Movies - BASEketball

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	Movies - BASEketball

BASEketball is a 1998 David Zucker comedy feature film starring Trey Parker and Matt Stone (the creators of South Park) along with Dian Bachar. Robert Vaughn, Yasmine Bleeth, and Jenny McCarthy co-star. The movie follows the history of the sport (Created by Zucker years earlier) of the same name, from its invention by the lead characters as a game they could win against more athletic types, to its development as a nationwide league sport and a target of corporate sponsorship.

In the film, BASEketball is a mix of baseball and basketball played by two teams of three players each. Meant as a game suitable for people of all ages and abilities, it is played on a relatively small diamond-shaped court with a basketball hoop at the second base position. The ball is roughly basketball sized, smooth, and sewn like a baseball. Players wear little or no protective gear. Referees travel the court on roller blades.

The rules of the game are not made entirely clear, as it is merely a plot vehicle and not an actual game. The game itself was described by Matt Stone as "boring," hence the need for a constant stream of jokes and distractions in the screenplay. For the purposes of the movie, an "at bat" player stands at home plate holding the ball, preparing to shoot at the basket above second base. An opposing player stands at roughly the pitching mound position, where that player has one attempt to "psych-out" the shooting player. A psych-out is a verbal or visual trick meant to disturb the shooter enough to lose their concentration and miss the shot. If the shooter makes the basket, he then runs the bases, and points are scored.

Rules of BASEketball

Layout of the field

The pitcher's mound consists of a basketball hoop. There are four bases, as there are in baseball, but the distances between them are shortened, as there is no pitcher.

There are nine squares radiating from the hoop: three single squares (small, yellow), three double squares (medium, red), and three triple squares (large, blue wedges). Instead of hitting a ball to (left/center/right) field, the player shoots from the single, double, or triple square on the (right side/middle/left side) of the infield.

There's the home run circle, with home base at its center. Instead of hitting a home run, the player shoots a home run from there.

There are two orange circular steps, one on each side of the garage door. These are used for short shots (a.k.a. bunts).

Each side has a dugout instead of a bench.

The roots of the game are remembered in the garage façade supporting the basket and in the sidewalks next to the dugouts. Other teams can substitute other buildings for the garage. The San Antonio Defenders, for example, have the Alamo as their façade.

Shooting

If the shooter scores, then he gets a hit based on the square that he shot from. For instance, a shot from one of the three double squares indicates a double. Each runner on base advances the same number of bases.

If the shooter fails to hit the basket or the backboard, he's out.

If the shooter hits the backboard or the basket, the opposing team gets to rebound and try to shoot a basket for a double play. If they succeed, the shooter is out, and so is the runner closest to home plate.

If the opposing team misses a double play, the shooter gets a second shot (a conversion). If he makes it, he gets the kind of hit he was originally going for. If he misses, he's out.

Each shooter shoots for the cycle. If he starts with a single, he can't shoot a single again until he's attempted the double, triple, and home run first, in that order.

Scoring depends on how many runs cross home plate (runs shot in), not how many shots are successfully scored (hits).

If the shooter bunts and scores, each runner on base advances one base, but the shooter is out. No psych-outs are used here.

If the bases are loaded, the first shooter (now on third base) can call on one of the other players in the dugout to take his spot on third, while he returns to home plate to shoot the fourth shot. This allows a team to have four players on offense, but only three shooting.

Defending

Defending is similar to that in basketball, but players have greater liberty in how they defend against the shooter. The three defenders are present at all times. There's no tagging out of players. There are no triple plays. Players can force a shooter out by psyching him out. This means they can do just about anything, use just about anything, to make the shooter miss: anything from a simple line to an elaborate setup involving dwarves and spinning plates to grotesque faces coupled with beastly sounds. Players can even mimic a player in a mocking way in order to get him out. Double-teams are permitted. If the umpires deem a psych-out in bad taste and the shooter misses, the shooter gets his shot (similar to a walk in baseball).

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for BASEketball ]

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Movies - BASEketball

Rules of BASEketball

Layout of the field

Shooting

Defending

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