He was a great Jedi, but a terrible Rugby referee.
Joke Poo: The Sphinx’s Sniff
The Sphinx once declared, "Riddle me this: What has an eye, but cannot see?"
He was a majestic monument, but an awful optometrist.
Alright, let’s break down this joke.
Analysis:
- Premise: The joke sets up a well-known quote by Yoda, a famous Jedi Master. The power of the joke hinges on the recognizability of the quote "Do, or do not. There is no try," a core principle of Jedi philosophy stressing commitment and decisiveness.
- Incongruity: The punchline introduces a completely unexpected and contrasting role for Yoda: a Rugby referee. This creates humor by juxtaposing the serious, philosophical Yoda with the practical, rule-enforcing world of sports.
- Pun/Wordplay: The humor lies in the incompatibility of Yoda’s absolute directive with the nature of Rugby reffing. Rugby, and most sports, involve players "trying" repeatedly and referees making judgments on those attempts (a try in Rugby is the act of touching the ball down behind the goal line and is difficult to do, you need to "try"). His directive, as a referee, is inappropriate and absurd.
Comedic Enrichment:
Okay, with the foundational elements identified, let’s generate some supplemental humor:
Option 1: A "Did You Know?" Factoid, Yoda Edition:
Did you know that Yoda’s application to become a licensed World Rugby referee was initially rejected? Apparently, the panel felt his insistence on resolving on-field disputes through telekinesis presented "unforeseen challenges to the spirit of fair play" and "a potential for bias towards players with higher midichlorian counts." While he eventually got the job, his performance never rated well, as his advice to "Do, or do not. There is no try" was ultimately not the best advice to give a player considering running the ball or passing to a team mate.
Why it works:
- It expands upon the premise of Yoda as a referee, creating a humorous backstory to the joke.
- It incorporates elements of Star Wars lore ("midichlorians," "telekenesis") to amplify the incongruity.
- It’s presented as a faux-factual anecdote, adding to the absurdity.
Option 2: New Joke/Witty Observation
Why was Yoda a terrible coach for the New Zealand All Blacks?
Because his pre-game pep talk was just repeating "Do, or do not. There is no try," which only confused the front row about scrummaging techniques. The forwards and backs eventually mutinied.
Why it works:
- Continues the premise of Yoda outside of his familiar context.
- Plays on the technical and specialized knowledge required in rugby (specifically, scrummaging techniques) to highlight the impracticality of Yoda’s philosophical advice.
- Offers a punchline that imagines the consequences of Yoda’s flawed leadership.