Dodgeball is the reason why all us Gen X'ers have the thousand yard stare...

For God, For Country, For Freedom! For Dodgeball! ❤❤❤

I truly belive that the reason we didn't have as much school violence back in the day is because we could play dodgeball and throw snowballs and get our aggressions out during play. We could play cops and robbers and "get the bad guy," we could do leg wrestling and prove our superior strength over the others all in the name of healthy, satisfying "good fun" without fear of being called a "bully!" Yes, those were the best days ever!

The bards still sing of the day that Mathew was bested. Truly heroes were born that day.

As a fellow dodgeball veteran, I thank you for your service.❤

The hihg pitched 'PING' that red bball made when impacting someone's face was pure joy.

The Braveheart score was a perfect selection!!

I was a dodgeball warrior as a kid. Thanks for a beautiful narration of a wonderful childhood memory.

We played straight dodgeball and a game called "War". The gym teacher used the gymnastics equipment, with wrestling mats draping over them, and created a literal field of war. As we bobbed and weaved our way around obstacles and flying dodgeballs, he stood high on the bleachers and made sure those who were hit were out. It was the greatest game of my life as a Gen Xer. (born in 66)

An epic tale of the "Gladiatoral Classroom" known as Gym Class - not yet morphed into "PE" - and a memory that has yet to fully recede into the dusty cobwebs of Gen-X historical yore. Well done, good sir!

It was truly the best of times. I left many a friend in that battlefield. Mostly friends with a large girths and slow steps.

The narration, the music, truly a masterpiece my good sir! 😂

I loved that game in high school. It was your one chance to completely annihilate your classmates, especially those ones to the face or baby maker. And it was all school sanctioned. How awesome was that?! Ah yes, being an 80's kid was hell, but I loved every minute of it.

I remember Larry Dunkle in 4th grade broke his arm in the best "dodge" I've ever seen. He might have broken his arm but he was the winner that day.

I can smell the very distinct aroma of the red rubber and feel the particular greasiness of the waffled surface ......days of glory, my friends

Dodgeball was how I learn how to move so fast and not overthink my moves. Life skills.😉

Ah at 8 years old, I had my one and only Matrix moment decades before neo was neo. It happened on such a dodgeball battlefield..

The sound of the ball, omg. It was 30+ years ago, I can still hear it 😂

We are truly the last generation with amazing tails to tell, good times. There's nothing scarier than getting old with no stories to tell, stay strong in weak times.

Man I miss dodgeball...so much fun. The marks you would get from ball was a badge of honor!!

I remember those days. We added yet another level of complexity to our Dodge Ball games, for if your teammates were to eliminate the one that put you to the sideline, you were then revived and could return to the game. Oh the good I’l old days. They are to be cherished.

Absolutely nothing beats GEN-X. Born in 67 and able to grow up in the 80's. I thank you sir for your insight and intellect. I feel like im reliving my early years through you.

As a child, I was blessed with a wicked right arm.. i was always the first chosen as the combatants choosed their sides.. my preferred weapon was the smaller red-ridged playground ball, as it afforded much higher velocity.. my opponents feared the whistling sound of these cannon shots.. I distinctly remember firing a fast round at an opposing player who meekly attempted to block the shot by placing his own ball in front of his face - my volley struck with such force that his own ball was driven from his hands and into his own face, nearly knocking him unconscious.. my side cheered with approval

It's funny how I now think of dodgeball with fond nostalgia... I seem to remember at the time it was a source of panic and stress. Every PE day was a potential day of doom... walking into the gym in squeaky shoes and seeing the big rubber ball rack on the side of the gym with a sense of panic. I was the kid that could catch and dodge but couldn't throw worth crap so I always ended up still standing but basically cannon fodder. Usually ended with taking a ball to the face... lol... good times.

"If you can dodge a wrench...you can dodge a ball."

"When the battle begins, I will find you, my enemy, but when the battle has been won or lost, I seek you, my friend." ~Roman Centurion.

I can still feel the red rubber hash marks on my face!!!

The windchimes kicked in perfectly in time with the epic tale. Even the 4winds rejoice in the defeat of the titan.

I loved that dodge ball was equal opportunity annilation. It didn't matter if you were a girl, boy, eight years old or eighteen. You were all worthy targets of the mighty red rubber ball.

Truly a resonating sound that harkens the joys of childhood. Kudos to you kind sir, for bringing forth such joy in this Orwellian world.

Absolutely love the way he tells his story’s.

Damn, I love this guy’s delivery. Someone put him in a movie, for goodness sake!

I served my time in the Great Dodgeball War of 94. Many of my brothers and sisters never made it home in those dark days. And while we wept for those fallen, we never stopped serving.

Your Song Selection of Braveheart and how well you edited to your video is as Beautiful as your Narration of the Battle of the Dodgeball War's. We Gen. XR's are the Last True Veterans of Dodgeball War's.

I loved Dodgeball days. It was great when your team had all the balls at the same time, and you could strategize who you were gonna go for. We'd pick one person to target, one person would throw high to get them to duck, while the other two throw at the waist. When they ducked for the first ball, they would get two in the face. In 8th grade I hit the meanest kid in our school in the face and bounced his head off the wall, the other kids laughed at him. I thought he was gonna kill me, but he didn't lol. Good times.

Dodgeball and kickball were 2 of my favorite games growing up. Kickball was Dodgeball with bases.

I can remember those days. We did not have ac in our school at all. I can still hear and feel the smack of the ball. Those really were great times!❤❤❤

As I’m sitting here watching and reminiscing on my grade school years and loving this great storytelling the world spoke back at me and damn if the song from my 8th grade cheerleading dance didn’t just start playing on the radio 🫠🫠🤗🥹🥹

You, good sir are like the legendary Viking skalds of yore. Regaling us with tales of a bygone age. Memories are rekindled and my heart races at the telling.

The tears, sweat, and even blood shed during these most epic of battles will forever be recounted as some of the most desperate and heroic moments of our young lives. The hollow ping of these painful plastic projectiles will forever echo in our souls. To past battles! To those that were lost, to those that were won, but most of all to our courage to rush forth and arm ourselves from that fateful ball line and do battle with our peers.

I was truly riveted with a smile on my face. I love the way you speak of Yesterday. Wild and Feral indeed.

Love the “Braveheart” orchestrated score as your background or embedded music.

I'd love to have a few beers with you while the burgers cook on the BBQ .. well done sir!

A most epic tale told by a most epic warrior. To you, my good sir, I salute you.

The more I listen to you. The more I muss my childhood. 😢

Ah yes dodgeball. What a great sport. I still can hear the sound of the ball "PING" as it smashed against my face. Truly great memories.

I'm proud to say that I could've probably gone pro if dodgeball were a mainstream sport. I was a lot like Timothy in some ways, but without the size advantage. I was very fast and could jump out of the gym back in high school, and had a decent arm that was extremely accurate. I have a similar story of impossible odds as me and an underclass skater kid by the name of Micah were severely outnumbered in a dodgeball match (2 against 8 or 9 if I remember correctly), though we called dodgeball 'Civil War' at that time, or at least our P.E. teacher did. I can't remember too many other times in my life where I was more determined, but me and Micah came out victorious and stunning those on the other team who figured they had us dead to rights, and literally wiped the smirks off all their faces. This was also during 7th period P.E. class where all the athletes of different sports teams were lumped into one class, so we weren't up against slouches by any means. Thank you for letting me brag and reminisce about better times (this was back in 1998).

Thank you. Dodgeball!!! The greatest of games.

Duck, dodge, dip, dive & dodge! I loved the dodgeball movie! 😂🤣

This gotta be the best Story Time video of GenX experieince with Dodgeball Ever! Im in tears laughing because you had to become the Apex Predator of the game out there lol

This was awesome, thank you sir. The memory long gone

Beautifully narrated ❤

If only, like the movie, there were actually a professional Dodgeball league. Imagine being able to relive the nostalgia vicariously on ESPN8...

If you can distinctly remember the sound of a dodgeball striking your adversary, and can distinguish between a head shot and a gut shot, you're definitely a Gen X'r.

Warriors have forever felt the sting of sharp steel cutting flesh, the pounding of war hammers crushing their plate armor. We heard the high pitched Ting of that textured rubber ball, the burn of its slap against exposed flesh, and the fire that follows mere seconds later. War is not for everyone. Sometimes I awaken at night hearing the tormented screams of my slower teammates.

Those were the days. I miss Dodgeball.

As a Gen-X PE Teacher and Army Veteran, my gym is a reflection of our fondest memories, dodge ball, rope climbing, obstacle courses, scooters & roller racers at their fastest speeds, and Hide & Seek in the dark. I remind my student’s there’s no crying in the gym, and to walk it off.

Dodgeball only had one rule, Always aim for the head, an then... PINGGGGGG! A sound that will forever live in our dreams of victory and our nightmares of defeat. A sound once heard can never be forgotten. You're hearing it now, aren't you?

In HS dodgeball, I was The Little One and the new girl. While being homeschooled, I did softball, track and field, gymnastics, ballet, and mma before HS. In HS, I did regular PE freshman and sophomore year, dance team junior year and mascot senior year. During PE, I was the new girl and the little one. Everyone matured faster than I did. They were bigger, taller, and stronger. I was little but faster, smarter and more athletic. I did a lot of flipping, tucking, rolling, jumping, ducking, twirling, and leaping around to avoid balls and they couldn't escape my fast pitch. I was both the easy target and the hard target at the same time. They were always pissed that they couldn't get me. Im still 5ft 2in tall after 3 kids i just made it to 135lbs. I still beat my husband (6ft 5in and 330lbs) and kids in dodgeball. 😂😂😂

I swear everything fun I loved as a child has been nerfed to all hell or outright banned. I miss dodgeball, the three story high monkey bars, mary-go-rounds and those huge spinning/pivoting seesaws that lifted you up 12ft off the ground and pray your siblings don't jump off while you're up. 😅

You will always have this amazing battle memory. God bless all of the brave children that day!❤️😂

I absolutely jumped out of bed on days we were playing dodge ball in PE , great memories

Love a good loud "sproing"!

Don't forget curb ball, playing in the street, had to stop to let cars drive by, those were the days!!! 56yrs old...

I love how the wind chimes can be heard at just the right moment of the story.

Omg this is the best!!!! I am crying laughing so hard just the best 😂😂😂. Thank you for this definitely needed a good laugh

For all you Matthews out there. I never could throw like the killers we had, neanderthals that had failed 8th grade twice on purpose just to play ball. This wasn't general population, but middle school football program. The smaller boys were absolutely terrified of getting hit by those fireballs every Friday. I decided to eat the pain and in stead of dodging, commit to catching. With a little practice, I went from last pick to first, hurt like hell but I quickly became the trump card. Didn't matter how hard, fast or mean you could throw it, I'd take you out 9 out of 10 times. Whatever team I was on was essentially guaranteed win. Absolute delight seeing the frustration and disbelief on their faces realizing their physical superiority becoming utterly useless. The reign of terror was squelched.

I was the deflection and dodge king in my day, I wasn’t the hardest throwing but had decent accuracy. I miss dodgeball

Ah yes the glorious days of gladiator school! Dodge ball was tied for 1st, my other favorite gladiator training in gym glass was this truly wonderful game of floor hockey. Much lije the winter outdoor sport, but wilth sneakers in place of skates, a hardwood gymnasium floor instead of tje crisp air on the rink, but a dmaller hard plastic puck with plastic hockey sticks. Same principle of dodfe ball, plus the challenge of scoring a goal to add to your teams points! There were many a bruise, contusion, and occasional laceration of "catching" a puck with ones face. No wonder this younger generation is so soft, they were never left to fend for ones honour and the comradery building skills whilst in the heat of battle.🙏💜

Love this one. Loved Dodgeball and remember square dancing in gym.

I see the beautiful flag of South Carolina in the background! Such a beautiful state, it produces bards like yourself and other such acts of Bravery.

Dodgeball is an awesome sport, everyone played, that was the rule, friends became enemies for a while but all was good and the world was right

Dodgeball was the best ! I wasn’t necessarily so good, but I dearly loved playing it.

My favorite variant was called Prison Ball. Instead of a mid-line, our court was divided like an ice hockey rink with two lines. Each side could go up to the second line, leaving the middle third a barbarous wasteland where you could be attacked from the front, the sides, and even from behind. When you were struck out, instead of waiting on the side until your team caught a ball, you had to go behind the opposing team, in their prison, which only extended a few feet from the back walls. The only way you could get back in the game is if you somehow got a ball while in prison and then struck out an opposing player, or if your teammates struck an opponent and you caught the ricochet on the fly. This was a superb battle primer, as it required full 360° awareness. Strategic planning was also intense, and you had to devise ways of slipping weapons to your imprisoned teammates so they could rise up and free themselves, while also denying the same to your own prisoners.

New fan here. The seriousness in the manner of which you speak on the subjects you speak on, is pure genius!

As last of the dodgeball warriors I 🫡 you thank you for the story brought back the time where three balls were missed and yet one was caught and returned

Tis was perhaps, the best story of ol', you have spoken of. Bar none

Ah, Dodgeball! In the early 80's in 7th grade, our class played the 8th graders. My strategy was mostly to avoid the heat of battle. I hung out with some misfit friends in a corner. Suddenly, the carnage was mostly done. My misfit friends were out. It was me and an 8th grader who had utilized the same strategy. I grabbed a ball as they ran, and my shot won the game for the 7th grade. I totally never dared to dream it would end that way.

Awesome message bloke , let's see how many understand it , hopefully a lot of people do . Cheers from Down Under!

What a poetically told dodgeball game. Congratulations on being so victorious. You should feel proud of yourself for eliminating the great titan.

Team dodgeball is one thing. Free for all dodgeball is another level.

The feel of rubber, the sight of red... triggering PTSD in X'rs to this day.

As you told our tale of old, I was inspired to interpretive dance/ act out in slow motion, the tale along with your narration. We laughed & laughed

It’s truly always a Matthew. Well told.

The great story of David vs golilth the school edition. Many a school or school child from the early 90s and before know of such a tale.

The sound of a head shot was forever ingrained in our minds.

I remember during recess, with the lack of structure of a gym class, we played Poison Ball. (For modern verbage, Dodgeball Battle Royale.) I always preferred that, for some reason.

It's a shame they banned dodgeball at our schools. The teachers said it promoted hate and violence. I say no it promotes the hierarchy of the playground! Great memories of moving up the ranks.

We used to love the days of dodgeball in the first half of grade school. After they banned it, we begged and pleaded the PE teacher to allow us to play it one more time when we were in 8th grade. The teacher got enjoyment when the fat kid got whacked in the face. And as the numbers grew fewer & fewer, those remaining slowly tired but danced and dodged like gymnasts avoiding being pummeled by multiple balls hurled towards them til only 1 remained standing. I miss those days. We grew character from getting the crap whacked out of us and doing the same to others. 😊

Looking back it’s amazing how we could turn every sport we played into full contact gladiator games. Your best friend became your worst enemy when matched opposing each other and when the game ended all dirty cheap shots were admired for the deviousness for which they were used.

You knew what was gonna happen on a rainy day. BODGEBALL FIGHTS!!!

That bit where we discovered that Mathew had been held back, that is where laughter ensued.

We played a particularly vicious form of dodgeball. Everyone was in a circle, one one lonely victim in the middle. If you hit the dodger, you took their place in the center. If you were the dodger and you caught the ball, the thrower had to sit down and was out of the game until the dodger was hit. Once the dodger was hit, everyone was back in the game. The way it was played, the only way for the game to end was for a single, lone dodger to catch a ball thrown from every person in the circle. Oh, and we often played with two or three balls at a time. In my six years in elementary school, we had one glorious day when someone actually won the game. As the number of throwers dwindled, the betting ramped up to fever pitches - more baseball cards and other prized possessions changed hands that day than any other. And I missed it, having been taken to the office for “accidentally” aiming for faces…

A truly unique sound that I can still hear to this day

In almost every dodgeball game, there were moves that would put an Olympian gymnast to shame; and we had no mat to land on, either.

I am taken back to the narration of the 300 at the end by your version. good stuff!

We played a different version when I was a kid. We played it with one person as the thrower and everyone else was up against a wall, execution style. You had to stay in one spot until the ball was thrown, so you had to jump, duck, or dodge to avoid getting hit. If you got hit, you were out. After the thrower missed someone for the third time, it was a mad dash for the loose ball; whomever got it threw next. Or if you caught it, you automatically became the next thrower, and each time it changed everyone else was back in. Side note, if the ball missed on the throw but got someone on the rebound off the wall, it was a do over with the hit player staying in and the throw not counting as a miss. Kinda like a let in tennis.

I am a late boomer, and played dodgeball in elementary school. It included all the kids, boys and girls. A shy child, I felt proud of my bravery in the game. Afterwards, we were able to sit and pay attention in class, our antsyness played out.

There was always that one kid who tried to use medicine balls in spite of the teacher's stern warnings... lol

Dodge ball... Tether ball... Softball...hardball.. Basketball.. There's a running theme here and I think I've been hit by all of those 😅😅😅😅 The punch in the face by a schoolmate didn't count...fighting about who would play tetherball .. That one was esp brutal since it could hit you once and then come back around and whack you again😂😂😂 😂