World Cup, Shmerld Cup

The countdown is on to the biggest athletic match up in history. On July 1, 2006 the reigning champions from Estonia will return to battle Finland on the Fin's hometurf in a smackdown sure to thrill and amaze.

The World Cup isn't held in Finland, you say? True. But you know what it is?

The Wife Carrying World Championships.

This ain't no regional footrace, my friends. World-frickin-championships. Of wife carrying. Apparently depriving a country of much sunlight for most of the year results in some serious no holds-barred entertainment.

The Estonians dominated last year's event by blazing through the course in just over 1 minute. Intense speculation over "upside down" technique favored by the champions suggests there maybe some innovation occuring at the 2006 matchup. Over the shoulder? The Basket Carry? The Banana Split? (So I made that last one up, but would that not be worth the price of admission?)The official website offers some intriguing tips: The best methods of carrying one's wife (or a neighbor's), attitude, teamwork and How to become a Wife-Carrying Master. Apparently, it's all in the "eroticism?"