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Joe Nedney Narrowly Prevents the Rise of the Kicking Machines

Apr 21, 2010, 6:25 PM UTC

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â†µIf at this point next year you find yourself not toiling under the steel digits of robot masters, you will have Joe Nedney to thank. Because on Monday in San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium, the one-time home for the 49ers, Nedney outlasted a robot kicking machine named Ziggy in a field goal contest, proving, at least for now, that humanity’s place in the world is safe, if precariously so.â†µâ†µZiggy is a nearly 340-lb bot with a pneumatic leg that is typically used to pummel opponents on RoboGames and Battlebots. Nedney is a journeyman kicker with 19 game-winning kicks on his resume. While Ziggy has a clear weight advantage, Nedney is 6’5” while his robotic counterpart only tops eight inches. â†µ

â†µâ†µTheir competition consisted of attempts from 20 and 30 yards, which both converted. As a finale, Nedney and Ziggy tried from 40 yards simultaneously, with the human’s try splitting the uprights and the robot’s going wide left.â†µ

â†µâ†µâ‡¥“I beat a robot!” Nedney said, raising his hands in triumph.â†µâ‡¥“Yeah, humans!” another spectator yelled.â†µâ†µâ†µAll right, let’s not taunt the machines too enthusiastically. It will only make their inevitable uprise that much more brutal.â†µ

â†µâ†µ(H/T for video to Slanch Report)â†µ

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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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