Discovering 50 Things Before I am 50: Sports

 

Hello from NYC! I am here to celebrate a milestone family birthday and wanted to share some of my progress on my project of 50 New and Adventurous Things Before I turn 50.

I went to my very first hockey game with JNTO. I loved being in the suite and learning about a whole new sport. I had never watched a hockey game on television or in person before. You may asking yourself, “Did she live under a rock?” Nope! I grew up in Los Angeles and never knew that I LOVE hockey! What a great sport. I love the non-stop action and the giant men jumping over the short wall to get back on the ice. They keep playing even when their sticks break. It was incredible. I cannot wait to go again. Thank you to the JNTO for introducing me to the L.A. Kings. I loved sudden death overtime and a shoot out to ELEVEN! AMAZING!

VideoMy first LA Kings hockey game

I went to my very first NCAA Basketball game and saw my own college team, University of Pennsylvania, play at Pauley Pavilion at UCLA. The Quakers were incredible for three quarters. I loved being there, cheering on my team and singing the Red and the Blue. The final score against Texas A&M (63 – 61) did know show that how well they played for most of the game.

Video: My First NCAA Women’s Basketball Game 2017

In the last year, I started a new sport. I am learning to play tennis. My coach recently said, “It is too bad we did not take video of you when you started.” I said, “Why? So people could see how much I sucked?” He said, “No, to see how much you have improved.” Once when I was very new with him, he said, “Lisa, What are you watching? Because it is definitely not the ball.” I had an eye issue for most of my life that was only recently diagnosed and treated.  I always thought I was uncoordinated and kind of wimpy. It turns out I could not hit a baseball or tetherball because I could not see the ball properly. After many months of weekly therapy, my eye doctor recommended I try tennis lessons. I said, “That sounds frustrating.” Dr. Brodney said, “You have learned new skills and now you have to challenge yourself to use them.” I have made great progress and continue to work on my hand-eye coordination.

VideoLisa Niver’s Tennis Lesson: 15 Months of lessons

It has been exciting to try out new activities like tennis and enjoy sports where I can follow the ball or the puck when others are playing. I recently went on the Olympic Bobsled in Utah. I am on the look out for more new and adventurous activities, let me know any suggestions for my 50 new things list!

Video: Lisa Niver, Adventure Correspondent for The Jet Set, in Utah on the Olympic Bobsled and skiing with the National Ability Center. (starts 16:45)

Lisa Ellen Niver

Lisa Niver is an award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries on six continents. This University of Pennsylvania graduate sailed across the seas for seven years with Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Renaissance Cruises and spent three years backpacking across Asia. Discover her articles in publications from AARP: The Magazine and AAA Explorer to WIRED and Wharton Magazine, as well as her site WeSaidGoTravel. On her award nominated global podcast, Make Your Own Map, Niver has interviewed Deepak Chopra, Olympic medalists, and numerous bestselling authors, and as a journalist has been invited to both the Oscars and the United Nations. For her print and digital stories as well as her television segments, she has been awarded three Southern California Journalism Awards and two National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards and been a finalist twenty-two times. Named a #3 travel influencer for 2023, Niver talks travel on broadcast television at KTLA TV Los Angeles, her YouTube channel with over 2 million views, and in her memoir, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.

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