Luke Judge

Air hockey games were something my family loved for numerous years. I remember when my dad first got my siblings and I an air hockey game. We were elated. We played it for hours at a time. Of course, this was before there was a Wii, Super Nintendo, X-Box or the like.

We loved the air hockey game. My dad would play with us and even my mom would get in on a match or 2 . I can honestly look back and say that several of my most treasured memories from my adolescence include the air hockey game and our family tournaments.

This past Christmas I got an air hockey game for my family. I have two sons and one girl. Initially my wife was somewhat uncertain with us buying an air hockey table, she figured our daughter would dislike it and our boys would dominate it. I must say, I had those identical concerns.

After a lot of discussion we decided to get the air hockey game and establish some family policies. We made it a family pastime and not something just for my two boys. They were thrilled with the proposal because they assumd that my wife and daughter would be easy to beat. Wow, were they mistaken.

I told the boys that air hockey was a sport of speed, alertness and reactions, not a game of force and muscle. They didn’t listen and after my wife and daughter beat them soundly for weeks, they finally took the hint and stopped with the power shots and began to concentrate more on swiftness.

My whole family plays the air hockey game and laughs and has an awesome time. It’s just like when I was a youngster. The standard amount of heckling is taken care of at the time they are made. Although the mockery is just as much part of the reason we laugh as the sport itself. We keep the opposition friendly and make it a family event.

When we havea family match, my wife goes over the top with the snack. She makes the kids believe they are in a genuine competition and they need to eat and drink to stay quick-witted. My sons always eat a lot but they eat like grown men on air hockey game nights. My daughter even eats somewhat more than average (so as opposed to eating like a bird she eats like a large bird).

If any family is considering an air hockey game for their house, I would highly recommend it. The air hockey games made now are much better in quality and are just as much amusement as they were when I was a adolescent.

I purchased my air hockey game over the internet and got the best deal on it. I plan to get one for my brother’s kids this Christmas so they can have fun too. My brother thought the idea was great when I initial brought it up and his wife was on board immediately after chatting with my wife.

There are not a lot of things that bring our family together. We all have on the go lifestyles and assorted interests. Our family air hockey game tournaments without doubt bring us all together. If you’re all set for family amusement and some friendly competition you’re prepared for an air hockey game.

Article Source: Air Hockey Game – Enjoyable for the Entire Family

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Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan accepts players walk a fine line when it comes to tough tackling – but maintains there was no malice in Ryan Shawcross’ leg-breaking challenge on Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

The 19-year-old Welshman is likely to be sidelined for several months after breaking his tibia and fibula in a clash with Shawcross which saw the Stoke centre-back sent off during the 3-1 defeat at Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has condemned the tackle as “horrendous and unacceptable”, while also criticising Stoke’s overall approach.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Whelan had a first-hand view of the incident, helping comfort the Arsenal youngster as he lay in agony.

“First and foremost, everyone hopes the young lad gets back as soon as possible, and at the standard he plays at, because he looks a terrific player,” said Whelan, who was coincidentally at Arsenal’s London Colney training base preparing for Tuesday’s friendly against Brazil at the Emirates Stadium.

“I was the next one in from the tackle, and saw what had gone on. I was just trying to take the lad’s mind off it.

“For Shawcross, he was disappointed what has happened to the boy.

“I have not seen the tackle again but when I first saw it, I do not think it was a dirty tackle – maybe a bit late but no more.

“I do not think anyone goes into a tackle looking to break a leg or injure a player, but there is a fine line between being hard and being dirty.

“The two players could go in for that tackle 100 times again and nothing would happen.

“Hopefully this was just a one-off.”

Whelan has not seen the incident again – and does not want to.

“You have got young people watching the game live, who probably could not stomach something like this, and so they were probably right not to show it again at the time,” the midfielder said.

“I have not seen the tackle again, and if it came on, I would probably turn the television off.

“It was the first time I had seen it, and touch wood it will never happen again.

“I was just there, and if I was on the other side of the pitch, I would probably have not gone anywhere near him.

“I was just trying to do what I could to take the lad’s mind off it.

“The lad held on to me with the pain he was going through, and I was telling him not to think about it. He was in a state of shock.

“The medical team came on as quickly as possible, and then you just let them take over.”

In the immediate aftermath, Wenger vented his fury at Shawcross, while, as expected, Stoke boss Tony Pulis – while also condemning the tackle – defended his player’s character.

Whelan feels when the dust settles, the Arsenal manager will be in a more reflective mood.

The Stoke midfielder said: “At the time, mr Wenger probably felt a bit upset because of how bad the injury was, and it is not the first time it has happened to his players.

“However, if he looks back at it and sees the tackle, then I am sure he will probably take those views back.”

Shawcross, 22, has been called up into the England squad for the first time ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Egypt at Wembley.

The 22-year-old was inconsolable as he left the field after being shown a red card by referee Peter Walton.

The Stoke players have rallied around the young defender.

Whelan said: “Ryan was devastated, you could see that for him to cry as he went off.

“Ryan plays whole-heartedly, he give 110%. He won’t change that.”

Whelan maintains such unfortunate incidents are just part of the modern game.

“It is a contact sport and these things happen – thankfully it is not too much or too often,” he said.

“There is a chance of that, but you also see boys going over and doing ligament damage to their knees or ankle, and there was nobody near them.

“You do not want to see these things happen, no matter who it is, but these things do happen. You just have to get on with it.”

Stoke pair Rory Delap and Danny Pugh have defended the team’s style of play in the wake of the challenge on Ramsey.

Delap said: “The tackle didn’t look at all malicious. I spoke to the referee and he said he didn’t think Ryan meant it, but he had to send him off.

“I know Ryan and he wouldn’t mean to do that. Ryan was in tears and he is not a lad who would go out to do that.

“He will be devastated and we will need to pick him up. but our thoughts are with Aaron.”

Delap added: “Everyone knows what we are about. We are physical, but there’s not one person in our dressing room that would do that (deliberately injure an opponent).

“It is very rare in the whole of football that someone does go out to hurt someone.”

Pugh backed up that view by saying: “We are a fully-committed side, but we never go out to injure anyone, just give 100% to the game whether we are playing Arsenal, Man City or whoever.”

The defender also believes 22-year-old Shawcross, who was called into the England squad just a couple of hours after his red card at the Britannia Stadium, will bounce back from the incident quickly.

“Ryan’s a young lad, but he’s got a mature head, so he’ll be able to just concentrate on his game and get over this,” he told The Sentinel.

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