Yes, the game was introduced to the world by Dr. James Naismith when he lived in Springfield. And the Boston Celtics still hold the record for most consecutive championships by a professional team.

But we'd bet that if put to a vote, baseball and football would come out ahead of hoops in terms of fan interest. And the Red Sox may be the most popular team in the country, never mind Massachusetts.

Of course, this Legislature doesn't much care what you think. All it takes is an influential member - in this case 11-term state Rep. Patricia Walrath, D-Stow - and a group of cute kids to sway those who hold the reins of power on Beacon Hill.

Indeed, this notion of naming an "official" this or that has become a popular exercise in classrooms throughout the state. And woe to the state representative or senator who dares say enough is enough and refuses to bring such a request forward.

The designation doesn't cost the state anything, after all, and might help the sponsoring lawmaker pick up a few votes from grateful teachers and parents.

Our hope is that come this fall, some group of youngsters, in the course of learning how a bill becomes law, will turn their attention to another subject well known to every citizen of Massachusetts and certainly deserving of recognition. We're talking about the Big Dig, which we hereby nominate for designation as Massachusetts' "official money pit."