Demolition Derby 2008 - Coloplast International 2008 - Knock 'n Roll 2008

By Robert Rowen

Tampa, FL - Feb 14, 2008 - They say a picture is worth one thousand words. I wonder how much a sound is worth. The story of quad rugby can be told in sounds. The banging of chairs in collision, the buzzers, and the yelling of the coaches capture the game in action. The hammering of wheels being repaired for a second or third battle, the whistle of the ref, and the vocal support of team members complete the picture.

This is the world of quad rugby. A community of what some might think are 'crazed' quadriplegics and others disabled by many of life's hardships. On the court, they are ready to rumble. They tumble, they crash, they glide in for a score, or they spin out of control. There, they are free from the judgments of the walking as they fly on the court. For three consecutive weeks, I was the sports broadcaster for xAble.com in this new world and I have come away a believer in a game that is still relatively unknown.

I tell my friends, "I am going to a quad rugby tournament in Alabama," and they say "Rugby?" I repeat, "Quad Rugby," and then add Murderball, hoping for some recognition to dawn on their faces. Some remember the name but nothing much about the movie. A few have seen the movie, and they marvel at this glimpse of another world far from their own. I have entered a community where the stars of a movie are just dedicated participants in a sport that many people would not dare to play. These are people, some of whom have suffered broken necks. They fall in their chairs, the whistle sometimes stops play to right them, and then play continues, moving the ball to cross the goal line or perhaps maneuvering to block an oncoming freight train or smash into a player about to receive a pass.

What is wrong with this picture? Nothing!

These are athletes with varying degrees of mobility that are actually rated to make a team. In this system, there is a job description that fits each player's ability: low pointers, mid pointers, and high pointers all have a role. Disability becomes an athletic statistic.

Do you wonder if these are athletes? I have seen the elite members from the best the United States has to offer competing against five international teams traveling as far away as New Zealand. This is serious business. The level of play at Division 1 is split second decisions and full out racing, always maneuvering for a goal or preparing for the next possession.

I welcome you to the sport of Quad Rugby. Visit the xAble.com website and start with Elio Navarro's Sports Show. Then, check out coverage of the Demolition Derby or Knock 'N Roll Tournaments. There, you will see excitement, skill and all the makings of drama, "The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat".