Thank you, Veterans!

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

- Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence 

Chances are if you are reading this, you have chosen to pursue happiness through co-ed adult recreational sports. We're all fortunate enough to live in a country that holds these values at its foundation and allows us the freedom to spend our time playing kids games and sharing laughs. But these unalienable rights don't come without a cost. Without the brave men and women who answer the nation's call and join the Armed Forces, we would not be able to keep these liberties secure. Many of these patriots are among us in our kickball, bowling, and volleyball leagues. So, on this Veterans Day, I want to take a moment to personally thank each individual by name.

(Many of these names were gathered by captains, so if we missed anyone, please let me know and I'll gladly update the list.) 

Name	Teams	Branch of Service
Carl Grant	Jiminy Kick-It	US Air Force
Corey Buran	PBJT	US Air Force
Ebby Bryce	Balls & Splits	US Air Force
Ed Aaron	Bad News Beers, Pitches Love Bunkbeds, Evil Empire	US Air Force
Eric Cosma	WAKA'm To The Jungle, Pitches Love Bunkbeds	US Air Force
George Arnett	Balls & Dolls	US Air Force
Jacquelyn Gausemel	Bad News Beers	US Air Force
Jared Cook	Dirty Diamonds' Diggers	US Air Force
Jennifer O'Shaughnessy	Pop Pop	US Air Force
Jess Yelkovich	Foot Clan, Chewblocka, Bowly McBowlface	US Air Force
Justin Gard	Menace	US Air Force
Justine Sumrell	Rumspringa Slingas	US Air Force
Ryan Dodge	PBJT	US Air Force
Sonya Bryce	Balls & Splits	US Air Force
Stacy Deibel	Balls & Splits, Peanut Butter Jelly Time	US Air Force
Anthony Williams	Night Sweats	US Army
Bill Wyman	Kicks R For Kids	US Army
Brent Wentworth	Spoiler Alert, Cardiac Arrest, Trick Shotz	US Army
Chad Donnell	Jiminy Kick-It	US Army
Chris Peaden	Hot Dogs & Tacos	US Army
Dan Mackey	Balls & Splits	US Army
Erin Miller	Fireballs	US Army
Gregory Russell	Jiminy Kick-It	US Army
Jason Finkel	Rumspringa	US Army
Jeremy Smithey	Hot Dogs & Tacos, Gucci Dolphins	US Army
Matt Brian	Fireballs	US Army
Teddy Phillips	Chaotic KILFs	US Army
Terrell McClain	Foot Clan	US Army
Tim Trimble	Fireballs	US Army
Bill Stark	Here for the Beer	US Coast Guard
Chris James	Here for the Beer	US Coast Guard
Christopher Tanner	Peanut Butter Jelly Time	US Coast Guard
Crystal Tanner	WTF	US Coast Guard
Joe Lombard	Here for the Beer	US Coast Guard
John Collins	Here for the Beer	US Coast Guard
Justin Berman	Here for the Beer	US Coast Guard
Kacper Jesiotr	For Shots & Kicks	US Coast Guard
Kathryn Montgomery	WTF, Pop Pop, Gucci Dolphins	US Coast Guard
Kevin Peffer	Here for the Beer	US Coast Guard
Lee Curier	Here for the Beer	US Coast Guard
Noell Bolleurs	Here for the Beer	US Coast Guard
Rob Kroll	Bad News Beers, Foot Clan	US Coast Guard
Rob McQeary	Here for the Beer	US Coast Guard
Ryan Brandquist	Resting Pitch Face	US Coast Guard
Sammie Edger	Here for the Beer	US Coast Guard
Sarah Geoffrion	Here for the Beer	US Coast Guard
Steven Andrzejewski	Here for the Beer	US Coast Guard
Anthony Leevy	Chaotic KILFs	US Marine Corp
Cory Shackleton	For Shots & Kicks	US Marine Corp
Jimmy Wilcox	DCOMB, Pitches Love Bunkbeds	US Marine Corp
Justin Baldwin	Jiminy Kick-It	US Marine Corp
Ricky Macken	Gucci Dolphins	US Marine Corp
Tim Nellis	WAKA'm To The Jungle, Kicks & Giggles	US Marine Corp
Aaron Fuller	For Shots & Kicks	US Navy
Alex Rodeck	For Shots & Kicks	US Navy
Andrew Burgmeier	Blurred Lanes, Five Toe Death Kick	US Navy
Brad Gault	Five Toe Death Kick, Breaking Brad, Fresh Prince	US Navy
Brandon Williams	Kung Fu Pandas	US Navy
Brian Carey	Spoiler Alert	US Navy
Brian Williams	Gucci Dolphins	US Navy
Bryan Horton	Balls & Dolls, Breaking Brad	US Navy
Casey Bates	For Shots & Kicks	US Navy
Chloe Chhuop	Alcoballics	US Navy
Chris D'Ambra	Kung Fu Pandas	US Navy
Daniel Putnam	Kung Fu Pandas	US Navy
Devin Englehart	Kung Fu Pandas	US Navy
Dustin Vaughan	Gucci Dolphins	US Navy
Eric Major	Forcing Third Base	US Navy
Erin Small	Spoiler Alert, Foul Balls	US Navy
James Loriol	WTF, Kung Fu Pandas	US Navy
Jeff Bonneville	Blurred Lanes	US Navy
Jeff Shildt	Resting Pitch Face	US Navy
Jeremiah Edwards	Jiminy Kick-It	US Navy
Jesus Rosales	Fireballs, Kicks & Giggles	US Navy
Joey Estes	Kicks R For Kids	US Navy
Jose Fabila	Pop Pop, Chaotic KILFs	US Navy
Josh Carr	Night Sweats, Pop Pop, Volley My Balls	US Navy
Justen Wullenwaber	Balls & Dolls, Breaking Brad	US Navy
Karen Bunch	Balls & Dolls	US Navy
Kaylee Zapata	DCOMB, Pop Pop	US Navy
Kevin Ramirez	Gucci Dolphins	US Navy
Manny Zapata	DCOMB, Pop Pop	US Navy
Marc Kelly	Fireballs	US Navy
Matt Miller	For Shots & Kicks	US Navy
Matt Patnode	Kicks R For Kids	US Navy
Matt Tunin	Kung Fu Pandas	US Navy
Nick Figueroa	Kicks R For Kids	US Navy
Nikki LeBlanc	DCOMB	US Navy
Parker Stanley	Kung Fu Pandas	US Navy
Richard Virgil	Balls & Dolls	US Navy
Rio Caras	Kung Fu Pandas	US Navy
Roy Sims	For Shots & Kicks	US Navy
Ryan Kiel	Kicks R For Kids	US Navy
Sean Connelly	Kicks R For Kids	US Navy
Sean Kristofer	Public Enemy	US Navy
Shellee Morris	For Shots & Kicks	US Navy
Stephanie Bitant	Public Enemy	US Navy
Stephanie Favela	For Shots & Kicks	US Navy
Steve Glenn	Peanut Butter Jelly Time, Bowlseye	US Navy
Terry Patterson	Kicks R For Kids	US Navy
Will Menzies	Gucci Dolphins, Hot Dogs & Tacos, Breaking Brad	US Navy
Yanitza Borrero	Blurred Lanes	US Navy
Zack Roberts	Kung Fu Pandas	US Navy

When you see these awesome vets, give them a high five, buy them a beer, and thank them for their service! You are all appreciated!

Happy Veterans Day! 

Happy and Hoodied

Baby it’s cold outside…well almost.  This week’s WAKA Wednesday Fashion Blog is about a clothing item many of us take for granted.  We throw it on when we need it most and toss it when we are through, but yet it is still always there for us.   We are talking about one of the most universally unisex pieces of clothing that exists, and probably carries the most memories for you throughout the years, as you may have bought your favorite one at a concert, sports event, or maybe even the last time you went grocery shopping.  The one, the only… the sweatshirt, which is also sometimes referred to as a hoodie!

Although this superb garment can be dated back to the Medieval Europe, where monks rocked out their hoodies to show their devout religious reverence through their distinguished attire, the actual first hooded sweatshirt was produced by Champion in the 1930s, and primarily marketed to those workers in upstate New York who had to endure freezing temperatures.  

Later the hoodie itself created an impact on the fashion culture in the 1970s through the development of the Hip-Hop culture and was most emblematic and easily recognized in the film Rocky. 

The rise of the hoodies continued to grow throughout the 1990s as it not only became relevant as an academic symbol, but also thrived as a trend through the Western US, and is a huge staple in pretty much every American’s wardrobe today.

This clothing item is A+++ in my grade book for fashion expertise.  Not only do you get the comfort of throwing it on, and going out the door without a care, but you also get to show your spirit on your sleeve, whatever way that may be.  Sometimes, it may even come naturally.

Other times we use sweatshirts as a form of showing your affection for someone, especially on dates.

http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/9u4

So as we embrace this wonderful Fall weather, think about what your next sweatshirt will be.  Here are some ideas if you don’t have a favorite team, beloved band, or just need sweatshirt inspiration.

Most of all when you wear your favorite piece of fall attire, make sure you are having fun, and are with friends doing your favorite thing.  Fall in love with Fall, and don’t forget your favorite sweatshirt.

I Logo Therefore I Am

Logos, logos, and more logos! Where should I begin?  Every great team, franchise, or brand has a recognizable logo that helps with not only marketing, but also affiliation and recognition.  This week
WAKA Fashion is focusing on logos.  In fact, some of the best teams in the league have some pretty phenomenal logos.  Here are some of the most recognized from Smoking Bunts, Foul Balls, and Hot Dogs and Tacos.

Even if your team does not have a logo yet, don’t feel bad.  Some of the most famous logos were created by accident, so that means you still have time to think of yours, or stumble upon an amazing idea to represent yourselves. In fact, Gerald Holtom, who invented the peace sign, started this well-known symbol as a self-portrait.

Other recognizable logos, like the CBS logo, created by William Golden, were made simply by happenstance as he proved this in basically ripping off 19^th Century religious drawings.  

So if you do want to get creative with yours, now that you know you would be that much more awesome for doing so, you can check out these well-known logos for inspiration on your creative flair process.   Here you can see hidden symbols creating self-advertisements for the following brands:

Baskin Robbins number 31 in the logo represents its own the 31 delicious flavors.

Fed Ex has a hidden arrow between the E and x to represent the speed of delivery.

The Tostitos logo was created from two people sharing a chip and a bowl of salsa.

Now these logos weren’t just created overnight, so don’t beat yourself up if you can’t think of one right away.  There is a creative thought process involved that is known as the Logo evolution.  To prove this, the Nike “Swoosh” has one of the best stories in evolvement as the design was created in 1971 by Carolyn Davidson, who was a graphic design student at Portland State University.  As she was approached to provide design ideas at the time for a rate of $2 per hour, she submitted a total bill of $35 for her work on the logo, and was also given a gold Swoosh ring and an envelope filled with Nike stock as well.  Not too shabby.

The Nike SWOOSH logo itself represents the wing in the famous statue of the Greek Goddess of victory, Nike, who was the source of inspiration for many great and courageous warriors. According to legends, a Greek would say, “When we go to battle and win, we say it is Nike.” Originally, the mark was referred to as ‘the strip’ but was later changed to ‘Swoosh’ to describe the fibers used in Nike shoes. In the spring of 1972, the first shoe with the Nike SWOOSH Logo was introduced; thus, the evolution of Nike.  What will your inspiration be?

Overall, I think more teams in the league should get in on the logo bandwagon, as it has proven to not only provide comradery amongst teammates, but also create a distinguished recognition for that team that can’t be missed.  So moral of the story is, get your flair up so we don’t have to talk about this anymore.