The Invasion Begins

Today is a day off in Women's Athletics as the Invasion of the Wal-Martians reaches its fever pitch. I coined the phrase back in the early 1990s when the Wal-Mart Shareholders meeting was held in Barnhill Arena where the Lady'Back offices were located. Walton Arena is the new mothership, but the effect is the same.

Now, understand -- I'm absolutely not complaining; in fact, its pretty entertaining to see the associates from all over the US and world arrive in Fayetteville. It really is something to be experienced. Plus its great to be where the prototype stores are located.

Two great shareholder meeting moments from the past: walking around the corner of an isle in our local Wal-Mart to see international associates taking picutres and notes of how an end cap was displayed. For them, this is the Wal-Mart trade convention. Never forget the shock and horror of some European associates when they discovered that guns were sold in Wal-Marts.

The other has to do with the vendors. They decend in equal locust-like number upon our area, and it gives us a great show. To this day, my daughter marks the start of summer by asking when will those Rubbermaid people be back. They had one of those retail entertainment tents at the Supercenter three years ago -- she still talks about winning Sharpees.

Until regular business resumes, remember you can buy your official souvenirs at the local stores. Seriously. They have logoed shirts and stuff bragging about store #1 (which is in Rogers) or store #whatever. And why not? I can't count the number of shirts and hats from road trips I've brought home -- what's different for the Wal-Martians?