Westerns review... game 1.

Coach's perspective, round 1.

In other rounds, upsets included Nathan Hale of WA over Fairview of CO, Sheldon d. Garfield (in a game that Sheldon got off to a big lead then comfortably coasted), and tournament chalk buster Berkeley started their strong march to the finals.  But, I'm talking about personal experience.

From My coaching perspective.
Summit vs. Monarch.
Going into the game the teams have played 2 times.  In 2011, Monarch won by 1 point, at the cap.  But In 2012, Summit won by 1 point, at the cap.  It seems the teams are basically weird mirror images of each other.  Two mountain towns with short frisbee seasons.  Two teams of outstanding athletes, but athletes whose passions are divided among multiple sports.  Two towns where winter snows preclude year round club scenes to boost youth participation.

In other words, it's

vs

For you community fans, it's a perfect continuity.

In 2011, the game was back and forth.  Both teams came to play.  Both were gunning for the 9th spot.  Monarch was suffering from traveling a time zone, and 100s of miles.  Summit had prom to deal with.  A fairly stacked deck.  But it was monarch's game, and rightfully so.

In 2012, the game was back and forth. My memories are all positive.  But the last point was a 15 minute, 35 mph wind Wasatch range storm in Utah.  And at the end of the day, Summit won.  

And, the rubber match would be no less exciting.  And let it be said, it was a joy to coach. As was the case in the past, it was an athletic H stack with a predisposition to ambition (Monarch) vs. the Summit teams same strengths, and failings in a Vert stack.  Athletic plays abound.  And, in the anti-climax of all, the horn goes off, as we score.  If memory serves, there were NUMEROUS lead changes.  

Summit goes up 1-0.  And technically, it was good Spock vs. good Spock.  But rock the Spock goatee.

Hype man's guide to USA ULTIMATE College Nationals. Thursday / Friday.

First USA Ultimate Nationals as a spectator?  Are you a recent Alum looking to get the low down on what to watch, and who to see?  A Local of Madison who just wants to check out the fun fast paced sport of the 21^st century?

Welcome to Outside In, where I give you the straight up PLAN to enjoying your spectating experience.  The whosits, whatsits and wheresits to enjoy your stay in Madison.  It’s an outsider’s take on the inside scoop.  Little secret, I use a little thing called the INTERWEBS, invented by Thomas Jefferson and Al Gore.  Off to Madison…  Let’s talk about what to do when you’re not at the game, where to eat, and also, of course, scout the games.

Most of this is what you should be doing when you’re NOT watching Frisbee.  But I got some game watching thoughts in there, also.

Days 1 and 2 are held at the Reddan Soccer fields in Verona, WI.  Looks like basically a suburb.  There is probably plenty of McFood around.  But it looks like campus is less than 10 miles away.  I’d at least head into Madison Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.  If you’re staying in a tournament hotel, I’d hit the Homewood or the Hampton on Commerce, as they are a little closer to Madison, and the fields aren’t that far from anything. 

BEST CHOICE FOR GOOD TIME:  Contact someone in Madison.  Bribe them for couch space.  Rent bikes.  Seriously, If you know anyone in downtown Madison, I’d rent a bike for the 4 days, and ride the bike route out to the fields; again, this is one of the great cycling communities in America.  Take advantage.  Pay less than $80 for 4 days of cycling.  Buy something for your host.

The weather looks decent for spectating.  Cool temps, and light breezes less than 10mph should make for appearance of actual ultimate-like substance.  A blessing after Sarasota gales, and Boulder, er, Gales.

DO: Get there Thurdsay, and if the weather is good, go for a bike ride.  Outside Magazine recommends Madison as one of the greatest bike towns in America.  For pure entertainment value, I think someone needs to check out the “Red Bikes.” 

I Have no idea if these bikes are what you want to have to ride .  They may just be beaters, but, I think you need your picture taken with a “RedBike.”

If you’ve followed my advice, and contacted the Madison Ultimate Community, You’ve got a place to stay.   Now call a bike shop and rent for the duration of your stay. 

I found Erik’s bike shop, where you can rent some decent road bikes for as low as $18 a day.  The deposit is pretty steep, so hopefully you have a credit card.  Helmets and locks provided. Click HERE. or Budget Bikes HERE (even cheaper!).  Check around. 

If you’re only riding Thursday, I’d at the very least do the lake Mendota lake loop, at 23 miles, but check in with the locals.

Lake Mendota

But if you’re adamant that you just want to spend your vacation weekend in a car, at a motel, and at a generic soccer complex, well you’re mostly going to be watching Frisbee, so renting a bike might be a waste.  But do a loop on Thursday, shoot some pictures, get a little culture out of the trip.  You’ll have that many more memories.

Still, on Thursday, if the weather is bad, or if you are just looking to go full tourist, you might have time to catch a museum or a show.  If you live in a outdoors-recreation-rich culturally barren backwater as I do, this might be a good call.  There’s a photo exhibition at the Madison Museum of Contemporary art downtown. HERE is a description. 

The dinner options downtown are too many to mention.  Wander around until you see something you like.  Then, Thursday night, catch Matthew Santos at the Redamte Coffee house.  Here is the venue. 

Doors open at 7, and music at 8.

Reviewed HERE, Santos has worked with Lupe Fiasco (on superstar), and tickets are 8 bucks.  Also he hails from Minneapolis, so maybe he’ll be channeling some of the miracle magic of the healing waters of Lake Minnetonka.  I assume you’ll wander around downtown after the show, or head home to catch Jersey Shore at the Hotel.

Friday:  All you need to know:  Get some coffee.  If you're staying in a Hotel, just eat the damn waffles.  If you're couch surfing downtown, get a tasty bagel sandwich at Bagels Forever on University.  Then head out, and camp out at fields 3 and 4.  Bring your earplugs, and remember, you’ll pay for the whole seat, but you’ll only need the edge.  There are multiple coffee shops within a couple miles of the fields. Always important for me.  Hopefully you're biking, as the bike routes look great for riding.

Games to Watch:

Round 1 8:30
Honestly, the first round games don’t look too thrilling.  Will Tufts – Texas on the Girls side have  some serious brawling?  Maybe UCSB and UBC will find UCSB returning to prior years form at the big Show..  Or check out Will “Nexgen” Driscoll vs. Brice “RSD, Please quit calling me and Ben Wiggins Fat, because we’re really not, but, thanks for the Ben Comparison” Dixon.  But this might be a good round to roam. 

You might want to watch the open division match up between UNCW vs Illinois on field 4, or watch womens teams Washington and Ottowa play.  You'll want to get a feel for the wind -- file forecasts are for light breezes, it might be a factor in the games later.  Will more goals be scored in the down wind endzone?  And you'll want to figure this out, because if you’re with the sporting press, you’re going to be spending a lot of time between fields 3 and 4 on Friday. 

The field layout isn’t set yet, but hopefully, you can get some prime seats between the two fields.

Down to Brass Tacks:  GAME TIME.

10:30 OPEN: A1 Oregon v A2 Colorado Field 3.  (Oregon by 2)

10:30 WOMEN Oregon v. Wisco at 10:30, field 4 (Oregon by 1)

Hopefully they’ve got the field layout with 3 and 4 next to each other.  Any morning Doldrums will end fast.

The men of Oregon and Colorado will reunite a few nexgen players, as Jimmy Mickle squares off against, well, the UO Offensive line (Spikezilla, Honn, and Allison-Hall).  

The home team Wisconsin Belladonna squares off against number one seed UO Fugue.  Travel and jet-lag could play a factor, as Wisconsin lost by only 2 at the Stanford invite.  Lou will have his team ready to gun it, but, travel takes it’s toll.  The home crowd will be loud, and rocking.  And as the game nears it’s end, fans arriving for the 12:30 wisconsin – Carleton boys game could give this game a championship feel – noise wise at least.

At 12:30 the Men’s action continues with B1 Wisco vs B2 Carleton on field 4.  The ranks will swell further. The 973^rd playing of the competition they just call ‘the love fest’ will no doubt be slowed by pauses to spiritedly complement each other, share jokes with the other team, and laugh until they cry as they just try to out-nice each other like Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen Degeneres.  Oh.  No. Wait. 

There.  Will. Be. Blood.  (Wisconsin by 2, and someone’s breaking out a Trident.)

As that game is going on, Women’s Pool C teams #1 Carleton vs #2 UBC also square off at 12:30, field 3. These teams have not met up this year, but Both teams have close wins, and losses to tough competition.  (Carleton by 2)

2:30 Men’s teams C1 UNC Chapel Hill and C2 University of Central Florida square off on field 3, and  Iowa State v. Ohio state at 2:30, field 4.  The girls game has huge upset potential, at least by seeding.  Iowa state has lost to… Ohio state this year.  And Ohio State’s opponents at regionals scored an average of like 1.85 points per game.  One might suspect the Ohio Valley region is less competitive, but this game should be a fun one. (Ohio State by 1)

UCF has become a fixture in the past few years, and this year has wins over both Oregon and UNC, at easterns.  UNC will come out hard:  “Carolina Style” Ultimate doesn’t have the same meaning it used to have, but this will be some hard fought Frisbee. (UCF by 2)

430 in the Open division, D1 Pitt faces D2 Texas , and  Iowa takes on Tufts.  Callahan candidates, and bus riders Degirolamo and Driscoll will go at it (we hope),  and Iowa and tufts at 4:30 on  field 4 should also be a great one. 

These teams met at the Queen City Tune Up with Iowa taking the 13-11 win.  Their RRI’s are almost identical.   But Pitt by 3, and Iowa holds seed. 

WHEW.  What a Saturday.  And you’ve barely had to move.  Team Style, and who handles the spotlight better will be the story in these rounds.  Early rounds tend to give the underdogs a better shot, but the teams in all 8 of these games are so well matched, that no one upset would be a surprise.

Not worn out from spectating pool play Friday?

Then head over a few miles to catch the Madison Radicals of the AUDL at Breese Stevens field.  Kick off at 7:30 P.m. Friday, $5 if you order on line. Get there early to be safe, order some fries with “Radical” Sauce (I suspect that is like “Fry Sauce” but more extreme.  Here are some more reasons to go to the game, from the team.

http://www.rsdnospam.com/index.php?t=msg&th=44316&start=0&

Didn’t pig out on the Radical sauce?  Lots of restaurants in the neighborhood.  For sure, the Burrito Drive, and Roman Candle are open late.  Burrito Drive looks decent, local input?  If the game ends at 10:30, you probably just want something quick anyway.  Several places are in the neighborhood of the stadium.

Or pub fare may be more your thing, so follow the post game throngs a few blocks down the road to the Radicals sponsor Great Dane Pub, where your ticket stub will get you a free beer.''

Get a good night's Sleep.   Saturday is moving day, when dreams are fulfilled, or broken.

(c) morrisonlukesmith

Hype Man Continues.

-->

Continuing to mine the archives, this Angela Lin for Callahan post is reprinted from the original post, visible HERE.  This was published in 2001.  Earlier pieces are HERE, and HERE. 

Angela Lin for Callahan?

But of course.

I've handled the role of Callahan Coordinator for UGA for several years now, (read previous posts by doing a deja archive search for me, or ME!!!).  But never in my long, and storied college career, or subsequently long and storied post baccalaureate career, or even in my avocation as a media guru, not to mention my work w/ the poor wayward orphans, or in my weekend work helping to clean up the environment,

(my brief television career, and work as an extreme skier/ snowboarder/ telemarker/ adventure racer/ downhill mountain biker/ world class free diver aside) have I had opportunity to meet, or promote, any person as uniquely talented as Angela Lin.

But enough about Angela.

Lately... (oh never mind)

Angela is somewhat of a Renaissance Woman.  But w/ a modern twist, since women were not really afforded long baggy black shorts in the Renaissance.  Or plastic for that matter.  Now people can have what they want.  Unless it is made of plastic.  If you have plastic, A. Lin will take it away from you.

Angela Lin is unique among ex-Georgia Tech Players.

I actually like her.

But more importantly, she has another talent lacking in most other Georgia Tech Players.

She can sign her own name.

But enough of celebrating the 'strengths' of the 'Second Best Tech School in Atlanta'-- (Go Southern Tech).

Angela's strengths are myriad.

She invented helium.

INVENTED IT.  

She circumnavigated the globe, using only a set of water wings and some swim fins.  What have YOU done, tuff guy?!

She wrote a little book.  Maybe you've heard of it. It's Called War and Peace.
PFFT.  Tolstoy?  What kind of name is that?  Clearly, this is a pseudonym.

Angela invented Rochambeau.  She... (aside) what's that?  Oh, thank you.

Correction. Angela brought ROCK to Rochambeau.  Good ole rock. Trusty
rock. Before Angela, there were just Georgia students throwing scissors.
And tech students throwing paper.

The ROCK has finally come back...
To Athens, GA.

Angela played guitar for a little band.
They are called REM.
Have you heard of them?

OH, she doesn't play for them anymore.

She is too busy... (author’s note, REM broke up a couple years ago).

Getting ready to kick your ass, yet in a very humble, team oriented,
polite, friendly, spirited way...

Did I mention her skills?

Mad hops, laser beam two-finger, the BIG BADDDDD back hand, hammer,
scoober, thumb hammer, corker, over-hand wrist flip, air bounce,

yawn.  'skills are loud as bombs'

Say it with me.

Stifling 'd', unmatched knowledge of field strategy (that's
STRATEGERY, if you went to Tech, and, unlike Angela, were not literate
enough to get in to the Flagship School of the Empire State of the
South)...

'boom'
very loud.

World class speed.  Did you see her in Sydney?
Of course not.
She’s too fast to see.

Angela is the best of a strong field.

Morrison Luke Smith

Frisbee Philosophy...

This was originally posted in the Bend, Oregon The Source Weekly in 2009.  Check out the original article HERE.  It's a great weekly, owned by a Masters World Champ and long time player.  Drive their hit counts, YO.

One Nation, Under Fris (bee) 

And Dog said, "Let there be flight!" Well at least it seems that way to 'Frisbyterians.' Baseball may be the Great American Pastime,

by Morrison Luke Smith

May 27, 2009

And Dog said, "Let there be flight!" Well at least it seems that way to 'Frisbyterians.'

Baseball may be the Great American Pastime, Football and NASCAR may have the most spectators, but to me, there is nothing more American than the Frisbee.

Whether seen as a child's 4th of July BBQ toy by conservatives, revered in a Zen like trance (or some other type of trance) by 'nekkid' college Frisbee hippies, treated as a serious sport by overly earnest 'Disc Golfers' and 'Ultimate players,' or treated as an effete toy by serious purveyors of sport (who know that nothing could be more serious than a bouncy ball, or men in tights), the Frisbee is the quintessential American symbol.

But much as our nation of immigrants is divided by perceived differences where it should be united by common bonds, the Frisbee too splits us apart even though everyone owns one. The divisions start with the name: Purists know that the Frisbee ™ is a brand name and that 'Disc' is the proper term. Of course, the zealotry of a Purist, insistent that they play, 'Disc Golf' not 'Frisbee Golf,' blinds them to the fact that every time they tell someone that Frisbee is pronounced "Disc," they are three breaths away from, at the very least, a metaphorical punch in the nose.

Likewise, Frisbee fanatics are shocked at the failure of Ultimate Frisbee to be an Olympic sport. Disc Golfers do not understand why sponsorships elude them. Free stylers don't really understand why the beauty of their sport has not been compared to synchronized swimming. And Dog Disc-ers wonder how they're going to pay for another 25 pound bag of dog food in this economy. Meanwhile, the general public sees the Frisbee as the athletic equivalent of a Bocci set, and an activity that is probably just as 'European.'

To the main street America of Joe the Plumber, Ultimate Frisbee is a dilettante's sport, played by stoners named Moonbeam and Barack, with as little relevance to America as Soccer. Disc Golf is a sport that is played by people with a beer in their hand, and to even call it golf is to besmirch the sport that John Daly has brought to mainstream America. Free style IS the equivalent of synchronized swimming, and where the dog is concerned, the thought is, "Wait a minute. Don't you do all these activities with your dog?"

But as we face danger in our international affairs, and uncertainty in our economy, we should look to the things that unite us, not allow small differences to divide us. Like the nation of immigrants that we are, we are all different users of the Frisbee. Let us treat the sun burnt dad at the beach with the same respect the serious aficionado craves, and likewise, let us not belittle the odd efforts of those who take their toys too seriously. Let us all, each and every one of us, see that the Frisbee, more than anything, joins us. For we are truly united by the '-Bee,' if for no other reasons than this: Frisbees are made out of oil (plastic) and manufactured in China. USA! USA! USA!

Luke Smith is a High School teacher, Coaches Cross Country Running, Nordic Skiing, Track and, of course, Ultimate Frisbee.

(c) MorrisonLukeSmith

My Scotland Summer Vacation -1999

Revisiting the past, frisbee content specific.

OK, fine, some frisbee content.

I went to Worlds in Scotland in 1999. My team was too bad. And that was the name. Partying ensued. I played OK, this was sort of the transitional period in my development from fairly fast Atlanta player to stupid slow Seattle player. These were the 3 years when i traveled a ton to tournaments, and developed some skills, some understanding of the game, and had a lot of fun. I was well on my to becoming a surprisingly effective slow player. I like to think i developed the same crafty moves as Jerry Rice. I think it's fairer to say that like Jerry rice in the nadir of his career, I have developed the ability to juke all over the place with out moving anywhere. Sometimes the defense moves more than me and i miraculously get open. Combine that with the fact that i'm left handed (bordering on incompetently ambidextrous, I can actually cause turnovers with both hands), and voila. Marginal effectiveness.

Anyway, Scotland. This was maybe my favorite worlds ever. St. Andrews is beautiful, the pubs were great, I had no real pressure to win or lose. The weather was what I assume to be traditionally Scottish.  Wet, and flipping cold all the time. And basically, all 150 teams would party together every night.

After our last loss (Actually, we may have won our last game, some inconsequential seeding match), ribaldry continued. All but 4 teams (the top 2 boy and girl teams) were done, and it was shennaniriffic.

MAYBE THIS ONE

Eileen and Timmy and I were wandering around late at night/early morning, enjoying the relatively warm (50 F) evening and the questionable decision was made to get to the top of the old chapel, the tallest building in st. Andrews to see the sun rise over the Firth of Forth. Well that was squashed by the walls and gates and barbed wire... so we headed back to the main campus. Looking at the old dorm where most of us were staying, I decided that the central tower of this building (like, an old castle tower) was the SECOND tallest building in St. Andrews, and that would do.

We found the closet door that contained the stairs, and up we went... in pitch black, illuminated by watch lights, we found the top door. Secured by a tiny little lock, like a luggage lock, we headed down the stairs where either EILEEN ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED OPEN a secret panel. Like pitch dark. Totally lucky. This opened on to an attic door. There was a window across the attic, faintly revealed by the predawn light glowing behind it. I walked across the joists, and when I arrived at the window, i noticed i was covered in cobwebs. No one had been here for years. The window was operable

. I climbed out, shimmy-d around to the roof pitch, and there, 20 feet away, was the top few feet of the turret. At 6'2, I was just able to reach the low part of the parapet, and was able to chin up, and help my fellow miscreants up.

Spread out below us was all of St. Andrews, and the beautiful calm waters of the Firth (i think it means Bay or something). Slowly the sun came up. Awesome.

We descended, I jogged home, and went and watched the last matches in Torrential rain. Quidditch-erriffic.

What made the trip even better was spending another 7 days hiking and hitching around scotland, but that memory was great. Oh, for a camera...

Morrison Luke Smith

MorrisonLukeSmith

Test Project.

(c) MorrisonLukeSmith

Testing SEO Properties.

Dirty 2nd Half, October 3, 2009

This was my second half marathon.  The "Dirty Half" is held in Spring, and the "Second dirty Half"in the fall.  Cute, eh?  Since 2009, the race has been changed to the Down and Dirty Half.  Here's the link to the 2013 Registration.

Technically, this was my 4th Marathon, if you count the Portland Marathon as 2 half marathons.

I ran it in 1:36:15, which was 1minute 42seconds  faster than the Spring Half marathon. Both are trail marathons with 1000 feet of hills the first time, 1600 feet in the fall.  The net elevation gain was 950 feet or so.  As far as i can tell, from analytically retentive review of the results, I'm the only runner who ran in both, who was faster in the fall.  I guess the course is a little harder, I trained a lot, and had a good day.

In any event, I improved in the second dirty half, with most of the competition dropping from 1-4 minutes back from their time in the "Dirty Half."

It was 25 at race time, and I was a bit chilled after a 7 mile bike ride to the race.

I went out steadily but allowed people ("allowed?") to run by me after a bit, and settled in and held my position up the 6 mile climb. I had to stop to tie my shoe (doh), and slowed at a feed station and took two little sips of water.

I passed probably 5 runners on the way up, and another 4 on the way down, and I finished a respectable 28th out of 320.  I was 2nd in the 40-45 age group, but that guy was a studly 5 minutes ahead of me.

My gps shows elevation gain as 1300 total feet of climbing, but the race director's altimiter (more accurate) shows as much greater.  I'm going with the big number.  Makes me feel better about myself.

Fun, nice to improve.
Morrison Luke Smith

(c) Morrison Luke Smith