Position: Guard, Forward

He began playing professionally with the Marinos of Oriente team in the 1996 season, albeit with little presence, starting to excel in the 1998 season when the team achieved the league title and he is recognized as the rookie of the year. He continued his career in the Venezuelan league until 2001 with the team of Puerto La Cruz, although

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he made his first appearance in American basketball in the 1999-00 season playing in the IBA with Billings Rim Rockers and reinforced Trotamundos of Carabobo in the South American Championship of Clubs in the year 2000, obtaining the continental scepter.

In the summer of 2001 he goes back to the United States to try his luck in the NBA and signs a contract with the Houston Rockets for two seasons, after his good performance in the Los Angeles Summer League, making his debut in the league that season and playing a total of 65 games averaging 6.0 points and 1.9 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per night. However he was cut in the preseason of his second year, signing in the few days by Golden State Warriors where he had smaller presence, playing 16 games with something less than 7 minutes by shock for 3.3 points. It was cut at the end of December of 2002, finishing his race in the NBA, having been the second Venezuelan player to obtain it after Carl Herrera.

He then started his career in Europe, signing in February 2003 for Pompea Napoli in the Italian league, with whom he played 12 regular and 6 play-offs, being eliminated in the quarter-finals by the Lottomatica of Rome. At the end of the European season, he joined his club again in the LPB of Venezuela, to achieve another league title for Marinos. He returns to Italy the following season, managing to reach the playoff again after finishing in the 5th place of the regular season, falling again in the quarterfinals, this time against Scavolini of Pesaro. At the individual level he played 34 regular and 5 playoff games with averages of 28.5 minutes, 14.7 points and almost 5 rebounds. The following year signed with BC Khimki, team of the Russian Superliga that began its escalation to the elite of the national basketball to sign players of international reputation. After finishing his first year in Russia, he returns to join Marinos to finish the season in Venezuela, achieving a new wound garter. In his second season with the team of the city of Jimki, he managed two runners-up in the Russian league against the ever-winning CSKA champion in Moscow and in the FIBA Eurocopa, where they fell to the Joventut of Badalona. In 2006-07 he started his third season in the club but in February is part of the first transfer of the history of Russian basketball, playing since then in CSKA Moscow with

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whom he debuted in Euroleague and proclaims first Cup champion and later champion of the Super League.

He returns to Italy for 2007-08, this time in the ranks of the Bologna Fortitudo, again under the technical direction of Andrea Mazzon who already directed it in his stage in Napoles, but it was not a good season in Bologna, that changed of coach mediated the season, arriving Dragan Sakota in substitution and sorting so hurry for the playoff in the 8th place of the regular and falling in the quarterfinals before the leader of the same and later champion Montepaschi Siena. He returned once again to play the end of season with his Marinos of Anzoátegui in Venezuela and returned to Italy the following year to play with Pall Udine where he is cut in April, without finishing the season. He then joins the Türk Telekom Ankara team, where he reaches the semi-finals before returning to Venezuela.

Once again returns to the league of his country just for the playoff in that 2009, achieving a new league title, the fourth of his career defending once again the colors of Marinos of Anzoátegui in Venezuela. A knee injury causes him not to continue his international career in 2010, the year that for the first time since 2001 he returns to play the Venezuelan league from the start. His team finishes runner-up in the final against Cocodrilos of Caracas, although he resented his injury in May before the season came to an end. He returns recovered in 2011 with Marinos and this year, if they manage to regain the national scepter with Torres being a basic piece of the champions, free of injuries in 2011, participates with the Venezuelan team in the American Olympic Championships in Mar del Plata.

With the absolute selection of Venezuela, he made his debut in the 1999 FIBA Americas Championship, participating in the 2001, 2003 and 2005 editions, where he won the bronze medal in 2009 and 2011. He has also represented his country in two World Cup, the United States 2002 and Japan 2006. In the South American Championship it registers 5 participations, Obtaining the Bronze Medal in the editions of 2001, 2004 and 2008.

In Europe Torres also played in the Basket League of Luxembourg, had internships in the teams Telstar Hesperange and in

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Residence, both quintets of Total League of the first division and League N2 of the second division with the Grengewald.

Hector Romero

Date of Birth: January 3, 1980, Venezuela Height: 2,02 mts Position: Forward

Héctor was signed by the Polaris World of Murcia, of the Liga ACB of Spain. The season was already well advanced and the Venezuelan player arrived in Murcia to replace a former NBA, Marcus Fizer, with the aim of helping the Murcia saved the category. He did it, Polaris World saved the last games of the season and did not descend, although the participation of Héctor Romero was rather scarce. Their numbers say it all: 6.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. However, the career of the international Venezuelan player in Europe was going to continue in earnest, judging by the teams that took an interest in him and Liga A in Italy.

In mid-2007 I went to Legea Scafati, a city near Napoles, Italy. From his new house, near the ruins of Pompei, he could see in the background the imposing Vesuvius. In his garage he had parked an Alfa Romeo. Life smiled to Romero, who played 5 months in the team with averages of 13 points and 6.9 rebounds in 26.9 minutes of play. And he did not stop, because this time the temporality was a gift from God, since behind the Scafati was a dream team, Montepaschi Siena, set for which he signed in December 2007.

From there, Romero's dream, on a collective level, is fulfilled. Accompanied by players like Lavrinovic, Kaukenas, Sato or Ilievski, among others, the Venezuelan basketball player wins the Italian league and reaches the Final Four of the Euroleague. A triumphal season. But his individual contribution goes quite unnoticed (4.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.5 minutes per game).

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Pablo Machado

Date of birth: April 25, 1977, Mérida, Venezuela Height: 2,07 mts Position: Pivot

The Venezuelan Machado, goes to US basketball training, completed the university cycle riding of Georgia Tech and Loyola Marymount, landed in Spain for the first time in the 2001/02 season in the Plasencia Galco ranks of LEB-2. In the Extremadura team averaged 11.5 points with 60% in field shots and 7.9 rebounds for 14.76 points. A year later he was at Rayed Guadalajara as substitute for Bryant Feggins, reaching 11.41 points and 8.1 rebounds for 14 p.v. This season he disputed the playoff of promotion to Liga LEB before Bilbao Basket Berri to have classified in eighth position to the end of regular league. His good season served to continue in the purple set an additional campaign and make other teams, as in this case Pozuelo Basketball, will look at him to make up his squad.

In the 2004/05 season, he was part of a powerful squad with Mark Poag, Joe Alonso, Sergio Fernández and Darío Quesada. In Basketball Pozuelo disputed LEB-2 Cup, falling in semifinals before the host with 12 points and 13 rebounds of Machado, and the playoff of rise before which would be Sub-champion Alcudia Aracena. 8.3 points and 5 rebounds were his regular league numbers.

In addition, his career in Spain has combined it with the competitions of his country, LNB and LPB, with Guaros of Lara (on five occasions), Cocodrilos of Caracas, Portuarios of Vargas, Guerreros of Caracas, Marinos of Oriente, Delfines of Miranda On two occasions), Guerreros of Lara and Lideres of Yaracuy. Absolute International with Venezuela between 2001 and 2006, he has played South American Championships, Tournaments of the Americas and two World Championships.

Also Machado played in Spain for the Residencial Domo Oviedo, player that was also intended by Orense and Farho Gijón, signed until the end of the season, although the club ovetense reserves an option in case of achieving the promotion to the Adecco LEB Bronze at the end of

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this season. The Oviedo Dome was the leader of the EBA League. Machado, who had problems of charges in Torrevieja, discarded other offers of equipment of superior category looking for the sporty and economic stability offered by the Residential Domo Oviedo. Machado, on the other hand, did not occupy a foreigner's place when he was married to a Spaniard.

John Cox

Date of Birth: July 6, 1981, Caracas, Venezuela Height: 1,96 mts Position: Guard, Forward

His father is Chubby Cox former player of the Washington Bullets and also the uncle of former player Kobe Bryant of Los Angeles, who is also John's cousin. Cox, who was born in Venezuela when his father Chubby Cox played for the currency of Caracas in the Special League Basketball. Cox played his eighth campaign in the French league, having a new club in the 2012/13 season, which was the Paris-Levallios. The Venezuelan forward John Cox, with in Le Havre, has been the most outstanding player in several days of the French league of basketball. With good performances, Cox contributed to the Le Havre team adding important victories against high-level rivals. In short the Venezuelan Cox played in the following teams from France:

2005 - 2006: Élan sportif chalonnais (Pro A) 2006 - 2008: Saint Thomas Basket Le Havre (Pro A) 2008 - 2010: Stade Lorrain Université Club Nancy Basket (Pro

A) 2010 - 2012: Saint Thomas Basket Le Havre (Pro A) 2012 - 2013: Paris-Levallois Basket (Pro A) 2013 - 2014: Cholet Basket (Pro A) 2014 - 2015: Saint Thomas Basket Le Havre (Pro A)

Cox played with Venezuela's jersey in 2012 and then repeated in 2015 in which he achieved the greatest sporting success of his life:

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qualifying in México for the 2016 Olympic Games and the continental title. Cox plays in Venezuela for the LPB Bucaneros of La Guaira team, the escort had a significant participation in Mexico's Pre-Olympic, where he became one of the main pieces of "Che" García to conquer the first FIBA Americas title country, defeating in the final to Argentina, where Cox scored 14 points.

The Technical Commission of the Professional Basketball League named John Cox, escort Bucaneros of La Guaira, as the winner of the Sixth Man of the Year award 2015-2016, which recognizes the work of the best substitute during the 75 Years Cup of Polar Enterprises.

Carlos Morris

Date of birth: November 10, 1975, Caracas, Venezuela Height: 1,96 mts Position: Guard, Forward

He started in the basketball at age 8, after passing the years he achieved a scholarship that made him move in the 90 to study in the United States. First to Kansas City, then to Jacksonville. He graduated with an MBA degree in Management and then graduated from Texas State University with a bachelor's degree in International Studies. The transnational Nokia came to use it, but his passion for basketball and calls to the selections forced him to leave his office work to stay on the courts.

He played in Europe for the team "Hotel Valls Felix" of Tarragona of the Second Spanish Division.

Donta Smith

Date of birth: November 27, 1983, United States of America (Venezuelan Nationalized). Height: 2.01mts. Position: Forward

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In January '07 moved to Bulgaria, signed by Lukoil Academic Sofia, played there also the 2007-08 championship. Named the 2013-14 Eurocup Week-3 and last 32 Week-3 MVP. Won the 2006-07 Bulgarian National Championship with Academic Sofia. Won the 2014-15 Israeli National Championship with Hapoel Jerusalem. Won the 2009 Australian NBL with Melbourne South Dragons. Won the 2011 Venezuelan National Championship with Marinos of Anzoátegui. Won the 2012 Puertorican BSN with Mayaguez Indians. Won the 2012-13 Israeli National Championship with Maccabi Haifa. Won the 2007 and 2008 Bulgarian National Cup with Academic Sofia. Played the 2007 Bulgarian All Star Game, being named the MVP. Won the 2007 Bulgarian Slam Dunk Contest. In August 2013, Smith was naturalized as a Venezuelan, in order for him to be able to play with the Venezuelan national basketball team. Donta played with Venezuela at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship in México where Venezuela was champion.

Jhornan Zamora

Date of birth: January 30, 1989, Caracas, Venezuela Height: 1,93 mts Position: Guard

In Spain was formed in the lower categories of the Salesians Vigo passing later to the CB Valladolid in Junior category, club with which it made debut in the LEB Gold. In 2009 was sign by Unicaja Málaga that it sent to its filial equipment of the LEB Gold, the Rincón Axarquía Clinics. In August 2011 he confirmed his return to CB Valladolid to play in the 2011/12 season of the League Endesa.

During 3 seasons he played in the LPB of Venezuela, being the rookie of the year in his first season, progress of the year in the second and last year could not show his best for some physical problems that made him lose part of the season, but In the 13/14, in the ranks of the Trotamundos of Carabobo, went up to a good 13.9 points, 3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game that helped his team to finish in 2nd position the Venezuelan LPB.

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The 19 of September of 2015 confirms its contracting by Club of Spain Ourense Basketball for a season.

Currently the versatile player Creole Jhornan Zamora, plays in Spain team Palencia Basketball, in the Leb Gold, spice of anteroom of the powerful ACB and also with the Blancos of Rueda Valladolid. In Venezuela he plays with Trotamundos of Carabobo in the LPB.

Javier Maseda

Date of birth: 1980, Caracas, Venezuela. Height: 2.07 mts Position: Center

The Venezuelan center in Spain, Javier Román Maseda, was with the Coruña who participated last season in the league LEB Silver.

Roman played some games in 2000 with the venezuelan team Cocodrilos of Caracas and is characterized by playing in positions 4 and 5, being a player with good handling of the ball and good wrist for the outside line, being invited by the FVB to be part of the Preselection for the FIBA commitments of the current year, but the basketball player informed the Federation that he would not participate because of physical discomfort and prefer to rest than to participate with the National Team. Román, who was 2.07, was an important player in the outfit of the team when he left the starting line in 21 of the La Coruna commitments, averaging 25 minutes by challenge and remaining as the third best scorer of the team that has participated in the LEB Gold, by the dramatic decrease of professional teams that live the Spanish basketball for the lack of sponsors that afflicts the leagues by the economic crisis that this country lives.

In the last two seasons, 45% of the teams that were active in the LEB leagues have disappeared, and with the exit or disappearance of franchises in the LEB Gold, La Coruña will have the opportunity to take a place in the antechamber of the ACB.

Javier Román, made his professional debut in the 98/99 season in the EBA-fourth division - with the Basket Base Club quintet, to play in

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the next season with the BBC High School Basketball, the same EBA league.

In the course 2000/01 happens to play LEB 2 with the team Redcom Porriño, which repeats the following year in the same category, going on to play in the 02/03 EBA league with San Narciso.

In season 2004/05 it would stabilize for three seasons with the CB Pontevedra in the LEB 2 and in the season 2006/07 would happen to play with the CB 1939 Canarias, first in the LEB 2 and soon would happen to the LEB Gold, The CBA with the same island team.

In the 2008/09 and 2009/10 campaigns he would play the LEB Gold with Breogan River Milk, becoming a player of hierarchy in that circuit and bordering the promotion in both campaigns to the maximum competition of equipment of Spain.

The FEVE Oviedo, was the team where played this center for the 2010/11 harvest now in the LEB Plata, and last season played it in the Leyma Basket Coruña.

Gregory Vargas

Date of birth: February 18, 1986, Miranda, Venezuela. Height: 1.80 Position: Pilot and Escort

He has had an internship for France basketball with the Nancy SLUC team.

The following Venezuelans have also played in Europe:

- Richard Lugo, in the Idea Slask of Poland - Ludwing Irazábal, with the Porriño of Spain - Rosmel Blanco, with the team from La Laguna City of Spain

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New Venezuelan players in Europe basketball

Michael Carrera

Date of birth: 1993, Anzoátegui, Venezuela Height: 1,96 mts Position: Forward

Michael Carrera is the son of former Venezuelan player Marinos of Oriente, Luis "Nené" Carrera, supported by his father and other players, including: Robert Gonzales, Greivis Vasquez and Sam Sheppard in the United States. He currently plays for BC Avtodor Saratov of Russia who is competing in the Champions League. It is necessary to remember that the 23-year-old Venezuelan player was with the Miami Heat.

The forward is coming off a great race in the NCAA and shone last season with the University of South Carolina. He averaged 14.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 27.8 minutes per game. Nikolay Mazurs, coach of Avtodor, highlighted the conditions that Michael Carrera has to play and that enters into the characteristics of the project. "I am very pleased that we have a player who will soon have to be in the NBA," the coach said in a statement. "Carrera has the character of a winner and a great energy that will help the team a lot".

Adolfo Blanco

Date of Birth: August 08, 1989, Venezuela Height: 2,10 mts Position: Center

Young player who studies and trains in Spain. He started in basketball in Margarita Island of Venezuela, with the Guaiqueríes team and as a result he received the opportunity to go to the United States to do tests and had several offers of studies in different universities, being in the state of Missouri since among all was the best offer, both to study and to play basketball. There he did three semesters and participated in the Junior Varsity team, which belongs to the NAIA. He is Venezuelan

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but also has spanish nationality. His agent is Elena Ramirez, who has been in charge of introducing him to the teams where he has participated in Spain in the team of the University of Burgos, he was signed in league EBA, in the equipment Autocid Ford Burgos, LEB Gold league. When he goes to Madrid Played for Asefa Students.

Frank Flores

Date of birth: 1988, Aragua, Venezuela Height: 2.03 mts Position: Forward

This Venezuelan player, who was unknown until the last campaign in Venezuela country, as Frank Flores, will continue to be involved in the Tenerife Club of Spain in the Silver Leb - fourth division - finishing penultimate in the league and going down to the EBA, leaving Record of 7 victories and 17 losses, having this year like challenge to return to the league Leb Plata.

Flores left in 24 games in the Leb Silver of Spain, averaging 3.9 points per game and 2.2 rebounds in 15 minutes on average.

Luís González

Date of birth: 1985, Carabobo, Venezuela Height: 2,00mts Position: Center

Luís González, is an exact 2 meter center, born in Venezuela and who played his fifth season in Spanish basketball, and is a player who has become an important player for EBA league teams.

In the 2011/12 season, the start with Arquitectes Burriana, belonging to group E of the EBA and where the average player 17.1 points per game, being the best in attack of his club, but in the middle of the tournament goes to the ranks of Dominicas La Palma, group B of the EBA and average 8.6 points per game. For the season 2012/13, Luis

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Gonzalez, continue to be linked to Dominicas, a quintet who was looking for his promotion to Leb Plata.

Daniel Del Castillo

Date of birth: 1984, Caracas, Venezuela Height: 1,90mts Position: Guard

Daniel Del Castillo, who had his way through university basketball in the United States, will continue to be linked to the Montcada, the first national of Catalonia in Spain, and hopes to recover their level after the traffic accident suffered a few years ago.

The Vigo of the young power forward Luis Rubianes in the fourth division of Spanish basketball.

Also in Spain, will be the Venezuelan players Luis Valera with the Azuqueca team, Antonio Claret, who will play in the CB Coria, the first national league in Andalusia, Oscar Hernández Haese, who will again participate in the first national of the community of Madrid, Both eaves and center Wilmer Peraza, who played the first national of Aragon with the Basket Zaragoza team and the young Brayan Hurtado that has been tested with several teams from Spain.

In Italy, will be the escort, Roberto Galindez, a player of 32 years and 1.96 in height who has played with Vigevano, Serie C2 quintet -fifth division- of the Trasalpino basketball and who had an insured contract, but the team decided not going out to play because of economic problems. Situation that forces Galindez and his agent to get equipment for the next campaigns to the player born in Caracas and with experience in Spanish basketball.

An exotic country for us can be considered Luxembourg, and in this small European country lives the rook Christopher Creole, a player of 24 years and 1.88 in height.

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Venezuelan equipment agreements with teams from Europe

The newly crowned Intercontinental champion Guaros of Lara and Basket Zaragoza of Spain 2002 signed a cooperation agreement, in order to strengthen ties for collaboration and institutional exchange, leading to the promotion and sports management between the two institutions.

This agreement, signed on the occasion of the Venezuelan team's visit to the capital of Zaragoza, will include the exchange of experiences in player’s clinics and coaches in each of their countries. "We were not only behind a drink, we were looking for this type of alliances with big teams, it is an integral cooperation, not only for the players, but for coaches, journalists, logistical personnel that makes life in our organizations, we continue looking for the growth of basketball Venezuelan, has never seen this type of alliances, it is a great pride to announce this, because I repeat, it is for the basketball of our country, today two sister countries, two organizations shake hands for mutual growth" said Jorge Hernández, President of Guaros de Lara.

In addition, clubs will maintain close contact to share sports information about players in their respective clubs.

Within this collaboration framework, Guaros of Lara and Basket Zaragoza 2002, will also carry out a program of exchange of experiences in the areas of sports management, logistics, communication, marketing, medicine and other matters related to club structures.

This agreement was signed by Presidents Jorge Hernandez of Guaros of Lara BBC and Reynaldo Benito by Basket Zaragoza 2002.

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REFERENCES

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Cadena Capriles (2012). Basketball leaders. ISBN 978-980-6509-57-3. Sources of Books. Caracas, Venezuela.

Carrillo, R. (2015). "Analysis in Cold: Final Venezuela - Argentina". Caracas, Venezuela. [Online article]. Available: www.sehablabasket.com. [Consultation: September 14, 2016].

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Prensa Guaros de Lara (2013). "Agreement with teams from Spain". Caracas, Venezuela. [Online article]. Available: www.eltiempo.com.ve/deportes [Consultation: September 18, 2016].

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venezolano-john-cox-es-el-jugador-valencia-de-la-liga-francesa-de-baloncesto/48092. [Consultation: 08/10/2016].

Rodriguez J. (1996). "The Self-financing in the Sports Associations of Merida State". Postgraduate Thesis, Specialization, Mention Publication. Unpublished work. University of Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela.

Se Habla Basket (2012). Caracas, Venezuela. [Online article]. Available: http://www.sehablabasket.com/2012/10/cox-y-zamora-no-seran-los-unicos-en.html [Consultation: November 2, 2016].

Televen (2012). "Venezuela closed its participation in the Super 4 of Caracas with defeat before Argentina". Caracas, Venezuela. [Online article]. Available: www.televen.com [Consultation: 14 September 2014].

Ultimas Noticias, El Deportivo (2012). "Venezuela for the conquest of South America". Caracas, Venezuela. [Online article]. Available: www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve [Query: December 10, 2016].

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CIP - ʂʘʪʘʣʦʛʠʟʘʮʠʿʘ ʫ ʧʫʙʣʠʢʘʮʠʿʠ - ʅʘʨʦʜʥʘ ʙʠʙʣʠʦʪʝʢʘ ʉʨʙʠʿʝ, ɹʝʦʛʨʘʜ 796.323.2(4)(082) BASKETBALL in Europe / editors Branislav Antala ... [et al.]. - Niġ : FIEP Europe, History of Physical Education and Sport Section, Associationof Pedagogues of Physical Education and Sport FIEP ; Leposaviĺ : Universityof Pristina, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, 2017 (Kruġevac :Sigraf). - 266 str. : ilustr. ; 21 cm Tiraģ 200. - Napomene i bibliografske reference uz tekst. - Bibliografija uz svaki rad. ISBN 978-86-82329-63-3 (FSPE) a) ʂʦʰʘʨʢʘ - ɽʚʨʦʧʘ - ɿʙʦʨʥʠʮʠ COBISS.SR-ID 243770380