A thriving and bustling city just north of the nation’s capital, Silver Spring was literally named after the glittering silver of mica in a fresh water spring. The convenience of the location, combined with natural beauty has continued to carry the town to a level of both financial and political success today. The town’s love of sports is exemplified in every day life through their intense youth organizations and camps that focus on football, baseball, soccer and rugby. Pretty much everywhere you look there are games and scoreboards for this varied sports city.
Francis Blair along with Elizabeth, his daughter, found the spring in a tucked away area. It was glittering with natural mica, a mineral that flakes easily, and became the mesmerizing view that affected their decision to establish a settlement. Three families in total built mansions and homes in the area and successive generations became many contributing members of politics and high government positions.
The idea of sponsors for a sports game is not new. Since the first baseball was thrown out, there has always been a local business that wanted their name or logo on a sign to show the support of the community. Today, however, we have entered the world of high resolution, instantaneous updates via the electronic scoreboards and every sports team manager and school is seeing dollar signs for the marketing opportunity of scoreboard signage.
Just when we thought that we were successfully over the H1N1 flu scare, we now receive reports from AP (Associated Press) that there is a new flu: H5N1. This is another avian flu virus that seems to have topped in 2006 in around sixty three countries. The fall and winter seasons are the times when flu viruses thrive, and so we are being warned about H5N1.
Apparently the new H5N1 virus is a mutated strain from its original version. The confirmed deaths of 331 people since the 2003 time frame is nothing to joke about, and, as you guessed it, the new strain is resistant to any vaccines currently available. The countries in most immediate danger of an outbreak are Vietnam and China. This virulent virus attacks the upper respiratory system of the victims and can result in death.
Virginia Beach is an incredibly fun place. The beauty of this city is complimented by a pristine beach and cultural delights. The climate of the area is subtropical, with mild winters and warm summers. It is home to the Virginia Beach Sportsplex that hosts a variety of soccer and hockey games. Soccer scoreboards are alight with colors of the teams and attendance for the games is usually to a packed house. You would think that this type of perfection would have made the city a booming metropolis from the start, but Virginia Beach had a slow and methodical beginning.
Huntington is a city blended with the rich history of the past combined with the excellence of today’s modern town. The atheletic department of Marshall University is the most grounding factor for sports in the area. The Big Sandy Superstore Arena boasts one of the best indoor football stadiums in the country. High tech football scoreboards, plenty of seats for the fans.
Huntington has its roots and history well founded in the railroad. The original settlement of around 1775 was known as Holderby’s Landing. This was a very small town however it was known for their normal school, Marshall College. This school became the springboard for the future of the area, with a focus on education and advancement.
Many of us might view Atlanta, Georgia from the various well known movies. Home of the southern devotion in the civil war, with a history of slavery, towering mansions and Spanish moss covered trees blowing in the wind. But Atlanta is so much more than that and, in the last fifty years, has grown to be a major business and sports focus in the country. Atlanta proudly claims some of the best teams in the country and this is reflected in the highest quality stadiums and fields. They are especially proud of their basketball team and this is reflected in the excellence of game attendance and their basketball scoreboards.
Chesapeake is a relatively new city. Formed in 1963 with the official name, and known as one of Virginia Beach and Norfolk’s bedroom communities, the area is highly prized for its natural beauty. Chesapeake is also home to a part of what is known as the Great Dismal Swamp, as well as many historic landmarks. The development of Chesapeake has focused on the protection of nature and their history and has given the area the listing as one of the best cities in the United States. As such, it is also not surprising that Chespeake has some of the most avid sports fans in the country as well. It is apparent that a good amount of the budget has been given to the recreation center to maintain the many fields and venues for softball, basketball, tennis, swimming and the baseball scoreboards.
Columbia, Maryland is a newer city and was designed with one purpose in mind: the desire to create an environment without religious or racial problems or segregation of the classes. A Utopian dream that springboarded the success of the Columbia of today. Famed for their indoor and outdoor tennis courts, Columbia boasts some of the most highly attended tennis games in the country. Ice skating is also popular with the residents and they have an incredible array of rinks. They are the proud home of the Goodfellas basketball team and every game is decked out with team colors and the latest in high tech basketball scoreboards attention.
The area we now know as Greenville Mississippi is actually the third city that is called by that name. During the establishment, history, destruction and rebirth, the people of Greenville never let their city die. This is the same attitude the people of Greenville have today and they approach everything they do with that same sense of dignity. Pride in their city is also seen in the Mississippi Miracles. Their famed basketball team brings packed crowds to every game and the basketball scoreboards lend an air of excitement to the town. They are also firmly entrenched in the American tradition of baseball and this is evident at every game at Greenville Municipal Stadium.
The City of Wheeling in West Virginia has one of the most striking historic skylines which is both welcoming and lends to a level of deep respect. Home to the Wheeling Convention, this modest city was the springboard to the development of West Virginia as a U.S. State. Wheeling is also home to some of the most avid sports fans around. A visitor can see the blend of historic with the new parks and recreation areas. Sporting games of all types are played, and baseball seems to be the most popular. Games are attended by the people of Wheeling, cheering their favorite team as they watch the baseball scoreboards with eager anticipation. The plans for the Wheeling Sports Complex has created controversy between sports fans and the history of their beloved town.
