“Inch and Miles” by John Wooden Book Review
It all started one day when I found out that John Wooden was doing a book signing at a local bookstore. He was promoting his childrens book “Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success.” My son was just at the right age at the time for the book, so while we were at an event at the time, my husband went to get the book and have it signed by Mr. Wooden. Well, we were thrilled to get a signed book and just as thrilled when we brought the book home and read it.
The book is based on Mr. Wooden’s “pyramid of success” that he used for years while coaching. Inch and Miles have the assignment of finding the meaning of success, and on each part of their journey they explore one of the building blocks of the pyramid. Inch and Miles learn about doing your personal best, hard work, enthusiasm and many more wonderful values. This is one of those books that you can read over and over and it never gets old. This is a wonderful gift for young athletes or really anyone. The content is relevant and timeless. Go check it out here. If you’ve read it let me know your thoughts in the comments. I’ll see you later. I’m off to do my personal best!
“Tailgate” Officially Makes It
In 1962 the folks at Merriam Webster decided that tailgating was so popular that they needed to add the sports related definition to their dictionary:
Tailgate, adjective. Definition: relating to or being a picnic set up on the tailgate especially of a pick-up. Merriam Webster 1962
It was official and there was no turning back. Tailgating would go on to become one of the country’s most popular ways to spend time for all kinds of sporting events. What’s your favorite tailgating memory? Let us know in the comments.
The Original Tailgaters
How did tailgating begin? The most popular theory seems to be that the first actual tailgating before a football game happened in 1869 before the Princeton and Rutgers game. Fans traveled by horse-drawn carriage and grilled sausages before the game. Another theory was that Yale alums were the first to start tailgating. The story is that the fans had to travel by railcars and there wasn’t a chance to eat along the way so they brought their food and drinks to the game.
There are other schools that also claim that tailgating started at their games. Where it started is up for debate but we’re just glad that someone started it and it continues to be a great tradition today. Bring on the brats!
Where do you tailgate?
Best Games for Your Super Bowl Party
If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party you may want to have something for your guests to do at halftime or if the game gets too lopsided. Here are some fun games to keep them entertained:
Guess the Stats: Have your guests predict the half time or final score, rushing yards, number of touchdowns etc… Give slips of paper to your guests before the game with the categories and give a gift to the winners.
Super Bowl Squares: Draw a 10 by 10 square grid. Write the numbers 0 to 9 across the side and top. Write one team name across the top and the other on the side. Guests write their names on 1 or more squares depending on how many guests you may have. At the end of the game take the last digit of each team’s score and the intersection of the two is the winner.
Footballs in the Jar: Put candy footballs in a jar and have guests guess how many. The winner gets the jar and the candy.
Flick Football Competition: Purchase a small flick football set. Let each person try 3 times to make a field goal. If there is tie, have a playoff. The winner gets a prize.
Do you have any other ideas for your Super Bowl party? Let us know in the comments and have a great party!
Who coined the term “tailgating?”
It seems the Green Bay Packers fans may have come up with the term “tailgating.” During Green Bay’s first season in 1919 the fans would back their pick-up trucks around the field and sit on their tailgates to eat before and after the game. I bet they had no idea what they were starting. Thanks Packer Fans!
The Earliest Sports Fans
I came, I saw, I tailgated.
Imagine it’s oh, 75 BC or so, and you’ve got nothing to do on a Saturday, so you wander over to the Coliseum to check out what is going on. They’re having a chariot race so you and your friends stay and watch. Then afterward Caesar decides to open up the Coliseum and invite everyone to enjoy food, drink, and entertainment. You have just participated in the first tailgating event out of the back of a chariot.
Since keeping stats and recording history is sketchy once you go back further than the invention of the printing press it is hard to determine exactly what happened that day, but some believe that it was Caesar who was the first to hold large sporting events and to tailgate. Hail Caesar! And thanks. You started something really great.
If you’re hosting a game day party here’s a great book to get you going:Fan Fare: A Playbook of Great Recipes for Tailgating or Watching the Game at Home
Photo credit: comeondimon via photopin cc
Coach Gifts They’ll Love
Are you racking your brain trying to thnk of something different to buy your team’s coach?. Check out the Personalization Mall.
Unique Coach Gifts
They have lots of unique ideas for sports related gifts. One that is on sale right now is the personalized mug which is inscribed wth “Thanks for the Great Year” and your coaches name. Make it easy on yourself by skipping the trip to the mall and find what you’re looking for at the Personalization Mall
College Football – What I Like About You
The official start to the college football season is upon us and football junkies everywhere are giddy with anticipation. I confess, I’m one of those nuts who loves the football season. I don’t know what it is about the season, but I know I can’t wait each year. Is it the rivalries, traditions, tailgating or the changing weather? I’m not sure but it seems more exciting than the other sports seasons, (no offense.)
The football experience is entertainment with a capital “E.” It’s a game, show and party all rolled into one. The games have great rivalries, strategies, plays, and the ups and downs of winning and losing. The bands, mascots, and fans make for a great show, and awesome food, beverages, and friends make tailgating before and after the game a great party. The people watching is also amazing. You never know what you might see.
Why do you look forward to football season? Let me know in the comments below. See you in the stands!
History of the Foam Finger
The idea for the foam finger came from Geral Fauss, a high school industrial arts teacher who also loved sports. Geral taught at Cypress Fairbanks High School in Cypress, Texas. In 1978 the high school football team made it to the state finals and Geral wanted to find a way to support the team and raise funds for the school. The original fingers were made of wood and painted with a #1 in the school’s colors.
All of the finger signs sold out and Geral thought that other schools would like them as well. He started making the wood fingers for other schools and decided to quit his teaching job and go into business full time. His father joined him in the business and they wanted to design a better product that was not as heavy and safer to wave around in a stadium. They finally came up with polyurethane foam and the famous foam finger was born. The new foam fingers were ready in time for the 1979 Sugar Bowl between Alabama and Penn State.. The fingers business took off from there and now they can be found for just about all of the U.S. sports teams.
Hoosiers – Movie Review
Indiana and basketball. Who can resist? And who can resist cheering for the underdog. What makes this movie so special is that it’s based on the true story of the 1954 Milan High School team, a team from an extremely small town in Indiana, and it includes great acting by Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper who won an Academy Award nomination for his role.
This one is on my top 10 sports movies list.
Check out Hoosiers