OT Italy's calcio storico tournament

[BoBoBREWSKI]

What is this craziness? WTF?

Italy's annual calcio storico tournament -- part football, part MMA -- is a brutal sight to behold
http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id...tion-italy-calcio-storico-brutal-sight-behold

FLORENCE, Italy -- A young man lies spread-eagle in the center of a sand-covered arena, blood streaming from a gash above his eye. The guy who opened up this wound is straddled across his chest, pinning him down. All around them, more men are brawling in a terrifying tangle of fists and knees, shoulder charges and thrown elbows.

Lending a surreal edge to this scene is the combatants' attire. While some are bare-chested and others wear T-shirts, every one of them is clad in a pair of puffy-legged, brightly striped, 16th-century replica pantaloons.

They are playing calcio storico fiorentino -- Florentine historical football -- or, as many locals here know it, calcio in costume -- football in costumes. A distant forerunner to modern sports such as soccer and American football, it most closely resembles a blend between mixed martial arts and rugby.

 

[THE HCP]

This is crazy as shit! They should make soccer players watch this!