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Coordinates: 40°51′31″N 96°47′03″W / 40.858689°N 96.784136°W / 40.858689; -96.784136
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Three 'fights' were held – one game of [[rock paper scissors]] for those named Josh Swain, a second with [[pool noodle]]s for all attendees named Josh, and a third and final all-in battle for anyone in possession of a pool noodle willing to participate.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Saxena|first=Akanksha|title=Ultimate 'Josh' Fight: Hundreds of men named 'Josh' come to Nebraska to fight over their name|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/the-buzz/article/hundreds-of-men-named-josh-come-to-nebraska-to-fight-over-their-name/749245|url-status=live|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=www.timesnownews.com|language=en}}</ref> Only two of the individuals in attendance were named "Josh Swain" – Josh Swain, the event's creator, beat a rival 38-year-old Josh Swain from Omaha in the rock paper scissors event.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Seline|first=Libby|date=April 24, 2021|title='Little Josh' dubbed winner of the Battle of the Joshes; community also benefits from event|url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/little-josh-dubbed-winner-of-the-battle-of-the-joshes-community-also-benefits-from-event/article_5b0db3e8-e96b-5025-9dd5-222aae3b99c5.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 25, 2021|work=[[Lincoln Journal-Star]]}}</ref> A local four-year-old boy named Josh Vinson Jr., dubbed 'Little Josh', who had been treated at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha for [[seizure]]s when he was two years old, was declared the overall winner. Vinson Jr. was [[Coronation|crowned]] with a paper crown from [[Burger King]] as well as a replica [[AEW World Championship]] belt.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Best|first=Paul|date=April 24, 2021|title=Nebraska Josh fight: Horde of dudes named Josh fight for right to name|work=Fox News|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/nebraska-josh-fight-horde-of-dudes-named-josh-fight-for-right-to-name|access-date=April 24, 2021}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Nambiar|first=Prerna|date=April 25, 2021|title=Who won the Josh fight? Here’s what happened at the event!|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/04/25/who-won-the-josh-fight/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=HITC|language=en-GB}}</ref> Vinson Jr.'s father, also named Josh, said afterward that his son had "had the time of his life."<ref name=":5" />
Three 'fights' were held – one game of [[rock paper scissors]] for those named Josh Swain, a second with [[pool noodle]]s for all attendees named Josh, and a third and final all-in battle for anyone in possession of a pool noodle willing to participate.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Saxena|first=Akanksha|title=Ultimate 'Josh' Fight: Hundreds of men named 'Josh' come to Nebraska to fight over their name|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/the-buzz/article/hundreds-of-men-named-josh-come-to-nebraska-to-fight-over-their-name/749245|url-status=live|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=www.timesnownews.com|language=en}}</ref> Only two of the individuals in attendance were named "Josh Swain" – Josh Swain, the event's creator, beat a rival 38-year-old Josh Swain from Omaha in the rock paper scissors event.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Seline|first=Libby|date=April 24, 2021|title='Little Josh' dubbed winner of the Battle of the Joshes; community also benefits from event|url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/little-josh-dubbed-winner-of-the-battle-of-the-joshes-community-also-benefits-from-event/article_5b0db3e8-e96b-5025-9dd5-222aae3b99c5.html|url-status=live|access-date=April 25, 2021|work=[[Lincoln Journal-Star]]}}</ref> A local four-year-old boy named Josh Vinson Jr., dubbed 'Little Josh', who had been treated at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha for [[seizure]]s when he was two years old, was declared the overall winner. Vinson Jr. was [[Coronation|crowned]] with a paper crown from [[Burger King]] as well as a replica [[AEW World Championship]] belt.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Best|first=Paul|date=April 24, 2021|title=Nebraska Josh fight: Horde of dudes named Josh fight for right to name|work=Fox News|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/nebraska-josh-fight-horde-of-dudes-named-josh-fight-for-right-to-name|access-date=April 24, 2021}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Nambiar|first=Prerna|date=April 25, 2021|title=Who won the Josh fight? Here’s what happened at the event!|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/04/25/who-won-the-josh-fight/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=HITC|language=en-GB}}</ref> Vinson Jr.'s father, also named Josh, said afterward that his son had "had the time of his life."<ref name=":5" />


The gathering raised over US$13,300 for the [[Children's Hospital & Medical Center]]{{Mdash}}far past its initial goal of US$1,000{{Mdash}}and collected over {{convert|200|lb|kg|sigfig=1}} of food for the nearby food bank.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Greg|date=April 25, 2021|title=4-year-old boy triumphs of hundreds of man with same name in first-ever ‘Josh Fight’|url=https://www.indy100.com/viral/josh-fight-battle-viral-nebraska-b1837095|url-status=live|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=www.indy100.com|language=en}}</ref>
The gathering raised over US$13,300 for the [[Children's Hospital & Medical Center]]{{Mdash}}far past its initial goal of US$1,000{{Mdash}}and collected over {{convert|200|lb|kg|sigfig=1}} of food for the nearby food bank.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Greg|date=April 25, 2021|title=4-year-old boy triumphs of hundreds of man with same name in first-ever ‘Josh Fight’|url=https://www.indy100.com/viral/josh-fight-battle-viral-nebraska-b1837095|url-status=live|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=www.indy100.com|language=en}}</ref> The CH&MC has since shown appreciation for the fundraiser on social media.<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1386060312495984645|user=ChildrensOmaha|title=#JoshFight is trending, and we are the lucky recipients of this viral fundraising event! So far, the Joshes have raised $8,000! So awesome! 🙌|author=Children's}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 13:19, 27 April 2021

This article is about the fight. For the musician, see Josh Swain (musician).

Josh fight
DateApril 24, 2021 (2021-04-24)
VenueAir Park, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
Coordinates40°51′31″N 96°47′03″W / 40.858689°N 96.784136°W / 40.858689; -96.784136
Organised byJosh Swain
Participants100+

The Josh fight was a viral internet meme and mock fight at Air Park in Lincoln, Nebraska, on April 24, 2021. The event was originally conceived by a civil engineering student named Josh Swain from Tucson, Arizona on April 24, 2020.[1][2] It gained popularity after a screenshot of a Facebook Messenger group chat involving several users named Josh Swain spread widely on the internet.[3]

Swain encouraged participants of the chat to meet at a set of coordinates and compete for the right to use the name Josh. The event, though initially intended as a joke, drew a crowd of nearly a thousand on the day of the event. Despite the title, the gathering was lighthearted and there was no actual violence involved.[4][5] The Wall Street Journal wrote that the event became a "global news phenomenon."[6]

Background

On April 24, 2020, several Facebook Messenger users named Josh Swain were added to a group chat that read,

– You're probably wondering why I've gathered you all here today[.]

– Because we all share the same names....?

– Precisely, 4/24/2021, 12:00 PM, meet at these coordinates, (40°49′20″N 96°47′54″W / 40.8223286°N 96.7982002°W / 40.8223286; -96.7982002) we fight, whoever wins gets to keep the name, everyone else has to change their name, you have a year to prepare, good luck[.]

Swain explained the idea for the event was conceived out of boredom from the COVID-19 lockdowns and out of frustration from being unable to receive an exclusive handle on social media due to the high frequency of people who shared his name, but did not expect the invitation to go viral.

joshua swain Twitter logo, a stylized blue bird
@joshswainaz

there can only be one https://pic.twitter.com/VPamxjJ0yL

April 24, 2020[7]

Swain posted a screenshot of the conversation on Twitter the same day. The tweet received 64 thousand likes and 21 thousand retweets within two weeks.[8][7] Although Swain said the tweet was, "entirely a joke," the conversation became a meme on social media.[9][10] Days before the event, Swain took to Reddit in order to announce a fundraiser for the event to benefit the Children's Hospital & Medical Center (CH&MC) Foundation in Omaha, along with a request for non-perishables to start a food drive for the Food Bank of Lincoln.[2][9][11] In the same post, Swain also encouraged attendees to bring pool noodles as mock weapons for the planned fight.

Swain picked Lincoln, Nebraska as a site for the event due to its central location within the United States, with the specific, randomly picked coordinates being located on private property. The property owner, however, did not agree to host 'such a ridiculous event',[4] and as such the fight was relocated to Air Park approximately 2.6 miles (4.2 km) away.[12][13]

Event

On the chosen day, nearly a thousand people, including at least 50 named Josh, congregated at Air Park.[2][5][14] Attendees came from as far as New York, Washington, and Texas, with some dressed in superhero and Star Wars costumes.[1][15][16][17]. Others came suited with DIY costumes, consisting of body armor fashioned from soda 6-pack boxes, fast food packaging, and other objects brought in from home.

Three 'fights' were held – one game of rock paper scissors for those named Josh Swain, a second with pool noodles for all attendees named Josh, and a third and final all-in battle for anyone in possession of a pool noodle willing to participate.[18] Only two of the individuals in attendance were named "Josh Swain" – Josh Swain, the event's creator, beat a rival 38-year-old Josh Swain from Omaha in the rock paper scissors event.[6][19] A local four-year-old boy named Josh Vinson Jr., dubbed 'Little Josh', who had been treated at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha for seizures when he was two years old, was declared the overall winner. Vinson Jr. was crowned with a paper crown from Burger King as well as a replica AEW World Championship belt.[13][19][20] Vinson Jr.'s father, also named Josh, said afterward that his son had "had the time of his life."[6]

The gathering raised over US$13,300 for the Children's Hospital & Medical Center—far past its initial goal of US$1,000—and collected over 200 pounds (90 kg) of food for the nearby food bank.[2][21] The CH&MC has since shown appreciation for the fundraiser on social media.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Josh fight: Crowds show up in US park for pool noodle battle to win rightful ownership of their name". Sky News. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Paybarah, Azi (April 26, 2021). "Josh Is the Name, and They Will Fight You for It". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Pellot, Emerald. "What is the Josh fight? Social media users are preparing for an epic battle". In The Know.
  4. ^ a b Hammack, Zach (April 22, 2021). "Calling all Josh Swains: The battle for your name is taking place right here in Lincoln". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved April 24, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ a b "Hundreds show up in Nebraska for fight over name Josh". Associated Press. April 24, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Gay, Jason (April 26, 2021). "The Day People Named Josh Fought in Nebraska". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  7. ^ a b joshua swain [@joshswainaz] (April 24, 2020). "there can only be one https://pic.twitter.com/VPamxjJ0yL" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2021 – via Twitter. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; May 3, 2020 suggested (help)
  8. ^ Paybarah, Azi (April 26, 2021). "Josh Is the Name, and They Will Fight You for It". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Vlamis, Kelsey. "Hundreds of people named Josh met up in Lincoln, Nebraska, to battle with pool noodles over their shared name, videos show". Insider. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  10. ^ "There Can Only Be One: Battle Of The Joshes Brings Hundreds To Nebraska". NPR.org. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  11. ^ Swain, Josh (April 21, 2021). "IMPORTANT: I am Josh Swain, and here are the official details of the event. See you soon". Reddit.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Springman, Ashley (April 24, 2021). "VIDEO: Viral event 'Josh Fight' chooses Lincoln as its battleground". KLKN-TV. Retrieved April 25, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ a b Best, Paul (April 24, 2021). "Nebraska Josh fight: Horde of dudes named Josh fight for right to name". Fox News. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  14. ^ Raphael, Shannon. "Remember that Viral "Joshua Fight" Meme? It Actually Happened, and It Was Epic". Distractify. Retrieved April 25, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ Griffith, Nicole (April 24, 2021). "Joshes get together to fight in Josh Fight 2021". KOLN (TV). Retrieved April 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Cohen, Kelly (April 25, 2021). "The #JoshFight is over, all hail 'Little Josh' and his pool noodle skills". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Viral pool noodle brawl started as a 'pandemic boredom' joke. CNN.
  18. ^ Saxena, Akanksha. "Ultimate 'Josh' Fight: Hundreds of men named 'Josh' come to Nebraska to fight over their name". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ a b Seline, Libby (April 24, 2021). "'Little Josh' dubbed winner of the Battle of the Joshes; community also benefits from event". Lincoln Journal-Star. Retrieved April 25, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ Nambiar, Prerna (April 25, 2021). "Who won the Josh fight? Here's what happened at the event!". HITC. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  21. ^ Evans, Greg (April 25, 2021). "4-year-old boy triumphs of hundreds of man with same name in first-ever 'Josh Fight'". www.indy100.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ Children's [@ChildrensOmaha] (April 24, 2021). "#JoshFight is trending, and we are the lucky recipients of this viral fundraising event! So far, the Joshes have raised $8,000! So awesome! 🙌" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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