Why were basketball players sometimes called 'cagers'?
Basketball players have been referred to as cagers since the early 1900s, when the sport was first gaining popularity in the United States. The term is derived from the wire cages that were used to keep spectators out of the courts and to keep the ball from leaving the court. This term was used to refer to those who played and watched the sport, which was the first step in creating a distinct culture around the game. As basketball continued to grow, the term cager became a sign of respect and admiration for those who play the sport. Today, the term is still occasionally used, though it has largely been replaced by words like hooper or baller.
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