# Not your usual ESPN headline: "Referee beheaded after killing player" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 6, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799 "2013-07-06T18:35:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/21 "2013-07-07T04:31:44Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I’m going to add that I wouldn’t be surprised if this turns out to be some sort of hoax or parody site. [Also reported on MSN](http://now.msn.com/otavio-jordao-da-silva-brazilian-soccer-ref-beheaded-by-fans)and a variety of other sites. It looks legit. ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/22 "2013-07-07T05:16:48Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > According to Wiki, ESPN FC is owned by ESPN. > [ESPN FC - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESPN_FC) Yep. This particular site used to be called [soccernet.com](http://soccernet.com), and when I entered that as the URL (unaware that they had changed it), it redirected me to [espnfc.com](http://espnfc.com). It’s legit. > [@Baker](#): > > Back in the mid-80’s I was at baking school and a fellow student was from Brazil. Now Denise was following the World Cup very closely because Brazil was one of the top teams. Some of us, her friends, yeah, we heard that Brazil had won in the semi-final game but we told her they’d lost and were out of the running. She started to cry and we felt pretty bad about the joke. So we confessed and she was so happy Brazil had won and was still in the game that she didn’t even mind our tease. Brazil didn’t make it to the semifinals of either the 1982 or the 1986 World Cup (and was really in a bit of a slump in those post-Pele years–Argentina had largely supplanted them as the major South American side). Maybe you’re thinking of the 90s? Brazil returned to the forefront in 1994 when they won the World Cup for the first time since 1970, and were runners-up in 1998 (and won again in 2002). Having several Brazilian friends myself (including a woman I dated for several years), I will say that Brazilians really do come together in an extraordinary way to support the national team during the World Cup–even Brazilians who don’t normally follow club football become devout fans when it’s the national team. My girlfriend at the time was devastated when Brazil lost in the 1998 final against France. This particular story is strange since it involves an amateur club team in the northeast of Brazil (most of the major professional clubs play in Sao Paulo or Rio, and attract very strong partisan support–not quite the same as the nationalistic fervor that grips Brazilians during the World Cup). It’s clear that the amateur team in Maranhao has very passionate supporters of their own–those pictures are incredibly disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/23 "2013-07-07T05:36:22Z")
And people complain that NHL hockey is too violent. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/24 "2013-07-07T10:25:04Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > And people complain that NHL hockey is too violent. To be fair, this wasn’t player on player violence. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/25 "2013-07-07T13:22:23Z")
> [@Gotterfunken](#): > > Brazil didn’t make it to the semifinals of either the 1982 or the 1986 World Cup (and was really in a bit of a slump in those post-Pele years–Argentina had largely supplanted them as the major South American side). Maybe you’re thinking of the 90s? Brazil returned to the forefront in 1994 when they won the World Cup for the first time since 1970, and were runners-up in 1998 (and won again in 2002). > . I could have sworn it was the World Cup but I must have been mistaken, as this game would have been in 1984, not a Cup year now that you point it out. Maybe it was Olympics? Is soccer an Olympic sport? Whatever it was it was important, because Denise was all broken up about the “loss” before we told her they’d actually won. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/26 "2013-07-07T15:57:26Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > The most interesting part to me is > . > > Quartered? Who the hell quarters anybody anymore? Beheading never really goes out of style, but quartering is just Olde School. Nah, Olde School is to be drawn before quartering… ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/27 "2013-07-07T16:09:47Z")
I think this sort of thing would make me more interested in soccer. Maybe they could introduce this to the NFL? ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/28 "2013-07-07T16:28:34Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I could have sworn it was the World Cup but I must have been mistaken, as this game would have been in 1984, not a Cup year now that you point it out. Maybe it was Olympics? Is soccer an Olympic sport? Whatever it was it was important, because Denise was all broken up about the “loss” before we told her they’d actually won. Brazil were runners up in the 1984 Olympic football, so would have won the semi final. They were also runners up in the 1983 Copa America (the South American championship) if you’re out by a year. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/29 "2013-07-07T16:31:01Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I think this sort of thing would make me more interested in soccer. Maybe they could introduce this to the NFL? We could consider bringing back the [Mesoamerican Ball Game](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgame), which often ended with players being sacrificed, sometimes by[decapitation.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jugador_de_pelota_decapitado._Museo_de_Jalapa._M%C3%A9xico.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/30 "2013-07-07T16:38:40Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > We could consider bringing back the [Mesoamerican Ball Game](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgame), which often ended with players being sacrificed, sometimes by[decapitation.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jugador_de_pelota_decapitado._Museo_de_Jalapa._M%C3%A9xico.jpg) _[Killerbowl](http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/038504738X)_ by Gary K. Wolf [_The National Pastime_](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0451129768) by Norman Spinrad (short story) > [@](#): > > Spinrad’s story tells of the invention of Combat Football and its fans very violent enthusiasm for it. It’s a 1973 story but hasn’t dated that much, especially since wrestling promoters now talk of starting their own football league. (Amazon review) ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/31 "2013-07-07T20:06:17Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > geez, I could have gone without the jpg > ☹ Is there a jpg at the article now? It wasn’t there originally, I apologize if there’s one now (I’m not going back to check). That’s certainly not a picture I’d want to see or post. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/32 "2013-07-07T20:25:13Z")
I wonder if he was the Head Referee? If not, he is now. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/33 "2013-07-07T20:52:48Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Kind of makes Hernandez look like a piker. I saw what you did there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/34 "2013-07-07T23:33:44Z")
Arthur C Clarke has a short story where two rival South American football teams are contending for a title. the referee has been threatened and his a bodyguard. After an unpopular ruling the crowd uses their silver-backed game programmes to concurrently reflect sunlight onto the referee,crowd incinerating him. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/35 "2013-07-08T00:20:36Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Kind of makes Hernandez look like a piker. He’s just a sign of the times. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/36 "2013-07-08T01:04:43Z")
And we only YELLED “Kill the umpire”. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/37 "2013-07-08T01:33:50Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > _[Killerbowl](http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/038504738X)_ by Gary K. Wolf > > [_The National Pastime_](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0451129768) by Norman Spinrad (short story) > (Amazon review) I always liked “Roller Ball Murder.” ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/38 "2013-07-08T01:59:33Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Is there a jpg at the article now? It wasn’t there originally, I apologize if there’s one now (I’m not going back to check). That’s certainly not a picture I’d want to see or post. Jpg is spoiled in post 3, not in your article. I didn’t look. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/39 "2013-07-08T02:03:59Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > And we only YELLED “Kill the umpire”. I think it was in George Carlin’s “7 Words” monologue where he suggested crowds shout “Fuck the ump!” Which, in this case, would have resulted in an entirely different sort of story, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799/40 "2013-07-08T04:49:46Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > I wonder if the Olympic committee is having second thoughts. At least they won’t have to worry about head count at the gates. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-your-usual-espn-headline-referee-beheaded-after-killing-player/662799.md?page=3)