Photo by Seeding Chaos

I went to the Football Hall of Fame on a cold Tuesday in early December. As a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan I knew my favorite team would get lots of space in the Canton, Ohio landmark.

There weren’t many other people wandering about, so the security guard let me park it on the very bench Vince Lombardi sat on during the first two Super Bowls.

Sitting on that bench, I met a fellow Packer Backer and we ended up going out for drinks and reminiscences of our teams’ best games.

The love of sport is a great way to meet friendly locals and like-minded travelers. A conversation about the game can lead to more personal revelations and evolve into a mutual friendship.

Here are 6 strategies for using sports to make new friends.

1. Go For Live Action

Whether it’s a sport you’ve followed your whole life or something totally new, like the perplexing world of cricket, go see a live game.

Most towns of any size will have some sort of athletic contest going on. (Hint: Cheer for the home team).

2. Find A Sports Bar

A good second best involves parking yourself in a pub or sports bar. This may be the only option if something on a worldwide scale is going on, like the Rugby or Soccer World Cups.

Sit alone at the bar. Watch with intention. You’ll quickly be adopted by curious fans at the corner table.

3. Dress The Part

Buy a team jersey or t-shirt. Not only will you be recognized as a sincere supporter, you’ll have a cool souvenir to bring back home.

4. Knowledge Is Power

Study the sports pages. Watch the broadcasters on television. If you don’t know the basics of whatever sport you’ve selected, learn them – perhaps with an assist from a friendly local.

Be able to recognize marquee players, win-loss records, and team rivalries. I love learning new things, and I love getting the insider’s perspective.

Once you’ve done your homework, you’ll have multiple topics to banter about with that stranger sitting next to you.

5. Don’t Be Shy

Be subtly voyeuristic. A polite interjection into a sports discussion identifies you as someone who pays attention. Compliments about your grasp of the game and free adult beverages are certain to follow.

6. Don’t Skip The Post-Game

Go to any post-game functions, for either celebration or commiseration. Now is the time to segue into topics and connections of a more personal nature.

Sports With Benefits

The tips I’ve laid out work for meeting locals, but can also be a great way to spark a romantic fling if that’s what you’re looking for.

My natural tomboy affinities have bagged me some great seats and quality dates starting, but not necessarily ending, at a sports venue. If competition leads to chemistry and your new friend is a local, you’ll get the inside skinny on their home town and free accommodation.

If you are both wandering outside your home ranges, who knows, y’all may just end up planning an encore meet-up in South Africa to watch the World Cup in 2010.

What are your tips for meeting locals through sports? Share your advice in the comments!

Earth Day 2008 is just around the corner. Join the global celebration for a healthy planet!

On April 22, 1970, 20 million people celebrated the first Earth Day, the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson, one of the most environmentally aware men to ever grace the United States Senate floor.

Senator Nelson observed “teach-ins” on college campuses against the Vietnam War, and believed the same approach could work to bring environmental concerns to the forefront of American politics. He announced his idea during a speech in Seattle, Washington in 1969.

Over the coming months, with help of good advance press from the New York Times, Earth Day became one of the best examples of grassroots activism ever conceived.

How to Observe A Global Holiday

Fast forward 38 years. An estimated 1 billion people will celebrate this global holiday in ways as diverse and creative as the places where they live.

Magnificent festivals infused with music, healthy eats, information and workshops on eco-friendly living, are planned in places as diverse as Washington, D.C, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, San Francisco, Shanghai, Durban and Tokyo.

This year’s Earth Day theme is “Call for Climate,” focused on how to abate global warming. But the range of ecological topics is unlimited, presenting a vast array of actions to encourage sustainable living.

Local Activism, Global Celebration

Here are some examples of Earth Day events around the globe.

The Community Broom Bash is not what most people think. Scotch broom, a nasty invasive plant, is taking over the Mayen Island Conservancy in British Columbia. Volunteers will work to limit its invasion in the reserve from April 19th to Earth Day proper.

Clean up a beach, then watch a dolphin show on Itaparica Island, Brazil. (If I were anywhere near South America, that’s where I’d be).

Expats in China are encouraged to purchase “environmentally friendly light bulbs and showerheads” in coordination with Shanghai’s International School at the Shanghai Zoo on April 19th.

The Green Festival of Israel at the Big Caramiel Centre runs concurrently with the High Holy days of Passover.

Polar Palooza, Rowdy Dogz Earth Day, No I’m Not a Plastic Bag. These innovative celebrations are testimony to the worldwide recognition Earth Day now receives. Find one close to you on the Earth Day Network.

If you’re unable to attend a formal celebration, there are intimate ways to help lower your human footprint.

For shopping enthusiasts in the States, go to the closest Buffalo Exchange Saturday, April 19th. This very hip second hand clothing store chain will donate 100% of their Earth Day receipts to ensure the continued presence of tortoises on Pinta Island in the Galapagos Islands.

London declares April 22nd “Bag Free Day” , discouraging use of those ubiquitous plastic grocery sacks. Don’t forget your recyclable tote when you go shopping!

So fire up that solar oven. Buy and eat organic. Pick up plastic water bottles on the side of the road, and then recycle them. Dance to the percussive rhythms of a band from another part of the world.

Earth Day is a time to recognize and celebrate our collective responsibility as residents of the third rock from the sun.

Community Connection!

Frogs appear to be a recurring theme for the Matador community this Earth Day. Tim Patterson plans to camp with peeper frogs back home in Vermont.

Lauren Lim will help the amphibians and their toad cousins safely cross the road in Bialovieza, Poland. It’s warming up here in Northern Idaho, so I may encounter a few frogs myself while cleaning up Rathdrum Creek.

What will you do for Earth Day? Leave a comment, inspire us, and share your plans!