Of Interest/Basketball: Why Basketball Players Are Called "Cagers"
The first pro club in basketball, “The Trenton (New Jersey) Basketball Team,” were responsible for giving the name “cagers” to basketball players.
In those early days of basketball, their manager strung chicken wire around the court to keep the ball in play. (It was also a response to a news-
paper comment that his team played like monkeys).
The Trenton manager's chicken wire developed into a whole series of rope and wire cages around the courts. Basketball became known as the “cage game” and the players were dubbed “cagers.”
References:
1. FreeDarko Presents: The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History, 2010.
2. Roland Lazenby, The Lakers: A Basketball Journey, Masters Press. 1993.
To download the pdf version of this
article, click here: Download Now
© 2012, Physical Education Update.com, www.peUpdate.com
