Skateboarding is a sport better known for tricks, stunts and its X Games image than for its health benefits. A recent study by Johns Hopkins researchers, though, found that kids who skateboard regularly -- three or more times a week -- are more likely to stay fit and avoid being overweight and obese when they become adults than kids who play organized sports like baseball.

The study, published in January's Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, did not address the risk of injuries from skateboarding and other action sports. My son is a skateboarder, and I've never considered it a great workout. This study, though, which also touted the health benefits of regular biking -- including BMX biking -- and Rollerblading, has made me rethink this.

My son is a skateboarding beginner, but he's really into it, often doing it for 30-45 minutes or more at a time. And he's working hard to improve his technique and come up with new moves. He is also very into his BMX-style bike, and rides it regularly when the weather is warm enough to ride outside.

As someone who grew up playing organized sports like basketball, basketball and football, I've enjoyed watching my son's interest in these action sports. I just never assumed how good these might be for his health. 

The bottom line in all this for me is that the more active kids are the better, and that it's important that kids choose the sports or activities they do. After all, the more they are interested in something the more likely they are to do it, and thus the more exercise they will get. It is really icing on the cake that these action sports he's interested in have been shown to be a great way to stay fit.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 11:22 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

There's a gym near our house that is open on Saturday mornings for kids to shoot baskets. I took my kids and my mom, who played high school basketball, last Saturday and we had a great time.

My kids are both involved in basketball clinics on Saturdays, but they had much more fun in this family basketball session than in their clinics. They enjoying showing off their skills for grandma, and I think they enjoyed hearing her tell how she played competitive basketball when she was younger.

There's something to be said for this sort of free play. Kids these days spend so much time in clinics, taking lessons, playing on travel teams and in other competitive or highly structured youth sports programs that they are ready for some fun.

I have nothing against these structured programs, which teach the fundamentals and help our kids improve both their play and their enjoyment in the game. I grew up participating in such structured programs and currently coach of my daughter's softball team. 

Our family session, though, reminded me of the importance of keeping sports fun, and I can tell my kids are already looking forward to their next opportunity to shoot baskets with grandma.  

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 10:36 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I've always wanted to go to a game at Duke University's Cameron Indoor Stadium. It's a place with a ton of history and tradition, not to mention a student fan base -- called the Cameron Crazies -- known for its intelligent and clever antics.

A good friend of mine who is a huge Duke fan was in the Durham, NC area for work and suggested we meet there for a game. Cameron Indoor Stadium looks much more like a church or classroom building than an arena from the outside. it's very small -- just over 9,000 seats -- by big-time college basketball standards, but as a life-long college basketball fan, it's always been on my sports to-do list.

Walking toward the game you see Krzyaewskiville, a collection of tents set up by students to get tickets for big games named for Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. We arrived 90 minutes before tipoff, and the student section was already full, and they were practicing their cheers. The students are so close to the action they really seem to be part of the game.

It was a great night. Duke, ranked in the top 5 entering the game vs. North Carolina State, played very poorly in the first half and trailed by 9 at halftime. The second half, though, was a completely different story, as the Blue Devils demolished the Wolfpack 55-26 to win by 20.

The fun for me, though, was to just soak in the experience. There are many reasons to not make a 10 hour roadtrip in the middle of the week, but being there was worth all that and more. As college basketball arenas go, Cameron Indoor Stadium is one of the most hallowed, and I'm glad to say that I've been there in person.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 10:20 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Few people thought the New York Giants had a chance to beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. The Patriots entered the game as 12-point favorites with an 18-0 record and the chance to become the first NFL team to finish the year 19-0. New England also had beaten the Giants on the road in the regular season finale, and was a perfect 3-0 in Super Bowls with quarterback Tom Brady leading the offense.

The Giants, though, led by an outstanding defensive effort that held the Patriots to their lowest point total of the year and the play of much-criticized quarterback Eli Manning, pulled off the 17-14 upset.

It was a total team effort. The New York defense kept constant pressure on Brady, who often had little time to throw and had a subpar game by his standards as a result. The Giants offense, meanwhile, was led by Manning, who directed two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, including an 83-yarder capped off with a scoring pass to Plaxico Burress with less than a minute to play, to provide the margin of victory.

I was rooting for New England to make history by completing an undefeated season when the game began, but by halftime I was pulling for New York. The Giants, considered big underdogs by virtually everyone but themselves, made the big plays when they mattered most, and seemed to be the team of destiny.

It was fun to watch.    

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 11:04 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)