This spring, as I sat in the bleachers at Bethel College, watching some of Minnesota’s best Unified basketball teams scrimmage each other in preparation for this month’s Special Olympics USA Games, I felt like I was watching the ideal version of Dr. James Naismith’s game. Back in 1891, Naismith designed basketball to be played vertically instead of horizontally, to reward grace and skill more than violent force, and to encourage teammates to work together for the elevation of the entire group.