Comments on: 4 Bloodiest Sports in History

By: Bill Bratski

Bill Bratski — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:57:34 +0000

I went to Chichen Itza where they played the Aztec paddleball game in Mexico. The tour guide explained that the Mayans, not Aztecs, would sacrifice the head of the winning team's captain, not the loser. The gods demanded winners not losers, and it was a great honor to be killed after winning the game. So it doesn't really give new meaning to "sore loser"

By: Tom Asquith

Tom Asquith — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 05:55:48 +0000

Given the Aztec entry, as a former teacher of Canadian history, I'm surprised that lacrosse didn't make the list. I'm not talking about the wimpy modern version mind you -- even with its concussions, fights and smashed arms. I'm talking about the 'baggatway' version played by the Plains, Algonquin and Iroquois Indians. It was a game lasting for days, played on massive pitches, between warriors. (It was more than common to see broken limbs, blood, and even fatalities.) Also, let's keep in mind that these games were often played as a religious rite -- on a massive scale -- with entire tribes, and it is rumoured even entire Indian nations being involved.

By: lalala

lalala — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 01:54:46 +0000

Oh, I'm sure there were many more violent "games" throughout the ages.
Just seemed like a crappy list. You forgot the Romans.

By: beerorkid

beerorkid — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 00:33:49 +0000

We just vacationed in the yucatan and went to an eco park called Xcaret where the evening show involved two teams plating the Aztec game. Was quite cool and difficult.
http://www.xcaret.com

By: kid icarus

kid icarus — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:01:49 +0000

what about camanachd (http://www.shinty.com/history.htm)? i wonder if that's what they are referring to with the x-treme cricket....

By: jeroenemans

jeroenemans — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:05:18 +0000

isn't 'Quidditch' the most popular sport in our modern saga's (i.e. Harry Potter)??? Shows how much credentials the extreme cricket deserves

By: mart

mart — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:15:51 +0000

"Icelandic "sagas" - histories of the Vikings that were passed down orally for hundreds of years before finally being transcribed in the 1900s"

This is not true. The sagas were not oral compositions (although they may have drawn on oral tradition) and they were written down in 13th and 14th centuries, not the 1900s.

By: The Billiards Sports Dude

The Billiards Sports Dude — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:08:50 +0000

Sorry..i will stick to billiards and pool

By: anuj

anuj — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:58:24 +0000

Ridiculous....asians are crazy!

By: violet/riga

violet/riga — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:47:42 +0000

Aztec Paddleball features in the fantastic animated film The Road to El Dorado, including the sacrifice.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:21:08 +0000

you forgot ESCALATOR OLYMPICS