A common source of fascination for both local guides and tourists visiting prehispanic Mexican archeological sites is human sacrifice around the Mesoamerican ball game. It is common to hear that the game had a religious significance, and that the winners of the match would be sacrificed to the gods afterwards. I have always thought this cannot be true; seeing how big and widespread these ball courts are, it is evident that the game was popular all across Mesoamerica. But if whoever won a match had to be sacrificed, then I am pretty sure that the quality of the league was atrocious and that spectators would have had every reason to be angry.

Isn't it more likely that, similar to gladiator games in ancient Rome, participants died only on special occasions and most games ended without dead players? What is the current thinking on the ball game, its rules, and rituals?