I Guess the Ends Justify the Means, But It Still Doesn’t Seem Right

humor, lessons learned, sports 1 Minute

It’s halftime of the Ohio State – Wisconsin football game and the Dr. Pepper Challenge comes on.

The challenge pits two college students against each other to see who can throw the most footballs into a round opening about 5 yards away.

Let me emphasize that they were throwing footballs.

But you wouldn’t know it by the way the two competitors threw the ball. They were throwing what would be referred to as a chest pass in basketball.

Here’s a video from a contest back in 2013, which featured a guy throwing like a football player versus a gal throwing like a basketball player – the gal wins.

It wasn’t always like this. Here’s a tweet from a Rodger Sherman that offers a quick summary of the history of the challenge:

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
So it looks like someone in 2009 decided to think outside the box and realized there was no rule that required the ball to be thrown like a football pass and went with the chest pass.

And the rest is history.

Until last night, that is. At halftime of the Pac-12 championship game, the winner threw football passes instead of basketball passes, and some fans on Twitter rejoiced.

And I guess I would join in their rejoicing.

While I understand the goal of the game is to throw as many footballs into the hole as possible, using any form allowable, to me the chest pass violates the spirit of the contest.

I hope Destiny’s win last night prompts Dr. Pepper to make a rule change that only allows one-handed passes, which will likely lead to the players making a traditional football pass.

Until then, congrats to the winners! In this case, the ends certainly justify the means.

Published by Jim Borden

A 60-something guy trying to figure out the world, and his place in it. Happily married for 40-plus years, three wonderful sons. Accounting teacher, fitness enthusiast, blogger, reader.

Published

11 thoughts on “I Guess the Ends Justify the Means, But It Still Doesn’t Seem Right”

  2. It was odd to watch, until I realized that every contestant was using the same technique. The only thing remotely football like was the fact they used footballs. But that being said, I do love the fact that both contestants win money for the education!

    Like

    Reply

    1. I agree that it is a bit goofy. And I generally agree that the ends do not justify the means, but in this case there were no ethical violations that took place, so I was OK with the odd way many of the contestants threw the football.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment