UPA Nationals Write up...

... will not be found here. I will be glad to tell you about the one day Bend Hat Tournament. Detailed stats will be found at the bottom. This was the culminating tournament for the Bend Fall Hat League.... The day dawned cool and clear, but who would know, we're talking frisbee Players... I got there 20 minutes late, and had time for a full one hour warmup before play... (more to follow on the perfect warmup)

Once the teams were drawn from the hat, it seemed clear that there were two teams that were tigers. The team (Team Boo) of Doug V, Cinda, Katie, Andrew, RodK, Marshall, MarkF and someone durnnit... rolled through their pool play by a combined score of 22-2.

TEam BooWho aka 'paper tiger' boasted AndyC, Susan, Spencer, RussZ, Newbie Deb, Beckie, Todd, and your reporter played the same teams to a score of, I THINK, 18-10. We did manage to finish 'one' game.... the other got capped at 7-5 as our exploration of bad zone defense and poor offensive execution kind of slowed us down.

Before a small crowd, the Boo/Boo-Hoo game would be one for the ages. First of all it was a crampfest. Bodies were collapsing all around as athletes battled the savage 60 degree heat (yes, that's sarcasm) over the course of 3 games w/ little or no subs. Team Boo-who made hay from a series of spectacular blocks (uh, not by me) followed by writhing cramping... But the inspiring pre game speech may have made all the difference...

Russ: Shit, these guys are going to kill us.
Luke: Yep.

But to the team, a much more inspirational speech.

"Shit, y'all, we're out classed. More experience, more height, more speed, just more better. We got one chance. Bring them down to our level. Turn it into a swilly hucking position based game. It's called Huck and Hope (TM). Every real fight ends up on the ground. This ones going into a gutter. Let's make it ugly, and winit in the end.

I specifically remember thinking, "what's up with these sissies cramping... oh wait... they are RUNNING... whoops"

Boo came out confident. The Ultimate Players Score Computer had them as a 5 point favorite. The crowd was on their side. But it was BooWHO who jumped out to the early lead w/ a series of idiotic forced hucks falling into play for goals.

Boo took the time out, and regrouped. With the disc near the endzone, and a high count, Boo took another time out. Fisticuffs broke out over whether it was StallingNINE, or Stalling 8. (well, no of course they didn't). Perhaps in hindsight, the better question would have been, wait, why are they taking another time out... where did that come from? Isn't it one timeout per half? But while Boo turned that pass over, they eventually scored the goal. Perhaps the controversy spurred them to rise up.

BooWhoo was not worried, but Boo scored again. And again to make it 3-3. Boowho was still not worried, as the loudest guy on the team couldn't count. But Boo scored again, and again, and again to make the score 5-3, then 6-3. Boo who countered to make it 6- 4, but Boo took half 7-4.
And 'Boo' was receiving the ball... er... frisbee... to start the half.

BooWho scored twice to close the gap to 7-6 (side note I could actually describe every point, but here's a generic one at this point.).

Luke picks up the disc and makes a questionable decision and throws it as far as he can (HuckNHope (TM)). Someone makes a catch (scores), a spectacular bid (maybe scores), watches luke's bad throw go (out the back, out of bounds, just out of reach). Spencer or Andy makes a stellar 'D' in the zone. I probably turn it over again, far away.

Repeat. Occasionally Russ might get in on the turnover, or farthrowing excitement. But not so much, at least w/ the turnovers. Played good, definitely...

back to the action. Down 7-6, Boowho watches as Boo scores twice to make it 9-6.
And then we scored 7 straight to win... Yeah team.
Detailed stats.
Points played 48/50
Turnovers: uh, is 'all' an option? Lots.
Goals thrown: lots?
Diving layout 'd': One for the 21st century.
MVP: Co MVP, Spencer and Andy.
yeah team. off for the post tourney pizza/salad/ feed.

And now the shout outs:

BeckyT for running a great hat league and tournament.
All the players who misseeded themselves too low who made our job miserable.
AaronT for bringing Nationals level heckling w/ a broken kidney to both encourage his gal Vie to greatness, and give a reality to the tournament... example... during our 7 point run, i went into howard dean 'heeee-yahhhh' mode after every play... after my nth (where n is a high number) turnover of some point aaron goes 'where's the heee-yahhh'...

The pizza and salad, hosted by SilverMoon brewery in bend, featured delish pizza, fresh salad, foozball, pool, tasty beverages and candy, and an age group from 2 months to 43 years... and some sweet costumes...

til next year...

oh yeah, ps

SOCK, SOCK, SOCK
EYEEEEEEEEEEE!