Should you spur your child to play dangerous sports with the goal of becoming a professional athlete and making a boat load of money? De la chanson or it depends on the child, parent, talent, motive and opportunity. The answer is a resounding "no", if you ask this parent of four. I will explain more of my rational later. For a starter, caveat emptor: sports, like other businesses, have exploitative under-bellies few see or want to see. Being proactive is prudent because advice given after injury tantamount to medicine after death.
The Topps Trading Card Company is regarded as one of the oldest, if not the oldest, trading card producer in the United States. The Topps company was founded in 1938, however they go back much earlier with their ties to American Leaf Tobacco which was founded in 1890. The most famous set of Topps is the 1952 Topps baseball card. The design came from Sy Berger. Considered to be the "father of the baseball card". He was a veteran of WWII and designed the cards from his home in Brooklyn. That was the beginning of a 50 year career with Topps.
If you don't know any ex-professional players in the sport your child might be interested in, Google or Facebook search to find one to talk with. They are relatively easy to find and you would find them willing to assist you. Listen with an open-mind to what they tell you; don't take their feedback as bitter ex-players comments. That is what I did years ago before my children were of age to play popular American sports. As a proactive step, I started discouraging my sons from playing football. I was shocked when my middle schooler told me he had been asked to tryout for his school team.
Don't just know the sport you're interested in, know them all. You may not start off in the sports league that you're interested in, but it's competetive sports still a job in sports. Regardless, you should know the basics about all the major four leagues, tops sports players in every league, and top sports headlines. People will take you more seriously in the field.
Decorations really depend on whether you choose to have a certain team or just a general sports theme. In any case, use helmets, jerseys, balls and other sports equipment to adorn the tables and walls of the shower. Balloons can cover the wall right behind the main foods' table. Place an order with a local bakery for sugar cookies that are sports themed shapes. Display these cookies on the foods tables in glass bowls. The cupcakes can also be sports themed design with royal icing and displayed on a 4 tiered glass tray.
If the Knicks go on a 12 to 4 run to open the game, traders will buy and push the market up. Let's say that by the end of the first quarter, the Knicks are up by 12 points. Now, the current spread being traded will likely be anywhere between +2 and +8. Let's say that New York's strong first quarter caused buyers to push the spread up to +4 (this is 8 points higher than the spread that was traded before the game). You could now say that the market expects the Knicks to win by 4 points. If you were short in the market (sold the Knicks before the game around -4), you will now have the opportunity to adjust your position and buy because of the change in market expectation.
There is much more that could be said. I have not even touched on Paul's use of sports' language and his use of sports as a metaphor for the spiritual life. I have not talked about how sports can be used as an evangelistic tool to spread the gospel. I have not mentioned how sports should blend physical strength and courage with meekness and love. I have not referred to the relationship between sports and our spiritual warfare. But I hope I have given enough to make you think - and perhaps to think of sports a little differently than you have before.