Nielsen Family Party: Summer 2014 Edition (aka The Max Show)

There are many reasons to take joy in a Nielsen family party, but nothing more than in the sportsmanship involved in whatever game is played. The Nielsens are competitive, of this there can be no doubt, but there's more to it than that. There's a certain level of theatrics to their game playing, and when we're talking about theatrical game playing, no one is more impressive than Max!

The youngest and smallest member of the family is in many ways the largest. Just look at his croquet style. Though Max's father, Erik, sells style, Max wears it....on his face, and on the croquet pitch (if you can call my lawn a pitch).

Max is a photographer's dream (and a croquet ball's nightmare). He swings his croquet mallet like a half-cut John Daly during a long ball competition! Fore!! He takes corners like Sidney Crosby on ice, even though there's no such thing as 'taking corners' in croquet.

Max is today's blog celebrity for his croquet theatrics. I don't think anyone else in the family comes close, although there are a few 'would be' challengers...