3rd Annual Texas Redneck Games held in Athens

Athens, Texas. About 70 miles southeast of Dallas.

The phrase "Special Olympics" holds an entirely different meaning for me now.

Modeled after an event held in Georgia for over a decade, 6,000 rednecks gathered this past weekend to compete in a variety of events.

Where did they come up with 6,000 rednecks in Texas of all places?

What kind of events you ask?

- Two man teams compete to see who can throw a mattress farthest from the back of a moving pickup truck

- The Spam-eating contest

- There is the ugliest "butt-crack" contest (sorry I missed that)

- The Mud Pit Belly Flop

- ATV Races

Not everyone was amused.

By the time the latest Redneck Games ended Sunday, more than 54 arrests and citations had been issued on charges ranging from public intoxication to speeding, according to the Henderson County Sheriff's Department. Officials are considering charges against the organizer and landowners where the event was held.

Intoxication? I sure didn't see that coming.

"I'm an old fuddy duddy and all that, but you got a vehicle, you got alcohol, and you got illegal dumping, and you're making a contest out of that?" said Lt. Pat McWilliams, sheriff's spokesman. "We are very fortunate that we didn't have a fatality."

No one is more surprised than me.

More info here, if you're interested in upcoming events. Looks like they're planning something for Halloween.

UPDATE: Cuffy Meigs posted a couple of these stories in the comments over at my moron-blog and I missed it. Sorry bout that. I don't really read it anymore Cuffy, I delegate that to my staff.

posted by Dave In Texas at 10:10 AM

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