Unfortunately, 13 teams will compete for Wifflefest Crown

Cross your fingers all you Wifflefest competitors, you will need all the luck you can get. Thirteen teams are confirmed to participate in the Justin Osborne All American Wifflefest 2009. That total is the highest amount of teams to date in the four year history of the glorious wiffling event. Some would think that excitment and anticipation would be filling the halls of the Osborne household, with so many teams ready to fight it out. Those thoughts would be wrong. "I would really rather have 12 or 14 teams", says Justin Osborne, founder, creator and provider of awesomeness of Wifflefest. "I mean, it is October and we have 13 teams coming. Kind of spooky", Osborne explains as he makes a ghoolish laugh. While most of the teams have participated in the past, there is a handful of new comers. Osborne suggests that teams say there prayers and not dress in costume to avoid fearful encounters on the playing fields. "I don't want any of the teams to get scared, thinking Ol' Scratch may be out to get them or something". With thirteen teams, the competition should be fierce, fun, but could be frightful something Osborne hopes to avoid. "I've already been throwing salt over my shoulder just to be on the safe side."

Wifflefest Words of Wisdom

The common saying "Leaves of three... leave them be", is very practical in nature. It rhymes, it is short and has to do with nature... which is called a double entendre.... (I think), but even if it isn't - it is still a cool saying. I always seem to remember it when I am walking through the different nature trails on the Martin Tree Farm. The tree farm is a sprawling 300 plus acres of pine, hardwoods and other nature things. I'm not going to pretend to know a lot about the outdoors, but what I do know is that there is a lot of poison ivy.... and I am allergic to it. So please, be careful.
We recently went canoeing and I had the misfortune of having a tree branch hit my face. My wife Ann, being the kind person she is, held the branch just long enough to have it coil and smack me in the face as we paddled by. The result was some sort of poison ivy/ poison oak under my nose. That is the only place on my whole body that somehow, I got poison ivy! How weird? Somehow from one swat of a tree brach to my face in a passing canoe and I now resemble Joaquin Phoenix. I don't have a cleft lip like he does, but I do have this nasty-raised-poison ivy-like area which extends from the base of my nose to just above my lip. I look ugly. Not that Joaquin Phoenix is ugly... he is just the most famous person with a messed up lip. I'm sure if he had the ability to put IvyRest under his nose like I do, he would do it - but really, he looks fine. Just remember that as you prepare for the Justin Osborne All American Wifflefest, keep those clever, wise words close at heart: "Leaves of three - leave them be". It could really save you a lot of grief.

Not Poison Ivy

Pizza Hut Book It! progam considering Wifflefest

The Pizza Hut Book It! program which encourages school aged children to read a set of particular books and rewards them with really small, personal pan pizzas may be interested in adding the 'Prelude to a Wifflefest' book to its approved material list. According to Wifflefest founder Justin Osborne, "The Pizza Hut Book It! program was something I really enjoyed growing up. I would read two or three books and then have my mom sign off that I read the required five books to get the free pizza. We would then go to Pizza Hut where I would get the little round deep dish pepperoni pizza and have it scald my mouth. I felt like I learned a lot." With the Book it! program being very popular among elementary school age children, Osborne feels that the Justin Osborne All American Wifflefest has an opportunity to reach a younger generation. 'Prelude to a Wifflefest' is about wiffle ball and all of its glory. Wiffle ball in its original form, stripped of all the glitz and glamour which is Wifflest, is really a child's game. It's simple, creative, and made of plastic.... simply perfect for children. "With Wifflefest and the Book it! program, two great American past times can be put together. On one hand you have the kid friendly wiffle ball game, and on the other hand you have very small, scalding hot, deep dish personal pan pizza." "And if you had a third hand, you would have reading!" says Osborne. There has been no direct contact between the two entities, but sources who are privy to inside information say a deal is close.

Pujols moving to Cape - will live at Wifflefest

According to the local rumor mill, Albert Pujols, star slugger and all around good guy, may be moving to the Cape Girardeau area. It has not yet been confirmed nor denied that the Justin Osborne All American Wifflefest may be playing a part in this decision. To further the speculation, Brian Blackwell, business writer for the Southest Missouri and 2008 Wifflefest participant recently blogged about such rumors. You may view his speculation by clicking the link above. There has also been no confirmation that Pujols, once arriving in the Cape area, would be living on the Martin Tree Farm wiffleball fields. Finding shelter on rainy days in the pine forest, directly behind the famed pine monster.

Pine Monster Pujols will be living behind

Pujols Family Foundation holds annual golf tournament - Justin Osborne All American Wifflefest Not Mentioned

The Pujols Family Foundation which benefits children with Down Syndrome as well as children from the Dominican Republic held its annual charity golf tournament on Monday. The event was at the beautiful St. Albans golf course, and attracted many current and former St. Louis Cardinal players, as well as some local stars. Unfortunately, the Justin Osborne All American Wifflefest failed to get a mention in the article, or even an invitation to the event. One star who attended, has personally interacted with me in the past. Amaury Nolasco, one of the stars from the television show "Prison Break" was at the PFF charity event. My close friends will remember that I did have a "Prison Break" tryout a few years ago, during the height of the show's popularity. Here is a pic with Amaury and myself running from prison, after we broke out.

I've always felt that Amaury and I not only shared a scene, but common beliefs. I am glad those feelings have come to fruition with his appearance at the PFF golf event. Who knows, this connection may one day lead him to Wifflefest!

Wiffleball an All American tradition

Here is a great article explaining the history and origin of wiffle ball.

Wiffleball

Wifflefest 2009 - Open for Business

Registration is now open for the Justin Osborne All American Wifflefest 2009. This Wifflefest will be held on Saturday, October 10th. As in past years you may register coed teams of five (or more) or as an individual by e-mailing your information to yellowbatwhiteball@hotmail.com
As in past years we will continue to not charge an entrance fee to our wonderful event. Instead, we encourage all participants to donate to the Pujols Family Foundation. We look to better our donation of around $900 from last year, with everyone's help.
Registration will end on October 1st, with all teams recieving event information shortly thereafter. From now until then, you should practice all of your wiffle skills in hopes that this year, your team will be named Justin Osborne All American Wifflefest champions.

Frist ever Wifflefest Trading Cards now available

All of your favorite Wifflefest players can now be come home with you! Justin Osborne All American Wifflefest trading cards are now available! Each set comes with a stale piece of bubble gum. Collect them all!