Fourth of July fowl ball is scheduled at John O’Donnell

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By Steve Batterson | Thursday, June 29, 2006 1:32 AM CDT | () comments

Shaking your tail features and flapping your arms at

Davenport’s John O’Donnell Stadium on the Fourth of July might prove to be a record-setting endeavor.

During the middle of the fourth inning of the Swing of the Quad-Cities’ Midwest League game against Fort Wayne on Tuesday evening, fans will be asked to participate in the Great American Chicken Dance.

The dance in Davenport is part of a nationwide effort on July 4 to establish a world record for the largest chicken dance.

The existing record was set in 1996 in Canfield, Ohio, where 72,000 people shook their tail feathers to the music of the traditional song.

Classroom on Wheels, an educational charity that provides curricular and extracurricular support to a group of central Texas school districts, is organizing Tuesday’s effort. Fans attending minor-league baseball games across the country will have an opportunity to participate.

“Everybody will be doing it in the middle of the fourth inning, which organizers tell us is allowed to be submitted as a simultaneous entry,” said Greg Sprott, director of promotions for the Swing. “Minor-league clubs across the country are joining in to help out.”

Photographic and video            evidence as well as the total number of fans attending those games will be submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records in hopes of establishing a new record.

“We’ll be sending pictures of people doing the chicken dance that our staff will take, and Metro Studios will send video of everybody participating to the organizers to help add to their total,” Sprott said. “It’s just a fun way to help out.”

Sprott said the Quad-City franchise opted to participate during its 6 p.m. game as a way to help out the Texas organization set a new record and to draw attention to local groups which provide similar support as the school year approaches.

Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com.

Preview

What: Fort Wayne at  Quad-Cities

When: 6 p.m. Tuesday

Where: John O’Donnell Stadium

Dance directions: In  preparation for Tuesday’s game, learn how to do the chicken dance at www.whydidthechickencrosstheroad.com