Author Archives: Shane Mailman

The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame’s newest exhibit, We are the Champions: Georgia’s College Football National Championship Teams, is now on display in the museum’s rotunda.  From Georgia Tech’s 1917 National Championship team to Valdosta State’s Division II national title in 2012, the exhibit highlights the handful of college football teams from Georgia that have been declared the best in the country.  Along with jerseys, helmets, footballs, and photographs from the University of Georgia, Georgia Southern, and the University of West Georgia, the exhibit features many unique artifacts such as Georgia Tech’s 1917 National Championship trophy, a 1985 Georgia Southern National Championship ring, and a 1943 Rose Bowl program from the University of Georgia.  We are the Champions: Georgia’s College Football National Championship Teams will remain on display through December.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Mine That Bird, the bay gelding who shocked the horse racing world by winning the 2009 Kentucky Derby at 50-1 odds, was at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, as part of a local tour to help promote the feature film “50-1.”

Visitors were able to view him and his Kentucky Derby trophy in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame Zoetis Barn and take photos. Admission was by regular museum admission price.

There were special screenings of the film “50-1” at the First & Main Town Center Cinemark, 3305 Cinema Point at 7 p.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday was the VIP reception with admission to the film, food from the Wobbly Olive and a photo opportunity with Mine That Bird for $40. The $10 movie-only package on Thursday included admission, a voucher for one small popcorn and a small soda, along with a chance to see Mine That Bird. Both programs benefited the USAFA Equestrian Center Warrior Wellness Program, which recognizes the healing qualities of horses. Service members from all branches can participate in the program as a way to cope with their mental and physical injuries, especially those that are combat-related.

Mine That Bird capped his Pikes Peak area visit on Saturday, Aug. 30 with an appearance at the Air Force Academy’s season-opening football game with Nichols State.

The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York is a popular vacation destination but there are many sports represented around the country that are worth a trip too.

National Pinball Hall of Fame, Las Vegas, Nevada

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Some may dispute whether or not pinball is a true sport but since I spent so many hours of my misspent youth hanging around in bowling alleys I’m including it. Besides, there are competitive tournaments and those flipper fingers can get mighty tired. The Pinball Hall of Fame is unique because it honors the machines, not the players. Aficionado Tim Arnold has over 250 vintage pinball games on display and, best of all, they are ready for playing. Tip: To really stretch your playing time seek out the older machines where you still get five balls for 25 cents.

International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, Ocala, Florida

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Photo by Darryl Kenyon on Flickr

Attached to the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, the hall of fame honors the heroes of drag racing. You’re really getting two museums here with over 300 vintage cars on view and “Big Daddy” Don Garlits’ personal collection. For an extra fee the “Father of Drag Racing” himself will take you on a personal tour that includes his private garage and autograph signing. How many halls of fame can offer that?

Dog Mushing Hall of Fame, Anchorage, Alaska

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The Rondy, or Fur Rendezvous, is an annual event in Anchorage that combines a World Championship sled dog race and (sort of) related activities including outhouse races, snowshoe softball and the traditional running of the reindeer down 4th Street; think the running of the bulls with furrier animals and snow. Despite all the merriment, the race itself, which is older than the famous Iditarod, is a serious event. Past winners are enshrined in the Dog Mushing Hall of Fame in the back of Caffe D’Arte. You can even try on a musher’s fur coat and pose on a sled.

International Boxing Hall of Fame, Canastota, New York

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Since we’ve been traveling around the world for three years with a Rocky statue, we just had to visit this one; and were pleased to see that Sylvester Stallone has been inducted for his contributions to the sport. Considering how huge boxing was around the world in the mid-20th century, it’s hard to believe the sport didn’t have a proper Hall of Fame until 1989. It opened in the upstate New York hometown of former world champions Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus. The museum is conveniently located right off the New York Thruway and includes memorabilia from boxing’s Golden Age through today. The annual inductions ceremonies in early June bring out scores of well-known pugilists.

Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Knoxville, Tennessee

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We’ve visited the men’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts and the women’s in Knoxville and have to say the latter is much more interesting. (And not just because our Philadelphia hometown favorite Dawn Staley is an inductee.) You really get a sense of the history of how women’s basketball developed from its humble roots in 1892 when the women wore wool bloomers as uniforms to the sleek sport of today. Plus how could a true hoops fan not like a place which boasts the world’s largest basketball? Make sure to test your dribbling and shooting skills on the basketball courts.

Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, Colorado Springs, Colorado

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Pro rodeo riders may take the prize for the most bruises suffered in their sport. But it’s all worth it to win a silver belt buckle large enough to serve a full rack of ribs on. In the Hall of Champions, cowboys in each rodeo event are honored with plaques, memorabilia and cowboy-themed artwork. The Heritage Hall with its displays of saddles and equipment over the years is a must for rodeo fans.

Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, Goshen, New York

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This free museum is one of the best presented we’ve seen anywhere. Even someone with only a passing interest in horses will be mesmerized by the displays highlighting the history of the sport. You can even don a set of racing silks and helmet and put yourself in the driver’s seat for a cool photo op behind the working end of a racing horse. (As Larissa demonstrates above.) The lifelike statues that are created to represent each honoree are truly outstanding. An active racetrack sits behind the museum where you can visit the stables and even meet a few of the horses.

Volleyball Hall of Fame, Holyoke, Massachusetts

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Despite its southern California beach vibe, volleyball was invented in 1895 by William Morgan in Holyoke, Massachusetts as a less physically demanding alternative to the new game of basketball. Once it took hold in Asia in the early 20th century it grew into the second most popular team sport in the world after soccer. The Volleyball Hall of Fame opened in 1987 and is one of the most international of all sports halls of fame with inductees from 21 countries.

National Yo-Yo Museum, Chico, California

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This quirky museum may not be an official hall of fame, but since they display the yo-yos used by the winners in the World Championships, I’m including it. Besides, where else can you see the world’s largest working wooden yo-yo? They dangle it from a construction crane to play it. Come to Chico in October when they host the global tourney and be amazed what the competitors can do with a little round thing spinning on the end of a string. Note: Be careful parking in Chico and make sure you keep the meter fed. The meter maids are pretty aggressive.

Jousting Hall of Fame, Mount Solon, Virginia

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Who knew there was a National Jousting Association, that it’s the official sport of the state of Maryland, or that there’s even a Jousting Hall of Fame? This is not a tribute to some long dead medieval knights but a museum dedicated to active jousters. It’s a bit less bloody these days as the competitors try to spear a ring hanging from a string rather than each other. The Hall of Fame is nestled in picturesque Natural Chimneys Regional Park.

International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, Arlington, Texas

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The good folks at the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame claim that bowling is becoming a worldwide phenomenon with participation by over 90 million people. I can believe it. When we were in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, we visited Golden Lanes which was mobbed with bowlers. Bowling dates back to ancient Egypt and the complete history is on display here. It will even interest people who don’t know the difference between a 7-10 split and a 7-11 store.

Weightlifting Hall of Fame, York, Pennsylvania

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Photo: Ron byFlickr

If you’ve ever driven along Interstate 83 just north of York, Pennsylvania you can’t miss the 13-foot tall fiberglass statue of a man lifting a barbell over his head. Referred to locally as “The Barbell Guy,” he’s hoisting that weight above the York Barbell Company (Arcane trivia: York is also the birthplace of the York Peppermint Pattie.) Inside the company headquarters an 8,000 square foot space has been set for the Hall of Fame. You’ll pass a larger-than-life statue of Bob Hoffman, known as the “Father of International Weightlifting,” he also founded the York Barbell Company. Exhibits inside the hall present the history of weightlifting and honor both male and female greats of the sport.

What other sports halls-of-fame do you suggest visiting?

In 2011 Philadelphia natives Larissa and Michael Milne quit their jobs, sold their house and gave away their possessions to travel around the world with a Rocky statue and have been on the road ever since. You can follow the journey and pick up valuable travel tips on their award-winning travel blog at Changes in Longitude.

Click here to view the original article – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larissa-and-michael-milne/offbeat-sports-halls-of-fame-drag-racing_b_5700828.html?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=Travel

 

Dr Bob McFarlin of Hot Springs is pleased to announce the appointment of Katherine Burton Jones to the Board of Directors of Turtle Island Hall of Honor(TIHOH). Katherine is the Assistant Director and Research Advisor, ALM in Museum Studies, at the Harvard Extension School in Boston, MA.

In August 2012 Katherine was named Assistant Director/Research Advisor for the Museum Studies program at the Harvard University Extension School. Katherine has taught in the Museum Studies program at the Harvard Extension School for the last decade and has served as the Research Advisor since 2004.

Katherine is the principal in the consulting firm, Katherine Jones Consulting. She provides strategic planning including strategic technology planning to the higher ed and non-profit sectors. Katherine consults for a number of museums in New England and in the Northeast.

Katherine volunteers for non-profits in the New England area. She is a member of the Board of Directors and chairs the Museum Committee of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum in Newport, RI. She is a member of the Board of the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum in Chestnut Hill, MA.

She was assistant dean for information technology and media services at the Harvard Divinity School for nine years.

Katherine was an assistant director at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology from 1994 to 2000 where she introduced the importance of websites and multimedia to all of the Harvard museums. She was responsible for raising funds for the various public-facing technology projects that were carried out during the time including the virtual exhibit: “Against the Winds: American Indian Running Traditions.”

Ms. Jones is the editor of and contributor to two books on the use of technology in museums – The Wired Museum (1997) published by the American Association of Museums and Museum Informatics: People, Information, and Technology in Museums (with Paul F. Marty, in 2007) published by Routledge. In addition she has authored numerous articles on topics related to museums and given presentations as national and regional museum conferences for the last two decades.

May 2014 – Experiencing the Nike Brand: Gielissen Creates Premium Experience for Female Athletes
When Nike engages Gielissen USA with new projects, the complexity and high standards
set by Nike often demand exceptional problem solving and creativity from everyone
on our team. For the brand new Nike store located on Union Street in San Francisco, this
was no exception! This is a small boutique store, surrounded by local restaurants and
specialty shops. The area is frequented by young moms, students and other diverse residents.

Gielissen was asked to fabricate unique custom components which would enhance
the overall ambiance of the store with a feeling of healthy living and physical fitness
for the Bay Area clientele.

With Nike’s design requests in mind, Gielissen USA engineered and produced a faux gym-bar wall, a motivational 3D sign for the entrance, and a custom announcement board to highlight local events.

Gielissen produced all of the items to exacting standards – along with artistic ‘aging’ effects
so that some items appeared to have come straight out of an old gymnasium!

Then our team integrated all of the components into the store in San Francisco in
conjunction with other trades who were also doing work there. To Nike’s satisfaction, the
project was completed on-time and within budget! Residents of the San Francisco Bay
Area will have a favorite among fitness stores for years to come!

The Bright Football Complex in College Station, Texas, is a facility for Texas A&M football athletes
showcasing the history and athletic achievements of the elite football players known as the “Aggies.”
When the college announced it was kicking off a major renovation of the Complex in 2012, Nashville’s
1220 Exhibits was delighted to be among the participants for this prestigious project. 1220’s scope of
work would include a series of large-scale media presentations, fabrication of the Heisman Trophy case and Aggie icon, and Aggies in the NFL exhibits for the Bright Complex’s Entrance Atrium. According to Heather McKnight, Account Manager 1220 Exhibits, “We partnered with Silver Oaks Communications in Moline, Illinois, on this project because of their expertise with AV software and development. We have worked with Silver Oaks for a number of years on a variety of projects and we were confident this was a perfect fit for their talents.”

A kick-off meeting was held in College Station with Texas A&M representatives; Populous, a design firm
based in Kansas City, Missouri; and 1220’s core team. Goals, standards and time lines were established and all parties began mobilizing their team for the project. From the start, Texas A&M and Populous made clear that this facility was to be the best, brightest and most innovative facility for recruiting the top football players in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Implementing an aggressive schedule, the Bright Complex was renovated and the exhibits fabricated and installed within a 13-month period.

The centerpiece of the Bright Complex’s Atrium, fabricated by 1220 Exhibits, is a glass and metal
architectural element with the Aggie icon featured on the outside of the structure, and seven, 55” portrait oriented monitors on the inside. Controlled by a touchscreen kiosk, this immersive multimedia exhibit includes all original video footage shot on location by Silver Oaks. The dynamic footage gives an up-close look at the unique traditions and special experiences of being an Aggie football player – including videos of players running on the field, the famous “Midnight Yell,” and a fast-paced, energizing 2½-minute main feature highlighting the game-day experience.

With this in-depth look, recruits can imagine their football future at Texas A&M and the prowess of their
competition through the “SEC Experience,” where large back-lit graphics of SEC school stadiums are
displayed under their school banners and logos. Visitors can also learn about the University’s two
Heisman Trophy winners through display cases housing the actual Heisman Trophies, and large text
panels that include player profiles.

1220 and Silver Oaks showcased their collaborative AV skills through additional interactive stations and exhibits throughout the Atrium. Silver Oaks created the interactive content and 1220 wired and installed it, allowing visitors to learn more about Texas A&M’s athletic relationships.

Interactive stations and exhibits include the following:

“Design Your Own Uniform” where visitors can customize their own Aggie uniform. Working with
Adidas, Silver Oaks created a large touchscreen wall showing a life-size player in 3D. Visitors can mix
and match uniform elements while viewing the display in real-time 3D. Visitors also have the ability to
send the image to friends and family via email.

“Aggies in the NFL” is a database interactive designed to allow users to search all past and present Aggie coaches and players who have had NFL success. A useful recruiting tool, this interactive lays out a potential pathway to playing in the NFL. Mentors can draw from these success stories as they help young players achieve their ultimate goal of being part of an NFL team.

“Johnny Manziel: 2012 Heisman Trophy Winner” – is a looping :90 video highlighting Johnny Manziel’s
epic 2012 season. The intricate edit weaves together snippets of game footage, cutout action shots and season stats, along with dramatic music and announcer voice-over to showcase the pathway Manziel carved as the legendary #2.

Now complete, the Bright Football Complex is more than just impressive – it’s unlike any college
football athletic center. Texas A&M’s vision and willingness to push the boundaries, with the help of
partners like 1220 Exhibits, Populous and Silver Oaks, made the project a huge success.

Silver Oaks – www.silveroaks.com

1220 Exhibits – www.1220.com

Texas A&M news article – http://www.12thman.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&&&DB_OEM_ID=27300&ATCLID=209603262

The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon opened a new exhibit on August 22 that looks back at Kraft’s first 20 years owning the team he cheered for since its founding in 1960. The exhibit is titled New England Faithful: 20 Seasons with the Krafts and highlights the team’s and the owner’s amazing accomplishments over two decades.

“We are excited about this exhibit,” Hall executive director Bryan Morry said. “When you compare the pre-1994 Patriots to what has happened over the past 20 years, the turnaround is nothing short of spectacular. The Patriots were a pathetic 19-61 between 1989 and 1993. When Robert Kraft bought the team he said he would make the decisions necessary to bring a championship to New England. He lived up to that word three times over and it is quite appropriate for us to look back at those first 20 years and appreciate the success.

“I think we get caught up sometimes in the result of the last game or the last season and we often commit our emotions to each game as if it is its own little Super Bowl. But 20 years is a perfect time to not only take a step back and reflect on how far the Patriots have come but also allow a smile at the success under the Kraft family’s ownership,” Morry added.

That on-field success is evident in the numbers. Since Kraft bought the Patriots in 1994, no NFL team has won more games (238), more division titles (13), more conference titles (6) or more Super Bowl championships (3) than the New England Patriots. Additionally, the team and its fans have established a bond mostly unseen between 1960 and 1993. That bond is why every home game during the Kraft era has been sold out and why there is a lengthy waiting list for season tickets.

The exhibit touches on Robert Kraft’s purchase of the team and its rise to prominence in the NFL and all of sports. Of all teams in major American professional sports since 1994, only the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs have a higher winning percentage than the Patriots.

Back in 1994, the Patriots played their home games in a dilapidated stadium that lacked fan and player amenities. Today, they play in majestic Gillette Stadium, which was privately financed by the Kraft family without charging fans personal seat license fees. The new stadium was built with the fans in mind and also added necessary, modern player amenities while creating a new revenue stream to help the Patriots better compete in free agency.

The Krafts also have had a major influence in league matters over the last 20 years whether negotiating lucrative television contracts or driving technology innovation on a league level. But Robert’s influence was never more prominent than in 2011 when he stepped in to help resolve a lockout that threatened the season.

The family’s community philanthropy has always been a major component of its ownership tenure as has professional soccer. The Patriots Charitable Foundation has donated millions of dollars to local charities since 1994.  Foxborough has also been home to Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution as well as host to World Cup soccer.

The exhibit also features a video highlighting Robert Kraft as the Patriots owner.

IMG_2242 The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon inducted former cornerback Ty Law as its 22nd member of the Patriots Hall of Fame in an August 1 induction ceremony held on the NRG Plaza outside The Hall. Additionally. Law will be honored during a halftime ceremony at the Patriots Thursday night game on Oct. 16 against the New York Jets.

Law joins Tedy Bruschi (2013), Troy Brown (2012) and Drew Bledsoe (2011) as the only players to be selected by the fans into the Patriots Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

“Ty Law was one of the greatest players in franchise history and one of the premier corners in the NFL during his Patriots career,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. “The fans have helped validate that with this year’s hall of fame selection. We have had an incredible run of success and the building blocks started with players like Ty. He was an important part of three Super Bowl championship teams. It will be an honor to bring Ty back to celebrate his career as he takes his rightful place in our team’s hall of fame. I am sure he will deliver another memorable moment during his hall of fame ceremony, too.”

In April, a 20-person nomination committee, comprised of media, alumni and staff, selected three candidates for consideration for the Patriots Hall of Fame. The three finalists were Law, Raymond Clayborn and head coach Bill Parcells. Fans had a month to vote on Patriots.com for the candidate they believed was most deserving of hall of fame consideration.

Law spent 10 seasons with the Patriots (1995-2004) after joining the team as a first-round (23rd overall) draft pick out of Michigan in 1995. Law was a three-time Super Bowl Champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX), a four-time Pro Bowl player (1998, 2001, 2002, 2003) and a two-time All-Pro (1998, 2003) during his tenure with the Patriots. Law tied RaymondClayborn’s career franchise-record with 36 interceptions and finished with the most interception-return yards in team history with 583. His six interceptions returned for touchdowns are also a franchise best. Law had nine interceptions in 1998 to become the first Patriots player to lead the NFL in that category. He was a playmaker who played some of his best games in the postseason. He helped lead the Patriots to their first Super Bowl title in 2001 when he intercepted a Kurt Warner pass against the Rams and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown for the first points of the game. In the 2003 AFC Championship Game, Law intercepted three Peyton Manning passes while leading the Patriots to a 24-14 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Law was part of a record-breaking Patriots defense in 2003 that led the NFL in five key categories: opponents points per game (14.9), interceptions (29), fewest touchdown receptions allowed (11), opponent’s passer rating (56.2) and pass deflections (121) as the team captured its second Super Bowl title in a win over the Carolina Panthers. Law is a member of the NFL’s all-decade team for the 2000s as well as the Patriots’ all-1990s and all-2000s decade teams. He was also selected to the Patriots’ 50th Anniversary Team.


        Beginning in 2007, the Patriots started a new hall of fame tradition, inducting one player or head coach to The Hall each year. The process for induction now involves a panel of media, alumni and staff, who collectively nominate the players or head coaches most deserving of induction. After the nominations are made, the committee votes and the top three tallies become that year’s finalists. The Patriots then give their fans the opportunity to vote online to select each year’s winner.

 

About the Patriots Hall of Fame
The Patriots Hall of Fame was officially formed in 1991 after John Hannah became the first Patriots player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With the hall of fame, the Patriots created a new way of honoring their greatest players. It wasn’t until 2008, with the opening of The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon, that Patriots players, past and present, truly had a place to call home that they could share with their fans. Now, enshrinement into The Hall is an honor befitting of the franchise’s greatest players, with 30-foot video pylons displaying each enshrinee. Beginning in 2007, fans became part of the hall of fame tradition and active participants in the selection process.

This year’s inductee will join 21 other Patriot greats and two contributors as a member of the New England Patriots’ Hall of Fame (listed in alphabetical order below with year of induction):


Bruce Armstrong (2001)
Drew Bledsoe (2011)
Troy Brown (2012)
Tedy Bruschi (2013)
Nick Buoniconti (1992)
Gino Cappelletti (1992)
Ben Coates (2008)
Sam Cunningham (2010)
Bob Dee (1993)
Steve Grogan (1995)
John Hannah (1991)
Mike Haynes (1994)
Jim Lee Hunt (1993)
Stanley Morgan (2007
Jon Morris (2011)
Jim Nance (2009)