Mark Megahan
The Florida Man Games™ is slated to bring a “one-of-a-kind competition” to the Sunshine State in 2024. If you’re the beer-guzzling gator-wrestling type of guy who goes a little crazy with the guns and drugs, and maybe dabble in a harmless felony or two, now’s the time to sign up. It’s meant to be sort of like American Gladiators for normal red-blooded American men.
Florida Man Games insanity
Maybe you’re not the kind of man who drinks sparkling water and hangs out at the gym all day but you can still kick some serious ass in a bar brawl, If so, this is the competition for you.
It’s billed to “pit beer-loving and gator-wrestling-types against one another” in what’s destined to be “the most insane athletic showdown on Earth.” Mark your calendar for February 24 in St. Augustine.
“The Florida Man Games™ is where the bizarre meets brawn and sanity is optional! This isn’t just a competition; it’s a one-of-a-kind Floridian spectacle!” At least, that’s what they promise on the website.
2024 will see the first-ever event featuring “nine bizarre competitions that are inspired by the eponymous headlines involving guns, drugs, crime, booze and reptiles — or some combination of the five.”
For instance, there will be events showcasing unusual skills as an “evading arrest obstacle course” where “players jump over fences, through backyards and escape from actual police officers.”
Since Florida isn’t sunny all of the time, like when a hurricane moves through, the Man Games will feature a “Category 5 Cash Grab” where participants try to snag as much money as they can in a 158 mph wind-blowing booth.
Beer-belly wrestling
Along with a competition for the “best” mullet, the Florida Man Games will have a Sumo like “beer-belly wrestling” match. The finale of the event will be “police officers and firefighters battling it out in a 911 Fight Night, Brawl of the Badges.” You don’t have to be a competitor to get in on all the fun.
“Attendees will have the opportunity to take selfies with alligators.” You can also take part in a barbecue contest. There will be all sorts of similar “cultural demonstrations” on hand.
You can thank local media mogul Pete Melfi for dreaming up the idea. He happens to own the “904 Now, a media outlet covering St. Johns County.” While sitting around with his buddies, doing dabs of Time Wreck badder, he originally envisioned a “0.5K Beer Run.” That got a few chuckles.
They started kicking around ways to “play with the Florida Man headlines that have become a social media phenomenon.” Not every male in Florida is a gator-grappling troublemaker but enough are to to give rise to the stereotype.
The idea quickly gained traction and it’s off to a solid start. If you’re interested in competing, they want you to submit a video for consideration. “It’s going to be a wild day of mud games and Florida-style obstacle courses. It’s going to really be an opportunity to live that Florida Man life for a day.” The idea is to pick “contestants to represent different cities around Florida.”
The judges are “picking whoever has the wildest, craziest Florida Man videos.” They’re already piling up. “We got a guy who sent us a video of him pulling an alligator out of a lake. You don’t have to go that far; please don’t put your life at risk.“
