In the summer of 1984 a Canadian man lay injured in the midst of an arena riot in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
What does a man think at such a time... where does his mind go? Well for Ron Foxcroft it went here...
"IF I LIVE THROUGH THIS RIOT I AM GOING BACK TO CANADA AND I AM GOING TO DESIGN A PEA-LESS WHISTLE!"
As a professional basketball referee Ron Foxcroft had often been frustrated by whistles. The cork "pea", which made the noise, would jam and no sound would come out.
While working a pre-Olympic basketball game in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1984, Foxcroft blew his whistle when a Brazilian player was fouled at centre court.
The whistle jammed, play continued, and a riot erupted. And thus was born one man's dream - to create a "pea-less" whistle.
Despite the fact that no bank would support him, Foxcroft made good on his promise by 1987 (proving that he wasn't just whistling Dixie... sorry...).
The Fox 40 whistle features harmonically tuned air chambers and can be heard over a mile away. It is now used by the NHL, NBA, NFL, CFL, NCAA, FIFA, and FINA, as well as the US Coast Guard, Royal Life Saving Society of Canada, American Red Cross, NATO forces, and many more organizations.
In short, that's one hell of a pea-less whistle.
Wow ... I'm surely relieved that THAT mystery is finally solved. The genesis of the pea-less whistle has been driving me bonkers over the past several years --- in fact, I was once nearly institutionalized due to my frustration. So, thanks Captain. You've done humankind a great service. F.
Posted by: FLUTE | February 25, 2005 at 11:55 AM