North Korea is big into basketball. Or, Kim Jong Il is, at least. But what he says goes right? Here's some facts about North Korea and basketball.
- Kim Jong Il is believed to have installed regulation basketball courts at most of his palaces.
- He' also has a library with videos of almost every game Michael Jordan ever played for the Bulls.
- North Korea has developed its own scoring system for the game
- Three points for a dunk
- Four points for a three pointer that doesn't touch the rim
- Eight points for a basket scored in the final three seconds
- A missed free throw means minus-one point.
- Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 2000 brought Kim Jong Il an NBA basketball signed by Michael Jordan as a goodwill gift.
- The North Koreans later asked Jordan if he would make a trip to Pyongyang to meet Kim; Jordan declined. (I'm sure all the starving people were really concerned about getting this basketball player to come to their country)
