Editors Note: Steve and the Tank have off today for the All-Star break, so guest blogger Kevin McCall visited the Sports Museum of America and posted about it here.
If you live on Long Island like me it's very likely that you live hours away from the nearest sports hall of fame. For this reason, I recommend visiting the new Sports Museum of America during your next trip into Downtown New York City. Opening on 26 Broadway two months ago as part of a restoration of Lower Manhattan, the Sports Museum of America is the only museum in the U.S. to encompass all the sports Americans love. It was created in partnership with over 50 individual sport hall of fames, which donated artifacts to the museum. Each room is dedicated to one particular sport and equipped with computers linked to archives for the sport as well as televisions that show highlights of each moment that made fans stand up and cheer. They further enhance the experience by putting you inside the game, and also help educate the casual fan.
My visit began in the Immersion theater where I viewed a ten minute presentation highlighting some of the great moments in various sports. I then entered into the first exhibit, the Heisman Gallery the largest room in the entire museum. This is the new home of the Heisman Trophy, college football's top honor. Photos and biographies of all the past winners are shown on the wall. It's a little over done, but that's expected because it was a big reason for the museum's construction in the first place. The award winning ceremony will now take place at this location.
The next room honors all athletes who have thrived on the world's biggest stage, the Olympics. Medals won by track star Jesse Owens and world class swimmer Michael Phelps lie behind a glass case. Cubicles with items from the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" as well as the 1992 "Dream Team" can be viewed.
The following part of the museum was my personal favorite, the baseball exhibit. The sound of hardwood hitting a baseball and shouts from a vendor could be heard in the background, which kind of grew on me after a while. I snuck a picture of the World Series trophy, taking it with the camera on my cell phone, which is most likely the only way you will walk out with a photo of anything in the museum. An interactive experience allowed me to try different pitching grips on baseballs such as the knukleball thrown by Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield. Bats used by Seattle Mariners leadoff hitter Ichiro Suzuki and slugger Ken Griffey Jr. could be picked up. Displays included artifacts from the first women's softball league and the Negro League are also included.
The basketball room is more small and narrow than the others, but includes memorabilia from major basketball cities such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and of course, New York. Large college basketball exhibits highlight the rivalry between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils.
The room dedicated to soccer contains the most secular items, some of which are pretty out there. The sports bra worn by Brandi Chastain in the 1999 Women's FIFA World Cup is one of them. The article of clothing became famous when Chastain threw her shirt off in celebration of her game winning goal against China that sealed the title for the U.S. Golf clubs used by all the greats from Sam Sneed to Tiger Woods are displayed in the golf exhibit. The tennis section contains rackets used by greats such as Andre Agassi and Billie Jean King. The auto racing section is largely dedicated to Dale Earnhardt as the infamous number 3 on his race car is displayed in a case especially for him. The inside setup of an old car used by NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon can be viewed. The museum did not forget about the fans of extreme sports. Most artifacts in this area are from the collection of skateboarding mogul Tony Hawk. X games medals are displayed in a case with snowboards and bicycle handle bars.
Next are the hockey and football rooms. The hockey experience allows people to put their head inside a goalie mask and view different shots. I found the commentary by Mike Richter unnecessary and annoying, but it gives you a great perspective on just how fast the puck comes at the goaltenders in the game. Any New York Giants fan will especially appreciate the case honoring this past Super Bowl.
Along with the trophy is the helmet worn by wide receiver David Tyree when he made his drive saving catch to propel the Giants to the game winning touchdown and ending the hopes of a complete undefeated season for the New England Patriots. I stared in awe for a few minutes at the visible marks the football left on the helmet!!
The final few rooms of the museum honored those athletes who defined an era. They excelled in more than just their sport, but in overcoming racial discrimination barriers and paving the way for social revolution in America. The achievements of Jackie Robinson, Billie Jean King, and Roberto Clemente are honored among others.
Finally, the museum commemorates the common folk who have made the sports industry as large as it is today, the fans. Through private donations, the museum has accumulated a collection of cards, pins, hats, and jackets representing various players and teams. Broadcasters are also honored in this area, as microphones and other artifacts from ABC Sports are on display. This section also includes a fantastic experience in which I had the opportunity to play a broadcaster and make up my own call for a great moment in sports!!
Overall, the Sports Museum is a phenomenal place in which fans of all sports can interact, relive the defining moments, and view a wide variety of memorabilia. I recommend it for someone who isn't a sports fan at all, for they will still be amazed by the courage and determination of those represented in the Hall of Halls. Admission is
$27 for adults (ages 15-59) and $20 for children (4-14). Children under 4 are free while students with current identification and senior citizens can enter for a discount of $24. If you find it too expensive to visit the museum, stop by the store next to the entrance. Sports nuts can purchase numerous merchandise for their favorite sports and teams at a discounted price. For more information, visit www.sportsmuseum.com.