As a huge basketball fan, I was excited when it announced in 2007 that Fort Wayne would be the home of a NBDL team. I attended several Fort Wayne Fury games back in the early 90’s, but after a little research, I learned the quality of basketball was expected to be much better in this new league. It was announced that a few highly-regarded college players could eventually suit up for the Ants, including many college stars from the state of Indiana (IU, Notre Dame, Purdue and IPFW).

After receiving the name “Fort Wayne Mad Ants” in recognition of General Anthony Wayne (George Washington’s buddy) and looking over the team’s roster, I jumped on board the Mad Ants bandwagon. And I haven’t left since.

Having been to the Memorial Coliseum on several occasions, I knew what to expect: Good food, reasonable beer prices and a clean venue. What I didn’t expect was a competitive team on the floor, and tons of entertainment.

During most timeouts and in-between quarters, there are many different promotions, some two at a time, like t-shirts being thrown in the stands, trivia questions, races, etc. The announcer is loud and he gets you fired up. The Mad Ants mascot, properly named “The Mad Ant” is always jumping around and getting the crowd on their feet. He takes tons of pictures with kids, who then enjoy playing with his antlers.

The product on the court is one a serious basketball fan would appreciate. These players are not Michael Jordan or LeBron James, but they are solid professional basketball players, who are working their tails off to win. Eventually, these players hope to reach the NBA, which is the ultimate goal. It was neat seeing firsthand many former players that I knew from college, competing right here in Fort Wayne.

Following the game, I was happy to see the players interacting with the fans. Players took pictures and signed autographs, even had long conversations with people they probably didn’t know. The Mad Ants players and organization do an outstanding job interfacing with the local community. I thought that was a huge and unforeseen plus during my Mad Ants experience.

If you have wanted to attend a Mad Ants game or were unsure what to expect, I can tell you that you and your family or friends will walk away very happy with the total experience. I plan to return to many Mad Ants games in the near future!

And, you can WIN TICKETS to see the Mad Ants in action! Simply click here to register to win!

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Three rings of fun!

Bring the whole family go Fort Wayne’s annual circus extravaganza, the Mizpah Shrine Circus. Year after year, this fun family friendly event brings you smiles and excitements with our riveting show featuring exotic animals, hilarious clowns, and many other talented performers and attractions! The Mizpah Shrine Circus is a fraternal fundraiser in which proceeds benefit the Mizpah Shrine. Payments are not deductible as a charitable contribution. A free Circus Fair is open before, during and after each performance with games, elephant rides and other family attractions in the Expo IV space at the Memorial Coliseum.

A free Circus fair adds to the fun!

The Mizpah Shrine Circus Ticket Office opened in the Memorial Coliseum lobby on Wednesday, January 2. Hours will be 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

 Date(s):

Thursday, January 24 2013 6:30 PM

Friday, January 25 2013 7:00 PM

Saturday, January 26 2013 10:00 AM

Saturday, January 26 2013 2:30 PM

Saturday, January 26 2013 7:00 PM

Sunday, January 27 2013 1:00 PM

Sunday, January 27 2013 5:45 PM

Location:   Arena

Parking: $4.00 Main Lot / $8.00 Preferred Lot

Website: http://www.mizpahcircus.com.

Reserved tickets: $10, $12, $15, $20.

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On Saturday, January 19, the Fort Wayne Derby Girls will kick off their 8^th season against the Bleeding Heartland Rollergirls from Bloomington, Indiana.

Founded in 2005, the Fort Wayne Derby Girls’ mission is to encourage community involvement from all socio-economic groups in Fort Wayne and its surrounding communities. The league embodies the strength, courage, and vitality of Fort Wayne women but also serves to provide another form of semi-professional athletic entertainment to the Summit City. Since 2005, the league has grown to include two teams: The SWAT Team and The Bomb Squad, the all-star traveling team that competes on a national level against leagues from cities all over the country.

On Saturday, doors to the Coliseum will open at 5PM and the action will start at 6PM. Fort Wayne Derby Girls’s SWAT Team will take on Bleeding Heartland’s Code Blue Assassins, followed by the main event, Fort Wayne Derby Girls’s Bomb Squad battling it out on the track against Bleeding Heartland’s Flatiners.

Tickets are $15 for adults or two for $25. Kids 5 and up are $7, five and under are free, and Seniors, college students, and military personnel are $9. If you get your tickets in advance, you can take advantage of a special two for $20 deal.

Known not only for their hard-hitting action but for their charity driven mission, as well, the Fort Wayne Derby Girls have given over $110,000 to local women’s and children’s charities since May 2006.

The charity for the January 19 bout is Noble House Ministries, whose mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for families and individuals overcoming difficulties, and to help those who wish to embark on a journey of rebuilding, learning, and recovering.

All Fort Wayne Derby Girls’ bouts are family-friendly, so bring the kids and enjoy a night of fast-paced, all-female roller derby!

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I’ve been a fan of TobyMac, one of the headlining acts for Winter Jam, for many years. Formerly a member of the Christian rock group dc talk, TobyMac has returned to Fort Wayne many times to offer upbeat Christian music to fans of all ages.

In my freelance writing career I’ve interviewed him on two occasions for stories in newspapers and magazines. It was interesting to hear him voice the challenges he feels at trying to balance everything in his life. With a wife and five children awaiting him at home, TobyMac admitted he felt the pain of separation from those he loves most.

“I hate being gone from my family,” he said. “It breaks my heart when I’m on the road four, maybe five days a week. I’m sharing God’s love and music, but it kills me to be away from my kids. I always ask myself, how long should I do this? My kids know why I go. They know it’s more than making music. But if God told me to change one thing about my parenting style, I think He would tell me to be in their lives more consistently.”

When he is home, TobyMac concentrates on his family. “We sit down to dinner together,” he said. “After dinner, we go outside to play. I run around with them, and we play baseball. Then I read to them at bedtime and pray with each one and tuck them into bed. I love that routine. It kills me to miss it.”

With those kinds of thoughts running through my head each time I hear one of his songs on the local Christian radio stations WBCL FM 90.3 and WLAB 88.3 I appreciate this guy’s dedication to not only his career and craft as a singer/songwriter, but also his dedication to his family. It makes Winter Jam that much more meaningful to me, knowing each performer is making the same sacrifice.

Other singers at WinterJam 2013 in Fort Wayne include Matthew West, Jamie Grace, Royal Tailor, Sidewalk Prophets, NewSong, and speaker Nick Hall.

As always tickets are free but organizers ask for a $10 donation. A love offering will be taken during the concert. Note: These concerts can be quite long (4 hours), so plan accordingly.

Winter Jam will be held at
Memorial Coliseum
4000 Parnell Avenue
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
260.483.1111
JANUARY 20th ~ 6 PM ~ Doors 5 PM

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Zac Brown Band may have nine hit singles, two platinum-selling records and countless dedicated fans, but to hear it’s members talk they’re just getting warmed up. That’s right, after numerous nights in front of packed arenas and amphitheaters, things are just beginning to come together for this accomplished band of brothers, led by one of the most charismatic individuals ever to don a beanie and dominate radio.

The band’s latest album ‘Uncaged’ (Atlantic/Southern Ground) which debuted at #1 on Billboard 200 is proof positive. The result of a highly collaborative process, it’s the sound of a group of versatile musicians gelling into a formidable unit and realizing they’re capable of anything their fearless leader happens to dream up, from traditional country (“The Wind”) to Caribbean rhythms (“Jump Right In”) and even slinky bedroom R&B (“Overnight”). Running roughshod over genre boundaries, and bringing its audience along for the ride, its title is absolutely accurate. This is truly the sound of a band ‘Uncaged’. The addition of percussionist Daniel de los Reyes has helped the band move the groove along. His new bandmates describe de los Reyes, known for performing and recording with Stevie Nicks, Sting, Peter Frampton and Earth, Wind & Fire, among others, as a consummate professional.

In many ways Zac Brown Band is an unlikely success story. Bands who cover so much territory tend to become critics’ darlings, but not platinum sellers. One cool thing about Zac is that he loves to include everybody, De Martini adds. He doesn’t really have to have the Zac Brown Band. I think he would be successful just as Zac Brown. But the band adds a lot and takes it to another level. It’s one big family with him. The Zac Brown Band will be performing at the Coliseum on January 11^th, get your tickets now! For information on how to get tickets visit www.fortwaynecoliseum.org or www.zacbrown.com!

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