https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=134.2.147.14explain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-07-10T01:29:34ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=115:_Meerkat&diff=14810115: Meerkat2012-10-17T15:35:50Z<p>134.2.147.14: /* Explanation */</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 115<br />
| date = June 14, 2006<br />
| title = Meerkat<br />
| image = meerkat.jpg<br />
| imagesize = <br />
| titletext = Gorilla, yes. Adorable golden retriever, yes. But it says nothing about meerkats.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The situation is a reference to the [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnimalAthleteLoophole Animal Athlete Loophole] trope, where an animal joins a failing sports team and saves the day. The other team (i.e. the bad guys) doesn't like it, but since there isn't a specific rule against it, it has to be allowed.<br />
<br />
In this particular situation, Randall uses both an animal ({{w|Meerket|meerkat}}) and sport ({{w|Rugby|rugby}}) that haven't been used in a Animal Sports Movie before. The title text references "{{w|Funky Monkey (film)|Funky Monkey}}" and "{{w|Air Bud}}", as now the rules have been changed to explicitly stop gorillas and golden retrievers from playing.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[A meerkat wearing a helmet and jersey, and two guys in the background supposedly on a rugby field]<br />
:You have to admit--there's no rule on the books saying a meerkat can't play rugby.<br />
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{{comic discussion}} <br />
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[[Category: Comics with color]]</div>134.2.147.14