Football, baseball, basketball and NASCAR, all American sports (if you think NASCAR is a sport anyway). These sports seem to be missing some of the unnecessary danger and lame-brain shenanigans that other countries around the world have immersed themselves in. Perhaps you have heard of the Running of the Bulls? This incredibly bright sport is held in Spain every year, which give participants an adrenaline high after pissing off full-grown bulls. These bulls can weigh 2000+ pounds and have sharp horns. Immediately after provoking said bulls, the participant tests their speed against a now pissed of bull in a race to attempt an outrun of the four legged, land animal built for running.
So what about some other awesome sports one can find around the world? For those fans of flightless birds, you may want to try ostrich racing. Topendsports.com claims that ostrich racing began in South Africa, which is focused around racing ostriches. Topendsports.com stated: “Before the race starts, ostrich jockeys stretches and examine the birds in their pens, which is similar to a horse race pen. Jockeys only wear helmets as their protective gear…It’s not uncommon for some of the riders to topple down the ground together with their wagon or if the bird gets too uncomfortable that it tries to wiggle its way out of the jockey’s grip.” Again, like most great things, the United States now also has its own Ostrich racing competitions in Virginia City, Nevada, Fairgrounds, New Orleans, Canterbury Park, Minnesota, Ellis Park, Kentucky and Prairie Meadows,Iowa.
Is running with the bulls and ostrich racing too physically demanding for you? Why not enjoy some camel wrestling? Camel Wrestling originates from Selcuk, Turkey, in which this start more than 2,400 years ago by several of tribes. If you are a fan of sports, but don’t want to actually participate in said sports, camel wrestling might be just for you! Sit back, relax, and watch two Tulu wrestling camels fight it out. Or maybe not, it's too similar to dog fighting.
Scenario: you’re not into physically demanding sports and you are morally against pitting two animals against each other (kudos to you!). Maybe the Kaninhop is exactly the sport for you! Kaninhop is similar (in a way) to horse races, instead it's with bunnies bouncing/jumping throughout an obstacle course with different levels of heights. Competitions for Kaninhop take place across Europe, and are actually pretty competitive. Breeder’s must train an average of eight weeks before a competition to ensure that their rabbit can jump the highest, and clear the most obstacles. Bunnies love jumping, so this sport is morally and ethically okay, right?
Perhaps none of this interest you, but this one might! Have you ever heard of "Harry Potter?" Oh, of course you have. Then why haven’t you signed up for college Quidditch? Modeled after the fictional game, players mount broomsticks and play on a hockey rink-sized pitch. A team consists of a minimum of seven players, and a maximum of 21. Seven are on the field for each team at any given time, those members being three chasers, two beaters, one keeper, and one seeker. Unlike the Golden Snitch in "Harry Potter," the snitch in college Quidditch is a tennis ball placed at the bottom of a yellow long sock which is attached to the snitch runners shorts as a tail. The Snitch Runner is an outside player to both teams and must do everything in their power to avoid losing his or her snitch. It’s pretty awesome, and collegiate Quidditch is a thing.
Sports will always be an American pastime, and some more competitive, stupid, ridiculous, or thrilling than others. The best of the best however, will be born in other countries, and then appropriately Americanized so that we can claim them as our own. Even if you don’t enjoy Baseball, basketball, hockey, or football, sit back, relax and enjoy a beer while you watch your favorite jockey race on your favorite team’s ostrich.
