Ignorant American question about European sports...

[geoschmo]

So I am watching TV and there is this commercial for Guiness beer and it's got this sport that I don't recognize. The dude has a stick with a little basket on the end, but it's not lacrosse I don't think. At least it doesn't look like the lacrosse I have eseen on ESPN2. The stick is thicker, like an american baseball bat, and the basket is smaller and the ball looks like an american baseball. The guy is standing a few yards, meters ? , from what looks like a soccer, sorry football , goal and several guys from the other team are standing in the goal trying to block his shot. He picks the ball up with the basket and flips it in the air and then hits it like a baseball towards the goal.

What is this sport? It looks very rough. Like rugby, but with sticks so you can to beat each other too.

Geoschmo

[Jmenschenfresser]

The Story

Just one minute of injury time left in a tied up in a championship hurling match and a vicious foul creates a chance for the commercial’s protagonist to hit the game winning shot. Stepping up to take the shot as the crowd goes wild, our man's mind spins out of control. His doubts turn the opposition into gladiators bristling with steel in an impossibly distant goal, the spectators on the sideline take the form of Gunmen and bared-teeth primates looming menacingly.

With a deep breath the player looks down. He sees himself and the coveted championship trophy held aloft on the shoulders of exuberant fans, victoriously sipping a well-earned pint of creamy GUINNESS® stout. Inspired by the vision of success he whips the ball up off the ground.

If you want it, you've got to believe.

In case you don't know much about hurling - one of Ireland's two national sports and one we're proud to sponsor over there - it's considered to be the world's fastest ball game. Two teams of 15 armed with wooden sticks (hurleys) chase a small leather ball (the sliothar) aiming to drive it over the bar of the opposition’s goal for one point, or into it for three. Think hockey with a high bouncing ball and you'll get the general idea. It's no game for the faint-hearted though, and can be as aggressive and violent as it is graceful and exciting.

This is taken directly from the Guinness website about that ad.

[geoschmo]

Doh! I could have checked their website. :sheepish:

Hurling. Now that you mention that I think I remember hearing that word in the commercial but didn't realize it was the name of the sport. Looks nasty.

Geoschmo

[Jmenschenfresser]

Looks like Rugby with sticks.

Or a sick Version of baseball where one has to knock the ball down...without the use of a glove.

Come to think of it, everything about this sport seems intent on inflicting pain.

[geoschmo]

Actually it looks to have a lot of similarities with lacrosse. Except in lacrosse I don't think you hit the ball with the stick, just the other players.

[dogscoff]

Come to think of it, everything about this sport seems intent on inflicting pain.

All the best sports are
I'll be posting a new courier story soon, and you can read a bit about a lovely, violent futuresport I've invented.