Residents@JV

Donkey Baskietball II

Groundhog’s Day, 2007, February 02, The Ribeyre Gymnasium Restoration Group (RGRG) of New Harmony sponsored their second annual exhibition showing of the World Famous Buckeye Donkey Ball Donkeys from Columbus, Ohio. This fund raiser, in part of the continuing build-up of funds for, is nearing it’s completion for the renovation of the RGRG approved plan to become a community/activity center in New Harmony. The past few years have not been kind to the seldom used old gym, built in 1924, and is not an accommodating, functional facility of what it could be. Wanda, Debbie, Mike, Michael, Scott, and home coordinator’s Carol, Halleck, and Barry arrived early for the games hoping to get some pictures with the Donkey’s, but it didn’t work out. The Donkey games began at 7:00pm, in the New Harmony High School (NHHS) gym. Unlike like last year’s show when it was held April 01 and it was still light outside, this night was cold, dark and wet. It was not a fan friendly night to meet and greet the ten Donkey’s outside in the parking lot while they were getting prepped. Previously, all Donkeys had been groomed and special fitted with rubber shoes on their hooves so they wouldn’t damage the gym floor. Charles Huck, Treasurer of RGRG and chairman of the game directed the Jacob’s Village bunch to their reserved two front row bleacher seats. The rules of the games were as such; riders had to be on their Donkey to score a basket or to pass the basketball, but they could get off their Donkey to move him in place or at least close enough to make a basket. There were four teams sharing ten Donkey’s; five riders and five Donkeys’ per team. The four teams were: Los Burros, NHHS Faculty/Staff; Walker Texas Rangers, NHHS graduates & community members; Posey County Young Life, a group from Mt. Vernon & Poseyville; and the Rappite Rowdies, NHHS Students. The first game had the Walker Texas Rangers over the Los Burros, the second game had the Rappite Rowdies over the Posey County Young Life. After the first two games, a rider brought the smallest Donkey named Killer over for Wanda to pet and to have a picture taken. Wanda remembered the little Donkey from last year; fell in love with Killer all over again and wanted to bring him home. So naturally, Killer was the one to cheer for, and for a little Donkey, he had a lot of kick to his buck. He did buck some riders off and would drop his head to the floor forcing the rider to slide down his neck. Fortunately, no one was severely injured, although a bit sore. So the losers played the third game with Los Burros going down to the PC Young Life and the final championship game had the Rappite Rowdies winning over the Walker Texas Rangers. A fun and good time was had by all. The Jacob’s Village bunch really gets a kick out of watching the little Donkey’s be little Donkey’s and to see how the riders handle their stubbornness.

posted by J V Resident Blog @ 8:49 AM