The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HORSE

THIS WAS A VERY POPULAR GAME FOR BACKYARD BASKETBALL.
ONE PERSON WOULD BEGIN BY ATTEMPTING ANY TYPE OF
SHOT HE WISHED (LONG, SHORT, OVER THE BACK, BETWEEN
THE LEGS, ETC.). AS SOON AS ONE PERSON COMPLETED
A SHOT SUCCESSFULLY, EACH OF THE OTHERS WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO COMPLETE IT ALSO. IF YOU MISSED, YOU
RECEIVED A LETTER STARTING WITH "H". WHEN YOU HAD
ACCUMULATED ENOUGH LETTERS (FIVE MISSES) TO SPELL
HORSE, YOU WERE OUT OF THE GAME. THE LAST PERSON TO
REMAIN WAS THE WINNER. OF COURSE, WHEN YOU MISSED
AND RECEIVED A LETTER, ANOTHER TYPE OF SHOT WOULD HAVE
TO BE ORIGINATED. YOU JUST DIDN'T TRY UNTIL YOU
MADE IT.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS FROM MY BOYHOOD FRIENDS IN DETROIT.
SOMETIMES THERE WAS A PENALTY ATTACHED TO IT. THIS
CONSISTED OF THE WINNERS GETTING TO THROW THE BALL
ONCE EACH AT THE LOSER TO HIT HIM IN THE BODY. HE
COULD TRY TO FEND OFF THE BLOWS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1963