ESPN Transforms ESPNU to ESPN8: “The Ocho” August 8 On 8/8 Only, ESPN8: The Ocho: “Bringing You the Finest in Seldom Seen Sports” Network to Showcase Disc Golf, Ultimate Trampoline Dodgeball & Firefighters World Challenge among Others Drawing inspiration from the 2004 hit movie “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” featuring Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller, ESPNU will become ESPN8: “The Ocho” on Tuesday, Aug. 8, or more appropriately, 8/8. For one day only, the faux network will feature a line-up of unconventional sporting events ranging from Disc Golf to Ultimate Trampoline Dodgeball and Firefighters World Challenge playing off the mantra highlighted in the movie: “Bringing you the Finest in Seldom Seen Sports”. Beginning at midnight, Monday into Tuesday, the network will air offbeat, alternative events, including: 2016 American Disc Golf Championship: A sport that involves players throwing a disc at a target while adhering to rules similar to golf. More info here. 2016 WFTDA Roller Derby Championships: A game involving two teams of five women each, in which each team is on offense and defense simultaneously as they assist the designated “jammer” around the track. The jammer scores points for her team by lapping members of the opposing team. More info here. 2016 Sky Zone Ultimate Trampoline Dodgeball: Traditional dodgeball with the added element of players using trampolines during play. More info here. Firefighters World Challenge XXV: Firefighters from around the world compete in teams to complete a series of five tasks including climbing a five-story tower, dragging hoses and rescuing a life-sized, 175 lb. “victim”, all while wearing full bunker gear. More info here. 2016 Kabaddi World Cup Final: A contact team sport that originated in India involving two teams and unique rule. The goal is for each team’s “raider” to tag as many of the opposing team’s players as possible and return to his/her home half all while taking just a single breath. More info here. 2017 Championship of Bags: A cornhole tournament for a variety of skill levels. More info here. Moxie Games: An uncanny, new and amazing event which combines a variety of sports into one, such as dodgeball and juggling, martial arts and volleyball, and table tennis and soccer U.S. Open Ultimate Championship: A self-officiating competition with two teams on a field similar to a football field, but the object used is a disc. The objective of the game is to catch a pass in the opponent’s end zone. More info here. A vast majority of these events will be available On Demand on both TV and streaming devices; however, unfortunately, Cotton McKnight and Pepper Brooks will not be on-hand to provide colorful commentary of all these great events.
Anyone remember "ABC's Wide World of Sports?" It's back...in pog channel form! The goal of the program was to showcase sports from around the globe that were seldom, if ever, broadcast on American television. It was actually a pretty popular show. They should showcase non-mainstream sports more often.
I just watched the world dart championship the other week at work....most athletically challenged lookin' dudes in sports! Their trophy looks like a rack of spliffs....
Darts and Snooker got huge ratings on TV in England when I was growing up. And basketball got literally zero coverage. If it hadn't been for the Harlem Globetrotters, I wouldn't've known it existed. (I, and many of my friends, stayed up late to watch this.
I grew up in Iowa....the Harlem Globetrotters were my introduction to basketball as well, but darts go way back in my family...I used to throw with a couple buddies once a week...great Oregonian sport! My father was a Snooker master when he was young....I always sucked at snooker or billiards
Why? They are literally playingvoff of tge movie dodgeball. It's on for about 20 hours. It's just a fun thing
