www.muleshoejournal.com - Muleshoe Journal, January 16, 2020 - Page A3 Rediscovering the game of jacks By Alice Liles

Alice’s note: This story first appeared in my blog The Bright Lights of Muleshoe on Decem- ber 28, 2011. I know Christmas is over, and this is sort of a Christmas story, but what it’s really about is the long overlooked and forgotten childhood game of jacks. Perhaps this will bring back some memories for you.

We enjoyed two Christmases this year, one with all the Krons, and a second one with all the Liles. Both were great fun. Food and gifts complimented the quality time we spent together on both occasions. Korben, Callie, and Ty were on hand for the Kron Christmas, as was Colten and his friend Stormi. Then Colten celebrated again with Ben and Maya at the Liles Christmas. And I had the pleasure of reacquainting with an old friend-the game of jacks. At the Christmas at the Liles’ house, one of Maya’s stocking stuffers was a new tin box filled with jacks and a ball and a set of pick-up- sticks. Amid all the video games, remote control cars, and a fancy new other rounds in a jacks game after the a game that required only our ability and sure enough, found my jacks in cell phone, a set of jacks and pick-up- plain first game where you just pick to sit flat-legged on the sidewalk and the original bag Mother made just sticks seemed rather quaint and out up the jacks one at a time, then two a well-developed amount of hand-to- for my jacks. You know, some things of place. But here were two games I at a time, till the last round when you eye coordination, which, of course, are just too valuable to throw away. could play. And play well, thank you pick up all ten jacks. we had honed playing previous hours An old golf ball was in the bag, but very much. Especially the jacks. The winner of each round was the of jacks. The strategy of which jacks everyone knows that the best jacks I dropped to the floor, threw out player who got to all ten. We would to pick up and in what lay-out also ball is the rubber center you cut out the first hand of jacks, and started say we were on the ones, the twos, plays a part in being successful at of that golf ball, and alas, I don’t seem the first round of play. AJ took on whatever number you were supposed jacks, which we also learned from the to have one of those any more. But the challenge, for about half of one to pick up with each bounce of the many hours we spent squatted on the I can still slice open a golf ball and turn, and gave up. Colten sat down ball. Then you progress to other floor bouncing that little ball. I don’t get one. I guess new golf ball centers for about two tries, bounced the ball games, like around the world; pigs know if little girls play jacks much would still make a good jacks ball. off his hand and under the table, in a pen, scrambled eggs, double anymore, or pick-up-sticks for that Hmmm, something to work on in the declared it was way too hard, and he ball-bounce, and others the names of matter, and as it turned out, I wasn’t near future. gave up! Two perfectly coordinated which I can’t remember. They were able to lure Maya away from her Next time I run out of something athletes who couldn’t master impressed. other gifts before we left to find out if to do, well, I can always fall back throwing up a little ball, picking up a “When does the game end? AJ she had played much. on my jacks and briefly revisit jack, and catching the ball before it asked. I just know my friends and my childhood, too many years hit the ground. And weren’t willing to “When the bell rings,” I said, I spent many happy hours bouncing and hundreds of jacks games ago… take the time to learn how. Amazing. because that’s what ended our games that ball while carrying on lots of To see all the pictures and the I tried to show them some of the at Travis Elementary. We passed many conversation, laughing, having a good original story, plus other Christmas a recess and had hours of fun playing time. I came home and dug around stories, go to www.aliceliles.com. Muleshoe Native, Dalton Kasel, was named to the Team USA Eagles for 2020 PBR Global Cup USA n Final Riders An- McBride and Hart four appearances at past to a tenth-place result Idaho, followed by a sustaining a broken leg. nounced for Team USA elected to not name an PBR Global Cups, they on the elite tour in New twelfth-place result at Both, however, Eagles and Wolves alternate. are arguably four of the York City. his debut PBR World returned as alternates Triplett, Kasel, hottest riders competing Much like Triplett, Finals. at the 2019 PBR World Ahead of 2020 PBR Kimzey and Teel will when examining the Kimzey earned his For the Wolves, Jesus, Finals, before their Global Cup USA. Cody join two-time PBR final months of 2019 and second selection to Jesse and Cravens will World Championship Teel to replace injured World Champion Jess initial events of the 2020 Team USA after making make their second- contending form was Chase Outlaw on Team Lockwood (Volborg, season. his debut for the Eagles consecutive appearance back on display at the USA Eagles. Montana) and 2016 With the most Global in February 2019 inside for the all Native season-launch Unleash PBR World Champion Cup experience on his AT&T Stadium. The American contingent, The Beast Major in PUEBLO, Colo. — Cooper Davis (Jasper, resume, Teel, a two- Oklahoma phenom’s while alternate Rogers New York City. Jesse Ahead of the 2020 ) already selected time Team USA rider, selection comes after he is preparing to make his delivered a strong WinStar World Casino to Team USA Eagles. not only was a member recently captured his debut on the global bull 3-for-4 showing to finish and Resort PBR Global Under the leadership of the event-winning sixth consecutive PRCA riding stage. sixth, while Cravens’ Cup USA, presented of first-time head coach contingent at the world championship. In 2019, Jesus, who 1-for-3 effort earned him by Monster Energy, the Ted Nuce (Stephenville, inaugural Global Cup A first-time selection was a top contender for twelfth. final riders set to defend Texas) and returning in in 2017, but to Team USA, Kasel, the year’s Rookie of the Tickets for the 2020 home soil as members assistant Mike “Bo” also competed for the who is currently Year honor, finished a WinStar World Casino of Team USA Eagles Vocu (Oglala Lakota second-place Eagles at recovering from groin career-best No. 20 in and Resort PBR Global and Wolves at the event – Kyle, South Dakota), the most recent edition surgery, was crowned the world, capped by Cup USA, presented akin to the “Olympics of Cody Jesus (Navajo in Texas in February the 2019 PBR Rookie a ninth-place result at by Monster Energy are ” have been – Window Rock, 2019. of the Year after his debut PBR World on sale now and start announced. Arizona), Colten Jesse Battling through completing an incredible Finals. He was a key at just $10. They can be The fourth edition of (Potawatomi - Konawa, a knee injury at the five-month surge up contributor for the purchased at the AT&T the PBR Global Cup, the Oklahoma), Cannon 2019 PBR World Finals the world rankings, Wolves at the 2019 PBR Stadium Box Office, only nation vs. nation Cravens (Cherokee – to finish No. 6 in the when he climbed from Global Cup USA, going online at ATTStadium. bull riding competition, Porum, Oklahoma) world, Teel began the unranked on June 1 to 2-for-3 in their third- com or SeatGeek.com, will make its second and alternate Wyatt 2020 season with a 2-for- No. 8 on November 10. place campaign. or via the phone at (800) stop at AT&T Stadium Rogers (Cherokee – 4 performance at the Kasel’s rocket up the Following their 732-1727. in Arlington on Feb. 15 Coweta, Oklahoma) will season-launch Unleash rankings was capped Global Cup debuts, Jesse For more information and 16. The new team complete Team USA The Beast Major in New by his career-first event and Cravens, both had on the event, including tournament debuted in Wolves. York City. win on the Unleash their 2019 seasons halted premium experience Edmonton, Alberta, in The already Triplett, who rode The Beast at the final by injury, with Jesse and elite seats offerings, November 2017, visited announced Wolves for Team USA at the regular-season event undergoing shoulder visit PBR.com/ Sydney, , in include: Ryan Dirteater 2018 edition of the PBR of the year in Nampa, surgery and Cravens GlobalCup. June 2018, and most (Cherokee – Hulbert, Global Cup in Sydney, recently stopped in Oklahoma), Stetson Australia, finished a Arlington this past Lawrence (Chippewa career-best second at February. and Sioux – Williston, the 2019 PBR World Led by head North Dakota) and Finals, propelling him coach Justin McBride Keyshawn Whitehorse to finish the year No. (Whitesboro, Texas) (Navajo – McCracken 7 in the world. Not and assistant J.W. Hart Springs, Utah). missing a beat, Triplett (Overbrook, Oklahoma), For Team USA Eagles, won the first Touring Publication Elsewhere in the Newspaper: Team USA Eagles will while the quartet of Pro Division event of the be completed by Matt new additions have new season in Kearney, Triplett (Columbia Falls, only made a collective Nebraska, before riding Montana), Dalton Kasel

(Muleshoe, Texas) and TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES: six-time PRCA World Champion Sage Kimzey Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America LLC has applied to (Strong City, Oklahoma). the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for Team USA Eagles renewal of Air Quality Permit No. 73441, which would authorize continued operation of Compressor Station 168 also revealed an injury located at 3000 County Road 21, Muleshoe, Bailey County, replacement, with Texas 79347. Additional information concerning this Cody Teel (Kountze, application is contained in the public notice section of this 3” Texas) to compete in newspaper. place of Chase Outlaw (Hamburg, Arkansas), currently sidelined for six months after undergoing the fourth reconstructive shoulder surgery of his career in December 2019.

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