Really Random Sport Facts...

...cause you know you love 'em. 

This is the time of year when fans start getting crazy about sports games, at least in the US. Football playoffs start tonight, and I know that my hometown is going crazy because the Texans have finally made it into the playoffs! So, in light of all the hype, I thought I'd share a few sports facts with ya'll. Haven't done a fact-filled post in a long time anyways, so I figured it was due. Plus, I just read about a few of these a couple of days ago and thought there were too random and interesting to pass up. 

So here goes, sports facts that even non-sports lovers will love. 

The High Five

The High Five wasn't invented until 1977. Hard to believe that this ubiquitous and international gesture has been around for only the last few decades. The high five is credited to major league baseball player Dusty Baker, who was with the Dodgers then. He had just hit a home run (off the Astros, thankyouverymuch) and was rounding third and on his way to score. His teammate, Glenn Burke, put his hands up over his head and was waiting for him to cross home plate. Baker wasn't sure what to do and in an act of excitement he reached up and slapped his hand. He said "It seemed like the thing to do". And thus changing history forever. Ok, maybe not that drastic, but you get the point. 

Welcome to the world, baby high five. (source)

The Wave

There is a bit of dispute on who actually invented "The Wave", but it is pretty clear that sometime in the early 1980s this sporting game phenomenon, and time passer/crowd pleaser, was first performed. Some claim it happened at a MLB game in Oakland, others at various college football games. No matter which group of bored fans invented it, it remains a fun, and then overly repetitive, wish-it-would-just-die-down-so-I-can-watch-the-game crowd activity. 

Here is a video of the hubs and I doing The Wave with 90,000 of our closest friends at a Barcelona Football game at Camp Nui. (That's soccer for you N.A. folks ;)). They were winning something like 7-0 at this point. Not much else to do, really.

The First Million Dollar Sports Endorsement Deal

Long before Tiger Woods and Micheal Jordan were making millions and millions on products they wouldn't be caught dead using, the first million dollar endorsement deal went to the king of the lanes. Yes, I'm talking about professional bowling. The now often-mocked sport was big time back in the day and the man known as Mr. Bowling, Don Carter, was the first man to make a million bucks by selling name for marketing purposes. The Ebonite Bowling Company used his name on a line of bowling balls and Carter raked in the cash. Interesting, huh!?

(on a side note, Don Carter just passed away this week. Here is to the man who paved the way for all the Gillette, State Farm, Lincoln, and Hanes underwear crazes)

Good for you, Don! (source)

How Many Baseballs are Used?!?

(source)

It is estimated that the average lifespan for a baseball in an MLB game is 6 pitches. That means that each game uses around 45-50 balls. At this rate, that would mean that almost 115,000 balls are used throughout the entire season! No wonder it is "America's Pasttime". The founders of the game must have already known how the U.S. just looooves to waste. Joking, love you 'Muurica and you too baseball. Make April come soon, K??

So, I'm pretty much huddled up inside today. The snow has finally made it's big debut and I don't have any desire to greet it. Just waiting for next week's warmer weather in Texas. WHICH, BTW, is not looking all that warm. Forecasters are calling for a cold front to come in the day I land. Thanks Houston, I really, really appreciate that. Here's for wishing for at least a little bit of sunshine!