Chukchansi Indian promotes pro jousting

Jousting in Sonora catches eye of National Geographic

By Lisa Millegan RennerIf Charlie Andrews has his way, professional jousting competitions will one day pack stadiums with the kind of crowds seen at football games.

The world champion of full-contact heavy armored jousting and his Knights of Mayhem will perform this weekend at the Sonora Celtic Faire. The competition will be filmed by National Geographic Television for a new reality series tentatively titled "Knights of Mayhem."And:A Chukchansi Indian tribe member, Andrews stands 6 feet 4 inches tall and is one of four founding members of heavy armored jousting. He also co-founded the Ultimate Jousting Championship.

"It's my greatest passion right now," said the 42-year-old. "To build the sport, that's the big thing for me. The Renaissance fairs are a blast, the Celtic fairs are fun. The tournaments are where it's at."Comment:  This may be the first time "Indian" and "jousting" have appeared in the same sentence.

Maybe he could compete against knights who use tomahawks. That would be a real mash-up of cultures and weapons.

Below:  "Charlie Andrews, 38, a jousting knight from Eagle Mountain, Utah, introduces the knights who jousted before a stand full of fairgoers during opening day of the 24th annual Sonora Celtic Faire in Sonora, Calif., March 12, 2010." (Alison Yin/Modesto Bee)