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Lucasfilm Addresses Admiral Ackbar's Mascot Prospectshttp://www.usnews.com/blogs/paper-trail/2010/03/01/lucasfilm-addresses-admiral-ackbars-mascot-prospects.htmlAckbar the best choice for new Rebel mascothttp://media.www.reflector-online.com/media/storage/paper938/news/2010/03/02/Opinion/Ackbar.The.Best.Choice.For.New.Rebel.Mascot-3882406.shtmlLetter to the Editor: Introducing Admiral Ackbarhttp://www.thedmonline.com/content/letter-editor-introducing-admiral-ackbarAdmiral Ackbar for Ole Miss Mascothttp://www.notatrap.org/University of Mississippi Library: Digital Collectionshttp://clio.lib.olemiss.edu/archives/College mascots have come under close scrutiny over the past several decades, and a number of institutions have changed their mascots after objections from groups who found the mascots offensive and distasteful. One mascot that has been receiving attention as of late is Colonel Reb, who has served as the University of Mississippi's official mascot for 24 years. Colonel Reb is a distinguished looking gentleman with Van Dyke style facial hair, and to some, he is also an unpleasant reminder of the traditions of the Old South. Since the student body voted to replace him on February 23, one leading candidate has emerged to replace him: Admiral Ackbar. Ackbar is a character from the film "Empire Strikes Back", and he is perhaps best known for his line "It's a trap". Ackbar bears a more than uncanny resemblance to an upright, humanoid type squid, and some people have commented that his candidacy is part of a new spirit at Ole Miss. An official decision has yet to be made, though it is worth noting that George Lucas, the man behind the "Star Wars" series has indicated that he supports the Admiral's candidacy, having done so in a humorous press release via Lucasfilm, his production company.The first link will take visitors to a news story from this Monday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the voting process for a new mascot at Ole Miss.

YMCA name change draws mixed reactions from North Texanshttp://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/12/2330321/ymca-name-change-draws-mixed-reactions.htmlYMCA trims name in move to spell out diverse presencehttp://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100713/NEWS16/7130399A Brand New Day: The YMCA Unveils New Brand Strategy to Further Community Impacthttp://www.ymca.net/news-releases/20100712-brand-new-day.htmlMemories of 'the Black Y' Provoke Smiles and Tears [Free registration may be required]http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/08/us/08ymca.htmlWhat is the YMCA?http://books.google.com/books?id=c1hDAAAAYAAJ&dq=YMCA&pg=PR1#v=onepage&q&f=falseTo many people, the YMCA is a community institution, providing exercise opportunities, a place to stay, and perhaps a bit of conversation along the way. In a move designed to make its broad mission a bit clearer to the general public, the YMCA announced this week that it would henceforth be known formally as "the Y". The organization went through a rigorous two-year process to review the perception of the Y throughout the United States, and they determined that most people already refer to the organization by this abbreviated name. Most people seem to welcome the change, though others took exception to the dropping of the letter "C", which stands for "Christian". On a somewhat related note, the legendary disco group The Village People said in a formal press statement that their iconic and pervasive party standard "Y.M.C.A" would remain unchanged.The first link leads to an article about the YMCA's name change along with some other brands making the same move, courtesy of this Monday's New York Times. The second link will take interested parties to an article from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that reports about the local reaction to the name change. Moving on, the third article is from this Tuesday's Toledo Blade, and it talks about how the Y in Toledo is handling the name change.

YMCA name change draws mixed reactions from North Texanshttp://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/12/2330321/ymca-name-change-draws-mixed-reactions.htmlYMCA trims name in move to spell out diverse presencehttp://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100713/NEWS16/7130399A Brand New Day: The YMCA Unveils New Brand Strategy to Further Community Impacthttp://www.ymca.net/news-releases/20100712-brand-new-day.htmlMemories of 'the Black Y' Provoke Smiles and Tears [Free registration may be required]http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/08/us/08ymca.htmlWhat is the YMCA?http://books.google.com/books?id=c1hDAAAAYAAJ&dq=YMCA&pg=PR1#v=onepage&q&f=falseTo many people, the YMCA is a community institution, providing exercise opportunities, a place to stay, and perhaps a bit of conversation along the way. In a move designed to make its broad mission a bit clearer to the general public, the YMCA announced this week that it would henceforth be known formally as "the Y". The organization went through a rigorous two-year process to review the perception of the Y throughout the United States, and they determined that most people already refer to the organization by this abbreviated name. Most people seem to welcome the change, though others took exception to the dropping of the letter "C", which stands for "Christian". On a somewhat related note, the legendary disco group The Village People said in a formal press statement that their iconic and pervasive party standard "Y.M.C.A" would remain unchanged.The first link leads to an article about the YMCA's name change along with some other brands making the same move, courtesy of this Monday's New York Times. The second link will take interested parties to an article from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that reports about the local reaction to the name change. Moving on, the third article is from this Tuesday's Toledo Blade, and it talks about how the Y in Toledo is handling the name change.

Lucasfilm Addresses Admiral Ackbar's Mascot Prospectshttp://www.usnews.com/blogs/paper-trail/2010/03/01/lucasfilm-addresses-admiral-ackbars-mascot-prospects.htmlAckbar the best choice for new Rebel mascothttp://media.www.reflector-online.com/media/storage/paper938/news/2010/03/02/Opinion/Ackbar.The.Best.Choice.For.New.Rebel.Mascot-3882406.shtmlLetter to the Editor: Introducing Admiral Ackbarhttp://www.thedmonline.com/content/letter-editor-introducing-admiral-ackbarAdmiral Ackbar for Ole Miss Mascothttp://www.notatrap.org/University of Mississippi Library: Digital Collectionshttp://clio.lib.olemiss.edu/archives/College mascots have come under close scrutiny over the past several decades, and a number of institutions have changed their mascots after objections from groups who found the mascots offensive and distasteful. One mascot that has been receiving attention as of late is Colonel Reb, who has served as the University of Mississippi's official mascot for 24 years. Colonel Reb is a distinguished looking gentleman with Van Dyke style facial hair, and to some, he is also an unpleasant reminder of the traditions of the Old South. Since the student body voted to replace him on February 23, one leading candidate has emerged to replace him: Admiral Ackbar. Ackbar is a character from the film "Empire Strikes Back", and he is perhaps best known for his line "It's a trap". Ackbar bears a more than uncanny resemblance to an upright, humanoid type squid, and some people have commented that his candidacy is part of a new spirit at Ole Miss. An official decision has yet to be made, though it is worth noting that George Lucas, the man behind the "Star Wars" series has indicated that he supports the Admiral's candidacy, having done so in a humorous press release via Lucasfilm, his production company.The first link will take visitors to a news story from this Monday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the voting process for a new mascot at Ole Miss.

Since the birth of the modern Olympics in 1896, those with a passion for information about these contests have sought out materials on the Games via a multitude of sources. For those who are so inclined, this website is a uniformly excellent way to learn about the activities of the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Games. On their homepage, visitors can check out a complete list of all the Olympic medal winters since 1896, read up on all the Olympic records, and also download their latest podcasts and vodcasts. Moving on, the left-hand side of the homepage features six sections, including "Sports", "Athletes", "News", and "Olympic Museum". Visitors might want to start by clicking on "The Movement" area. Here they can learn about the role that the International Olympic Committee plays in bringing together partners and other agencies to disseminate the Olympic spirit around the globe. Also, visitors should not miss the "Olympic Personal Trainer" area of the site. Within this area, users can listen to Olympic athletes talk about their own training experiences, and even submit questions.

Since the birth of the modern Olympics in 1896, those with a passion for information about these contests have sought out materials on the Games via a multitude of sources. For those who are so inclined, this website is a uniformly excellent way to learn about the activities of the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Games. On their homepage, visitors can check out a complete list of all the Olympic medal winters since 1896, read up on all the Olympic records, and also download their latest podcasts and vodcasts. Moving on, the left-hand side of the homepage features six sections, including "Sports", "Athletes", "News", and "Olympic Museum". Visitors might want to start by clicking on "The Movement" area. Here they can learn about the role that the International Olympic Committee plays in bringing together partners and other agencies to disseminate the Olympic spirit around the globe. Also, visitors should not miss the "Olympic Personal Trainer" area of the site. Within this area, users can listen to Olympic athletes talk about their own training experiences, and even submit questions.

A big year for Babehttp://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14253270p-15069181c.htmlNPR: Babe Ruth Gave Home Runs Their Due [Real Player]http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5394493Special Report: Comparing Bonds, Ruth, Aaronhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12073518/Why Selig Should Be There For Bondshttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/bay_area_sports/2006/05/why_selig_shoul.htmlBaseball-Reference.comhttp://www.baseball-reference.com/While the debate over whether or not Barry Bonds used steroids (or other performance-enhancing substances) will continue to embroil major league baseball and its legions of fans for months, if not years, one thing is certain: Shortly, he will surpass Babe “the Bambino” Ruth in the category of career home-runs. Many die-hard fans remain skeptical of Bond’s more recent efforts, in no small part due to the incessant media coverage of his race to become the career home-run leader, coupled with the contention that he has used performance-enhancing substances. Of course, some baseball historians and raconteurs have long contended that Ruth himself used liquor in epic proportions, though most are split on whether or not the use of such a substance would enhance one’s performance on the diamond. Interestingly, Ruth’s grandson, Tom Stevens, has declined to be on hand for the game in which Bonds will pass the Babe’s record. Stevens noted “I have been advised to just avoid the controversy without making a statement. I wish him luck.” Another planned “no-show” is the commissioner of major league baseball, Bud Selig, who has publicly stated that since Bonds won’t be passing up the all-time career home run leader (who happens to be Hank Aaron, in case you had forgotten), it’s not particularly important or not whether he’s in the stands. The first link will take users to a story from this week’s Sports Illustrated about the Ruth family’s decision not to be in the stands when Bonds passes the Bambino’s home run mar

A big year for Babehttp://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14253270p-15069181c.htmlNPR: Babe Ruth Gave Home Runs Their Due [Real Player]http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5394493Special Report: Comparing Bonds, Ruth, Aaronhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12073518/Why Selig Should Be There For Bondshttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/bay_area_sports/2006/05/why_selig_shoul.htmlBaseball-Reference.comhttp://www.baseball-reference.com/While the debate over whether or not Barry Bonds used steroids (or other performance-enhancing substances) will continue to embroil major league baseball and its legions of fans for months, if not years, one thing is certain: Shortly, he will surpass Babe “the Bambino” Ruth in the category of career home-runs. Many die-hard fans remain skeptical of Bond’s more recent efforts, in no small part due to the incessant media coverage of his race to become the career home-run leader, coupled with the contention that he has used performance-enhancing substances. Of course, some baseball historians and raconteurs have long contended that Ruth himself used liquor in epic proportions, though most are split on whether or not the use of such a substance would enhance one’s performance on the diamond. Interestingly, Ruth’s grandson, Tom Stevens, has declined to be on hand for the game in which Bonds will pass the Babe’s record. Stevens noted “I have been advised to just avoid the controversy without making a statement. I wish him luck.” Another planned “no-show” is the commissioner of major league baseball, Bud Selig, who has publicly stated that since Bonds won’t be passing up the all-time career home run leader (who happens to be Hank Aaron, in case you had forgotten), it’s not particularly important or not whether he’s in the stands. The first link will take users to a story from this week’s Sports Illustrated about the Ruth family’s decision not to be in the stands when Bonds passes the Bambino’s home run mar

A big year for Babehttp://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14253270p-15069181c.htmlNPR: Babe Ruth Gave Home Runs Their Due [Real Player]http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5394493Special Report: Comparing Bonds, Ruth, Aaronhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12073518/Why Selig Should Be There For Bondshttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/bay_area_sports/2006/05/why_selig_shoul.htmlBaseball-Reference.comhttp://www.baseball-reference.com/While the debate over whether or not Barry Bonds used steroids (or other performance-enhancing substances) will continue to embroil major league baseball and its legions of fans for months, if not years, one thing is certain: Shortly, he will surpass Babe “the Bambino” Ruth in the category of career home-runs. Many die-hard fans remain skeptical of Bond’s more recent efforts, in no small part due to the incessant media coverage of his race to become the career home-run leader, coupled with the contention that he has used performance-enhancing substances. Of course, some baseball historians and raconteurs have long contended that Ruth himself used liquor in epic proportions, though most are split on whether or not the use of such a substance would enhance one’s performance on the diamond. Interestingly, Ruth’s grandson, Tom Stevens, has declined to be on hand for the game in which Bonds will pass the Babe’s record. Stevens noted “I have been advised to just avoid the controversy without making a statement. I wish him luck.” Another planned “no-show” is the commissioner of major league baseball, Bud Selig, who has publicly stated that since Bonds won’t be passing up the all-time career home run leader (who happens to be Hank Aaron, in case you had forgotten), it’s not particularly important or not whether he’s in the stands. The first link will take users to a story from this week’s Sports Illustrated about the Ruth family’s decision not to be in the stands when Bonds passes the Bambino’s home run mar

Perhaps no toy is as maligned as the yo-yo, despite its long and colorful history. The roots of the yo-yo can be traced back to antiquity, and there is even a Grecian urn in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that depicts that most well-known of yo-yo maneuvers: walking the dog. Visitors with a penchant for the yo-yo will appreciate the wide range of materials that can be found on the site, particularly the rather compelling online exhibit of highly valuable yo-yos, such as the 1984 Olympics No Jive model. For those who want to continue their exploration of the yo-yo, there is the “Profiles & History” area, which contains player and company profiles, along with historical photographs of yo-yos in action.

In 1936, a team of young rowers from the University of Washington surprised the nation when they beat out Ivy League competition to represent the United States in the Olympics, held that year in Nazi Germany. Once in Berlin, the team beat significant odds to win the gold medal. The most recent episode of PBS's American Experience commemorates the 80th anniversary of the so-called "Boys of '36" with this moving documentary about the experiences of these rowers and the significance of their feat. Unlike many of their Ivy League counterparts, the University of Washington rowing crew hailed from families hit hard by the Great Depression. The team's buffer, Joe Rantz, was abandoned by his family while still a boy. Timothy Egan, who authored a book on the Great Depression, notes that many young men joined the University of Washington team as a way to secure a meals at the university. On this website, visitors can watch this documentary in full and view accompanying resources, including a remarkable photo gallery and interviews with contemporary rowers.

With several weeks of the 2004 major league baseball season now in the record books, it is high time to profile a site that may end more than a few fractious arguments held both at the ballpark and on the way home from nine innings of America's national sport. The Baseball Almanac is one such site, as it contains rather helpful information on the game, organized into a host of helpful areas such as those on the All-Star game, player stats, quotations, and humor & jokes. From the main page, visitors can read facts about Today in Baseball History, read profiles of players who have recently passed away, or find out what's been updated most recently on the site. There's a great deal to keep baseball aficionados entertained here, in particular the fabulous feats area where visitors can learn which players have hit two grand slams in one game and which players had six hits in one game.

As long as there are those who seek to extend the field of athletic endeavor through invention (such as James L. Plimpton, creator of the modern roller skate), or those who break racial barriers (such as the great Jackie Robinson), there will be those who seek to commemorate and examine their legacy. Designed to complement a current exhibition at the National Museum of American History, this fine online exhibit explores some of those individuals whose contributions to American sport have intersected with other broader historical developments, including racial equality, the spirit of invention, and other trends. On the site, visitors are treated to short essays that talk about the accomplishments of such individuals as Jesse Owens and Sandy Koufax. Of course, these pieces are completed by images of such items as Terry Bradshaw's uniform from Super Bowl XIV and Abraham Lincoln's personal handball. Additionally, for each person profiled, visitors can read a list of career highlights, suggested reading materials, and in some cases, a filmography.

As long as there are those who seek to extend the field of athletic endeavor through invention (such as James L. Plimpton, creator of the modern roller skate), or those who break racial barriers (such as the great Jackie Robinson), there will be those who seek to commemorate and examine their legacy. Designed to complement a current exhibition at the National Museum of American History, this fine online exhibit explores some of those individuals whose contributions to American sport have intersected with other broader historical developments, including racial equality, the spirit of invention, and other trends. On the site, visitors are treated to short essays that talk about the accomplishments of such individuals as Jesse Owens and Sandy Koufax. Of course, these pieces are completed by images of such items as Terry Bradshaw's uniform from Super Bowl XIV and Abraham Lincoln's personal handball. Additionally, for each person profiled, visitors can read a list of career highlights, suggested reading materials, and in some cases, a filmography.

One can find a great deal of footage of Vandals in action on this site, but never fear: the Vandals in question are just the mighty members of the University of Idaho's athletic teams. The digitized materials here include over 160 16mm films held by the school's Special Collections & Archives. Visitors can browse the films by date, location or team. One standout is the 1925 film of the town of Moscow, Idaho, along with footage of the football contest between the Vandals at the University of Southern California Trojans. The materials span the years 1925 to 1997 and they include football and basketball games. None of the films contain audio, but they remain fascinating documents. The map feature is rather fun, as it gives users the ability to look around the entire country for athletic events of particular regional interest. Of course, the timeline shouldn't be missed either, and the clip from the football game between the Vandals and the University of Washington Huskies is worth a viewing.

One can find a great deal of footage of Vandals in action on this site, but never fear: the Vandals in question are just the mighty members of the University of Idaho's athletic teams. The digitized materials here include over 160 16mm films held by the school's Special Collections & Archives. Visitors can browse the films by date, location or team. One standout is the 1925 film of the town of Moscow, Idaho, along with footage of the football contest between the Vandals at the University of Southern California Trojans. The materials span the years 1925 to 1997 and they include football and basketball games. None of the films contain audio, but they remain fascinating documents. The map feature is rather fun, as it gives users the ability to look around the entire country for athletic events of particular regional interest. Of course, the timeline shouldn't be missed either, and the clip from the football game between the Vandals and the University of Washington Huskies is worth a viewing.

As long as there are those who seek to extend the field of athletic endeavor through invention (such as James L. Plimpton, creator of the modern roller skate), or those who break racial barriers (such as the great Jackie Robinson), there will be those who seek to commemorate and examine their legacy. Designed to complement a current exhibition at the National Museum of American History, this fine online exhibit explores some of those individuals whose contributions to American sport have intersected with other broader historical developments, including racial equality, the spirit of invention, and other trends. On the site, visitors are treated to short essays that talk about the accomplishments of such individuals as Jesse Owens and Sandy Koufax. Of course, these pieces are completed by images of such items as Terry Bradshaw's uniform from Super Bowl XIV and Abraham Lincoln's personal handball. Additionally, for each person profiled, visitors can read a list of career highlights, suggested reading materials, and in some cases, a filmography.

On a cold and blustery day in November 1887, a group of Chicagoans were eagerly awaiting inside the Farragut Boat Club for the telegraphed results of the Harvard-Yale football game. George W. Hancock was one of their number, and while waiting he created a game that used a boxing glove for a ball and a broomstick for a bat. This game was known as indoor base ball, and it was the predecessor to the sport which would later be called softball. This delightful collection from the American Memory Project at the Library of Congress contains 35 of the official indoor base ball guides published between 1889 and 1939. The guides include editorials from baseball writers on the state of the game, a selection of photographs, and of course, a slew of statistics. The guides are fun, informative, and who knows, they might serve as the timely spark to start a revival of this pastime.

This Wednesday, the city of London received the news from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that it had made a successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. Given that these events are viewed by billions of people around the world, the Games are often seen as a way to draw investment into their host cities and as a way to showcase the accomplishments of their host nation. In the decisive round of voting, London barely edged out Paris by a vote of 54 to 50. The media coverage surrounding the competition between the cities competing to host the 2012 Olympics was intense, and the decision also happened to coincide with the G8 meeting at the Gleneagles resort in Scotland, which heightened some of the drama of this announcement. The people of Paris seemed to be somewhat crestfallen by the announcement, and the mayor of the City of Lights remarked that “This is an immense disappointment. I just can’t explain how it happened, to tell you the truth.” Alternately, Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain was elated, noting “It is not often in this job that you get to punch the air and do a little jig and embrace the person standing next to you.”The first link leads to a fine piece of reporting from the BBC Sport division that looks at some of the reasons London was able to create and sustain a successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics. The second link will take visitors to an article from the Washington Post that outlines some of the positive and negative long-term (and short-term) impacts that the Olympics may have on their host city and nation. The third link leads to an online Telegraph article which discusses the broader setting of the G8 summit, which is going on this week at Gleneagles. The fourth link leads to a trenchant piece from the New York Daily News which discusses how local politics in New York potentially adversely affected the Big Apple’s bid to host the Olympics in 2012. The fifth link leads to a piece by William J. Kole writing in the San F

The 2004 Olympic Summer Games may be several months away, but preparations have been going on for many months, and the city of Athens is looking forward to hosting its first official Olympic Games competition since 1896. As one might expect, the site's main page offers a veritable cornucopia of information on visiting Athens, accommodations, ticket information, and a special area designed for young people. Additionally, the site also provides extensive material on the Paralympic Games, which will also take place this summer. Visitors will want to take a look at the key dates section, as it offers details on when and where each competitive event will take place, along with the ever-popular opening and closing ceremonies. The site has some nice extra features, such as volunteer applications for the Games, e-cards to send to friends and family, and information on the extensive transportation infrastructure improvements added to the urban fabric of Athens for this historic event.

Over the course of the twentieth century, the women's physical education program at the University of Iowa "became a pioneer in in the development of graduate study and professional training." With only one female member of the Department of Physical Culture and Athletics in 1900, the Department of Physical Education was established in 1924, becoming an important entity in the development of graduate study and professional training. On this website, visitors can explore over 900 digitized photographs that document this fascinating history. With images dating from approximately 1900 to 1980, the collection is perhaps best browsed by category, including such activities as "field hockey," "horseback riding," and "women's basketball." An extensive Object Description accompanies each photograph. From the landing page, readers will also find a link to the Iowa Women's Archives, the contributing institution behind the collection.

Today, New York's professional baseball teams consist of the New York Yankees and the Mets, but in the middle of the last century there was one more (the Brooklyn Dodgers), and the rivalries were the stuff of sports legend. This online exhibit from the Museum of the City of New York explores these relationships through ten short "chapters" that chronicle the evolution of the game in Gotham from 1947 to 1957. Each chapter has a topical theme ("The Fans", for example), complemented by a series of digitized items, including programs, scorecards, stadium photographs, World Series rings, and so on. Visitors can even look through the "Exhibition Photos" area to see how the exhibition looked during its run at the Museum.

The Young Woman's Christian Association (Y.W.C.A) may not have a catchy song written about it, but the Y.M.C.A.'s sister organization does promote leadership and aims to be a "membership-directed organization for 'all kinds of women and girls.'" Smith College, in Massachusetts, has the collection of historical records of the Y.W.C.A. of the USA, and has created an online exhibit of such materials. The exhibit is divided into three categories accessible by the links at the bottom of the page. The categories are "Interracial Education", "Christian Faith and Social Action", and "Industrial Awakening". The materials, such as posters, flyers, pamphlets, photos and news articles can be found alongside the text of each category's page, and can be clicked on for an enlargement of the image. The "Additional Sources" link, at the bottom of the page, offers web sources, including other Y.W.C.A. material from the collection at Smith College, many books for general reading about the Y.W.C.A., as well as books and online resources about the three categories addressed on this website. [KMG]

The Smithsonian National Postal Museum has profiled a wide swath of American life on stamps over the years, and this latest online exhibit from their busy minds looks at American sports and athletes on stamps. The collection was created by Alexander Haimann, and it features dozens of unique and compelling stamps, including the 3-cent stamp issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the creation of baseball by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York. Each page of the site has a different thematic focus, including "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (featuring notable ballparks) and "American Boxing: From Dempsey to Marciano". There is complete information for each stamp, including material on when the stamp was issued. Also, visitors can zoom in and out on each stamp to look for creative details.

With only a few short days before the start of spring training, Scout Report readers may enjoy taking in some of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's website. First-time visitors may want to begin by looking at some of the very nice online exhibits offered here. Some of the more delightful exhibits include the history of the baseball uniform as well as programs from World Series past. Of course, those with a penchant for days gone by will want to look through the Baseball History area, which features "This Day in Baseball History" along with profiles of such legends as Wade Boggs. True sports historians will also revel in the A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center section of the site, as it contains information about utilizing the Center and a selection of player files from a collection that contains over 20,000 items.

Today, New York's professional baseball teams consist of the New York Yankees and the Mets, but in the middle of the last century there was one more (the Brooklyn Dodgers), and the rivalries were the stuff of sports legend. This online exhibit from the Museum of the City of New York explores these relationships through ten short "chapters" that chronicle the evolution of the game in Gotham from 1947 to 1957. Each chapter has a topical theme ("The Fans", for example), complemented by a series of digitized items, including programs, scorecards, stadium photographs, World Series rings, and so on. Visitors can even look through the "Exhibition Photos" area to see how the exhibition looked during its run at the Museum.

The Smithsonian National Postal Museum has profiled a wide swath of American life on stamps over the years, and this latest online exhibit from their busy minds looks at American sports and athletes on stamps. The collection was created by Alexander Haimann, and it features dozens of unique and compelling stamps, including the 3-cent stamp issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the creation of baseball by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York. Each page of the site has a different thematic focus, including "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (featuring notable ballparks) and "American Boxing: From Dempsey to Marciano". There is complete information for each stamp, including material on when the stamp was issued. Also, visitors can zoom in and out on each stamp to look for creative details.

Whether it's hockey, baseball, or volleyball, it's just a game, right? To some it might be, and that's actually the title ("Only a Game") of this compelling radio program produced by NPR and WBUR in Boston. The show is hosted by commentator Bill Littlefield, and the witty and interesting program covers topics like "the explosion of interest in women's sports, competitive opportunities for the disabled, and the business of sports." Past guests on the show have included Robert Pinsky, Roger Angell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Muhammad Ali. Visitors to the site should start by listening to the most recent show, and then move on to the "Archives" area. Here they will find book reviews, links to past shows, and photo galleries. The show's topics as of late have been far ranging, and they have included exploration of the art of hockey mask making and bull racing in Indonesia.

With several weeks of the 2004 major league baseball season now in the record books, it is high time to profile a site that may end more than a few fractious arguments held both at the ballpark and on the way home from nine innings of America's national sport. The Baseball Almanac is one such site, as it contains rather helpful information on the game, organized into a host of helpful areas such as those on the All-Star game, player stats, quotations, and humor & jokes. From the main page, visitors can read facts about Today in Baseball History, read profiles of players who have recently passed away, or find out what's been updated most recently on the site. There's a great deal to keep baseball aficionados entertained here, in particular the fabulous feats area where visitors can learn which players have hit two grand slams in one game and which players had six hits in one game.

Over the course of the twentieth century, the women's physical education program at the University of Iowa "became a pioneer in in the development of graduate study and professional training." With only one female member of the Department of Physical Culture and Athletics in 1900, the Department of Physical Education was established in 1924, becoming an important entity in the development of graduate study and professional training. On this website, visitors can explore over 900 digitized photographs that document this fascinating history. With images dating from approximately 1900 to 1980, the collection is perhaps best browsed by category, including such activities as "field hockey," "horseback riding," and "women's basketball." An extensive Object Description accompanies each photograph. From the landing page, readers will also find a link to the Iowa Women's Archives, the contributing institution behind the collection.

The Australian Women's Archives Project has successfully challenged the dearth of coverage of Australian women athletes, from the past to the present, by creating this website. Visitors should definitely read the "Introduction" to gain a better understanding of why women's sports coverage is lacking or buried deeply in the sports section. The "Stories" section of the site should be required reading for all young girls interested in sports, whether Australian or Argentinian. There are over one dozen stories of Australian women athletes, from as far back as 1916 to the present. There are also several women's teams whose stories are presented. The "Medalists" section includes not only gold medalists at the Commonwealth or Empire Games, but by clicking on the "Switch to Olympic Medalists and Participants" link on the top left or bottom of the page, visitors can see that Australian women were taking medals in swimming as early as the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm.

The Long Trail in Vermont is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States. In the early 20th century, the Green Mountain Club began to build extensive trail facilities along the way, including shelters and other such structures. The Club also documented their activities, and this collection from the University of Vermont contains over 900 black-and-white and hand-colored lantern slides. These items were originally used in slideshow presentations by Club member Theron S. Dean, who was a great promoter of the Trail. Visitors can use the "Browse the Collection" area to look for items by subject and they can also use the Google Maps feature to look for items by location. Visitors can also sign up for their RSS feed to track when new items are added to the collection.

In 1936, a team of young rowers from the University of Washington surprised the nation when they beat out Ivy League competition to represent the United States in the Olympics, held that year in Nazi Germany. Once in Berlin, the team beat significant odds to win the gold medal. The most recent episode of PBS's American Experience commemorates the 80th anniversary of the so-called "Boys of '36" with this moving documentary about the experiences of these rowers and the significance of their feat. Unlike many of their Ivy League counterparts, the University of Washington rowing crew hailed from families hit hard by the Great Depression. The team's buffer, Joe Rantz, was abandoned by his family while still a boy. Timothy Egan, who authored a book on the Great Depression, notes that many young men joined the University of Washington team as a way to secure a meals at the university. On this website, visitors can watch this documentary in full and view accompanying resources, including a remarkable photo gallery and interviews with contemporary rowers.

The Young Woman's Christian Association (Y.W.C.A) may not have a catchy song written about it, but the Y.M.C.A.'s sister organization does promote leadership and aims to be a "membership-directed organization for 'all kinds of women and girls.'" Smith College, in Massachusetts, has the collection of historical records of the Y.W.C.A. of the USA, and has created an online exhibit of such materials. The exhibit is divided into three categories accessible by the links at the bottom of the page. The categories are "Interracial Education", "Christian Faith and Social Action", and "Industrial Awakening". The materials, such as posters, flyers, pamphlets, photos and news articles can be found alongside the text of each category's page, and can be clicked on for an enlargement of the image. The "Additional Sources" link, at the bottom of the page, offers web sources, including other Y.W.C.A. material from the collection at Smith College, many books for general reading about the Y.W.C.A., as well as books and online resources about the three categories addressed on this website. [KMG]

Whether it's hockey, baseball, or volleyball, it's just a game, right? To some it might be, and that's actually the title ("Only a Game") of this compelling radio program produced by NPR and WBUR in Boston. The show is hosted by commentator Bill Littlefield, and the witty and interesting program covers topics like "the explosion of interest in women's sports, competitive opportunities for the disabled, and the business of sports." Past guests on the show have included Robert Pinsky, Roger Angell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Muhammad Ali. Visitors to the site should start by listening to the most recent show, and then move on to the "Archives" area. Here they will find book reviews, links to past shows, and photo galleries. The show's topics as of late have been far ranging, and they have included exploration of the art of hockey mask making and bull racing in Indonesia.

The Long Trail in Vermont is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States. In the early 20th century, the Green Mountain Club began to build extensive trail facilities along the way, including shelters and other such structures. The Club also documented their activities, and this collection from the University of Vermont contains over 900 black-and-white and hand-colored lantern slides. These items were originally used in slideshow presentations by Club member Theron S. Dean, who was a great promoter of the Trail. Visitors can use the "Browse the Collection" area to look for items by subject and they can also use the Google Maps feature to look for items by location. Visitors can also sign up for their RSS feed to track when new items are added to the collection.

With only a few short days before the start of spring training, Scout Report readers may enjoy taking in some of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's website. First-time visitors may want to begin by looking at some of the very nice online exhibits offered here. Some of the more delightful exhibits include the history of the baseball uniform as well as programs from World Series past. Of course, those with a penchant for days gone by will want to look through the Baseball History area, which features "This Day in Baseball History" along with profiles of such legends as Wade Boggs. True sports historians will also revel in the A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center section of the site, as it contains information about utilizing the Center and a selection of player files from a collection that contains over 20,000 items.

The 2004 Olympic Summer Games may be several months away, but preparations have been going on for many months, and the city of Athens is looking forward to hosting its first official Olympic Games competition since 1896. As one might expect, the site's main page offers a veritable cornucopia of information on visiting Athens, accommodations, ticket information, and a special area designed for young people. Additionally, the site also provides extensive material on the Paralympic Games, which will also take place this summer. Visitors will want to take a look at the key dates section, as it offers details on when and where each competitive event will take place, along with the ever-popular opening and closing ceremonies. The site has some nice extra features, such as volunteer applications for the Games, e-cards to send to friends and family, and information on the extensive transportation infrastructure improvements added to the urban fabric of Athens for this historic event.

On a cold and blustery day in November 1887, a group of Chicagoans were eagerly awaiting inside the Farragut Boat Club for the telegraphed results of the Harvard-Yale football game. George W. Hancock was one of their number, and while waiting he created a game that used a boxing glove for a ball and a broomstick for a bat. This game was known as indoor base ball, and it was the predecessor to the sport which would later be called softball. This delightful collection from the American Memory Project at the Library of Congress contains 35 of the official indoor base ball guides published between 1889 and 1939. The guides include editorials from baseball writers on the state of the game, a selection of photographs, and of course, a slew of statistics. The guides are fun, informative, and who knows, they might serve as the timely spark to start a revival of this pastime.

Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion of the world, is the subject of a new documentary by the well-regarded filmmaker Ken Burns. The program recently aired for the first time on PBS, and this companion website offers a number of primary documents, short essays, and educational materials that will be of great interest to the Web-browsing public and educators seeking to use the documentary in the classroom. On the site, visitors can learn about the life of this rather remarkable man, and also learn about the broader social and cultural milieu of the times in which he found himself, both in terms of race relations and in terms of the history of the sport of boxing. One particularly well-developed feature here is the section that deals with “The Fight of the Century”, which pitted Johnson versus Jim Jeffries, who at that point was the retired white heavyweight champion of the world. The site is rounded out by a number of lesson plans and additional resources (such as books and other online sites) for educators.