I read where the 'World's Shin Kicking Championship' was recently held in England. This is a contest where two adult men grab one another by the shoulders and circle-dance about attempting to kick their opponent hard enough in the Shin to knock him down or cause painful submission. I would suspect beer and ice packs to be popular items at the event.
The Shin kicking championship reminded me of a family game reported by my father, which was popular with the Washington Park-East St. Louis Roustio-clan back in the 1930's. Since most of the French-descendant-Roustio's lived on 56th street, they frequently gathered in neighborhood activities. My dad said that the Roustio family often played a game called 'Shinney-on-your-Own-Side.' The equipment and rules were simple...their passion drove the spirited competition.
Here's the deal: Any number on a team. Each participant held a broom handle stick. A tin can was placed in the middle of the street. The objective was each side would strike the can with sticks attempting to advance the can past a designated goal line. The 'thrill' in the activity apparently came from the fact that should the tin can passby an opponent that opponent could be whacked in the shins with the broom stick. I asked my father if the wives got upset with that kind of game...he said, "No, the wives were also playing."
Dad said older family members who could not play enjoyed sitting on the sidelines 'making book' on how long the game would last before a physical altercation broke out. Like most families of that day...they may get into it with each other but 'woe be tide' the outsider to mess with kin folks.
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