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WEDNESDAY • DECEMBER 16 • 2015
THE VOICE OF BASKETBALL
Housing Authority cleared to purchase apartments By Nikki Wentling Twitter: @nikkiwentling
Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo
AP File Photo
LEFT: MICHAEL ZOGRY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES AT KANSAS UNIVERSITY, shows off some of the James Naismithrelated items he’s collected. Zogry recently discovered a recording of a 1939 radio program featuring Naismith, the only known audio recording of the inventor of basketball. RIGHT: Naismith is pictured in a 1939 file photo.
KU prof discovers only known audio recording of James Naismith By Sara Shepherd Twitter: @saramarieshep
I
n an audio recording, long buried among countless others in Library of Congress archives, an animated 1930s radio announcer asks, “Dr. Naismith, how did you happen to invent basketball?” What follows is just over two minutes of the only known recording of the voice of James Naismith himself — inventor of basketball and former Kansas University basketball coach — explaining how the game was born during an 1891 blizzard, when his students at Springfield College in Massachusetts were stuck inside needing something to do. The chaos of that experimental first game, according to Naismith, inspired the 13 original “Rules of Basket Ball” that he ultimately put to paper. “The boys began tackling, kicking and punching in the clinches,” Naismith said. “They ended up in a freefor-all in the middle of the gym floor. Before I could pull them apart one boy was knocked out, several of them had black eyes and one had a dislocated shoulder...so I made up some more rules. The most important one was that there should be no running
Please see HOUSING, page 7A
Town Talk
Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com
Contributed Photo/Leann Myer, KU Libraries
KANSAS UNIVERSITY ARCHIVIST REBECCA SCHULTE (LEFT), Jim Naismith and his wife, Beverly, look over records at KU’s Spencer Research Library. Jim Naismith, of Portland, Texas, is the grandson of James Naismith. with the ball.” Michael Zogry, associate professor in KU’s Department of Religious Studies, discovered the audio clip while researching for his book in progress, “Religion and Basketball:
Naismith’s Game.” Naismith’s voice is now available for all to hear online, via the KU Libraries website, exhibits.lib.ku.edu. Please see NAISMITH, page 2A
Temporary Greyhound stop OK’d for 6th, New Hampshire By Nikki Wentling Twitter: @nikkiwentling
Greyhound will use Sixth and New Hampshire streets as a temporary bus stop for up to six months while the bus system searches for a permanent Lawrence location. The Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to allow the bus to stop at the downtown location. Greyhound’s regional manager has talked with owners of North Lawrence properties — including gas stations, hotels and
Tanger Factory Outlet Center — about becoming a permanent stop, but none of them have agreed to the arrangement. City Engineer David Cronin told commissioners that Greyhound was currently in discussion with a convenience store on North Iowa Street. In a city memorandum, Cronin said Greyhound needed the city’s help in finding a temporary location, otherwise the Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo bus system “will need to stop A GREYHOUND BUS STOPS at the Santa Fe Depot Friday serving Lawrence.” morning. City commissioners approved a new stop location Please see GREYHOUND, page 2A at Sixth and New Hampshire streets Tuesday night.
INSIDE
Breezy, cooler Business Classified Comics Crave
High: 41
Low: 25
Today’s forecast, page 10A
After gaining approval from the Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday, the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority plans to purchase a six-unit apartment building and lease the rent-controlled units to those aging out of foster care. The City Commission voted 3-2 to authorize the CITY purchase, which is $195,000 COMMISSION more than the appraised price of the property. The building at 1725 New Hampshire St. will cost the housing authority $485,000. Minor renovations are estimated at $12,000 to $15,000. The housing authority is competing for the property against Dillons, which had written up a contract to pay $485,000. Dillons sought to rezone the property to a commercial use. In talks in 2009, Dillons had agreed to pay $500,000 for the property and convert the land to a parking lot, said Rob Farha, one of the owners of the building. That agreement did not come to fruition.
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Deaths Events listings Horoscope Opinion
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Oread tax info forthcoming, but questions still abound
W
e are close to figuring out what the concerns are with the special taxing district at The Oread hotel. But I don’t think that means we are near the end of the questions about this project. If you remember, we reported in November that the city had hired a Wichita accounting firm, Allen, Gibbs & Houlik L.C., to complete a report on how the special taxing district — which has generated more than $2 million and counting for the development group that built the hotel — is operating. City commissioners met in executive session Tuesday evening and afterward directed staff to seek reimbursement for money overpaid through the special taxing district. Mayor Mike Amyx also said that Allen, Gibbs & Houlik’s report would be released on the city’s website at 3 p.m. today.
Red Kettle progress Puzzles Sports Television USA Today
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With one week remaining in its annual Red Kettle Campaign, the Salvation Army of Douglas County has raised about half of its $100,000 goal. Page 3A
Please see OREAD, page 10A
Vol.157/No.350 38 pages