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==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
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This comic is a direct reference to the 1997 film ''{{w|Air Bud}}''. In the film, a {{w|golden retriever}} becomes the star player on a {{w|basketball}} team. The obvious objection to an animal playing on human team is raised, but is handwaved by the referee responding "ain't no rule says a dog can't play basketball."
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{{Incomplete|first draft}}
  
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In organized sports, the rulebook is generally considered to be the final arbiter of decisions, but the interpretation that anything not explicitly considered in the rulebook is allowed is shaky at best. It's impossible for a rulebook to detail every possible scenario that someone could attempt, and certain basic assumptions about gameplay need to be made. [[Ponytail]] highlights this by pointing out that there's also not an explicit rule against killing and eating an opposing player. With human players, this would be covered by laws against murder and cannibalism, but dogs don't enjoy the same level of legal protection (there may be animal cruelty laws, but those are likely to be far less punitive).
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This comic is a reference to the film ''{{w|Air Bud}}'' and to a lesser extent, the other films in its {{w|Air Bud (series)|series}}. In the film, a golden retriever becomes the star player on a basketball team. The opposing team contests the legality of having a dog as a player, but the referee, having reviewed the rulebook, responds "Ain't no rules says a dog can't play basketball." The same scenario is parodied in [[115: Meerkat]].
  
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The title text  does acknowledge that killing and eating an opposing player is likely covered under the rules concerning {{w|technical foul|fouls}}, but the benefit of committing the foul (the star player being dead) would be worth the resulting penalty (giving the other team a couple of free throws). This likely pokes fun at the common practice of intentional fouls. It's not uncommon for players to commit fouls intentionally, having calculated that they'll gain some advantage (such as breaking the momentum of a play) which is worth the penalties they'll incur.  
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Here, the opposing team uses the rulebook logic against the first team. Rulebooks are considered the final arbiter of decisions in many games. However, the flawed reasoning that anything not prohibited in the rules is therefore permitted would allow any number of activities that are not specifically discussed in the rule book, such as killing the opponent's dog and eating it, as [[Ponytail]] suggests in this comic. By the same logic, Ponytail is suggesting it would be permitted for her team to do so.
  
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Randall previously parodied the "animal-as-player" loophole in [[115: Meerkat]]. Rule books are also mentioned in [[330: Indecision]], [[393: Ultimate Game]], and [[1593: Play-By-Play]].
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The title text acknowledges that this would probably contravene the general language regarding "{{w|technical foul}}s" (rules about interfering with other players), but the penalty for a foul is, in the opponents' view, worth the benefit of eliminating the presumably very adept basketball-playing dog. This ignores other rules that may cover the proposed killing, such as the laws of the jurisdiction where the game takes place.
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Given the title text, possibly Randall is poking fun at the practice of intentional fouls, which is especially common in basketball. Although a foul is by definition against the rules, a team will deliberately violate the rules (and accept the penalty) as a strategy to gain some perceived advantage--especially a team that is behind in the late minutes of a basketball game.
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Rule books are also mentioned in  
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:* [[330: Indecision]]
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:* [[393: Ultimate Game]]
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
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:[Cueball and Megan are standing with a dog wearing jersey number 9, Ponytail and Hairy are facing them holding a rulebook. The horizon is visible behind them.]
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:[Cueball and Megan are standing with a dog wearing jersey number 9, Ponytail and Hairy are facing them holding a rulebook. The horizon is visible behind them.]
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:Ponytail: There's nothing in the rulebook that says we can't kill and eat your dog.
 
:Ponytail: There's nothing in the rulebook that says we can't kill and eat your dog.
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{{comic discussion}}
 
{{comic discussion}}
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[[Category:Rulebook]]
 
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
 
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
 
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
 
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
 
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
 
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
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[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
 
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[[Category:Animals]]
 
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[[Category:Dogs]]
 

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