Reliving My Favorite Christmas Gift Ever

….Would You Believe There’s a Book About It?

Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, my childhood was adorned with the typical Midwestern charm and nostalgia. But one memory that towers above the rest is the game of Electric Football, a cherished gift I received one Christmas. 

This wasn't just any toy; it was the embodiment of my anticipation and excitement, something I had yearned for after flipping through the pages of the Sears Roebuck catalog. On Christmas Eve, I lay awake, heart thumping with the hope that Santa had heeded my earnest request.

Electric Football wasn't just a game; it was a miniature world where I was the master. The game operated on a simple yet fascinating principle: an electrically vibrating game board that brought life to the plastic players upon it. Each player, standing on a small base, would buzz into action, moving unpredictably across the metal field, simulating the chaos and thrill of a real football game. 

While I spent countless hours with those tiny plastic athletes, what really made them special was the personal touch I added. In short,  mom would buy me little bottles of Tester’s paint, which I would use to adorn each player with the colors of their team. 

This hobby was more than just a pastime; it was my first foray into entrepreneurship. I started painting players for other kids in the neighborhood, catering to fans of various teams like the New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys. They paid me handsomely for my skill which made me feel like a rich kid in the hood. 

But for me, it was always about the Denver Broncos, especially during the Orange Crush years. I'd paint my players in vibrant orange and blue, feeling a surge of pride as I watched my hand-painted team take on their electric gridiron battles. 

This fond memory of Electric Football was rekindled this week when I  discovered a book about it called "The Unforgettable Buzz: The History of Electric Football and Tudor Sports." Even better, this book which I was able to access as a FREE Kindle Unlimited Book, wasn't just about the game; it encapsulated the very essence of Electric Football's impact on Baby Boomer culture. Authors Earl Shores and Roddy Garcia masterfully intertwined the game's history with the cultural and sporting landscape of the time.

Reading "The Unforgettable Buzz" has been like reliving those Christmas mornings all over again. It reminded me of the joy and excitement Electric Football brought to my life and to millions of others who grew up in that era.

The game was more than a pastime; it was a cherished part of our childhoods, a symbol of simpler, joyous times, and a reminder of the first steps I took in understanding and participating in the world of free enterprise and capitalism. This memory, etched in the fabric of my boyhood in Columbus, Ohio, remains an unfading emblem of joy and imagination.

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