The Billiken's Bluff

On Sunday Thai prison officials organized a soccer game that pitted a team of elephants against a number of inmates. The officials staged the game in hopes of discouraging gambling on the Euro 2004 Championships.



After reading the lead paragraph of the story I was a bit confused. I began conjuring up images of tusk gougings, brutal stompings and crushed soccer balls. I assumed that this soccer match was set up as some kind of sadistic punishment for those inmates who had made that fatal mistake of gambling on soccer.



I was wrong. These elephants were well-behaved and displayed excellent footwork, as well as body control. The prison officials simply wanted to show that soccer can be fun and enjoyable without gambling.



These inmates sure look like they are having fun.

"The prisoners cut through a forest of elephant legs to score the first goal. But without clear rules against "trunkball," the elephants, guided by their riders, moved the oversized ball easily. The game ended in a 5-5 tie. "

"They are not the best players because they are quite slow," [one elephant trainer] said. "But they try their best. These elephants can do everything."