On college campuses everywhere, students can be seen kicking around a colorful, small, leather ball stuffed with plastic pellets. Invented in the mid-seventies by R. John Stalberger for the physical therapy of his football-injured knee, the Hacky Sack has become a national phenomena. After introduction into the market in 1977, seventy-seven thousand Hacky Sacks were sold in a mere eight months. Due to his invention's popularity, Stalberger soon created the National Hacky Sack Association to establish official rules and control its growth. In the 1980s, Wham-O, who bought the marketing rights, began holding organized Hacky Sack competitions and turned this national hobby into a competitive sport.

Players of Hacky Sack attempt to keep the ball off the ground by using their knees and feet. In competition, one point is scored for every "kick." Points are also given for style and coordination. The world record holder for consecutive "kicks," kicked the sack 12,838 times in five hours, ten minutes, and forty seconds. Hacky Sack competition continues as does its popularity. Perhaps its acclaim is due to the comedy that accompanies the attempts to keep the small bean bag in the air, or perhaps it is just another pleasurable way to waste away the day.

My son, when in his teens, at least a decade ago, informed me that he incessantly used it to improve his soccer skills! We're HUGE on soccer here, and I believe him! He's great, by the way! A KEEPER!

is that hacky sack that thing that Freddie Prinze jr's character Zack Siler kicks about in 'she's all that' on his first date with Rachael Leigh Cook's character (Laney Boggs)?