Balls

A Wednesday afternoon in October 1968. Mud on the playing field behind our school and a bunch of shivering urchins, myself among them, trying to keep warm in the breeze.

Our PE teacher was trying to leverage the Olympics, working, no doubt, on the idea that if it was on TV it might inspire us to greater efforts. Javelins, Discus and the Shot Putt! Fortunately we weren't expected to compete naked!

One of our number was inspired by the Shot Putt to an act of juvenile insanity. He picked up a Shot and put it down his shorts. A second Shot and the other side of his shorts was bulging. 'Hey guys! Check out my balls!' We all laughed, first at the grotesque effect but later when he discovered the dangers of placing 10 kilograms of metal inside a pair of shorts not designed to hold it.

Guess what his nickname was after the event!