Oh, it’s time to get ready.
After a seemingly innocuous passage of play, these were the words of a baseball commentator at St Paul Saints’ match against Sioux Falls Canaries – right before food-throwing madness ensued.
The unadulterated slugfest of edible detritus involving 7,500 fans was, as you might be able to tell from the waterproof parkas, a co-ordinated moment of madness.
PA photo
It was done as a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the classic comedy Animal House, shown on the big screen.
The Saints said in a press release before the match: “Bring your friends, family, significant others, and especially your frenemies because this is your chance to partake in a time-honored tradition of a food fight, similar to the one started by John Belushi’s character, John ‘Bluto’ Blutarsky in the cafeteria scene from Animal House.”
PA photo
Before you go thinking the remarkable display was waste for the sake of it, it raised money for a good cause, with thousands of dollars going to a food bank charity.
The 90-second fight was planned for the fourth inning, with fans given mashed potatoes, marshmallow, popcorn and doughnuts to hurl at their fellow participants.
PA photo
They were also told they could throw anything they liked from the food stands at the stadium, such as hot dogs and burgers.
PA photo
What a time and place to be a seagull.
JERUSALEM (AP) — An incoming attack by more than 300 Iranian drones and ballistic missiles was the latest challenge to Israel’s air defense system, which already has been working overtime to cope with incoming rocket, drone and missile attacks throughout the six-month war against Hamas.
Israel's defense system with assistance from the U.S. and Britain is credited with preventing serious damage or casualties.
Here’s a closer look at Israel’s multilayered air-defense system:
The Arrow: This system developed with the U.S. is designed to intercept long-range missiles, including the types of ballistic missiles Iran said it launched on Saturday. The Arrow, which operates outside the atmosphere, has been used in the current war to intercept long-range missiles launched by Houthi militants in Yemen.
David’s Sling: Also developed with the U.S., the David’s Sling is meant to intercept medium-range missiles, such as those possessed by Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Patriot: This American-made system is the oldest member of Israel’s missile-defense system – used during the First Gulf War in 1991 to intercept Scud missiles fired by Iraq’s leader at the time, Saddam Hussein. The Patriot is now used to shoot down aircraft, including drones.
Iron Dome: This system, developed by Israel with U.S. backing, specializes in shooting down short-range rockets. It has intercepted thousands of rockets since it was activated early last decade – including thousands of interceptions during the current war against Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel says it has a success rate of over 90%.
Iron Beam: Israel is developing a new system to intercept incoming threats with laser technology. Israel has said this system will be a game changer because it is much cheaper to operate than existing systems. However, it is not yet operational.
FILE - A battery of Israel's Iron Dome defense missile system, deployed to intercept rockets, sits in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Aug. 7, 2022. An incoming attack by Iranian drones and ballistic missiles Sunday, April 14, 2024, poses the latest challenge to Israel’s air defense system, which already has been working overtime to cope with incoming rocket, drone and missile attacks throughout the six-month war against Hamas. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)
