1 against 6

For most countries/clubs/leagues the most important date in their history typically revolves around some kind of on court success. But not always.

The most important date in German volleyball history is independent of anything performance related.  Instead it is the day that the most famous and best German player of his time, Burkhard Sude, went onto the biggest and most popular German TV show, and played by himself against a fifth division team.  The date was April 3rd 1982.

For a bit more background, the show is called ‘Wetten Daß’, which literally means ‘Bet That’, and it is just what it says.  People apply to be on the show betting that they can do something odd.  In this case that they can win a volleyball game against a full team, but others I have seen were things like skipping rope with bubble gum they chewed themselves, or guessing the weight of a yoghurt container with one spoonful of yoghurt taken out.  It is amazing the things that people can do.  Celebrities (often big international celebrities) who are in the studio, then bet on the outcome of this challenge, normally another kind of challenge or something that they can donate to charity.  The best winning challenge of the night gets a prize, surprisingly nothing special.  But after over 30 years it is still the biggest show in Germany.  It’s hard to explain.

Anyway, I don’t want to spoil it anymore.  The game itself starts at around the 6 minute mark.

Oh, and by the way, if you understand German wait until the very end, when the protagonist tries very awkwardly to flirt with / pick up one of the hostesses.