Now, I know what you may be thinking, “what in the world are you talking about Donkey Basketball?” That sounds like something some weird country folk made up, but in reality, Donkey Basketball is a game that was started in the 1930’s and is exactly what it sounds like.
In the game, all players are given a donkey and must stay on as their steed as much as possible, while also trying to score points or pass the ball. If the ball is dropped, then players can get off their donkey to retrieve it, but they must always bring the donkey with them.
Donkey Basketball is typically used as a school fundraising event and is common in the Midwest but also happens all around the U.S. Although it is a common game, it is not played much anymore due to animal activists thinking it’s “cruel”. However, all events are supervised and the animals are treated humanely.
I personally think that donkey basketball should be played more and not just for fundraising. It is a joy for all ages to watch and to play. Before covid, the school that I attended used to play every year, and it would bring the entire community together. Even those who aren’t fans of sports would come to watch the spectacle.
The Iola high school just recently hosted donkey basketball on January 29, and had a pretty good outcome. Also, if you ever happen to be in the Allen Community College’s cafeteria, you can see on the wall of photos that we had hosted a donkey basketball night. We should definitely bring the tradition back and bring our community together.