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MEOW, ZEBRA, I'M AFRAID I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS.
WORSE THAN THE FACT YOU RISKED MY LIFE ON A BASEBALL GAME??
I'M AFRAID SO... AFTER PLACING FIVE HUNDRED BUCKS ON US TO WIN, I BET FIVE THOUSAND ON US TO LOSE.
YOU WHAT??
SORRY, MY BOOKIE GAVE ME GREAT ODDS.
BOOKIE?? WHAT KIND OF BOOKIE TAKES A BET WHERE A GUY'S LIFE IS ON THE LINE??
Meow.

THE CROCS HIT ONE DEEP! IF WE CATCH IT, WE WIN! IF IT'S GONE, WE LOSE!!
I'M GONNA DIE!!!
CATCH IT, TOBY THE AGORAPHOBIC TURTLE, CATCH IT!!
NOOOOO! HE'S PASSED OUT! WE HAVE NO CENTERFIELDER! I'M DEAD! I'M DEAD! SOMEONE SAVE MEEEEEEEEE

OKAY, GUYS, BAD NEWS... I HAD TO KICK THE WHALE OFF THE TEAM BECAUSE TECHNICALLY, HE'S DEAD.
BUT YOU SAID WE NEEDED SOMEONE WHO'S PUDGEY ENOUGH TO CROWD THE PLATE AND GET BEANED!
OH, PLEASE, NOT ME... I'M TIRED OF GETTING HIT IN THE OOMPA LOOMPAS!
RELAX, SPAZZ BOYS... I'VE FOUND SOMEONE.
REALLY? WHO'D YOU GET?
DOINK

OKAY, PASTIS, YESTERDAY YOU BROUGHT BACK THE NAKHLEH CHARACTER, BUT HUNDREDS OF READERS HAVE POINTED OUT HE DIED IN THE MAY 13, 2006 STRIP. SEE, IT'S RIGHT HERE IN YOUR "CRASS MENAGERIE" BOOK. SO YOU BETTER COME UP WITH A CREDIBLE EXPLANATION AND FAST.
HE UN-DIED.
I REALLY, REALLY MISS BILL WATTERSON.

OKAY, GUYS, IT'S CLEAR NONE OF YOU CAN HIT, SO I'VE RECRUITED AN OLD FRIEND... A BIG, FAT GUY WHO CAN CROWD THE PLATE AND GET BEANED IN THE FACE.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO SOMEONE. THEY'LL GET HURT.
NOT THIS GUY.
HOW DO YOU KNOW?
DONK

HEY, ZEBRA HIT ONE DEEP!!
YEAH... WAIT WAIT WAIT... THE CROC CENTERFIELDER IS UNDER IT...
WHAT HAPPENED?
THE CENTERFIELDER BLEW UP.
PLEASE STOP MINING CENTERFIELD.

I GOT A JOB.
WHERE ?
THE SISYFUSS CORPORATION. "WHERE PEOPLE COME FIRST."
WHAT DO YOU DO ?
I SIT IN AN UNHEATED, WINDOWLESS BASEMENT FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY AND STAPLE BLUE FORM TO THE RED FORM.
THEN WHAT ?
THEN IN FORTY-FIVE YEARS, I RETIRE !
LET'S RESORT TO A LIFE OF CRIME.

TIME OUT!
RAT... YOU BEANED THAT GUY IN THE HEAD.
I KNOW. I WAS SENDING A MESSAGE.
BUT HE'S THE EIGHTH STRAIGHT GUY YOU'VE BEANED IN THE HEAD.
I TEND TO BE WORDY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU BET MY LIFE ON THIS GAME!!
DUDE, RELAX...SURE THE CROCS WANT TO WIN SO THEY CAN EAT YOU, BUT THE FACT IS, THEY CAN'T FIELD, THEY CAN'T HIT, AND THEY CAN'T RUN.
OF COURSE, IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO ACCOUNT FOR HEART.
AAHHH!

SO HOW'D YOU GET THE CROCS TO PLAY BASEBALL AGAINST US?
BY PUTTING A BET ON IT. I STAND TO WIN FIVE HUNDRED BUCKS IF WE WIN.
YEAH, BUT THE CROCS DON'T CARE ABOUT MONEY... THEY'D ONLY PLAY IF BY WINNING THEY COULD GET ME, PREFERABLY TIED TO A BARBECUE GRILL.
FRIENDS DON'T BET FRIENDS' LIVES.
HEY, DEATH CAN BE A REAL MOTIVATOR.

WHO'S THAT IN THE OUTFIELD?
YOUR OLD FRIEND, TOBY THE AGORAPHOBIC TURTLE. I RECRUITED HIM.
HOW CAN A TURTLE WHO JUST HIDES IN HIS SHELL DRINKING BEER FROM A BEER FUNNEL POSSIBLY PLAY BASEBALL?
PLOP

OKAY, GUYS, WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BENCH DURING A GAME, I DON'T WANT YOU JUST SITTING HERE. I WANT YOU DOING SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU LOOK TOUGH. I SUGGEST CHEWING TOBACCO.
FORGET IT. THAT CAUSES CANCER.
ALRIGHT, FINE. THEN PICK SOMETHING ELSE.
LIKE THIS?
NO.
OH.

OKAY, GUYS. I'VE ALMOST
GOT THE TEAM TOGETHER,
BUT WE STILL NEED A
COUPLE MORE PIECES.
HOW
ABOUT
MY
VIKING
FIGURINES?
VIKINGS, HUH? I LIKE THAT. VIKINGS
KILL. VIKINGS PILLAGE. THEY COULD
SEND A REAL MESSAGE. WHAT
WOULD THEY LIKE TO DO?
PUSH 'EM BACK!
PUSH 'EM BACK!
WAAAAAAY BACK!

I SAW A DOCUMENTARY LAST NIGHT ABOUT THESE NAVY GUYS WHO LIVE ON SUBMARINES.
OH YEAH?
YEAH, IT WAS AMAZING. WHEN THE SUB SURFACED, THEY GOT OUT AND STOOD ON TOP OF IT.
WHY WAS THAT AMAZING?
BECAUSE THE POOR LITTLE SUB WAS ROCKING BACK AND FORTH AND THESE GUYS JUST STOOD ON TOP OF IT WITH THEIR HANDS BEHIND THEIR BACK. SO BALANCED, SO CONTROLLED.
YOU COULD PROBABLY DO THAT SAME STANCE HERE. STAND UP HERE LIKE THEY DO AND I'LL ROCK YOU BACK AND FORTH.
WELL, GEE, DO YOU REALLY THINK I COULD -
THERE YOU GO, PIG! YOU'RE DOING IT! YOU'RE DOING IT!
EXCUSE ME, BUT CAN I ASK WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
HI, OFFICER! LOOK AT ME! I HAVE A CONTROLLED SUB STANCE!
*SIGH*

OKAY, GUYS, WE HAVE OUR FIRST WARM-UP GAME ON TUESDAY.
AGAINST WHO?
SOMEONE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BEAT.
WHO'S THAT?
IT'S A SIMPLE GROUNDER, RON.
I'M A BLIND MOLE, PHIL.

I'M PUTTING TOGETHER A SOFTBALL TEAM AND I WANT YOU TO PLAY CATCHER.
SINCE WHEN DID YOU TAKE AN INTEREST IN SPORTS?
SINCE I FOUND OUT GUYS BET A LOT OF CASH ON THESE STUPID GAMES. WE'RE GONNA LINE UP SOME PATSES AND REALLY CLEAN UP!
WHERE YOU GONNA FIND A TEAM THAT KNOWS LESS ABOUT SOFTBALL THAN US?
You no wear cup on chin, Floyd.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, ZEBRA?
CALLING MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY. SOME FRAUD APPARENTLY GOT AHOLD OF MY CREDIT CARD NUMBER AND HAS BEEN USING IT TO RACK UP HUGE BAR BILLS AROUND TOWN.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY'RE NOT YOUR CHARGES?
BECAUSE I DON'T GO AROUND TO BARS EVERY NIGHT TRYING TO DRINK AWAY MY PROBLEMS. I MEAN, WHO DOES THAT?
Me-e-e-o-owwww

I don't want to play softball on your team, Rat. I have poor hand-eye coordination and very slow reaction time.
I know that, you dumb pig. That's why I'm putting you at this position.
Smack
Gosh... maybe third base isn't right for you after all.
OHHHHHH, MY OOMPA LOOMPAS.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, RAT?
I'M STARTING A SOFTBALL TEAM. I WANT YOU TO PLAY CENTERFIELD.
BUT THIS WHOLE SCENE IS A "PEANUTS" RIP-OFF.
HEY, CAN'T OTHER COMICS PLAY A LITTLE BALL WITHOUT BEING ACCUSED OF RIPPING OFF "PEANUTS"?
NO.
WOW. I DON'T EVEN WEAR CLOTHES.

WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING?
ANDERSON COOPER
ON CNN... I LIKE HIM,
BUT SOMETIMES THE
OTHER ANCHORS MAKE
HIM LAUGH AND THEN
I HAVE TO --
EH EH EH EH EH EH EH EH EH EH EH EH EH EH EH EH EH
A MAN'S LAUGH SHOULD NOT
SOUND LIKE A WEASEL DIVING
AT THE GATES OF HELL.
DID YOU SAY
SOMETHING?

HI, RAT. WHAT DO YOU WANT?
HI, NEIGHBOR BOB. I'M SUING YOU.
SUING ME? FOR WHAT?
MONEY. LOTS OF IT.
BUT ON WHAT GROUNDS?
ON THE GROUND I LIKE MONEY.
THIS IS ABSURD!
NO, THAT'S A SUMMONS. ABSURD WOULD BE SUING A NEIGHBOR'S DOG FOR BARKING TOO MUCH AND TAPING THE LEGAL PLEADING TO HIS FUR.
ARF ARF ARF ARF ARF
GET THAT OFF MY DOG.
LAWYER UP, FIDO.
ARF ARF

HEY THERE, RAT... WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MY NEW TANK TOP? I BOUGHT IT TO SHOW OFF MY NEW PHYSIQUE.
WHAT NEW PHYSIQUE?
I TOLD YOU... I'M AN ATHLETE NOW. EVEN THE DOCTOR CONFIRMED IT.
HE SAID YOU HAD ATHLETE'S FOOT.
HEY, IF I OIL UP, WILL YOU TAKE MY PICTURE?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, RAT?
I'M DECIDING WHO I'M GONNA SUE TODAY.
YOU'RE MAKING A MOCKERY OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM!!
A MOCKERY?? SIR, I RESPECT AND REVERE OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM!
SHOULD I STILL SPIN THE "WHEEL O' POSSIBLE DEFENDANTS"?
GIVE ME A MINUTE.

I'M GOING TO BE THE WEALTHIEST AMERICAN ALIVE.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT?
I'M GOING TO FIND OUT ALL I CAN ABOUT THE GUYS WHO ARE THE WEALTHIEST NOW.
AND EMULATE THEM?
SUE THEM.
GREAT.
IT'S A BIG TIME-SAVER.

GEE, LOOK AT ALL THESE DEBATES ON OUR DWINDLING OIL SUPPLIES AND OUR DWINDLING WATER SUPPLIES AND OUR DWINDLING FOOD SUPPLIES.
I'M NO EXPERT, BUT DO YOU SUPPOSE IT COULD MEAN WE HAVE...GOSH, I DON'T KNOW...MAYBE...
TOO MANY PEOPLE??!
PAID FOR BY THE 'SOMEONE BETTER START POINTING OUT THE OBVIOUS' COMMITTEE FOR A BETTER PLANET.