Bill Littlefield tells the story of how he became a decent hitter, but almost didn't.

Littlefield On Hitting And Playing Scared

Bill Littlefield

Host, Only A Game

"It dawned on me that hitting was terrific fun, and nothing to be scared of," Bill Littlefield writes. "Then I started to hit pretty well." (David Banks/Getty Images)

Origins Show

Sports

As a child, Caron Butler looked forward to little more than a life of struggle and crime. Now after 14 years in the NBA, Butler tells the story of his journey from drug dealer to pro basketball player.

Caron Butler: From Drug Dealer To NBA Veteran

Karen Given

Executive Producer/Interim Host, Only A Game

Caron Butler played with the Kings during the 2015-16 season -- his 14th year in the NBA. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)

In Their Own Words

The 2004 movie "Miracle" dramatizes the United States' win over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics. In the film's most famous scene, U.S. coach Herb Brooks, played by Kurt Russell, delivers a motivational pregame talk. But how accurate was that movie s

Hollywood Scores A 'Miracle' With Locker Room Speech

Did a pre-game speech really help the U.S. top the Soviet Union in the 1980 gold medal game? (Steve Powell /Getty Images)

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Today, the jump shot is one of basketball's fundamental moves. But it didn't exist in the early days of basketball history. Where did it come from? And who invented it? Only A Game's Karen Given's investigation begins 84 years ago on a farm in Wyoming. 

Kenny Sailors: The Long-Forgotten Inventor Of Basketball's Jump Shot

This photo of Kenny Sailors and his jump shot landed in Life Magazine in January of 1946. If you're wondering why nobody is jumping up to block Sailors...it's because nobody knew they should. (Kenny Sailors Collection/American Heritage Center/University of Wyoming)

“He was always a role model to me,” former UNC quarterback Caleb Pressley says of NCAA president Mark Emmert. A class-action lawsuit accused the NCAA of profiting off the likenesses of college athletes, and now Pressley is hoping to make money off a t-shi

NCAA President Mark Emmert Inspires A New T-Shirt Line

It's been nearly 125 years since Dr. James Naismith invented basketball. But last December an audio recording from 1939 was discovered. In it, Naismith reveals his "big mistake" and more. Bill Littlefield takes a listen.

Naismith Audio Alters Basketball's Origin Story

The first basketball court in the gymnasium of what would become Springfield College. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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Dr. James Naismith -- the inventor of basketball -- sits with the first team in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Dr. James Naismith--the inventor of basketball-- sits with the first team in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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The slam dunk. It’s basketball’s most exciting play. But this year the dunk has faced a challenge -- from a skinny point guard and an upstart sneaker brand. Only A Game's Martin Kessler has the story.

Stephen Curry, Under Armour And The Fall Of The Dunk

Martin Kessler

Producer, Only A Game

Last June, Stephen Curry (left) overtook LeBron James in jersey sales. But can Curry ever sell as many sneakers as King James? (Ben Margot/AP)

This week on Only A Game, we'll revisit some of our favorite origin stories. 

The Origins Show: June 18-19

Stephen Curry hit 402 three-pointers during the 2015-16 regular season -- an NBA record. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)