Hall of Pain
Skin Ripped Off (Again)
Dude, you got some debris in there. Looks like dog hair.
Christian has done this more than once. At least this time we can see the muscle striations under his skin. At least that's what I think it is. Maybe our medical expert, Dana the Braina, can tell me what those vertical lines are.
Poked Himself in the Eye
A haiku:
Don't know how or why
he poked himself in the eye.
Perhaps he will cry.
Squarefour's First Broken Bones
Over the last seven years of four square league play in Cambridge, we have been fortunate enough to remain relatively injury free. That is until this year. This is a photo of the shiny new apparatus that Sevn gets to wear while the bones in his hand mend. On March 21 he busted either a metacarpal, proximal, or middle phlange (one of those hand bones) while playing our beloved game. This may take him out for the remaining two games of the season, so if you would like to wish him well, you can drop him an email here.
Badly Beat Knee
Mirc Hirsh came within a stones throw of the mens world champ title, but wins one of the top awards for carnage with his day-after knee photo.
Skin Ripped Off
Ouch. Christian Housh got this on the very first play of the very first round of the World Champs, and played all the way through to win the title at the end of the night. Good thing that former Ladies World Champ Dana Ostberg was on hand to administer first aid.
Crushed Collar Bone
You know I don't want to cheapen the Hall of Pain with so many non-four square related injuries but it's worth mentioning our league member, Amos, and his crushed collar bone. He earned this on his bike this month and as you can see it will likely take him out of the season for a little while. We got together and all autographed a ball for him to keep in the house and fill him with purpose while he heals. He writes us from his percoset-lair:
More hip injuries
Christian Housh, a regular contributor to the Hall of Pain, turn in this hip shiner from the Nov 22, 2009, season game. While I certainly didn't see it happen, I can claim to have heard the flesh-on-floor screech that caused it.
Repetitive Injury
Amos shredded his knee, again, playing four square, again. He needs some knee pads so we can keep the carnage to a minimum.
Nearly a second smile
Amy took a sled in the face on the morning after the world champs. Good thing she is working on an education in the health care industry or she might have flipped out.
Four Stitches in the Face
One of the women of Squarefour took a serious injury to the chin on the weekend of the Four Square World Championships in Bridgton, ME, in February of 2009. Amy incurred a grizzly cut on her lower lip that required four stitches right in the kisser.
You might think this injury was earned on the court as she did make it deep into the final round of the championship competition. But, alas, it happened when crash landing in a super-dangerous sled during the traditional consolation wintertime activity on the morning following the match.
Grizzly Knee Scrape
The photo doesn't do justice to Amos' knee. It doesn't quite capture the nice round spot he left on the floor when he kneeled down to tie his shoelaces. And these stupid cell phone cameras are never what they suggest to be, that is, good at anything. Sorry for the fuzzy photo of the shredded flesh, but maybe it's better that way.
Boston Globe Ice Pack
Molly didn't earn this injury at four square, but she did ice up and play with this injury last week. That is hardcore.
Big Bad Bruise
Ashley, apparently, tore it up at the world champs this last Jan. I don't know what kind of conditions led to this injury, whether it was slippery conditions, low visibility, collision with another player, or what, but it must have been a pretty decent hit. She looks in good spirits.
This photo was ganked off her MySpace page without her permission so we hope it doesn't come back to bite us.
Not entirely from four square...
Not entirely from four square, but certainly wouldn't have happened if it weren't for four square. Its from a basketball backboard falling on top of one of our members after he antagonized it with enough malice. He barely escaped with his life, or his wrist. Chances are it looks even nastier on the day after than it does here.
Shredded Knees
Our newest entry into the Four Square Hall of Pain, this young player shredded his pants and flesh in a death defying clobber against his fellow grade schoolers. This injury was proudly earned at the Four Square World Championships in Bridgton, ME, on February 16, 2008.
The Fat Swollen Hands of a Champion
Yes, kids, this is what it takes.
Despite the Hip Protectors
Even when worn properly, hip protectors may not fully protect your hips. Tiger Claw, repeat hip bruiser, earns another purple badge of courage as runner-up in the World Championships on Feb 3, 2007.
Ice Ice Baby
Foot and ankle injuries are the most common among four square players, here we ice an injury issued on the courts of the World Championships on Feb 3, 2007.
One Broken Pinky Finger
From an exhibition four square match in Brooklyn, this broken pinky finger looked mightly painful.
Improper Footwear
An injury as simple as a blister could be the deciding factor in world championship match.