Beer Pong: Could Booze, Babes, and Balls Yield Yet Another Sport?

If they can televise billiards, ping-pong or that stupidest of stupid Olympics events, Curling, why not beer pong? Andrew Robeson of Bleacher Report.com makes a very strong case.

The 2010 National Beer Pong Team in action

For the last few decades, a trendy game has gone from being played in hole-in-the-wall college bars to mainstream America.

Beer pong has gripped the nation, and it is showing no signs of going away. If anything, its popularity is off the charts.

Whereas the game originated on college campuses, it is now everywhere.

Family reunions? You betcha.

Weddings? Wouldn't surprise me.

After Christmas dinner? OK, it may sound unbelievable, but the person SWEARS it happened.

Beer pong is a game generally played with two teams of two. The sides each try to make all of the other teams cups first, generally six or ten cups.

Rules will vary, but ultimately the team to make all of the other teams cups first generally wins, barring a rule called redemption—this allows the team that failed to make the cups first a last opportunity to make all the remaining cups.

So when can you expect to turn on ESPN and watch the World Series of Beer Pong?

Well, if ESPN, or any other sports network for that matter, knows what the American public likes, then it should be on cable soon.

Beer pong involves three things that Americans loves.

1. Beer—there is no denying America loves its alcohol, and of course watching drunk people. Take it from a founding father.

I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.—Abraham Lincoln

2. Babes—OK, so this one may not be apparent when one thinks of beer pong. But from casual observance, there always seems to be an abundance of babes when beer pong is being played. Some of the best players I've observed have been absolute babes (maybe it's just that the opponent is so distracted). In a TV format, babes could be even more integrated by making them referees or something of the sort. Kind of like their role in UFC.

3. Balls—football, baseball, basketball, etc. all have one thing in common: balls. As Americans, we love sports that center around a ball. Ping pong is boring. Beer pong spices it up just enough to make it interesting.

If the World Series of Poker can be aired for a week straight, then why can't there be time for the World Series of Beer Pong?

The people over at www.bpong.com have been trying to legitimize the game for years, and have begun to host an annual World Series tournament at the beginning of January every year.

There is even a $50,000 prize, and a rule book that can be read here http://www.bpong.com/wsobp/official-rules-of-the-world-series-of-beer-pong

Beer pong is no less a sport than poker, or bowling, and its time for it to make it to cable.

The motto for a new breed of athelete

A beer competition to "die" for

So, you love them bar games, do ya?  You love that beer pong? Well, here's a twist outta Beantown: Ye Olde Beer Die.

(Graphic by Larry Seil, BostonHerald.com)

(Mike DelRosso, Boston Herald.com)  When Shane C. and Mike H. mounted the shuttle from the Cellar Tavern to Brownie’s Beer Die Open (or BBDO, as it is known) in Abington yesterday, they knew they would not be driving back.

The BBDO, an annual bracket-style tournament in a back yard off Route 139, showcases the game of beer die, a drinking sport involving the toss of a six-sided die onto a banquet table. Players must drink beer whenever they miss the table on a throw or drop an incoming die. With a field of 100 players competing this year - the largest field ever in its eight-year history - the BBDO does not want anyone driving home drunk.

“As long as responsible adults (of legal drinking age) have plans for alternate transportation, they can knock themselves out,” Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) spokesman David DeIuliis had said in a phone interview, in reference to games like beer die. “We’re not an anti-alcohol organization. Our concern is more when these types of (drinking) games are marketed to minors.”

Precautions such as a shuttle are necessary for an event that has exploded in popularity in the South Shore. BBDO competitors play a standup version of beer die, originally an indoors and sitting-down game. Spilling the sport onto South Shore lawns, BBDO players exhibit a high degree of athleticism while sipping suds.

“We may not have invented standup beer die, but we’ve perfected it,” said Jay Brown, who spearheads the BBDO, which grew from a Wiffle Ball tournament about a decade ago.

Shane C. and Mike H., both 25, who randomly drew each other as partners in the preceding Selection Sunday, have seven BBDO awards apiece and perhaps the best chance to take home Lord Brownie’s Cup.

“I go for the cup,” Shane said, in reference to the Solo cups of beer situated at table corners.

“Not me, just hit the table all day,” Mike said.

For someone who’s received three “Plunkster” awards - a “plunk” occurs when the thrower sinks a die into the cup - Shane aims to win games quickly, he said.

Mike complements Shane’s aggressive style with a more conservative game plan. “I think it’s hand-eye coordination,” Mike said.

This talented tandem will need to win six games in a row en route the championship to avoid inebriation. If they lose early, the path to victory will be longer and plagued with potential heavy-drinking games, Mike said.

As the 12:30 p.m. start approaches, official BBDO announcer Tristan Marhette rallies the crowd: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2010 Brownie’s Beer Die Tournament.  Let’s get ready to rumble!”

City Council Drinking Game Arrest

You heard of the drinking games where you watch a movie or TV show, and everytime someone on-screen says or does a particular thing, you take a sip of your beverage, usually beer. Here's an example from the website "DrinkingGames.com":

James Bond Drinking Game

You put on a James Bond Film. Any generation... Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, or the most recent!


Every time someone says "James" drink twice.
Every time someone says "Bond" drink twice.
Every time someone says "James Bond" drink half a beer.


Can be quite amusing, especially when our hero says "My name is Bond, James Bond"

I definitely wouldn't try this one with martinis, shaken OR stirred. Stick to beer, or you'll

But in New Hampshire, two audience members at a City Council meeting took the drinking game to a new, stupid level. Here's the story:

Two audience members were arrested for allegedly playing a drinking game during a city council meeting in Keene, N.H., the local paper reports. The meeting was to discuss loosening up the city's law against open containers of alcohol in public. The men, who reportedly had containers labeled "Not A Beer," would sip whenever there was a unanimous vote or someone stood up.

Were they making a political point, exercising their right to protest, or are they just idiots? You make the call...