STL: “Bike Polo is dying a slow death due to neutering”

Bike Polo is a rough sport — that’s what drew me to the game. When I lived in New York I would watch from a distance players go at it in a park around the corner from my apartment that I now know as The Pit. I was afraid I’d get my head ripped off just for watching too long, but it looked so awesome it would almost be worth it.

I finally worked up the courage to start playing when I moved to back to St. Louis. I was lucky to join a club that relishes in the physical aspects of the game, but is also accepting and encouraging enough to coach a rookie into the action. The first couple months was split between players taking it easy on me and getting completely burned. And that’s the way it should be — no one’s going to get anywhere if they’re not pushed around a little.

But I have to say that had I seen an episode like Alexis in the above video before I decided to man up and play, I would have immediately lost all desire for polo. I may be new to the game, but I feel completely safe saying that toning polo down to make it more accessible is a bad move. More great players will leave the sport than will be replaced. If you and your friends want to put together a casual game, that’s fine — but when it comes to tournaments and everyday pick-up games, hard nosed legal play should be expected.

No foul was called, but it still puts a damper on things when someone blows up over the essence of the game. I’m seriously hoping that this embarrassing moment can soon be forgotten and we can go on playing polo like it’s supposed to be played.

pfffffft

Alexis is a good player and a vet at the game. But wow such a baby.

What-nobody should touch him so he can score unchallenged?