Can You Help Solve A Mystery About The Ram Restaurant Downtown?

I was having lunch with a friend at the Ram Restaurant in Downtown Boise.  It was a beautiful day, so we sat on the patio, and I happened to look up and see...this?  

Now, I like the Ram a lot.  Food is great.  View is awesome (more awesome when the Broadway Bridge construction equipment isn't 20 feet away, but that's neither here nor there).  I am, however, confused by this little decor item on the side of the building.

Was the Ram in some way associated with ping pong?  Was it a table tennis club when it was first built?  Does this signify something I'm just not quite cool enough to understand?

What's the deal with the ping pong paddles on the Ram?  If you know, would you help solve this mystery please?