They began labeling the sport as tough, and the organization that supported it began disbanding basketball from all Young Men's Christian Associations and replacing it with other sports to fill the empty. Luckily the National Collegiate Athletic Association fights the Young Men's Christian Association so they can change some rules. This led to the creation of the first professional league, the National Basketball League. The National Basketball League was founded in 1898 to help promote a less harsh game and prevent players from being exploited, but the National Basketball League did not last long as it lasted only five years. Basketball was starting to explode in college. In 1901 large colleges such as Yale and Columbia University began sponsoring men's basketball. Soon other colleges began to adopt basketball, and in 1910 the National Collegiate Athletic Association was founded. The National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA soon gained popularity and the first men's national championship followed. The NCAA tournament was held in New York and was organized in 1938 and the first game was held a year later. As college basketball grew, it helped pave the way for basketball