I had no idea water polo was a particularly violent sport. Then I read this article on ESPN today, really an eye opener! I played inner tube water polo in college, it was violent...trust me it was (extreme sarcasm). The most violence I saw was pushing down really hard on a foes tube and watching them flip over. But when one of the assistant coaches for the U.S. water polo team says:
"First time, let me move your ear guard. Next time, I'm breaking your ear. Maybe knuckles in the eye, see if they panic. When it gets bad is when people try to take the eyes out. That wakes you up, when someone does that to one of your teammates. Then, when you get your chance, you take your shot and send that guy to the hospital, too."
Wow, what is this, prison rules water polo? Apparently what goes on under the surface of the water stays under there....unless you lose control and become blatant, then the ref steps in. "I've had my eyes gouged, [testicles] grabbed, gotten stitches," American center Ryan Bailey said. "There's tons of stuff that happens." You even hear about some centers who have been the recipients of uninvited prostate checkups. (Think Chevy Chase singing "Mooooon Riverrrrr" in "Fletch.")
2 comments:
I never knew this either, until I played in an intramural water polo league in college... and holy yikes! I had no idea!! and that was only intramurals! so I can only imagine what real, competitive leagues are like.
I acctualy play this, but just as a warning to all, you have to like to fight to play this sport. If you like fighting, the sport is one of the best out there.
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