Post by Iason Bitxichë Taiwos on Aug 1, 2012 20:13:04 GMT -6
Rather than devoting my time to more important Senatorial duties, I've instead simply been goofing off. I'm currently enjoying a much deserved weeks vacation, during which time I've attempted to avoid getting embroiled in the current moral/philosophical debates going on in the Kingdom. The weathers fine, there's plenty of beer in the fridge, and my thoughts turn instead towards contributing something to Talossan sports. View this as merely a feeble stab at making some sort of contribution to our provincial culture.
With the onset of warmer weather a few months back, I decided to try and find some sort of outdoor activity that would be a pleasant diversion at weekend family gatherings. Preferably something not requiring a lot of equipment and set-up time (sorry, but setting up that badminton set was too much work), and something the grandkids could play without much difficulty. Lo and behold, I recalled the bocce set I had purchased several years previously, which had been seldom used and was currently packed away. I decided to dig it out, and was somewhat surprised when I discovered the balls were the green and red of our beloved national flag. (I had purchased the set a few years before I discovered Talossa, and as the bocce set was out of sight and mind, I never made the connection until I dug it out.) Almost instantly, the thought of creating some kind of Talossan Bocce League came to mind.
Not long after my good chum Vitx became a citizen, I brought the bocce set up to his house one weekend. Over the course of several hotly contested, alcohol fueled matches, the following organization was created (this could be the groups Talossawiki entry...):
A.B.B.A. - Apvieniba Bolextrema Benitian Atgletics
Bolextrema, or "extreme bocce", is a variation of bocce that originated among a certain group of diasporic Benitians. Game play is similar to traditional bocce, except that hilly, uneven terrain is preferred over the standard flat bocce court, and players are encouraged to display unorthodox bowling techniques.
In 2012, ABBA was formed for the purpose of promoting Bolextrema. The annual "Tournament of Waterloo", held at Umberto Granaglia Stadium, pits the top Bolextrema players against each other, with the winner of the tournament crowned "Dancing Queen".
(Umberto Granaglia Stadium, named for the legendary Bocce champion, is in fact simply Vitxs backyard, as inhospitable a terrain for bocce as any ever dreamed of. Hills, small cliffs, and even a vast, swampy sucking pit (where, reportedly the previous landowner had allowed his dead cattle to be dumped) dot the terrain. Such a playing field obviously called for some rather unorthdox bowling techniques. Hence, "bolextrema".)
I encourage all my fellow Benitians to purchase their own bocce sets. It is cheap, affordable fun for the whole family, requiring little in the way of genuinne physical exertion. (If it required much physical exertion, I sure as hell wouldn't be playing it.) Bolextrema can be played anywhere. And it is perfectly in keeping with the (supposed) Italian heritage of our province.
(Of course, a provincial name change will ruin much of the humour behind ABBA. Oh well.)
With the onset of warmer weather a few months back, I decided to try and find some sort of outdoor activity that would be a pleasant diversion at weekend family gatherings. Preferably something not requiring a lot of equipment and set-up time (sorry, but setting up that badminton set was too much work), and something the grandkids could play without much difficulty. Lo and behold, I recalled the bocce set I had purchased several years previously, which had been seldom used and was currently packed away. I decided to dig it out, and was somewhat surprised when I discovered the balls were the green and red of our beloved national flag. (I had purchased the set a few years before I discovered Talossa, and as the bocce set was out of sight and mind, I never made the connection until I dug it out.) Almost instantly, the thought of creating some kind of Talossan Bocce League came to mind.
Not long after my good chum Vitx became a citizen, I brought the bocce set up to his house one weekend. Over the course of several hotly contested, alcohol fueled matches, the following organization was created (this could be the groups Talossawiki entry...):
A.B.B.A. - Apvieniba Bolextrema Benitian Atgletics
Bolextrema, or "extreme bocce", is a variation of bocce that originated among a certain group of diasporic Benitians. Game play is similar to traditional bocce, except that hilly, uneven terrain is preferred over the standard flat bocce court, and players are encouraged to display unorthodox bowling techniques.
In 2012, ABBA was formed for the purpose of promoting Bolextrema. The annual "Tournament of Waterloo", held at Umberto Granaglia Stadium, pits the top Bolextrema players against each other, with the winner of the tournament crowned "Dancing Queen".
(Umberto Granaglia Stadium, named for the legendary Bocce champion, is in fact simply Vitxs backyard, as inhospitable a terrain for bocce as any ever dreamed of. Hills, small cliffs, and even a vast, swampy sucking pit (where, reportedly the previous landowner had allowed his dead cattle to be dumped) dot the terrain. Such a playing field obviously called for some rather unorthdox bowling techniques. Hence, "bolextrema".)
I encourage all my fellow Benitians to purchase their own bocce sets. It is cheap, affordable fun for the whole family, requiring little in the way of genuinne physical exertion. (If it required much physical exertion, I sure as hell wouldn't be playing it.) Bolextrema can be played anywhere. And it is perfectly in keeping with the (supposed) Italian heritage of our province.
(Of course, a provincial name change will ruin much of the humour behind ABBA. Oh well.)
