It has been known alternatively as "Pick up get tackled," "Kill the Carrier," "Murder Call," "Kill the man with the ball," "Keep off" and "Kick the dog with one shoe." But this game will always - for better or worse - be most commonly remembered in the collective conscience as "Smear the Queer."

One child is designated as "it" (or "the queer") - usually by coming into possession of an object such as a football - and thereafter simply tries to avoid being gang-tackled by a gaggle of rambunctious peers.  When all hope is lost, the child can avoid certain dog-piling by relinquishing the object, whereupon another child will pick it up and become the new "queer."  Naturally, those who can maintain the object longest without being tackled are the unofficial winners of what is somewhat of a rag-tag game to begin with.

Like dodge ball, marbles, and monkey bar wars, Smear the Queer is something of an indelible fixture in the childhood memory.  And while its name is certainly controversial, the virtue of its impact is fixed:  The terrible, exhilarating rush of coming into possession of the coveted "queer" object; The stark-wonderful panic of avoiding the laughing, shrieking onslaught; The cherished, playground pride of being "queer" longer than anyone else.

Like many things in the world, this game was named during a less-tolerant period in our history. Today, it is a name that is certainly cringe-worthy and less accepted as being “no big deal.” But many adult have a fond memory or two of playing this game and didn’t grow up to accept the notion that “smearing a queer” was something they wanted to carry into other parts of their life. To them, it was just a game. Still, in hindsight, it would have probably been just as much fun to play - without the potential slur potential of its controversial moniker.