Once upon a time, way back in 1972, a hockey fan named Bob Lemieux invented the game of air hockey. Not content to just watch the sport he loved so well, he came up with a way to emulate his sport in the comfort of his own home. Not bad for a brawny jock, right?

According to some sources, however, a team of 3 engineers (Phil Crossman, Bob Kenrick, and Brad Baldwin) who were also employed by Brunswick Billiards worked out invented the game back around 1969, and many consider them to be the fathers of the game

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No matter who invented the game, fans everywhere are indebted to them. Without their creativity, air hockey tables would not grace campus rec rooms, bowling alleys, church youth centers or roller rinks around the world. Frankly, a lot of teens, their parents, and adults to love to play are grateful.

Air hockey is a fun, exciting, fast-paced game that people from all over the globe enjoy. It was a game that caught on like wildfire “ people were starting leagues as early as 1973, and air hockey mania swept across the nation.

In an attempt to legitimize the game, the USAA (United States Air-Table Hockey Association) was founded in 1975. The association was formed largely to come up with a set of rules for tournament play.

The game seems to be most popular in the United States, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Catalonia, a part of Spain. This popularilty is evidenced by the fact that players from these countries have won or placed in various air hockey tournaments since 1978.

This transfer of a professional sport to a games table is not new. Foosball tables echo Pro soccer. Players are in control of 4 rods with attached plastic soccer players. Spinning or turning the rods allows the player to hit the ball (about the size of a ping-pong ball) towards the goal. This table obviously echoes professional soccer in more ways than one.

Basketball has also been imitated and re-invented for the home. Not only can you get a tabletop basketball game to shoot hoops, you can get almost any size hoop to shoot your trash into the trashcan, your laundry into the hamper, or your rubber ducky into the tub basket.

While some sports retain their equipment when making the transition to home play (pool tables and ping-pong come to mind here), the point is that people like to play their favorite sports “ in any way they can. And, since imitation is a form of flattery, bringing your favorite pro games home to play shows the importance of these games in our society.

Many people may not realize that games tables like air hockey tables were invented for love of the original game. It’s not really necessary to know, but it sure does make it more interesting. Just let me know ahead of time if someone comes up with a way to have a round of quidditch in the basement. I’ll get my broom ready!
Labels:people, games, players, United States, table, tables, hockey, invented, soccer, sport, air hockey, ping pong, soccer players, hockey tables, air hockey tables

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