Zero-Gravity Sports League In Development

Jonathan writes "A company that provides weightless flights to paying space tourists is developing a league around a sport that is designed for a zero-G environment." From the article: "The sport is called 'Paraball'...originally short for Parabolic Football," Persaud told SPACE.com. "The game really isn't like football anymore as the rules have developed, but the name has stuck," he added. [..] "The International Parabolic Sports League (IPSL) I plan to start with seven U.S. based teams, plus one Toronto-based team. Initially all League games would be played from the Las Vegas, Nevada airport, but we'll have 'home' games when the Zero-Gravity Corporation are able to bring their aircraft to that many cities over the time span of the league's season."

Comments

Vomit comet meets competitive TV sports

[rednip]

It'll be the only team sport where a airplane crash would take out both teams, the officials, and staff. Seriously, does anyone know how safe these fights are?

Re:Vomit comet meets competitive TV sports

[spacefight]

An airplane crash can kill both teams, the officials and staff on countless other sport events if targeted accurate enough.

Re:Vomit comet meets competitive TV sports

[Pollardito]

as long as we have Jay Feely pilot the plane, we won't have to worry that it has such accuracy

Re:Vomit comet meets competitive TV sports

[motorbikematt]

is a minor death just one teammate death?

Well, I suppose that actually depends upon the Fantasy Paraball rankings ;)

Re:Another exclusive club forming:

[luvirini]

More like 100 mile high club.. but I think the mechanics might get difficult with not gravity to hold you together..

pastime for the idle rich

[pedantic bore]

I thought polo and yachting were the sports for people with too much money and time on their hands. Well, I guess times change.

Anyone want to partner with me to develop league of swimming hamsters or weight-lifting mice? Those are sports we can all enjoy (watching, anyway). They could be the WWF of the 21st century.

But wait, let me patent that, first.

Re:pastime for the idle rich

[cciRRus]

Anyone want to partner with me to develop league of swimming hamsters or weight-lifting mice? Those are sports we can all enjoy (watching, anyway. They could be the WWF of the 21st century.

How the hell did the World Wildlife Fund gotta do with sports? Ahhh, I see... the swimming hamsters and weight-lifting mice.

large blobs in space

[digitaldc]

In his research on space sports, Collins and colleagues have speculated about water sports where space tourists can dive through large blobs of water.

In other news, many games eventually end up turning in to an impromptu old school favorite - 'dodgevomit.'

Wait a smegging minute...

[radiotyler]

Finally, I have an excuse to name my twin sons Jim and Bexley.

Re:So how do you play?

[aussie_a]

I'd say there'll be at least two balls per player.

In space...

[Anonymous Coward]

...no one can hear you lose more money than the XFL.

Safety vs Entertainment?

[ImaLamer]

I don't know if I can take the ups and downs that come with parabolic football...

(maniacal laughter)

Waitaminute ... this sounds familiar ...

[ggvaidya]

Paraball is seen as a cross of several sports...and has a lot of unique aspects too.

Calvinball!!!

Re:So how do you play?

[aussie_a]

Depends on if they're European women or not.

Name of the 'sport'

[Perey]

"The game really isn't like football anymore as the rules have developed, but the name has stuck," he added.

Ahh, much like American 'football' then?

They have to wait

[dvdave]

Obviously these guys are trying to break the rules. When it comes to entertainment, porn has to do it first. FIRST Zero-G porn movies, THEN sports. Duh...

Re:Another exclusive club forming:

[ozmanjusri]

but I think the mechanics might get difficult with not gravity to hold you together.

Some of us are developing "handles" to alleviate that problem.

I'm all for equal access for the disabled...

[tswann01]

...but won't all those wheelchairs flying around hurt someone?

Oh, you said "parabolic" -- I thought... oh, nevermind.

spacefight = Tom Clancy

[Zenmonkeycat]

Is this THE Tom Clancy? I'm a big admirer of your work, and I'm glad to see you're already working on a new book in which neofascists kill the Miami Heat with a KC-130.