CHICAGO — An inspirational story from a basketball star, beer cereal (!), a Ned Flanders metal band and FINALLY a bike that can't be stolen? Here's what we're reading today.
There Is A Ned Flanders-Themed Metal Band: Meet Okilly Dokilly, a metal band influenced by Ned Flanders of the Simpsons. The band claims it is the only "Nedal" band around, and says most of their songs are direct Flanders quotes. Listen to some of the Phoenix-based band's songs here.
Scoop du juor: Basketball player Elena Della Donne is more than just the Chicago Sky's top draw, and more than just the leading pick for the WNBA's player of the year. Della Donne is the sister of Lizzie Delle Donne, who has born deaf and blind, with cerebral palsy and autism. Sky fan and senior editor Andrew Herrmann is reading a moving essay by the player where she describes how Lizzie's challenges have shaped her life, including her decision to bypass the big money offers to play in Europe during the American offseason so she can be with her sister.
Delle Donne herself suffers from Lyme disease. Says the player: "I’m often exhausted from the Lyme, and frustrated with my body. It’s hard. But when I think about my position — when I think about how tired I am or how much it hurts — I think about Lizzie."
Concludes Delle Donne: "She’s never said a word to me, but Lizzie has taught me more than anyone in my life."
Chicago Sky player Elena Delle Donne with boxer Monte Barrett at a fundraiser in New York in December of 2014. [Getty Images/Andrew Toth]
The World's 1st 'Unstealable' Bike?: Anyone who has ever had their bike stolen might be happy to read about the Yerka, a bike that has a frame which can be manipulated in just 10 seconds to form a heavy duty lock, and the only way to get through it would require a saw, thus rendering the bike unride-able (provided you don't lock it to a "sucker pole," that is). CNN reports that the Yerka's makers shipped their first 300 bikes out this week.
'Breakfast of Champs' Enters Beer Market: The makers of Wheaties have partnered with Minneapolis' Fulton brewery to sell a craft beer called HefeWheaties, according to a report in Crain's. The beer will first be headed to Minnesota's Twin Cities market for a limited time, according to Wheaties-owner General Mills, which is also based in Minneapolis. Ryan Petz, president and co-founder of Fulton Brewery said in blog post that the beer idea was intriguing because the beer and the cereal both started from the same place in terms of raw ingredients and the same city.
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