Just do what you do best. -- Red Auerbach

A wall of great quotations as you enter the VICTORY exhibit.

"Just do what you do best." Words of wisdom from the one and only Red Auerbach, the Celtics' legendary stogie smoking coach. My friends at The Sports Museum in Boston have done just that--what they do best--in their new exhibition at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Titled VICTORY, the exhibition showcases some of the greatest moments not only in Boston sports history, but American history. From Jim Craig's 1980 "Miracle on Ice" Olympic hockey jersey and goalie mask to the astonishing quantity of Johnny Kelly's loving cups, trophies, and commemorative medals, the spoils of VICTORY are beautifully displayed. It's hard not to be moved by the wall-sized graphic of father-son marathoning team Dick and Rick Hoyt as they cross the finish line of the 2006 Boston Marathon. Equally sobering is the small display honoring Tony Conigliaro (Tony C) and the horrific injury that cut short a promising career.

Galleries are devoted to all Boston's (and greater New England) beloved teams--the Boston Celtics, the Bruins, Red Sox, and New England Patriots. You can't help but feel like you're momentarily transported to an early autumn afternoon at Fenway Park or the old Boston Garden when you pass an old Red Sox bleacher seat or stand near the parquet floor that was the site of so many great Celtics victories. A theatre area with videos that recall our favorite sporting memories, aptly named for the early 2000s "Decade of Dominance," allows guests to re-live great victories from the various teams.

I was lucky enough to be able to spend a day helping out with the installation (read as: I put hook-and-loop on the backsides of several pieces of foamcore for mounting) and get some behind the scenes details. Sully, one of the superb team at Foxwoods, took me on a "lighting" tour of the various galleries.   If you do visit, pay attention to how beautifully lit the entire exhibit is. Sully and his team--more accustomed to lighting Craig Ferguson or a Celtic Woman performance--are true artists and went above and beyond in crafting the illumination and effects within the exhibit. There's the cute Blue Spruce trees behind a Celtics themed cow (yes, you read that right) and a fiery light that floods down on General Patton's bronze statue. (If you're wondering, "why Patton?" he was a very accomplished equestrian and competed in the 1912 Olympic Pentathlon for the USA.) Fireworks explode over the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox wall graphic and the 24 second clock lighting looks terribly official.

My stellar contribution...the hook-and-loop mountings for
the programs. Executed to perfection by Ethan from
Cambridge Seven Associates. 

Though I'm not an aficionado of The Sweet Science, Boston has a great boxing tradition and Rocky Marciano and many other boxing legends are well represented here. As are the Olympic Games. Though I prefer to claim the 1980 Olympic team as mostly Minnesotan (and lead by favorite Minnesota son, the late Herb Brooks) I will concede--for this exhibit only--their strong New England connection. I'd also wager most of you have never seen Ted Williams' Red Sox locker. It's on display, too.

And then there's the opportunity to see some great sculptures. If you've never stood up close and personal and studied the work of the incredible Armand La Montagne, do so. La Montagne's life-sized basswood sculptures of Ted Williams, Yaz, Larry Bird, Harry Agganis, Bobby Orr and General George S. Patton are all part of the installation. The detail--down to the ribbing in Bobby Orr's socks--is not to be believed. There are also several of the large painted studies that La Montagne does for each subject on display as well as a video about his process.

Armand La Montagne's life-sized sculpture of Bobby Orr. 

The Sports Museum plays a vital role in preserving and teaching the important lessons of sport. They are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and in addition to saving important artifacts of our sporting history, they promote and sponsor stay in school programs and anti-bullying campaigns in the Boston area. This exhibition is a chance to highlight some of their many treasures and to broaden their outreach across New England.

Re-live your most iconic sporting memories or introduce your children and grandchildren to the legends of New England sports--a trip to the VICTORY exhibit at Foxwoods Resort and Casino will do your heart good. And you're helping a great cause: passing on the value of sport to a new generation and assisting the preservation of irreplaceable sporting history that the Sports Museum is dedicated to. It's a winning proposition if there ever was one.

There are many more photos over on my flickr page at... http://www.flickr.com/photos/papertyger/sets/72157631698513333/

And here are the details for VICTORY --
Foxwoods Resort and Casino
Mashantucket, Connecticut
Great Cedar Exhibition Hall, Great Cedar Hotel Lobby
September 27, 2012 - January 27, 2013
Adults - 15$, Children 10$ and Seniors 12$
Sunday - Thursday: 11am - 8pm
Friday - Saturday: 11am - 10pm

Throwbacks--The Boston(?) Patriots and the (really) Golden Gophers of the University of Minnesota

With apologies to my equine readers, we're going to take a quick time-out to pay homage to one of the most American of all autumnal rites of passage--football. Surely you didn't think I was going to say tea parties?!

Most of you will realize, having read a few blog posts, that I love competitions and sporting contests. Since I was very young, my father has coached many things, and always has been passionate about sport. He is kind of a local legend for all the young track and field athletes whom he has coached/mentored over the years. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 shot putters and discus throwers under his tutelage have gone on to be Minnesota State Champions. Additionally, he coached basketball--including an ill-fated junior high school team of mine; and football. He's always loved football. He'd have fight songs and cool helmet logos for the kids on his youth football teams and I remember discussions about the single-wing and other formations. (As a weird aside, my memory of how I heard Elvis Presley had died is very much linked to my father's coaching days. Back then, the local firehouses kindly stored the big barrels of pads and equipment between youth football seasons and we were going to pick up supplies for the coming season. While my dad was inside getting the goods, my mom and I were outside sitting in our 1977 yellow Ford Fiesta and heard over the AM radio that Elvis had died. I remember it as clear as a bell.) Needless to say, from a young age I was taught the values of being on a team, participating, and how to throw a mean, tight spiral, pass. (And while I'm thrilled that rachel Alexandra has made it more than OK to run like a girl, I want it on record that I've never "thrown like a girl.")

So here we are at the first big Sunday of professional football. Ashton Kutcher in one of his tweets today said today was like Christmas Day for grown men, and I think he's right. It's part of the change of seasons and part of the rhythm of our lives, and not just for the boys!

I'll likely check in on a few games today, but my opening night is definitely tomorrow night, and I'll be happily cheering on my New England/Boston Patriots. In the interest of full disclosure, I was a New England Patriots fan even before I started following any other teams. I have a letter from the team in response to a letter I'd sent to Steve Grogan back in 1976. Understand it wasn't easy being a Pats fan (a little girl, no less) in a state of Purple-People-Eater obsessed Viking Fans.

I'll admit it will be hard for me to even see Brett Favre in his Vikings jersey, because I find him to be pretty vapid and I think he's behaved rather badly during all of his retired/not retired/retired sagas. That said, I know many Vikings fans out there will forgive him EVERYTHING if he can deliver them a Super Bowl victory. Yes, VICTORY. Even the most casual of fans out there knows that while the Vikings have been to 4 Super Bowls, they've yet to win one. So if Brett can deliver that, well, he'll no doubt earn a big growl and bear hug from Ragnar and the Viking faithful. (Seriously, Dad, it's okay if you admit that you'd like Brett to win the Vikes a Super Bowl. I understand!!)

I'm excited about the coming season for the Patriots, but I'll be missing Tedy Bruschi. Just his presence on the field was so incredible, he was the heart of the whole squad. He's a great human being first and a great athlete second, and that's what makes him so special. This is the 50th Anniversary Season for the Patriots and expectations are high--well, they're always high in New England--so he will be sorely missed. Thanks, Tedy, for all the grand memories of seasons past. Looking forward to seeing Jerod Mayo stepping up and growing into a larger role.

And if you're confused about the header, The Patriots--and all the original AFL teams--will be using their throwback uniforms, names, etc. for "legacy" games this 50th Anniversary season. I for one am happy to see even a partial return of Pat the Patriot in his tri-cornered hat. And no offense to the rest of greater New England--for I am one of you--but I'm happy to see they'll be the Boston Patriots for a few games this season, too.

Here's Dan Shaughnessy's piece from today's Globe re: the temporary name change, which is fun.

A side note, the Minnesota Golden Gophers downed the Air Force flyboys yesterday in their gorgeous new stadium. Wearing all gold with maroon numbers, they looked more like the Gophers of old. Check out the win (scoring 17 points in the 4th quarter!!) and the new digs HERE, looks like a good time was had by all--all except Air Force, of course! Rah Rah Rah for Ski-U-Mah!!

Happy footballing everyone, may the pigskin be with you and your grid-iron favorites.