JKCP | Blog

This time of year, my T.V. won’t let me forget that I should be out buying gifts.   Every night, it threatens me with countdowns and entices me with offers. I often feel like I’m letting my transistor down when I view my evenings as family time instead of shopping days.   Still, one item has caught my eye: the updated Wii Fit.   As a seasoned veteran of Mark Summers’ Family Double Dare, I’m thrilled by the fact that family fitness is back in vogue.   I’ve used the Wii to play a bit of tennis, shoot a few rounds of golf and swing for the fences in a home run derby.   For the most part, it’s left me with nothing more than a few broken lamps, a lump on the back of my head and –much to my daughter’s dismay – a shattered Strawberry Shortcake tea set.   Even though the games cannot replace the real thing, I admit you end up feeling like Joe DiMaggio, like Venus and Serena, like Jack Nicklaus.   Sometimes, this is enough of an impetus to lace up your shoes and pick up a racket (except, of course, when someone’s backhand keeps you off your feet.)   So, while it doesn’t appear that Double Dare is coming back anytime soon, it’s nice to see that we are making an effort to supersede vicarious enjoyment of sports with the real deal, getting kids off the carpet and onto the grass.   Sorry, Mr.   Summers; it was good while it lasted, but you’ve been replaced.