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- Every year, during halftime of a game in January, Ole Miss basketball hosts a baby race.
- The event is incredible, but year’s winner does not come without controversy.
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As halftime entertainment becomes more and more difficult to come by at sporting events, Ole Miss is taking it to the next level. A few years ago, the Rebels hosted the first-ever ‘BabyDega 500’ at halftime of a basketball game.
Now it has become an annual tradition and it is exhilarating. Some even call it the most exciting 60 seconds (ish) in sports.
The concept is as simple as it sounds — it is a baby race.
Eight babies, like, literal babies, line up at the starting line. When they are given the green flag, the goal is to crawl as quickly possible to the finish line.
At first, it was done on the actual court with a pretty significant distance.
Behold the greatest halftime promo I’ve ever seen, the Babydega 500 pic.twitter.com/Urzadsuu2P
— Jackson Sepko (@Jackson_Sepko) January 13, 2018
However, as the legend of ‘BabyDega’ continued to grow, it became a more professional venture. A racetrack was created and the babies wore numbers to indicate who they are and what lane they are in.
The real BabyDega 500 winner. pic.twitter.com/MjFf6zPMh0
— DeMarcus Helm (@coachdhelm) February 8, 2020
Before the race begins, the students at the game typically place some dollar bets on the winner. There is no skill to picking the fastest baby, but it adds an extra element to the exhilarating halftime entertainment.
This year’s race, however, has sparked controversy in Oxford. The winner was absolutely dominant.
She stepped up into the first lane and was moving across the mat. It was a blowout win.
After a photo finish, we have a champion in the Babydega 500! 📸🏆
Presented by @OxfordExxon pic.twitter.com/rnl5vPp4Vs
— Ole Miss Men’s Basketball (@OleMissMBB) January 29, 2022
However, there are questions about the legitimacy after it was revealed who the baby is. As it would turn out, the winner is none other than the granddaughter of the Chancellor of the University of Mississippi.
Lela, the granddaughter of Chancellor and Mrs. Boyce, had a great showing and win on Saturday. She now improves to 1-0 in the Babydega 500! https://t.co/Z8shuMziaZ pic.twitter.com/FlfX1FocK3
— William Kneip (@williamkneipOM) January 30, 2022
This is not to discredit the win, but perhaps the fix was in? Things that make you think.