right on.
i feel that "by any means necessary" type of competition takes that comment in the wrong direction. i hate it when players flagrantly foul because they are too out of shape or outskilled to play good d. but without any method of enforcement (and by this i mean penalizing the player who committed the foul) ulti is stuck in a very odd spot. i feel that sportsmanship has seemed to have gone to hell (from what I have read on the blogs) in upper level ultimate, and that is trickling down to lower levels.
the other problem i see is the "escalation effect" that this causes. for example, I was playing in a tournament, getting run over by a bigger, and slower player after catches. so, after about ten points of getting clobbered by this ogre, i see him about to do the same thing, and put an elbow into his stomach. is this wrong?
dear anon. if that is your real name. here's the 'big picture' of my experiences in play, w/ spirit... (this is worthy of an entry... but... oh... wait, I can cut and paste to the page)
(that said, i've had a couple beers, i'm feeling chatty, so your comment will now be the lead in to a longer post)
poor players are currently encouraged to foul.
sportsmanship has gone to hell at the highest levels and is trickling down.
i'm actually going to end up disagreeing with the points (AS I'VE STATED THEM), so if i'm innacurately restating my points in my effort to create a straw man for response... please chime in...
(that said, i've had a couple beers, i'm feeling chatty, so your comment will now be the lead in to a longer post)
1) first learning, in oregon in the early 90's 'physical play is encouraged, but more like, this guy was into me, but i made the play so i'm the man... (not, get into guys to stop them from making the play). my lesson, i'm (like aj, on another blog, OK w/ some physical, but it plays to my strengths...)
2) i moved to georgia, and played in 92-93 as a sort of athletic new player on a medium team (like quarters at easterns, qualified for nationals, but not particularly good)fair play was not discussed, but it was somehow ingrained. maybe it came from some sense of fair play, or that ultimate came from a background of sportsmanship as related in my previous post.
3) We got better, and my elligibillity got stressed. I (me) focused on the things i had learned in club play. The mark. Get the disc. Focus on these CAN lead to a win at all cost mentallity. I'd like to think that i remained a basically fair player, but I was certainly competetive. I perhaps 'got into it' on occasion.
4) OUt of elligibillity, my last year in atlanta, I played for chain. Fighting for everything, I developed into a 'marker'. A good one, but as a 6'2 guy, trying to stop everything, i sometimes caused contact. Was I cheating? I hope not. Unlike Jim and Alex though, I WAS trying to stop the play. When called for a foul, I tended to not contest. Does that make me 'pure?' Probably not, but, in keeping with my own personal ethos, I see it as 'letting the opposing player make the call when the ball is in their own court.'
5) Moved to seattle. Spent from March to September trying out w/ Sockeye. Was once chastised (by Jon G) for making nice w/ Kodiak after a scrimmage. Thought that weird. Got cut the day before Chicago. Ate the ticket.
6) 3 years of dallying w/ sockeye... getting cut/ not trying out. Became a solid mediocre player
7) Made Sockeye. Strength was the mark. Never minded getting called for a marking foul, BUT, never TRIED to foul...
8) Played for sockeye... AND then, and now, I have a very low tolerance for 'cheating.' To my discredit, I am a reacter(or). I have no problem screaming obscenities at someone who is cheating. I also always approached my team mates, the observers, and told them when I felt someone was out of line. Along the way, I never had a problem flipping off a crowd when I thought they were out of line, for I firmly believe, the only thing that lies more than the disc is the drunken side line.
9) Semi Retirement. Biggest pet peeve? Lack of understanding of rules AND... people who don't/can't see what happened...
Are poor players encouraged to foul?
My biggest issue w/ co-ed play (and league play) is that spirit of the game is misinterpreted to mean "let me win." This is hard to explain. If someone on a team calls themselves in, I'll let it go. If someone fouls a new team mate, and then tries to brow beat them into submission, well, it's on. They are not always new players BUT...
Has sportsmanship gone to hell at the highest levels and is trickling down?I actually feel it's trickling up. The willingness of older players to discuss an event DOES slow the game down. Does it result in the wrong call? I don't know. Does it result in a less televisable game? Obviously, yes.
Where am I going with this? good question.
What do we want the game to look like on TV? I just watched the 2000 mens final. Good game: but lots of calls. When I watched the 2005 finals of college, I took it upon myself to count the stoppages of play. 60 something, as I recall, and I think I won a bet. But as a player, I thought both were good games.
Certainly, compared to American Football, the flow was much more consistent. During my play w/ Sockeye, my mom and stepdad were there every year to watch every game: they thought it was great (but I mean, it's a mom) even w/ me yelling invective at those cheating fuckers from (insert here).
Do we want it to look like soccer? Then, yes, we have to have a whistle, and play continues until the whistle blows. I'm not actually sure that this makes a better game. It's better for the offense... but.
So the real question is, what SHOULD ultimate look like, and for whom?
Oh, and why do I think it's trickling up? I played sports in HS, but as we start to get more people accustomed to reffing, are they not accustomed to having their decisions made for them? I'm actually changing my mind in the past few days, and here is why: I'd like our sport to be more like Andy Roddick over ruling the chair and calling an opponents ball in. We can be a sport of gentlemen, AND have refs as well. No one should just cheat.
The people on the blogs (jim, alex, tim, idris) are by and large classy. Well except jim. No just kidding. I mean idris. No really. You're dealing w/ people who care enough about the sport to think, and write constantly. None of the aforementioned are cheaters. All are really talented, except me. I"m just lucky. So here's the rundown.
Jim: O player. Battled w/ Faust (read RSD for a discussion of this talented but aggressive player) then Enns of Furious (famous, at least from jim of spearing).
Alex: Bestest, slowest player ever. His throw to jim v. tully is the greatest I ever saw, and I don't remember it the same way he does (al, chime in w/ a link). I actually remember it as 10 players watching 4 players make a play. It was in the air for that long. Did he complain of anything other than some physicallity? Because I've seen alex do some cheap travels (96 nationals, step and drag pivot to set up for a flick goal).. so I don't think he's saying he's been hacked out of a title.
Idris: Famous for the dive and huck... not bad, but certainly, on occasion a poster child for the non continuation throw. But a true student of the game, and really, really coordinated.
Timmy: O/D player. And has no complaints. I suspect he was hacked the most...
That said, i'll wrap up the ramble with this.
I somehow got poison oak coaching this weekend.
The worst foul (most effective) is the light touch on the receivers arm as he's about to catch it.
I never did better than a bronze at world... but, w/ 6 club, 2 college, and 3 world appearances, most people are pretty classy. Let's figure out a way to make parties in the beer garden the norm, not, the MLB practice of no fraternizing after the game.
Unless you can pay me.
The eff you, eff face.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Monday, November 07, 2005
crazy billy
Somewhere, on RSD is a link to Billy Berrou's latest rant against refs...
I would like to see well officiated timed games that move w/ flow... but as to the idea that we need refs everywhere all at once...
From about.com... regarding golf and sportsmanship.
The Rules of Golf do address this indirectly in its preamble on etiquette, under the headline, "The Spirit of the Game": Unlike many sports, golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players and to abide by the Rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they maybe. This is the spirit of the game of golf.
Sound familiar?
Likewise, in tennis, refs are the exception, not the rule, except at the very highest level. And given the number of tennis players, and leagues, high level is HIGH level. It is in fact codified... there is a code of tennis for unofficiated games -- Which is most.
I'll let you find the link.
So, there is CLEARLY a precedent for 'spirit of the game,' aka sportsmanship.
And i think it is is pretty clear where it came from. That being, other sports.
And yes, i do like zebras to run the highest level games.
Which is, basically, northwest regionals and nationals.
But do a little research... http://tinyurl.com/cmt82
Here's a good article explaining the difference between baseball and tennis (which has sportsmanship in the rules)... Do you really WANT to be like pro football? I saw an interview w/ a excon pro football player... he doesn't deserve his face on TV, yet if you accept that any press is good press, he is being glorified.
So here's my primer on clean play. Read the rules before you play. When you play, don't be an ass. Play within yourself at all time (i.e., know when to go 'all out'). And if you are lucky/good enough to play in a situation where refs are needed because the pace, intensity and consequence of the game are high, remember that it is just a game, and that since our sport, like tennis or golf, codifies sportsmanship, it's ok to overrule the ref to the detriment of your own position...
In otherwords, your lunch time game is not the big leagues, and doesn't warrant refs. Nationals does, but you are not required to be a jerk.
Although, it's kind of liberating sometimes...
I would like to see well officiated timed games that move w/ flow... but as to the idea that we need refs everywhere all at once...
From about.com... regarding golf and sportsmanship.
The Rules of Golf do address this indirectly in its preamble on etiquette, under the headline, "The Spirit of the Game": Unlike many sports, golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players and to abide by the Rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they maybe. This is the spirit of the game of golf.
Sound familiar?
Likewise, in tennis, refs are the exception, not the rule, except at the very highest level. And given the number of tennis players, and leagues, high level is HIGH level. It is in fact codified... there is a code of tennis for unofficiated games -- Which is most.
I'll let you find the link.
So, there is CLEARLY a precedent for 'spirit of the game,' aka sportsmanship.
And i think it is is pretty clear where it came from. That being, other sports.
And yes, i do like zebras to run the highest level games.
Which is, basically, northwest regionals and nationals.
But do a little research... http://tinyurl.com/cmt82
Here's a good article explaining the difference between baseball and tennis (which has sportsmanship in the rules)... Do you really WANT to be like pro football? I saw an interview w/ a excon pro football player... he doesn't deserve his face on TV, yet if you accept that any press is good press, he is being glorified.
So here's my primer on clean play. Read the rules before you play. When you play, don't be an ass. Play within yourself at all time (i.e., know when to go 'all out'). And if you are lucky/good enough to play in a situation where refs are needed because the pace, intensity and consequence of the game are high, remember that it is just a game, and that since our sport, like tennis or golf, codifies sportsmanship, it's ok to overrule the ref to the detriment of your own position...
In otherwords, your lunch time game is not the big leagues, and doesn't warrant refs. Nationals does, but you are not required to be a jerk.
Although, it's kind of liberating sometimes...
storm!
Girls 6th, and Boys 2nd in state... something like 1-2" of rain during the day... and 45 degrees... suh-weet...
Today, snowing at school... we'll probably be skiing no later than next monday... (well, friday for me... big powder up at the mountain, as many of my friends report chest deep snow. i was recovering from a day in cold rain).
Frisbee corner: when in doubt air it out? uh, grip it firmly and torque it crabwise? winners are made in the off season? which is dumb. i don't see any trophies being handed out in december.
actually, our hs team has their first practice of the abbreviated winter season tommorrow... so i should have lots of coaches corner fodder along the way...
(updated)
today, like a 1.5 mile pole run, w/ 4 x hill strides (short hills) in the middle...
then, jumping this zig-zag rope thingy (kind of like running tires, but jumping over gates), then a 5 mile pole run... (we were going to play ultimate or soccer, but it was too wet to play in trainers w/o slippage)...
pole running, is also called nordic running. which i think comes from a mispelling of nerdic running; but basically, you run w/ the poles, which burns more calories, and uses the upper body... so, got that goin' for me...
tommorrow, ultimate. w/ the kidz.
Today, snowing at school... we'll probably be skiing no later than next monday... (well, friday for me... big powder up at the mountain, as many of my friends report chest deep snow. i was recovering from a day in cold rain).
Frisbee corner: when in doubt air it out? uh, grip it firmly and torque it crabwise? winners are made in the off season? which is dumb. i don't see any trophies being handed out in december.
actually, our hs team has their first practice of the abbreviated winter season tommorrow... so i should have lots of coaches corner fodder along the way...
(updated)
today, like a 1.5 mile pole run, w/ 4 x hill strides (short hills) in the middle...
then, jumping this zig-zag rope thingy (kind of like running tires, but jumping over gates), then a 5 mile pole run... (we were going to play ultimate or soccer, but it was too wet to play in trainers w/o slippage)...
pole running, is also called nordic running. which i think comes from a mispelling of nerdic running; but basically, you run w/ the poles, which burns more calories, and uses the upper body... so, got that goin' for me...
tommorrow, ultimate. w/ the kidz.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Well, friday I'm off to state. My role, driver, cheerleader, comic relief...
Kids' role? Hopefully asskicking.
The boys KILLED it at districts. All seven varsity sub 17, 5 P.R.s... Currently seeded 3rd in the state... The girls came in 2nd w/ our #2 runner running sick. Time will tell, but I think we'll have our revenge on Redmond (who tapered for 2 weeks up to districts) by peaking at exactly the right time. Down to the minute... Biorythms, special lighting, white noise generators, hypobaric oxygen housing... and the finest foods...
THe girls are seeded 4th in the state (ahead of the team we lost to... so, the polls are not really a science... or are they a science...
a TIME TRAVEL science?!!! Hmm
Another guy w/ a computer used our district times to predict the boys in 2nd, and the girls in like 7th...
I think the guys, and the girls will do just swimmingly... but that will be an exciting 15-20 minutes per race, and waiting the Oregon State Athletic Association mandated 30 minutes before announcing results...
Me, basically in the middle of my 1 week off week. Tonight, my nationals... CO-ED under the lights... then off to try to win a ski pass...
Next week, Mon/Wed/Fri Nordic team (a lot of the kids will be doing bounds and pole runs and stuff, I'll probably just run 3 times for 4-7 miles with a different group because...)
Tues-Thurs, HS Ultimate (where i'll get plenty of bounding and leaping and stuff)...
40 plus kids at the meeting... thanks above and beyond... (I think, we'll see how coaching that many goes)...
Kids' role? Hopefully asskicking.
The boys KILLED it at districts. All seven varsity sub 17, 5 P.R.s... Currently seeded 3rd in the state... The girls came in 2nd w/ our #2 runner running sick. Time will tell, but I think we'll have our revenge on Redmond (who tapered for 2 weeks up to districts) by peaking at exactly the right time. Down to the minute... Biorythms, special lighting, white noise generators, hypobaric oxygen housing... and the finest foods...
THe girls are seeded 4th in the state (ahead of the team we lost to... so, the polls are not really a science... or are they a science...
a TIME TRAVEL science?!!! Hmm
Another guy w/ a computer used our district times to predict the boys in 2nd, and the girls in like 7th...
I think the guys, and the girls will do just swimmingly... but that will be an exciting 15-20 minutes per race, and waiting the Oregon State Athletic Association mandated 30 minutes before announcing results...
Me, basically in the middle of my 1 week off week. Tonight, my nationals... CO-ED under the lights... then off to try to win a ski pass...
Next week, Mon/Wed/Fri Nordic team (a lot of the kids will be doing bounds and pole runs and stuff, I'll probably just run 3 times for 4-7 miles with a different group because...)
Tues-Thurs, HS Ultimate (where i'll get plenty of bounding and leaping and stuff)...
40 plus kids at the meeting... thanks above and beyond... (I think, we'll see how coaching that many goes)...
Thursday, October 27, 2005
auld lang sumthin
The first pith of nationals... as the Count chimes in on the greatest show on earth,
I'm missin' the show, now 2 missed in a row... taking me back to the dark ages (97-2000), but at least I got in 2 worlds in there... i'm thinking of another jordanesque unretirement... albeit w/out the athleticism, and this time, probably a LOT more akin to Jordan's last one... kind of more like a sean kemp unretirement...
Anyway, seriously miss Ultimate right now. Played pickup last night, and it was sort of snowing. But actually tried to run hard, and play some D, between throwing it as far as I could... Watched Above and Beyond 99 and 2000 with commentary on today after school, and now i'm procrastinating.
Notes on Above and Beyond...
I'm going to get Stacked (03) next week, and I'll do a comparison... but some thoughts on the Commentary.
But a comparison of the 2000 v. 1999 games...
Commentary
99 Features Steve Mooney, Billy Rodriguez, and Jim Parinella. Good commentary, Dr. R and Jim have some good insights, but it seems the elder statesman really keeps the flow going. Corey Sanford and JD Lobue of Condors get a point for one of the funnier lines (Corey, regarding Sockeye, "I hate these guys. Absolutely hate these guys. I hope they never win a championship. Well I hope they can edit that out." (Sockeye, by the time it was taped, I THINK had won, so it's both intentionally, and unintentionally funny)), but DoG takes the overall trophy for solid, consistent booth work. Having 3 guys also probably helped prevent dead air...
Who I'm rooting for...
Well, it's kind of a 'who am I rooting against less.' But with good friends John Kid Hammond, and Rob 'L-Train' Barrett playing for Winning teams in each video, I'm going to call it a Draw.
Best game...
To follow after I watch the entire 2000 game...
Got to plan for tommorrow's HS Frisbee meeting, start planning my ski workouts (looks like there are a few inches up at the mt... w/ more on the way. Also thinking about Tempe. Any insight into the new fields? As hard as the Old ones?
I'm missin' the show, now 2 missed in a row... taking me back to the dark ages (97-2000), but at least I got in 2 worlds in there... i'm thinking of another jordanesque unretirement... albeit w/out the athleticism, and this time, probably a LOT more akin to Jordan's last one... kind of more like a sean kemp unretirement...
Anyway, seriously miss Ultimate right now. Played pickup last night, and it was sort of snowing. But actually tried to run hard, and play some D, between throwing it as far as I could... Watched Above and Beyond 99 and 2000 with commentary on today after school, and now i'm procrastinating.
Notes on Above and Beyond...
I'm going to get Stacked (03) next week, and I'll do a comparison... but some thoughts on the Commentary.
But a comparison of the 2000 v. 1999 games...
Commentary
99 Features Steve Mooney, Billy Rodriguez, and Jim Parinella. Good commentary, Dr. R and Jim have some good insights, but it seems the elder statesman really keeps the flow going. Corey Sanford and JD Lobue of Condors get a point for one of the funnier lines (Corey, regarding Sockeye, "I hate these guys. Absolutely hate these guys. I hope they never win a championship. Well I hope they can edit that out." (Sockeye, by the time it was taped, I THINK had won, so it's both intentionally, and unintentionally funny)), but DoG takes the overall trophy for solid, consistent booth work. Having 3 guys also probably helped prevent dead air...
Who I'm rooting for...
Well, it's kind of a 'who am I rooting against less.' But with good friends John Kid Hammond, and Rob 'L-Train' Barrett playing for Winning teams in each video, I'm going to call it a Draw.
Best game...
To follow after I watch the entire 2000 game...
Got to plan for tommorrow's HS Frisbee meeting, start planning my ski workouts (looks like there are a few inches up at the mt... w/ more on the way. Also thinking about Tempe. Any insight into the new fields? As hard as the Old ones?
Monday, October 24, 2005
festivus.
well, i received both my copy of U T & T, (utah technical and taxedermic?), and AAB:TDVD. (Above and beyond the DVD).
Next on the list, Stacked... which i haven't seen but I was there, so hopefully i at least make a cameo...
I'll be using the highlights of the DVD to show to the school (on the video announcements), and showing some dvideo to the kids who eat lunch in my room...
And yes, I'll certainly reference Jim's book.
Today: The Cover. Chase looks like he is having a valsalva maneuver... but it's a pretty sweet picture. Seth looks like he's, well about to not get the disc. But I could be wrong. What happened?
Chapter 1. There's something about focus, but I decided it would be more fun to look at the pictures, and see if there was anything about the 'arch' endzone 'o.' Whew. I'm beat. That's enough for today!!!
Seriously, got to grade papers... looking fwd to the opportunities for reflection that will help w/ teaching frisbee...
Today, 1 mile warm - up, 10 minutes of whistle runs (1 = slightly faster than jog, 2 = 5 k pace, 3 = sprint...) then 5 minute jog, then 10 more minutes of it, then a 5 minute cool down... I don't know what the ratios were... It's taper week, w/ districts saturday, this was probably the hardest work the kids do this week. Let's check the calendar... ah yes, some really easy short runs, and Track, 1 x 600, 2 x 400, 2 x 300, 2 x 200 on wednesday...
Good luck at nationals.
Next on the list, Stacked... which i haven't seen but I was there, so hopefully i at least make a cameo...
I'll be using the highlights of the DVD to show to the school (on the video announcements), and showing some dvideo to the kids who eat lunch in my room...
And yes, I'll certainly reference Jim's book.
Today: The Cover. Chase looks like he is having a valsalva maneuver... but it's a pretty sweet picture. Seth looks like he's, well about to not get the disc. But I could be wrong. What happened?
Chapter 1. There's something about focus, but I decided it would be more fun to look at the pictures, and see if there was anything about the 'arch' endzone 'o.' Whew. I'm beat. That's enough for today!!!
Seriously, got to grade papers... looking fwd to the opportunities for reflection that will help w/ teaching frisbee...
Today, 1 mile warm - up, 10 minutes of whistle runs (1 = slightly faster than jog, 2 = 5 k pace, 3 = sprint...) then 5 minute jog, then 10 more minutes of it, then a 5 minute cool down... I don't know what the ratios were... It's taper week, w/ districts saturday, this was probably the hardest work the kids do this week. Let's check the calendar... ah yes, some really easy short runs, and Track, 1 x 600, 2 x 400, 2 x 300, 2 x 200 on wednesday...
Good luck at nationals.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
'sup
effin' jim. his name recognition is an insult. alex just toadies along as a teacup member... but i mean, where's barney barnicle...
that effin' tea party...
kiddin, i keed...
jim has turned the blogosphere into what rsd should be. i wish it were tree branched( like rsd) for i don't disagree w/ most points (however, jim, announce a stand on wind = 'o' or 'd'. just say, i don't know, moons always made those decisions for me).
ok, i'm jealous. i need to see if the hit counts have improved, or just participation. i am actually waiting on my own copy of jim's book. i read it this weekend (an aside. call me ee cummings, i'm just not concerned enough to care about syntax as much as jim: if I publish these blogs, in any form, i'll edit for pronunciation and capitalization)... anyway jim's book.
good, (oh, wait, jim and ZAZ's book. after all, zaz is the one who thanked ring for giving him a toast. even if it was lowly canadian team too bad, w/ self proclaimed decent player luke smith). anyway go zaz.
uh, back to the book. good organization. thoughtful explanations. i will, when i enter the season, use it as a primer for teaching my kids. i will also offer my opinions (position, for instance: jim shows all defenders 'all up ons' where i think if you have help from other positions, you can play off the man, to make the thrower hold on for longer in the count)...
good depth. this is a very good book for new to medium players. also, good for GOOD players to use as a framework to assess their own views of the game. that is, on some point, i may feel jim and zaz offer a good point, but i may disagree FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS (where the reasons are x and y)... therefore you think about your own game, and self reflection is the key to improvement...
wow. ultimate corner first. who'd of thunk.
now here is the week in review.
Saturday, I got fields for 'ror$hack' (formally whor$shack) a nw coed team. they let me scrimmage with them. the fields (at summit) are flat, and fast, and firm. rain the previous night had softened them, so they were only a notch below the nationals fields. i ran drills, and played a few points in the first scrimmage (10:30-1:30)... then played almost every point of the afternoon scrimmage...
thoughts... 2 a days, especially in co-ed (slightly longer points) w/ 16 players (started w/ more)... are brutal. i was drained, w/ some sore muscles...
I took sunday and monday off (not feeling my oats) and today (tuesday), we ran 3x400, 3x300, and 3x200...
it was a 'feel good workout.' for the varsity, it was easy. for the lesser players, harder.
after a 2 mile warmup, and drills (high knees, butt kicks, side to side and karaoke, w/ 6 50 yd sprints (not timed, but brisk)) i went, 77,75,74,53,52,51,31... and then the wheels fell off. sore calf, lack of interest (i mean, i ran a fastish 200), a kid got hurt so say 36, and then i quit the last one to stretch a cramping kid... so, not bad... ended w/ a 1 mile cool down. so a total of a 4.5 mile workout.
tommorrow, bend play under the lights...
goals for tommorrow night(such as they are).
defense. (ambitious, given my age, and predeliction for 'o' play) cover my guy for at least 3 turnovers...
offense... instead of throwing goals, use my current 'decent' level of conditioning to be a receiver... there are plenty of players willing to chuck some swill up to me...
plus, it'll be kind of cold, which KILLS my game... so, why focus on learning to throw in cold weather (since i'd prefer never to play 'for real' in cold weather)...
next up... we're now into the part of the year where we peak the kids for districts and states... obviously, this doesn't help me (why is this auto linking to some ebay site?).. so, i'm going to back off the speed, and move into longer distance and weights for 3 weeks... then xc season starts, and i'll focus on intervals and plyos...
see you in tempe. maybe hawaii. nice to be drawing a check for the first time in 3 years.
that effin' tea party...
kiddin, i keed...
jim has turned the blogosphere into what rsd should be. i wish it were tree branched( like rsd) for i don't disagree w/ most points (however, jim, announce a stand on wind = 'o' or 'd'. just say, i don't know, moons always made those decisions for me).
ok, i'm jealous. i need to see if the hit counts have improved, or just participation. i am actually waiting on my own copy of jim's book. i read it this weekend (an aside. call me ee cummings, i'm just not concerned enough to care about syntax as much as jim: if I publish these blogs, in any form, i'll edit for pronunciation and capitalization)... anyway jim's book.
good, (oh, wait, jim and ZAZ's book. after all, zaz is the one who thanked ring for giving him a toast. even if it was lowly canadian team too bad, w/ self proclaimed decent player luke smith). anyway go zaz.
uh, back to the book. good organization. thoughtful explanations. i will, when i enter the season, use it as a primer for teaching my kids. i will also offer my opinions (position, for instance: jim shows all defenders 'all up ons' where i think if you have help from other positions, you can play off the man, to make the thrower hold on for longer in the count)...
good depth. this is a very good book for new to medium players. also, good for GOOD players to use as a framework to assess their own views of the game. that is, on some point, i may feel jim and zaz offer a good point, but i may disagree FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS (where the reasons are x and y)... therefore you think about your own game, and self reflection is the key to improvement...
wow. ultimate corner first. who'd of thunk.
now here is the week in review.
Saturday, I got fields for 'ror$hack' (formally whor$shack) a nw coed team. they let me scrimmage with them. the fields (at summit) are flat, and fast, and firm. rain the previous night had softened them, so they were only a notch below the nationals fields. i ran drills, and played a few points in the first scrimmage (10:30-1:30)... then played almost every point of the afternoon scrimmage...
thoughts... 2 a days, especially in co-ed (slightly longer points) w/ 16 players (started w/ more)... are brutal. i was drained, w/ some sore muscles...
I took sunday and monday off (not feeling my oats) and today (tuesday), we ran 3x400, 3x300, and 3x200...
it was a 'feel good workout.' for the varsity, it was easy. for the lesser players, harder.
after a 2 mile warmup, and drills (high knees, butt kicks, side to side and karaoke, w/ 6 50 yd sprints (not timed, but brisk)) i went, 77,75,74,53,52,51,31... and then the wheels fell off. sore calf, lack of interest (i mean, i ran a fastish 200), a kid got hurt so say 36, and then i quit the last one to stretch a cramping kid... so, not bad... ended w/ a 1 mile cool down. so a total of a 4.5 mile workout.
tommorrow, bend play under the lights...
goals for tommorrow night(such as they are).
defense. (ambitious, given my age, and predeliction for 'o' play) cover my guy for at least 3 turnovers...
offense... instead of throwing goals, use my current 'decent' level of conditioning to be a receiver... there are plenty of players willing to chuck some swill up to me...
plus, it'll be kind of cold, which KILLS my game... so, why focus on learning to throw in cold weather (since i'd prefer never to play 'for real' in cold weather)...
next up... we're now into the part of the year where we peak the kids for districts and states... obviously, this doesn't help me (why is this auto linking to some ebay site?).. so, i'm going to back off the speed, and move into longer distance and weights for 3 weeks... then xc season starts, and i'll focus on intervals and plyos...
see you in tempe. maybe hawaii. nice to be drawing a check for the first time in 3 years.
Friday, October 14, 2005
whew.
long week. when last we spoke, i'd run 400's... tuesday.
Wednesday, an 'urban adventure run'. Head coach clark set it up, I knocked it down.. First place, again. (as an aside, I also dominate vs. teen jeopardy candidates).
Thursday, 4, slow miles, then a 1:20 mtb ride... lot o' work this week...
Today, 800's.
i did 6, w/ 3:00 rest, at 3:00, 2:58, 2:58, 3:01 (not fair, b/c i literally sprinted from bathroom to start line), 2:58, 2:54. For your real athletes out there, the top guys ran them at like... oh, 2:45-2:20 w/ 5 sec. improvements for each one. Also, Varsity 1 ran 7.
The course was on grass, shaped like a shark fin, so it's pretty slow. I'd like another crack at the workout, as i was tired, and ill... but we'll see. Next week is ladders, as we approach districts, and hopefully states.
Then bike ride home, ate some leftovers, drinking the early arrival of Bend's own Deschutes Brewery holiday special Jubelale. Mmm good.
Tommorrow, i'm hoping to sleep late and go for a big (2 plus hour) ride... and maybe watch some football. First non race workout in a while...
Wednesday, an 'urban adventure run'. Head coach clark set it up, I knocked it down.. First place, again. (as an aside, I also dominate vs. teen jeopardy candidates).
Thursday, 4, slow miles, then a 1:20 mtb ride... lot o' work this week...
Today, 800's.
i did 6, w/ 3:00 rest, at 3:00, 2:58, 2:58, 3:01 (not fair, b/c i literally sprinted from bathroom to start line), 2:58, 2:54. For your real athletes out there, the top guys ran them at like... oh, 2:45-2:20 w/ 5 sec. improvements for each one. Also, Varsity 1 ran 7.
The course was on grass, shaped like a shark fin, so it's pretty slow. I'd like another crack at the workout, as i was tired, and ill... but we'll see. Next week is ladders, as we approach districts, and hopefully states.
Then bike ride home, ate some leftovers, drinking the early arrival of Bend's own Deschutes Brewery holiday special Jubelale. Mmm good.
Tommorrow, i'm hoping to sleep late and go for a big (2 plus hour) ride... and maybe watch some football. First non race workout in a while...
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
warm it up...
Where was i... moved this weekend, bought a new bike. A Fisher Cake 3 Deluxe. Suh-weet. New digs are now officially ON THE TRAIL, just as close to work, 4 miles closer to skiing...
So the weekend was a race (boys and girls now top 8 in state, with a bullet), a frisbee carwash, and moving.
Monday a slow (8 minute pace) 5 mile run, Tuesday, 8 x 400's at 82, 87, 84, 82, 80, 80, 79, 74. The slow ones were easy (ish), The last (fastest) hurt. The gap is because I ran the first w/ JV guys, then dropped back to pace the varsity girls. According to theory, I should be able to do them all somewhat faster next week. Funny, it's really, REALLY hard to turn it over right now... the low 80's felt fine, the 75 felt like I was going to die. All intervals even-2 seconds faster on the back 200 m. Re lack of speed, hold the jokes peanut gallery.
Then I biked home, changed bikes, and went for a 10 mile ride on the new bike... awesome.
Little heavier than my rigid bike, but it's so buttery smooth that I think that long rides will be more pleasant. 5" of travel front and back is plush.
Ultimate corner.
Recruiting. Get 2 really popular athletic kids to defect from their sport. Watch gravity work. 16 kids last sunday, 18 kids this sunday. Also, a new team at another school in town.
Good luck at nationals.
New roomate (homeowner) is a world cup snowboarder who does 2x day, hard workouts, eats every meal from a menu for caloric balance, 6 meals per day, etc.
Ultimate players have a long way to go...
So the weekend was a race (boys and girls now top 8 in state, with a bullet), a frisbee carwash, and moving.
Monday a slow (8 minute pace) 5 mile run, Tuesday, 8 x 400's at 82, 87, 84, 82, 80, 80, 79, 74. The slow ones were easy (ish), The last (fastest) hurt. The gap is because I ran the first w/ JV guys, then dropped back to pace the varsity girls. According to theory, I should be able to do them all somewhat faster next week. Funny, it's really, REALLY hard to turn it over right now... the low 80's felt fine, the 75 felt like I was going to die. All intervals even-2 seconds faster on the back 200 m. Re lack of speed, hold the jokes peanut gallery.
Then I biked home, changed bikes, and went for a 10 mile ride on the new bike... awesome.
Little heavier than my rigid bike, but it's so buttery smooth that I think that long rides will be more pleasant. 5" of travel front and back is plush.
Ultimate corner.
Recruiting. Get 2 really popular athletic kids to defect from their sport. Watch gravity work. 16 kids last sunday, 18 kids this sunday. Also, a new team at another school in town.
Good luck at nationals.
New roomate (homeowner) is a world cup snowboarder who does 2x day, hard workouts, eats every meal from a menu for caloric balance, 6 meals per day, etc.
Ultimate players have a long way to go...
Friday, October 07, 2005
drums in the deep...
AJ notes, all quiet in the blogosphere.
it's just like right when that sorry little hobbit drops the rock in the well... (cue balrog)...
AJ's got an innocuous piece saying how swell all the competition is down south, Jim's getting out the vote, ignoring some RSD spew claiming they are going to lose the season to goat. I mean, early in the season, Jim was clammoring for respect. Now, It's locker poster time. Belicheck central. I'm sure the DoG listserv is full of 'no one respects us' emails... but do not want to put up any possible locker fodder of their own. Alex has not posted in months (in cyber time). His hit counts must be dwindling to some morbid few who take grim pleasure in seeing what was once a truly inspired frisbee blog (just tell us about frisbee in the 80's again Al, no one will know). Idris basically bashes teams a little, but he's not playing.
Nationals is coming, and it's quiet. Too quiet.
Sigh. Sure, over on RSD, the Wilmington guys are threatening to beat up some guy, but they are all retired. And waiting to occupy their work day goading some dogooder who bites.
Funny Wilmington story. My first year w/ Sockeye (Not counting the one where they strung me out for 6.5 months before cutting me 3 days before chicago), I think it was the hurricane year... at least it lead to the reorientation of the fields for the next year to allow them to be cross to prevailing winds...
Anyway, we lose a heartbreaker to PDX (lost the flip, no upwinders scored), but faced them again in the all important 9-10 game. Fresh off a goodnights rest, and the ice bath, etc., we arrived at the field for some righteous consolation (what is the html tag for sarcasm).
After avoiding kid hammonds attempt to settle the flip by having me wrestle linkfield, we play portland...
But before the game can begin... PDX cheers...
Hee hee hee haw haw haw
we met your ma and we played pa...
We replied...
na na na na na na na na
na na na na na na
na na na na na na na na
you stupid #^()!&@ (^&+*
segued into...
We hate hate hate your guts guts guts
so just #^() off.
They crumbled. We had learned those from CVH, they were either windy or nyny cheers...
PDX crumbled...
But Wilmington, warming up on the adjacent field, watched in rapt silence, they let out large cheering and applause when we finished...
(Speaking of retreads, that's that's right about when I lost my wallet...)
it's just like right when that sorry little hobbit drops the rock in the well... (cue balrog)...
AJ's got an innocuous piece saying how swell all the competition is down south, Jim's getting out the vote, ignoring some RSD spew claiming they are going to lose the season to goat. I mean, early in the season, Jim was clammoring for respect. Now, It's locker poster time. Belicheck central. I'm sure the DoG listserv is full of 'no one respects us' emails... but do not want to put up any possible locker fodder of their own. Alex has not posted in months (in cyber time). His hit counts must be dwindling to some morbid few who take grim pleasure in seeing what was once a truly inspired frisbee blog (just tell us about frisbee in the 80's again Al, no one will know). Idris basically bashes teams a little, but he's not playing.
Nationals is coming, and it's quiet. Too quiet.
Sigh. Sure, over on RSD, the Wilmington guys are threatening to beat up some guy, but they are all retired. And waiting to occupy their work day goading some dogooder who bites.
Funny Wilmington story. My first year w/ Sockeye (Not counting the one where they strung me out for 6.5 months before cutting me 3 days before chicago), I think it was the hurricane year... at least it lead to the reorientation of the fields for the next year to allow them to be cross to prevailing winds...
Anyway, we lose a heartbreaker to PDX (lost the flip, no upwinders scored), but faced them again in the all important 9-10 game. Fresh off a goodnights rest, and the ice bath, etc., we arrived at the field for some righteous consolation (what is the html tag for sarcasm).
After avoiding kid hammonds attempt to settle the flip by having me wrestle linkfield, we play portland...
But before the game can begin... PDX cheers...
Hee hee hee haw haw haw
we met your ma and we played pa...
We replied...
na na na na na na na na
na na na na na na
na na na na na na na na
you stupid #^()!&@ (^&+*
segued into...
We hate hate hate your guts guts guts
so just #^() off.
They crumbled. We had learned those from CVH, they were either windy or nyny cheers...
PDX crumbled...
But Wilmington, warming up on the adjacent field, watched in rapt silence, they let out large cheering and applause when we finished...
(Speaking of retreads, that's that's right about when I lost my wallet...)
Monday, October 03, 2005
week that was...
Wednesday, a nuthin' day... workout wise. Helped out at a local youth run... like from 8th down to 1st and 2nd grade...
Thursday... 1000's. Great googly moogly. 3:42, 3:49, 3:49, 3:49, 3:34. 2, 2:15 recovery. NOT feeling my oats. The course was a chip trail, meanders a little up and down, w/ a few s-turns. Length... head coach thinks it's 1000, I think it's a little long, by like 50 or 100m.
Friday, easy 4.3 mile run at 8:00 pace... 3 x high knees / butt kicks, and 4 x 60 striders...
Sat, found a new place to live, little closer to skiing, mt. biking (literally ON a trail), same distance from school, a tad farther to groceries, and a lot farther from downtown (4 miles, as opposed to in town)... Also spent some time trying to find out what was what w/ Regionals action...
Sunday, worked a little, moved 75% of my stuff (3 truckloads), and played ultimate. 16 kids showed up, as did Aaron Talbot. I don't think most totally new players get their first ultimate experience like these kids did. (poaching, hucking, etc.). They seemed to have fun... Rainy and cool, a real treat for here...
Today, 1000's part deux. 2 K warmup, then drills and strides...
Better, 3:41, 3:38, 3:38, 3:40, 3:30. At the very least, I need to knock #3 down to 3:35, and 4 down to 3:33. It's mainly mental. They just, well, suck. The 3:30 is either an 84 sec 400 pace or a 5:28 mile. I read you add 4 seconds per 400 meters of distance... which would make it a 74 sec 400 or a 5:34 mile, or just 18: high. Probably can't hit any... But I'll get my chance... I'd like to be running faster, but with only a couple weeks left in the season (well, not MY season), It is what it is... Unfortunately, we ran them on a different course last year, so I have no reference... i.e., I can't remember my times...
A coaching moment: Richard the Slovak exchange student had been running around 4:00, told him to gas it out of the corners, stop looking at his watch, and dig deep, knocked 30 seconds from interval 4 to 5. Little grommet passed me at the kick... I hedged him off the trail a little at the next to last turn... but he stayed with me, and when he passed me, well, I didn't have the heart to run him into the tree.
I'm practically a saint.
Thursday... 1000's. Great googly moogly. 3:42, 3:49, 3:49, 3:49, 3:34. 2, 2:15 recovery. NOT feeling my oats. The course was a chip trail, meanders a little up and down, w/ a few s-turns. Length... head coach thinks it's 1000, I think it's a little long, by like 50 or 100m.
Friday, easy 4.3 mile run at 8:00 pace... 3 x high knees / butt kicks, and 4 x 60 striders...
Sat, found a new place to live, little closer to skiing, mt. biking (literally ON a trail), same distance from school, a tad farther to groceries, and a lot farther from downtown (4 miles, as opposed to in town)... Also spent some time trying to find out what was what w/ Regionals action...
Sunday, worked a little, moved 75% of my stuff (3 truckloads), and played ultimate. 16 kids showed up, as did Aaron Talbot. I don't think most totally new players get their first ultimate experience like these kids did. (poaching, hucking, etc.). They seemed to have fun... Rainy and cool, a real treat for here...
Today, 1000's part deux. 2 K warmup, then drills and strides...
Better, 3:41, 3:38, 3:38, 3:40, 3:30. At the very least, I need to knock #3 down to 3:35, and 4 down to 3:33. It's mainly mental. They just, well, suck. The 3:30 is either an 84 sec 400 pace or a 5:28 mile. I read you add 4 seconds per 400 meters of distance... which would make it a 74 sec 400 or a 5:34 mile, or just 18: high. Probably can't hit any... But I'll get my chance... I'd like to be running faster, but with only a couple weeks left in the season (well, not MY season), It is what it is... Unfortunately, we ran them on a different course last year, so I have no reference... i.e., I can't remember my times...
A coaching moment: Richard the Slovak exchange student had been running around 4:00, told him to gas it out of the corners, stop looking at his watch, and dig deep, knocked 30 seconds from interval 4 to 5. Little grommet passed me at the kick... I hedged him off the trail a little at the next to last turn... but he stayed with me, and when he passed me, well, I didn't have the heart to run him into the tree.
I'm practically a saint.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
further adventures of the albino rhino...
today, hill repeats. I only did 3 (4:00, 3:45, 3:35 w/ about 3/4 mile run there and back. Nice short workout. I was a little tired from yesterday, and sunday, and saturday, and friday... but tommorrow is seriously easy, then the 1000m repeats. For anyone out there monitoring life in the nerdery, heartrate (calculated from 10 second count, I left the strap at home) was 156, 162, 168. I should go to the trouble to figure out what 10 second counts, 6 second counts etc. 'really' mean using the monitor... 2 minutes recovery between each one (there is a nice short steep trail connecting this long winding hill), usually down around 100 then... Like 60 now... I should have done 4, but i was tired.
ulticorner.
The common thread among ALL good ultimate players is that when they first learned to play, they were totally content w/ a limited role, often defense and goal scoring, because winning is no vice.
In contrast BAD ultimate players are fixated on learning, and teaching, this phony, let everyone touch it, get a hack, etc.
discuss.
No Alex, this is not an attempt to call you a co-ed player.
ulticorner.
The common thread among ALL good ultimate players is that when they first learned to play, they were totally content w/ a limited role, often defense and goal scoring, because winning is no vice.
In contrast BAD ultimate players are fixated on learning, and teaching, this phony, let everyone touch it, get a hack, etc.
discuss.
No Alex, this is not an attempt to call you a co-ed player.
Monday, September 26, 2005
aaaaaarrrrrrrrtggggggghhhh!!!
WOW. I just woke up from this terrible dream. Billy Berrou was posting over at Jim's place, repeatedly. And Alex (actually, in a comment somewhere) was saying that he wasn't into hucking anymore. And Idris, Idris was playing co-ed.
That was some dream, aunty-em...
Most importantly, I think I just won the '5 dollar ace pot' as the first blogonaut to get an R.S.D. plug. I'm suprised that dartmouth guy (of whom, from the underwhelming linkage he's getting from the tea party, i can only assume should be called he-who-shall-not-be-named) did not think of it first... today, for probably the first time, my hits appear to have surpassed Jim's.
A small victory, but living here in the hinterlands, I'll take it.
I'm a big fan of Idris' new metablog, but it seems pretty clear that there will be a bit of a rush to top post for a while...
In the meantime, I'll stick to our usual format, a brief description of the minutiae that makes up my life, followed by an ultimate topic (brief) for those purists out there...
Thursday (9/22) a 4.3 mile run, 7:20 pace, then home.
Friday, a long bus ride to the coast, 3 mile run on the beach, some pick-ups, then 1 hour of soft sand ultimate. Saturday a huge race, results over at the school's home page (summitxc.com), girls won their division, boys came in 3rd. But more of a fun event (or else we wouldn't have played beach ultimate for an hour).
Saturday, I snuck in a 7 mile run, timing it to just come over and high-5 the kids at the start line... then a massive bus ride home. Ate a footlong quizno's and a pint of ice cream (haagen das) and played some travel scrabble and a card game called Fluxx.
Sunday, up at 7, and helped marshal a race (team fundraiser), then ended up playing low key ultimate for 3 hours. (got HARD for 40 minutes of mini)...
Today, walked to work, steady day at work, then 6 miles at 7:50 pace. Tommorrow, hills.
now, gather round. It's time for ultimate corner. Today in ultimate corner, some proposition bets for nationals.
even money.
1) Chain will not have how ever many 11teen dunking players that kid has promised, despite being a top contender in BDA's. See AJ's blog for details.
2) Boston will beat some big play team handily, Alex will become mildly inebriated.
3) West 1,2, and 3 will all be in the semis, unless they knock each other off.
4) Next year, west 4 will again drop the ball.
5) That's enuff ulticorner. Got to split.
That was some dream, aunty-em...
Most importantly, I think I just won the '5 dollar ace pot' as the first blogonaut to get an R.S.D. plug. I'm suprised that dartmouth guy (of whom, from the underwhelming linkage he's getting from the tea party, i can only assume should be called he-who-shall-not-be-named) did not think of it first... today, for probably the first time, my hits appear to have surpassed Jim's.
A small victory, but living here in the hinterlands, I'll take it.
I'm a big fan of Idris' new metablog, but it seems pretty clear that there will be a bit of a rush to top post for a while...
In the meantime, I'll stick to our usual format, a brief description of the minutiae that makes up my life, followed by an ultimate topic (brief) for those purists out there...
Thursday (9/22) a 4.3 mile run, 7:20 pace, then home.
Friday, a long bus ride to the coast, 3 mile run on the beach, some pick-ups, then 1 hour of soft sand ultimate. Saturday a huge race, results over at the school's home page (summitxc.com), girls won their division, boys came in 3rd. But more of a fun event (or else we wouldn't have played beach ultimate for an hour).
Saturday, I snuck in a 7 mile run, timing it to just come over and high-5 the kids at the start line... then a massive bus ride home. Ate a footlong quizno's and a pint of ice cream (haagen das) and played some travel scrabble and a card game called Fluxx.
Sunday, up at 7, and helped marshal a race (team fundraiser), then ended up playing low key ultimate for 3 hours. (got HARD for 40 minutes of mini)...
Today, walked to work, steady day at work, then 6 miles at 7:50 pace. Tommorrow, hills.
now, gather round. It's time for ultimate corner. Today in ultimate corner, some proposition bets for nationals.
even money.
1) Chain will not have how ever many 11teen dunking players that kid has promised, despite being a top contender in BDA's. See AJ's blog for details.
2) Boston will beat some big play team handily, Alex will become mildly inebriated.
3) West 1,2, and 3 will all be in the semis, unless they knock each other off.
4) Next year, west 4 will again drop the ball.
5) That's enuff ulticorner. Got to split.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
doh!
well, this relates to frisbee very obliquely. In response to one of Jim's posts about track (he had felt lsess than sparky), I trotted out response 1a for any kid complaining of aches and pains.
Get new shoes.
Well, yesterday p.m., suprisingly sore, and also this a.m. I arrived at school and realized that I'd worn the wrong pair of Adidas Supernovas. That explains the foot pain, etc. It also explains my times. I'm confident I'd have run 20-30 seconds faster per mile.
At least.
Ahem.
Next week, 1000's, and i'll throw in some heart rate numbers so you can laugh at my weakness.
I assume High, and modest recovery.
We had 2 minutes recovery for the miles, I don't know what the 1000 recovery time will be.
Last night went home early. Shopped for bikes, I'm thinking I'll score a deal when the demos go on sale, got home at 8:00 p.m....
Nice walk to work (3 miles) took 1 (lg) cup o' coffee, and got in some quality thinking.
Get new shoes.
Well, yesterday p.m., suprisingly sore, and also this a.m. I arrived at school and realized that I'd worn the wrong pair of Adidas Supernovas. That explains the foot pain, etc. It also explains my times. I'm confident I'd have run 20-30 seconds faster per mile.
At least.
Ahem.
Next week, 1000's, and i'll throw in some heart rate numbers so you can laugh at my weakness.
I assume High, and modest recovery.
We had 2 minutes recovery for the miles, I don't know what the 1000 recovery time will be.
Last night went home early. Shopped for bikes, I'm thinking I'll score a deal when the demos go on sale, got home at 8:00 p.m....
Nice walk to work (3 miles) took 1 (lg) cup o' coffee, and got in some quality thinking.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
just pooped.
I'll follow up the discussion of my past few days with an obligatory 'frisbee' post for those of you keeping score over at Idris' new http://www.ultimatetalk.com, the latest greatest in frisbee. It's like a metablog. Jesus, I'm a nerd, and all my friends are nerds.
don't deny it. (save yourself the 'what friends post'.)
Anyway, lite week... (i'm going with a 7 day week, since i've been off the air waves). Last thursday at a school sponsored raise money for the hurricane (32K) i did 6 x 7:20. Friday, was just a 6 x 8 minute miles. Saturday and Sunday were race, and sleep. (and at the races, I coach/ play inane walky talky pranks on the other coaches). So rest days. Monday, 6.5 x 8, then tuesday 6 x 8 min (yes repetetive, but I've not had time to leave campus for the longer runs up in the mountains... more to follow), then today, mile repeats, (warmup, then 3 at 6:15, :18, :05). Not so hot, but ya know...
The team: Boys currently #10 in state (polls), girls #7. The guys will move up. The girls might. Our #1 guy ran 5 intervals today, the last were 4:48 and 4:42, I think. Top freshman, 2nd race, 16:40. So, we'll see.
The week: Hellish. 6am-9pm, last night, then 2 hours work at home. Tues, til 9. Monday, til 9. Sunday no work. Saturday, 12 plus hours for a bus ride. And got back to find my bike stolen. To be fair, I thought my ipod was stolen, and then found it in a shoe 3 months later. So although I've told the cops, I'll keep my eyes open, check shoes, etc. Brand new pedals, too.
Anyway, long hours, tons of work, no time to eat... i'm bushed.
I'm going to skate out, and just let the chips fall where they may tommorrow (i mean, i got some stuff to do, just not the brilliant lesson plan i really like to bring to the table). That is, it's a potluck, and I'm going KFC. It's safe, it's not like i'm coming empty handed, but It's not like i brought the beer.
Although I guess that's a bad analogy for a high school teacher talking about lesson plans.
OK, FRISBEE CORNER.
Longevity, Training, Winning. Wow. This deserves a lot of time. But I think.
1) Old people quit because
a) They don't have the energy. They don't have time or whatever to train. I think Doo helped keep some of the boston guys going. He also helped me get Dylan back after a cheap shot. Classy.
b) They don't like young guys game style. The last thing an old guy wants is to play 'the big open high turnover game.' Yes, chicks dig the long ball. Go have fun at potlatch. My point? As each old guy is replaced by a younger guy, a team's game becomes more and more wide open, more turnover prone... etc.
it's like Elway reportedly said (see ESPN Page 2 for more), for old quarterbacks, by the time the game is starting to slow down for them because of head, the body is letting them down...
The next question is... what is old. The answer is, I'm not sure, but I know it's older than me. By a lot.
Tommorrow, easy 4-6 mile run and weights (me, i'm starting to train for skiing now), and friday depart for a 'fun' race (no, i don't run it, it's still a HS race).
That's all from Frisbee corner... I might edit it and see the refresh capabillities. Now that the blogosphere has a 'top posting' aspect. I wonder... How long until Idris has to moderate? Is there a 'b-blogosphere' around that we don't know about? Where did my bike go?
ps.
2) There is no 2.
don't deny it. (save yourself the 'what friends post'.)
Anyway, lite week... (i'm going with a 7 day week, since i've been off the air waves). Last thursday at a school sponsored raise money for the hurricane (32K) i did 6 x 7:20. Friday, was just a 6 x 8 minute miles. Saturday and Sunday were race, and sleep. (and at the races, I coach/ play inane walky talky pranks on the other coaches). So rest days. Monday, 6.5 x 8, then tuesday 6 x 8 min (yes repetetive, but I've not had time to leave campus for the longer runs up in the mountains... more to follow), then today, mile repeats, (warmup, then 3 at 6:15, :18, :05). Not so hot, but ya know...
The team: Boys currently #10 in state (polls), girls #7. The guys will move up. The girls might. Our #1 guy ran 5 intervals today, the last were 4:48 and 4:42, I think. Top freshman, 2nd race, 16:40. So, we'll see.
The week: Hellish. 6am-9pm, last night, then 2 hours work at home. Tues, til 9. Monday, til 9. Sunday no work. Saturday, 12 plus hours for a bus ride. And got back to find my bike stolen. To be fair, I thought my ipod was stolen, and then found it in a shoe 3 months later. So although I've told the cops, I'll keep my eyes open, check shoes, etc. Brand new pedals, too.
Anyway, long hours, tons of work, no time to eat... i'm bushed.
I'm going to skate out, and just let the chips fall where they may tommorrow (i mean, i got some stuff to do, just not the brilliant lesson plan i really like to bring to the table). That is, it's a potluck, and I'm going KFC. It's safe, it's not like i'm coming empty handed, but It's not like i brought the beer.
Although I guess that's a bad analogy for a high school teacher talking about lesson plans.
OK, FRISBEE CORNER.
Longevity, Training, Winning. Wow. This deserves a lot of time. But I think.
1) Old people quit because
a) They don't have the energy. They don't have time or whatever to train. I think Doo helped keep some of the boston guys going. He also helped me get Dylan back after a cheap shot. Classy.
b) They don't like young guys game style. The last thing an old guy wants is to play 'the big open high turnover game.' Yes, chicks dig the long ball. Go have fun at potlatch. My point? As each old guy is replaced by a younger guy, a team's game becomes more and more wide open, more turnover prone... etc.
it's like Elway reportedly said (see ESPN Page 2 for more), for old quarterbacks, by the time the game is starting to slow down for them because of head, the body is letting them down...
The next question is... what is old. The answer is, I'm not sure, but I know it's older than me. By a lot.
Tommorrow, easy 4-6 mile run and weights (me, i'm starting to train for skiing now), and friday depart for a 'fun' race (no, i don't run it, it's still a HS race).
That's all from Frisbee corner... I might edit it and see the refresh capabillities. Now that the blogosphere has a 'top posting' aspect. I wonder... How long until Idris has to moderate? Is there a 'b-blogosphere' around that we don't know about? Where did my bike go?
ps.
2) There is no 2.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
whupped...
i'm just plain tuckered out. Sectionals was not so bad, except for playing 70 - 80 points of ultimate in a day. Probably should have rested up or gone reaaaaallllllly easy for a few days, but didn't so ended up wrenching my left hammy a little (just hurts, doesn't seem to slow me down from doing the kind of running i'll be doing for a while)...
School is 'full on.' It's at least a couple hours of extra work a day, plus coaching, plus, as is the case yesterday, 7 hours on the bus to take the JV2 runners over to Hood River for a race. The Highlight for me, the 2 mile round trip run into town when we stopped for food so that i could eat 'Taco Del Mar' instead of mcFood... Although I do like a little McBreakfast now and again.
I digress. As usual. Some highlights of the week. Tuesday night, I was here late preparing for wednesday's absence. Biking home around 9:00, I saw a sweet shooting star directly above/in front of me... really spectacular, bright long trail, dramatic... and then i hit this ditch filled with gravel... i did not eat it, because i was not turning, but it struck me as a cosmic three stooges moment... diversion, and the trap...
Wednesday a student reported seeing coyotes (6) on the bus ride near school... i do know the said student boards the bus near my address, so he would have seen these animals within a couple miles of school...
Now, in response to Jim's comment that my blog is purely personal, I present ultimate corner. Deep in the cozy book and paper strewn world that is lukes brain, over in the corner, under those old bills i need to look over, (no the other pile), there, there is ultimate corner.
Revisiting flipping.
First half breaks are more valuable. Assuming a mirrored half, If you receive to start the game (team A), and swap goals you win 15-14. We all know that. But if 'team B' breaks in the 1st half, and A DOESN'T GET IT BACK IN THE FIRST HALF, Team B takes the first half 8-7. In the 2nd half, A needs 2 breaks to win. So a 1st half break is more valuable. Jim, Alex, quantify.
What's the point? I guess you should really decide if your 'o' guys are slow starters. And maybe you should inform your team of the value of a fast start.
There.
Frisbee talk.
School is 'full on.' It's at least a couple hours of extra work a day, plus coaching, plus, as is the case yesterday, 7 hours on the bus to take the JV2 runners over to Hood River for a race. The Highlight for me, the 2 mile round trip run into town when we stopped for food so that i could eat 'Taco Del Mar' instead of mcFood... Although I do like a little McBreakfast now and again.
I digress. As usual. Some highlights of the week. Tuesday night, I was here late preparing for wednesday's absence. Biking home around 9:00, I saw a sweet shooting star directly above/in front of me... really spectacular, bright long trail, dramatic... and then i hit this ditch filled with gravel... i did not eat it, because i was not turning, but it struck me as a cosmic three stooges moment... diversion, and the trap...
Wednesday a student reported seeing coyotes (6) on the bus ride near school... i do know the said student boards the bus near my address, so he would have seen these animals within a couple miles of school...
Now, in response to Jim's comment that my blog is purely personal, I present ultimate corner. Deep in the cozy book and paper strewn world that is lukes brain, over in the corner, under those old bills i need to look over, (no the other pile), there, there is ultimate corner.
Revisiting flipping.
First half breaks are more valuable. Assuming a mirrored half, If you receive to start the game (team A), and swap goals you win 15-14. We all know that. But if 'team B' breaks in the 1st half, and A DOESN'T GET IT BACK IN THE FIRST HALF, Team B takes the first half 8-7. In the 2nd half, A needs 2 breaks to win. So a 1st half break is more valuable. Jim, Alex, quantify.
What's the point? I guess you should really decide if your 'o' guys are slow starters. And maybe you should inform your team of the value of a fast start.
There.
Frisbee talk.
Monday, September 12, 2005
nothin' shaking.
gettin' my hill run on...
now, why they didn't have cameras at sectionals is beyond me...
more to follow. need to go read some exciting stuff about the framing of the constitution...
went with a skeleton crew, ran out of gas after about 30 points. Then played about 40 something more. I should have
a) tapered
b) gotten more players
c) uh... stayed home?
Next year i'm rounding up some more ringers.
now, why they didn't have cameras at sectionals is beyond me...
more to follow. need to go read some exciting stuff about the framing of the constitution...
went with a skeleton crew, ran out of gas after about 30 points. Then played about 40 something more. I should have
a) tapered
b) gotten more players
c) uh... stayed home?
Next year i'm rounding up some more ringers.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Prognostication.
Preseason Write Up
Luke Smith.
Well, technically it’s not the preseason. Sectionals tournaments start immediately, rosters are set, and everyone is asking, who can knock off the Fish. I’ve been asked to put my extensive knowledge of various teams to work… to prognosticate, elaborate, educate, elucidate, annotate, illustrate, just whatever – ate the crap out of this thing.
So I’ve been working diligently looking at rosters, perusing rec.sport.disc, talking on the phone, looking at websites, and demonstrating the great research skills that have made me the master of job shirking.
I’ve realized a few things.
1) I don’t have any idea about what’s going on in ultimate these days, unless I read it on Jim Parinella or Alex DeFrondeville’s blog.
2) I didn’t realize that I was getting old until I started noticing the Ages of Frisbee players. If you were 35, you’d be an old man in this game. So, in 8 years, by that logic, I’ll be an old man in this game.
So, as a result, what follows will entail more fabricating, prevaricating, exaggerating, and generally just lying.
With no further ado, by region…
NorthEast.
1) Boston. On the blogs, at least, they still maintain a lock on e-frisbee. Their website sucks, in the sense that it’s like 4 years old. I guess it’s sort of a requirement that you stop updating it after you stop winning. I mean, If I were DoG, I’d sortof rather not dwell on the series of quarterfinals since the late 90’s…
2) Twisted Metal. Dying to dwell on a series of quarterfinal appearances. The up and comers. I don’t really know much about them, because I haven’t found their website... Ahh there it is… I assume they are made up of a bunch of young dudes who are frustrated because they don’t get to even try out for DoG’s offense, because those guys only show up in August. And then they don’t SHOW UP until October. Twisted Metal Team members are probably playing an average of 14 tournaments a year, and dominating Boston Corporate. Website is decent, and they have a few players that I know. Probably the future of Boston Ultimate… Like Snapple, but with a better logo.
3) Goat. I thought Goat was going to tear a new one in Northeast Ultimate. Sigh. Seems like the whole ‘we got a bunch of cheaters trying to play college ultimate’ thing sort of let the steam out of them. Seriously, a solid website, and they did knock off Metal at Easterns. I’m sure that if they win they will be classy about it, but some jackass on R.S.D. will go right back to the ‘tear a new one in US Ultimate’ well. Along with a ‘give us back our national sports franchises, eh?’
Mid-Atlantic.
1) Ring. They are simply the longest running solid program out east after dog. And Solid requires quarter/semi/final appearances. They’ve dallied with it for the past 10 years or so, and have been generally good longer than that. Their web presence is minimal. This seems to be a common thread of southern Teams. No geek presence. I can only assume (from years of research) that it is do to pig picking, or beer drinking, or both. Also, I think Ring keeps a pretty good job keeping the Dukies out. Therefore, no webery.
2) Pike. No Brainer. They can’t beat Ring (thus far) but they had a break out year at nationals, and have been solid thus far. Seem to have the pig’s number. Or Chesapeake. Or anodyne. What the heck do those guys call themselves now? Anyway, Seem like they have a good shot at making the show.
3) Chesapeake. Anodyne. The Pig. Potomac. Spell it anyway you want, it’s probably the worm. Google shows nothing on the web. And I don’t go to tournaments much now. So hell if I know. Seems that Pike has swiped a couple players… so… third.
The South
1) Chain Lightning. Seems like their year. They apparently have 9 guys that can dunk. I say, bring a portable goal to nationals, and make them put their money on the table. Their web presence is a joke. Although AJ has a blog. They can’t get over the Ring thing… but they always lose by one. I guess that’s better than the alternative. I guess. My #2 sentimental favorite. By sentimental, I mean I have a decent collection of old chain jerseys. Although one year they were accidentally Chain LIGHTING. And another year, we got these kick ass soccer jerseys. And got nothing printed on them. Ahh, the good old days.
2) Doublewide. Always athletic, but I just don’t see them getting past chain. Nice upset over DoG (according to UPA site) but taken out to woodshed by Bravo at the same tournament… So, talented enough to pull an upset, but not consistent enough to run the table. Again, that Southern inability to post a website. Got to hurt them in the rankings.
3) Tampa Bulge. Jimmy Price has at least got them playing ball. I don’t know if they’ve co-opted the Miami and Gainesville players under 40 something. They won’t get out of the region, but at least they haven’t all gone to play co-ed.
4) Pfft. Effin’ co-ed.
Mid-West.
1) Uh, subzero? I think they are like Carleton. But with some former Madison guys. They are always pretty good. But, uh, you know, I just don’t… have… any… idea.
2) Big Asstruck? Uh, Help me out people. Ann Arbor, right? Big school, college town, lots of Frisbee…
3) Machine. I think Eric Zaslow is still playing. I played against a machine – ish team at Solstice. I don’t think that they were the whole deal…
Midwest. I mean, come on guys, you got to go along to get along. Or something. I mean, just a LITTLE web presence. I’ll work with you. Really.
Southwest
1) Condors. Johnny Bravo. Condors. Johnny Bravo. Condors. I’m going Condors. I THINK Bravo was missing worlds munchin extraordinaire will ‘wolf boy’ deaver and beau kittridge at Labor day. And they’ve been on a run the past few years. But, I mean, even though the Condors are young, and Adam Glimme apparently did some kind of ‘chicken dance’ after scoring a goal.. My vote comes down to the all important world wide web. Condors, new look website…. And JB…
2) Johnny Bravo. See above.
3) Uhh, are there 3 teams in the southwest? Just kidding.
No, I mean, for real?
The Northwest. Cue the darthvader music.
1) Sockeye. Ok, they lost a game at Labor Day. And, part of their team (the tall-er-est part) is all tuckered out from the worlds games. And yes, they are full of Carleton players, and Carleton Sucks. Although one of the kids I coached is going to Carleton, so I kind of have to rethink that. But it’s hard. It’s like if General Motors came out with a totally kick ass car, that got 65 miles to the gallon, drove like a cross between a Porsche and a SUV, and didn’t suck in the 100 other ways that a GM car can suck, I’d still be, like, man, GM cars suck. Anyway, sockeye, talent as always, and now experience. And, a personal favorite, since I still have some really really smelly jerseys kicking around (boy, when polypro dies…at least most of my old jerseys were cotton. They just rot). Man, what was I thinking, I mean, I gave up practices w/ younger fasterer betterer players, for 6 months a year, to ski 80 days a year? Would I have traded it for a shot at the title? Ah, who am I kidding. I’d have been off the team faster than you can say ‘Survivor: Elliot Bay.’ And I don’t think I ever made a spring practice. The website rocks.
2) Jam. They’ve struggled to find their identity this year. I imagine the early season practices involved a lot of confusion without Idris and Damien pushing everyone out of the way for the dump cut. Used to have a good web-site, albeit, kind of strange in an Idris-ish manner. Now, not so good. Beat Sockeye in Semis at Labor day, PROBABLY won’t do it later.
3) Furious. The monkey seems relaxed this year. And by relaxed I mean cheech and chong relaxed. Not that the actual players seem Cheech and Chong relaxed, but, well, you know what I mean. Oh, you don’t? well try some of this… Seriously though these guys always seem to gear up late in the year, and on Sundays. So, all is not lost.
4) And 5) and Whatever. Portland, Kaos, maybe even MF United (Came in 5th last year). I only mention it, because these teams are always good enough to get a win. Probably not good enough to take the 3rd seed, but good enough to make it interesting…
So what does this leave us with.
Sockeye to win it.
Quarterfinalist Teams.
All three NW teams
Both SW Teams
Chain
Boston
Ring
Teams to watch, who are most likely to put their final placing in my face.
Pike
Twisted
Doublewide.
Sorry Midwest. Nothing personal. I’m easily impressed by video and the internet.
Luke Smith.
Well, technically it’s not the preseason. Sectionals tournaments start immediately, rosters are set, and everyone is asking, who can knock off the Fish. I’ve been asked to put my extensive knowledge of various teams to work… to prognosticate, elaborate, educate, elucidate, annotate, illustrate, just whatever – ate the crap out of this thing.
So I’ve been working diligently looking at rosters, perusing rec.sport.disc, talking on the phone, looking at websites, and demonstrating the great research skills that have made me the master of job shirking.
I’ve realized a few things.
1) I don’t have any idea about what’s going on in ultimate these days, unless I read it on Jim Parinella or Alex DeFrondeville’s blog.
2) I didn’t realize that I was getting old until I started noticing the Ages of Frisbee players. If you were 35, you’d be an old man in this game. So, in 8 years, by that logic, I’ll be an old man in this game.
So, as a result, what follows will entail more fabricating, prevaricating, exaggerating, and generally just lying.
With no further ado, by region…
NorthEast.
1) Boston. On the blogs, at least, they still maintain a lock on e-frisbee. Their website sucks, in the sense that it’s like 4 years old. I guess it’s sort of a requirement that you stop updating it after you stop winning. I mean, If I were DoG, I’d sortof rather not dwell on the series of quarterfinals since the late 90’s…
2) Twisted Metal. Dying to dwell on a series of quarterfinal appearances. The up and comers. I don’t really know much about them, because I haven’t found their website... Ahh there it is… I assume they are made up of a bunch of young dudes who are frustrated because they don’t get to even try out for DoG’s offense, because those guys only show up in August. And then they don’t SHOW UP until October. Twisted Metal Team members are probably playing an average of 14 tournaments a year, and dominating Boston Corporate. Website is decent, and they have a few players that I know. Probably the future of Boston Ultimate… Like Snapple, but with a better logo.
3) Goat. I thought Goat was going to tear a new one in Northeast Ultimate. Sigh. Seems like the whole ‘we got a bunch of cheaters trying to play college ultimate’ thing sort of let the steam out of them. Seriously, a solid website, and they did knock off Metal at Easterns. I’m sure that if they win they will be classy about it, but some jackass on R.S.D. will go right back to the ‘tear a new one in US Ultimate’ well. Along with a ‘give us back our national sports franchises, eh?’
Mid-Atlantic.
1) Ring. They are simply the longest running solid program out east after dog. And Solid requires quarter/semi/final appearances. They’ve dallied with it for the past 10 years or so, and have been generally good longer than that. Their web presence is minimal. This seems to be a common thread of southern Teams. No geek presence. I can only assume (from years of research) that it is do to pig picking, or beer drinking, or both. Also, I think Ring keeps a pretty good job keeping the Dukies out. Therefore, no webery.
2) Pike. No Brainer. They can’t beat Ring (thus far) but they had a break out year at nationals, and have been solid thus far. Seem to have the pig’s number. Or Chesapeake. Or anodyne. What the heck do those guys call themselves now? Anyway, Seem like they have a good shot at making the show.
3) Chesapeake. Anodyne. The Pig. Potomac. Spell it anyway you want, it’s probably the worm. Google shows nothing on the web. And I don’t go to tournaments much now. So hell if I know. Seems that Pike has swiped a couple players… so… third.
The South
1) Chain Lightning. Seems like their year. They apparently have 9 guys that can dunk. I say, bring a portable goal to nationals, and make them put their money on the table. Their web presence is a joke. Although AJ has a blog. They can’t get over the Ring thing… but they always lose by one. I guess that’s better than the alternative. I guess. My #2 sentimental favorite. By sentimental, I mean I have a decent collection of old chain jerseys. Although one year they were accidentally Chain LIGHTING. And another year, we got these kick ass soccer jerseys. And got nothing printed on them. Ahh, the good old days.
2) Doublewide. Always athletic, but I just don’t see them getting past chain. Nice upset over DoG (according to UPA site) but taken out to woodshed by Bravo at the same tournament… So, talented enough to pull an upset, but not consistent enough to run the table. Again, that Southern inability to post a website. Got to hurt them in the rankings.
3) Tampa Bulge. Jimmy Price has at least got them playing ball. I don’t know if they’ve co-opted the Miami and Gainesville players under 40 something. They won’t get out of the region, but at least they haven’t all gone to play co-ed.
4) Pfft. Effin’ co-ed.
Mid-West.
1) Uh, subzero? I think they are like Carleton. But with some former Madison guys. They are always pretty good. But, uh, you know, I just don’t… have… any… idea.
2) Big Asstruck? Uh, Help me out people. Ann Arbor, right? Big school, college town, lots of Frisbee…
3) Machine. I think Eric Zaslow is still playing. I played against a machine – ish team at Solstice. I don’t think that they were the whole deal…
Midwest. I mean, come on guys, you got to go along to get along. Or something. I mean, just a LITTLE web presence. I’ll work with you. Really.
Southwest
1) Condors. Johnny Bravo. Condors. Johnny Bravo. Condors. I’m going Condors. I THINK Bravo was missing worlds munchin extraordinaire will ‘wolf boy’ deaver and beau kittridge at Labor day. And they’ve been on a run the past few years. But, I mean, even though the Condors are young, and Adam Glimme apparently did some kind of ‘chicken dance’ after scoring a goal.. My vote comes down to the all important world wide web. Condors, new look website…. And JB…
2) Johnny Bravo. See above.
3) Uhh, are there 3 teams in the southwest? Just kidding.
No, I mean, for real?
The Northwest. Cue the darthvader music.
1) Sockeye. Ok, they lost a game at Labor Day. And, part of their team (the tall-er-est part) is all tuckered out from the worlds games. And yes, they are full of Carleton players, and Carleton Sucks. Although one of the kids I coached is going to Carleton, so I kind of have to rethink that. But it’s hard. It’s like if General Motors came out with a totally kick ass car, that got 65 miles to the gallon, drove like a cross between a Porsche and a SUV, and didn’t suck in the 100 other ways that a GM car can suck, I’d still be, like, man, GM cars suck. Anyway, sockeye, talent as always, and now experience. And, a personal favorite, since I still have some really really smelly jerseys kicking around (boy, when polypro dies…at least most of my old jerseys were cotton. They just rot). Man, what was I thinking, I mean, I gave up practices w/ younger fasterer betterer players, for 6 months a year, to ski 80 days a year? Would I have traded it for a shot at the title? Ah, who am I kidding. I’d have been off the team faster than you can say ‘Survivor: Elliot Bay.’ And I don’t think I ever made a spring practice. The website rocks.
2) Jam. They’ve struggled to find their identity this year. I imagine the early season practices involved a lot of confusion without Idris and Damien pushing everyone out of the way for the dump cut. Used to have a good web-site, albeit, kind of strange in an Idris-ish manner. Now, not so good. Beat Sockeye in Semis at Labor day, PROBABLY won’t do it later.
3) Furious. The monkey seems relaxed this year. And by relaxed I mean cheech and chong relaxed. Not that the actual players seem Cheech and Chong relaxed, but, well, you know what I mean. Oh, you don’t? well try some of this… Seriously though these guys always seem to gear up late in the year, and on Sundays. So, all is not lost.
4) And 5) and Whatever. Portland, Kaos, maybe even MF United (Came in 5th last year). I only mention it, because these teams are always good enough to get a win. Probably not good enough to take the 3rd seed, but good enough to make it interesting…
So what does this leave us with.
Sockeye to win it.
Quarterfinalist Teams.
All three NW teams
Both SW Teams
Chain
Boston
Ring
Teams to watch, who are most likely to put their final placing in my face.
Pike
Twisted
Doublewide.
Sorry Midwest. Nothing personal. I’m easily impressed by video and the internet.
Monday, September 05, 2005
just a day.
labor day just finished up. no good write ups. so I made up my own. it will be in the next UPA newsletter. I might put my own, linked version here in a couple days.
just found out I have 49 kids in my US History Class. That's a lot. Sigh.
I'm ALMOST basically ready to go for Wednesday. Tommorrow is kind of a nothing day, just a few minutes in class w/ the freshmen, who are on orientation.
7.5 miles this morning, 54 minutes, then wrote some lecture notes, typed up some projects, surfed.
just found out I have 49 kids in my US History Class. That's a lot. Sigh.
I'm ALMOST basically ready to go for Wednesday. Tommorrow is kind of a nothing day, just a few minutes in class w/ the freshmen, who are on orientation.
7.5 miles this morning, 54 minutes, then wrote some lecture notes, typed up some projects, surfed.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
killin time
Listening to the Black Eyed Peas, and killing time before the Teacher's meeting. 4 hours that could better be spent lesson planning. Oh well. A reality of any job with a boss is management meetings.
Goals for the day:
Finish off my US History Curriculum (for next few weeks, at least)
Start Religions of World Curriculum (see above)
Kick High School Butt in mini.
While yelling ridiculous things like "THIS IS MY LABOR DAY THIS IS MY LABOR DAY"
'Relevant Reading' to finish this Weekend
Nothing Like it in the World, Ambrose. Dealing w/ TransContinental RR.
Goals for the day:
Finish off my US History Curriculum (for next few weeks, at least)
Start Religions of World Curriculum (see above)
Kick High School Butt in mini.
While yelling ridiculous things like "THIS IS MY LABOR DAY THIS IS MY LABOR DAY"
'Relevant Reading' to finish this Weekend
Nothing Like it in the World, Ambrose. Dealing w/ TransContinental RR.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
summit
Team Time Trial today. I had to work, so I didn't get to see it, but the results are impressive. This years girls, led by some really talented frosh (the number 1 runner) equaled last years Oregon Bronze medalists (Summit), and our boys team this year is unreal. We should get at least 5 runners below 17, which makes it reasonable to talk about notable performances at states. Of course, this was just 3 kilometers, and states is a ways off...
Speaking of work, I'm cranking. With 3 more work days before the kids arrive (I guess I'm allowed to work on the labor day weekend, but...) I'm getting there. I'm several weeks ahead in World History. Tommorrow, I'll work up my rough syllabus revision for U.S.
Interestingly, we've got some new web features, so I'll be able to post syllabus, lecture notes, readings in .pdf, etc. for kids who get sick, etc. I've not received my user i.d. and such, but it is apparently, kind of blog like.
My goal this year is to increase the amount of primary source reading (for example, Bismarck's explantion of why France must be crushed) AND develop some relevant games and sims. Honestly, the games will have an entertainment component as well, but 30 minutes out of 540 each week doing education 'lite' will probably just help keep things moving. Besides, I'm kind of 'anti-movie' so this is the carrot to the stick of higher expectations for reading and writing.
In other news, seriously, did you know new orleans is below sea level? I think i'd have left.
On the excercise front, Sunday, 18 mile road ride, frisbee in evening, monday, 5 mile run, evening frisbee. Today, relative rest. I've got some kindof knee-itis from 3 weeks of doubles... but I'm hopeful that as school starts and i only can work out w/ the team, the 'relative' rest will fix me up. I'm also doing all sorts of core strengthening, and icing and stretching, and trying to eat well.
Sectionals in a couple weeks, with the return of a couple noted players from the past. Guess their names and receive a prize. Not really doing anything in particular to train up for it (as in speed work, etc.) but I'm staying more or less on top of throwing... it finally seems to be getting back to pre - fracture form.
That's all.
Speaking of work, I'm cranking. With 3 more work days before the kids arrive (I guess I'm allowed to work on the labor day weekend, but...) I'm getting there. I'm several weeks ahead in World History. Tommorrow, I'll work up my rough syllabus revision for U.S.
Interestingly, we've got some new web features, so I'll be able to post syllabus, lecture notes, readings in .pdf, etc. for kids who get sick, etc. I've not received my user i.d. and such, but it is apparently, kind of blog like.
My goal this year is to increase the amount of primary source reading (for example, Bismarck's explantion of why France must be crushed) AND develop some relevant games and sims. Honestly, the games will have an entertainment component as well, but 30 minutes out of 540 each week doing education 'lite' will probably just help keep things moving. Besides, I'm kind of 'anti-movie' so this is the carrot to the stick of higher expectations for reading and writing.
In other news, seriously, did you know new orleans is below sea level? I think i'd have left.
On the excercise front, Sunday, 18 mile road ride, frisbee in evening, monday, 5 mile run, evening frisbee. Today, relative rest. I've got some kindof knee-itis from 3 weeks of doubles... but I'm hopeful that as school starts and i only can work out w/ the team, the 'relative' rest will fix me up. I'm also doing all sorts of core strengthening, and icing and stretching, and trying to eat well.
Sectionals in a couple weeks, with the return of a couple noted players from the past. Guess their names and receive a prize. Not really doing anything in particular to train up for it (as in speed work, etc.) but I'm staying more or less on top of throwing... it finally seems to be getting back to pre - fracture form.
That's all.
Friday, August 26, 2005
bloggin the glory.
Alex has taken the low road to comment glory. Asking fribee players to talk about injuries is like asking a... nerd to talk about linux? a skier to talk about gear? a redneck to talk about nascar? you get the idea.
Me, I have no pith today. I'm kind of tuckered out. Wednesday night I played disc with the kids, then thursday morning ran, then played 'men's team practice' last night, then, a short adventure run (probably 1.75 hours of running around in the woods trying to decipher a VERY bad map) then playing some ultimate this evening.
I'm reading Nothing Like it in the World by noted plagiarist Stephen Ambrose in anticipation of starting US history with a discussion of the transformation of the American west (HS US starts after War of Northern Aggression and Reconstruction). I think modern world history starts with French Revolution and Napoleon, then continues w/ a long and uninterrupted series of other wars. I'm also teaching AP US govt, and Religions of the World. The AP class is going to be a bear, at least as far as grading goes...
I think I've read like 40 plus books this summer, and watched a like (maybe more) number of movies... Now the fun is drawing to a close. I suspect that my days will go like this...
up at 6:00, breakfast, coffee, bike to school
7:15-8:00 office time, coffee, make copies.
8-8:25 prep, coffee, lesson planning, read paper, grade papers.
8:30 - 2:45 teach
3-5 XC practice (then ski practice in november, then frisbee practice in february)
5- 10 grade... read, eat...
And once every 30 days anxiously await the ginormous sums of cash that make it all worth while..
I'm on my way (sort of) to pick up some new pedals for my road bike... I'd rather spend the money than switch pedals back and forth... Fall is coming. Last night it went down to 27 somewhere out in eastern oregon. It's been low 40's maybe even high thirties here at night. It's awesome. Cold enough that I can finally get some decent sleep at night. My goal is to have my 'bestest' ski season ever this year. That means, in addition to the base conditioning that running and frisbee offer, weights, and balance work (yoga, maybe some roller skiing for nordic specific -- although honestly those roller skis seem like a fast path to a cast). I also want to do more back country touring. I have more friends now who have sleds (snowmobiles), which are really useful for getting to the base of backcountry areas... the goals are miles on skis, and lots o' powder skiing... never too early to think of skiing...
I'm working on my preview of the UPA season. I'm not sure why Huckleberry Hinterland is writing it, but I promise it will be full of subtle self aggrandizing prose.
Me, I have no pith today. I'm kind of tuckered out. Wednesday night I played disc with the kids, then thursday morning ran, then played 'men's team practice' last night, then, a short adventure run (probably 1.75 hours of running around in the woods trying to decipher a VERY bad map) then playing some ultimate this evening.
I'm reading Nothing Like it in the World by noted plagiarist Stephen Ambrose in anticipation of starting US history with a discussion of the transformation of the American west (HS US starts after War of Northern Aggression and Reconstruction). I think modern world history starts with French Revolution and Napoleon, then continues w/ a long and uninterrupted series of other wars. I'm also teaching AP US govt, and Religions of the World. The AP class is going to be a bear, at least as far as grading goes...
I think I've read like 40 plus books this summer, and watched a like (maybe more) number of movies... Now the fun is drawing to a close. I suspect that my days will go like this...
up at 6:00, breakfast, coffee, bike to school
7:15-8:00 office time, coffee, make copies.
8-8:25 prep, coffee, lesson planning, read paper, grade papers.
8:30 - 2:45 teach
3-5 XC practice (then ski practice in november, then frisbee practice in february)
5- 10 grade... read, eat...
And once every 30 days anxiously await the ginormous sums of cash that make it all worth while..
I'm on my way (sort of) to pick up some new pedals for my road bike... I'd rather spend the money than switch pedals back and forth... Fall is coming. Last night it went down to 27 somewhere out in eastern oregon. It's been low 40's maybe even high thirties here at night. It's awesome. Cold enough that I can finally get some decent sleep at night. My goal is to have my 'bestest' ski season ever this year. That means, in addition to the base conditioning that running and frisbee offer, weights, and balance work (yoga, maybe some roller skiing for nordic specific -- although honestly those roller skis seem like a fast path to a cast). I also want to do more back country touring. I have more friends now who have sleds (snowmobiles), which are really useful for getting to the base of backcountry areas... the goals are miles on skis, and lots o' powder skiing... never too early to think of skiing...
I'm working on my preview of the UPA season. I'm not sure why Huckleberry Hinterland is writing it, but I promise it will be full of subtle self aggrandizing prose.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
wednesday
last night played some co-ed ultimate... somehow i've developed a rep for being lazy. i prefer to think of myself as being smart. why should i motor around aimlessly in some 6 turnover point, only to be cut off if i make any in cut over 30 yards... 'men's play' on thursday, and theirs a couple old rhino guys out there, so it's good fun.
this a.m., the 3 mile tempo run, 20:40, felt pretty good, but i'm looking forward to the intervals (decreasing from mile repeats to 800's to shorter faster more frisbee like stuff by mid october.).
At that point, i'll publish my times, and if i'm not running faster than Alex, well, I'll lie.
Mountain bike ride this afternoon, then playing disc w/ some of the highschool kids.
I think I'm going to read, eat a little in interim. Might watch Bourne Supremacy...
Man I'm hungry.
this a.m., the 3 mile tempo run, 20:40, felt pretty good, but i'm looking forward to the intervals (decreasing from mile repeats to 800's to shorter faster more frisbee like stuff by mid october.).
At that point, i'll publish my times, and if i'm not running faster than Alex, well, I'll lie.
Mountain bike ride this afternoon, then playing disc w/ some of the highschool kids.
I think I'm going to read, eat a little in interim. Might watch Bourne Supremacy...
Man I'm hungry.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
grip and rip.
short 4 mile run today... foot a little sore... frisbee tonight. Nice ride in the afternoon, but I dallied during the nap phase, so it was after 5 by the time I got back to the congested area. So I got stuck in the crowds. 6 people. Left a bitter taste in my mouth for the whole sport.
Today, I'm playing w/ the local co-ed group... I should probably go to the track, but frankly, I'm a little 'solo - runner - training - ed - out'.
Starting to cool here... they say we may have first snow this weekend (but up around 10,000 feet... I'd be suprised if I"m skiing before thanksgiving... ALTHOUGH I did ski in October last year... or the year before, can't remember... that was an anomaly... apparently used to be more common)...
Enough...
Tommorrow the 5k tempo run, and bike. I think sectionals is coming up... I'm going home to take a nap.
Today, I'm playing w/ the local co-ed group... I should probably go to the track, but frankly, I'm a little 'solo - runner - training - ed - out'.
Starting to cool here... they say we may have first snow this weekend (but up around 10,000 feet... I'd be suprised if I"m skiing before thanksgiving... ALTHOUGH I did ski in October last year... or the year before, can't remember... that was an anomaly... apparently used to be more common)...
Enough...
Tommorrow the 5k tempo run, and bike. I think sectionals is coming up... I'm going home to take a nap.
Monday, August 22, 2005
lazy weekend...
took some time off to read and sleep. and watch movies.
Read a couple books, watched some movies, slept.
Today, 7.5 in 55:30... didn't have my heart rate monitor on, but perceived effort was less than the same run done a minute slower last monday.
did it without breakfast and coffee, so my stomach hurts and i have a headache.
I'll fix both with a cup of coffee, and fix the caloric needs after i finish up here at the library.
We're on daily runs with the team, so I'll have to be playing frisbee only in p.m. from here on out... and mountain biking...
last week of summer, so got to pile it on. we had rain last night, so the trails, often moon dust in summer, will be exquisite... time to charge the ipod, and get out away from the people...
later.
Read a couple books, watched some movies, slept.
Today, 7.5 in 55:30... didn't have my heart rate monitor on, but perceived effort was less than the same run done a minute slower last monday.
did it without breakfast and coffee, so my stomach hurts and i have a headache.
I'll fix both with a cup of coffee, and fix the caloric needs after i finish up here at the library.
We're on daily runs with the team, so I'll have to be playing frisbee only in p.m. from here on out... and mountain biking...
last week of summer, so got to pile it on. we had rain last night, so the trails, often moon dust in summer, will be exquisite... time to charge the ipod, and get out away from the people...
later.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
that's how I roll...
i did get in the afternoon ride on tuesday. went well. 2 hours, in the 65-70% range... (my runs are usually like 85%, frisbee, i don't wear the heart monitor, and i'm not doing intervals yet. I should probably wear it, just to see). Yesterday was 1.5 mile run up College way, and then ran the steps 6 times, then a hill run, so like, 7 solid intervals... the whole workout took about 1.25 hours, plus a core workout. Not a great workout for me (tired from a few days of doubles), but no vomit. This a.m., some mini and dutch drill (3 v. 3 in a box, 10 consecutive completions = 1 point, games to 3 or 5 or whatever). The kids are getting it.
By getting it, I mean lots of blades, pushing, and shoving.
Some anecdotes...
At the running camp recently, the head coach Dave had left a walkie talkie w/ some straggling kids... they were freshmen, so even though there were technically no wrong trails to take, he was concerned by their tardiness after the long run... While standing 10 feet away from, in full view of the 35 or so student runners who were eating milling, drinking water, whatever, but hidden behind a tent, I did my best squeaky voiced impersonation of a 9th grader. Playing on the abillity of people to misunderstand walky talky chatter, I managed to keep Dave going for several minutes... It was especially ridiculous, because my voice was like some kind of cartoon character, and the walky talkie makes a huge electronic CHIRP everytime you release the button... did i mention I was 10 feet away (and to be fair, dave is a really bright guy)
me: he- he- hello? (CHIRP)
dave: is this the freshmen, come in, come in (CHIRP)
me: uh - uh- yeah, where do we turn? (CHIRP)
dave: OK, WHEN YOU GET TO THE LAKE, TURN LEFT. (CHIRP)
me: uh, leak? leak? what leak? (CHIRP)
dave: LAKE, IT"S A BODY OF WATER. (CHIRP)
me: B- Body? What body.(CHIRP)
etc.
Good times. Almost as exciting as the time we (Sockeye) bounced back from a disappointing semis loss to Ring of Fire to close off the Beer Tent at nationals and start carding everyone there... I may write a script treaty of it sometime (narrative doesn't really do it justice)... suffice to say, the 55 year old guy didn't initially think it was funny, but he came around.
I've bogged down in Killer angels... I kind of know the ending.
I picked up a Parenti book about 9/11 called the Terrorism Trap, and an Illustrated version of The Right Stuff... Yesterday I read Rain Fall, by Eisler. This hitman dude kicks some ass. Pretty good. Kind of sort of like what a Clancy book would be like, if Clancy didn't suck.
Later, more ultimate... tonight, one of my Library DVD's either 28 Days Later, Ronin, or Spartan. Haven't seen Spartan yet.
By getting it, I mean lots of blades, pushing, and shoving.
Some anecdotes...
At the running camp recently, the head coach Dave had left a walkie talkie w/ some straggling kids... they were freshmen, so even though there were technically no wrong trails to take, he was concerned by their tardiness after the long run... While standing 10 feet away from, in full view of the 35 or so student runners who were eating milling, drinking water, whatever, but hidden behind a tent, I did my best squeaky voiced impersonation of a 9th grader. Playing on the abillity of people to misunderstand walky talky chatter, I managed to keep Dave going for several minutes... It was especially ridiculous, because my voice was like some kind of cartoon character, and the walky talkie makes a huge electronic CHIRP everytime you release the button... did i mention I was 10 feet away (and to be fair, dave is a really bright guy)
me: he- he- hello? (CHIRP)
dave: is this the freshmen, come in, come in (CHIRP)
me: uh - uh- yeah, where do we turn? (CHIRP)
dave: OK, WHEN YOU GET TO THE LAKE, TURN LEFT. (CHIRP)
me: uh, leak? leak? what leak? (CHIRP)
dave: LAKE, IT"S A BODY OF WATER. (CHIRP)
me: B- Body? What body.(CHIRP)
etc.
Good times. Almost as exciting as the time we (Sockeye) bounced back from a disappointing semis loss to Ring of Fire to close off the Beer Tent at nationals and start carding everyone there... I may write a script treaty of it sometime (narrative doesn't really do it justice)... suffice to say, the 55 year old guy didn't initially think it was funny, but he came around.
I've bogged down in Killer angels... I kind of know the ending.
I picked up a Parenti book about 9/11 called the Terrorism Trap, and an Illustrated version of The Right Stuff... Yesterday I read Rain Fall, by Eisler. This hitman dude kicks some ass. Pretty good. Kind of sort of like what a Clancy book would be like, if Clancy didn't suck.
Later, more ultimate... tonight, one of my Library DVD's either 28 Days Later, Ronin, or Spartan. Haven't seen Spartan yet.
Monday, August 15, 2005
further adventures of the albino rhino
little enough to report.
breakfast, a single pancake and cup o' coffee,
then 7.5 miles in 56... like 7:30's???
now some internet, then, back to headquarters to eat 2 more pancakes, and a pb and j smoothie.
frozen apple juice
frozen bannanas
frozen strawberries
cheerios
2 cups of adams hippy peanut butter*
blend.
mmm.
I've got a little runners knee (patellofemoral / chondromalacia / wussy-itis) so I may or may not bike today...
I'd like to finish off killer angels (by Shaara), and I might play a little more tiger woods 2005 on my xbox. But frankly, the game is too easy. They should have made it harder.
I should probably write a few lesson plans...
The obvious excitement that Jim and Alex have for the game right now, in contrast to the mundane nature of Idris' (and my own) blogs, confirm that I have in no way shaken (shook?) the ultimate bug at the tender age of 35.
I got to get to perth.
*Just kidding, more like 2 tablespoons.
breakfast, a single pancake and cup o' coffee,
then 7.5 miles in 56... like 7:30's???
now some internet, then, back to headquarters to eat 2 more pancakes, and a pb and j smoothie.
frozen apple juice
frozen bannanas
frozen strawberries
cheerios
2 cups of adams hippy peanut butter*
blend.
mmm.
I've got a little runners knee (patellofemoral / chondromalacia / wussy-itis) so I may or may not bike today...
I'd like to finish off killer angels (by Shaara), and I might play a little more tiger woods 2005 on my xbox. But frankly, the game is too easy. They should have made it harder.
I should probably write a few lesson plans...
The obvious excitement that Jim and Alex have for the game right now, in contrast to the mundane nature of Idris' (and my own) blogs, confirm that I have in no way shaken (shook?) the ultimate bug at the tender age of 35.
I got to get to perth.
*Just kidding, more like 2 tablespoons.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
update
I've been out and about for a few days at a running camp, and I'm still number 42 on your program, but... Alex and Jim have been listing their track workouts... so i thought I'd join in on the bandwagon...
Monday 15 miles biking.
Tuesday 5 mile run to camp (gear was boated in)
Wednesday 3 mile hike to base of mountain, 5 miles (and 2000 feet) up, run/walk down, 3 mile jog back to camp.
Thursday 13 mile run
Friday 5 mile bike
Saturday 15 mile mt. bike ride.
sunday 15 mile mt. bike ride
I'm going to go play frisbee in a while.... lots of aches and pains after the week, but hopefully i'll be able to run hard for an hour or so.
Also, today, eggs, pancakes, coffee. mmm good.
Recent reads:
Running with the Buffalo, a year in the season of CU's outstanding cross country program. They run, a lot. And fast. These guys are running in the 30 minute 10 k range, which is fast. Their mileage is insane (to me), in the 80-100 mile range per week. Typical 'season in the life of' tale with it's share of ups and downs.
It raises the question, is there a 'curse of the sports writer in the locker room'? Are there any chronicled seasons that end with everyone alive healthy, and standing at the top of the podium?
Read Black Dahlia last week, by James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential). Read L.A. Confidential instead.
Currently reading The Killer Angels by Shaara, fictionalized novel dealing w/ Gettysburg. So far, so good.
The weeks of 3500 pages per week are drawing to a close. Kids back in school in 3 weeks, I'm in the office in 2...
C'est la vie.
The big summer wrap up is coming up, but here are my predictions for 2005-2006 school year and summer vacation.
80 plus days skiing. Here's to skiing where they don't keep the rocks, and avoiding broken bones.
3.50/gallon gas next summer. I hope I'm wrong.
A couple Weeks at Bandon lake learning to windsurf. I hope I'm right.
Return to tournament play, i.e., travelling a little to play in some more competitive gigs...
That is all.
Monday 15 miles biking.
Tuesday 5 mile run to camp (gear was boated in)
Wednesday 3 mile hike to base of mountain, 5 miles (and 2000 feet) up, run/walk down, 3 mile jog back to camp.
Thursday 13 mile run
Friday 5 mile bike
Saturday 15 mile mt. bike ride.
sunday 15 mile mt. bike ride
I'm going to go play frisbee in a while.... lots of aches and pains after the week, but hopefully i'll be able to run hard for an hour or so.
Also, today, eggs, pancakes, coffee. mmm good.
Recent reads:
Running with the Buffalo, a year in the season of CU's outstanding cross country program. They run, a lot. And fast. These guys are running in the 30 minute 10 k range, which is fast. Their mileage is insane (to me), in the 80-100 mile range per week. Typical 'season in the life of' tale with it's share of ups and downs.
It raises the question, is there a 'curse of the sports writer in the locker room'? Are there any chronicled seasons that end with everyone alive healthy, and standing at the top of the podium?
Read Black Dahlia last week, by James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential). Read L.A. Confidential instead.
Currently reading The Killer Angels by Shaara, fictionalized novel dealing w/ Gettysburg. So far, so good.
The weeks of 3500 pages per week are drawing to a close. Kids back in school in 3 weeks, I'm in the office in 2...
C'est la vie.
The big summer wrap up is coming up, but here are my predictions for 2005-2006 school year and summer vacation.
80 plus days skiing. Here's to skiing where they don't keep the rocks, and avoiding broken bones.
3.50/gallon gas next summer. I hope I'm wrong.
A couple Weeks at Bandon lake learning to windsurf. I hope I'm right.
Return to tournament play, i.e., travelling a little to play in some more competitive gigs...
That is all.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
hmm.
foot MAY be feeling better. Played a little low key frisbee this AM (dutch drill and mini)... playing some more, w/ a little more effort tonight. try and work on my syllabi... beyond that...
screw it. i'm going home to make some pancakes.
5 pm update. Read The Price of Loyalty today. It's good. Hardly the anti-Bush polemic it was made out to be, but hardly flattering. Probably fairly accurate description of modern media politiscs.
screw it. i'm going home to make some pancakes.
5 pm update. Read The Price of Loyalty today. It's good. Hardly the anti-Bush polemic it was made out to be, but hardly flattering. Probably fairly accurate description of modern media politiscs.
Monday, August 01, 2005
recent reads... updated
UPDATED
Read The Librarian, also by Beinhart. Like Wag the Dog, a politically themed mystery. 'Summer Reading.' Read The Godfather, by Puzo. No major departures from the movie, but a good read.
I've been reading a ton lately -- with school coming up, i'm not sure i'll have, uh, any time to read anything but curriculum related materials (i have to read a LOT of stuff to find something to have the kids read, plus I end up reading a lot of outside stuff just to bolster my own depth of knowledge. hmm. Do you bolster a depth?)
Next up... we shall see... Since I'm teaching religions of the World, I need to bone up on my comparative religion. And some religious related issues in history (crusades, arab-israeli wars, modern... wait a sec. I'm noticing a geographic consistency)...
i read Wag the Dog (Formerly American Hero) by Beinhart yesterday. Pretty good, even if you've seen the movie. The two are significantly different in their plots. I'd not read any of his stuff, but it's good entertaining summer reading.
I also read Reefer Madness, by that one guy, what's his name, he wrote Fast Food Nation. Interesting look at the black market economy in the US (marijuana, illegal immigrants, pornography) in a series of case studies. Fascinating, a little meandering.
Reread the Hitchhikers guide trilogy (quintology?) over the weekend. I liked it. I'd actually not read Mostly Harmless.
Read The Librarian, also by Beinhart. Like Wag the Dog, a politically themed mystery. 'Summer Reading.' Read The Godfather, by Puzo. No major departures from the movie, but a good read.
I've been reading a ton lately -- with school coming up, i'm not sure i'll have, uh, any time to read anything but curriculum related materials (i have to read a LOT of stuff to find something to have the kids read, plus I end up reading a lot of outside stuff just to bolster my own depth of knowledge. hmm. Do you bolster a depth?)
Next up... we shall see... Since I'm teaching religions of the World, I need to bone up on my comparative religion. And some religious related issues in history (crusades, arab-israeli wars, modern... wait a sec. I'm noticing a geographic consistency)...
i read Wag the Dog (Formerly American Hero) by Beinhart yesterday. Pretty good, even if you've seen the movie. The two are significantly different in their plots. I'd not read any of his stuff, but it's good entertaining summer reading.
I also read Reefer Madness, by that one guy, what's his name, he wrote Fast Food Nation. Interesting look at the black market economy in the US (marijuana, illegal immigrants, pornography) in a series of case studies. Fascinating, a little meandering.
Reread the Hitchhikers guide trilogy (quintology?) over the weekend. I liked it. I'd actually not read Mostly Harmless.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
state of the luke.
I'm going to make a departure from count-baiting, at least as long as he is in a potentially litigious mood.
foot still gimpy. so freakin hot
I woke up at 5:30, so i actually had breakfast before morning frisbee. there is nothing more inspiring than seeing some 8th grade going into hs students w/ a month of experience stabbing hammers and winging blades... and gleefully arguing the line calls in hotbox... great young athletes and runners... one of these kids is one of those, juggle on the unicycle, and runs like a 2:15 800... 5 nuthin, hundred and nuthin... literally.
we are winning states this year. in frisbee, i mean.
45 minute run yesterday, more frisbee this evening... man it's hot. tarzan himself couldn't stand this kind of heat. but at least its a dry heat...
cheerios for breakfast, i'm going to have a mid morning burrito now... from the super burrito... mmmm....
looking forward to school, doing a lot of lesson planning right now.
recently read: freakonomics, a rebel economicistisitist blah blah. pretty good.
harry potter and the magic thing. I liked that one.
the long emergency. kuntzhauer. something. actually, that's been a few weeks. but it's still checked out. hmm.
Ghost Soldiers, which is being made into a movie called the Great Raid...
Tom Clancy's stupid Something or another and The Something Sanction or Covenant or Identity or Conspiracy by Ludlum. Hey I admit I read 'em, but I don't have to be proud of the junk...
Just finished a history of Stalingrad (Battle of) called 199 Days.
I need to start concentrating on School stuff... American government, US History, Modern World History... that kind of thing...
that is all.
foot still gimpy. so freakin hot
I woke up at 5:30, so i actually had breakfast before morning frisbee. there is nothing more inspiring than seeing some 8th grade going into hs students w/ a month of experience stabbing hammers and winging blades... and gleefully arguing the line calls in hotbox... great young athletes and runners... one of these kids is one of those, juggle on the unicycle, and runs like a 2:15 800... 5 nuthin, hundred and nuthin... literally.
we are winning states this year. in frisbee, i mean.
45 minute run yesterday, more frisbee this evening... man it's hot. tarzan himself couldn't stand this kind of heat. but at least its a dry heat...
cheerios for breakfast, i'm going to have a mid morning burrito now... from the super burrito... mmmm....
looking forward to school, doing a lot of lesson planning right now.
recently read: freakonomics, a rebel economicistisitist blah blah. pretty good.
harry potter and the magic thing. I liked that one.
the long emergency. kuntzhauer. something. actually, that's been a few weeks. but it's still checked out. hmm.
Ghost Soldiers, which is being made into a movie called the Great Raid...
Tom Clancy's stupid Something or another and The Something Sanction or Covenant or Identity or Conspiracy by Ludlum. Hey I admit I read 'em, but I don't have to be proud of the junk...
Just finished a history of Stalingrad (Battle of) called 199 Days.
I need to start concentrating on School stuff... American government, US History, Modern World History... that kind of thing...
that is all.
Friday, July 22, 2005
le tour de... freedom
This message goes out to Frenchman and blogonaut Alex 'le compte' de Frondeville (which means 'Frondeville' in english).
Do you hate us for our way of life? Or for our legacy of superior cycling?
It must be one or the other.
The French are quite indignant over Lance's dominance... you'd think, given the state of things since Napoleon, that another mark in the 'L' column would be, well, just no big deal.
What gets me are the absurd, desperate attempts to besmirch this great man, with ludicrous allegations of drug use.
Lance has repeatedly stated, "I have never tested positive for drug use."
There. Clear as day.
Never. Tested. Positive.
Come on, what more do you want?!!
To demonstrate my solidarity, I would like, at this time to state unambiguously, that I have NEVER TESTED POSITIVE FOR PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS.
Couldn't be more clear. That's why I'm making this bold statement at this time. I want my legacy to be unblemished by the taint of wrongdoings. As opposed to the wrongdoings of taint... which I don't want to get into.
Do you hate us for our way of life? Or for our legacy of superior cycling?
It must be one or the other.
The French are quite indignant over Lance's dominance... you'd think, given the state of things since Napoleon, that another mark in the 'L' column would be, well, just no big deal.
What gets me are the absurd, desperate attempts to besmirch this great man, with ludicrous allegations of drug use.
Lance has repeatedly stated, "I have never tested positive for drug use."
There. Clear as day.
Never. Tested. Positive.
Come on, what more do you want?!!
To demonstrate my solidarity, I would like, at this time to state unambiguously, that I have NEVER TESTED POSITIVE FOR PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS.
Couldn't be more clear. That's why I'm making this bold statement at this time. I want my legacy to be unblemished by the taint of wrongdoings. As opposed to the wrongdoings of taint... which I don't want to get into.
Monday, July 18, 2005
pancakes.
One night this winter I had a dream. I dreamt I had pancakes. And that morning, you know what? Yes, that's right, I had pancakes. Yes, dreams can come true. I like to share that one with my students before a race.
Over and over again.
Woke up yesterday w/ a new owwy. Pain on the inside of my ankle. It's either because my bike shoes aren't stiff enough to handle a 25 mile mountain bike ride... or because I spent a lot of time in flip flops. Hmm. Technically, it's not the shoe's fault it's my foot's fault. But I'm going to buy some better bike shoes.
Went for a 4.5 mile run with HS xc team this am, soaked my legs in the river. Took a nap.
Hit count way up. This gives meaning to my life.
Spent 3 hours today working on my online course dealing with Teaching AP Government (US). Pretty excited about teaching that... it will be a lot of work.
Found a new breakfast that I like. It's a smoothie... but with cheerios blended in. Nice higher level of bulk, and should keep that cholesterol down. For sweetness, use honey nut. I like a 50/50 mix.
I think I might go home and make some pancakes. Ice the foot. Got a beach tournament this weekend. My first ever.
Remember, the lesson of pancakes.
Dreams can come true... and...
They seem like they're going to be awesome, but as soon as you have one bite too many, you feel like you're eating sponge.
Over and over again.
Woke up yesterday w/ a new owwy. Pain on the inside of my ankle. It's either because my bike shoes aren't stiff enough to handle a 25 mile mountain bike ride... or because I spent a lot of time in flip flops. Hmm. Technically, it's not the shoe's fault it's my foot's fault. But I'm going to buy some better bike shoes.
Went for a 4.5 mile run with HS xc team this am, soaked my legs in the river. Took a nap.
Hit count way up. This gives meaning to my life.
Spent 3 hours today working on my online course dealing with Teaching AP Government (US). Pretty excited about teaching that... it will be a lot of work.
Found a new breakfast that I like. It's a smoothie... but with cheerios blended in. Nice higher level of bulk, and should keep that cholesterol down. For sweetness, use honey nut. I like a 50/50 mix.
I think I might go home and make some pancakes. Ice the foot. Got a beach tournament this weekend. My first ever.
Remember, the lesson of pancakes.
Dreams can come true... and...
They seem like they're going to be awesome, but as soon as you have one bite too many, you feel like you're eating sponge.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
blogs
The Blogosphere report...
Jim has a list of drills he likes. It includes Seegerball, which sounds like rugby cum schtick. (note when we play schtick, getting tagged on the opponents side has a consequence, involving a sprint)
Idris is talking about shoes, and bashing guys he cut. We miss the Mike O'Dowd bashing.
Alex is talking about why good teams don't go to bad tournaments. A corollary (or obverse, or converse or something) is that, it's really hard to go to good tournaments without a team. Remember the glory years of everyother year club worlds... ah, good ol' summercamp. This will be a topic of it's own.
Dix (who I don't really know, in the sense that i don't remember him camped out over a keg a la the others referenced) started strong w/ some great stories. I think he stopped blogging in 1989, or March, or as soon as Jim gave him a link... It appears he's been removed from Jim's page.
Marshall Goff has a good page, and his own domain. But he seems to have a variety of interests other than frisbee. This is incomprehensible to me.
The Atlanta people have a blog on a variety of frisbee questions. It appears to be printed on parchment paper, so it is classy. They are killing me on hit counts, so they must be doing something right. They did link to the Atlanta message board, which is big.
Jim has a list of drills he likes. It includes Seegerball, which sounds like rugby cum schtick. (note when we play schtick, getting tagged on the opponents side has a consequence, involving a sprint)
Idris is talking about shoes, and bashing guys he cut. We miss the Mike O'Dowd bashing.
Alex is talking about why good teams don't go to bad tournaments. A corollary (or obverse, or converse or something) is that, it's really hard to go to good tournaments without a team. Remember the glory years of everyother year club worlds... ah, good ol' summercamp. This will be a topic of it's own.
Dix (who I don't really know, in the sense that i don't remember him camped out over a keg a la the others referenced) started strong w/ some great stories. I think he stopped blogging in 1989, or March, or as soon as Jim gave him a link... It appears he's been removed from Jim's page.
Marshall Goff has a good page, and his own domain. But he seems to have a variety of interests other than frisbee. This is incomprehensible to me.
The Atlanta people have a blog on a variety of frisbee questions. It appears to be printed on parchment paper, so it is classy. They are killing me on hit counts, so they must be doing something right. They did link to the Atlanta message board, which is big.
state of the luke
todays entry are random musings... just got done w/ a 2.5 hour ride, and i'm all endorphined up...
since i'm not playing any serious ultimate these days (the very occasional tourney) but lots of 'swilltimate' here are some observations of swilltimate.
i find it personally very difficult to try in swilltimate. that said, each of the 5 or 6 times i'm playing each week in local pickup/coaching/ whatever, I'll try once or twice... I usually attribute this to niggling little ache or pain... but i've noticed that I niggle and ache a lot more when there is nothing on the line... why?
the hs kids are more fun to play with. their not really that much worse than more experienced players, and their attitude is a lot more refreshing. it's truly fun for them, they have no 'baggage' so fun pickup can actually be fun pickup.
as opposed to 'grown up' swilltimate which often involves 'the guy who keeps running backwards 20 yds to pickup the disc' and thinks he's the greatest handler in the game.
we'll call him 'alex'.
that said, I like throwing the frisbee; so I'll keep playing ______timate, in whatever form it takes.
I'm still on the verge of picking up my very on copy of jim parinella's book, just as I'm on the verge of paying that library fine. But I especially want to know how it addresses 'percentage based offense.'
I.e., I know Jim is a big fan of stats and percentages... I wonder how deep the stats go? For me, the best offense (strategy, and instantaneous decision) is the one that has the best percentage of leading to a goal...
the obvious one, is that if your team completes only 70% of their throws, but you've got one guy who has a decent long huck (call it a 50% throw), it's obviously better to huck it the length of the field.
Now there is a sliding scale too, if there is a decent 70% break mark swing, and a 50% long shot, which should you do? If you turn the swing over, the opponent has wonderful field position, and at least a brief personnel advantage...
another source of irritation is the big dump. I love a good reset, wherever it goes too, but there is some large percentage of players/ teams that lose 10 yards with every dump, w/ no perceptible gain in field position (laterally). Why don't you turn the dump into a very short gainer? Or at least a minimal loss. The classic case of this was the Spokane national Championships. The Stanford Women's zone O was the BIG dump to someone in the middle of the field and 15 yards deep, then on to the far side. By mid game, UCSD was just running straight accross the field to mark the far handler.
There are some obvious problems with this.
And unlike many bad decisions in sport, there is an object lesson here, if outcome counts.
What's my point? Hell if I know... Most of what follows is derivative. I just want to write it in my own words.
A good offense, to start, should,
1) have some simple plan. go towards the goal, don't lose yardage, don't freak out, don't hold onto it. Unless you are Frank, then it's go backwards, be a martyr, every concept that someone not named tex winters came up with is dumb.
1a)gain as much yardage as possible with every pass
2) apply risk/return thought to risk passes... i.e., risky passes for a dump are kind of stupid. a risky huck, or a zone busting hammer that leads to a fast break... perhaps a good idea...
3) Develop a progression of throws for your players to support your strategery. Jim talked about this, I think... And structure drills for this (this is mostly for newer teams, I think... but maybe for all)... I.e., if your progression after a swing is, look huck, then reset it with as little loss as possible, then look huck again (maybe not the most sophisticated offense, but I suspect it's won many a league title)... then set up a drill w/ a thrower marker, a cutter/defender pair in the deep, and a cutter / defender to get it on the high count... I GUESS you could hit the deep guy coming under if the huck is not there, but people always drop that one any way... (just kidding)
4) remind the team that the good players get to do whatever they want, their creativity (foolishness) is what keeps the dumb repetetive stuff open and workable...
5) I think there is a lot to be said for doing a circuit of drills. see Jim's blog... for list of good drills. But do the ones you like, if you like one of the one's he doesn't. Running a practice as a 'camp' with a mini game, a trap game, etc... and move through them can kill time, get touches, etc.
6) deconstruct, personally, with a team mate, or as a team how well you did this. this is where you can use stats... and maybe create stats for what you are trying to do. like 'dumb, difficult break mark dumps' vs. 'risky, panicky hucks'
Hopefully your plan is a little better than that, it's just an example.
7) I'll come back to this one day and edit it into some actual plan for making an offense.
since i'm not playing any serious ultimate these days (the very occasional tourney) but lots of 'swilltimate' here are some observations of swilltimate.
i find it personally very difficult to try in swilltimate. that said, each of the 5 or 6 times i'm playing each week in local pickup/coaching/ whatever, I'll try once or twice... I usually attribute this to niggling little ache or pain... but i've noticed that I niggle and ache a lot more when there is nothing on the line... why?
the hs kids are more fun to play with. their not really that much worse than more experienced players, and their attitude is a lot more refreshing. it's truly fun for them, they have no 'baggage' so fun pickup can actually be fun pickup.
as opposed to 'grown up' swilltimate which often involves 'the guy who keeps running backwards 20 yds to pickup the disc' and thinks he's the greatest handler in the game.
we'll call him 'alex'.
that said, I like throwing the frisbee; so I'll keep playing ______timate, in whatever form it takes.
I'm still on the verge of picking up my very on copy of jim parinella's book, just as I'm on the verge of paying that library fine. But I especially want to know how it addresses 'percentage based offense.'
I.e., I know Jim is a big fan of stats and percentages... I wonder how deep the stats go? For me, the best offense (strategy, and instantaneous decision) is the one that has the best percentage of leading to a goal...
the obvious one, is that if your team completes only 70% of their throws, but you've got one guy who has a decent long huck (call it a 50% throw), it's obviously better to huck it the length of the field.
Now there is a sliding scale too, if there is a decent 70% break mark swing, and a 50% long shot, which should you do? If you turn the swing over, the opponent has wonderful field position, and at least a brief personnel advantage...
another source of irritation is the big dump. I love a good reset, wherever it goes too, but there is some large percentage of players/ teams that lose 10 yards with every dump, w/ no perceptible gain in field position (laterally). Why don't you turn the dump into a very short gainer? Or at least a minimal loss. The classic case of this was the Spokane national Championships. The Stanford Women's zone O was the BIG dump to someone in the middle of the field and 15 yards deep, then on to the far side. By mid game, UCSD was just running straight accross the field to mark the far handler.
There are some obvious problems with this.
And unlike many bad decisions in sport, there is an object lesson here, if outcome counts.
What's my point? Hell if I know... Most of what follows is derivative. I just want to write it in my own words.
A good offense, to start, should,
1) have some simple plan. go towards the goal, don't lose yardage, don't freak out, don't hold onto it. Unless you are Frank, then it's go backwards, be a martyr, every concept that someone not named tex winters came up with is dumb.
1a)gain as much yardage as possible with every pass
2) apply risk/return thought to risk passes... i.e., risky passes for a dump are kind of stupid. a risky huck, or a zone busting hammer that leads to a fast break... perhaps a good idea...
3) Develop a progression of throws for your players to support your strategery. Jim talked about this, I think... And structure drills for this (this is mostly for newer teams, I think... but maybe for all)... I.e., if your progression after a swing is, look huck, then reset it with as little loss as possible, then look huck again (maybe not the most sophisticated offense, but I suspect it's won many a league title)... then set up a drill w/ a thrower marker, a cutter/defender pair in the deep, and a cutter / defender to get it on the high count... I GUESS you could hit the deep guy coming under if the huck is not there, but people always drop that one any way... (just kidding)
4) remind the team that the good players get to do whatever they want, their creativity (foolishness) is what keeps the dumb repetetive stuff open and workable...
5) I think there is a lot to be said for doing a circuit of drills. see Jim's blog... for list of good drills. But do the ones you like, if you like one of the one's he doesn't. Running a practice as a 'camp' with a mini game, a trap game, etc... and move through them can kill time, get touches, etc.
6) deconstruct, personally, with a team mate, or as a team how well you did this. this is where you can use stats... and maybe create stats for what you are trying to do. like 'dumb, difficult break mark dumps' vs. 'risky, panicky hucks'
Hopefully your plan is a little better than that, it's just an example.
7) I'll come back to this one day and edit it into some actual plan for making an offense.
Monday, July 11, 2005
losers perspective
a new post...
well... jim and alex are posting like mad men.
but I have some thoughts.
recently, I played 2 tournaments, and was sucessful, as an individual. not, as the title indicates, as a team.
and here is what I think.
Based on the philosophy of jim, I
1) took what was there
In a tie game w/ portland, my mark turned his head twice. The first time, I suddenly realized an advantage. I'd like to think that if I were 'on my game' I would have immediately struck... but I recognized an advantage... and the 2nd time... I caught a goal.
Lesson... You can be 'first step fast' if you wait for your defender to look aside.
Lesson... if mom had raised me faster... dammit mom.
2) moved them
I would wait for the play to set up. This is a problem if you are away from the disc. Sometimes your 'handlers' are helpfully closing off all lanes. To make it happen... move around. Vertically. So I would go upfield, by a step, jab, feint, etc. All the while... seeing the disc. And often, the opponent would look askance, and at the same time the space would be there. Big gainer.
Some times, the space and timing was there, but the thrower was not...
don't panic. move to another spot.
go eat faster food.
3) do what you have to do.
sometimes, it comes down to a catch... a diving continuation.
make the play.
It seems that a key to winning the game is to make 'jordanesque' plays ... and no, jordan, i'm not talking about you... unless that was your role...
just don't have to make them often.
unless you are jordan...
of course, in addition to being a supremely gifted athlete, he also had a sweet jumper that made defenders have to come out on him... leading to posters.
so can it be argued that the less often you have to make plays, the more you win.
pointless ramble over.
well... jim and alex are posting like mad men.
but I have some thoughts.
recently, I played 2 tournaments, and was sucessful, as an individual. not, as the title indicates, as a team.
and here is what I think.
Based on the philosophy of jim, I
1) took what was there
In a tie game w/ portland, my mark turned his head twice. The first time, I suddenly realized an advantage. I'd like to think that if I were 'on my game' I would have immediately struck... but I recognized an advantage... and the 2nd time... I caught a goal.
Lesson... You can be 'first step fast' if you wait for your defender to look aside.
Lesson... if mom had raised me faster... dammit mom.
2) moved them
I would wait for the play to set up. This is a problem if you are away from the disc. Sometimes your 'handlers' are helpfully closing off all lanes. To make it happen... move around. Vertically. So I would go upfield, by a step, jab, feint, etc. All the while... seeing the disc. And often, the opponent would look askance, and at the same time the space would be there. Big gainer.
Some times, the space and timing was there, but the thrower was not...
don't panic. move to another spot.
go eat faster food.
3) do what you have to do.
sometimes, it comes down to a catch... a diving continuation.
make the play.
It seems that a key to winning the game is to make 'jordanesque' plays ... and no, jordan, i'm not talking about you... unless that was your role...
just don't have to make them often.
unless you are jordan...
of course, in addition to being a supremely gifted athlete, he also had a sweet jumper that made defenders have to come out on him... leading to posters.
so can it be argued that the less often you have to make plays, the more you win.
pointless ramble over.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
here's the rsd post for potlatch.
in what is likely to ruin Idris' day, here is the content from rsd repotlatch...
just so I can have a copy for editing later...
day 1) roadtrip to redmond. a caravan of three cars, one w/ a baby. a gazillion stops are made. arrive in redmond, jump out of car, as will and joanne pull in literally behind them. off to seattle.
day 2) discover that we have a 2 game bye. very happy. most of the team gets the memo, but not blaine. but we TELL him we're at the fields... and entertain ourselves when he calls by yelling out in the back ground... throw me that frisbee... etc. Pretend that the kid is there by yelling 'bwah WAH wah blah wah wah' in the background. If you know kid, you can imagine that it would be very possible to convince someone that that was kid yelling in the background. Arrive at fields, learn that blaine DID in fact believe that kid was in washington, and at fields. And had been telling every member of the team he could find that kid's here.
Success.
Bandwagon, wearing yellow jerseys and cycling shorts (for the most part) goes 3-0 on day one. We watched the 2nd half of USA vs. Candada after chilling out for an hour after our last game. It was a good game. The weather had been misty, so a bunch of us went back into the city for sleeping.
Annecdote of day: Apparently, someone from SanDiego got so drunk that they couldn't find their tent. Also, they couldn't keep the contents of their stomach where they belong... so, at 5:00 a.m. the rough equivalent of a small bear was alternately vomiting near, on, and in a variety of other people's tents. Then, the guy would claw his way into a tent, and pass out. Leading to people yelling, "GET OUT! GET THE FUCK OUT! THIS IS NOT FUNNY, ASSHOLE! GET OUT" Apparently this went on for some time.
This type of thing is why I generally prefer to lame out, and return to the city.
Day 3) In a dramatic contrast from day 2 (which was day 1 of play), we found out that we had to play at 9, not 9:30 against the Brownish/Padaeiaish team. It ended up being 9:30 any way. And it was not against them. We had them in round 5. Highlights, down 7-5 vs. some team, we went on a 10-2 run.
We then played booty rumpin snoopy w/ Hector and Kyle, and Misha, and SRV and a few other players I didn't know as well... Nip and tuck until 10-10, and then we won 15-10.
The Bus ride to the Party. Apparently, 85% of the Bus thinks I'm an asshole. 10% thought I was a good guy. 3% undecided. 2% margin of error. I know this because I took a vote. I'd like to point out the high degree of voter participation/ candidate recognition.
We had to serve food for the tournament, which involved breaking in line, since we were late getting there. I'd like to think that those who voted 'asshole' were perhaps chagrinned when it came time to have the server decide how much salmon to dish out.
Then at some point someone pulled the fire alarm. Since I work in a school, I have a pretty good idea of what a modern annunciator sounds like, in contrast to the old 'school bell' type alarms. I can only hope that idiots who pull said alarms are legitimately ignorant of the pain of a ginormous shrieking decibel count... aside from the tremendous inconvenience of what it takes to turn the things off (like firefighters, and shit).
There seemed to be some people still partying at the fields. I was pretty wiped out, so I went to sleep. However, my sleeping bag was this thin, THIN sleeping bag liner, so I spent several fitful hours freezing my ass off/ alternating w/ massive muscle cramps.
Day 4) Sunday dawns. Ate a large breakfast. Played Humbolt early. Turned out to be a little easier than I thought it would be: they can put together some good games. I think the 3 day tournament hurts things. I pulled up lame w/ some kind of groin cramp. I'm thinking now that it was actually that I dislocated my pubic symphisis. Yes, this is real. We won the first game, though, and then lost to Sleveless in Seattle (like a So-cal-ish) team by 3.
Left in the middle of the semis, w/ USA down 11-10 to vagabonds, Canada crushing Sleveless. Stayed awake long enough to choke down 2 whoppers, and a jr. whopper, and some onion rings, and then slept for the next 250 miles.
Day 5) Technically trip over, but woke up at 8 to go get the highschool XC kids started playing frisbee, so I got few throws in. Walked home went to sleep for 4 hours.
Hip cracked, so I think the groin pull is cured.
40 seconds to my library time ends.
the end.
nothing original to add...
groin is healing nicely, coreworkout and 5 mile run this morning. found 10 bucks on the ground. muscle spasm in leg, unrelated. might be time to put veggies on the menu...
maybe an easy road ride today...
or just read a book...
haven't eaten. I think I'm going to go convert that cash into mexican food from the super burrito.
just so I can have a copy for editing later...
day 1) roadtrip to redmond. a caravan of three cars, one w/ a baby. a gazillion stops are made. arrive in redmond, jump out of car, as will and joanne pull in literally behind them. off to seattle.
day 2) discover that we have a 2 game bye. very happy. most of the team gets the memo, but not blaine. but we TELL him we're at the fields... and entertain ourselves when he calls by yelling out in the back ground... throw me that frisbee... etc. Pretend that the kid is there by yelling 'bwah WAH wah blah wah wah' in the background. If you know kid, you can imagine that it would be very possible to convince someone that that was kid yelling in the background. Arrive at fields, learn that blaine DID in fact believe that kid was in washington, and at fields. And had been telling every member of the team he could find that kid's here.
Success.
Bandwagon, wearing yellow jerseys and cycling shorts (for the most part) goes 3-0 on day one. We watched the 2nd half of USA vs. Candada after chilling out for an hour after our last game. It was a good game. The weather had been misty, so a bunch of us went back into the city for sleeping.
Annecdote of day: Apparently, someone from SanDiego got so drunk that they couldn't find their tent. Also, they couldn't keep the contents of their stomach where they belong... so, at 5:00 a.m. the rough equivalent of a small bear was alternately vomiting near, on, and in a variety of other people's tents. Then, the guy would claw his way into a tent, and pass out. Leading to people yelling, "GET OUT! GET THE FUCK OUT! THIS IS NOT FUNNY, ASSHOLE! GET OUT" Apparently this went on for some time.
This type of thing is why I generally prefer to lame out, and return to the city.
Day 3) In a dramatic contrast from day 2 (which was day 1 of play), we found out that we had to play at 9, not 9:30 against the Brownish/Padaeiaish team. It ended up being 9:30 any way. And it was not against them. We had them in round 5. Highlights, down 7-5 vs. some team, we went on a 10-2 run.
We then played booty rumpin snoopy w/ Hector and Kyle, and Misha, and SRV and a few other players I didn't know as well... Nip and tuck until 10-10, and then we won 15-10.
The Bus ride to the Party. Apparently, 85% of the Bus thinks I'm an asshole. 10% thought I was a good guy. 3% undecided. 2% margin of error. I know this because I took a vote. I'd like to point out the high degree of voter participation/ candidate recognition.
We had to serve food for the tournament, which involved breaking in line, since we were late getting there. I'd like to think that those who voted 'asshole' were perhaps chagrinned when it came time to have the server decide how much salmon to dish out.
Then at some point someone pulled the fire alarm. Since I work in a school, I have a pretty good idea of what a modern annunciator sounds like, in contrast to the old 'school bell' type alarms. I can only hope that idiots who pull said alarms are legitimately ignorant of the pain of a ginormous shrieking decibel count... aside from the tremendous inconvenience of what it takes to turn the things off (like firefighters, and shit).
There seemed to be some people still partying at the fields. I was pretty wiped out, so I went to sleep. However, my sleeping bag was this thin, THIN sleeping bag liner, so I spent several fitful hours freezing my ass off/ alternating w/ massive muscle cramps.
Day 4) Sunday dawns. Ate a large breakfast. Played Humbolt early. Turned out to be a little easier than I thought it would be: they can put together some good games. I think the 3 day tournament hurts things. I pulled up lame w/ some kind of groin cramp. I'm thinking now that it was actually that I dislocated my pubic symphisis. Yes, this is real. We won the first game, though, and then lost to Sleveless in Seattle (like a So-cal-ish) team by 3.
Left in the middle of the semis, w/ USA down 11-10 to vagabonds, Canada crushing Sleveless. Stayed awake long enough to choke down 2 whoppers, and a jr. whopper, and some onion rings, and then slept for the next 250 miles.
Day 5) Technically trip over, but woke up at 8 to go get the highschool XC kids started playing frisbee, so I got few throws in. Walked home went to sleep for 4 hours.
Hip cracked, so I think the groin pull is cured.
40 seconds to my library time ends.
the end.
nothing original to add...
groin is healing nicely, coreworkout and 5 mile run this morning. found 10 bucks on the ground. muscle spasm in leg, unrelated. might be time to put veggies on the menu...
maybe an easy road ride today...
or just read a book...
haven't eaten. I think I'm going to go convert that cash into mexican food from the super burrito.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
potlatch... 1
nice luck tonight. my ride turned into a caravan... which means, a stop anytime anyone in 3 cars has too pee. a 5 hour drive turned into a 7 hour drive. but...
the nice thing was, as my ride to seattle dropped me off... my seattle connection literally pulled into the pancake house parking lot in redmond... right behind them.
well there were a few cell phone calls involved. but the nice thing was, my ride from bend was 1 mile from their hotel, and my ride into town was coming off a sucessful thrift venture that netted appropriate lance armstrong style bike jerseys for our team...
bandwagon 05. we are lance.
although, we probably should be ullrich.
the nice thing was, as my ride to seattle dropped me off... my seattle connection literally pulled into the pancake house parking lot in redmond... right behind them.
well there were a few cell phone calls involved. but the nice thing was, my ride from bend was 1 mile from their hotel, and my ride into town was coming off a sucessful thrift venture that netted appropriate lance armstrong style bike jerseys for our team...
bandwagon 05. we are lance.
although, we probably should be ullrich.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
upcoming content
Stories deserving of being told.
Doing nothing. All day long, and all day strong. How I eat, sleep, sleep, and eat, and turn a 24 hour day into the blink of an eye.
My favorite foods. Eggs. Beans. MacandCheese. Mix and Match.
Preferred Content Stories: For subscribers only.
Never Been Convicted!!!
The time I saved a prominent blogger from, at the very least, having a fake mustache drawn on his face. And at worst, some kind of hoffa-esque fate.
Probably, the really interesting stuff will have to wait another year.
when I get my tenure.
In other news, recently read,
The Long Emergency dealing w/ oil issues... Yesterday I read Book One of the Tripods series, The White Mountains, took a good hour or so, but I like escapist fiction...
More to follow.
Doing nothing. All day long, and all day strong. How I eat, sleep, sleep, and eat, and turn a 24 hour day into the blink of an eye.
My favorite foods. Eggs. Beans. MacandCheese. Mix and Match.
Preferred Content Stories: For subscribers only.
Never Been Convicted!!!
The time I saved a prominent blogger from, at the very least, having a fake mustache drawn on his face. And at worst, some kind of hoffa-esque fate.
Probably, the really interesting stuff will have to wait another year.
when I get my tenure.
In other news, recently read,
The Long Emergency dealing w/ oil issues... Yesterday I read Book One of the Tripods series, The White Mountains, took a good hour or so, but I like escapist fiction...
More to follow.
Monday, June 27, 2005
photo album of BUCL League championships
I might provide the dry play by play of the one game 4 day tournament tommorrow... but for now, here are some photos...
general stats
11-3, 11-8, 11-9, 13-9. Played 63/75 points, which is a whole lot for me. Frankly I don't like it, I can't keep running anywhere near what constitutes fast at that point... butwhatever...
The pictures: right now they are on a website. soon i'll put them on flickr or something (i'm open to suggestions for that type of scrapbook utillity).
We were 9-1 going into the tournament. Missing a lot of my team for various reasons (family, wedding, flakiness), the TD let me pick up 3 high school players (only one of whom had been to a tournament, the others brand new). The team also had 2 just graduated dudes who had played for a year. So our ages ranged were like, 16, 16, 17, 17, 18, 18, 25, 30, 30, 32, 35, 36. In the finals, we played a team w/ approx 75 years of exp between their top 4 players...
Our plan, bring the game down to our level. And win it in the end. And we did, before a very hostile crowd... winning for the 2nd time in 2 years...
Love that trophy.
anyway, my photo essay, photos curtesy of Bill Benson, father of Ben Benson, BUCL Rookie of Year.
Here I am, just having thought about letting someone else pull.
"Mom, MOM! Could you put the food over THERE"
"Brett, karate chop, NOW"
flick, FORCE FLICK, hey, where did my guy go...
dance party usa
i think this is going to be a swing pass. or maybe just a poopy face.
hamma, hamma, hamma, hamma
one of our hs kids, applying the force forehand. hasn't learned to cheat yet.
it's a trick brian, they are on the other teammmm.....
I literally picked this guy because his name was mike TEAM. Good call.
Fine. We'll play with 6.
Gooder! More Honester! Harder! Marker!
Franchise player / athletic trainer and his bizarre contract requests...
Annie holding the mark...
Maura using hypno-glasses.
general stats
11-3, 11-8, 11-9, 13-9. Played 63/75 points, which is a whole lot for me. Frankly I don't like it, I can't keep running anywhere near what constitutes fast at that point... butwhatever...
The pictures: right now they are on a website. soon i'll put them on flickr or something (i'm open to suggestions for that type of scrapbook utillity).
We were 9-1 going into the tournament. Missing a lot of my team for various reasons (family, wedding, flakiness), the TD let me pick up 3 high school players (only one of whom had been to a tournament, the others brand new). The team also had 2 just graduated dudes who had played for a year. So our ages ranged were like, 16, 16, 17, 17, 18, 18, 25, 30, 30, 32, 35, 36. In the finals, we played a team w/ approx 75 years of exp between their top 4 players...
Our plan, bring the game down to our level. And win it in the end. And we did, before a very hostile crowd... winning for the 2nd time in 2 years...
Love that trophy.
anyway, my photo essay, photos curtesy of Bill Benson, father of Ben Benson, BUCL Rookie of Year.
Here I am, just having thought about letting someone else pull.
"Mom, MOM! Could you put the food over THERE"
"Brett, karate chop, NOW"
flick, FORCE FLICK, hey, where did my guy go...
dance party usa
i think this is going to be a swing pass. or maybe just a poopy face.
hamma, hamma, hamma, hamma
one of our hs kids, applying the force forehand. hasn't learned to cheat yet.
it's a trick brian, they are on the other teammmm.....
I literally picked this guy because his name was mike TEAM. Good call.
Fine. We'll play with 6.
Gooder! More Honester! Harder! Marker!
Franchise player / athletic trainer and his bizarre contract requests...
Annie holding the mark...
Maura using hypno-glasses.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
sweeps week?
according to Jim, it's sweeps week. And I'm looking for ways to drive hit count. Jim is killing me, but my daily counts have surpassed Alex, probably do to his visit to the way south. Jim's use of the 'read more' has driven up readership, but that exceeds my current levels of energy (or desire or ability to wade through html and figure out how to do it)...
i'd considered linking to some internet gambling or some other adult entertainment... but only the 'classy' stuff. Like the classy beautiful ladies of baccarat. Is that URL taken.
I'm training like a madman, and I feel like my calves are about to pop... a nap is clearly in order.
And my hour of library time is about to go off...
I guess I'll just have a kid write a script to view my site.
i'd considered linking to some internet gambling or some other adult entertainment... but only the 'classy' stuff. Like the classy beautiful ladies of baccarat. Is that URL taken.
I'm training like a madman, and I feel like my calves are about to pop... a nap is clearly in order.
And my hour of library time is about to go off...
I guess I'll just have a kid write a script to view my site.
Monday, June 13, 2005
daily blah-g
beauty of summer off for me: constant posting. for you: constant crap. I presume that the frequency of my posts will inversely correspond to the quality. I.e., when you have all day to go deposit a check, or spend 3 hours to go buy a single serv of yogurt... well imagine the posibillity of increased drivel...
i've decided on this bike pedal. this morning, went for a 5 mile run, and tidied up a bit. not much. This afternoon, back up to Phil's trail for a little ride...
current weather, 66 degrees, pc.
i've decided on this bike pedal. this morning, went for a 5 mile run, and tidied up a bit. not much. This afternoon, back up to Phil's trail for a little ride...
current weather, 66 degrees, pc.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
summertime -- day 1.
first moutain bike ride of '05. Hand seems to be fine, albeit a little achy... 9 mile loop, plus the 4 mile ride up... so 16 or so total. I'm thinking i'm going to head over to webcyclery and pick up my first pair of clipless pedals... so expect my next entry to be something like... so anywhere there i was, tooling around town when BLAMO, a light turned yellow, i slowed down, and was unable to clip-out. So make a long story short...
Hopefully not. I'll practice a little.
Outstanding game of mini on Friday evening... 6 kids, 4 adults, so a good opportunity to get a little sprint on... w/o getting too much sprint on... now the XC kids are demanding morning runs, alternating w/ morning ultimate, plus the normal evening clubbish stuff... i'm going to be in the best shape of my career for... sunday b-pool at regionals... yee haw.
'coaching thought.' This summer, since I have a bunch of '2 year' players, plus I'm getting some help from a couple good players w/ club experience, the new players are getting the chance to learn w/o being forced to throw lots of turnovers. They can start their careers as goal scorers and defenders, which allows them to remain confident, and contribute.
we also spend time playing short field games that give them LOTS of touch opportunities, hotbox, etc... but it seems to boost their funocity when they can catch goals, rip around the field, etc... instead of constantly being trapped on the forehand side...
recent reads...
Riley, Ace of Spies... marginally interesting history of an influence of Flemings Bond... and a bunch of kids Essays on Vietnam.
Hopefully not. I'll practice a little.
Outstanding game of mini on Friday evening... 6 kids, 4 adults, so a good opportunity to get a little sprint on... w/o getting too much sprint on... now the XC kids are demanding morning runs, alternating w/ morning ultimate, plus the normal evening clubbish stuff... i'm going to be in the best shape of my career for... sunday b-pool at regionals... yee haw.
'coaching thought.' This summer, since I have a bunch of '2 year' players, plus I'm getting some help from a couple good players w/ club experience, the new players are getting the chance to learn w/o being forced to throw lots of turnovers. They can start their careers as goal scorers and defenders, which allows them to remain confident, and contribute.
we also spend time playing short field games that give them LOTS of touch opportunities, hotbox, etc... but it seems to boost their funocity when they can catch goals, rip around the field, etc... instead of constantly being trapped on the forehand side...
recent reads...
Riley, Ace of Spies... marginally interesting history of an influence of Flemings Bond... and a bunch of kids Essays on Vietnam.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
feeling peppy.
the darthside.blogspot.com is a very funny mock blog by darth vader. I recommend 'Christmas on Hoth' (the entry, not the vacation paradise). If you proclaim to not be a nerd, please forgive. If you are reading 'Luke Smith's Blog, and think you are not a nerd, perhaps a series of intensive counseling is in order.
Today, feeling peppy. The last day w/ kids of my first year as a teacher. 35 years young, w/ a bright future behind me, I'm ready for the rest of my life. At least I'm in bend.
Some thoughts. Vaguely inspired by today's events, and other blogs.
1) It's not the kids. It's the parents. Kids don't buy kids xboxes (xboxi?), allow themselves wild freedom with no responsibillity, etc, park infants in front of a tv... etc.
2) No one reads anymore. I tell them I read a book this weekend, they look at me like I'm daft.
3) Teaching is a great job. Pay sucks. Eh. I get paid in 'your mom' jokes.
4) Video has ruined their brains. I've shown a total of about 120 minutes of video over the year. But the effect is amazing. They go completely inert. Also, somewhere along the line, they were taught, if there is paper in front of me, it means shut the hell up (i.e., stupid, numbing worksheets). But if anyone is talking EVERYONE can talk. That means, that trying to hold meaningful relevant opinionated discussions with 40 15 year olds (in a group where the top 20% are in a special place) is occasionally maddening.
Rest of the day, I think I'm going to go buy a board game. Just for grins. I have delusions of creating relevant, engaging gaming simulations as learning tools. Also, time for new cleats. The Speed TD's have blown out, and I'm not sure that I can get anything like that here. Rats. I do have a pair of those Vapor soccer cleats somewhere...
The Cruel Shoes. Light. Grabby. Made to extract information...
Beyond that the summer of my content (I hope).
Mornings, 3x per week, run w/ the summit XC team... Coach frisbee a couple days/week, pick-up a couple days / week... hopefully my slowly healing hand will let me mt. bike, and maybe do some paddling...
A couple seminars (literacy, and teaching AP Government)... beyond that...
slept til' 7:30. cup of coffee and a slice of toast. went for run. big breakfast, smoothie, more coffee. napped a bit.
then I puttered about the house/paddled/ rode a bit/ slept/read/ went to library.
playing a little frisbee this evening.
repeat.
Today, feeling peppy. The last day w/ kids of my first year as a teacher. 35 years young, w/ a bright future behind me, I'm ready for the rest of my life. At least I'm in bend.
Some thoughts. Vaguely inspired by today's events, and other blogs.
1) It's not the kids. It's the parents. Kids don't buy kids xboxes (xboxi?), allow themselves wild freedom with no responsibillity, etc, park infants in front of a tv... etc.
2) No one reads anymore. I tell them I read a book this weekend, they look at me like I'm daft.
3) Teaching is a great job. Pay sucks. Eh. I get paid in 'your mom' jokes.
4) Video has ruined their brains. I've shown a total of about 120 minutes of video over the year. But the effect is amazing. They go completely inert. Also, somewhere along the line, they were taught, if there is paper in front of me, it means shut the hell up (i.e., stupid, numbing worksheets). But if anyone is talking EVERYONE can talk. That means, that trying to hold meaningful relevant opinionated discussions with 40 15 year olds (in a group where the top 20% are in a special place) is occasionally maddening.
Rest of the day, I think I'm going to go buy a board game. Just for grins. I have delusions of creating relevant, engaging gaming simulations as learning tools. Also, time for new cleats. The Speed TD's have blown out, and I'm not sure that I can get anything like that here. Rats. I do have a pair of those Vapor soccer cleats somewhere...
The Cruel Shoes. Light. Grabby. Made to extract information...
Beyond that the summer of my content (I hope).
Mornings, 3x per week, run w/ the summit XC team... Coach frisbee a couple days/week, pick-up a couple days / week... hopefully my slowly healing hand will let me mt. bike, and maybe do some paddling...
A couple seminars (literacy, and teaching AP Government)... beyond that...
slept til' 7:30. cup of coffee and a slice of toast. went for run. big breakfast, smoothie, more coffee. napped a bit.
then I puttered about the house/paddled/ rode a bit/ slept/read/ went to library.
playing a little frisbee this evening.
repeat.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
state of new instruction
thesis, antithesis, synthesis. led to the rise and fall of communism. but whatever the way self reflection works, the past few weeks have led to a lot of thinking about stuff...
a new crop of summer kids are coming out, and so i get to apply a whole new bag of tricks. this year i'm exclusively using a cross between crazy franks z-boys iconoclasticity, and bobby knight chair throwing.
just kidding. i've definitely found a lot more value in the bloggery('paranelloh', idris (who's output seems to have dropped off dramatically since purchasing a 55" TV), and goff. Alex kind of blew up w/ a weeklong tirade about coed... then drifted into maudlin musings about the wonder years and lambada...) than R.S.D. (ex: coedSter@gmail...i get in shape for frisbee by doing 20 deep kneebends really fast, then running 4 by 1 mile sprints. i also have a ripped meniscus that limits my range of motion to 30 degrees, and causes excruciating pain when... well, all the time... should I play more than the 6 days a week I play at work? (I'll throw in some links to R.S.D. posts that actually say stuff like this. very humorous)).
from reading the blogs, and given the opportunity to start w/ fresh produce, i've added some new thoughts. the hammer is not a vertical flick, but teaching blades right away (good suggestion idris) does improve flick (the concept of follow through comes more naturally on the blade); having them throw under my arm to learn extension also provides more meaning, and skips a step... these have helped a couple kids make rapid strides... it is more difficult for me to initially teach extended flicks.
also, teaching them to throw blades right away has the advantage of making the hotbox games MUCH more competetive
on how to cut, or clear, or mark...
general: if you are teaching one new player, have them cover an experienced player. if they are a fundamental athlete (which mainly means kinetic learning style), and they chase, are marked by, mark, etc... good players, they will learn good habits. then in conversation, especially while watching a point or two, you may get the opportunity to observe a good player, and relate it to things that the new player has done (much more valuable to say, do you see that, that cut i made when you covered me, see how it works, the timing... less valuable to say, see that, don't do that). I believe surgery has the maxim, see one, do one, teach one... in sports its maybe see one, do one, see one, do one... or something like that...
specific: marking... w/ new players, i usually mix up a no arm marking drill w/ an 'armed' marking drill. seems to work. but the players who got better fastest are the ones I marked, so they got used to a 'style' that is more effective by mimicry, rather than creating their style in an adhoc manner.
cutting: again. if you want your newest player to learn how to cut, put them on your best player. if you have the inclination, do it at a tournament (fast tracking). for REALLY new players, having the brand new kid cover the other brand new kid only serves to create unusual portions of space. or lack there of.
clearing. take the time to say, hey sparky (try that one Jim, instead of dude, or new guy), give me an honest effort on 'd', and I'm going to try to 1) keep you far from the disc, 2) keep you from ever seeing (with their eyes) the disc, and 3) create tons of space for my team mates 4) punish you severely if you leave me, or look away from me. Then make an effort to do it, honestly. Then deconstruct (preferably w/ video) soon after...
the challenges. fast tracking still requires field time. W/o any other considerations, or any real effort to develop specialized coaching plans for each kid, the kids that came to practice the most made the most improvement, relative to themselves (i don't know how to quantify that)...
that's all for now.
a new crop of summer kids are coming out, and so i get to apply a whole new bag of tricks. this year i'm exclusively using a cross between crazy franks z-boys iconoclasticity, and bobby knight chair throwing.
just kidding. i've definitely found a lot more value in the bloggery('paranelloh', idris (who's output seems to have dropped off dramatically since purchasing a 55" TV), and goff. Alex kind of blew up w/ a weeklong tirade about coed... then drifted into maudlin musings about the wonder years and lambada...) than R.S.D. (ex: coedSter@gmail...i get in shape for frisbee by doing 20 deep kneebends really fast, then running 4 by 1 mile sprints. i also have a ripped meniscus that limits my range of motion to 30 degrees, and causes excruciating pain when... well, all the time... should I play more than the 6 days a week I play at work? (I'll throw in some links to R.S.D. posts that actually say stuff like this. very humorous)).
from reading the blogs, and given the opportunity to start w/ fresh produce, i've added some new thoughts. the hammer is not a vertical flick, but teaching blades right away (good suggestion idris) does improve flick (the concept of follow through comes more naturally on the blade); having them throw under my arm to learn extension also provides more meaning, and skips a step... these have helped a couple kids make rapid strides... it is more difficult for me to initially teach extended flicks.
also, teaching them to throw blades right away has the advantage of making the hotbox games MUCH more competetive
on how to cut, or clear, or mark...
general: if you are teaching one new player, have them cover an experienced player. if they are a fundamental athlete (which mainly means kinetic learning style), and they chase, are marked by, mark, etc... good players, they will learn good habits. then in conversation, especially while watching a point or two, you may get the opportunity to observe a good player, and relate it to things that the new player has done (much more valuable to say, do you see that, that cut i made when you covered me, see how it works, the timing... less valuable to say, see that, don't do that). I believe surgery has the maxim, see one, do one, teach one... in sports its maybe see one, do one, see one, do one... or something like that...
specific: marking... w/ new players, i usually mix up a no arm marking drill w/ an 'armed' marking drill. seems to work. but the players who got better fastest are the ones I marked, so they got used to a 'style' that is more effective by mimicry, rather than creating their style in an adhoc manner.
cutting: again. if you want your newest player to learn how to cut, put them on your best player. if you have the inclination, do it at a tournament (fast tracking). for REALLY new players, having the brand new kid cover the other brand new kid only serves to create unusual portions of space. or lack there of.
clearing. take the time to say, hey sparky (try that one Jim, instead of dude, or new guy), give me an honest effort on 'd', and I'm going to try to 1) keep you far from the disc, 2) keep you from ever seeing (with their eyes) the disc, and 3) create tons of space for my team mates 4) punish you severely if you leave me, or look away from me. Then make an effort to do it, honestly. Then deconstruct (preferably w/ video) soon after...
the challenges. fast tracking still requires field time. W/o any other considerations, or any real effort to develop specialized coaching plans for each kid, the kids that came to practice the most made the most improvement, relative to themselves (i don't know how to quantify that)...
that's all for now.
Friday, June 03, 2005
league night 7-0
Team ASAP defeats Orange Colored Shirts 13-5 to push our record to 7 and 0, alone atop the leader board. 1 word. Strategery. I was concerned that we would let the game slip away, and I urged the team to greatness when it was 5-2. It turned out it was actually 6-1.
Warm-up. Them: Drills, chalk talk. Us, people kindof threw and ran. I set up the 4 fields, and marked them with paint so that we wouldn't have to pace them off again. They are perfect, of course.
The day: Mid -60's. Sunny. Steady wind of 20+ mph (est). Strategery: We won the flip, took wind. one pass downwind, turnover. Several turnovers later, we score. 1-0. They receive, turf a swing pass, one pass later, 2-0, up a break. Strategery.
We will be losing 4 good players for the tournament. It may or may not matter.
Warm-up. Them: Drills, chalk talk. Us, people kindof threw and ran. I set up the 4 fields, and marked them with paint so that we wouldn't have to pace them off again. They are perfect, of course.
The day: Mid -60's. Sunny. Steady wind of 20+ mph (est). Strategery: We won the flip, took wind. one pass downwind, turnover. Several turnovers later, we score. 1-0. They receive, turf a swing pass, one pass later, 2-0, up a break. Strategery.
We will be losing 4 good players for the tournament. It may or may not matter.
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