Boomer The Bobcat Drops The Puck As Quinnipiac Wins The National Championship

This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed, limited-edition bobblehead commemorating Quinnipiac University’s 2023 Men’s Hockey Division I National Championship. The bobblehead features Quinnipiac’s mascot, Boomer the Bobcat, and celebrates the hockey team’s first national championship. The release comes ahead of Quinnipiac’s two home games against New Hampshire this weekend before conference play starts next week. The special edition bobblehead is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of Quinnipiac University.

Wearing a gold No. 00 Quinnipiac jersey with his name on the back, the bobblehead features Boomer the Bobcat giving the No. 1 signal with his right hand and holding a hockey stick with his left hand. Boomer is standing on a blue and gold base which reads: “2023 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey National Champions” along with the Quinnipiac logo.

Each bobblehead is individually numbered to only 2,023 to commemorate the championship season. The bobbleheads are now available for pre-order exclusively through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in February, are $40 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

Under 29th-year head coach Rand Pecknold, the winningest active NCAA Division 1 coach, Quinnipiac capped a season to remember with a 3-2 overtime victory over Minnesota in the 2023 NCAA Division I title contest on April 8th at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Trailing 2-0 in the second period, the Bobcats scored three unanswered goals with Jacob Quillan netting the game winner just 10 seconds into overtime. It was the quickest overtime goal in championship game history. The sophomore was named the Most Outstanding Player after scoring five goals in the tournament. Quinnipiac captain Zach Metsa assisted on all three goals, while Sam Lipkin had two assists. Collin Graf’s goal tied the game with 2:47 left in the third period. Cristophe Tellier got Quinnipiac on the board in the second period.

Making its third trip to the Frozen Four since 2013, Quinnipiac, the No. 2 overall seed, advanced to the title game for the third time in that span with a 5-2 semifinal victory over Michigan. Quillan scored the team’s first two goals and assisted on the third. Lipkin, Metsa and Ethan de Jong also scored goals, while Yaniv Perets had 29 saves. In its 25th season playing at the NCAA Division I level (47th overall), Quinnipiac finished with a record of 34-4-3, including 20-2 in conference play. The 34 victories were the most in program history.

“Bobbleheads are the ultimate way to celebrate a championship season, and we’re excited to be unveiling this bobblehead celebrating Quinnipiac’s remarkable 2023 Hockey National Championship,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “This bobblehead will be a must-have for Quinnipiac alumni, students, faculty, staff, and fans and a treasured keepsake.”

The Hall Honors PGA Tour Courage Award Winner D.J. Gregory

This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled the first bobblehead featuring PGA Tour Courage Award Winner D.J. Gregory, who has raised more than $1 million for his Walking For Kids Foundation. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum will be donating $5 from every bobblehead sold to the Walking For Kids Foundation. The special edition bobblehead is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in conjunction with D.J.

The smiling D.J. Gregory bobblehead is holding a cane in his left hand while walking the course. Each bobblehead will be individually numbered, and they are available exclusively through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in January, are $30 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

Born 10 weeks premature with cerebral palsy, doctors told D.J.’s parents that their son would never walk. After battling through multiple surgeries, a determined Gregory willed himself to walk – first with a walker, then with two canes, and now, with just one. At the age of 12, Gregory fell in love with the game of golf and the rest, you could say, is history. Since 2008, Gregory has been a fixture at PGA Tour events, attending between 45 and 48 tournaments each year. After picking a player, he walks all four rounds with him. If that player misses the cut, he picks another player for the final two rounds. In the last 15 years, Gregory has walked more than 42,000 holes. Along the way, he has raised more than $1 million for his Walking For Kids Foundation, which allows PGA Tour players and golf fans an opportunity to donate to children’s charities.

On February 8th, 2022, Gregory received the PGA Tour Courage Award during a surprise ceremony at the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. The award is presented to a person who has overcome personal tragedy or debilitating injury or illness to make a meaningful contribution to the game. Gregory became the first non-member of the PGA Tour to receive the award, which was introduced in 2012. During the award ceremony, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced that the Tour would make a $25,000 donation to Walking For Kids. Waste Management then followed suit as did Jon Rahm, who was the No. 1 player in the world at the time. “He’s an inspiration to a lot of people,” Rahm said. “He was not dealt the best hand in his life, and he made something wonderful out of it and the fact that he goes out there and walks as much as he does with the difficulty he has to walk, it’s very, very impressive. He’s captured a lot of hearts of us players – definitely mine.”

When asked about being honored with a bobblehead, D.J. said, “When I was first told about bobblehead idea, I was little surprised and thought it was a joke. On a serious note though, I think this is a true honor and I am excited and proud to have my own bobblehead. I think it’s really cool! I appreciate being acknowledged for what I do for The Kids in a unique way.”

“We are thrilled to be releasing this bobblehead celebrating D.J. Gregory and helping to raise funds for the Walking For Kids Foundation,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “A familiar face walking the courses at so many tour events, D.J.’s determination and perseverance is unmatched, as is the impact he has made through his Walking For Kids Foundation. We think golf fans and anyone who knows D.J.’s story will love this bobblehead.”

The Hawkeye’s Look To Break The All-Time Attendance Record This Sunday

This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed, limited-edition bobblehead commemorating the “Crossover at Kinnick” women’s basketball game that is set to take place this Sunday, October 15th at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. The bobblehead features University of Iowa mascot Herky the Hawk holding a “Crossover at Kinnick” basketball while standing on a basketball court inside a replica of Kinnick Stadium. The special edition bobblehead is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of the University of Iowa.

Iowa will look to set the all-time women’s basketball attendance record when it hosts DePaul at Kinnick Stadium on Sunday. The women’s basketball attendance record of 29,619 was set in the 2002 National Championship game between Connecticut and Oklahoma in San Antonio’s Alamodome, and over 47,000 tickets have already been presold for Sunday’s game.

Holding a basketball with the “Crossover at Kinnick” logo and standing on a basketball court inside a replica of Kinnick Stadium, the Herky the Hawk bobblehead is wearing his white Iowa Hawkeyes basketball jersey. The stadium base reads IOWA HAWKEYES across the front along with the “Crossover at Kinnick” logo on the sides. Each bobblehead will be individually numbered to only 2,023 and they are currently available exclusively through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in January, are $40 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

With more than 47,000 tickets sold 10 days prior to the big event, the “Crossover at Kinnick” featuring the Iowa Hawkeyes, last year’s national runner-up, and DePaul is certain to shatter the all-time women’s basketball attendance record. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our women’s basketball program and the sport,” 24th-year Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing all of our closest friends inside Kinnick Stadium for a historic day.” All proceeds from “Crossover at Kinnick” game will go to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Excitement is high for the 2023-24 women’s basketball season in Iowa City after the Hawkeyes went on a memorable and historic run last season. Three starters, including All-American point guard and reigning National Player of the Year, Caitlin Clark, return from a team that went 31-7 and finished as the national runner-up. In August, the program announced that season tickets were already sold out. The state of Iowa has a long history of supporting girls and women’s basketball. The Hawkeyes were second nationally in attendance last season with an average of 11,143 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

In addition to appearing in the title game of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history where they lost to LSU, 102-85, the Hawkeyes finished as the runner-up in the Big Ten Conference behind Indiana with a 15-3 record and won the Big Ten Conference Tournament title for the second consecutive season. Earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Hawkeyes recorded victories over Southeastern Louisiana, Georgia, Colorado, and Louisville to advance to their first Final Four since 1993. In the national semifinals, Iowa knocked off defending champion, previously undefeated and top-seeded South Carolina, 77-73, before a sellout crowd of 19,288 at American Airlines Center in Dallas in one of the most anticipated matchups in women’s Final Four history.

“We are excited to release this very special bobblehead in celebration of the Iowa women’s basketball team’s ‘Crossover at Kinnick’ event,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “After the excitement created by the Hawkeyes last season and the anticipation for another memory-making season, this bobblehead will be a must-have for fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes and especially for those that will attend this historic event!”

The Bobblehead Hall Of Fame Honors Basketball Legend Bobby Knight

This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled two limited-edition bobbleheads of legendary college basketball coach Bob Knight. The first bobblehead features Knight wearing his signature red sweater, while the second bobblehead commemorates Knight’s iconic chair-throwing incident. The special edition bobbleheads are being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in conjunction with Knight Legacy. Founded by Coach Knight’s son, Pat Knight, Knight Legacy’s mission is to honor, promote, and preserve the Coach Knight Legacy and the footprint that Hall of Fame Coach Bob Knight has made in the history of basketball.

Standing on a circular base bearing his name, the first Knight bobblehead is wearing a red sweater and dark pants. The top of the base features a facsimile of Coach Knight’s autograph. Standing on a replica hardwood floor base bearing his name, the second Coach Knight bobblehead is wearing a red and white striped short-sleeved shirt like the one worn during Indiana’s game vs. rival Purdue on February 23, 1985, when Knight threw a chair across the Assembly Hall court objecting to a call. The chair throwing incident which has come to be known as “The Chair Game” is still remembered and even celebrated today on its anniversary and when the Hoosiers face Purdue. Knight, who apologized for his actions the next day, joked about throwing the chair since the incident, saying that he saw an old lady standing on the opposite sideline and threw her the chair so she could sit down.

The standing bobblehead is individually numbered to 2,023 while the chair-throwing bobblehead is numbered to 19,850. The bobbleheads are currently available for pre-order exclusively through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The standing Knight bobbleheads are $30 each, while the chair-throwing bobbleheads are $40 each, plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order. A set of two is available for $65 and both bobbleheads are expected to ship in December.

In his coaching career, Knight finished with an overall record of 902-371. The 902 NCAA Division I victories was a record at the time of his retirement, and currently ranks fifth all-time. He is best known for winning three national championships as the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers in 1976, 1981 and 1987. In addition to coaching the Hoosiers from 1971 to 2000, he was also the head coach at Army from 1965 to 1971 and Texas Tech from 2001 to 2008.

Known as one of college basketball’s most successful and innovative coaches, having popularized the motion offense, Knight also won a National Invitation Tournament championship and 11 Big Ten Conference championships along with his three national titles. Knight received National Coach of the Year honors four times and Big Ten Coach of the Year honors eight times. In 1984, he coached the USA men’s Olympic team to a gold medal, becoming one of only three basketball coaches to win an NCAA title, NIT title and an Olympic gold medal. Knight was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991 and was a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. He was also inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Indiana Hoosiers Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

Born in Massillon, Ohio, on October 25th, 1940, the only child of Pat and Hazel Knight grew up in nearby Orrville. His life in athletics began as a tall first baseman for the Mizer Tykes. He switched to basketball in the sixth grade and became a local star. An excellent student, Knight once won the Orrville Library’s competition for what child could read the most books between June and September. Knight went on to Ohio State where he played for Hall of Fame coach Fred Taylor. He was a reserve forward on the 1960 NCAA championship team that featured future Hall of Famers John Havlicek and Jerry Lucas. The Buckeyes lost in each of the next two NCAA championship games, of which the sharpshooting Knight also played a part of off the bench. One year after graduating from Ohio State with a degree in history and government in 1962, Knight enlisted in the United States Army and served two years of active duty. Knight, who was a private first class, also served nearly four years in the Army reserves. While in the service, Knight was an assistant coach for the Army Black Knights basketball team. As a 24-year-old in 1965, he was named Army’s head coach and compiled a record of 102-50 in six seasons there before going to Indiana.

When asked about the bobbleheads, Coach Knight’s son and Founder of Knight Legacy, Pat Knight said, “We’re thrilled to be honoring my father’s legacy with these limited edition bobbleheads in collaboration with the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. I think these bobbleheads are a great tribute to my dad’s legacy and the passion that he had for basketball and life.”

“We’re excited to team up with Knight Legacy to create these bobbleheads celebrating the legendary coach,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “One of the most successful coaches in the history of college basketball, and we think fans will love these new bobbleheads!”

The Hall Celebrates National Pickleball Day With Two New Bobbleheads

This morning, to celebrate National Pickleball Day, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled the first Pickleball Bobbleheads. The first bobblehead features Kitchen the Pickleball Mascot while the second is a Pickleball Bobble which is the newest addition to the Sports Ball Bobble Series. The announcement of their release coincides with National Pickleball Day, which is celebrated on Tuesday, August 8th. The special edition bobbleheads are being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

Standing on a yellow pickleball-shaped base bearing his name, the smiling Kitchen bobblehead is holding a paddle featuring his picture. Wearing sunglasses on his pickleball-shaped head, Kitchen is also wearing a pair of shorts with a net design and a blue cap with his name and a pickleball paddle across the front. The bobblehead, which will be individually numbered to 2,023, is only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobblehead, which is expected to ship in November, costs $30 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

The Pickleball Bobble is the newest addition to the first-of-its-kind Sports Ball Bobble Series and joins previously released balls for baseball, basketball, football, golf, hockey, soccer, and tennis that all bobble. The Pickleball Bobble is on a base that is a replica of a pickleball court. “Pickleball” is featured prominently in big, block letters on the front of the base. Each bobble is individually numbered to 2,023 and they are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbles are $25 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

Designed by Melvin LeBlanc, Kitchen made his debut appearance at the Association of Pickleball Players Casa Grande Pickleball Open in December 2021. He has become a staple on the APP Tour and has a growing fan following. As for his name, Kitchen, refers to the seven-foot zone on each side of the net. The non-volley zone is more commonly referred to as “the kitchen” of a pickleball court. Players are not permitted to volley while standing in it. The kitchen rule exists to prevent a player from standing at the net and smashing every hit.

Pickleball has grown rapidly in popularity since its invention in 1965 as a children’s backyard game at the summer home of Joel Pritchard on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Pritchard and two of his friends, Barney McCallum and Bill Bell, are credited with devising the game and establishing the rules. In 2022, pickleball was adopted as the official state sport of Washington.

The fast-paced sport has many similarities to tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played on a level court with short-handed paddles and a hard plastic ball that has holes through it – like a Whiffle ball. The ball is volleyed over a low net by two players in singles competition or by two pairs of players in doubles. The sport can be played either outdoors or indoors. Fun for all ages and easy for beginners to learn, pickleball was named the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

“We’re thrilled to be unveiling the first two Pickleball Bobbles on National Pickleball Day,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “The bobblehead of Kitchen and the Pickleball Sports Ball Bobble will be must-haves for pickleball players everywhere!”