Cricket
呂毖在《明朝小史》曾記載了這樣一件事：宣宗酷好鬥蟋蟀，就向江南索取上品，動輒每隻數十金。當時楓橋一個糧長被郡督派遣去尋找，終於尋到一隻“最良者”，他馬上用自己所乘的駿馬交換了過來。回到家後，他非常小心的把這個命根子放在了蟋蟀罐裡。其妻聽說這只蟋蟀是用一匹駿馬換來，非常好奇，心想它肯定很奇異，便打開蓋子想偷看蟋蟀尊容。沒想到，這只“神奇”的蟋蟀一下子從罐中跳將出來，還未等追上，便被院子裡的雞給啄死了。他的妻子一看惹了大禍，非常恐懼，便上吊自殺了。糧長回來發現妻子已自盡，悲傷不已之餘，更害怕因蟋蟀之死而受到法律制裁，於是也一根繩子隨著自己的妻子而去。這無疑是個極端的悲劇，為一隻進貢的蟋蟀，鬧的家敗人亡。
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http://mingchao.baike.com/article-134745.html
中國大陸一些城市有專門的蟋蟀協會，組織鬥蟋大賽。 鬥蟋蟀這項運動有專門的器皿 台灣的台南縣新化鎮豐榮里，當地居民每年都會利用學校放暑假時，舉辦熱鬧的「鬥蟋蟀」大賽。wiki
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...005961,00.html
Police in Shanghai arrested 66 people and seized over half a million yuan in a
raid on an illegal cricket fighting ring on the western outskirts of the city.
Cricket fighting has apparently been common in China since the 600's AD, and is
still flourishing, especially among middle aged unemployed men, who bet tens of
thousands of yuan on each match.
Two crickets are placed in a box and prodded with sticks until they become
enraged and rip each other apart. fighting crickets can become famous, and
funerals are often held for them when they are killed.
Man, who comes up with sports like this? "Hey guys, lets put random insects in a
box and poke them, and see if we can make them kill each other!"
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SHANGHAI police have smashed a professional cricket fighting ring in a raid that
snared the city's most notorious handler of the insects, state media reported
today.
Police arrested 66 people and seized 520,000 yuan ($107,857) at an illegal
cricket fight yesterday night, a police spokeswoman said, confirming state media
reports.
The blood sport, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), is
flourishing in China's financial hub particularly among middle-aged unemployed
men who bet tens of thousands of yuan on bouts, the Shanghai Daily cited
investigating officers as saying.
In a cricket fight, handlers prod two insects with sticks until they are angry
and then set them loose on each other in a box for a fight to the death.
Gambling on these bouts is illegal in China.
Winning crickets can become famous and funerals have been known to be held for
them when they are defeated.
The prize fighters are fed special diets and are plied with female crickets to
keep them in top form.
Among those arrested today was 51-year-old man named Lin, who police described
as a legend in the world of cricket fighting for his skill at provoking the
insects.
"Lin was famous among cricket fanciers,'' Tang Jun, one of the officers who led
the raid, was quoted as saying in the Shanghai Daily.
"If Lin teased a cricket he could make it angry enough to beat even a stronger
opponent. Lin was Shanghai's number one cricket teaser.''
The organized crime ring, which took five to 10 per cent of the winnings, would
bus about 800 gamblers to unusual secret locations, including in one instance an
office at a cemetery, Mr Tang was quoted as saying.
Today's raid took place at a cafeteria on the western outskirts of the city,
police said.
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揭开斗蟋蟀赌博内幕 (2002-10-16)
“斗蟋蟀”是一项很有趣的民间活动，盛行于古代的王侯将相之间。近年来，南宁也出现了一个玩乐蟋蟀的圈子，但这个圈子存在弊病——一些“蟀迷”借助斗蟋蟀进行赌博。
近日，南国早报记者暗访了藏匿在南宁市龙翔苑的一处蟋蟀赌场。9月13日，辖区派出所民警杀了回马枪，直接把赌场捣毁，缴获了一批赌博工具。
蟋蟀叫声让人心烦意乱
近日，有网友向南国早报反映，在南宁市江南区龙翔苑，每到中午休息时间，就有不少外面的人来到小区。有些人手里提着布袋子，里面的罐子装着蟋蟀，叽叽喳喳直叫。他们在小区聚集在一起斗蟋蟀。
“斗蟋蟀很吵闹，让人心烦意乱，影响了周围居民的正常休息。”这名网友说，原来他以为这些人仅是斗蟋蟀，互相间娱乐一下而已，未想到他们是以斗蟋蟀进行赌博，赌资多则几千元，少则一两百元。
9月7日中午，在白沙大道的龙翔苑小区，按照知情人的指引，在该小区4栋与5栋之间的空地上，记者找到了这处蟋蟀赌场。这块空地面积有两三百平方米，上有树木遮阴，下有石块或木墩用于蹲坐。
此时已是下午1时许，不少人陆续从外面来到这里。不一会，空地上就聚集了二三十人。有人从布袋里拿出竹罐，排成一排，供人挑选蟋蟀。有人摆出木钵，招揽赌客斗蟋蟀。
一场比赛赌输上千元
这些“蟀迷”，年纪大的有70多岁，小的有40多岁。下午2时多，现场的四五个木钵就同时摆开了阵势。大伙围在各个木钵周围，目不转睛地盯着里面两只打得不可开交的蟋蟀。“快上！快咬它！”人群之中，有人呐喊，有人捏拳蹬地，那场面不亚于足球迷观看世界杯比赛。
在其中一个木钵旁，一名挎包男将一只黑头、身细的蟋蟀从小笼子放出来，等待挑战。不一会，一名眼镜男拿来了一只黑头的肥蟋蟀迎战。这边：“我下10条烟。”那边：“我下20条烟。”周围的“蟀迷”用“买烟”的形式进行交流。
经过了解，原来这伙赌徒是用“烟”来作暗语，一包烟代表2元，一条烟代表20元。蟋蟀在打斗中，哪一只最先逃跑，就表示被打败。
不到3分钟，眼镜男的肥蟋蟀就败阵了，它被咬断了一条腿，踉跄而逃。“又输了1000元，不赌了。”其中一名男子从人群中走了出来，仰天长叹了一口气。
小区居民敢怒不敢言
“最近，我们小区用蟋蟀进行赌博很热闹，圈子里的人都懂来这里斗蟋蟀。”住户黄先生说，这个蟋蟀赌场是这段时间才旺起来的，这些玩家大多是来自以前园湖路花鸟市场，或当阳街附近的“蟀迷”。龙翔苑里的几个“蟀迷”，有意把这里变成一个新的斗蟀场所。
当然，他们斗蟋蟀必定伴随着赌博，慢慢的这里就名声在外，附近小区的一些赌客也加了进来，经常看到有人开着小车，来这里斗蟀赌博。多人玩时，组织者还派人在出入口处放风。
在走访中，一些住户反映，他们曾向市长热线反映过此事，警方也打击过，但过了一阵后赌场又死灰复燃。有住户也曾出面制止过，但被一些不明身份的人恐吓，就不敢再作声。
黄先生说，小区物业的个别工作人员，有时候也加入斗蟀赌博的行列之中。另一名不愿透露姓名的物业人员表示，龙翔苑是经济适用房小区，居住在这里的人员复杂，比较难管理。
民警杀回马枪缴获一批赌具
9月13日中午12时许，记者再次来到龙翔苑，发现蟋蟀赌场又如期形成。记者立即拨打报警电话，辖区民警不到5分钟就赶到龙翔苑门口。然而，警车还没到达现场，围观斗蟀的人群已四处散去，民警扑了个空。
下午2时40分，民警杀了个回马枪，又进入了龙翔苑小区。果然，这伙人以为民警当天已来过一次，不会再来，又聚在了一起斗蟋蟀赌博。当他们看到警车突然出现时，许多人顾不上收拾东西就四处逃窜。民警当场缴获了一批蟋蟀及赌博工具。
在现场，一名参与抓捕的民警表示，用蟋蟀进行赌博是违法行为，他们会取缔。这种赌博是在暗地里双方交易，取证比较困难。为了防止这种赌博苗头继续蔓延，警方打算在该小区放置巡逻车，加大巡逻的密度，加强打击这些违法行为的力度。(南国早报)
