Dutch Invasion

For March Madness, a Sports Factoid...

Towering at 6 feet - 10 inches, Dutchman Kenneth van Kempen plays basketball for the Ohio Bobcats. He is a Senior at Ohio University, but his hometown is Weert in the Netherlands.

http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/vankempen_kenneth00.html

---------------

Flying

"Look mom and dad, I can fly!"

Hut Holland Hut!

Those of you who know me are aware that I don't have a sports bone in my body. For the most part, I can't speak the lingo, don't know the rules, and can't follow it on TV. But there was excitement in my house last evening when the Dutch underdog baseball team pulled off another major upset in Game 5 (pool D) of the World Baseball Classic in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They came from behind in the 11th inning to beat the Dominican Republic with a score of 2-1. The game went on for hours. It was an unexpected second upset of the Dominican team by the Netherlands, and it qualified them to play in round 2 tonight in Miami against Puerto Rico.

(Team Italy was eliminated on Tuesday in Toronto against a Venezuelan team loaded with major league stars)

Links:

http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/news/index.jsp?team=ned

-----------

Toys

New ideas often originate on the West Coast. California has a history of trend setting and innovation, and toys are no exception.

My generation grew up with the Hula Hoop and Frisbee - both of which were popularized by California's WHAM-O toy company in the 1950's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hula_hoop

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisbee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wham-O

Also popular in my time were Skateboards, and I had an early retail version of one. I gave up my aspirations to become a professional skateboarder when I landed flat on my face and broke a tooth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skateboard




But new toys are always being invented, and the latest seems to be the Japanese contraption called the Kendama. It's not new to Japan, where it is believed to have appeared in the Edo period (1603-1868). Historians think the top is derived form the 16th century bilboquet popular in France. It then migrated to Nagasaki Japan via the Silk Road trading route.

At first, it was adopted as a drinking game played by adults, where at each mistake a player was forced to take another sip of Saké.

Since then Kendama has as evolved to be a very serious sport in Japan, and it appears to have recently caught in a big way with American teenagers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendama

http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/kendama/kendama02.html


YouTube is filled with Kendama videos...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1dlBMS388k

Joseph's Kendama arrived this week, and he quickly became addicted to it. All of his friends have one, and it seems to be more of a draw than even XBox 360.

Will Kendama become the next hula hoop, frisbee, or skateboard? I don't know, but it seems to have the attraction, youth-appeal, and potential.

------------

A box with a view - Fenway Park

Willemien had a great seat in an Executive Suite on the EMC level at Fenway Park for the July 12th Red Sox game against Baltimore. Not only was the view spectacular, but the food and amenities were plentiful and delicious. She said it was nice to have a comfortable seat with ample leg-room, and a private bathroom with LCD video screen so as not to miss any of the action. All of this was a nice "perk" courtesy of her employer.

Boston won 12 to 1.

-------------

Baseball

A little baseball action from Giants Number 5...