Mingle Easy Helps To Celebrate Jim Fassel's Big "Six-Oh"

Jim Fassel, former Head Coach of the NY Giants who guided them through 6 spirited seasons from1997 TO 2003, including a much applauded Super Bowl appearance in 2001, is turning the “Big- Six-Oh” this month.

I will be in Phoenix to applaud Jimmy’s milestone and I have created some personalized Mingle Easy plates for the occasion.

Jim and I played football together at Fullerton Junior College in Southern California. We were part of Hal Sherbeck’s dynasty that went undefeated for 48 consecutive games over a span of four years. Coach Sherbeck retired as the “Winningest Junior College football coach ever.” With some good weather on his side and a helping tailwind, the Ole Coach may venture off his lake in Montana to be there with us in Phoenix for Jimmy’s 60th birthday the last weekend of this month.

Coaches Sherbeck and Fassel have been inseparable since Jim played quarterback at FJC, then later was an important part of Coach Sherbeck’s coaching team. When Jimmy won his last game to secure the Giants position in the Super Bowl, his first phone call from the locker room was to Coach Sherbeck to invite him to join him in Miami for the Super Bowl.

In September 2004 Forty-five FJC Hornets got together in Las Vegas to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Coach Sherbeck’s 1st National Championship team (he had three). Of course Coach Fassel was right there to share in the camaraderie and celebrate the history of a legend and one of his closest friends.

Jim’s birthday bash will be extra special because it was recently announced that Coach Fassel is the Inaugural Head Coach of the newly formed Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League.

Las Vegas Mayor, Oscar Goodman has been heavily lobbying for a professional team for our great town and now he has it and we are the beneficiaries! And we welcome the UFL and Coach Jimmy Fassel with open arms. We all look forward to being invited to the celebration of his 1st National Championship team.

How Did I Think of MingleEasy

The comment that is most frequently heard about the Mingle Easy plates is; “Oh my gosh, this is incredible. What a great idea. I wish I would have thought of this!” Then the excitement usually tempers to curiosity, “How did you think of this?” and it’s a story I get a kick out of telling.

It was a case of “necessity being the mother of intervention.” Three years ago I went in with three other guys that I played football with at San Jose State and we rented one of the suites at the stadium for the home games. At the first game of the season we were at the tailgate party and of course all day long I found myself with a drink in one hand and food in the other. I was running into guys I had not seen in 20+ years (literally). And because our hands were full we were chest bumping to say hi. Then for three hours during the game we were chest bumping because our hands were still full. I woke up the next morning and my chest was killing me. I said, “Hey, I’m too old for this.” So it was then that I decided to invent Mingle Easy.

Everyone who has ever been to a gathering has experienced the social discomfort of juggling their drink to eat and shake hands. So I’m happy to be the one that eliminated one of life’s problems.

Years ago I said I wanted to create something that would sell to millions of people that is inexpensive. We’ve done it. We have a great idea. It’s practical, very effective, and convenient and it’s less than $10 for a dozen reusable plates.

Cheers and bon appétit,

Jim Vernes