Good Taste, Yes. Good Sense, Not So Much
Weirdly related to the last post comes this bit of unusual news from Britain. While exhibiting a rare outbreak of good taste by banning singer James Blunt, in another part of England people showed a remarkable lack of, well, sanity by chasing wheels of cheese down a very, very steep hill. I swear I am not making this up.
Twenty-five people were injured in an annual cheese-rolling competition, where daredevils chase giant cheeses down a steep slope in western England, organisers said.
Dozens took part in the bizarre event at Cooper's Hill in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, before a crowd of some 3,000 laughing and cheering spectators.
They raced for 200 metres (656 feet) down the slope after the wheel-shaped Double Gloucester cheese, decorated in a blue and red ribbon.
Many slipped, somersaulted and tumbled their way to the bottom during five bone-crunching races over two hours.
No, we here at Blue Crab Boulevard like a good Double Gloucester as much as the next crustacean, but we draw the line at trying to obtain one by committing mayhem on ourselves. Really, it's not all that expensive, now is it?
Among the winners of the five races was Chris Anderson, 18, who knocked himself out to claim the title.
Afterwards, the dazed window fitter said: "I just ran, fell and hit my head. I feel sore but it was definitely worth it."
First prize in each race is a big circle of cheese.
People from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the United States travel to the hill every year to take part in the cheese roll.
The unusual event has been celebrated for centuries and is thought to have its roots in a heathen festival to celebrate the return of spring.
We definitely don't think much of the idea of literally knocking ourselves out to win a race. Or a Double Gloucester cheese wheel. Which of course raises the question; how hard could it be to win a race when someone who's been knocked cold is declared the victor? We suspect gravity rather than skill played a large role in the victory.
We also don't think the event really originated in a heathen festival, either. We rather suspect a dare was involved.
Weird Stuff, World news | Gaius Monday, 29 May , 2006
By Roland Hesz, Tuesday, 30 May , 2006 @ 1:15 am
Can’t see much difference between this and american college football.
By Gaius, Tuesday, 30 May , 2006 @ 5:01 am
Football’s got pads!
By Roland Hesz, Tuesday, 30 May , 2006 @ 5:39 am
Ah, there you go. Good point.
By Gaius, Tuesday, 30 May , 2006 @ 5:46 am
They don’t have cheese, though. Which would make the game interesting.