ve that it was a combination of these and others including, but not limited to, economics.
             One reason that this game was played could have been for physical combat/mock war,. "The ball game was a form of physical combat, a mock war. Thus, it could be argued that the ball game, with all its brutality, intensity, and pain, was a substitute for war." (Blanchard, 106) "Furthermore, the ball game often plays a specific role vis a vis warfare. Set in the ceremonial precinct, the ball game provided the means or controlled re-enactment of warfare." (Miller, 96) Sometimes the ball game was even a substitute for warfare, at the least possible a deterrent. "Systematic, aggressive warfare is practiced by only a few of the peoples that have the game, although war itself is known to all. It is no acc
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