"Cars 3" not only becomes Pixar's animated tribute to stock-car racing, but it represents a return to the emotional core of the original 2006 film. Before describing the plot about humanized cars, Route 66 aficionados should know the fictional town of Radiator Springs makes several appearances in "Cars 3," along with the town's original characters … Continue reading Movie review: ‘Cars 3’
Category: Sports
Book review: “The 1928 Bunion Derby”
Before going in-depth with this review of James R. Powell's "The 1928 Bunion Derby," prospective customers should know right away it is not a turn-by-turn guidebook to the infamous 3,423-mile Trans-American Footrace from Los Angeles to New York City -- much of it on Route 66. In short, it's about one-third of that. It's easy … Continue reading Book review: “The 1928 Bunion Derby”
Basketball Museum of Illinois gets green light in Pontiac
A museum devoted to all forms of basketball in the state of Illinois will open in Pontiac by late 2017 or 2018, it was announced this week. The Basketball Museum of Illinois, curated by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, will occupy a closed Kmart store on Vermillion Square, next to old Route 66 on the … Continue reading Basketball Museum of Illinois gets green light in Pontiac
Restaurant opens at site of long-forgotten miniature golf course
The owners of the Puttin'-A-Round in Miami, Oklahoma, hadn't planned to put a restaurant there, but as they began to tear down the former doors-and-windows store, they changed their plans for a mini-storage business. Larry and Sue Smith of nearby Picher, Oklahoma, told the Miami News Record they bought the property at 725 N. Main … Continue reading Restaurant opens at site of long-forgotten miniature golf course
Woman cycles Route 66 in 23 days
A Pennsylvania native recently cycled the entire 2,451-mile length of Route 66 in 23 days, averaging more than 100 miles a day in the process. Danielle Girdano reputedly is a world record for cycling Route 66, but I've found nothing in any sort of reputable record book, including Guinness, about it. The old record reportedly was … Continue reading Woman cycles Route 66 in 23 days
44-year-old man wins Route 66 Marathon
Score one for the over-40 crowd. Jason Butler, 44, of Oklahoma City not only set a state record for 40-and-older runners in a marathon, but he won the 11th annual Route 66 Marathon outright Sunday in 2 hours, 35 minutes and 45 seconds -- beating the runner-up by six minutes, reported the Tulsa World. Butler, … Continue reading 44-year-old man wins Route 66 Marathon
Cubs win first World Series in 108 years
The Cubs no longer are a punchline. For decades, the Chicago Cubs baseball team served as an ultimate example of sports futility. After winning a World Series title in 1908 -- one of several during a very successful decade -- the Cubs and their fan base endured a series of bad trades, bad ownership and bad … Continue reading Cubs win first World Series in 108 years
Joplin will officially revive Mother Road Marathon
Thanks to action by the Joplin, Missouri, City Council, the Mother Road Marathon officially will be resurrected in the tri-state region Oct. 1, 2017. The council on Monday night gave final approval to a licensing deal that will allow local race organizer Tom Rogers of Twelveone Race Management to revive the 26.2-mile footrace that begins in northeastern Oklahoma, goes … Continue reading Joplin will officially revive Mother Road Marathon
Vin Scully calls it a career
Sunday marked the last major-league game by Los Angeles Dodgers play-by-play announcer Vin Scully after 67 seasons behind the booth. The Dodgers made the playoffs, but Scully, 88, insisted his last game before retiring would be a regular-season one. So a 7-1 Dodgers loss Sunday at San Francisco was the finale. Here are a few Scully highlights from … Continue reading Vin Scully calls it a career
Joplin may resurrect Mother Road Marathon
Joplin may revive the Mother Road Marathon -- a 26.2-mile footrace through parts of Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri discontinued in 2013 after declining participation and complaints about its promoter. Tom Rogers of TwelveOne Race Management and Marketing in Joplin, who helps run 35 events a year, wants permission from the city council to use its license for the copyrighted name, data … Continue reading Joplin may resurrect Mother Road Marathon