Monday, September 13, 2010

Guys Will Bet on Anything. And I mean anything.

So from Thursday to Monday, it goes like this:

Thursday night, a few buckets of beer, and pretty soon, we are betting the next bucket on whether or not an NFL play will get overturned via replay.  Then there was a bet between two guys about how many feet are in a mile.

Then I made five separate bets, five bucks each, against pointspreads for Sunday, all sealed with a handshake (and did well, thank you very much).

Then two of my friends decided to race the 40 yard dash in the parking lot.  One of them was barefoot, the other one pulled a hamstring.

So today, they go back and forth about the injury, the race, the stakes.  They propose a new date and time.  First its three miles, then 60 yards, then 40 yards.  Then it's best of three races.  Meanwhile, I'm betting yet another friend a Subway lunch that Jay Cutler will have better numbers than Tony Romo this year (don't ask me why).

Then we are talking about betting about my Bears versus his Cowboys.  As this goes on, a half dozen people are in on an email string, and the 40 yard footrace from Thursday between two guys turns into the following competition that we have instantly decided is a great idea.  I coined it "The Mancathlon."  However, a quick Google search and damn it, the name was already taken.  Hence, I must rename it.  Haven't figured out what to name it yet.  Awesomethon?  Stupidthon?  You be the judge.

It goes like this . . . start the timer.

  • Eat 6 megahot wings. 
  • Chug a 24 oz mancan. 
  • Run a 40 yard dash. 
  • Rest 20 seconds.
  • Run a 60 yard dash.
  • Swim across a pond. 
  • Throw footballs at a target until you hit it 3 times.
  • Kick a kickball as far as you can.
  • Hit a softball off a tee as far as you can. 
  • Spring 100 yards to the finish line.
Your final score is your time in seconds, plus your distance in kickball, plus your distance in softball hitting.  You are penalized 50 points if you puke.  

We are going to organize this before the weather gets cold.  I'm sure we will bet on who finishes where.  There will be side bets.  Bystanders will laugh at us.  And we will probably change the events at some point.  

What does this mean?  Guys will strangely bet on just about anything.  I have psychological theories about this, but they would not be nearly as interesting as sharing our new competition with the world.  

If you want to sign up, hurry, because I'm sure spots will fill up quickly.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I kinda think I have to!!!

Jamey Stegmaier said...

This. Is. Awesome. The Mancathalon. I hope you video tape this. Can I place a bet on the time it takes the fastest person to complete the race? I think I can make a rough guess based on the events. I wonder if there should be one event that is pure brainpower--like completing a puzzle or something.

Fred Venturini said...

This will be worth taping. One suggestion was to perform a Call of Duty video game headshot at one station. I don't want to get electronics involved, however!

There is so much possibility. Maybe cut a small square of lawn with a pushmower? Construct a sandwich with deli meats? Throw a paper airplane for distance?

Jamey Stegmaier said...

Maybe start a fire and grill a perfect steak on it?

Anonymous said...

What about Bearathlon, Gatorathlon, or Spartathlon? Or the Top Man Quest? Because it is just not possible for any man to finish this without puking unless he is a bear, a gator, a Spartan, or a man of manly men. I bet you on it.

Fred Venturini said...

I know a lot of guys that would bet they would NOT puke during this competition. I'm one of them.

I love start a fire and grill a steak. THEN EAT THAT THING and keep going. Bonus? Rare meat = less time = MORE MANLY.

This is all coming together.