Dodgeball

When was the last time you played dodgeball? That long ago, eh? Well, you've been missing out! Dodgeball is one of the simplest, most primal forms of entertainment. I usually start these entries with some sort of historical statement, but for dodgeball, I really have nothing. I suppose people have been throwing rocks at each other since they were cavemen, but I'm not really sure when the game part of it came in. However you slice it, though, dodgeball is fun.
Most people are introduced to dodgeball in elementary school. You'll have two teams, a certain number of balls, and mass chaos. Get hit with a ball thrown from the other team, and you're out. Kids go nuts over this game. "Chuck the ball at my classmates as hard as I can, you say? Ok!" However, it's not until they get a bit older that they start to see the subtle strategies of the game. Brute force and lack of restraint are important, but you must also be light on your feet, and quick with your hands. What makes this game entertaining is the second rule: catch a ball, and you get to bring back one of your players as well as getting the thrower out. It's a two-man swing! (...as an aside, I tried for many years to market my two-man swing, but there doesn't seem to be much in the way of a homosexual playground equipment market...)
The other cool thing about this game is its legacy. It seems that everyone has dodgeball-related memories, and it's always nice when we can feel nostalgic together. This is why it's surprising to me that it doesn't have that big of a presence today. Why has there only been one film about this noble sport? Why has there only been 1 American-released home-console video game devoted to this glorious pastime? Why are dodgeball leagues not sprouting up all across our country? The answer? Because it's a silly game. And that's why it's my Thing of the Week!

Next week: This exact same blog entry, but with 4-square.