Lots of parents want their kids to enjoy the same sports they did. Not Mike Ditka. In a recent interview on "Real Sports with Bryant Gumble" focusing on former pro football players who are suffering cognitive issues as a result of their days on the field, the NFL Hall of Famer said he would not, as a father, allow a son to play football these days.

Lubbock earned the nickname, "The Hub City," for the five major highways that pass through town, forming a hub. That feature, along with Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB), puts Lubbock within easy reach of thousands of sports traveling families, and helps the city welcome team after team, athlete after athlete. And while stress-free transportation and outstanding service are Lubbock standards, this West Texas town knows that it takes more than that to knock one out of the park. As longtime home to a variety of sports events, Lubbock's team knows detail and steadfast dedication to visiting teams will keep planners coming back to the area.

The International Senior Softball Association, ISSA, offers 22 tournaments a year around the U.S. Like its athletes, it's an organization showing no signs of slowing down, with participation having grown 20 percent for the last four years. Learn what is new, what is growing and what is popular with this dynamic group.

“Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.”

~Pat Riley