Birthplace of b-ball pioneer invites Obama for a visit
Posted by: Baller-in-Chief in International(From Caroline Alphonso for the Toronto Globe and Mail Online)
TORONTO — U.S. President Barack Obama is known for his promise of hope and his penchant for hoops. An Ontario town is eager to take advantage of the latter.
When Mr. Obama makes his first trip to Canada’s capital on Feb. 19, the town of Mississippi Mills, about an hour west of Ottawa, is inviting the basketball-loving President to make a quick stop at the birthplace of James Naismith, the inventor of his favourite sport.
Mississippi Mills Mayor Al Lunney knows it’s a long shot – a veritable full-court three-pointer – but it never hurts to aim high.
“One can always be optimistic. But given the fact that he’s only here for four hours, I doubt it,” he said. “There’s a one-in-a-gazillion [chance]. But what we really would like is at some point in the future maybe he would come for a tour.”
Dr. Naismith was born in 1861 and raised near the town of Almonte, one of three areas amalgamated in 1998 to form Mississippi Mills (pop. 11,734). He grew up playing a children’s game called “duck on a rock,” which involved tag and marksmanship.
Thirty years later, when he was a physical education teacher at a YMCA school in Springfield, Mass., he was tasked with creating a new indoor game and recalled his boyhood game in Almonte. The game of basketball was born.
If Mr. Obama chooses to pay the town a visit, he would be invited to the Naismith Museum and Basketball Hall of Fame for a history lesson. The stone Dr. Naismith used to play his childhood game is now part of the collection.
He could also stop by the stone house Dr. Naismith grew up in. Or perhaps play a game with the local high-school team.
The town is delivering the invitation, along with a print of the Naismith homestead, to the President via Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office.
Mr. Obama’s love for basketball is well documented. According to his Facebook page, his interests are basketball, writing and spending time with his children. He has even promised to replace the White House bowling alley with a basketball court.
“Obviously he’s not going to have time on this visit,” Mr. Lunney said. “But if he would like to come and visit our community, we would be honoured to have him.”
Loading ...
