Definition
The Nail is a standing high‑jump contest in which participants attempt to touch a nail fixed to a ceiling beam by leaping from a stationary start within a marked circle. Successful competitors receive complimentary drinks.
Overview
The challenge is associated with the Corner Club, a long‑standing sports bar in Moscow, Idaho, United States. It originated in 1963 when Gus Johnson, a power forward for the University of Idaho Vandals basketball team, was dared by the bar’s owner, Herm Goetz, to demonstrate his reputed jumping ability. Johnson leapt from a standing position inside a 40‑inch (1 m) diameter circle and touched a spot on a beam 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) above the floor, where a ceremonial nail was placed. Since then, the nail has remained a local attraction; patrons who replicate the feat are rewarded with free drinks.
Etymology / Origin
The name derives directly from the physical nail hammered into the beam to mark the target height. The challenge’s inception is tied to the bar’s informal culture and to Johnson’s celebrated vertical leaping prowess, which made the nail a symbol of athletic achievement within the community.
Characteristics
- Location: The Corner Club, north Main Street, Moscow, Idaho. After demolition of the original building in 1991, the spot is commemorated by a brick over the entrance.
- Setup: A nail is driven into a wooden beam at a height of approximately 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m). A painted circle of 40 inches (1 m) diameter on the floor designates the legal starting area.
- Rules: Contestants must begin from a stationary, two‑foot stance inside the circle and jump without any run‑up. Touching the nail constitutes a successful attempt; any deviation from the start position or use of assistance invalidates the attempt.
- Notable Attempts:
- Gus Johnson’s original successful leap in 1963.
- Bill Walton’s unsuccessful try in 1984, which he attributed to “too much pizza and beer.”
- Joey “JJ” Johnson’s 1986 attempts, including a disqualified first try (feet outside the circle) and a later successful grab that bent the nail, prompting the bar to reposition it slightly higher.
- Cultural Impact: The Nail has become a regional rite of passage and a point of pride for local athletes and bar patrons. It is occasionally referenced in sports journalism and local histories of Moscow.
Related Topics
- Standing high jump (track and field)
- Gus Johnson (basketball) – Hall of Fame player whose jump inaugurated the challenge
- Corner Club (Moscow, Idaho) – historic sports bar hosting the contest
- Sports bar traditions and local challenges in the United States
- Vertical leap records in basketball and other sports