World on a string: Yo-yo champions face off in Nashville

By NATALIA MIELCZAREK • Staff Writer • July 5, 2008 A group of teen boys stood in a circle Saturday, chatting but rarely looking at each other, their eyes completely focused on yo-yos leaping and spinning on their strings. They were warming up for the biggest yo-yoing event of the year in Tennessee, the state championship, which welcomed competitors from across the country. About 20 — including one mom — participated in the second annual event. With loud music playing in the background at Rocketown downtown, they competed in two general categories: amateurs and yo-yo wizards. Defending Tennessee yo-yo champion Mark Allen, 22, of Nashville, said yo-yoing is much more than a sport. He’s been playing for a decade and has about 100 different yo-yos, some that cost more than $100 a pop. He even has a sponsor, he said. “There’s... [read full story]