Spring Break
Baggo makes me gag-go
Michael Bertacchi
Issue date: 4/18/05 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
With the summer months rapidly approaching, many of you are already breaking out the baseballs, basketballs, tennis rackets and even the dreaded Baggo gear. I say dreaded because Baggo has never been a very interesting game to me - not so much because I wouldn't fit in with the people who play it, but rather because I just cannot find any reason to ever want to play such a game.
To the game's credit, however, Baggo is a game that pretty much anyone of any age, fitness level and even level of sobriety can play. But there is a game that can do all those things and even more. I'm talking about the wonderful game of Bocce.
Ever play it? If you haven't, you're most definitely missing out. Bocce is sort of similar to the game of Baggo. By similar I mean that the two share the same "game that you would normally see senior citizens play at their retirement village down in Florida" similarity. The difference is that Bocce is just so much better in every way.
Still need a better description? Take the game of Baggo, and then add skill, teamwork, a pinch or two of competition and a ton more fun than Baggo could ever provide you, and that's the wonderful game of Bocce. Unlike Baggo, Bocce can be played on any surface you wish - whether it be grass, gravel or dirt and requires absolutely no lugging of heavy objects such as wooden crates with holes cut out of the center. Plus, for you drinkers out there, the more intoxicated you get, the more ridiculously competitive and fun the game becomes.
For those of you who still are not sure what Bocce is all about, let me give you the simple explanation as to how to play: All you need to start "Bocce-ing it up" is four pairs of balls, each pair a different color, the size of shot puts (but weighing considerably less) and one tiny white ball no bigger than a golf ball. Teams consist of two players who each get two balls. Teams take turns throwing the white ball, called the pallina, and then alternate throwing their colorful balls as close as possible to the pallina. After all balls have been rolled they will be scored with the team with its ball(s) closest to the pallina getting points. The team who has its ball closest to the pallina can score up to four points, assuming all of its balls are closer to the pallina than any of its opponents' balls. The game continues like this until one team scores 15 points (any number will do, but 15 is usually the best to ensure a long, hard-fought game).
So ditch the blocks of wood and the bags of sand and head on out to Wal-Mart today to pick up your own set of Bocce balls. Or if you do not wish to spend the $11.99 that it costs to buy the cheapest Bocce set money can buy, you could always make your own makeshift one out of a golf ball and eight colorful baseballs or tennis balls, however, you will not get the same effect that you would if you were to use regular Bocce balls. So show the world that you will not be a slave to a dry, boring game such as Baggo and move on up to where the real fun is.
To the game's credit, however, Baggo is a game that pretty much anyone of any age, fitness level and even level of sobriety can play. But there is a game that can do all those things and even more. I'm talking about the wonderful game of Bocce.
Ever play it? If you haven't, you're most definitely missing out. Bocce is sort of similar to the game of Baggo. By similar I mean that the two share the same "game that you would normally see senior citizens play at their retirement village down in Florida" similarity. The difference is that Bocce is just so much better in every way.
Still need a better description? Take the game of Baggo, and then add skill, teamwork, a pinch or two of competition and a ton more fun than Baggo could ever provide you, and that's the wonderful game of Bocce. Unlike Baggo, Bocce can be played on any surface you wish - whether it be grass, gravel or dirt and requires absolutely no lugging of heavy objects such as wooden crates with holes cut out of the center. Plus, for you drinkers out there, the more intoxicated you get, the more ridiculously competitive and fun the game becomes.
For those of you who still are not sure what Bocce is all about, let me give you the simple explanation as to how to play: All you need to start "Bocce-ing it up" is four pairs of balls, each pair a different color, the size of shot puts (but weighing considerably less) and one tiny white ball no bigger than a golf ball. Teams consist of two players who each get two balls. Teams take turns throwing the white ball, called the pallina, and then alternate throwing their colorful balls as close as possible to the pallina. After all balls have been rolled they will be scored with the team with its ball(s) closest to the pallina getting points. The team who has its ball closest to the pallina can score up to four points, assuming all of its balls are closer to the pallina than any of its opponents' balls. The game continues like this until one team scores 15 points (any number will do, but 15 is usually the best to ensure a long, hard-fought game).
So ditch the blocks of wood and the bags of sand and head on out to Wal-Mart today to pick up your own set of Bocce balls. Or if you do not wish to spend the $11.99 that it costs to buy the cheapest Bocce set money can buy, you could always make your own makeshift one out of a golf ball and eight colorful baseballs or tennis balls, however, you will not get the same effect that you would if you were to use regular Bocce balls. So show the world that you will not be a slave to a dry, boring game such as Baggo and move on up to where the real fun is.
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