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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2016)
4C THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016 PARTING SHOT FROM EDWARD STRATTON A weekly snapshot from The Daily Astorian and Chinook Observer photographers Beachgoers frolick in the mist at Sunset Beach in July. ODDITY Redneck (Blank), yeah! Rednecks hold their blanking Summer Games in Hebron, Maine By DAVID SHARP Associated Press HEBRON, Maine — There were no world-class athletes or top-notch sporting venues, but there was cold beer, bar- becue and a muddy tug-of-war last weekend at the event for- merly known as the Redneck Olympics. The event, now ofi- cially known as the “Red- neck (Blank)” after the real Olympics threatened to sue, also featured bobbing for pig’s feet, a greased water- melon haul and toilet seat horseshoes. If that’s not redneck enough, then there was a wife-hauling contest and free mud runs for big-tired trucks. Organizer Harold Brooks said it’s all about regular folks having fun without airs of pretentiousness. “For me, a redneck doesn’t mean a person who’s dumb or lazy. A redneck to me means someone who can laugh at themselves. They’re a hard-working group of people who can let loose and have a good time,” he said. “A big, dirty party’ On Saturday, a cacoph- ony of loud music and roar- ing engines were set against a dusty backdrop in the hills of western Maine where sev- eral thousand people gath- ered. People paraded around in every manner of vehicle: pick- ups, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, go-karts — and even a snowmobile. Many spectators watching the trucks churning across the mud course ended up covered in mud themselves. “It’s a big, dirty party,” said Sara Miller, of Manchester, New Hampshire. AP Photo/David Sharp Spectators cheer as a pickup truck splashes through mud at an event formerly called the Redneck Olympics last weekend in Hebron, Maine. The organizer now calls the event the “Redneck Blank” after Olympic officials complained about the name. Crowds were encouraged to get into the act during the “competition,” but actual ath- letic skills were not a require- ment. For example, one of the events called the “beer trot” featured an obstacle course that participants traversed while carrying a beer in each hand. The goal was to inish quickly — without spilling. There were faux gold, sil- ver and bronze medals for win- ners. But these aren’t Olym- pic events. The U.S. Olympic Committee put the kibosh on the “Redneck Olympics” name in 2011, Brooks said. Big for its britches That doesn’t mean red- necks went down without a ight. On Saturday, T-shirts were emblazoned with “Redneck Olympics” — with “Olym- pics” crossed out. Brooks said his event is more fun and affordable than the real Olympic Games, which he believes has grown too big for its britches. “The average redneck couldn’t afford to go the Olym- pics,” he said. Now available in the The Daily Astorian and Chinook Observer For more information call 503-325-3211 crbizjou rn a l.com