Petanque's got swank

This has been a great summer for petanque in the press.
To spread the word faster, I post them on Facebook as I see them.
Last week the Globe and Mail published an article with a nice slideshow about Paris Plages.

But the big "carreau" came today when Associated Press ran a story that got picked up by thousands of news outlets worldwide. Emma Vandore (based in Paris) looks at the game from an international angle, from Manhattan via Paris to Bangkok. Here's how it appeared today in the Washington Post.

French bowling? Yes, petanque's got swank.

Some papers may have used it only on their online version, not necessarily in the print copy, but still, it's a great addition to our Petanque in the US Press saga.
Sincere thanks to Emma Vandore for the interest.

Petanque's got swank

This has been a great summer for petanque in the press.
To spread the word faster, I post them on Facebook as I see them.
Last week the Globe and Mail published an article with a nice slideshow about Paris Plages.

But the big "carreau" came today when Associated Press ran a story that got picked up by thousands of news outlets worldwide. Emma Vandore (based in Paris) looks at the game from an international angle, from Manhattan via Paris to Bangkok. Here's how it appeared today in the Washington Post.

French bowling? Yes, petanque's got swank.

Some papers may have used it only on their online version, not necessarily in the print copy, but still, it's a great addition to our Petanque in the US Press saga.
Sincere thanks to Emma Vandore for the interest.

Austin petanque in the press

Photo credit: Larry Kolvoord/American Statesman

Heart of Texas Petanque Club was featured extensively by the Statesman.
Perfect timing: the first day of spring, and a week before their big tournament.

Statesman - March 20, 2010

Juan from Miami also filed a report about the HOT Open.

Austin petanque in the press

Photo credit: Larry Kolvoord/American Statesman

Heart of Texas Petanque Club was featured extensively by the Statesman.
Perfect timing: the first day of spring, and a week before their big tournament.

Statesman - March 20, 2010

Juan from Miami also filed a report about the HOT Open.

Fresno Petanque

Craig Kohlruss / The Fresno Bee

Fresno Petanque was in the news again this weekend, when they organized their first formal tournament. Their frequent appearance in the local papers has certainly helped the club grow at an amazing pace: 63 members in the first year.

Clunk, it's pétanque - Fresno Bee - 14 Sep 08

Latest club news: Fresno Petanque newsletter

Financial Times discovers LBNY

Shortly after the NY Times, now the Financial Times reports about petanque in Bryant Park.

Pierre (aka Pierrot le Breton) indeed deserves cheers for his tireless efforts to convert newbies into passionate players.
The other day I got a call from a charming young lady in NY asking if I had Pierrot's phone number. She was wondering if she had forgotten her camera at the park after taking a lesson from him.

Actually, the same FT reported about La Ciotat, the Lumière brothers, and petanque last month as well.
They even used petanque in a metaphor about President Nicolas Sarkozy (paragraph 8).

There must be some serious boules players among the Financial Times' editors.

More press coverage

The New York Times did a great feature about the petanque scene in NY & Brooklyn on Friday.
Petanque in the Park- July 11

And Westchester Petanque got a nice write-up in The Journal News, with a video clip online.
Playing petanque at Croton Point Park - July 13

Most of the folks pictured in both articles were competing at Smith Street on Sunday.

More press coverage

The New York Times did a great feature about the petanque scene in NY & Brooklyn on Friday.
Petanque in the Park- July 11

And Westchester Petanque got a nice write-up in The Journal News, with a video clip online.
Playing petanque at Croton Point Park - July 13

Most of the folks pictured in both articles were competing at Smith Street on Sunday.

Petanque on NPR

Those who were at the San Pedro tournament will remember Charlie Schroeder, who interviewed lots of players, in preparation for the NPR Program "Only a Game", a production of WBUR Boston.

The petanque segment aired on July 12 but you can listen to it here (last item on the page) .


Charlie spent the entire day with us, and being a lawn bowler himself, it took him just seconds to understand pétanque. Thanks to him and to WBUR Boston for their interest!

Petanque on NPR

Those who were at the San Pedro tournament will remember Charlie Schroeder, who interviewed lots of players, in preparation for the NPR Program "Only a Game", a production of WBUR Boston.

The petanque segment aired on July 12 but you can listen to it here (last item on the page) .


Charlie spent the entire day with us, and being a lawn bowler himself, it took him just seconds to understand pétanque. Thanks to him and to WBUR Boston for their interest!

Las Vegas petanque in the press

Las Vegas Petanque is on a roll!

The local section of Las Vegas' Review Journal came up with a very good story yesterday. How Lisette met Franck Labasse, etc...

In pursuit of petanque - July 1, 2008

(only 88 dailies to go ;-)

photo by Larry Cruikshank

Las Vegas petanque in the press

Las Vegas Petanque is on a roll!

The local section of Las Vegas' Review Journal came up with a very good story yesterday. How Lisette met Franck Labasse, etc...

In pursuit of petanque - July 1, 2008

(only 88 dailies to go ;-)

photo by Larry Cruikshank

Sacramento petanque on CBS-13

Sacramento's TV station CBS13 came out for a live report on the big six-tournament weekend at Club Francais de Sacramento , May 17/18 last.

CBS13 - Petanque Championship - 4:20min


Tom, eloquent as always, uses the very appropriate badminton/tennis analogy to reply to the eternal bocce vs petanque question.
I usually present it the other way round though: pétanque being to bocce what badminton is to tennis.
Why? You can play petanque almost anywhere, within minutes, and the rules are simple. Like badminton. Whereas tennis (like bocce) requires a prepared court - not a common thing in people's backyards - , and the rules are more intricate.

Sacramento petanque on CBS-13

Sacramento's TV station CBS13 came out for a live report on the big six-tournament weekend at Club Francais de Sacramento , May 17/18 last.

CBS13 - Petanque Championship - 4:20min


Tom, eloquent as always, uses the very appropriate badminton/tennis analogy to reply to the eternal bocce vs petanque question.
I usually present it the other way round though: pétanque being to bocce what badminton is to tennis.
Why? You can play petanque almost anywhere, within minutes, and the rules are simple. Like badminton. Whereas tennis (like bocce) requires a prepared court - not a common thing in people's backyards - , and the rules are more intricate.

Fresno petanque in the press

The Fresno Bee published an excellent article about the FPC, with to the point quotes from several players. A must read!
Fresno Bee - June 26 2008

And one more for our list. Only 89 to go!

FPC also publishes their own interesting monthly newsletter:
here's the June issue. In the May issue you can read how new boules are christened, with champagne and all!

Fresno petanque in the press

The Fresno Bee published an excellent article about the FPC, with to the point quotes from several players. A must read!
Fresno Bee - June 26 2008

And one more for our list. Only 89 to go!

FPC also publishes their own interesting monthly newsletter:
here's the June issue. In the May issue you can read how new boules are christened, with champagne and all!

Wrong balls!

The bocce/petanque mix-up saga continues:

Stephan from Jupiter sent me an article from US Airways' magazine about bocce. Nothing wrong with the text, but how about them balls! Up close you can actually see the Obut logo.

Couldn't let it rest so....

"I just wanted to let you know that several pétanque players alerted me that your otherwise excellent article had a photo of pétanque balls, not bocce balls! The brand we import, to boot.
Like an article about tennis, with a badminton net as illustration.
I immediately realized it's not your fault. Most likely the editor bought a stock photo that was tagged "bocce". And indeed, I discovered many of the photos at Comstock & Jupiter Images need to have their tags corrected."

The swift reply:
"Thanks so much for your email, and alerting me to the photo issue. You are right, I didn't chose the photo. My job ends with the writing of the piece, then the art is chosen by the editors. I'm forwarding your email to the editors, to alert them to their mistake."

To all of you who have time on their hands (wishful thinking ;-) , whenever you come across image sites with wrong labels (aka "tags"), do send off a quick note to correct them.

US Airways Magazine - May 2008
Comstock - source of the image

Wrong balls!

The bocce/petanque mix-up saga continues:

Stephan from Jupiter sent me an article from US Airways' magazine about bocce. Nothing wrong with the text, but how about them balls! Up close you can actually see the Obut logo.

Couldn't let it rest so....

"I just wanted to let you know that several pétanque players alerted me that your otherwise excellent article had a photo of pétanque balls, not bocce balls! The brand we import, to boot.
Like an article about tennis, with a badminton net as illustration.
I immediately realized it's not your fault. Most likely the editor bought a stock photo that was tagged "bocce". And indeed, I discovered many of the photos at Comstock & Jupiter Images need to have their tags corrected."

The swift reply:
"Thanks so much for your email, and alerting me to the photo issue. You are right, I didn't chose the photo. My job ends with the writing of the piece, then the art is chosen by the editors. I'm forwarding your email to the editors, to alert them to their mistake."

To all of you who have time on their hands (wishful thinking ;-) , whenever you come across image sites with wrong labels (aka "tags"), do send off a quick note to correct them.

US Airways Magazine - May 2008
Comstock - source of the image

Carolina Petanque on Fox News

The first Carolina Open was an occasion for WGHP to come out and do a special report for the evening news that aired last night. Very well done. Of course it helps to have eloquent pétanque "ambassadors" like Carol & Bob!

French game petanque hits the Piedmont (2:30 min)

Carolina Petanque on Fox News

The first Carolina Open was an occasion for WGHP to come out and do a special report for the evening news that aired last night. Very well done. Of course it helps to have eloquent pétanque "ambassadors" like Carol & Bob!

French game petanque hits the Piedmont (2:30 min)