Column By Mike Bibb
“I am not one to judge how a man plays cornhole,” he said. “If he or she finds that he has a distinct advantage by playing without their pants, and they’re operating within Wyoming State statutes, I’m all for it. I’m not going to take any action against it.”
— Sheriff Alex Bakken, Carbon County, Wyoming, reported in the Cowboy State Daily News, Jan. 29, 2026.
Sometimes, things get a little mixed up. Like the time a Deputy Sheriff in Carbon County, Wyoming, was confused with a Deputy Sheriff in Carbon County, Utah.
There’s also a Carbon County in Montana and Pennsylvania. I assume their cornhole rules are about the same.
Both deputies in Utah and Wyoming may enjoy playing cornhole in their driveway — but only one does it without his pants.
A noticeable difference, but is it against the law?
After all, if it’s alright to “open carry” a firearm, surely similar reasoning would apply when playing Commando Cornhole with a less lethal device.
Which brings me to the question: Did you know three of the 50 states have a Graham County? — Arizona, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Me neither, until I looked it up on Wikipedia.
I’m sure something called “Commando Cornhole” is played in all these areas. In fact, it may be the rage.
Apparently, it’s identical to the original cornhole, except that a player doesn’t wear pants, shorts, or underwear.
However, I’m not positive Sheriff P.J. Allred has ever received a call from a distraught citizen informing him one of his deputies has been seen playing Commando Cornhole in his front yard — pantsless.
As in “Necked from the butt down.”
Nor am I aware if such a legal infraction has ever crossed the county attorney’s desk, or presented before a grand jury for possible indictment?
Or, for that matter, if playing cornhole half-nude is a civil offense? Especially if two or more people are involved. Maybe such activities are covered by the “Right to peaceably assemble and play cornhole — without pants” clause.
Let’s consider other sports that could adopt similar pantsless policies to increase participation and media coverage, including tennis, bowling, pole vaulting, skateboarding, bench pressing, wrestling, billiards, high jump, fishing, soccer, and MMA, among others.
Apparently, the American Cornhole Association hasn’t specifically commented on the problem, advising: “The legality of playing cornhole nearly nude is not explicitly addressed in the rules, but generally, playing games in a manner that is considered indecent or offensive may violate local laws.”
Suppose what the meaning of “may” means is up to the courts. It “may” be all right in Carbon County, Utah, and Wyoming, but it “may not” be all right in Graham County, Arizona.
Until the State Supreme Court hears the matter, it’s probably best to keep your pants buttoned up until a ruling comes down.
Either way, no sense crying over it.
While Commando Cornhole infractions — allegedly — could be sweeping the country, its social appeal has been a carefully guarded secret.
At least it hasn’t reached CNN’s news studios. Who, without a doubt, would be reporting the unusual event as a Trump-inspired stunt, more threatening to national safety than his Nazi Storm Troopers in Minneapolis.
Then again, Commando Cornhole participants may actually be a clever ruse to disguise pantsless Nazi’s.
Imagine, legions of advancing nearly naked Nazi’s, bean bags in hand, would immediately strike fear into the hearts and minds of ordinary citizens and cornhole sports fans.
Equally uncertain, when saluting, do Nazi cornholers actually wear their swastika armbands on their arms or another part of their anatomy?
Admittedly, I had no idea of the depth to which Commando Cornhole has penetrated our society. While I haven’t checked to see if Commando Cornhole gear and apparel are available on eBay and other online shopping sites, it’s probably just a matter of time before the Commando Cornhole Playoffs reach World Series and Super Bowl status.
Budweiser and Coke will be paying millions for a 30-second TV ad featuring a Mad Rabbit pantsless-cornholer-lookalike tossing the winning bag as the final buzzer sounds.
The hysterical crowd and viewing audience would immediately rip off their pants in celebration, while the Mad Rabbit facsimile, sans pants, is hoisted and simultaneously proclaimed the MVP and GOAT of the historic contest.
All of this would never have been possible without the inspiration and motivation of a Deputy Sheriff in Carbon County, Utah, who had the courage to show the world that the popularity of playing a normally mundane game of cornhole could, almost miraculously, soar to unprecedented heights by simply dropping his pants.
Exhibiting such foresight, and other things, I’d almost bet he is destined to become the Chief Executive Officer of the Commando Cornhole League of America (CEOCCLA).
NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, ain’t got nothing on this guy. Except, maybe, pants!
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author.
