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

by | Oct 13, 2023 | Sniper Rants

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

by | Sep 7, 2023 | Sniper Rants

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

by | Aug 8, 2023 | Sniper Rants

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!”

The Bobble Hall Celebrates The College Baseball World Series Champs

by | Jul 28, 2023 | Sniper Rants

This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed, limited-edition bobblehead commemorating the LSU Tigers’ 2023 Baseball National Championship. The bobblehead, which features LSU’s mascot, Mike the Tiger, celebrates the baseball team’s 2023 season which culminated with the Men’s College World Series title in Omaha, Nebraska on June 26th. The special edition bobblehead is being produced exclusively by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

Wearing a gold No. 1 baseball jersey with Tigers across the front and Mike across the back, the Mike the Tiger bobblehead is holding a bat on his right shoulder while standing on a baseball field base featuring the LSU and championship logos. Each bobblehead will be individually numbered to only 2,023 and they are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in November, are $35 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

The LSU baseball team captured the seventh national title in program history, and the first since 2009, with a convincing 18-4 victory over Florida in Game 3 of the College World Series championship series on Monday, June 26th before a crowd of 24,878 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. The second-seeded Gators took a 2-0 lead after one inning in the winner-take-all finale, but the fifth-seeded Tigers scored six runs in the second inning, four more in the fourth and continued to pour it on. Dylan Crews, Brayden Jobert and Tommy White collected four hits apiece to lead a record-setting 24-hit attack. Crews, who made two dazzling catches in the outfield, became the first player since 1995 to win a national title and the Golden Spikes Award, which is given to the top amateur player in the country, in the same season. Crews was selected second in the 2023 MLB Draft, while teammate Paul Skenes, a right-handed pitcher who was named the CWS Most Outstanding Player and won the National Pitcher of the Year Award, was selected first.

With seven CWS titles, LSU has the second most, behind only USC with 12. En route to their championship, the Tigers (54-17) defeated top-seeded Wake Forest in back-to-back games to move on to the championship series. Right-hander Thatcher Hurd, who notched the win in relief in the second game against Wake Forest also picked up the win after pitching five solid innings in the decisive game against Florida. “Probably more impressive than winning the national championship is that they were national champions every single day,” said second-year LSU coach Jay Johnson, who became the first coach to win a national title in his first two seasons. “These guys had massive expectations all season long, and they met them. They met them every day.”

“As evidenced by their dominant regular season and postseason run, the College World Series champion LSU Tigers were clearly the class of college baseball in 2023,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “This bobblehead celebrating the Tigers is a must-have for LSU fans who want to commemorate the Tigers’ historic season and seven-time champion baseball program.”

The Bobblehead Hall Goes Bananas Over The Savannah Bananas

by | Jul 14, 2023 | Sniper Rants

Today, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled the first Savannah Bananas Bobblehead. The officially licensed, limited-edition bobblehead features Split, the mascot of the Savannah Bananas. The special edition bobblehead is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of the Savannah Bananas.

Standing on a banana-shaped base bearing his name with the Savannah Bananas’ logo, the Split bobblehead, sporting his trademark sunglasses, has his arms outstretched and is wearing a yellow #0 jersey with a cape. The bobbleheads, which will be individually numbered, are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. They are expected to ship in October and cost $30 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

Founded in 2016, the Savannah Bananas have been heralded as the “World Famous Baseball Circus,” “The Greatest Show in Sports” and “the Harlem Globetrotters of Baseball”, have been featured by ESPN, The Wall Street Journal and Sports Illustrated because of their on-field antics and viral videos. According to the team website: “What makes us different? We are not your typical baseball team. We are different. We take chances. We toe the line. We test the rules. We challenge the way things are supposed to be.” The Bananas implemented some deviations from standard baseball rules, otherwise known as “Banana Ball” – the fastest and most entertaining game of baseball.

Until 2022, the Bananas competed in the Coastal Plain League’s West Division, where they won three Petitt Cup championships. The Bananas were named the league’s organization of the year in 2016 and 2017. The team, which plays its home games at Grayson Stadium, has sold out every game since the first game in Savannah and every city on the Banana Ball World Tour. An ESPN+ miniseries about the team called “Bananaland” was released in August 2022.

In early April of 2016, Split was announced as the name of the Savannah Bananas mascot after the team received 1,200 suggestions in a “Name the Mascot” contest. Jennifer Terry from Norman Park, Georgia, was the first fan to submit Split on the morning the contest was announced and was declared the winner. “Split was by far the most popular name suggested in our contest and we feel it is the perfect fit for our Bananas mascot,” team president Jared Orton said. Standing 7 feet tall, Split is the World’s Largest Banana and the most physically fit with six-pack abs and giant biceps. According to Orton, Split is the “King of Potassium.”

“We’re excited to be offering the first Savannah Bananas bobblehead for all of the Bananas’ fans across the country,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “Bobblehead and baseball are a perfect combination, and we know fans of the Savannah Bananas are going to love this new bobblehead.”

“The first ever Bananas bobblehead will be our iconic mascot, Split, and I can’t think of a better way to introduce our King of Potassium to the world!” said Jared Orton.