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USOC Nixes 'Rat Olympics' in Nebraska
AP/Yahoo ^
| 9/19/03
Posted on 09/19/2003 5:28:32 AM PDT by martin_fierro
LINCOLN, Neb. - For 29 years, furry white athletes competed in the Rat Olympics: the long jump, rope climb, tightrope walk, five-yard hurdles and weightlifting.
Now, the U.S. Olympic Committee says the name for Nebraska Wesleyan University's annual behavioral learning rat competition must be changed because it infringes on its name, which is protected by federal law. The few authorized exceptions include the Special Olympics.
So the United Methodist-affiliated school is holding a competition to change the name of the rat runoff.
"While we're disappointed about changing the name, we hope others will enjoy the opportunity to participate in this tongue-in-cheek competition," Wesleyan spokeswoman Sara Olson said.
The deadline for offering names and rating submissions is Oct. 31.
The new name will be announced Dec. 4, the same day that Gidget, Sniffles, Arwen, Frances E. Garfunkle and the rest of this year's rats compete for grub and glory.
And the prize for the winning entry on the name?
"We haven't established the grand prize yet," Olson said. "It's not going to be a free T-shirt. It'll be something bigger."
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; US: Nebraska
KEYWORDS: olympics; rats; usoc
And Bawney Fwank was
so looking forward to competing in the Two Man Luge.
Guess he'll have to save it for the Gay Olympicstm (USOC-Licensed & Approved)
To: annyokie; bedolido; Bloody Sam Roberts; Chad Fairbanks; Charles Henrickson; Constitution Day; ...
Speaking of White 'Rats....
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Industrial Strength Humor
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2
posted on
09/19/2003 5:29:59 AM PDT
by
martin_fierro
(Great Googlymoogly!)
To: martin_fierro
The USOC is so full of itself. At least the rat athletes aren't drugged to the gills.
3
posted on
09/19/2003 5:31:03 AM PDT
by
mewzilla
To: martin_fierro
And Bawney Fwank was so looking forward to competing in the Two Man Luge. hehehehe...how about the presidential race of 04?...every 4 yearss.
4
posted on
09/19/2003 5:33:18 AM PDT
by
skinkinthegrass
(Just because you're paranoid,doesn't mean they aren't out to get you. :)
To: martin_fierro
Reading this article made me realize I need another cup of coffee,much ado about nothing.
Good Lord,the things that groups will complain about.
5
posted on
09/19/2003 5:44:20 AM PDT
by
Mears
To: martin_fierro
What a freakin' crock. I'd love to see the Greeks give the USOC a taste of their own medicine.
6
posted on
09/19/2003 5:45:44 AM PDT
by
newgeezer
(Just my opinion, of course. Your mileage may vary. You have the right to be wrong.)
To: martin_fierro
I guess ancient Greeks should be sued as well.....I believe they are the ones who started the idea.
7
posted on
09/19/2003 6:00:11 AM PDT
by
TheBattman
(Did I really need a sarcasm tag?)
To: TheBattman
I guess ancient Greeks should be sued as well.....I believe they are the ones who started the idea. They just copied one of Al Gore's ideas.
8
posted on
09/19/2003 6:02:45 AM PDT
by
KarlInOhio
(Fight Czarism in America!)
To: martin_fierro
. . . change the name of the rat runoff. The "Rat Race," of course.
To: martin_fierro
"The White Rat" is his nickname:
To: Charles Henrickson
The "Rat Race," of course. Beats my "Rat-Competition-That-Is-Not-To-Be-Considered-An-Olympics-Type-Event."
11
posted on
09/19/2003 6:57:46 AM PDT
by
martin_fierro
(Great Googlymoogly!)
To: martin_fierro
How can anyone have a patent on a name that goes back at least 2,779 years?
Maybe they could name it after some of the other Panhellenic games that Pindar celebrates, such as the Pythian Games, the Isthmian Games, or the Nemean Games?
For that matter, what's the Greek word for rat? Let's hear from the classicists.
12
posted on
09/19/2003 7:24:28 AM PDT
by
Cicero
(Marcus Tullius)
To: Cicero
For that matter, what's the Greek word for rat? According to this site, it's "megalos pontikos" or "nyfitsa"
13
posted on
09/19/2003 7:32:24 AM PDT
by
martin_fierro
(Great Googlymoogly!)
To: farmfriend
Rodent ping.
14
posted on
09/19/2003 11:33:31 AM PDT
by
Fire_on_High
(Balance is life.)
To: Fire_on_High
Ratcathlon?
15
posted on
09/19/2003 11:34:45 AM PDT
by
mewzilla
To: Fire_on_High
Thanks for the ping. How's Bear?
16
posted on
09/19/2003 12:11:42 PM PDT
by
farmfriend
( Isaiah 55:10,11)
To: farmfriend
Fat and happy :-)
17
posted on
09/21/2003 3:28:31 AM PDT
by
Fire_on_High
(Balance is life.)
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