Gambling on alternate universes
It’s life: the pretty girl leaves town for bigger and better things which means the boys left behind have to look around and see what’s left.
The shut down of major sports created a void.
Suffering withdrawal, sports fans and gamblers had no choice but to accept other choices.
Real live chicken performer, Casey at the bat. It is too a sports option! (Postcard from Hot Springs, AR/ USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
To fill the void, many sports fans bounced to Ping-pong, but will the enthusiasm last?
While it is a fast moving game and cheerleaders might be more accepted than at e-sport stadiums, can’t see university alumni getting excited and supporting it.
Official Ping-pong Federation jerseys don’t have quite the same appeal either.
Substituting ping-pong for regular college sports certainly could be economical with fewer players requiring scholarships and special dorm accommodations.
Wonder if there will be a Draft for ping-pong team players. Will high schools and universities redirect their promising young athletes to a sport with a future – one that’s entertaining without any boring and unnecessary political trappings?
Remaining to be seen is whether the pretty girls will brag about dating a ping-pong player.
“Table Tennis tops sports with most wagers made during May”
As you expected, there’s some that always spoil the games for others with behind the scenes illegal activity.
“The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement suspended all betting on Ukrainian table tennis on Thursday after the Sports Wagering Integrity Monitoring Association sent an alert over match-fixing concerns.” (scandal Casino.org)
Seriously. Ping-ping match-fixing. Will they bounce back?
Darts and Ice Hockey also got some green approval. Maybe they are just sharper.
The famous Henry had his own celebrity townhouse to lounge in between times at bat. Just how many quarters do you have, kid? (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
There seems to be a surprising number Chicken Baseball franchises.
Don’t laugh. People are getting desperate for their sports fix.
Salary negotiation might be easier with fewer players’ beak to beak discussions, even if there’s the possible taint of bird flew.
Henry apparently got traded several times to different teams during his career. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
All games aside, pretty soon it’ll be reverse route and return home for everyone who fled virus infested cities decided to take the kiddies to the country – for fresh air and sunshine, as they said during Victorian times, to a “healthier environment”.
So many out of state plates were showing up that some enterprising Colorado residents were blocking off parking spots in popular tourist areas or secretly placing flyers on car windshields that said things like, “We are normally glad to see you, but you know there’s pandemic going on nationwide and we are a small town with limited resources…”
So is this yet another Colorado ploy suggesting it is time to leave? What do you think?
“Warning issued after bubonic plague discovered in squirrel”
We know about prairie dogs, but now squirrels? The picture at the top of that story is really frightening!
Take a look. A close look at the picture…and notice the caption says “…Richmond Park on October 5, 2018 in London, England…”
We already have one plague from overseas. Now another? That’s pretty airborne.
The article goes on to warn cats – especially cats who may die from it – and dogs can become infected and carry the fleas that carries the disease. Scare tactics!
“Gosh darn, pack up Fluffy and the kids and let’s go back and take our chances with COVID-19 at home!”
People always say August heat brings the craziness out.
Batting it out of the park early this year.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
“My middle name is Jaws, not Nibbles”. Careful. This San Diego squirrel could be a gang member and carrying! (A. Taveneaus/Commons.wikimedia.org)
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21 Comments
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Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
Great post. I was told, in no uncertain terms by a Texan who should know, it’s called ‘table-tennis’ and it’s all the rage for sports betting in the U.S.A. Keep up the good work. I still love your subliminal cross-outs.
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I am paddle and racquet challenged despite my mom having (university) trophies in both Table Tennis and regular tennis. (It was also “violin” not “fiddle” if you catch my drift HAHA)
Somehow I think she would be astonished/appalled that people are betting on ping-pong much less throwing tournaments. Just hilarious …unless you are a real table tennis athlete…their windmilling and intensity is rather fun, too…but I am easily amused.
Thanks for the kind words and for tabling a comment here
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I’m not enough of a sports enthusiast to care about the lack of games going on. Hadn’t thought a thing about it until now. Kind of sad if you have to get your jollies by fixing a ping pong match. Just saying…
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It’s bizarre. Couldn’t stop laughing. I know Table Tennis has been in the Summer Olympics since late ’80’s, but it’s ping pong. Throwing a game?
Some people can’t seem to stop following the bouncing ball.Thanks for tabling that remark
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Excellent puns! I’m too chicken to play.
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Some daze chicken, some dazed by feathers. Thanks for giggling along
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Some daze I don’t do much at all.
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Who knew people could be so desperate for sports? Any sports? I am not a sports fan so what do I know? I guess reruns would not be enough. Oh, well. Maybe some fans could just get out for some exercise on their own. Take care! Officials here on the coast as asking visitors not to come down and are considering closing the beaches.
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The funniest things are appearing as people get bored. (We have noticed old games of NBA, NFL, and college games appearing on the dedicated sports channels – a bit weird – it’s like rereading a mystery book you read recently – you already know how it ends, so why bother?)
If the schools would start, people who are traveling with kids might go home – that would probably help a lot at many locations. I understand New Mexico is swarming with massless tourists “escaping”…like they can out run it? Pretty tired of human avoidance, but right now, it’s probably for the best (early morning fall walks along the beach – always something we looked forward to,..,.and I will be really cranky if that isn’t possible.
Thanks for brushing off a comment to leave. Hang in there
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Here’s the funniest thing about ping-pong. The NBA basketball players who are going to be in their little bubble are free to play ping-pong, but they can’t play doubles. What? Weird. Just like NFL players can’t swap jerseys after a game. You know — after an hour of beating everyone up on the field in hand-to-hand-to-who knows what contact, they can’t exchange a piece of cloth. The rules are getting increasingly stupid.
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We couldn’ stop laughing. Throwing ping-pong matches? Sounds like a SNL segment.
So much is like taking off shoes at the airport.
But everyone fend for yourself…only get those schools open – at least k-7. The big studies support it. School is the only structure some kids get and they all need to feel some sort of routine…and stop being bored. It looks like a good many private schools are opening in any case.
The old schools with big opening windows are going to be popular.
We’re nearing the end of the July 4th incubation period, so if they open the schools and send families home (New Mexico area is apparently overwhelmed with tourist fleeing “escaping” the virus…like they can outrun it. They need the tourist money, but…sort of like Padre), maybe things can get back to tolerable before long
Thanks for fielding a comment here.
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I don’t worry too much about the plague, the little critters in the Sierra Nevadas have been carrying it long before I landed in California.
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We always wondered why people would want a prairie dog as a pet …considering. Once again a place for everything and everything n its’ place keeps things working well. Thanks for adding a bit to chew on
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What can I say, my friend… this too shall pass… IF they let us! 😉 I fear we’re soon becoming moles in dark rooms in front of screens.
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You have to admit people are getting creative with their time.
Puzzles, boardgames and cooking are coming back in style (nice!)
Thanks for tossing a comment this way
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It’s good that way, shaking up our feathers and re-discovering stuff or even inventing! 😉
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I like ping pong better than table tennis. It sounds like a drinking sport! 😉
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It certainly was in college.
Thanks for pouring a comment
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What… what did I just read??? I’m stuck on chicken baseball.
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You’re being a good sport about it. Your appearances always give a smile. Thanks for hitting one out of the park
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Perhaps we’ll get Cricket with real crickets
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