Inspired by the movie “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,” ESPN8: The Ocho made its annual return to ESPN2 last Wednesday, shining light on all of those activities that live on the edge of the sports world. ESPN2 turned into ESPN8 and aired a full day of programming devoted to those fringe sports, like axe throwing, arm wrestling, lawn mower racing, putt putt and, of course, dodgeball. Most of the games on The Ocho can be played in the backyard.

We found ourselves in the same place we’d been dozens of times before. But this time was different. My dad and I set up camp, got ourselves some cold beverages and found a shallow spot to sit in the river.