I had this come up in my Google alerts – apparently someone at Landlords Cycling  (they sometimes write books on the subject of bike messengers, so you know what they have to say is good stuff) is none too pleased with local bike polo players coming onto the scene a’la West Side Story and pushing around kids playing stickball and learning to ride bikes.

I was struck by a particular point in the story where the author provided some dialogue via what they heard the polo players say:

(imagine this: some guy with a cardboard disc wheel with a skull magic markered on it getting all aggravated- liberalish, faux-messenger, white dude style. “Hey kids listen OK? Like we have a permit to play here man, and if you don’t get out man I’m going to have to get the Park Ranger. I don’t want to, I’m cool you know, but I will get him and send you to jail and call your moms or grandmas or whoever takes care of you.”)

and also this little feature here:

I used to be able to sit and read the paper and listen to birds and bums fighting in peace-then it all ended because some losers felt the need to impose their dumb ass team vs team jock point mentality on bikes.

(Hey man awesome shot! Totaallly cool brahhhh.)

I get it, you couldn’t make it on the high school football team and you feel the need to compensate-maybe call your mom, tell her you scored the match point in the big, really important E Williamsburg Buttflaps vs the Industrial Park Disc Wheelers bike polo grudge match.

Am I judging? Not in the least. Just thought I’d bring it up so we could reflect on the true nature of our sport in the world.

Read the whole post here, aptly titled Anti-Bike Polo