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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 cartoon is a common theme in xkcd and a reference to the film series Air Bud and other similar films.  In the film a golden retriever becomes the star player in a sports team.  Invariably in these films the opposing team will contest the legality of inter-species play resulting in the referees stating "nothing in the rule book says dogs can't play". The same scenario is alluded 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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Rulebooks are considered the final arbiter of decisions in many games. However, this flawed reasoning allows any number of activities that are not specifically discussed in the rule book, such as setting the playing field on fire, [[650: Nowhere|riding on dinosaurs]], [[356: Nerd Sniping|nerd sniping]], or [https://what-if.xkcd.com/1/ throwing the ball at 90% of the speed of light]. Rule books are also mentioned in
  
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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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:* [[330: Indecision]]
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:* [[393: Ultimate Game]]
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In this scenario [[Ponytail]] declares to her opponents, [[Cueball]], [[Megan]] and a golden retriever that her team may euthanize and digest a member of their team and note that it is also not specifically discussed in the rule book.
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The title text alludes to the flaw in the reasoning indicating such things are discussed indirectly in the rule book.  Killing a player is a technical foul, but the penalty may be well worth the removal of the opposing star player and dogs, however gifted at sports, are not nearly as well protected by law as humans are.
  
 
==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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:Ponytail: There's nothing in the rulebook that says we can't kill and eat your dog.
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:[Dog wearing jersey number 9]
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:[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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