The Greatest Outdoor Game Ever Created?

After going to a shitty Phillies game today, sports was the last thing on my mind.

Begrudgingly, my brothers convinced me to head outside and play a game of volleyball. I obliged, and although I like volleyball, let's be honest here...it takes a few games in order to get your hands used to the nonstop impact. After one game, everyone was rubbing their wrists in pain, but, despite the incessant gnawing by mosquitos, no one wanted to retire inside.

And then, we decided to play quite possibly the greatest outdoor game ever created -- Newcomb. Although, let's be honest here, it definitely appears infinitely more awesome if you use this commonly used spelling variant-- Nuke 'Em.

Nuke 'Em was created by Clara Gregory Baer in 1895 as an "easier" version of volleyball for elementary school kids (History Lesson courtesy of wikipedia). But, as I'm sure my brothers and Hawaiian cousin would attest, "easier" does not necessarily mean less intense (as my brother's bruised knee will show). You play with a volleyball, but throw rather than hit the ball over the net.

There is definite need to be clever and one must take advantage of the ability to change the pace of the game at your will. Toss quickly, or make your opponents quiver nervously in anticipation of your move. Granted, I think the game works best with two players per team -- much more people and it would be too difficult to find the sweet "uncatchable" spot on the opposing players' side.

Sure, the Phils just blew a ten-game winning streak today, but my team's Nuke 'Em record stands undefeated. Who needs nice Old Geezer Jamie Moyer (or for that matter Misty May Treanor or Karch Kiraly) when you could have Old Man Me on your team? (That's right...I'm pulling out the obscure volleyball references now...)