Mike Marshall is known for his co-invention of the sport footbag

Footbag

A footbag is both a small, round bag, and the term for the various sports played with one – characterized by controlling the bag by using one's feet. Although often referred to generically as a Hacky Sack, that is the trademarked name of one specific brand.Footbag-like activities have existed...

 and the Hacky Sack

Hacky Sack

thumb|right|200px|A Hacky SackHacky Sack is the trademarked name of a type of footbag.-History:The name "hacky sack" came from the 1972 inventors of the Footbag, John Stalberger and Mike Marshall. Although Marshall suffered a fatal heart attack in 1975, Stalberger continued the business. At a...

 with John Stalberger in 1972. Mike was living in Oregon

Oregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...

 when he accidentally met John. John was trying to rehab his knee

Knee

The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...

, so he played along with Mike who was kicking around a homemade beanbag. Mike died in 1975 at the age of 28 from a fatal heart attack. He was inducted into the Footbag Hall of Fame in 1997. The footbagger of the year award changed its name in 1990 to The Mike Marshall Award in memory of the legend.