Slamball. This thing is on right now and I am wondering if people actually get into these things. Basically there are 4 huge trampolines mounted over big holes in the ground at each goal so the tramps are flush with the rest of the court. Guys use the tramps to make big slamdunks ala NBA JAMS. Goaltending is allowed from any shot made from the trampolines. There is no out of bounds because there is a big plexiglass wall around the court kinda like hockey.
Of course they try to make it more “extreme” by having locker room shots of the coaches cussing out the players and lots of cool names.
Now, it looks fun to play, kinda like American Gladiators looked fun, but this is basketball and thats about it. I can see some VERY painful injuries coming out of this one.
I watched half a game one night. Wasn’t bad, wasn’t good enough to make me think it’ll survive very long.
This is the kind of sport that probably bills itself as “America’s fastest growing sport” – since one person probably liked it yesterday as opposed to three today.
I watched about 20 minutes of it at the bar one day. We made the bartender change the channel, because we could feel brain cells dying as we watched.
What it needs is a little bit of the old ultraviolence. How about putting Manute Bol and Refrigorator Perry on opposite teams and sticking to the “no amputation, no foul” rule?
I’m not into any other “extreme” or “alternative” sports, but I like Slamball and hope it sticks around. Here’s what I think it has going for it.
The games are broadcast in easily digested 30 minute segments.
The players are all great athletes, and the majority have serious competitive basketball backgrounds. Despite the name Slamball, old fashion jump shoots can be a significant factor.
The players actually seem to care who wins, unlike what we occasionally see in the four major sports.
Even though there are a number of XFL-type elements, including the announcers (groan), I still think it’s worth watching.
The inclusion of Reggie Theus means it loses a ton of credibility. That guy would broadcast the play by play of rotisserie cooking if it gave him TV time.
That said, I really like Slamball. As a person who has actually played it (not on TV) it’s a blast. It takes a while to get used to the transition from hardcourt to trampoline but the collisions are great and nothing is better than nailing somebody that thinks he has a clear path to the basket.
Mullinator, where did you get to play it? Are there courts springing up (no pun intended), or was this a special event that came to you? I’d love to try it out.
It was in California, not a tryout. I had a friend of a friend kind of thing that resulted in playing a little pick up Slamball at one of the very few courts in existence.
I’d try out if not for job and family commitments that make it impossible. Due to the court construction, I imagine it will be hard for this game to take off on a grassroots level. For basketball, all you need is a hoop and some flat ground. For this, you need a floor that is level with trampolines and an enclosing wall.
Plus, knees and ankles will take a beating. Forget football, I can really see people dying while playing this game.
Oh, I didn’t mean I wanted to try out for the sport professionally. Just get a little tramp time and try out some 360 dunks!
Speaking of new and dangerous extreme activites, anyone seen Scad Diving? Its bungee jumping without the bungee, just a big net hooked onto a crane or helicopter that your drop into from height. I’m dying to try that as well (no pun intended either).
Dodgeball was fun to play, easy to learn, & when I was sick & could skip gym, fun to watch.
Its basic premise is much more reasonable than, say baseball or hockey.
Reminded me of a game from the old TV series The Prisoner.
The players dressed in protective gear and bounced aroiund on trampolines with some sort of pugil stick to swat the opponent. I’ll be buggered if I can think of the name of the game, though.
