Dog mushing, basketball central to Alaskas culture

In the last two weeks, we have watched mushers battle fierce weather and harsh conditions in search of Iditarod glory, and we have also been witness to hundreds of high school players battling on the basketball court during the state tournament.

The two events are the heart and soul of Alaskas culture.

If dog mushing is the official state sport, then the Iditarod is Alaskas version of the Super Bowl. No other event grabs as many headlines, attracts international exposure or captures the interest of every Alaskan much like the Last Great Race.

It is a showcase for Alaskas remote locations such as Shageluk, McGrath, Nome and Unalakleet. These villages are not familiar places to many Alaskans other than in the first two weeks of March. In September, many people have a hard time picking McGrath on a map. Come March, though, that same person can usually tell you it is only 23 miles from McGrath to Takotna, the next checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail.

While Iditarod, and the Yukon Quest to a lesser degree, hold Alaskas viewing interest, basketball is slowly taking over the title as Alaskas top sport in terms of participation.

For many people, the Iditarod is something they can tune into for two weeks, admire what the mushers and canine athletes accomplish, and then go back to their normal lifestyle. The opportunity to actually get out on the trail and feel what it is like to camp with a team of dogs for two weeks rarely arises to the average resident.

But basketball gives that same person the chance to test his or her athletic abilities.

In the Bush, basketball is the heart and soul of the communities that are unreachable by road. Backboards are nailed to trees, basketballs are dribbled in gravel driveways and Bulls jerseys adorn Native Alaskans in the most isolated of communities.

In Nome, the Iditarod Basketball Tournament attracts adult-league teams from as far away as Homer, Shageluk, Angoon and Savoonga. While the cultural differences are obvious the moment the teams take the court, they share a common bond basketball. One team may be speaking English while the opponent uses Yupik to communicate on the court, but the pick and roll or a 2-3 zone defense is something that both can relate to and understand.

Kotzebues Butch Lincoln, the first Native Alaskan to play basketball at the University of Alaska Anchorage, is considered a hero, much in the same manner as Kotzebue and Iditarod musher John Baker. Both men share the spotlight as Bush residents who have succeeded in Alaskas two favorite sports, and both are talked about as heroes and role models for the youth of the Bush.

Many Bush residents simply cant afford all the expenses associated with running dogs for a living. The number of Bush mushers has slowly decreased over the years, and many say that money is the driving factor.

But it doesnt cost a lot to nail up a hoop and net, and basketballs can be found fairly cheap. Make-shift courts outnumber dog lots by a wide margin in the Bush, but although mushing may be a dying way of life there, it is still something that is recognized as being central to the culture.

The Iditarod is the highlight of the year for many of these remote locations, but it comes and goes in a matter of days every winter. Basketball is what keeps them going for 12 months a year. Both are important to the Bush way of life.

Casey Ressler (ressler@alaska.net) is the Frontiersman sports editor.