John Sheda

I know we didn’t have the Internet, cable TV, the “all-mighty” remote control, cell phones, GPS and all the other conveniences of today, but don’t you think we had so much more? Does anyone remember “donkey basketball? We have an old black and white picture of my mom, (Sue Sheda), riding a donkey in the old (now torn down) Chelsea gym playing donkey basketball. Who ever thought of stuff like that? It could not happen today!! But it is a great picture.

Now that we’re on the topic, do you remember the old Saturday Night Live TV shows? Roseanne Rosannadanna and those “two wild and crazy guys.” Now they were funny. Not so much today it seems. Or maybe I’m just too old. After all, it is on at 10:30 on Saturday nights still and by then, I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes open.

And what about those wonderful “balsa wood airplane gliders.” They were great letting them fly and glide through the air. Do they still make them?

How many of you “oldsters” out there enjoyed getting that Sears “Wish” Catalogue around Christmas time each year? We used to mark the one item we wanted from each page. Good memories!!

How about your mom making “Tang” for breakfast or those Instant Breakfast Shakes or even a cold glass of grape Kool-Aid. Loved all three of them.

Speaking of drinks and hot days, there was nothing better than drinking that cold water right from your garden hose. Surprised we all lived!!

Could go on and on about the great life in the good old days, but was there anything better than watching Meadowlark Lemon, Goose Tatum, Curly Neal and the rest of the “old” Harlem Globetrotters way back then? I know the Globetrotters are still going today, but nothing like the players back then. I think I saw them one time in Cedar Rapids. Meadowlark making those long hook shots, one after another, from the half court line, Curly Neal putting on the dribbling demonstration, or was that Goose Tatum? And then one of them chasing Lemon with a bucket of water, but really filled with pieces of paper. What a great evening of fun and enjoyment.

Does anyone remember Eddie Feigner? Sure ya do. The greatest & fastest softball pitcher of all time. The King and His Court. A four-person fast pitch team featuring the best, Eddie Feigner. He pitched from second base, between his legs, behind his back, two balls at the same time and so much more. I saw them one time too. At an All-Star game one year, Eddie struck out Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew and Mickey Mantle on nine straight pitches. On the Johnny Carson show, he knocked a cigar our of Johnny’s mouth…………….BLINDFOLDED. Wow.

Well, if you think about it, please share some of the things you loved about those good old days or maybe a story or two of seeing either the Harlem Globetrotters or The King and His Court.

Let me hear them at livingwater@indytel.com or call me at 319.327.4640. Have a great weekend.