That Sports Game

A historical perspective.

www.thatsportsgame.ca

©Dennis W. Boettger MD

I well remember the morning when I was in my medical office in Falher, Alberta in February 1988, when a gentleman presented himself to my staff and asked if he could see me. No, not for a medical appointment, he had something to deliver.

That morning, I received a summons to court, requiring that I cease and desist from marketing, selling or distributing the board game that I had just released during the Olympics in Calgary.

Prior to the games, I had sent a copy to the Para-Olympic headquarters, hoping to become a sponsor of the Para-Olympics. When they received the game, they turned it over to the lawyers, and proceeded to shut me down.

I admit, being an amateur board game developer, I had failed to understand the professional ability of the headquarters to prohibit any use of any phonetic equivalent of the Olympic movement, and I had obviously treaded on their property without permission.

We had some meetings in which I was told that my graphics did not meet the ‘standard’ of the Olympics. My interpretation therefore was that ‘my graphics’ was not ‘their graphics’. It should therefore not be confused with their graphics.

Also, they were not happy with the “Steroid” card. They did not want ‘their image’ tarnished by any association with that card, although it was a card that reflected the dangers of doping. That before Ben J, and the 100 M race.

However, I obviously could not afford to withstand the heavy hand, having made a fatal error in naming my game “the OLYMPIKS.”

My grain of sand effort was too much in the eye of the Olympics, and I was removed. Not however, before Reuters, NBC, The Calgary Herald, the Edmonton Journal and other local newspapers, radio and distant papers like the Chicago Herald Tribune, the Globe and Mail, and other great dailies featured the David vs. Goliath episode unfolding.

Our new game, “THAT SPORTS GAME®” would never have been developed, however, after that crop failure from a prairie boy aspiring to produce a game that captured the romance, competition and business relationships of amateur athletes on their way to international notoriety by winning Gold, Silver, or Bronze in theGlobal Arena, had it not been for one thing.

On that February morning that I received the summons to court from the Lawyers, I had been reading in my personal daily devotional time in the Bible, the book of Psalms 66: 8-12. I will quote this here, because it became the source of hope, calmness, and inspiration during these ensuing years as I edited, corrected, tested and revised the board game.

We are releasing this game because of the promise of this scripture, and many other confirmations through the process of coming to this date.http://wwwhttp://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/index.php?q=psalm66:8-12&tniv=yes

Here is the whole Psalm with the context of the verses 8-12:

Psalm 66- New King James Version*
1      Makea joyful shout to God, all the earth!
2      Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious.
3      Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
4      All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.”Selah
5      Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
6      He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot. There we will rejoice in Him.
7      He rules by His power forever;      His eyes observe the nations;      Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves.Selah

8 Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard,

9 Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved.

10 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.

11 You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.

12 Youhave caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

13 I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows,

14 Which my lips have uttered and my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.

15 I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, With the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats. Selah

16 Comeand hear,all you who fear God, And Iwill declare what He has done for my soul.

17 Icried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue.

18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.

19 But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!

Now 2011, 23 years later, we have a new game, a new name, and improved game play: Drug testing, Endorsements, Fund raising, Sponsors, Coaches and Sport events won by GET SET competition in the Host City of the game.

Once again, gross amateurs, the elderly, the almost retired, the weekend athlete,the infirm, and the children can experience the thrills of competition, the hope of conquest, and the varieties of experiences that the athlete encounters on course toward Gold in the international “amateur” athletic arena! We invite you to look, order and enjoy the newest, latest fun board game to find a place in your home.

info@thatsportsgame.ca