whither kenny?
whither more billy?
and.. flg, whither worm?
and idris, was that a spam? the lost podcast?
school is out, i'm moving, putting together furniture... and finally getting legitimate attention for my hammy. unlike real countries, this meant a 1.5 hour trip to see a doctor for a prescription for an appointment already made... but... USA...
i fell asleep in the office chair after an easy day of (well including pre and post doc) 14 miles biking, 1.5 hours of ultimate...
the frisbee was awesome. it's been 90-100 for a couple days... and this morning it was raining steadily... no doubt, lighter than east coast... but raining... apprehensively, i biked over, arrived soaked at 8:40, and was taunted by the 11 kids for being late. it's a nice game, right now, it's all 'experienced' frisbee players, upperclassmen, a couple of alums... we played a mini mini tournament, then played some shortfield 6 on 6... i had my side experiment w/ some 3/3 'euro' just to see what it felt like... it cut down on the goals from 'huck and hope' but was fun to mess with... and see the kids understand some space clearing stuff...
the road bike needs work... and i'm waiting on a new lower chain ring to sub out... from 42 teeth to 39... hard to find for a 20 year old bike... but it should make hill riding better... also have to put in a new front derailleur... should make cruising fun...
but the frisbee... 1.5 hours in the best weather ever... probably 65-68, in a steady rain... it really was something you'd want to play for hours in... just awesome... left, bought a new chamois...
tommorrow, basic rest, PT, and if i get the chance, a mt. bike ride. the rain turns the already dusty lower trails (about 3 -4 mile ride at new house) into perfection... more to follow.
the trophy is off, having my name carved in...
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
champions!
well, count, i guess it's not as cool as a big saturday at easterns... but it's what i got... so i'll take it.
first round bye based on our season record of 9-1... earned us the toughest pool.. don't ask me how.
talbot is at some kind of first aid seminar: he's expected at 5 pm. 3 of my best girls are gone to europe... 4 of my best boys are gone, to wherever... the replacements are some girls sister (who's a stud, but has never played ultimate), tosch (my best young player, crushed w/ a mild concussion/broken nose)'s sister... and a couple girls who either haven't played in a year, or have never played... one kid back in from hawaii at 2 in the morning... one kid w/ 1 day of 'league' experience...
first round game, 13-7 i used all 3 time outs, for rest, and to stalll.
second game, against 'blue'. it was close for most of the game, but the 'throw it as far as i can' offense bogged down a little in the wind, and we dug ourselves a hole, 11-7. it was tough, my choices were, throw it to the open player, who was brand new, and then watch them get smothered, or just settle for the long turnover...
down 11-7, we ran off 5 straight to win, 12-11. we went w/ the same 7 for the run... wasn't even a question of 'the best 7', it was simply, time is short, the cap is coming, line up, let's pull...
5 minutes later, on to the semifinals...
at this point, i've played 43 points of frisbee. game was against decent players... we kept it close. again, i used all timeouts... i knew that talbot would show up at 5 pm. tough, tough draw.
our pool play opponent was in the 'semi-final' on the other side. odd, since as the number 2 overall team, an 'easier' pool seemed in order. but, the kids kept fighting... and down, 12-11, 76 points into the day, talbot shows up, we score the upwinder to tie, and hold on to win...
10 minutes later: on to the finals. started close. stayed close, but we took half at 9-7, and never looked back... what made it work? obviously, having a good player show up w/ fresh legs was good... but our win was against our one defeat... and i finish up 41-2 for 3 years, w/ 3 trophies... final was 15-10...
highlight, the 5 point run to win a pool play game w/ half a team of brand new kids... lowlight... down 12-11, both calves locked up, needing my buddy to help win.
i'd of won it on my own, of course...
but have you ever been so cramped up that you can just concentrate on running on your heels, as that seems to minimize the pain... well, there i was...
anyway, i only played about 20 of the points of the finals, to finish up at 96 for the day... not a record, but a high count of points...
the hamstring, well, a minimal amount of real sprinting. almost all d's on the mark. but i survived, so i guess, time to go to the track.... hamstring cured...
luke.
first round bye based on our season record of 9-1... earned us the toughest pool.. don't ask me how.
talbot is at some kind of first aid seminar: he's expected at 5 pm. 3 of my best girls are gone to europe... 4 of my best boys are gone, to wherever... the replacements are some girls sister (who's a stud, but has never played ultimate), tosch (my best young player, crushed w/ a mild concussion/broken nose)'s sister... and a couple girls who either haven't played in a year, or have never played... one kid back in from hawaii at 2 in the morning... one kid w/ 1 day of 'league' experience...
first round game, 13-7 i used all 3 time outs, for rest, and to stalll.
second game, against 'blue'. it was close for most of the game, but the 'throw it as far as i can' offense bogged down a little in the wind, and we dug ourselves a hole, 11-7. it was tough, my choices were, throw it to the open player, who was brand new, and then watch them get smothered, or just settle for the long turnover...
down 11-7, we ran off 5 straight to win, 12-11. we went w/ the same 7 for the run... wasn't even a question of 'the best 7', it was simply, time is short, the cap is coming, line up, let's pull...
5 minutes later, on to the semifinals...
at this point, i've played 43 points of frisbee. game was against decent players... we kept it close. again, i used all timeouts... i knew that talbot would show up at 5 pm. tough, tough draw.
our pool play opponent was in the 'semi-final' on the other side. odd, since as the number 2 overall team, an 'easier' pool seemed in order. but, the kids kept fighting... and down, 12-11, 76 points into the day, talbot shows up, we score the upwinder to tie, and hold on to win...
10 minutes later: on to the finals. started close. stayed close, but we took half at 9-7, and never looked back... what made it work? obviously, having a good player show up w/ fresh legs was good... but our win was against our one defeat... and i finish up 41-2 for 3 years, w/ 3 trophies... final was 15-10...
highlight, the 5 point run to win a pool play game w/ half a team of brand new kids... lowlight... down 12-11, both calves locked up, needing my buddy to help win.
i'd of won it on my own, of course...
but have you ever been so cramped up that you can just concentrate on running on your heels, as that seems to minimize the pain... well, there i was...
anyway, i only played about 20 of the points of the finals, to finish up at 96 for the day... not a record, but a high count of points...
the hamstring, well, a minimal amount of real sprinting. almost all d's on the mark. but i survived, so i guess, time to go to the track.... hamstring cured...
luke.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
thirty something and 2
a loss...
12-11 loss to a good team (i know, i was the 'draft consultant.)
we just dug ourselves a whole, and couldn't get back in.
we brought in a few more (new) hs kids for this, as most of the team has left for europe, or mexico, or whatever...
so we weren't able to run our endzone plays, uh, play... which usually goes for 1-2 per game.
hamstring is coming back, my defense was still joke-er-iffic... but, what else is new. the offense was not going well, but, frankly, if i play any better on saturday... well, that's good...
talbot is unavailable for the 1st 2 or 3 games, so i'm counting on him to anchor the line for the finals. too bad. i was hoping he'd do the dirty work for 3 games... hee haw...
2nd game, less pleasant, a purple player's follow through broke the nose of my best young player... a 15 y.o. w/ wild athleticism... i.e., the best player on the team... we carted him off at 9 ish (yes, games start at 6)... and lost him, his sister, and her friend (who had to drive).
the mom, an awesome athlete (div I 800 runner, world class biker, great ski racer) was super cool... had the kids just meet at a friends for ice cream...
nice.
final was 11-3 or something. after we scored a couple w/ 6 players (4/2), they agreed it was dark...
next up, the tourney. hopefully we'll have a team. i count... 3 girls... just enough... go-zone.
world cup.
moderately dissapointing finish for the team.
let's spread the blame around...
1) take more shots: my impression is that the US team at some point read a stat that time of possession = wins. as a result, i saw many, MANY back passes that maintained possession, but gave no positional advantage.... maybe we couldn't shoot more because of the lack of...
2) dominant player: we have some wonderful players... but if we are to be successful, we need someone fearless to take shots. but it's almost as if they fear for their place on the field. i'm a big dempsey and mcbride fan... but donovan never seemed in the form he's brought to other games... maybe due to...
3) coaching issues: i don't know arenas. but leaving mathis behind for being a dick head may have denied us the fiery game breaker we needed. also, our midfield oriented, possesion attack might not have been appropriate for a desparation game... (yes, i understand what a counter attack is)... and personel wise, if we don't have the players, playing for the counter attack is well and good... but, flg, someone TAKE A SHOT, and don't fear that your spot on the team is gone. likewise, arenas is gone, which is not very fair, because of...
4) state of US football. we are not yet getting the aggressive large forwards who fear nothing... giant egos who fear no coach.... which brings me to the officiating...
5) actually, the officiating was OK... by that i mean, it was equally horriffic in the italy game... and the call against whasis face in the ghana game seemed 'poor.' but they are not to blame...
6) now, bandwagon time... i like the relentless, opportunistic brazillian attack. who doesn't. the depth and talent of argentina... awesome... and germany's talented 11 w/ the home court... those are the obvious favorites (i haven't looked at the brackets to see where they fall out)... some fun-derdogs.. australia, ghana, and the new, more exciting italian attack... the door lock (what is that , the cattenacio, or something) is gone, and the attack is better...
predictions:
ok, looked at the brackets... brazil d. spain, brazil d. england, germany gets by argentina on homecooking, and germany knocks brazil off 3-2... deutchland... uber alles...
12-11 loss to a good team (i know, i was the 'draft consultant.)
we just dug ourselves a whole, and couldn't get back in.
we brought in a few more (new) hs kids for this, as most of the team has left for europe, or mexico, or whatever...
so we weren't able to run our endzone plays, uh, play... which usually goes for 1-2 per game.
hamstring is coming back, my defense was still joke-er-iffic... but, what else is new. the offense was not going well, but, frankly, if i play any better on saturday... well, that's good...
talbot is unavailable for the 1st 2 or 3 games, so i'm counting on him to anchor the line for the finals. too bad. i was hoping he'd do the dirty work for 3 games... hee haw...
2nd game, less pleasant, a purple player's follow through broke the nose of my best young player... a 15 y.o. w/ wild athleticism... i.e., the best player on the team... we carted him off at 9 ish (yes, games start at 6)... and lost him, his sister, and her friend (who had to drive).
the mom, an awesome athlete (div I 800 runner, world class biker, great ski racer) was super cool... had the kids just meet at a friends for ice cream...
nice.
final was 11-3 or something. after we scored a couple w/ 6 players (4/2), they agreed it was dark...
next up, the tourney. hopefully we'll have a team. i count... 3 girls... just enough... go-zone.
world cup.
moderately dissapointing finish for the team.
let's spread the blame around...
1) take more shots: my impression is that the US team at some point read a stat that time of possession = wins. as a result, i saw many, MANY back passes that maintained possession, but gave no positional advantage.... maybe we couldn't shoot more because of the lack of...
2) dominant player: we have some wonderful players... but if we are to be successful, we need someone fearless to take shots. but it's almost as if they fear for their place on the field. i'm a big dempsey and mcbride fan... but donovan never seemed in the form he's brought to other games... maybe due to...
3) coaching issues: i don't know arenas. but leaving mathis behind for being a dick head may have denied us the fiery game breaker we needed. also, our midfield oriented, possesion attack might not have been appropriate for a desparation game... (yes, i understand what a counter attack is)... and personel wise, if we don't have the players, playing for the counter attack is well and good... but, flg, someone TAKE A SHOT, and don't fear that your spot on the team is gone. likewise, arenas is gone, which is not very fair, because of...
4) state of US football. we are not yet getting the aggressive large forwards who fear nothing... giant egos who fear no coach.... which brings me to the officiating...
5) actually, the officiating was OK... by that i mean, it was equally horriffic in the italy game... and the call against whasis face in the ghana game seemed 'poor.' but they are not to blame...
6) now, bandwagon time... i like the relentless, opportunistic brazillian attack. who doesn't. the depth and talent of argentina... awesome... and germany's talented 11 w/ the home court... those are the obvious favorites (i haven't looked at the brackets to see where they fall out)... some fun-derdogs.. australia, ghana, and the new, more exciting italian attack... the door lock (what is that , the cattenacio, or something) is gone, and the attack is better...
predictions:
ok, looked at the brackets... brazil d. spain, brazil d. england, germany gets by argentina on homecooking, and germany knocks brazil off 3-2... deutchland... uber alles...
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
dday
d day.
the d stood for day.
as trivial as this one.
thursday, is league night, and we're playing for 1st or 2nd or third in a double header... i THINK second or third should seed us in the same spot relative to the tournament... i.e... we should still regardless of game result, not see the 'other' team until the finals.
but we'll see.
our team, like man others, is depleted by late season, summer vacations.
unlike other teams, the players are not going rafting, they are going to senor pepes or whatever you do when you are a senior in high school going to mexico.
likewise, a. talbot, the other 'adult' on the team is going to wofa (wilderness oriented first aid)... which i believe is an experience like first aid/cpr, but they don't make you count breaths and heart beats...
it won't change the game plan which is based on the 'beautiful game.'
and if you think the beautiful game requires touch pass to touch pass... well, you're an idiot.
the beautiful game requires one thing...
goal shots...
and i promise them...
aside, just got done watching some joel silver interviews, and i got this to say about frank... he's right. his game is pure. it looks a lot like the early frisbee games. and by that i mean, it seems free flow, and meaningless.
personally, i'm not impressed. but i did get the impression that silver was lying. his game was a copy of the northfield mt. hermon game, and he, even in his detachment from 'frisbee' felt compelled to give himself credit...
today... a little 8:30 am frisbee w/ 12 kids... mostly coached, played a few points, and finished w/ a game of dutch (3 v 3 in a box, 5 passes a point, 3 points win)... the hamstring is better... not 'best'...
then came home, read, ate pancakes, watched some world cup, and went for a 2.5 hour mt. bike ride... say, 25 miles... just a cruise... (lamely, i watched my heart rate monitor to make sure i kept it 'easy')
watched the replay of the england/sweden game... and a little dvd... and here you are...
more to come...
the d stood for day.
as trivial as this one.
thursday, is league night, and we're playing for 1st or 2nd or third in a double header... i THINK second or third should seed us in the same spot relative to the tournament... i.e... we should still regardless of game result, not see the 'other' team until the finals.
but we'll see.
our team, like man others, is depleted by late season, summer vacations.
unlike other teams, the players are not going rafting, they are going to senor pepes or whatever you do when you are a senior in high school going to mexico.
likewise, a. talbot, the other 'adult' on the team is going to wofa (wilderness oriented first aid)... which i believe is an experience like first aid/cpr, but they don't make you count breaths and heart beats...
it won't change the game plan which is based on the 'beautiful game.'
and if you think the beautiful game requires touch pass to touch pass... well, you're an idiot.
the beautiful game requires one thing...
goal shots...
and i promise them...
aside, just got done watching some joel silver interviews, and i got this to say about frank... he's right. his game is pure. it looks a lot like the early frisbee games. and by that i mean, it seems free flow, and meaningless.
personally, i'm not impressed. but i did get the impression that silver was lying. his game was a copy of the northfield mt. hermon game, and he, even in his detachment from 'frisbee' felt compelled to give himself credit...
today... a little 8:30 am frisbee w/ 12 kids... mostly coached, played a few points, and finished w/ a game of dutch (3 v 3 in a box, 5 passes a point, 3 points win)... the hamstring is better... not 'best'...
then came home, read, ate pancakes, watched some world cup, and went for a 2.5 hour mt. bike ride... say, 25 miles... just a cruise... (lamely, i watched my heart rate monitor to make sure i kept it 'easy')
watched the replay of the england/sweden game... and a little dvd... and here you are...
more to come...
Saturday, June 17, 2006
new team forming...
the arisocrats.
well, i'm not sure i have the chops or energy to form a decent nw club team...
but what a name.
if you've not seen the movie, it's brilliant. and if you hated it, here's some more ammo.
'waiting' is also brilliant.
school's out. i've got to go in monday for a few hours to finish, and enter grades, but i'm glad to be done. next year's schedule is out, and i have a ridiculously complicated schedule. probably the hardest at school (i.e., many different subjects, on rotating days)... so i'll probably gack it as i get sidetracked by the yearlong coaching (xc running (we may win boys and girls state), xc skiing, and frisbee)
plans? increased prose volume, if not... weight... run/bike/frisbee. i just now realized how detached from 'real' frisbee i am. solstice is this weekend, and while i'm recovering from an injury, that never would have stopped me in the past. but, there doesn't appear to be a 'whore' team there that i can just show up and mill around the sideline...
or maybe i just wasn't invited...
today i read the section of the coffee table book (zagoria and leonardo) dealing w/ co-ed... and just for the record, officially, co-ed is killing 'open' play. i don't 'hate' co-ed. but i do hate sloppy tournaments. and unfortunately for co-ed, those tournaments are often sloppy.
i just can't deal w/ the 14 minute points as a going concern, nor can i deal w/ a game where me throwing it as far as i can every time i touch it is as good a strategy as any...
me: two games last night (see previous post), so today, just 34 minutes of biking (17 each to and from work)... tommorrow, some biking (probably a 2 hour bike ride), same sunday... next week, i'll get in a few runs, play the last regular season league games, then the tournament. i'm a little bummed that i don't feel fully 'frisky' for the tournament... but i suspect, adrenalin will cure that.
the season is shaping up to a 2 team race. maybe 3. we have yet to play the 'top two' teams. for some reason, we're seeded 4th, w/ a 9-0 record, and a plus 6 diff... it has something to do w/ the fact that we were just 6 and 0 when the seedings came out. i'm not sure why the team w/ a loss was ahead of us...
and finally, soon, both 'grown ups' on the high school team will be allowed to play at the same time. for yes, there is a rule against a. talbot and myself being on the field at the same time, except for the finals, or the tournament... or something....
well, i'm not sure i have the chops or energy to form a decent nw club team...
but what a name.
if you've not seen the movie, it's brilliant. and if you hated it, here's some more ammo.
'waiting' is also brilliant.
school's out. i've got to go in monday for a few hours to finish, and enter grades, but i'm glad to be done. next year's schedule is out, and i have a ridiculously complicated schedule. probably the hardest at school (i.e., many different subjects, on rotating days)... so i'll probably gack it as i get sidetracked by the yearlong coaching (xc running (we may win boys and girls state), xc skiing, and frisbee)
plans? increased prose volume, if not... weight... run/bike/frisbee. i just now realized how detached from 'real' frisbee i am. solstice is this weekend, and while i'm recovering from an injury, that never would have stopped me in the past. but, there doesn't appear to be a 'whore' team there that i can just show up and mill around the sideline...
or maybe i just wasn't invited...
today i read the section of the coffee table book (zagoria and leonardo) dealing w/ co-ed... and just for the record, officially, co-ed is killing 'open' play. i don't 'hate' co-ed. but i do hate sloppy tournaments. and unfortunately for co-ed, those tournaments are often sloppy.
i just can't deal w/ the 14 minute points as a going concern, nor can i deal w/ a game where me throwing it as far as i can every time i touch it is as good a strategy as any...
me: two games last night (see previous post), so today, just 34 minutes of biking (17 each to and from work)... tommorrow, some biking (probably a 2 hour bike ride), same sunday... next week, i'll get in a few runs, play the last regular season league games, then the tournament. i'm a little bummed that i don't feel fully 'frisky' for the tournament... but i suspect, adrenalin will cure that.
the season is shaping up to a 2 team race. maybe 3. we have yet to play the 'top two' teams. for some reason, we're seeded 4th, w/ a 9-0 record, and a plus 6 diff... it has something to do w/ the fact that we were just 6 and 0 when the seedings came out. i'm not sure why the team w/ a loss was ahead of us...
and finally, soon, both 'grown ups' on the high school team will be allowed to play at the same time. for yes, there is a rule against a. talbot and myself being on the field at the same time, except for the finals, or the tournament... or something....
Thursday, June 15, 2006
bowling night
double header...
vs 'blue', 13-4?
then vs 'white.'
13-3?
as is usual, games start on 'ultimate time', although, my team is there on time... then there is some kind of cap for the game... then an untimely break while the other team huddles... at some point (5-0) i asked for an 8:45 cap... agreed, then after a couple exchanges led to 7-2, the opponents smelled victory... and a few minutes later, we were chastised for 'taking too long.' i don't know if it was 90 seconds but it was quick.
this led to a change of strategy. 'jog back orange', let's play. some presumably good natured heckling by the white team only pissed off the kids... i told them that this was a sign that we were in their heads, and don't let that change. (the kids just generally run around, and never say anything to the opponents...)
needless to say, the kids started making blocks all over the field.
hamstring getting better, still not ripping around the field, but running at least... and played probably 15 or 16 points... been 6 weeks now, w/ 1.5 weeks to tournament... a one day, 4 games to win deal...
more to follow.
3 year record in bend city league.... 36-1, 2 trophies...
the stress is palpable
vs 'blue', 13-4?
then vs 'white.'
13-3?
as is usual, games start on 'ultimate time', although, my team is there on time... then there is some kind of cap for the game... then an untimely break while the other team huddles... at some point (5-0) i asked for an 8:45 cap... agreed, then after a couple exchanges led to 7-2, the opponents smelled victory... and a few minutes later, we were chastised for 'taking too long.' i don't know if it was 90 seconds but it was quick.
this led to a change of strategy. 'jog back orange', let's play. some presumably good natured heckling by the white team only pissed off the kids... i told them that this was a sign that we were in their heads, and don't let that change. (the kids just generally run around, and never say anything to the opponents...)
needless to say, the kids started making blocks all over the field.
hamstring getting better, still not ripping around the field, but running at least... and played probably 15 or 16 points... been 6 weeks now, w/ 1.5 weeks to tournament... a one day, 4 games to win deal...
more to follow.
3 year record in bend city league.... 36-1, 2 trophies...
the stress is palpable
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
league, continued.
rematch tonight... a missed game... lightning.
it was the 'b' team (the a team graduated on sunday) plus a. talbot and myself...
won... 13-9 ish.
personal: uh, running... at 85%? 85% is a big jump from 80%. but i made a few downfield moves. no big breaks to the endzone, but some comeback cuts.
thoughts: the kids just need to 'run.' they are doing well at thinking through the offense, and making smart cuts... but there is far too much thinking about the cut...
my advice... just run. we'll adjust for errors... but lets' be a team that runs first, thinks later.
sorry boston.
played 17 or 18 points. did you ever notice, there is a certain point where an ultimate game is no work at all, and a certain point where you get a little tired.... minor point... i called d. nace on a 'violation' where he threw from about 8 feet in after an out of bounds 'ran in w/out checking feet'... i called violation before he even checked it in... throw was a goal... it came back... i told him, look even if you'd turned it over... i'd have given it back... i think a t.o. would have been a t.o.... but... i mean... i felt bad enough, up 4 to be mildly ticky tack....
but i mean, i wasn't even marking....
6 and 0, good victory margin (4-6)... kids are fine....
rematch tonight... a missed game... lightning.
it was the 'b' team (the a team graduated on sunday) plus a. talbot and myself...
won... 13-9 ish.
personal: uh, running... at 85%? 85% is a big jump from 80%. but i made a few downfield moves. no big breaks to the endzone, but some comeback cuts.
thoughts: the kids just need to 'run.' they are doing well at thinking through the offense, and making smart cuts... but there is far too much thinking about the cut...
my advice... just run. we'll adjust for errors... but lets' be a team that runs first, thinks later.
sorry boston.
played 17 or 18 points. did you ever notice, there is a certain point where an ultimate game is no work at all, and a certain point where you get a little tired.... minor point... i called d. nace on a 'violation' where he threw from about 8 feet in after an out of bounds 'ran in w/out checking feet'... i called violation before he even checked it in... throw was a goal... it came back... i told him, look even if you'd turned it over... i'd have given it back... i think a t.o. would have been a t.o.... but... i mean... i felt bad enough, up 4 to be mildly ticky tack....
but i mean, i wasn't even marking....
6 and 0, good victory margin (4-6)... kids are fine....
Sunday, June 04, 2006
my first cleats
my first cleats...
well not exactly. i played soccer for 10 years as a child, and other than one inexplicable year where my parents didn't feel i needed them (which was weird, since i was playing on the supposedly elite 'kangaroo team'... elite because we had jerseys, and a mascot in a kangaroo suit who would come to the games and never talk. i still don't know who was in that suit. i do remember that our goalie was j.c., who was m.c. (the coaches) son... he was bad...but i remember my first ultimate cleats.
i had sprained my ankle in the yellowstone employee touch football challenge game, lodgepole lodge (the lodgepole longpoles) vs. everyone else... it was actually a break, but i wouldn't find that out for several years when i finally, for another sprain, had an xray...anyway, moving to eugene, i moved in w/ oregon players gb and cf, and heard about this game ultimate. i had never seen it. i had certainly never played it. i was vaguely aware that this one fraternity at my first college played it a lot.it sounded cool.
so, while still limping around, i bought cleats. i waited exactly 6 weeks from the 'sprain', per the docs instructions... ankle more or less stable, i strapped on my champion high tops, only one size too big, and went to my first practice. and there in the summer of 1990, at the fields by the oregon track, i began playing ultimate...
i was terrible, of course. my first memory is being taught a 3 fingered flick by some leaguer. my next memory is playing at sectionals, w/ some swilly team (but did have some old heavy guy who had played w/ the flying circus)... it turned out it was sectionals, which would cost me my elligibillity some years later. i'm not happy about the loss of that year of elligibillity, but i think it only fair that the UPA should send me the newsletters i never got.by the end of my 6 months in eugene, i thought i was far better than i was. at my last practice, i caught huck after huck from mike wing w/ c.f. diving behind me.i thought i was the sh!^.
today i finished up as the tournament director for the oregon hs tournament. and it made me reflect on my early days...
it's not a bad career, 6 nationals (3 w/ Chain, 3 w/ sockeye), 2 college nationals, 3 worlds... but... no championships.
bummer.
but its had its moments...
lowlight: played w/ a team of legends of boston at the boulder in 1994, and lost a game, then jumped ship to play w/ a bunch of NYNY stars and lost the rest of the games. i was, you guessed it, the only person to lose every game at that tournament...
highlight? probably worlds '02. playing w/ sockeye, in my 2nd year w/ them... played a near flawless tournament (albeit, w/ some restrictions on playing time), until i had like 4 goals and 4 assists against furious... i suspect that the game for bronze meant less for furious than for me... but i caught the game winner w/ a move i'd like to patent... i jabbed for the cone... and a young, but already obviously very talented oscar grabbed my jersey... i pulled up, said calmly... 'hey, don't...' and bolted for the cone, and caught the game winner and looked down to see my foot land just inside the line... yeah team.
along the way, couple poultry days wins, a fist full of seattle and bend league championships, a couple of upa newsletters appearances and some nice photos... most in the 'pre digital era'. shit. now, everytime there's a tournament, there's 800 pictures...
favorite tourney, is still, ironically, my unbelievably worst ever finish, some awful result in st. andrews... but what a tournament that was...
more to follow...
unlike literary genius kd, i promise no great prose this summer. but i do promise more. and i look forward to reading some classic blog entries... and writing some long pointless ones myself...
well not exactly. i played soccer for 10 years as a child, and other than one inexplicable year where my parents didn't feel i needed them (which was weird, since i was playing on the supposedly elite 'kangaroo team'... elite because we had jerseys, and a mascot in a kangaroo suit who would come to the games and never talk. i still don't know who was in that suit. i do remember that our goalie was j.c., who was m.c. (the coaches) son... he was bad...but i remember my first ultimate cleats.
i had sprained my ankle in the yellowstone employee touch football challenge game, lodgepole lodge (the lodgepole longpoles) vs. everyone else... it was actually a break, but i wouldn't find that out for several years when i finally, for another sprain, had an xray...anyway, moving to eugene, i moved in w/ oregon players gb and cf, and heard about this game ultimate. i had never seen it. i had certainly never played it. i was vaguely aware that this one fraternity at my first college played it a lot.it sounded cool.
so, while still limping around, i bought cleats. i waited exactly 6 weeks from the 'sprain', per the docs instructions... ankle more or less stable, i strapped on my champion high tops, only one size too big, and went to my first practice. and there in the summer of 1990, at the fields by the oregon track, i began playing ultimate...
i was terrible, of course. my first memory is being taught a 3 fingered flick by some leaguer. my next memory is playing at sectionals, w/ some swilly team (but did have some old heavy guy who had played w/ the flying circus)... it turned out it was sectionals, which would cost me my elligibillity some years later. i'm not happy about the loss of that year of elligibillity, but i think it only fair that the UPA should send me the newsletters i never got.by the end of my 6 months in eugene, i thought i was far better than i was. at my last practice, i caught huck after huck from mike wing w/ c.f. diving behind me.i thought i was the sh!^.
today i finished up as the tournament director for the oregon hs tournament. and it made me reflect on my early days...
it's not a bad career, 6 nationals (3 w/ Chain, 3 w/ sockeye), 2 college nationals, 3 worlds... but... no championships.
bummer.
but its had its moments...
lowlight: played w/ a team of legends of boston at the boulder in 1994, and lost a game, then jumped ship to play w/ a bunch of NYNY stars and lost the rest of the games. i was, you guessed it, the only person to lose every game at that tournament...
highlight? probably worlds '02. playing w/ sockeye, in my 2nd year w/ them... played a near flawless tournament (albeit, w/ some restrictions on playing time), until i had like 4 goals and 4 assists against furious... i suspect that the game for bronze meant less for furious than for me... but i caught the game winner w/ a move i'd like to patent... i jabbed for the cone... and a young, but already obviously very talented oscar grabbed my jersey... i pulled up, said calmly... 'hey, don't...' and bolted for the cone, and caught the game winner and looked down to see my foot land just inside the line... yeah team.
along the way, couple poultry days wins, a fist full of seattle and bend league championships, a couple of upa newsletters appearances and some nice photos... most in the 'pre digital era'. shit. now, everytime there's a tournament, there's 800 pictures...
favorite tourney, is still, ironically, my unbelievably worst ever finish, some awful result in st. andrews... but what a tournament that was...
more to follow...
unlike literary genius kd, i promise no great prose this summer. but i do promise more. and i look forward to reading some classic blog entries... and writing some long pointless ones myself...
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