r>1. Michael Jordan's Short-Lived Baseball Career Most basketball fans know that Michael Jordan is considered one of the all-time greats of the sport, winning six NBA championships and countless individual accolades. However, what many might not know is that in 1993, at the height of his basketball career, Jordan retired from the NBA to pursue a career in professional baseball. He signed with the Chicago White Sox organization and played for their minor league affiliates for a year before returning to basketball in 199
5. Although he never made it to the big leagues, Jordan's brief stint in baseball is still a fascinating footnote in his legendary career.
2. The Strange Origins of the NBA Logo The NBA logo, featuring a silhouette of a player dribbling a basketball, is one of the most recognizable logos in sports. However, few people know the strange story behind its creation. In 1969, the league's commissioner at the time, J. Walter Kennedy, approached graphic designer Alan Siegel to create a new logo for the NBA. Siegel ultimately settled on the current design, but the silhouette isn't actually based on any specific player. Instead, Siegel was inspired by a photograph he found in a stock photography book depicting a basketball player in an awkward, off-balance pose.
3. The NBA's First Black Player The NBA has a long and complicated history when it comes to race relations. In 1950, the league integrated for the first time when the Boston Celtics drafted Chuck Cooper, making him the NBA's first black player. However, Cooper's arrival was not without controversy - some teams threatened to boycott games against the Celtics unless Cooper was benched. Despite the challenges he faced, Cooper went on to have a successful career and paved the way for future black players in the league.
4. The Curse of the Billy Goat For decades, the Chicago Cubs were considered one of the unluckiest teams in sports. It wasn't until 2016 that the Cubs finally broke their infamous curse and won the World Series. However, what many people don't know is that the curse was originally meant for the Chicago Cubs' basketball team, the Zephyrs (later re-named the Packers). In 1945, a local restaurant owner named Billy Sianis attempted to bring his pet goat to a Zephyrs game, but was denied entry. Legend has it that Sianis cursed the team, causing them to go on a losing streak that lasted for years. When the Cubs started struggling in the 1980s, the curse was transferred over to the baseball team and became a part of Cubs lore.
5. The First NBA Player to Score 100 Points in a Game Most basketball fans know that Wilt Chamberlain once scored 100 points in a single game, but what they might not know is that it took place in an unlikely setting. On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain's Philadelphia Warriors faced off against the New York Knicks at the Hershey Sports Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Hershey was chosen as the venue because it was halfway between Philadelphia and New York and was expected to attract a larger crowd than either team's home arena. Chamberlain's 100-point game remains one of the most iconic moments in basketball history.