POK A POK

The Mayans have always inhabited Meso-America. Western archaeologists dated their presence back 10,000 years ago and their agrarian communities flourished im spurts governed climate swings, as the land was capable of maintaining a gonite population. The culture reached its apex from 250 AD to 900 after which the civilizations of Copan and Tikal retreated from greatness and the Mayans depopulated the Yucatan.

They remained the dominant tribe, resisting the other kingdoms, the Spanish, and Mexicans into the 20th Century.

Their physical features haunted the generations. Faces were related across Central America, even as they suffered thr fury of their mestizo overlords in Guatemala and Mexico. Forced to flee their rural homelands by violent drug wars and climate collapse, the Mayans have flooded across the US borders with their families in tow. They are hard-working and honest, but their offspring's DNA has been subjected to modification from GMO foods and Gringo Culturelos.There is no escaping Barbie or Fast Food. I recently saw a tall Mayan. At least six feet tall. In 1988 I had spent a summer on the Yucatan. ia des Mujeres. The Posada del Mar. $20 a night with a Pina Colada by the swimming poll inclusive. The Mayan staff were super friendly and we played Basketball in the town square. At 5-10 I was the center, but we bested the taller gringos with speed and my fouling. Deep into summer a team of Italian women showed up at the court. A fishing boat washed ashore by the previous year's hurricane provided shade. The Italian were tall. Our squad's height was 5-6 at best. The Italian women were all over sex feet. We played for fun. They were an organized team. We accepted the challenge. This was our home court and it was a hot day. AJ Koo our captain said, "No substituition." We were only five. They were eight. Most gringos faded after fifteen minutes in the heat. It was an advantage. We matched up against our opponents. Townspeople and tourists stopped to watch. Ki'in our point guard with wicked range said, "These are women. We will play like caballeros." Gentlemen. "Game to fifteen. Win by two." "7-0 shutout wins." The blonde center grabbed the ball. "Visitors take out." "Losers buy the beers." The center sneered at me. They had uniforms. Good trainers too. Our sneakers had seen better times. The center introduced herself, "Cara." "Pedro." The first time down the court, their center posted upback to the hoop. The guard passed a bullet to her and she spun around with an elbow to my head. I saw stars and my knees buckled. The center bumped into me on her way up court. Aj Koon came to my side and asked, "Caballeros???" "Pok-ta-Tok." The Mayans nodded their head in unison and said as one, "Pok-A-Pok." The ball game had been played by the Mayans for over a thousand years. Considered the first team sport Pok-a-Pok helped to resolve bitter disputes between rival cities or as a proxy for war. The Maya also saw the game as a battle between the gods of death and the gods of life or between good and evil. They also saw it as a reminder of the Hero Twins, who overcame death and became demi-gods themselves according to historyonthenet.com. This was their court, their town, their Yucatan. "KO'ONE'EX." "Lets go," explained Ki'in and he took the ball town court tgrough the flatfooted Italians and scored an east lay-up 1-1. it was a battle. i mercilessly foul the center, who was sweating bullets. she tried to dunk on me several times. i pushed her off stride with less than gentle hand checks. She called them fouls and called her a hypocrite. She understood my meaning. Hypocrite was ipocrita in Italian. I sang the word to her like Romeo under Julitte's balcony. They led 8-5. The center blocked my shot twice. Luckily Aj Koo rebounded both for easy shots. Pok-a-Pok had been played between two and four players a team using arms, legs, and hips to place a ball through a stone hoop. The game could last two weeks. According to Archaeologists 8-7.