by Deborah Parkhill Mullis
Tattooed men in muscle shirts leaned against the porch rails of The Thirsty Beaver Saloon at 1225 Central Avenue in Charlotte. Iron horses waited out in front. Beside the concrete block bar, men hurled things across a gravel parking lot toward one another while a crowd stood in the hot afternoon sun cheering them on.
Was it a Hell’s Angels gathering? No, but it wouldn’t be far off to call it a fur angels gathering. It was the 1st Annual Bags for Wags – a cornhole tournament held earlier this month (August 1, 2009) to benefit The Humane Society of Charlotte.
Cornhole is played by tossing a bag of corn 30 feet into a hole in a specially designed board; bags that land in the hole get more points than bags that lean into the hole so it’s similar to horse shoes but safer because you can’t be knocked out by a little bag of corn. In Charlotte, cornhole is popular at pre-concert, pre-game and pre-race tailgating parties.
Jon Littlepage, Lee Hoech and Mike Hebert are the three men who organized the August event that raised more than $3,300 to buy a new commercial washer and dryer for the Humane Society of Charlotte. “We went on a behind the scenes tour of the Toomey Avenue facility several months ago and that particular need stuck out in our minds when we came up with the idea for a cornhole tournament,” Littlepage said.
Why cornhole? “We’re trying to get more guys involved,” explained Littlepage. “We all have rescues (strays or pets saved from abuse, neglect or euthanasia) and want to raise awareness. Our wives are heavily involved in fundraising so we just followed their lead.”
Maybe so but plenty of testosterone was poured on that lead. There was no chance of winning a big-bowed gift basket or spa day at this event. Instead, the men (and a few ladies) competed for cornhole board sets, VIP parties, backpack coolers and wing platters.
“The coolers hold 18 cans of beer and dispense cans on the sides which really made it cool for most guys,” said Littlepage.
Watson and Roper, photo courtesy of Jon Littlepage Jeremy Podjuban and Tim Dietrich of Charlotte, who placed 1st in the competition, were rewarded with a Miller Lite/Miller High Life cornhole board set donated by MillerCoors Beer in Charlotte and a VIP Party at Hooters to include 10 friends and all the wings and sides they can eat. Dan Watson and Scott Roper also of Charlotte came in 2nd and won the two coveted Miller Lite Carolina Panthers backpack coolers and a 50 wing platter from Hooters.
Even HSC executive director, David Miller and board member Neya Warren got in the game. Their team, The Fur Balls, placed an impressive 9th in the competition.
Thirty teams registered to play in the ACA (American Cornhole Association) regulation tournament raising the first $1,200. The rest of the money came from a silent auction, raffles and donations. Drink specials ($1 beers) and barbecue ($8 plates) helped bring some 300 spectators out despite the 90 degree heat.
“We were truly blown away by the number of people that showed up and donated. Just a great time all around,” said Littlepage.
Visit www.humanesocietyofcharlotte.org for information about pet adoption, donating, events and volunteering.
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