Basketball History James (Jimmy) L Walker

I started playing in Milton (near Liverpool, NS) in 1960 in the Community Hall there.  As I grew
 older and taller I played both in Junior High and High School.  I attended Acadia University 
for one year 1967 - 68 and tried out for the varsity team.  I was cut in the final cut but 
encouraged to help out as a playing manager where I also worked out at practices with the team.  
Brian Heaney was the marquee player then and I tried to develop my game ever after based on his 
style.  I dropped out of Acadia and succeeded in becoming an Electronic Engineering Technologist, 
graduating in 1972.  With that training I worked in various positions in the engineering section 
of Maritime Tel and Tel until 1996.
 
For 22 years I played intermediate ball in many locations.  While I was studying Electronics, 
I played with a north end Halifax group called the St Joseph' Bullets.  When I started with 
MT&T, I was working in New Glasgow for 3 years and helped them develop from a men's fitness 
group to a 4 team recreation league.  I moved to Halifax in 1975 and played for the Jammers 
as a team that played a dozen exhibition games a year.  In 1980 I joined Maple Leaf Taxi for 5 
yars  and then in 1995 with Dartmouth Building Supplies in the Intermediate League which later 
with 5 other teams split off to form the Senior League.  I played with them for 10 years before 
deciding to drop down and play in the Intermediate League with the Midtown Tavern. 

When I turned 35 I got involved with groups who played "Masters" ball - over 35.  After 
attending many one day tournaments, I helped organize one tournament and then a spring league.  
This lead finally to creating the Metro Masters Men's Basketball League, which I still lead and 
play with.  It is now 12 teams and our success has been mainly due to shuffling the players on 
the teams (named after the colours of the shirts). 

When my children began to get interested to learn the game, I stepped in to help as an official 
in 1988 and then as an organizer of Halifax Minor Basketball Assoc.  I was recruited to act as 
President which I performed from 1990 - 1995.  During my tenure, the number of teams grew from 
63 teams to 120.  
 
The timing of my president's position with HMBA was coincidental with the public being able to 
access the internet.  I was part of the trial group at MT&T to use the internet from home and 
quickly used it to make information available about MMMBL and HMBA.  As I was also refereeing, 
I found many contacts in other leagues like High Schools, universities and men's and women's 
leagues.  I tried to make schedule info available through my website which is now located at 
http://www.basketball.ns.ca/halifax/ .  I also provide links to the Windjammers, Rainmen and 
basketball officiating.
 
I became an official in 1988.  I was not very competitive and happy to work games up to high 
school boys level.  I did enjoy working with younger players;-)  I did attend many meetings 
and progressed a couple of Levels.  I always passed the rules exam and actively studied the 
rules.  I have been refereeing ever since until I decided to stop in March 2008.
 
I became a scorekeeper for Atlantic University Sport and later Canadian Intercollegiate Sport 
men's basketball playoff's in the early 1980s and have worked most of those tournaments here 
over the last 28 years.  There are 3 of us who alternate at scorekkeping because it is too 
intense to complete one and wrap it all up in time to be ready for the next game, usually right 
afterward.  I have worked with Gordon Hamlin, Gordon Warnica, Bruce Duffy, Barb Hamilton-Hinch 
and Deanna Landry for all those years as well as a couple of summers with the Windjammers and 
one season with the Rainmen.  

In October, 2008 I began doing video recording for Dal at their women's and men's basketball games.

I evolved into leader of the Table Officials for the Halifax Rainmen. I really enjoy their level 
of play and their efforts to develop a semi pro team here.  Last year they played in the ABA, 
an old but not vey structured league.  It seems like many teams come and go, even in mid season.  
This year they joined with several other teams into the new Premiere Basketball League.  I do 
hope they can continue to draw fans as well as corporate sponsorship;-)