Redneck Games Celebrate 10th Anniversary

AP ^ | 7/3/5 | RUSS BYNUM

[SmithL]

EAST DUBLIN, Ga. -- In his garage, Melvin Davis keeps 230 trophies he's won racing motorcycles, go-karts and pickup trucks. But he's best known for a sport that earned him four trophies topped with crushed Bud Lite cans.

"Yeah, looking back on it I'm proud. But when I done it I felt a little silly," said Davis, 68. "People were going, `There's the bobbing-for-pigs-feet champion!'"

Bobbing for pig feet, the mudpit belly-flop, the armpit serenade — they're all part of the Redneck Games, a series of good ole'ympic events for the ain't-so-athletic celebrating their 10th year in middle Georgia.

Started as a Southern-fried spoof of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, with a propane torch lighting a ceremonial barbecue grill, the gag games draw tourists like moths to a backyard bug-zapper.

Organizers estimate 95,000 attended the July event during its first decade in East Dublin, a rural pit stop of 2,500 residents between Macon and Savannah.

What started as a gathering of about 500 during the 1996 Olympics ballooned to 10,000 by 2001 and reached an estimated 15,000 last year. More are expected when the 10th Annual Redneck Games are held next Saturday.

"It's hard to put your finger on why it blew up to what it was," said Jeff Kidd, program director for WQZY, the country radio station that cooked up the Redneck Games as an Olympic publicity stunt.

It worked. Media coverage from MTV to London's BBC has beamed word of the games around the globe.

"We have families do their reunions around the Redneck Games. We've had weddings in the past," Kidd said. "I don't think anybody takes it that seriously. Everybody has fun with it, and that's what it's all about."

The actual events, which have changed little over the years, hew to self-deprecating stereotypes and backwoods bawdiness.

[SmithL]

Y'all come!

[deport]

2001 mud pit

May even see the space shuttle

10th Annual Redneck Games Schedule
July 9th Buckey Park, East Dublin Georgia
------------------------------------

12noon - Welcome and tickets handed out.

12:30pm - Lighting of Ceremonial Grill by L'Bow

1pm - Live Entertainment -

1:30pm - REDNECK HORSESHOES

2pm - Live Entertainment

2:30pm - Bobbin' For Pigs Feet

3pm - Live Entertainment

3:30pm - Hubcap Hurl

4pm - Live Entertainment

4:30pm - Mudpit Belly Flop

5pm - Live Entertainment

5:30pm - Armpit Serenade

6pm - Live Entertainment

6:30pm - Butt Crack Competition

7pm - Live Entertainment

9:15pm - Fireworks

After Fireworks, entertainment continues!

*Schedule is subject to change.*

Don't be square..... be there

[E Rocc]

1:30pm - REDNECK HORSESHOES

That involves catching them, right?

-Eric

[deport]

I'm not sure what their game is at the games.... It could mean a couple of different things I'd guess....

This

or this a game using washers