I usually don’t wake up before 9:30 or 10:00 am…..but this morning I dragged my butt out of bed at 6:30 am to take part in an event that was amazing fun.
The New Orleans Running of the Bulls!
Seriously, to read about the brief history of this sophomore event click on the below link and read the column my good friend Chris Rose wrote yesterday (July 11th).
http://blog.nola.com/chrisrose/2008/07/running_of_the_bulls_new_orlea.html
The clif notes version of this event goes as follows:
Local entrepreneur comes back from Pamplona, Spain after running with the real bulls….starts his own local version of the running of the bulls through the French Quarter…but the real bulls have been replaced by the New Orleans Roller Girls (armed with wiffle ball bats and on a mission to wack runners as hard as they can across the butt!)…the entire event gives locals yet another reason to pour into the French Quarter on a summer morning to party.
I took part in this run with my brother (WDSU investigative reporter) Travers Mackel and his girlfriend Lauren Hotard.
A “Bull” is ready!
Travers is ready
So am I
WDSU Anchor Taslin Alfonzo and WDSU Photographer Kent Westburg were covering the event.
Our friend Beau Bethune has actually been to Pamplona to run with the Bulls!
WDSU Executive William Johnson…he’s a member of the Krewe of the Rolling Elvi. www.rollingelvi.com
In all, 40 Roller Girls Skated….but they didn’t scare this kid!
Taking a knee for the big pre-race speech. About 750 people took part.
Let the race begin!
Travers got wacked hard….I was fast enough to elude the roller-bulls!
In the end….we’re all friends! Great day!
Offsides With Fletcher Mackel 
This looked like a fun activity!:)
looks like fun
where is norman robinson?????
Fletcher,
Will you and your brother be participating again? Preparations have already begun for 2009! Expect this year to be huge with lots of new and exciting events added!
Sincerely,
Pastore Tracey
“La Rebellina”
Have you ever considered publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other blogs?
I have a blog centered on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information.
I know my readers would value your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel
free to shoot me an e-mail.
Merely wanna admit that this is extremely helpful, Thanks for taking your time to write this.