2024 Thursday Night Mowing League Opening Day
The smell of freshly cut grass, the birds chirping at the end of the night & the beginning of a new season of Thursday Night Mowing League
As we begin the fourth year of the TNML, I'm left wondering why the grass gods picked me to go on this journey as the commissioner of an online mowing league made up of some of the finest & kindest people this country has to offer.
A couple of weeks ago, T.J. Bollmer, the 2023 National Mower of the Year, was traveling from Arizona to Ohio while wearing one of his Thursday Night Mowing League shirts when someone on the plane said, "Hey there's one of those Joe Kinsey shirts."
Talk about an honor.
When random people across this country start to recognize what's being built here and correlate the TNML as a member of pop culture, it's a testament to those who have built this league – you guys.
There's no league if Bollmer isn't wearing the TNML gear on flights. There's no league if Gator Tim doesn't create his very own TNML trading card back in 2022. This league doesn't exist without the likes of Mike Freshwater in Dayton, Ohio who sings the praises of TNML year-round. The league doesn't exist without Coach Dave and Colt Bradford in Texas, who have had students make GameDay-inspired TNML signs.
How do we scale TNML in 2024?
- The National Mower of the Year program – it's important for this league to have an ambassador.
- Thursday Night Mowing League spots on Fox Weather. This has been my goal and this season, I will not stop pushing until executives tell me it's 100% not going to happen.
- Facebook/Instagram. If you're on Facebook, you've already noticed the push. While Twitter is a great place to have fast conversations, Facebook is a great place for people to organically learn about TNML as it is pumped into their homepage. We're in growth mode and it's a race to grab eyeballs.
- Beer sponsor. I've said it from the beginning, this league will have arrived when it finds an official beer sponsor. It's going to happen this year. Besides the Fox Weather goal, this is goal 1b and it crosses my mind nearly every single day. Why is it important? Because it's validation. It's a major psychological hurdle where a brand sees the vision and wants to join forces on one helluva American project like TNML. That said, I'm also in the market for an official sausage and hot dog of the TNML. Imagine TNML commercials for sausage. I can.
- National championship event. This might be a 2025 goal after 1a and 1b fall into place, but it's imperative that we get to the point where there's an ultimate prize that we're playing for. It might be money; it might be money and gear. My vision is for the league to have a skills competition with judges, sponsors and fans in the stands like American Ninja Warrior.
The foundation of this league has been set. Now it's time to share the TNML ideals with the rest of the country: take pride in property and community.
With that, the race to October and the announcement of our 2024 National Mower of the Year begins.
Good luck.
Week One TNML honors
We're going to do things a little different this season. Instead of ranking which person made the best video, we're going to rank those who have put in the work on and off the turf. Mowing and pride in property will carry significant weight this season.
1. Shannon Blackburn
2. Fink
3. T.J. Bollmer
4. Mike Freshwater
5. Diesel Renius
Special mention: Ramdog
I continue to be impressed by this property and how Ramdog's lawn compliments an amazing array of trees and bushes.
Do you need a TNML-inspired playlist?
Mike Freshwater has you covered. Do you have a song that needs added? Send a message to Mike. He's one of the nicest guys you're ever going to meet in this league. He'd love to hear from you.
But I have an electric mower…can I still be a member of TNML?
YES.
It's very important for me to go over this one again because there's this notion out there that TNML is anti-electric mowers.
Remember the rules TNML lives by: take pride in property and community.
This league is anti-government telling us how we're going to mow our lawns and take care of our property. We have thousands of league members who have beautiful lawns and acres of wildflowers where pollinators enjoy an incredible life.
‘I’m retired and gave up mowing. I can't be a member'
Nonsense.
Show off the work of your landscapers and give them some appreciation. Be a resource to rookies who want to have beautiful lawns and landscaping. Answer questions. Share your wisdom. Share the tricks you've learned in life.
TNML is more than the greatest mowing league in the world. It's a group of the greatest and kindest people in the world. Don't believe me? Hang out a little bit. You'll see.
BUY! BUY! BUY!
Reminder: If you want the 2024 TNML polo that everyone is going nuts over, you need to pre-order for the May 15 shipment date. I don't know when they're cutting off orders for the May 15 shipment date. My advice: order the polo, sit back and relax.
It'll get to your door, you'll throw it on and it'll cause a scene at the golf course, the bar, the restaurant, the country club, etc. Just buy it.
Mowing Reports From Across The U.S. and Beyond!
- Rob in NC writes:
Joe...maybe too late but had to get an OG post in if possible, couldn't get to it last night due to we mowed others til dark....got it this am before the wife and I head to a quick mtn trip...nasties sponsored by 48 in toro grande....happy opening day...keep on keeping on
via Rob S. in NC
- Greg in suburban Dayton, OH writes:
Opening day for TNML was a huge success for me. I feel like I pitched a complete game no-hit shutout. It wasn't a perfect game, but felt damn close. The training (oil change, filter replacements, blade sharpening, & greasing) I did over the winter paid off. I'm thinking about buying a drone just so I can get a bird's eye view so I can tweak my craft. To celebrate my accomplishment, I poured myself two fingers of Blanton's.
I will put my stripes up against anyones. If there are haters that think I outsource, then I'm happy to provide video evidence.
- Candler in Duluth, GA celebrates the start of another season:
It felt great to shake off the rust and get back into the Thursday night groove tonight. We are three weeks into the wiffle ball season at our house, and the turf is already taking a beating. It’s worth it though. We can’t forget that the purpose of a nice backyard is to have a place to have fun!
Below is a picture of some new additions to the field for this year. We’ve added a proper pitcher’s mound, foul poles to limit controversy, video replay, and flags in right center field. One of the kids in the neighborhood is half Hungarian, so we play the Hungarian national anthem and the Star Spangled banner before first pitch.
Now that the yard work is taken care of, we’ve got a WIDE OPEN Saturday and most likely will be working in an afternoon doubleheader. This is why we mow on Thursdays!
Happy Opening Day to all!
- Mike T. in Idaho writes:
Greetings from beautiful Eagle, Idaho
It’s still early spring here in the mountain west (29* this AM) but everything, including my lawn is greening up nicely.
Did some rearranging in the yard this fall and winter and removed a large Maple tree, grass is filling in the spot nicely.
Happy mowing to the team, enjoy your power tools
- Beau in Toledo writes:
#TNML Opening Day deserves Diagonal Stripes
- Adam W. in Nebraska had an issue on Opening Night:
The beer from Corncoast Brewing was great. 38 degrees, and a No Mow in the Nebraska Panhandle
Gonna take an L this week, but it’s great to be back
- Tim G., my 2-Club invitational partner, writes:
Had an interesting opening day - had to mow on Wednesday due to a rescheduled baseball doubleheader now on Thursday. Got the hurried mow in just before a nasty thunderstorm with high winds and hail. This pic is from this morning. Wednesday’s pic was postponed due to rain and I didn't get home on Thursday before dark. Beautiful stripes all weekend is well worth this battle with Mother Nature!
- Allen in Texas says:
Happy opening day! 20 year old lawn boy push mower and 19 year old John Deere riding mower running like champs in League City TX.
- Nate in Columbus checks in:
Great day today commish. Opening day in the books. Well on our way to a solid base for the kids to enjoy over the next six months.
- Rory writes:
New steering column installed for opening day.
Just to add. Having a brother who did 20 years at Lowe’s and is an avid deal shopper, woot regularly has 60v Dewalt equipment w/ battery & charger for 20-30% below stores.
Got blower & trimmer and they are machines. Will always stay gas on the mower, but no more 2 cycle non-ethanol here.
