"Bit of a sticky wicket there!" (Photo by Peter Dutton) For many of us, croquet brings to mind leisurely Sunday afternoon games played in Grandma's backyard or at family picnics. But for some croquet fans, there's nothing leisurely about it -- and it's no mere game. Welcome to the fast-paced, cutthroat world of competitive croquet! Association Croquet players -- and their counterparts who play American six-wicket -- are as serious as hardcore golfers, adhere to the game's complicated rules, handicapping, mind-boggling jargon, and international tournaments. And lest we forget, croquet was even once an Olympic sport. Sure, casual players can stick to the friendlier nine-wicket version (known to the pros as "Backyard Croquet"), but even that game can have an edge. Modern Backyard Croquet players like a challenge, and have devised variations where they play on extreme terrain that borders on obstacle courses, on beaches, or on pavement. They play in snow and rain, and they play at night. They play in costumes, on bicycles, and with unconventional equipment. So, take some tips from extreme croquet players to liven up the next family picnic. We predict even Grandma will love the challenge of using a potato as a ball. Suggested Sites... Mondo Croquet - croquet played with bowling balls and sledgehammers. Smashing! Lakewood Croquet Club - extreme croquet club and organizers of the annual Champions Cup. Ads Featuring Croquet - beer ads would be better if more of them featured croquet. Oxford Croquet - more croquet information than you can shake a mallet at. Wicket World of Croquet - looking for some croquet action? Head to the tournament at the President Benjamin Harrison Home in Indianapolis.

Directory categories: Croquet, Extreme Croquet, Croquet Gear, Croquet Clubs and Organizations

Archived under: Croquet, Cultures, Fanatics, Games, Home and Garden, Outdoors, Recreation and Travel, Sports, Summer

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Charles Van Doren on the set of "Twenty-One" I couldn't help but notice that June 7 was the 54th anniversary of the premiere of the television game show, "The $64,000 Question." The show, whose name and top prize now seem almost quaint, was simple to play. A contestant would answer a series of questions on a topic of his or her choosing. Prizes started at $1, and doubled with each correct answer. If the contestant got seventeen in a row correct, they’d go home with, yes, $64,000 (more than $500,000 in 2009 dollars).The program was wildly popular, and many of the contestants became nationally famous (perhaps none moreso than psychologist Dr. Joyce Brothers, who won the top prize for her knowledge of boxing, of all things.) But the "Question" was one of only dozens of game shows and quiz programs that populated America’s TV screens in the 1950s. In spite of their success, the "Question" and almost all of the others were off the air by 1959. What happened? In a word: cheating. While most of the shows were legitimate, there were a few -- most notably "Twenty-One" and "Dotto" -- that were rigged. Producers had come to the conclusion that not only did audiences want to see familiar faces playing their games, they also wanted to see those players win. So, producers being what they are, they decided to slip the players the answers to the questions while instructing them to pretend to struggle while answering. The most notorious of those cheating contestants was Charles Van Doren. Van Doren had no reason to cheat. The son of a poet and a novelist, he had degrees in astrophysics and English, as well as being himself an instructor at Columbia University, and was more than capable of coming up with legitimate answers. While Van Doren denied the allegations of cheating at first, he finally admitted his culpability when called before a Congressional subcommittee investigating the scandal. While his own reputation never really recovered, game shows eventually made a comeback, though they would never again be as popular as they had once been and were now policed and regulated to the point of squeaky-cleanness. (My own experience on "Jeopardy!" was an example of that; we weren't allowed to speak to host Alex Trebek, and contestants were chosen for a particular game just moments ahead of taping-time, so there would be no chance to prepare or collude.) That policing has guaranteed that contests on television nowadays are above reproach and that nothing untoward could possibly affect their integrity. Right? Suggested Sites... Museum of Broadcast Communications: The $64,000 Question - history of The $64,000 Question and its sister program, The $64,000 Challenge American Experience: The Quiz Show Scandal - PBS special about on-air cheats. Wikipedia: The $64,000 Question - good history of the show and its predecessors and successors. The New Yorker: All the Answers - 2008 article by Charles Van Doren, wherein he comes clean about cheating on "Twenty-One." Fifties Web: Quiz Shows - overview of the legitimate and tainted game shows of the 50s.

Directory categories: TV Game Shows, Television History, Game Show Hosts, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Television

Archived under: 1950s, Alex Trebek, American History, Anniversaries, Conspiracies, Cover Ups, Entertainment, Game Shows, Games, In Character, Jeopardy, Scams, Scandals, TV

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Even if you're a nerd, you don't have to make your poor dog suffer (Photo by Felipe Ibanez Guzman) There's a moment in everyone's life when they come out of the closet -- not necessarily that closet -- but rather when they realize that that thing they’ve always been interested in and fascinated by isn't something to be embarrassed about, but is something to be acknowledged and celebrated. In my own case, it was (and is) comic books. Even though I've been reading them for half a century, when I was in high school, it was worst sort of social embarrassment to admit that not only did you read and enjoy them, but you also collected them. When I got to college, I met men and women who were smart, funny, and who actually read comics -- and admitted it. Since then, I've been more than proud of my fanboy status -- even if some of my fellows are still stereotypically geeky. May 25th is Nerd Pride Day, a holiday that started (in Spain, of all places) in 2006, and is dedicated to allowing all of us the freedom to be geeks or nerds about anything we like -- no, not just like, but are really into. With that in mind, I polled my fellow Sparksters to find out what floats their particular boats. Robert: As far as nerdy and geeky interests, there's too much to choose from, so I’ll just go with role-playing games -- "Dungeons and Dragons" in particular; a game that even nerds call nerdy. I used to play "Dungeons and Dragons" back in the '90s when TSR was still around and supported the "Ravenloft" (gothic horror) and "Dark Sun" (kind of like "Mad Max") campaign settings. These days my D&D lust is satisfied by war games like "Warhammer" and board games (especially horror games) like "Arkham Horror," which is a perfect meld of board games and another nerdy interest of mine: H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu mythos. But, still loyal to my old passion, I keep a bad-ass "Dragons of Krynn" painting I got way back in high school hanging in my room. Sarah: I am a total history junkie. I will read, watch, or listen to anything involving history (as you can probably tell from my Sparks). I'm partial to European history, especially anything weird, corrupt, or scandalous -- and it’s even better if it involves the monarchy. But surprisingly, I've never been to a Renaissance Faire. Suzi: This Memorial Day, I hope to be sitting by the pool, soaking up the sun, enjoying a bevy of tunes from my iPod Classic, whilst reading some lovely literary selection on my Kindle. I'm sure I'll be in contact with loved ones, as my Blackberry Pearl never leaves my side. Yes, folks, I am an unabashed gadget girl. I wear my Nerd Pride badge, well, proudly. Richard: I became painfully aware of my status as a gay nerd while creating a spreadsheet of "Golden Girls" episodes that I wanted to rip to my iPhone, organized by season, disc, and featured musical number (where applicable.) Jessica: I am nerdy about snowboard construction. My own snowboard has a Kevlar core for strength and flexibility (and in case bad guys are after me on the slopes, a la James Bond). It's pretty new, but the latest in board tech is bamboo veneer, which, in addition to being sustainable and looking very board-like indeed, reduces vibrations on icy snow and at high speeds. So cool. Adrienne: I collect Japanese toys. Okay, I'm not a master collector, but I still spend too much money of ugly vinyl monsters and fanciful plastic windup toys. Source of neurotic nerdiness: Crying over Gamera's apparent demise ("Don't die, Gamera! Don’t die!") in a fellow 3-year-old’s Gaithersburg, Maryland basement. It's one of my earliest memories. Do manicured lawns spawn escapist fantasies? Chris: I am an unapologetic sci-fi nerd. A good sci-fi novel/movie inspires you to think deeply, often forcing you to consider possibilities that never occurred to you. The prescription for all closed-minded individuals who just can't show any empathy or sympathize with any unknown point of view is an assigned list of the best sci-fi. Mike: I am a Disneyland nerd and proud of it! Since I was 10 years old, I’ve been going there at least once a year. After my first son was born, I have shared my poison, I mean passion, for it with my family -- my eight-year-old son has been there 15 times. I know ... it's nuts. And that’s why it's the nerdiest thing about me. Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Geek Pride Day - we call them nerds, they call them geeks -- and there's probably a subculture dedicated to determining the differences. Nerd Country - "your complete nerd resource." Wikipedia: Trekkies - for some, these are the ultimate of geekdom. 501st Legion - for me, it doesn't get any lower than this, though. Okay, you think Boba Fett is cool; we get it, already! Kelly's World of Airsickness Bags - see, there's nothing that doesn't have afficionados.

Directory categories: Comic Books, Consumer Electronics, The Golden Girls, Collectible Toys, Disneyland

Archived under: Authors, Board Games, Books, Celebrations, Collectibles, Comic Books, Comics, Counterculture, Cultures, Disney, Disneyland, Entertainment, European History, Extreme Sports, Fanatics, Fiction, Gadgets, Games, Gay Pride, History, Hobbies, Holidays, In Character, James Bond, Japan, Literature, Monsters and Creatures, Parenting, Royalty, Science Fiction, Sitcoms, Society and Culture, Sports, Star Trek, Star Wars, TV, Technology, The Spark, Toys, Winter Sports, Yahoo! Directory

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Backyard horseshoes The smell of charcoal and charred meat on the grill, the clink of ice in a glass for a mojito, and a warm breeze blowing through the air as temperatures begin to rise. It's the season for that glorious pastime known as the Backyard Olympics: horseshoes, badminton, croquet, and more. This week is "National Backyard Games Week." It precedes Memorial Day weekend, giving bean bag players plenty of time to brush up on their Hacky Sack tossing skills. Backyard sports combine the best of the ice-breaker with the competitiveness of game night. Anyone can whack a two-pound ball across the lawn with a croquet mallet while holding a drink in their hand. (Whether it goes through the wicket is another story.) With bragging rights up for grabs, a friendly game of bocce can quickly turn underhanded, with plenty of room for allegations of cheating, bribery, and even some good-natured ribbing. But why stick with the classics when there are dozens of lawn games out there to experiment with? There’s Mölkky, a Finnish game that involves knocking over numbered pegs with a wooden throwing pin, or washer pitching, a game which rather sadly, does not involve hurling washing machines across the lawn. For those who want to kick their backyard festivities up a notch, there’s glow-in-the-dark bocce, LED horseshoes, and even laser tag for those who really want to go all out. However, it's probably wise to avoid the ever-controversial game of lawn darts, so happy lawn bowling, everyone! Suggested Sites... Tossing Games - forums on dozens of different tossing games. Outdoor Lawn Games - more ideas for your family reunion or bar-b-cue. Cornhole Players - everything about bean bag tossing. United States Croquet Association - all about American Croquet. National Horseshoe Pitching Association of America - forums, rules, leagues, and more.

Directory categories: Bocce, Horseshoe Pitching, Cornhole, Badminton, Croquet

Archived under: Athletes, Celebrations, Children, Croquet, Entertainment, Games, Holidays, Outdoors, Recreation and Travel, Sports, Summer, Toys

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(Photo by Jamie Campbell) According to Guitar Hero, I rock! And that's just the ego boost I need to continue rockin' my list of bitchin' tunes and shreddin' on my plastic guitar with the brightly-colored buttons. It may sound silly, but these rhythm games are a huge phenomenon. Guitar Hero and Rock Band have sold more than 30 million units combined, with over one billion dollars in revenue. That's a lot of wannabe rockers! Among the pro rockers, though, there are mixed feelings about these games. Some rock legends -- Slash, Ozzy Osbourne, and Ted Nugent -- have embraced them and are featured within the games, and superbands Aerosmith, AC/DC, Metallica, and even The Beatles will all soon have titles dedicated to their music. Other musicians, however, have put this new phenomenon down, saying it's a waste of kids' time, and will only give them skills that lead nowhere. Nick Wheeler of the All American Rejects told Entertainment Weekly, "It's kind of a shame. When I was growing up, kids wanted to be in a band. Now everyone wants to play Rock Band." Well, that may be true, Nick, but how many of those kids in your day actually joined a band? And the idea that anyone who plays these games will never pick up a real guitar is a false one. In fact, guitar sales have seriously increased because of the games' popularity. Will some of those who attempt to play a real guitar be disappointed because it's not as easy as the video game? Sure, but if just one of them sticks with it and learns to play guitar because of a video game, how can you possibly put it down? Look... in my book, it's simple: Would we rather have kids sitting on their butts playing a street hoodlum in a mindless shoot-em-up video game, or rockin' out as they play a rock star and are introduced to killer music? 'Nuff said! Suggested Sites... Guitar Hero: World Tour - released this weekend! Now includes drums and a mic. EW.com: "Rock Band" vs. "Guitar Hero:" Fall's Biggest Music Battle - feature article from Entertainment Weekly about Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero: World Tour and the whole phenomenon. GameTrailers.com: Rock Band - features a bunch of videos from or related to the game. GameTrailers.com: Guitar Hero III: Legend of Rock - same as above. YouTube: Guitar Hero Official Channel - provides several behind-the-scenes videos of Guitar Hero: World Tour.

Directory categories: Guitar Hero Series, Rock Band Series, Guitarists, Musical Video Games

Archived under: Entertainment, Gamers, Games, Guitar Hero, Music, Musical Instruments, Musicians, Rock and Roll, The Beatles, Video Games

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