Latest news with #JamesNaismith
CBC
2 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Museum honouring basketball inventor, physiotherapy pioneer at risk, says mayor
A deflated ancestor to the modern basketball sits on a cluttered shelf of artifacts at the Mill of Kintail Museum, a short drive outside Almonte, Ont., where the sport's inventor was born. Both major collections currently housed in the museum — one recognizing the father of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, and another dedicated to a pioneer in the field of physiotherapy, R. Tait McKenzie — could soon be in search of a new home. "We're at risk of losing those collections," said Mayor of Mississippi Mills Christa Lowry. "There's been a lot of talk about elbows up and time to be championing Canadian stories and Canadian icons — and I can't think of two more important icons." Naismith invented basketball while he was working with the YMCA in Massachusetts in 1891. He was also a lifelong friend to McKenzie, a sculptor, surgeon and trailblazer in the field of physiotherapy. McKenzie's life partner and poet Ethel McKenzie is also honoured in the museum. Funding model 'unsustainable' The museum is located on a river outside Almonte in a grist mill that dates to 1830. McKenzie purchased the property in 1931, converting it to a summer home and naming it the Mill of Kintail. Since 1972, the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) has owned the mill and the McKenzie collection. It permanently acquired the Naismith collection in 2017. Just two years later, the Ontario government passed the More Homes, More Choice Act, which clarified the mandate of conservation authorities in the province. As part of the change, the authority lost its ability to raise funding through a municipal levy, according to MVCA property manager Scott Lawryk. "The reality of the situation is nobody has been able to find a concrete solution to the funding model," Lawryk said. "It would be irresponsible for us to just assume that the funding is going to fix itself." Municipalities in the Mississippi Valley watershed are currently supporting the museum on a five-year agreement set to last for another three-and-a-half years. But Lawryk said that deadline is an obstacle to long-term financial planning. "It makes it real difficult to establish a firm plan when that cloud is kind of hanging over our heads," Lawryk said. Mayor blindsided Early last month, the MVCA released an updated strategic plan for the museum that would see the authority divest itself of the Naismith and McKenzie collections and transition the focus of the museum to "the beauty, power and importance of water and watersheds" in an effort to unlock more provincial funding. Lowry said she was caught off guard by the proposal. "Part of what feels like the blindsidedness of this — and where did this come from — is there hasn't been engagement," she said. "There haven't been discussions with ourselves as the municipality as the host of the Mill of Kintail, there haven't been discussions with the broader community." On Tuesday, Mississippi Mills town council voted to request an opportunity for the mayor to appear as a delegate at the next available MVCA board meeting. It also authorized her to seek out potential funding partners "to advocate for the proper care and preservation" of the mill and the collections. "The goal is really to have some conversations, to make sure that the folks around the table at the MVCA board are aware of all the things that we're aware of, because we are so proud of both of these iconic, historical figures," Lowry said. Problem across province Michael Rikley-Lancaster, executive director and curator of the nearby Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, said financial challenges aren't unique to the Mill of Kintail. "We're certainly seeing more and more of that happening throughout the province," said Rikley-Lancaster, who is also president of the Ontario Museum Association. "There's other regions where you're starting to see collections or heritage sectors in their region shutting down, and museums shutting down." When that happens, Rikley-Lancaster said communities lose both an economic driver and access to important local history.
CBC
3 days ago
- Science
- CBC
This eastern Ontario museum could lose its beloved collections
Officials in Mississippi Mills are launching an effort to keep two iconic museum collections in the community. Artifacts related to inventor of basketball Dr. James Naismith and physiotherapy pioneer R. Tait McKenzie could be divested due to changes in provincial funding.
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Disadvantaged children STEM boost from Oxbridge £6.5m donation
An anonymous donation of £6.5m has been made to to help socio-economically disadvantaged children's money will be used to expand Oxford University's outreach work with students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, the institution donor has also made a gift to the University of Cambridge, to support projects aimed at increasing participation and attainment in STEM James Naismith, head of the mathematical, physical and life sciences at Oxford, said the "generous" gift would help the university "support the next generation of scientists, mathematicians and engineers". The money will be used to fund three outreach projects taking place at the university from October first is a targeted GCSE maths mentoring programme, designed to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds by giving them weekly maths 850 students will benefit from it in the first four years, the university second project is an expansion of an online outreach programme for 14-19 year olds to help them develop physics and maths programme has been running sine 2021, but the university said the donation would expand it from 500 participating students per year to 1, money will also support the bridging programme, an initiative for students during the period between receiving an offer and completing their first year as an Cambridge, the money will fund two programmes that are also designed to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed in the two universities will run the programmes separately, they will share resources and materials, Oxford University said. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
STV News
21-06-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Scottish roots of basketball explored in joint university study
Joint research by the University of Stirling and students from Kansas University in the United States has traced the origins of basketball back to Scotland. The study revealed that Dr James Naismith, who invented the game in 1891, was born to Scottish parents in Ontario, Canada, on November 6, 1861. His parents, John Naismith and Margaret Young, came from Glasgow. John was born in Tradeston, near the Gorbals and Margaret's family was also from the city. Dr Naismith studied and taught physical education at McGill University in Montreal until 1890, before relocating to Springfield, Massachusetts later that year. It was there, in 1891, that he designed basketball and established the game's very first rules. As part of a cultural exchange programme on sports management with the University of Stirling, the American students conducted research and debates on which country should take pride in the invention of the sport. 'Basketball has strong Scottish roots and was largely influenced by Scotland,' said Dr Ross Fraser Walker, Sport Management lecturer at Stirling University. 'I've found that the game is largely distinctly based one person's religious ideology, his background, up bringing, personal and family values. It's the Scottish work ethic and I think without it, basketball wouldn't exist – and for that reason Scotland deserves recognition.' STV News Caledonian Gladiators As part of the cultural experience, the American students were taken on a tour of Caledonian Gladiators' sports arena in Glasgow, Scotland's only professional basketball team. The students were shown how the team embraces its Scottish heritage and how the culture is embedded in the club's identity. Tony McDaid, CEO of Caledonian Gladiators, wants Scotland to become a basketball nation where families are encouraged to get into the sport. 'We just need to get people in and see the arena and see the players play. I think the notion of Scotland being the home of basketball and indeed the inventor of basketball coming from the west coast of Scotland in Glasgow, that can only add a dimension for us.' 'A lot of Scottish values are in play in the sport today,' said Pristine Armstrong from Washington State. 'I grew up playing basketball for 18 years and a lot of the values that we have learnt a lot of the values that originally founded basketball are still in play today,' he added. Hanna Meeks is from the University of Kansas, an institution renowned for its basketball programme and often credited with the sport's origins. She said 'Dr James Naismith was a Scottish man, grew up in a Scottish family and town, but that is not widely known. 'If you look it up on the internet there is nothing to say about that. When I get back that is something I will help spread, especially at the university.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Top 10 most valuable NBA memorabilia of all time — Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, or Stephen Curry? Find out which legend shattered records as of 2025
Images via Getty Images When it comes to basketball history, some moments are too iconic to stay in the past, especially when preserved in fabric, ink, or cardboard. From game-worn jerseys to ultra-rare rookie cards, NBA memorabilia has exploded in value in recent years. With collectors shelling out millions to own a piece of the game's most legendary stories, the market has reached all-time highs. Here's a countdown of the top 10 most expensive NBA memorabilia items ever sold as of 2025, where legacy meets luxury in record-breaking fashion. Top 10 most expensive NBA memorabilia ever sold 10. LeBron James 2013 NBA Finals Game 7 jersey – $3.7 million Worn by LeBron James during the first half of Game 7 in the 2013 NBA Finals, this Miami Heat jersey fetched $3.7 million at Sotheby's in January 2023. It marked a historic night—James dropped 37 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists to seal his second NBA title and Finals MVP. The jersey also came from his 2012–13 season, when he won his fourth (and most recent) MVP award. 9. Michael Jordan 1984 rookie preseason game-worn jersey – $4.2 Million Sold in March 2025, this autographed Chicago Bulls jersey is believed to be the first Jordan ever wore in an NBA game—preseason or otherwise. Photo-matched to games in early October 1984, the jersey was verified by two authentication firms and sold for $4.215 million at Sotheby's, making it the fifth-most expensive NBA jersey ever sold. Its worn, reused condition added to its mystique. 8. James Naismith's original 'Rules of Basketball' – $4.3 Million Dating back to 1891, this isn't about a player but the birth of the game itself. The original 13 rules of basketball, typed and signed by the sport's inventor James Naismith, were auctioned off in December 2010 at Sotheby's. Though not tied to the NBA directly, it's the foundational artifact of the entire sport, making it a historic treasure of unmatched significance. 7. Luka Doncic 2018–19 National Treasures Logoman RPA (1-of-1) – $4.6 Million A modern masterpiece in card collecting, this one-of-one rookie card featuring Luka Doncic 's autograph and the NBA Logoman patch was sold privately in March 2021. Its staggering price tag proved that even current stars can compete with legends in the memorabilia market. At the time, it was the most expensive basketball card ever sold. 6. Wilt Chamberlain 1972 NBA Finals Game 5 jersey – $4.9 Million This iconic Lakers jersey, worn by Wilt Chamberlain during Game 5 of the 1972 NBA Finals, sold for $4.9 million at Sotheby's in September 2023. In that championship-clinching win over the New York Knicks, Chamberlain delivered 24 points and 29 rebounds to secure the title—and the Finals MVP. It marked the second and final championship of his career. Despite often being left out of modern GOAT conversations, Wilt's staggering resume—two titles, four MVPs, 13 All-Star appearances, and utter dominance in the paint—makes this jersey a historic reminder of one of the most unguardable forces in basketball history. 5. LeBron James 2003–04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection rookie card – $5.2 Million This ultra-rare LeBron James RPA from the 2003–04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection sold privately for $5.2 million in April 2021. Numbered out of just 23, it features an on-card autograph and a piece of game-worn jersey—an elite piece of craftsmanship that reshaped modern trading card value. Often regarded as the most iconic LeBron rookie card, it's the pinnacle of James collectibles and a true grail for investors in the basketball card world. 4. Kobe Bryant 2007–08 MVP season game-worn & signed jersey – $5.85 Million This jersey, worn by Kobe Bryant in 25 games—including six playoff contests—during his only MVP season, fetched a record $5.85 million at Sotheby's. The signed Lakers jersey became a cultural symbol, appearing on murals, books, and global memorabilia. Bryant also wore it while receiving his MVP award at Staples Center. Its sale marked the highest ever for any Kobe-related item. 3. Stephen Curry 2009 National Treasures rookie Logoman autograph card – $5.9 Million A one-of-a-kind card, this 2009 National Treasures Rookie Logoman Autograph became the most expensive basketball card ever when it sold for $5.9 million in 2021. Acquired by investment firm Alt, it represents the rarest and most prized Steph Curry collectible. Alt's founder called Curry a 'generational player' and highlighted the card as the core of their investment strategy, citing its strong appreciation potential. 2. Kobe Bryant 1996 NBA debut game-worn jersey – $7 Million Kobe Bryant 's yellow No. 8 Lakers jersey—worn during his 1996 NBA debut and several preseason games—sold for $7 million at Sotheby's in April 2025. The jersey, once auctioned for just over $115,000 in 2012, became the most expensive Bryant memorabilia ever sold. Sotheby's called it a 'rare and extraordinary artifact' symbolizing the origin of an icon, worn by Kobe as a teenage prodigy entering the league. 1. Michael Jordan 1998 NBA Finals Game 1 'Last Dance' jersey – $10.09 Million The crown jewel of NBA memorabilia, Jordan's Game 1 jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals was auctioned for $10.09 million at Sotheby's in September 2022, setting the record for any game-worn basketball item. Worn during his 'Last Dance' season, the piece gained global fame following ESPN's docuseries. Sotheby's called the Finals jerseys 'remarkably scant' and this one 'his magnum opus' as an athlete. It represents the climax of Jordan's Bulls dynasty, his sixth ring, and the final moment of the greatest career in basketball history. Also Read: Michael Jordan's $8M championship Air Jordans featured in every NBA Finals win that secured his 6 rings and cemented his legacy From the origins of basketball to the legends who defined it, these record-breaking items show how deeply fans and collectors value the sport's most iconic moments. Whether it's Jordan's final run, Kobe's debut, or a modern-day masterpiece like Curry's rookie card, the memorabilia market isn't just about nostalgia—it's about storytelling, legacy, and investment. And in this game, greatness always comes at a premium. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
