In a world where chess can be combined with boxing and soccer can be combined with pool, why can’t hockey, Jai-Alai, basketball, and bumper cars be combined into one awe inspiring game? (Man I wish I had the movie announcer voice right about now.)

Because that would be ridiculous and stupid!

Who would want to do that!?

I would!

These people are far nicer than my friends. No one is viciously smashing anyone else.
Maybe after a couple of more beers.

Unlike the other “combo –sports” I have written about, I have actually played Whirly Ball several times and it is awesome!

Whirly ball is a five on five team sport played in bumper cars on an approximately 4000 square foot court. Each player uses a Jai-Alai like scoop to carry, pass, and shoot a softball sized wiffle ball. The object of the game is to throw the ball into a 15 inch goal located approximately 10 feet off of the ground on opposite ends of the court. The goals are kind of like vertical basketball hoops with a sensor in the center to record when it has been hit. The team with the most goals wins.

These people actually seem to have some skill... but I assure you, none is required.

Aside from that, there are very few rules (especially if you aren't playing a "sanctioned" event). When we played, the only things we couldn't do were:

• Get out of the car during the game
• Pick the ball up with your hand
• "Slash"(hit) people or their scoop with your scoop

That leaves a lot of room for good old fashioned aggressive and humorous fun. It helps if you have decent hand eye coordination and the ability to drive and use your scoop at the same time... but to be honest, it does not take very much skill to contribute to your team's success. If all you did was race around ramming into your opponents, you would be helping your team. You'd also be having a great time.

What could possibly make this amazing sport better?

Alcohol!!!!

That's right alcohol! All three of the Whirly Ball locations in my area have full liquor bars and food. With the popularity of micro brews, these venues have decided to add quite a wide selection of beers. This means that even if you have no urge to smash into friends and co-workers, you can toss back a few while you laugh at your friends and co-workers. And believe me, watching the game can be more hilarious than playing it.

This activity is perfect for work parties, adult birthdays and bachelor parties. I have actually attended one of each of those events at a Whirly ball location.

My brother's bachelor party began as a Whirly Ball location. I learned something very important at this particular event. The referees take their jobs very seriously. They won't let anyone pick the ball up with their hands... even if it is the drunk guest of honor. Spinning around non stop for a 15 minute game until you puke also seems to be frowned upon.

Poor guy. I guess nobody likes him. Glad that's not me.

My favorite events by far are the work parties. Why do I love these so much? Well let's just say I don't love everyone I work with. Because I am a professional, I am always respectful to everyone at work... but on a Whirly Ball court, all bets are off! You are free to smash anyone you want as many times as you want. Sometimes maybe it is even your boss and you spend the entire 15 minutes of the game trapping and smashing them into a corner. Maybe it's just your most annoying co-worker and you do the same. But neither of those happened in my game. In fact, I spent all of the games being trapped and smashed into a corner by multiple people... wait a minute! If you can't find the guy that people want to smash into the corner... you are the guy that people want to smash into the corner!

Forget everything I said. Whirly Ball sucks.

Clearly I am never going back but if you ever decide you want to have a ton of fun, there are Whirly Ball locations in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Kansas City, St. Louis, Seattle, Dallas, Atlanta, Orlando, Toronto, Minneapolis, and Connecticut.

Have you ever played this? What did you think?

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