Grab a soccer ball and nail up those peach baskets!

I haven't given up on the football season yet. Even though my Dukies are still winless, I'm sticking with the gridiron battles all the way through until January 8. But I have to admit part of mind is already turning to basketball. Most teams are in the midst of exhibition season. Duke opens the regular season Monday with Columbia, and plays Indiana, Georgetown, George Mason, and Gonzaga all before Christmas -- it'll be here before you know it!

But I thought today was an especially good time to be thinking about roundball, because it's the 145th anniversary of the birth of Dr. James Naismith, the Springfield, Mass. YMCA phys. ed. teacher who drew up the original thirteen rules of the game when he was looking for an indoor winter sport for his charges. Happy birthday, Dr. Naismith!

Also related to basketball, here's a heck of a story about a donor who gave $5 million to Southern Cal to have its basketball court named after a friend of his. And folks, if your eyes don't water up a little bit reading this story, it's time to report to your cyborg overlords for reprogramming in the ways of humans. (Story link via DBR.)