Before The WNBA

THERE WERE THE RED HEADS

Got red hair? Are you a girl? Can you shoot and score a free throw from your knees? How would it be able to jump a basketball between his ankles, and connect the legs return costs the ball in the air, above the head, and through the ring? If the answer is yes, then you can be part of professional basketball, the first women's team, which was ruled from 1936-1986.

Who are these women basketball players? The All American Red HeadsAmerica barnstormed filling gymnasiums with wonder and amazement. You can make the men of the NBA basketball would be proud. They spent nights in nearly every corner of America and beyond. They entertain the masses for 50 years, and now in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee presented.

History of Women's Basketball

Women's basketball goes back to the beginning, when it invented by James Naismith in 1891. Only a year later Sendra Berenson, aWomen physical education teacher at Smith College adapted to the rules, and taught their students the game. Of course, a cry arose. The women were not supposed to throw the balls. The women were not even a legal citizen yet! Women were not engaged as the weaker sex and needed protection. After all women are required to have children, and the sport was as harmful to the physiology of women. Except that women were educated for a woman and take care of the husband.

TheName

The All American Red Heads was launched in 1935 by a man named CM "Ole" Olson, a player, coach, booking agent and publicity people. Doyle, his wife owned a chain of beauty salons, at Cassville, Missouri. Basketball-Girls "was more popular. Several young women who worked for Mrs. Olson were extremely professional basketball player. They formed a basketball team and was moderately successful.

Two of their players were naturally red heads. One night in 1935, whenprank, the rest of the team decided to dye their hair red. You can imagine what happened next. Yes, was the team's Red Heads known. At first they were known as the Cassville Red Heads, and then took the name of the Missouri, Red Heads. Prominent women players from the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) joined the team. Olson knew he was great at something. He notified the team of the All American Red Heads, and went to take them on the street in 1936.

Requirements

PlayBasketball well and with fabulous ball handling skills was the first request in an attempt for the team. If one of the women had not read natural hair, she had to wear either a wig or dye her hair red. After all, this was the team's calling card. She had to also carry makeup, nice clothes, and she had a picture of a glamorous lady project.

Playing Ball

The Red Head's "got game" and became an instant attraction. The women traveled constantly withtwo teams, and sometimes three. Their popularity grew in the mid 40s. The Red Heads enchants all with her skills and magic. Their games collected thousands of dollars for many organizations from the Veteran's of Foreign Wars, the Lions Club.

In the courtyard of the Red Heads Basketball surpassed all anyone had seen. If they do not play comedy roles, they were playing basketball at its best. Through a series of trick plays are armed, the women were able to walk, handle the ball andshoot. These women worked tirelessly to improve their game, even with her natural talents, basketball and wonderful skills. These women were special, and they showed it.

Straight basketball was played in every game, at least in the first quarter. Then the game is entertainment. Special Basketball Skills were displayed in half the time to get the audience ready for a show. Routinely, the Red Heads will be shot and made free throws, while on his knees. Often, the ball trickled overthe knee. Most shots were indescribable. Faye Mason held the ball between his ankles, jumped up and threw back his legs. The ball would fly over his head, and often go into the basket. The Red Heads were the most innovative women's basketball team of all time. Only the Harlem Globetrotters were comparable.

Records

The Red Heads played splendid ball. They have about half men's pro and amateur teams and won 80 percent of the time. From 1936-1973 she nevergained less than 100 games per year. In 1953 they won 134 games. In 1972, several All American Red Heads teams won 558 games and lost 84 games, and they were all against teams of men. More Lorene scored 35,425 points, while she played with the team for 11 years. Since they aerobatics from town to town, got out the word that they are not only good, but spectacular. The team could not have done it if she had played badly. Every city tells is astonishing to the nearest town in the team,Skills.

Where are they now?

They are no longer putting their red wigs, or flirting with the referee or an opponent. But the contribution of the All American Red Heads is not forgotten. In 1986 their rule to an end, but their influence has trickled down to the basketball history. In June 1999 have been awarded the All American Red Heads with their own exhibition at his Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Women's basketball became an Olympic sport in 1976. An attempt toEstablishment of a national professional league was made 1978th But three seasons later, it died. Another unsuccessful attempt was made in 1984. Call it lack of sponsorship, lack of publicity, who knows. But today we have the WNBA. While watching today's pro-women play, I remember the struggle and the support of the team. Remember that a team of red-haired women of the country barnstormed held and women's basketball team live in the 21st Century.