robison@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison) (09/25/84)
References: (wwwwwhhhhhhhhhhh.......) I stumbled onto a remarkable spectacle this weekend -- a game of blow pong, at one of our better-known college campuses. Blow pong is a venerable game. In its early form (which may predate the ping pong ball), it is played by four people sitting on the four sides of a table (card table size is fine). A ball is placed in the center of the table, and all four players try to blow the ball off of somebody else's side. This game became unpopular early in the 20th century (I think), when people began to notice how unsanitary it was. The game has made a comeback now. Its new form is remarkably different. It is now a team game, played by nine (I think) players to a side. The two teams kneel around a ping pong table. The table is divided diagonally by an imaginary line, with one team behind each line. The teams placed five each on the long side, and four on the short side. A team scores by blowing the ball off of the opponents' half of the table. The ball is carefully placed in the center of the table for each point. The players then attempt to "set the ball up", by blowing it TO their teammates on the long side of the table. The "set" ball slowly rolls to the edge; as it is about to fall, a tremendous huff from slightly below hurls it up off the table, perhaps a foot in the air, and off the other side. Apparently, the defenders can block the ball with their faces, but they try to blow the ball back in the same way. Usually a volley ends after one to three big blows and counterblows. Moving the table is illegal. Various other fouls are apparently possible. It could be that faces can only be used to hit the ball while trying to blow it; other parts of the body cannot be used. A game is for 21 points (you must win by 2). The placement of the four people on the short side of the table appears to be critical in getting frequent setups. This description of the rules does not begin to give the flavor of the game, which was between two prestigious organizations. About 150 rooters were present, many watching from a nearby balcony. Others crowded about the playing area. Several MC's announced the match using microphones attached to a nearby speaker. Although each point lasts 10 to 20 seconds, a game takes about two hours. In between points, a great deal of beer chugging is obligatory. Also there is constant arguing about possible fouls, disagrements about the score, and the ever-present obscene ragging of the MC's. A good deal of vomiting is also inevitable, and in general everything is carried on in the grossest spirit imaginable. In this game, one team took a big lead, and then, weakening as the beer chugs began to tell, gradually dropped their lead until the game was tied at 19. Pulling themselves together, they scored two points to win, just in time, as the beer was running out, and many of the spectators could no longer stand and watch at the same time. - Toby Robison (not Robinson!) allegra!eosp1!robison or: decvax!ittvax!eosp1!robison or (emergency): princeton!eosp1!robison