Ferencik: Explaining Crocs to children
Thumbing through a Sunday circular the other day, I started to wonder: how did some 6-year-old Asian-American kid, belly pooched out, end up wearing distressed, ripped jeans, layers of graphic tees and Crocs knockoffs; that is, mini versions of adult clothes?
And not just adult clothes, but clothes rife with complex references to eras and ironies beyond his comprehension. Even through his sweet, clueless grin, he seemed weighed down by it all. The kid didn't know it of course, but discount stores are actually the tail end of a long, convoluted journey: it's where fashion goes to die.
But if this is the end of the journey, where did it begin?
At a local mall, I picked up a pair of men's size 13 Crocs and turned them over in wonder. Is there anything larger on this earth? They looked like they could double as 40B housing, but I digress. At a neighboring shoe store, I found: Croc boots, Croc sandals on sale, and high-heeled come-do-me Crocs.
These shoes, like so many other icons of quintessential American fashion - jeans, T-shirts and so on - started out innocent, as deckwear, in fact. But then someone said: Crocs, you're so great, I want to wear you in winter. And fur-lined Crocs were born. Crocs for children came next.
Men's tennis team hosts clinic for wheelchair-bound players
Julie Fritz, a volunteer tennis coach at the Rehab Hospital of Indiana who brought five of the six players to the event, was pleased with the clinic and hopes the exposure will lead to bigger turnouts in the future.
"It may be a small event, but we still feel it is a success," the fifth-year coach said. "We do events like this for two reasons: The players and the articles. A lot of potential players may not know this is even a possibility. This is how we grow the sport."
Junior Pawel Poziomski, who played at No. 6 singles a year ago, had never been a part of such an event before coming to Purdue.
"This shows me how people who aren't as fortunate can still enjoy playing tennis," Poziomski said. "It really shows me a different side of life – how other people see sports."
For Indianapolis Roncalli High School student Zach Smith, who has been playing tennis on and off for the last two years, the event served as a good way to get back on the court and learn more about the game along the way.
The two sides have created T-shirts and bought space on billboards to express their disgust with each other; not shockingly, some messages exceed the bounds of good taste. Just when you thought Illinois coach Ron Zook was on the hot seat and needing to
Some of the crafts Blain will be teaching this year are cro-hooking an afghan, all kinds of beaded bracelets, card making, envelope making, braided T-shirts, wallpaper gift boxes, Tenerife embroidery (a Canary Island art), crochet water bottle holder
