Within a matter of a few years the sport of cornhole has grown from a hillbilly sport played in the backwoods of Southwest Ohio to a national sport enjoyed by people of all backgrounds. In just a short period of time, this highly addictive, yet atrociously named sport, has become a phenomenon across the country and has even found its way into other countries; and who said American cultural imperialism was a bad thing? From its humble beginnings in Cincinnati, Ohio to an established global sport is quite a remarkable feat, and speaks to the magnetic pull this game has on anyone who tries it.
Who would believe you just a few years ago if you told them that a sport involving the tossing of corn-filled bags onto a wooden board would generate such a wild following? These cornhole game bags, along with the customized boards every serious player must own, have become regular mainstays at football games, tailgate parties and weekend BBQs from Louisville to Charlotte to Dallas and everywhere in between. Troops stationed overseas in placed like Iraq and Afghanistan have also been known to play this sport with the same enthusiasm. Cornhole tournaments have taken off in almost every major city east of the Mississippi and often include high-profile celebrities playing on behalf of their favorite charity. Highly-competitive cornhole tourneys have found their way into neighborhood block parties, school and church functions, and even company picnics. Just make sure you let your boss or pastor win; you don’t want to get fired or, worse, excommunicated! It can happen.
When multi-billion dollar companies hold cornhole tournaments in their parking lot, and participants are dressed in Armani suits, you know cornhole has come a long way. Perhaps we have been too harsh on those backwoods rednecks. Sure, they talk funny and we question their hygiene, but give them credit where credit is due. They’ve created a sport that is popular with people of all ages, income brackets, and backgrounds. The game of corn toss is also easy to learn and can be picked up in just a few minutes. The rules are simple, with very little instruction time needed. Also, because cornhole bags are so lightweight (roughly one pound each), anyone can play and not have to worry about the embarrassment that comes with missing the target by 20 feet because the object being tossed is so cumbersome and heavy (I’m looking at you Mr. Horseshoe). Once you finish laughing at the ludicrous name of this sport, pick up a few bags and give it a try yourself. It’s almost guaranteed that you’ll be an addict within ten minutes. Cornholers Anonymous (CA) is right around the corner, you’ll see!
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