April 21, 2008

Addictive game has a funny name

By Roy Mitchell

CENTRE — There's an invasion underway in the South. This time, the occupation isn't as destructive as Sherman's March, nor as historical as Eisenhower's conquest at Normandy. It will not be as memorable as the Beatle-induced British Invasion either, but be assured, something new is making its way to Dixie. In fact, it's already here.

What's invading the South is “cornhole.” Cornhole is a game that appears to be sweeping through the heartland, headed to your neighborhood. Though cornhole's rules lend one to believe that it is simply an easier version of horseshoes, addicts can't seem to stop raving about their game.

Much like the stalks of the vegetable that make up its name, cornhole has branched out far beyond its origins near the banks of the Ohio River. American Cornhole Association President Michael D. Whitton exclaims on www.playcornhole.org that “the game is spreading to every state.”

In fact, the ACA itself has over 16,000 members. Cornhole leagues and tournaments have sprouted from Pennsylvania to San Diego. There is even a Cornhole World Championship in South Webster, Ohio. For those who don't have South Webster in their vacation plans, the ACA allows players to compete against cornholers across the country by registering their scores online.

Cornhole is a simple game from the Midwest, originating in the streets and parking lots of Cincinnati. In this habit-forming contest, players take turns pitching small bags, filled with corn kernels, at a 4 ft. by 2 ft. platform. The platform, raised a foot at its rear, has a hole six inches in diameter near the uppermost side, furthest away from the player.

During matches the platforms are placed 33 ft. apart, hole-to-hole. Players alternate tossing their four bags the entire distance, using all bags before a score is tallied. A bag in the hole counts three points, while one on the platform counts one. The first team or individual to reach 21 points wins the game.

“One of the best things about the cornhole game is the ease with which it can be played,” said Dave Roth, who peddles cornhole accessories on the Internet. “The rules are not complex, making the game something that can be enjoyed by anyone, young or old, at any skill level.”

A slough of sites on the web can ship cornhole platforms and bags in practically any color or design imaginable. Cornhole T-shirts, hats, hooded sweatshirts, stickers, mugs, and even cornhole baby clothes are just a click away on the Web. Ordering a cornhole set off the Internet may cost in the vicinity of $100.

Roth said if the price isn't right, there are other alternatives.

“People can also make their own cornhole boards and cornhole sets,” he said. “There are plans available on the Internet for almost everyone to use. The cornhole board can be made quite easily with a few simple tools by someone with only a moderate level of skill.”

A further testament to cornhole's popularity comes in form of a YouTube download, called “The Cornhole Song.” What testifies to the game's rising passion isn't necessarily the words sang by cornhole enthusiasts Rhett and Link, but in the staggering number of times this tune has been viewed -- over 174,000 as of April 18. This three-minute cornhole music video is almost as catchy as the game it lauds, including such lyrics as, “You've got to try it before you knock it,” and “There's a void in my soul/shaped like a cornhole.”

Though this cornhole craze may have reached maniacal levels in the Midwest, could it possibly become an essential part of Dixie's recreation? The secret to the spread of the cornhole invasion is the Southerner's love for football.

Cornhole infiltration of the Southern culture manifests itself outside college football stadiums, mostly among tailgaters. Tailgating cornhole groupies only need minimal materials and room to play. The game was spotted this past season at both Alabama and Georgia games.

“There are pockets of interest in the South,” said Roth. “In these areas, the individuals who like to play the cornhole game will bring their game boards and the bags to tailgate parties.” Roth continues, “They predict that the game will one day be big enough to be televised like bowling and other activities.”

Cornhole mania can travel anywhere its fervent fan base wants to take it. And that distance may be surprisingly far for a simple game with just eight bags, two boards, and two holes.