Potentially Cruel definitely Unusual punishment in Thailand

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Plekhanov
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Potentially Cruel definitely Unusual punishment in Thailand

Post by Plekhanov »

Independent
Footballing elephants a big draw in Thailand
By Jan McGirk in Bangkok
21 June 2004

The plan to buy a share of Liverpool FC with public money may have been dropped but Thailand remains crazy about football. Yesterday, a team of 10 elephants took on a prisoners' squad in Ayutthaya, the former royal capital. The final score was 5-5.

They played with an oversized 8kg ball. The human players were rather reluctant to head it. Elephants slid in the mud, but made up for a slow start by using their trunks.

More than 200 spectators braved showers to watch the game. Mahouts from the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal put the animals through their paces. The elephants eventually resorted to stopping scoring by sprawling in front of the goal.

"We train the elephants every day to kick the ball, and to keep from stepping on the other people," said Pattarapon Meepan, 19, a mahout who works at the Elephant Palace.

Prison officials organised the match as a distraction from their crackdown on illegal betting in the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal. Thousands of Thais have been flocking over the border to Cambodia, where gambling is legal, to bet on their favourite teams.
This is just bizarre I can’t even begin to imagine the thought processes of the guy who thought that prisoners playing elephants at football was a good use of tax payers money
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Stofsk
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Post by Stofsk »

On the other hand, this sounds awesome. I wouldn't mind watching it.
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Post by Master of Ossus »

I wouldn't, either.
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Post by Col. Crackpot »

fuck, if that isn't worth the price of admission, i don't know what is. So long as there is beer.
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Post by Alyrium Denryle »

That is fucking awesome!!
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Post by Ace Pace »

I watched it on TV on our news channel, it was intresting, 5 elephants sitting blocking the goal, having the guy work between them and score.
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Post by RedImperator »

Sounds like more fun to watch than some of what passes as sports these days.
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Post by Joe »

I saw a clip of it on the news. Hilarious, I'd rather watch it than actual soccer.
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Post by Alyrium Denryle »

anyone know where I can get a video of this?
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Peregrin Toker
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Post by Peregrin Toker »

Elephant football? :?
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Post by Plekhanov »

Peregrin Toker wrote:Elephant football? :?
Even weirder its Elephant v Human Prisoners football :?
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Post by Howedar »

Holy shit, I want to watch this.
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Post by neoolong »

The thing with the training makes me think that elephant football isn't something that was just devised for the prisoners.
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Post by Sarevok »

Welll good thing none of the human players got killed.
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Post by Master of Ossus »

Can you guys imagine American football played with elephants? :lol:
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Post by Glocksman »

Master of Ossus wrote:Can you guys imagine American football played with elephants? :lol:
Hey, the Steelers could use a good offensive line. :twisted:
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Post by Gandalf »

This looks like a fun sport to watch, even play.

Maybe it'll catch on?
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Post by Andrew J. »

Sounds like fun, not cruel. Call me when they have elephant vs. human kickboxing. :P
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Post by RadiO »

It's fun right up until the point where an elephant commits a professional foul on you - you get both your legs crunched off, and the elephant gets 'sent off' via an oblique .357 shot to the head.
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Post by Col. Crackpot »

RadiO wrote:It's fun right up until the point where an elephant commits a professional foul on you - you get both your legs crunched off, and the elephant gets 'sent off' via an oblique .357 shot to the head.
with a bright red gun of course! :lol: i wouldn't want to piss off that ref!
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Post by Sea Skimmer »

I don't think .357 anything would be a reliable elephant stopper.
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