The "players" of this "sport" were ritually giving each other the sign of the devil.

You know the one, where you clench your fist and then raise your index and little finger in a salute, which is normally reserved for heavy metal music fans.

Initially it seemed this cult was limited to Australia, Canada, Japan and the infidels. But upon further research it has also infiltrated China, Chinese Taipei, Venezuela and the Netherlands.

It seems this cult has developed a battle between bat and ball as part of a religious ritual and called it "softball".

From what I could gather, the infidels are at the top of this cult’s tree, with weaker branches playing off for the right to challenge them for some hedonistic crown.

Don’t worry Australia, our women did us proud.

They dispatched the Canadians and earned the right to do battle with the Japanese, the winner of this bout would face the infidels for the golden softball.

Alas, the Japanese triumphed in a tense struggle that needed five extra "innings", as the MCs called them.

It’s a shame because we all love to hate the infidels regardless of the "sport".

I also love to hate volleyball.

My high school was one of the best volleyballing schools in the country and we had it rammed down our throats in PE.

As one of the shortest in the class, this game, designed specifically for giants, was of less than no interest and I despised its imposition on my life.

However, I did notice each team has one token short person called a libero, which must be Latin or Greek for "short person we don’t really need".

Somehow I became captivated, as the Russians and Bulgarians engaged in rallies whose length was more akin to the clay courts of Roland Garos.

Big blokes pounding a ball at other big blokes who somehow managed to send it back, with interest.

Thankfully the game ended and the spell was broken, allowing me to return to my hateful ways.