When I was growing up in Perth County, arm wrestling was a big deal. It seemed like everyone was doing it.
And there was a certain code associated with the sport. The winners were humble in their victories, the losers took their defeats well. There was always one guy who could never be beaten until he was. Sometimes by his sister.
But I was raised in Ontario, Canada, where excitement often goes to die.
In Kentucky, on the other hand, in good old Kentucky, the stakes can be much higher.
One day last week, a 55-year-old dad challenged his boy to a contest and promptly lost several times. That really upset the Kentuckian, as it might me, to be honest, and so he started a physical fight with his lad. Then he pulled out a gun and fired two shots into the ceiling while his boy ran upstairs and somehow, from there, escaped the building.
Police were called, SWAT teams arrived and an eight-hour standoff ensued.
Obviously, there were more problems going on than arm wrestling losses and, yes, alcohol was involved, as it so often is in skirmishes such as these.
And while we Canadians, in spite of our reputation for calmness, can get more than a little hot under the collar from time to time, I don’t believe we have ever needed the help of a hostage negotiator following an arm wrestling match.
But our ice hockey games? Yeah, we’re down for a dustup or two during those. And from time to time, a hockey goon or two ends up charged and in police custody.
But as we Canucks almost always do, he ends up apologizing.
Even if he wasn’t the one who started the brawl.
Yes, we’re a little weird that way.
©2020 Jim Hagarty
