Congratulations to the Braves \u2014 this year\u2019s World Series champions. Even though the World Series doesn\u2019t get the attention it did when I was growing up, it\u2019s still a fall classic and it really is America\u2019s national sport. Pretty much every country has a \u201cnational sport\u201d of some kind. I\u2019ve been to a lot of sporting events around the world that aren\u2019t popular (or even legal) in the United States, like the bullfights in Spain or the cock fighting in Mexico. But one of the most bazar sports that I\u2019m aware of is buzkashi \u2014 the national sport of Afghanistan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I never attended a buzkashi \u201cmatch,\u201d but I\u2019ve been near when it was played\u2026. it draws a huge crowd of passionate fans, and involves big money \u2014 at least by afghan standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to the interesting choice of a ball \u2014 the carcass of a goat, decapitated, de-hoofed and soaked overnight in cold water to make it stiff \u2014 the players are mounted on horseback and wear traditional Uzbek garb (turbans, robes, and scarves around their waists.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The playbook isn\u2019t complicated\u2026 only a minimally regimented strategy that requires, or more correctly, encourages, no-hold-barred violence. The referees carry rifles in case things really get out of hand. The playing field has no set boundaries and spectators are in constant danger of being trampled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The objective of the game is to gain possession of the goat and carry it to a designated goal The winning players cook and eat the carcass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The name buzkashi translates to \u201cgoat pulling\u201d or \u201cgoat dragging.\u201d It probably originated with nomadic Turkic peoples that moved west from China and Mongolia from the 10th to the 15th centuries. Today, it is played mainly in Afghanistan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game has two basic forms \u2014 modern and traditional. The modern version is played with teams of 10 to 12 riders. The traditional form has no formal teams \u2014 it\u2019s every man for himself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both forms of the game are played in an implicitly political context. The competitions are often sponsored by khans (\u201ctraditional elites\u201d) who gain or lose status on the success of the events. Their purpose is to demonstrate, and thus enhance, their capability to control events in the country\u2019s ever-shifting power structure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From what I\u2019ve read, originally, buzkashi was training in preparation for war\u2026. and apparently the games today look like a time capsule from the days of Genghis Khan, when battle exercises were disguised as sport. If it sounds like this game would appeal to you, you\u2019ll probably have to go to Afghanistan \u2014 I\u2019m pretty sure it won\u2019t be an Olympic sport anytime soon.
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Congratulations to the Braves \u2014 this year\u2019s World Series champions. Even though the World Series doesn\u2019t get the attention it did when I was growing up, it\u2019s still a fall classic and it really is America\u2019s national sport. Pretty much … Continue reading