Suzanne Killian

NIAGARA, Wis. — Most of us enjoy sports. Whether we actually play them ourselves, watch our kids play, or watch from the comfort of our living room sofas as our favorite teams compete, the spirit of the competition involved really seems to be part of who we are as Americans. The sports world seems to be ever evolving, as rule changes occur every year and new requirements in safety gear are introduced. Gone are the days of the leather caps that served as football helmets, basketball peach baskets, or those really heavy, wooden bats swung by Babe Ruth. What haven’t changed, however, are the fans’ excitement and the players’ determination that surround every sport.

I came across an online article recently that describes 10 of the most unique sports and competitions from all around the world. Some you may have already heard of, and others will seem completely strange. You may wonder, as I did, who ever dreamed up this game anyway?

1. Chess boxing — This sport is the result of combining two others that shouldn’t go well together but oddly enough do. A chess boxing match consists of alternating three-minute rounds of chess and boxing, starting and ending with chess. Victory might be achieved through knockout in boxing or checkmate in chess. The origins of chess boxing are disputed, but most fans agree that it was first conceived by French comic book artist Enki Bilal in a 1992 comic. Inspired by this, Dutch performance artist Iepe Rubingh held the first chess boxing event in Berlin in 2003 and went on to become the first world chess boxing champion that same year. If, like me, this doesn’t sound like a very appealing sport, we can agree that it tops the list in creativity as it appeals to both types of strengths: brain and brawn.

2. Dog surfing — Some dogs love water, as anyone knows who has ever watched a golden retriever swim out to get the ball and bring it back to its owner. But I bet you didn’t know that man’s best friend has been riding waves alongside surfers for almost 100 years. As its name implies, dog surfing is a sport practiced by dogs trained to ride a surfboard or a bodyboard, either alone or with a human. The first documented instances can be traced back to California and Hawaii in the 1920s, and in 1944, the image of a surfing dog named Rusty was published in National Geographic magazine. And, since 2006, the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in California has had the largest dog surfing competition in the United States.

3. Hobby horsing — It might be a little misleading to consider hobby horsing a sport. Since it involves riding a toy horse through several obstacles that simulate those used in real riding competitions, it more accurate should be dubbed a childish pastime or a hobby. However, it is taken seriously in Finland where hobby horsing originated. The Finns hold several regional competitions as well as an annual national championship, and it is particularly popular with girls and young women between the ages of 12 and 18 years.

4. Lumberjack World Championship — Every year, more than 100 lumberjacks, loggers and sawyers descend upon the city of Hayward, Wis. eager to compete in the Lumberjack World Championship. Given that logging is so common in our northern regions, this may not seem like an unusual sport at all. In fact, many of us may have watched these loggers compete. Participants compete in 21 events, including a 60-foot speed climb, logrolling and chopping down timber. More than $50,000 is awarded in prize money to the winners of the different events, and the lumberjack that scores the most points is crowned as the All-Around Champion.

5. Underwater torpedo — In 2017, two former military pool instructors, Prime Hall and Don Tran, founded the Underwater Torpedo League. In this new sport they created, teams of five players try to get ahold of a rubber torpedo and place it on the other team’s goal on the other side of the pool. In the few years since its creation, Underwater Torpedo has taken social media by storm and resulted in a national tournament known as the “Aqua Bowl.”

6. Toe wrestling — That little piggy might have gone to the market, but this one became a wrestling machine. Toe wrestling was created in the 1970s by a group of friends drinking (no surprise there!) in a pub in Staffordshire, England. Similar to arm wrestling, toe wrestling involves two players locking their toes and then trying to pin their rival’s foot. Since 1994, the annual World Toe Wrestling Championship has been held in the English county of Derbyshire.

7. Wife carrying — While not yet a part of Finnish wedding vows, the line “I promise to carry my spouse through the Finnish countryside in an annual competition,” its addition cannot be too far away. A vow such as this might come in handy if you ever decide to join the Wife Carrying World Championship, held every year in Sonkajärvi, Finland, since 1992. The wife-carrying contest (known as “eukonkanto” in Finland) is a race in which husbands carry their wives through several obstacles. The male contestants might carry their wives in a classic piggyback, a fireman’s carry (over the shoulder), or on what’s known as an Estonian carry, with the wife held upside-down on the back, with her legs over the neck and shoulders of her husband. The winners of the Sonkajärvi World Championship are traditionally awarded the wife’s weight in beer. No kidding!

8. Extreme ironing — Now this one definitely qualifies as weird! The most widely accepted origin for this sport tells the story of Phil Shaw, a resident of Leicester, England, who, in 1997, came back home after a long day of work only to find a pile of clothes that needed to be ironed. Being an avid rock climber, Shaw decided to combine both activities by carrying his ironing board all the way up a rock-climbing wall. What?! And on that date, extreme ironing was born: after that first rock climbing wall, thousands of enthusiasts carried their ironing boards up mountains, skyscrapers, and canyons. Some have even ironed their clothes while parachuting or bungee jumping. Call me odd, but I think ironing is challenging enough as it is without adding rock climbing to the task.

9. Lawnmower racing — Now this one sounds like fun! In lawnmower racing competitions, participants race in modified lawnmowers through a closed circuit. While the lawnmowers keep their original engines, the blades are obviously removed for safety. Several U.S. states hold their own races, but perhaps the most well-known is the Twelve Mile 500, held every year on Independence Day in Twelve Mile, Indiana.

10. Caber tossing — You might know this traditional Scottish sport as it has been portrayed in many movies. The caber toss is normally practiced in the Scottish Highland games, and it consists of throwing the “caber” (a large, wooden pole that weighs between 90 and 150 pounds) so that it falls on its other end. The distance thrown is not important, but rather that it falls away from the thrower. When it comes to scoring, the straightest toss wins the most points, with the “12 o’clock” position (directly opposite from the thrower) being awarded the maximum score.

As enjoyable as most of these sound, I think I will stick to watching NFL football — go Pack! — and March Madness.

NURSING HOMES/SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES

Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Community

Kingsford

906-774-1530

The center welcomes anyone who would like to entertain residents. Volunteers are also needed to help with crafts and other activities.

The third Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. has a Memory Cafe — a fun hour to spend with others. For more information, contact Jaime Hathaway at jlhathaway@protonmail.com. The program runs on donations.

Sunday: Play games in dining room, 10 a.m.; Strong Tower Church, 2 p.m.

Monday: Walking club, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:45 a.m.; dice club, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Walking club, 9:30 a.m.; nail spa, 10 a.m.; solo cup bingo, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Walking club, 9:30 a.m.; Bible study, 10 a.m.; chair work, 10:30 a.m.; Iron Mountain Kingsford Community Women’s Club party with music by Jim Edberg.

Thursday: Walking club, 9:30 a.m.; Uno, 10 a.m.; crafts, 1:30 p.m.; bunny/dog visit, 2 p.m.

Friday: Walking club, 9:30 a.m.; chitter chatter group, 10 a.m.; LCR game, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Puzzle packet, 10 a.m.; “The Wall” on Game Show Network channel, 7 p.m.

Iron County Medical Care Facility

Crystal Falls

906-874-1501

Sunday: Room visits, 9 a.m.; Yahtzee, 9:30 a.m.; chair exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 12:30 p.m.; bingorama, 2 p.m.

Monday: Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; Sunshine Club, 2:30 p.m.; web browsing, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Just friends, 9 a.m.; book club, 9:30 a.m.; balloon toss, 10:45 a.m.; wildlife film, 1:30 p.m.; getting pretty, 1:30 p.m.; men’s club, 2 p.m.; Halloween movie, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Trivia teasers, 9:45 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; Walmart trip, 12:30 p.m.; pass the prize, 2 p.m.; night bingo, 6 p.m.

Thursday: Puzzler, 9:30 a.m.; bowling, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1 p.m.; travel film, 1:30 p.m.; United Lutheran, 2 p.m.; happy hour with Jim, 2:30 p.m.

Friday: Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; monthly birthday party with Larry, 2 p.m.; comedy movie, 6 p.m.

Saturday: Puzzler/Fill in the Blank, 9:30 a.m.; geri-gym, 10:45 a.m.; social hour, 2 p.m.; classic movie, 6 p.m.

Optalis Healthcare

Kingsford

906-774-4805

The center is open for visitation.

Sunday: Sunday devotional, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; movie/games, 1 p.m.

Monday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; Indigenous People’s Day, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; desserts and conversation, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; National Dessert Day, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; National Pizza Month, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Coffee time, 9 a.m.; history of Halloween, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Bethany Lutheran Church, 2 p.m.; desserts and conversation, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; World Food Day, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; spa day — facials, 1:30 p.m.

Friday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; Doctor Pol, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; October birthday party, 2 pm.

Saturday: Manicures, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; afternoon coffee, 1:30 p.m.

Maryhill Manor Nursing Home

Niagara, Wis.

715-251-3172

Families are allowed to attend activities and are encouraged to join in.

Sunday: Apple cider and resident choice game, 10 a.m.; delivery of communion, 12:30 p.m.; Packer tailgate, 2 p.m.; church service, 2:30 p.m.

Monday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; pamper and polish, 10 a.m.; Halloween Pictionary, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; Yahtzee, 10 a.m.; bowling, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; Protestant service, 10 a.m.; hangman, 10:15 a.m.; jokereno, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Thursday: Rosary, 9 a.m.; Catholic Mass, 9:30 a.m.; Halloween trivia, 10 a.m.; parachute, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3:30 p.m.

Friday: Current events, 10 a.m.; happy hour with Ray and Mindy, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Scrabble, 10 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Northshore Healthcare

Florence, Wis.

715-528-4833

No information was available

Victorian Pines

Iron Mountain

906-774-5158

Sunday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1:30 p.m.

Monday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; trivia and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Friday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: Juice time, 10 a.m.

Pinecrest Medical Care Facility

Powers 906-497-5244

Sunday: Morning visits and reality orientation; bunco, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:15 a.m.; church services, 1:30 p.m.; Sunday funday, 2:30 p.m.; “Sunday Night Football,” 7 p.m.; coloring pages; daily chronicles.

Monday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; “You be the Judge,” 11 a.m.; manicure Monday, 2 p.m.; Bible studies, 3 p.m.; book club, 4 p.m.; “Monday Night Football,” 6:45 p.m.

Tuesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; juice hour/who-what-where, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; garbage, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Wednesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; fall reminiscing, 11 a.m.; matinee movie — “Ghost Busters,” 1:30 p.m.; cribbage, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles, lunch outing

Thursday: Morning visits and reality orientation; bingo/trivia, 10:30 a.m.; Celtic band, 2 p.m.; table talk, 4 p.m.; Thursday night football, 7 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Friday: Morning visits and reality orientation; Catholic Mass, 10:30 a.m.; pondering prompts, 11:15 a. m.; paint and sip, 2 p.m.; book club, 4 p.m.; Friday night movie, “You Gotta Believe,” 6 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Saturday: Morning visits and reality orientation; noodle ball, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 11 a.m.; juice hour, 11 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; one-to-one visits, 3 p.m.; daily chronicles, activity packets. 

SENIOR CENTERS

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Pancakes, hashbrowns, sausage, pears, yogurt.

Wednesday: Cheeseburger, baked fries, baked beans.

Thursday: Celebrating October Birthdays — Baked pork chop, mashed sweet potatoes, peas and carrots, cake.

Breen Center

Kingsford

906-774-5110

Dine-in eating Monday through Thursday at noon, salad bar at 11:30 a.m. Carryout meals are available. Soup and salad bar are also available. Friday and night meals are on hold indefinitely. Menu for the week —

Monday: Scalloped potatoes with ham, vegetable, dinner roll, fruit crumble.

Tuesday: Sloppy Joe with bun, baked macaroni and cheese, sweet potato fries.

Wednesday: Baked fish with vegetable.

Thursday: Barbecue chicken, rice pilaf, baked beans, dinner roll.

Crystal Falls Center

Head Cook: Easton Anderson

Assistant Cooks: Debbie Bigalke and Jess Anderson

906-875-6709

The center is serving meals for dine-in or takeout — call the center by 1 p.m. to make reservations or place an order. All food purchased from local vendors. All dinners include warm vegetables, salad bar, soup, homemade desserts, coffee, tea or milk. Salad bar begins at 4:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. Pickup for takeout meals is 4 p.m. — call ahead and leave a message with a phone number. Deliveries to homebound citizens only. Menu for the week —

Monday: Cabbage rolls, dinner rolls.

Tuesday: Hard- or soft-shell tacos, rice, beans.

Wednesday: Meatloaf, garlic potatoes.

Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency

DICSA

Iron Mountain

906-774-2256, ext. 230 or 235

This is a Meals on Wheels program only. Home-delivered meals only — call to make arrangements. Menu for the week —

Monday: Swedish meatballs, buttered noodles, California blend vegetables, dinner roll

Tuesday: Hearty pork stew, pickled beets, dinner roll.

Wednesday: Unstuffed pepper bowl, corn, biscuit.

Thursday: Celebrating all October birthdays — Smothered pork chop, roasted potatoes, dill carrots, cake.

Friday: Chicken and dressing sandwich, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables.

Note: All meals include a choice of skim milk, juice, or no beverage.

For more information, call Christine McMahon at 906-774-2256.

Crystal Lake Center

Iron Mountain

906-828-1776

Schedule for the week:

Monday: Les Artistes art club, noon to 3 p.m.; woodcarvers, starting at 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Cards — Pinochle and cribbage, noon to 4 p.m.; Happy Quilters, noon to 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Bingo, 1 to 3 p.m.; cards cost 25 cents with 10 games played.

Thursday: Spinning Spools quilting, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; board games, 1 to 3 p.m.

Friday: Cards — Smear, noon to 4 p.m.; chess, noon.

Felch Center

906-246-3559

Monday: Mock cabbage roll casserole, applesauce, dinner roll.

Tuesday: Italian turkey and dressing sandwiches, coleslaw, chips.

Wednesday: Evening Meal — Pot roast, potatoes and carrots.

Aging and Disability Resource Center

Florence County, Wis.

715-528-4890

Menu for the week —

Monday: Breakfast taco (scrambled eggs, sausage, onion, cheese, tortilla), diced oven potatoes, cranberry juice, fruit.

Tuesday: All centers closed today for staff training.

Wednesday: Turkey and dressing sandwiches, mashed sweet potatoes, roasted Brussel sprouts, apple pie.

Thursday: Chicken corn chowder, cornbread, tomato and cucumber salad, fruit.

Friday: Fish sandwich, sweet potato fries, baked beans, broccoli salad, fruit.

Note: All meals served with whole grain bread, butter and milk.

Aurora-Hillcrest Dining Center

Serving at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. For reservations, call 715-589-4491.

Florence Community Center

Serving at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday. For reservations, call 715-528-4261.

Fence Town Hall

Serving at noon Wednesday only. For reservations, call 715-589-4491.

Tipler Town Hall

Serving at noon on second Thursday only. For reservations, call 715-528-4261.

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Barb Peters

906-498-7735

Center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meals are served through the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency in Escanaba. Meals-On-Wheels program is available for those who are homebound.

Monday: Sloppy Joes on a whole-wheat hamburger bun, tater tots, corn, tropical fruit.

Tuesday: Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, pineapple tidbits, whole wheat bread.

Wednesday: Baked turkey crunch, herb mashed potatoes, green peas, whole wheat bread, fruit cocktail.

Thursday: Hamburger stew, sweet potato tater tots, biscuit, warm applesauce.

Friday: Chicken fettuccine Alfredo, vegetable, side salad with cheese and tomato, whole wheat breadstick, warm cinnamon peaches.

Milk served at every meal.

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Salad bar opens at 11:30 a.m., with the meal served at noon a.m. No night meals are available. Meals can be prepared for carryout.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Swedish meatballs, buttered noodles, California blend vegetables, dinner roll.

Tuesday: Pancakes, sausage, hashbrowns, pears, yogurt.

Wednesday: Boiled dinner, biscuit, applesauce.

Thursday: Chicken Alfredo over fettuccine, broccoli, garlic bread, cookies

All meals are served with choice of skim milk or juice and fruit.

Norway Center

Director: Alicia Rochon

906-563-8716

Dine-in eating begins at 11:30 a.m. Salad bar available from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Takeout meals are available for pick-up from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m. hose attending should let staff know in advance if planning to dine in or picking up the meal.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Shepherd pie with mixed vegetables and a biscuit, cranberry sauce, tropical blend vegetables, cookie.

Tuesday: Sloppy Joes, fries, baked beans.

Wednesday: 4 p.m. meal — Roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots.

Thursday: Spaghetti with sausage, garlic bread, cauliflower, Mandarin oranges, pudding.

Board meeting on Thursday.

Center activity schedule:

Mondays and Thursdays — Exercise at 10 a.m. and card bingo after the meal.

Monday through Thursday — Card game 101 from noon to 3 p.m. Call Joe at 906-563-5587 for information.

Tuesdays — Quilting and sewing.

Wednesdays — Ceramics and crocheting.

Last Monday of each month — Book club at 9 a.m.

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

Now open for dine-in eating. Dine-in meal is $5. Takeout meal is $6. Reservations are required. Call 906-542-3273 and specify if you want to dine in or take out. Come and enjoy a meal with us — all are welcome — any age. Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Boneless ribs, twice-baked potatoes.

Wednesday: Chicken Caesar wraps.

Thursday: Tater tot casserole.

A fall color tour bus ride will take place on Monday. Call 906-221-1332 or see Nancy or Monica if interested in taking the tour.