Kickball Korner

...It Was Kind of Like Cedar Point

2010-06-15T19:31:00.004-04:00

Just for future reference for all members of the Bayside Tigers, the games usually start at 6:30, we have 2 games that start at 8:00pm this year, next week being one of them, but start time: 6:30 remember that. Tim showed up at the start of the 2nd inning somewhere around 6:39, but unfortunately he wasn't the only one that showed up late. The rest of the team was very punctual, meaning everyone was there dressed to play, everyone had beer in their hand, we paid the ump, took the field... everything seemed pretty normal. The only problem was, we didn't really "show up" in the first game.

Games one and two of the season we were flying high, game 3 was about as low as it gets, then game 4 was like eating dessert before dinner. So far if the young season was a Excel Spreadsheet it would look like the graph below.

If the young season was an acting career it would be John Travolta right after Pulp Fiction. If the season was a band it would be Aerosmith right after "Walk this Way" with RUN DMC came out. If it was an episode of Saved by the Bell it would be the one where Slater had to retake his history test before he could play in the big game against Valley. If it was an roller coaster it would be one that went up and down a lot and played with your emotions a lot.

The first game was an absolute disaster. We were down 9-0 before I knew it. I don't even remember the final score, all I know is it was over after 5 innings which is only good if you win. I think it was 15 to 5, it could have been more than 15. No one could catch anything, and to top it all off Lisa blew out her quad in her first at kick and is going to be in a lot of pain for a few days. Poor little Lass, it was only her second week. I always feel like a jerk after someone gets hurt, because for some reason whenever the person come up lame, I always think they quit on the play and I yell. So to say the least the first game sucked.

Then the second game started and our defense showed up. They ended up having a strong 7th inning tying it up at 4 to end the regulation. We only play one inning of extra innings and if its still a tie it ends as a Sister-Kisser. So we had to make the 8th inning count, and we did. Got two runs in and got them out pretty quick in the 8th to win the game. It was a big win after getting just crushed in the first game.

Notes: That same field is where Sarah slipped 3 disks in her back about 4 years ago. Our +/- ratio is -3 right now. As we all know the +/- ratio is the best thing we have to predict future wins. Right now our winning percentage is .750, so we are going to have to turn up the offense.

Monday...Funday?

2010-06-08T21:32:00.002-04:00

This morning while lying in the dentist chair staring up at a man wearing a mask drilling into my face, as tiny bits of my tooth went flying out of my mouth and landed on the paper bib they strapped around my neck with a telephone cord and two roach clips, I had one thought: “I bet this is just how the Absolute Ballers felt as we ran them up and down the Kickball Field last night. They must have had that same dull aching pain of defeat in their mouth.

It was a good start to the 2010 season, we won both games, but more important we had some nice young blood join the group. In my humble opinion the perfect Kickball team is made up of diehard, battle tested, highly skilled, and knowledgeable veterans, mixed in with some blood thirsty, ravenous, put on this Earth to play Kickball rookies. And that my friends, is just what we had last night.

I’ve been playing for a few years now, and it always amazes me how excited I can get before a game, especially opening day. Once again the games was a great time, the competitive juices where flowing, mixed in with a few good laughs. The line of the night had to of come from a new member on the team Liz. As we took the field for the second inning Liz, who was in right field, said to our first baseman Tim “Why isn’t the other team out on the field too?”. While Liz might not yet grasp all the rules, or subtle nuances of Kickball yet, she along with the other three new team members, Aaron, Kelsey, and Lisa learned a lot last night, a trial by fire if you will. I’m really looking forward to the 2010 season. I signed up not knowing if I would even be able to field a team, but I got a sneaky suspicion this is going to be a pretty good season. Monday’s might have been a good move.

24 Hours = 1440 Min = 86,400 Seconds

2009-07-24T18:37:00.002-04:00

Timothy Paul Finkel is going to ride his bicycle for 24 hours tomorrow in the 24 Hour World Championship. You can tune in at www.24wcs.com to follow him. He is going up against some of the best mountain bike racers in the world. If I know Tim he won't stop turning the cranks on his bike for more than a matter of minutes in that 24 hour time frame, and that will be to stop for food and water. The Question shouldn't be "Why is he doing it?" Which I'm sure most of you just asked yourself in your head. The question is "How is he doing it?" Muscle's can be trained to work for that long, but human will has to tell the brain to keep doing it. So at 4a.m. after being in the saddle for 16 hours straight with 8 more hours to go it's pitch black out, maybe a little rain has fallen, you've ridden 180 miles already, you've eaten 8 Pop Tarts, your arms and back hurt, your legs are tired, and you smell awful, every instinct you've ever had in your whole life is telling you to stop this then all you have to do is try a little less, just quit a little bit, then it will be easier to quit a little more, then a little more until your out of it and it becomes easy.

It's something pretty special. Tim rides his bike all the time, so really to me the bike part comes second to the human will. The Heart. That special something that it takes to get something like this done. I have no idea if Vegas runs odd on this race or not, but I would love to be able to put money down on Tim for the race. I would bet on him to win (but I would also hedge my bet by betting that he would show, I mean that's only smart gambling, if he wins, it's just stacking up the money at that point.)

Good luck Tim, keep the rubber side down, and win the damn thing.

FIRE WOODKE!!!!

2009-07-08T21:45:00.000-04:00

Episode 2 - Dancing to the Max

2009-06-09T20:38:00.004-04:00

Well this wouldn't be much of a Saved By the Bell Kickball Blog if I didn't mention what went down last night. Autum texted me at 1:19am and told me to turn on Fallon, had I known now what I didn't know then, I would have actually woke up and turned it on. Click on the pic to see what went down. I've never been interested in the Jimmy Fallon show, but today I found out he is only Kelly and Screech away from a reunion on his show. I'm going to have to pay a little closer attention.

So this past week we played The Green Valley Team and didn't do so hot. Long story short, we still have not broken into the "Double U" column, but for the second week in a row we put up a pretty good fight. Our offense was much improved and we managed to score more than 2 runs. However, Green Valley had a knack for kicking it to where we were not, and managed to score more than we did.

During the second game I was in the dugout as Nerissa kicked. I couldn't see home plate but I saw Nerissa (Kicking out of the Lisa Turtle position) knock the ball back to the pitcher. They were working the ball over to 1st to get the 3rd out of the inning, but I didn't see Nerissa trying to make it to first. So I yelled "Don't give up on it!" Because lots of times a team can make a mistake and change the whole game. Then I looked to see Nerissa laying on the ground, I had not known that she fell. Sorry Nerissa. However, the best part was when she went running out to Left Center to play some defense. She was limping pretty bad, and Tim yelled out "Hey, look at Lisa! She's doing the Sprain!" Which was pretty much the perfect thing to say at the time, I did a quick look around to see if Casey Kasem was around, but he wasn't.

I played for the first time this year after sitting out the first game due to an abundance of players. It felt great, I really didn't think I would miss it as much as I did.

Kickball really is a fun sport, and I'm glad I play it.

Perspective...

2009-06-06T21:41:00.006-04:00

So I know this is suppose to be a Kickball Blog, but I've had a... Day.

Woke up this morning and my legs were a little sore from kickball, but no big deal, I'm 29 now and things don't work the same as they use to. Leah wanted to go to Eastern Market in downtown Detroit, and I was all for it. I really enjoy that place. The people watching is great and it is full of food. It's only 15 minutes from my front door and on a warm pre-summer day it truly is a great place to spend a Saturday. So anyway I was buying some fresh blueberry's and Blackberry's AT THE SAME TIME!!! So I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet and my loose pocket walking around money. I paid for my goods and proceeded to the next vendor. 90 seconds later I realized my wallet was not in my pocket, and ran back to the blueberry exhibit. What I found was....nothing. So long story short, lost my wallet, 100% my fault.

Fast forward 2.5 hours. For some reason, I think Pineapple juice sounds GREAT! I don't know if you have ever read this blog before or met me, but getting a solid buzz on, sounded even better. And lucky for me my Friend Leah was kind enough to lend me some money until I get back on my feet.

So there I was, at the liquor store. I had some pineapple juice at the house, all I needed was rum. Now I've been to this liquor store a few dozen times in the past 4 years, but the guy behind the counter and I have never been in the same room together until this moment. Now in our lives we have all "met this guy" before. Nice guy, you can tell by looking. About 22-23 years old, and has dedicated his life to being cool, but not trendy. Long hair, and a beard. Large ear phones around his neck, so that when no customers are in the store he can listen to some obscure wonderful music none of us have ever heard before. Right before this guys takes his 15 minute break, in walks R.W. (Me) with some sort of weird craving that only a pregnant Jamaican alcoholic would have.

R.W. - "I'm looking for some rum."

Cool Guy - "Ok."

R.W. - "I'll take that Parrot Bay" (Boy that didn't sound right coming out of my mouth, I've never drank this before in my life why am I buying it?)

Cool Guy - (Looking at me with my hat turned backwards so he can't see my gray hair or balding head) "Can I see some I.D.?" (while giving me stink eye)

R.W. - "No. My wallet was stolen this afternoon."

Cool Guy - (Obviously thinking I'm lying and 19, because only an asshole, homosexual, or woman would drink this.) "Uh.... I can't sell you this without some I.D." (Then yelling to the girl I've seen in there a few dozen times) "Hey, this guy doesn't have any I.D."

Girl that works there - "He's Ok."

Cool Guy - "Enjoy your, your Parrot BAY!" (with an extreme emphasis on 'bay' as if to say: "I cannot believe you are buying this, you are a joke")

Easily one of the most embarrassing/funny moment I've had in a long time.

So.....Perspective. I should be upset. We lost 2 close kickball games last night. I lost at least $85 cash, maybe more, and my wallet. Had to shut down all my card and get new ones. I had a carving for some booze I've never drank before, and it's the biggest woman drink in the history of liquids. It was worse than buying rubbers from a relative that works at the local drug store who knows I'm dating a girl she use to babysit for... Just incase you are wondering.

I should be mad, however, I think this is a great day. I've experienced some inconveniences today that would have spun some people out. I've come out of the day with a couple great stories that will last a life time. According to my bank, in 7 to 10 days this will all be behind me. But that awkward moment I shared with that guy in the liquor store will last forever.

But all I can see is the humor in it. Perspective... It's a wonderful thing.

Episode 1 - The Fight

2009-06-03T18:37:00.005-04:00

It wasn't until Saturday afternoon that I realized that the other team wasn't even drinking. I'm not saying you have to have 11 beers to have fun playing kickball, in fact it's been a long time since I've had to pull myself out of a game due to alcohol related issues. However, I would say 9 times out of 10 a few bowls of loud mouth soup are involved whenever I see someone as upset as some of the people on Black Shirted Valley's team that we played last Friday.

I realize that we are a vocal team and that we can come off as aggressive, but when Kelly Kapowski, err Kerri Dhyse gets "lippy" with the other team, and A.C. Wehner gets called out into the parking lot, something is up. Now if it were Bonsall (pick one), Autum, or me.... I wouldn't even mention it here, because we probably would have done plenty to start it. But as I was watching this guy from Black Valley scream at us like he was Leon Carosi and we where the charming good looking high school kids he hired to run his Beach Resort for the summer only he was using the F-Bomb very liberally and all I could say was "Easy guy, it's only Kickball." it's got to be out of line right?

Even though we didn't get a "W" out of the evening, I think we played really well. The defense was outstanding, our biggest weakness was what it always is, kicking. Getting runs across the plate was harder than passing a Mr. Dewey Geometry Mid-Term and practicing for an all girl singing group all during the same week. But I have good news for you. We can solve this problem the same way the gang solved Jessie's sevier drug problem. We work together. Don't put too much pressure on each other, and stay positive. The runs will come.

You Know What to Do. Do it.

2009-05-28T20:33:00.003-04:00

So I'm watching the training scene from Rocky IV on the eve of the first kickball game of the year. I've seen it, without exaggeration, at least 45 times. I wouldn't be surprised if it was higher than that because I think my brothers and I watched the last half of that movie once or twice a day everyday during the summer of 1990. It would end and we would rewind it and start it over from the middle, as we rocked out from one great Survivor song to another. No matter how many times I see it I just get sucked in. In case you haven't seen it, Ivan Drago is training in a gym so advanced it could only exist on the eastern side of the Iron Curtain in Communist Russia, while Rocky is training in what appears to be an insulated barn in the middle of a frozen wasteland. The classic "advanced" Russian war machine against good old fashioned American blood, sweat, and tears.

My favorite part is when Rocky decides that he's tired of the KGB following him everywhere and he just kicks it into another gear, then proceeds to not only run away from a car, put then run straight up a mountain as if he were wearing anti-gravity boots. What always gets me, is that the whole time he is training Adrian is watching him with this "I disapprove, but I'm hear to support you." look, which is just total B.S.. I was so happy that they killed her off in Rocky Balboa. How could she just flat out yell down the stairs "You Can't Win!!"? Then 2 seconds before Rocky knocks him out she yells "You're Going to Do It!!". Way to jump on the bandwagon you heartless witch.

But right before they start training, his trainer, Duke looks at Rocky and says "You're going to have to go through hell, worse than any nightmare you've ever dreamed. But when it's over, I know you'll be the one standing. You know what you have to do. Do it." You see Rocky was a veteran fighter. Duke didn't have to give him the big long pep talk. "You know what you have to do. Do it." We are a veteran kickball team. As the suns morning light kisses the dew of the 2009 season tomorrow, remember that. We've been there. We know what to do. Now lets go out there and do it.

Good luck tomorrow and lets not get hurt.

Begin with the Beginning

2009-05-12T20:52:00.002-04:00

Stephen Covey teaches to "Begin with the end in Mind", what an idiot. Everyone knows things should always begin at the beginning. Today was the "unofficial" beginning of the 2009 Kickball season. Just hours ago I was in the "Kickball Meeting" going over all the rules and picking up my kickball with all of the other team captains. The smell of competition coming out of that room was so thick I could literally taste it while I was driving down Oak Park Blvd.

When it comes right down to it, going to the Kickball Meeting is really uneventful. I walk in pick up the rules and my new set of balls, and that's about it. But I have to tell you, my heart was racing looking everyone in the eye, knowing the next time we see each other it will be under much different circumstances. It's kind of like going into a slaughter house and looking the milk fed veil calves in their big brown Obama inspired hope-filled eyes right before they are shoved through the meat grinder of life.

So as the opening credits of the 2009 season roll and Episode 1 of Season 1 of the Bayside Tigers Kickball Team approaches the May 29th opening day, I become more an more filled with breathless anticipation of the season to come. We are not much different than those kids at the top of this page. Just look at them. Max thinks he will be on the show forever, Screech and Richard Belding have no idea they will be on the show for another 15 years with no other chance of working again. Zack has no idea that Kelly will rip out his heart and throw it on the floor time and time again. Jessy would have never guess that her big move from Farmington Hills to an NBC Saturday Morning show would someday get her the lead roll in the biggest Cinemax Late Night movie ever Showgirls. Slater has no idea that when he gets to College he will learn that he is Mexican. Lisa... Oh lets face it, Lisa will continue being "Daddy's Little" girl and spending money without consequence for the rest of her life, she was the least developed character on the show. And finally Kelly. I had Kelly built up so high in my youth, to witness the shenanigans she pulls on the show through the eyes of an "adult" turns my stomach.

The Team T-Shirts are in and they look great. I hope everyones off season training was up to snuff, so we don't get 4 pulled hamstrings on the 29th.

2009-03-17T23:12:00.004-04:00

So I haven't posted anything in Months. Since before Thanksgiving.....I didn't do the math yet but are we closer to Thanksgiving 2009 than we are Thanksgiving 2008? Is it possible for memory's that haven't happened yet to be clearer than ones that happened a few months ago? Ok, that was an Irish Car Bomb talking, I'm not sorry because it's St. Patty's Day.

I wrote 2 other blog entires since then but didn't post them. One was about the Christmas Cruise, which was... Well we lost a lot of good people out there. Then I wrote one about how depressing winter was. It was right at the end of January when it had been below 32 degrees for the entire month, save 15 hours (I wish that was a made up number, but if you remember 2009 started out like the movie The Day After Tomorrow ended).

I figured today was a good day to get things going again. Not only is it a religious holiday, it was also a beautiful day outside today. Just as the sap has started running in the trees the blood in my veins is starting to unthaw and heat up my competitive juices. So to my players, I say it's time to limber up. I really only care if we win one game this season.... It's a specific game and I will get more into that later, but it will be a day that is circled on my calendar this year for sure. It's going to take a lot of solid play to get there, but I think the Bayside Tigers can accomplish anything they set their minds to. (The movie Unfaithful just started on TBS, Diane Lane is easy on the eyes huh?)

And just like the daffodil's are starting to bud, a young kickball season is starting to grow.

I'm pretty sure I lost a lot of my readers over the many many months of absenteeism, but recently I suddenly lost probably my most loyal reader, and without a question this Kickball Teams biggest supporter. I can't help but think about Don Finkel Jr. when I write this first post in many months, I know there will be many kickball oriented things that will remind me of Don over the next several weeks, months, and years. He told me a few weeks ago that he checked my blog all the time hoping I would update it. Well, this is the first post.

Will I Get Dumber Now?

2008-11-20T16:06:00.003-05:00

Ooooouuuuuccccha!

(Not mine pictured)

Today I had parts of my skull ripped from my face! The people at work said that was a little "dramatic", but who are they to judge? It's kind of an amazing process really. I got to the Dr's office at 1:50, I was in the chair by 2 or so, they had the gas going by 2:05, a couple of needle pricks, then listing to two Old Hen's talk about their lives for a few minutes. The Doctor came in and did his thing, I honestly have no idea what he did. There were pliers, a drill, and....I think that was it. I was out the door at 2:25. I was at Rite Aid longer....

All I can say is thank God it's 2008. Having in that done 50 years ago would have been awful. Just the amount of pressure it took to get them out... I couldn't imagine doing it without some sort of drug. Right now I'm watching Policy Academy 4 and it is more painful to watch than it was to have my teeth pulled. I'm still not sure what's going to happen in the next few hours or days, but right now I'm still bleeding pretty bad, but only in a marginal amount of pain.

I would also like to say what a great thing "Laughing Gas" is. I was all buzzed up.

Here Comes Christmas Again!!!

2008-11-18T20:52:00.007-05:00

I bought a computer back in May of this year, and the first widget I added to my desktop was a countdown clock to Christmas. As we sit at this moment it shows 36 Days 3 hours and 6 minutes to go..... I can't wait!!!

Even though my feelings about Christmas have changed a lot over the years in many was they've stayed the same. When I was little we would do the Christmas Eve Service every year, I would get a new sweater then stand up in front of the church with all the other kids and say "In those day Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world..." Then we would go to Grandma & Grandpa Iseler's to open presents and watch my uncles get drunk. We would get home around midnight, watch the Mass at St. Peters in Rome and go to bed then get up at 6:00am to open presents. Fast forward 20 years, now I'm the uncle getting drunk and instead of Mass we watch "A Christmas Story"....

4 years ago Chad and I started a tradition of our own.... We try to keep it as Christmassy as possible, and we have spread lots and lots of Christmas Cheer over the years. I attached 1 or 2 of the pics from last years Formal Outing... Click here if you want to see what it's all about.

Also, a Gold Star to every person who learns this dance before December 6th, and performs it at some point in the night. Nerissa, Autum, Lesley....I'm thinking you 3.

Have I Just Lost Interest? Or Have I become Uninteresting?

2008-11-06T22:20:00.003-05:00

Ok, I get it. Once a month updates to the blog are not going to fly. I have heard from several different people that I need to be more diligent with my posting. So I decided to give you a picture of the most amazing thing ever to help make up for it.

Google Images is silly

I'm not 100% sure why I have been so lazy lately. I do tend to get bored easily, that may be playing a big role. However, I just don't really think I have all that much to post about right now. So, have I lost interest, or am I just uninteresting? In reality it's probably a little bit from Column A and a little bit from Column B. So I have been making a list of things to write about to help organize my thoughts.

1. I never did a proper post about the Kickball Tournament. Although, I think a couple people would thank me for that (Todd, Autum, probably Mike, not Chad, but most of Chad's team...). Lot's of good stuff from that weekend, I can honestly say I've never see the Hotel such a mess.

2. I was cleaning out my car and I found some papers dating back to May 5, 2005, a day that will live in infamy... The day 3 young men traveled 376 miles and stopped at every Taco Bell they saw. That's a story my friends, that's a story indeed.

3. Halloween.

4. The Christmas Cruise, this could be a couple good ones.

5. Christmas YEAH!

6. There is a good "HoCo Korner" out there just waiting to get posted!

That should do it for now. It's a cheap post, but hey, it's a post, right? Better than nothing, right? I mean if you had to choose between nothing and this post you would take this post, right? Alright, so maybe this wasn't such a funny post, so please enjoy these clips of something that has always made me giggle.

Lazy Bones

2008-10-01T20:48:00.004-04:00

Wow! I have been a Neglectful Nelly to the blog lately. It's not like I haven't had any Kickball news to report on either, I've just been a...well lazy.

The Fall Season is 3 weeks old so far, and I have to say it's been pretty interesting. Since they combined anyone that wanted to play from the "A League" and the "B League" and new teams off the street into one 11 team Fall League, the talent level can only be described as "peaks and valleys". The good teams are good and the bad teams are terrible....we are both. Depending on what week it is.

Week One was pretty interesting, we played one game against Vinny Delicious & The Band. Everything was going well, we were up something like 13-2 when Hurricane Ike decided to join us in the bottom of the 3rd. The cell phone obsessed umpire was out of there right after he waited long enough for us all to get really wet. Both teams decided to finish the game, so there we were, playing some kickball in the rain. Although, I need to bring up the point that I was not playing (I've been on the DL for much of the season) so I ended up umpiring the game. We won going away, but it was a pretty cool experience to say the least, even if I was on the sidelines...

After week one was Nerissa's 25th Birthday party. I could go on and on about Nerissa drink a little to much and paying a visit to the bathroom that need to be followed up with a mop, bucket, sawdust, a Hazmat team, and a gallon of bleach because she left her dignity all over the floor. I could talk about her special rendition of the Thriller Dance, but I'll just let these pics do the talking...

The Birthday Girl is Nothing But "Rock'n Roll" (Must be Early)

The Screen Saver on my....everything

As you can see Nerissa is gravitating toward a "Punk Rock Crowd" but is still begging for "Peace"

Obviously she's doing well. Get ready for the next 3 pics...

Those are my favorite 3 pics of all time. I submitted the Middle one to Webster's to put under the definition of "Sweetest Girls Alive"

Fall Ball!

2008-09-02T19:32:00.004-04:00

Man it has been a long time since I have made a post to the blog. Sorry about that, and I still need to get more pictures up from the tournament. Hopefully this post will provide me with the much needed motivation to get that done along with a couple of other posts.

I just came from the Fall League Kickball meeting, and fall ball is going to be a little different than what we are use to. The main thing is that I am doing this one from the seat of my pants and don't have a lot of commitment from people, so getting a team over those 5 weeks should prove to be a challenge. The way the schedule works out is that we play for 5 weeks, the first two weeks we only play one game a night. The next 3 we play double headers as usual, although some games start a little late (around 8:45). I will post the schedule to avoid confusion. The best part is we either play at CP2 or MCF which means we always have a bathroom and bad umps....

I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to playing in the cooler weather, as long as we dress for it shouldn't be an issue and should give us the "football atmosphere" of competition. I saw most of our competition there tonight and I'm pretty sure we will be one of the only teams "bringing the heat" this season.

I have added something to the team this fall season on a trial run. For a few years Bonsall has been "Captain" of the team although he hasn't worn the 'C' on his chest. I thought in honor of trying something new (Fall League) we will add a Co-Captain. I figure a Co-Ed team should have Co-Ed Co-Captain's, John McCain also inspired me by picking a smokin' hot VP (obviously this is photoshopped). My selections is based on a number of things, but in the end I picked a girl that leads by example and with words (even though they are often mean and hurtful). Congratulations Autum, you are the first Co-Ed Co-Captain ever in the history of the world (as far as I know). I was considering calling this short season "Autum Ball", but that was way to much word play and...well in a word gratuitous.

Shannon was a very strong and very very close second place vote, however, I didn't think the captains should share a bed. That much power in one family, they could turn against me and I can't have that.

Our first game is September 12th at 8:45pm...it's late I know, but I'm happy to report we will have a place to stay warm until the game and that very same bosom will welcome us back after the game to a warm whiskey smelling embrace, and that bosom belongs to Nerissa. It's her 25th birthday and she wanted to make sure that everyone from our team could make it. No real detail are set yet but look for them soon, probably a bar close to the field in Royal Oak or Ferndale area. If I had a vote it would be in Danny's (not in Canada). Either way it should be a good time. Three birthday's in three weeks is going to cause my liver to pack up and leave me, don't forget about Cross' this friday and Ted VonSchmiddleshit's was last week.

I'm a Dummy...

2008-08-22T19:32:00.004-04:00

So for the past several weeks I've been thinking about everything that it would take to get the Kickball Tournament going in PH and giving little thought to anything past that. I wish I had not been so sort sighted. Tomorrow (Saturday August 23) at noon Tim Finkel is going to do something truly remarkable, and I should be there for it. He is going to get on his bike and ride it for 24 hours in a row, not only is he going to ride it, he is going to race against several other men that will be on the same single track mountain bike course. That might sound completely stupid to some people, and to be honest if I didn't share a house with Tim I wouldn't understand it either.

I tend to think about things, weird things, and recently I've really started to think about this race. The more I learn about it the more I truly respect the undertaking he is doing here. Last year he ran the marathon, and from my perspective that seems like something that I could do compared to this monstrous task. By the way, in no way am I claiming to be capable of either, its just that from my little world it would be the difference between climbing Everest with a helicopter, every bit of technology, and top professional help to climbing Everest the way Sly Stallone ran around the mountain in Cliffhanger only with the 4 fattest Sherpas in the world strapped to my back with big rocks in there pockets.

I was reading Tim's food plan for the race, and I couldn't help but hear that neurotic voice in my head say "Who is going to make sure all of this happens!??!?!?!?!?!!?!" Out of no where I felt like I should be the one responsible for it, it was then I realized I screwed up and was very short sighted for the past several weeks. Although he is some very capable hands, at the end of the day they guys with him know what he will need more than I will. Even if I wanted to go now, I wouldn't be able to because, like an idiot I don't have the right paperwork to get across the boarder with, and you know they are searching a creep like me.

So tomorrow when you are eating your lunch, Tim will be getting on his bike. When you are eating your dinner, he will still be on his bike. When you get cleaned up and get into your comfy bed, bike. When you wake up....still on the GD bike. When you flip through the channels Sunday morning, Tim will be on that !$@^&$*(@#$ BIKE!!!! Who knows what will happen to him. At this point it has little or nothing to do with physical fitness for him, he has put the work in. It's a mind game, I don't think it will hit him for the first 8-10 hours, but after that I would imagine it would be like a heroin withdraw at some point. The little green monkey's might be waiting for him in the dark, he might find nirvana or he might find hell on earth, more than likely both, either way when you really think about it it's a scary deal and he has all my respect for even having the courage to test his metal that much. This is one of those things that I will be kicking myself about for a long time to come for not being there to see it with my own eyes.

So Much To Say

2008-08-20T20:22:00.003-04:00

I doubt I will get everything I want to say out in this entry so expect a couple more this week. I've just been really really tired from the weekend and have not been home much. However, the pictures and the stories are coming in so I am starting to piece Saturday night together.

All in all I don't think we could have done better for ourselves from a Kickball standpoint. Finishing up Friday night with a split is something to be proud of. We finished 4th in that tournament, one out of trophy contention. Remember when we were forced to move up to the higher level at the beginning of the year? Well we were the only team left that moved up and we eliminated a higher level team. I'm not sure if anyone caught the article in the Free Press yesterday, but our league is probably the biggest in the state. So with the way we are playing right now, and without exaggeration, we are one of the best Kickball Teams in the state of Michigan, that's a fact. So I'm happy with the way the season in Oak Park ended, but I'm even happier with the way the tournament in Port Hope went from start to finish and especially the way it ended, with a Bayside Tiger's victory!

It is really hard for me to put into words (I know you don't believe me) what that tournament means to me. As a kid we would go to the ball fields to watch softball tournaments and have a great time. No one seems to do that anymore. I realized a few years ago kickball is nothing more than a product that people buy, and for some reason it is selling pretty well right now, so I thought if I brought it to PH it could be a good time and a positive for the town, and I believe we have started something there. If I wanted to I could have gotten a team of friends together from Port Hope and played with them, but the fact that the people from my team in Royal Oak took time out of there lives to travel up north 2 and a half hours with gas prices and how busy people are truly touched my heart.

At the end of last years tournament I thanked everyone for "making my kickball dreams come true", without really realizing I was saying it. Tim and Ang pointed it out to me later that night, and said "what made it funny was that you were 100% serious". I was serious, and everyone that played on my team and drove up to PH from the Detroit area and everyone else that drove from all over the state and even parts of Indiana are a big part of that dream. It's hard to describe the sense of satisfaction I felt Saturday night with a house full of close friend in the home I grew up in, with my parent and brother there, telling me "what a great group of friends I have" and those same friends telling me what great parents and family I have. A lot of hard work goes into making the Port Hope Kickball Tournament a success, but it is worth all the time and effort that goes into it, and I would like to thank everyone that was a part of it, it means more than you know.

I promise my next post won't be so sappy. Here is a preview.

She looks like a little Lady sitting there (worst picture of Autum ever. Those pants put on 30lbs in the hips, it's just a bad pic Big A, you don't look like that). Who is that in the background, it looks like someone in total control right? Stay tuned...

What A Week!

2008-08-10T19:32:00.003-04:00

After winning only 3 games all year we win 3 out of 4 in one night, and the only game we lost was against the #1 team in the league and we were never really out of it. Go figure. I seemed like we had the perfect line up and everyone was playing outside their minds! From the top of the line up to the bottom everyone kicked amazingly well. I think I had more hits Friday than I did all year, including the one where the girl from Abba Zabba took a line drive right in the face and went down like Monica Lewinsky. I think I caught the kicking fever from our new comers Tuzz and Hambright who I think went a combined 19-20. Even if people weren't getting hits it seemed like they were advancing the runners, I wish I had all the scores from the season because I'm pretty sure we came close to matching out total run output for the year Friday. After the first 3 games we had 30 runs, does anyone remember the score to the last game? We had 8 0r 9 right? I know we scored more than 40 runs in the previous 14 games, but I bet we didn't score 60....outstanding people.

All I can say is keep it up and for at least 5 more days. If we kick like we did Friday, the Port Hope Tournament should be something we can win....but I'm getting about 2 steps ahead of myself.

Lots to do and think about for this Friday. Our game is going to be at Victoria Field, we have not played there yet this year, so I will have to get you directions this week. The game starts at 7:30, but what that really means is we will follow the game that starts at 6:30 at the same field. Not sure who we are playing against, but if I had to guess it will either be Chico's Bail Bonds, Ballzonya, Ballz Deep, or Sons of Pitches...(there are a lot of "ball" puns out there huh?) I have narrowed it down to those 4. I'm guessing it's going to be Sons of Pitches, but we will just have to see. Remember we burned up our first lose on Friday so one more and it's all over.

I was putting together the roster for the 15th in my head and for the first time 3 seasons my name isn't going to be on it, and it has really started to bother me. I'm still going to make sure there are enough people, and everyone knows where they need to be, and someone is bringing beer...and all that stuff. However, I came to the realization that I have spread myself to thin when it comes to kickball, and that my friends, is a sad realization and really made me rethink my priority's in life. I have so many kickball oriented events going on I took the day off of work and I still can't do everything I want to do. I'll tell you what, when I realized that our 4th game was in hand and we where going to win, it was bitter sweet. I was VERY happy we won, because now we have bragging rights for at least a year, but I couldn't "savor the flavor" because I knew I couldn't be there on the 15th.

So Bonsall is being promoted to Coach (even though I think he might be to much of a hot head based on the fit he threw Friday night at the ump). It will be good practice for him since he will be coaching in the tournament in PH the next day. Being Tournament Director and Coach would be a conflict of interest.

I'll be in touch with everyone going up north on Friday night to make sure everyone has a ride and is organized. The way I see it, since the game starts at 7:30 there should be enough time to have all the riding arrangements set up so you can leave right from the field to get up there. If it gets to late you might want to head up Saturday morning, but we have to play at 9:45 or it screws the whole day up for everyone there, so you would have to be on the road by about 7am depending on where you are coming from. I think Tim said he was going to be at the game so he can lead you there or I can get you directions if you need them. If you lose the first game you should be able to get to PH by about 11. If you make it to the last game of the night you should be able to get there by about 2am.

Ass of the Week was the easiest decision I've ever made, even though it goes against tradition. Everyone played really well, so nothing really stood out, but the Ass of the Week has to go to the Shit Show during the 4th inning of the 4th game. Between Jessy getting kicked out and everyone pissing and moaning....wow! Never saw anything like it.

Playoffs

2008-08-06T20:08:00.003-04:00

So Friday is going to be a "Do or Die" situation, in no way is that an exaggerating. In order to keep the season going we need to win, something we have had problems doing this year.

After realizing what a stupid saying "Do or Die" is I Google Imaged it to see what came up. This was the first thing that caught my eye. In my mind this line never ends, it's just one of the mind boggling things that are done in the Pacific Rim. To quote one of my favorite movies 'Robocop' "I'd buy that for a dollar!"

I received the playoff schedule on Monday, and everything looked good and in proper order, so naturally on Tuesday the Oak Park Rec department had to send out 2 completely different ones that didn't make any sense. Friday at 6:30 we will be playing 'The Jerkstore' at the "main fields" where we played last week. The good news is, win or lose we stay at those fields all night, which mean we will have bathroom access the entire time. I think we have a great chance at beating the Jerkstore this time around, we are much more well seasoned, Shannon had not implemented her fastball when we played the first time, and we have some new blood on the team this time around, so I'm expecting good things.

Remember, this could end up being a night we stay at the field until close to 10:00 depending on if we win a couple of games. The most we could play is 4.

I'm a little disappointed in the turn out but we should have a good team on the field. Let me know if this is correct. For guys I have, Ryan, Brian, Tim, Hambright, and Tuzz. For girls I have Autum, Shannon, Ang, Jen, and Sarah. We have a good mix and we should be able to compete pretty well. Any volunteers for beer duty?

Week Seven...

2008-08-04T20:43:00.004-04:00

Since Friday night I have had a terrible taste in my mouth. I'm not sure if it was from the two bitter defeats that we were forced to eat, or the incredible amount of dust I ingested from that dry field we played on. I played the worst game of the season by far, capping it all off with a play were the ball went from a very awkward place for me to catch it (my hands) to a much more effective place (the souls of my feet). Some of us had a relatively bad and hard game. It's not really like me to run out and mention names, so I will leave it at that. Nothing we can do about it now, but move on to the future. What does the future hold? I'm talking about the Playoffs. (I also found this little gem). We play the Solo Raiders at 6:30 at Tyler Field, more Playoff information to follow this week.

"Ass of the Week" goes to me for making an Ass out of myself by missing that ball and falling down like a dummy.

So the "Teen Choice Awards" are on right now. I was hooked in as I was flipping channels and that little spit fire Miley Cyrus was singing and jumping around the stage in a hypnotic way that made me stop. I'm not sure what happened after that but I just realized I watched 45 minutes of that show and have lost the ability to feel on the left side of my body. I'm dizzy and I'm loaded with questions. 1. "Who are the Jonas Brothers, and why did every single person in that arena scream whenever their name was mentioned? I wasn't sure if they liked them or if those adorable little guys were terrorizing the crowd." 2. "How is Adam Sandler still winning awards and why is he still considered funny?" 3. "When did Dane Cook do something this year, and what could he have done that would have nominated him for an award? Are they giving out awards for doing something great 4 years ago?" 4. "How in the F does Will Smith win the award for best summer movie. The category was BEST SUMMER MOVIE and I swear on my life the winner was Will Smith. He got up and made a speech about how every single piece of "art" (I think I made some "art" this afternoon in men's room that would have brought tears to people's eyes) he puts into the world, he does with his family, his fans, and God in mind. My question about him was, why doesn't God make him slip and impale himself on the surfboard he won as the prize for being voted the Best Summer Movie? WHY GOD?!?! I'll tell you why, because God only hears the prayers of 13 year old girls that look like Jenna Jameson that can scream at full volume without taking a breath for 120 minutes at a time and the only thing they can agree on is that the next season of American Idol can't get here fast enough and Jamie Lynn Spears is going to be a 'great mom', that's why." It wasn't until after some 15 year old handsome devil I had never seen before told me the best way to spread Al Gore's lie of going "Green" was through MySpace that I finally was able to dislodge my tongue from the back of my throat and come to my senses long enough to shut the TV off. I just wanted to hear Hannah sing 7 Things and I lost an unknown amount of brain cells. I don't know how those marketing guys do it but I couldn't stop myself from Googling Zac Efron just now, and I think I'm going to fall asleep to whatever song he has playing on his MySpace page tonight. I just want to hang out with that guy for some reason. He seems really grounded and he doesn't follow the trends like the other people out there he's above it all, he's in it for the art, like Will Smith.

For some reason I cannot post a picture tonight, but if you know who these people are do yourself a favor, and kill yourself.

Season's Come and Season's Go...

2008-07-31T19:53:00.003-04:00

Friday will be our last "regular season game" this year. After that it's all tournament style, the thought of this has given me an ulcer the size of Tim's areola. This week we play at CP2 at 6:30. That is the 'main' field. Go to the corner of Coolidge and Oak Park Blvd turn west and go one block to the softball field there.

Leah said she would bring beer, and I think someone else said they would too....I can't remember. Cross get on that, we might need a lot, especially if people are going go over to The Bonsall's after the game, I expect a Shit Show. Sounds like we are going to have the meat and potato's of our team this week, and we are going to need it because we are going to find ourselves in a vicious cockfight with Son's of Pitches this week. They are 8-4 overall, and I have deep seeded hate and aggression toward this team for several reasons. Nothing would please me more than to come out with a couple of victory's. Should that happen, don't be surprised to find yourself being high fived, ass slapped, or with both our hands clasped with our arms extended as we spin in circles with tears of laughter running down our apple red cheeks.

I've been battling some sort of respiratory infection Timmy was kind enough to bring back with him from Wisconsin. I'm coughing like I'm married to Edgar Allen Poe, and sniffing like I'm a stock broker in Manhattan in the mid 1980's. I've developed quit a little Dextromethorphan habit in the last few days, so if I start talking about little green monkey's or asking to borrow money tomorrow just ignore me and give me a bottle of Tussin and send me on my way. Got to go, Roadhouse is on tonight, and I've already missed the beginning, so I now I won't be able to catch up on the complex character development or plot line F! Someone remind me to talk about T-Shirts for Port Hope tomorrow.

Week Six...

2008-07-28T19:46:00.005-04:00

With 18 days to go before the Port Hope Kickball Tournament I'm filled with panic and excitement! But also hope...

With Double Deuce carrying a record of 3-9 I'm finding the tournament as the biggest ray of sunshine to salvage the season. The league title has been out of reach since Week One, and we are going to have to play perfect in the playoffs to give ourselves a chance to compete there. The only way I see it is we need to keep the steady pace of improvement going and hopefully peak on August 16th. I think we have been getting better and better every week and have nothing to be ashamed of as a 3-9 record would suggest. I don't know how many of you read Tim's blog, but a couple of weeks ago he brought up the point that he has been finishing his races close to the top, but can't get over the hump and win one. I feel like we are in a similar situation. I think each and every person has gotten better as the year has gone on, and we are playing better as a team. That's why this week was by far the most frustrated I have ever been at a kickball game. We had all the pieces there to win at least one of those games, but for several different reasons we couldn't put it together.

When it comes down to it kicking is the biggest of our problems, of whom I am the chief sinner. It's the one thing we don't have figured out. I talked to a couple of gurus to come in and help focus on what we need to do, but all the credible ones are working for Olympic teams...I guess we will have to figure this one out alone. We just need to continue to play the field on defense. Run to the ball, get into the game.

This is the toughest week yet to pick Ass of the Week. Autum was mean as a snake and fought me at every turn, but that's about par for the course so no big whoop there. Cross fell in such a way that I thought he was going to be the Joe Theismann of kickball, but everything worked out fine so I would like to take this time to officially laugh at him for falling and looking like a total ass. Andrew Scriver saved us, by filled in for an injured player and in true competitor fashion laid out for the ball in an attempt to get in front of it. But one story is much more interesting.

For the second week in a row I had to scramble to get players, I managed to come across a den of them right where I spend a majority of my days, at my desk. Matt Hambright played last week, and his sister Gretchen sits right next to me. On the other side of me sits Richard Chadwick a long time friend of Matt. The idea presented itself and there we had it Matt, Dick, Gretchen, and Matt's wife Julie...boom we playin' kickball people. Chadwick, being the prideful trash-talker he is, spent about 30 hours straight telling Hambright how awesome of an athlete he is and how much he is going to enjoy dominating one of his favorite childhood games again. The key word here is "Athlete", I even crossed out "Chadwick" on the batting order and replaced it with "Athlete". We all get to the field and there's Chadwick, mid-thirty's, 25lbs overweight, lovely and supportive wife and son in tow, and wearing sunglasses and metal cleats....looking good. Chadwick get's his first pitch of the game and clearly LOVES IT! He kicks a beautiful hit down third baseline that is erroneously called foul, I think the ump got a text or was checking the Tigers score on the phone at that moment. However, in the middle of Chadwick's great effort he used up all of his athleticism and blew out his quad on his kicking leg. I was coaching first and as he ran to me he looked bad, well dressed and stylish, but bad. He had to do a painful re-kick, and low and behold he does almost the exact same thing and gets on base again....but his day was over. He managed to make it to the top of the 5th before being replaced, and the second he went out of the game the whole day went to shit. The next kick was a homerun to his position, and the Solo Raiders might as well have kicked me in the groin with each player in the line up.

That could totally be Chadwick behind that mask, now go out

there and get some of that sweet sweet Maggy Gyllenhaal ass. Gross.

For this Chadwick, you get "Ass of the Week", but it's not for what you think. It's not for talking a bunch of trash for which Captain Karma pretty much Tonya Harding'ed you.

That kind of mouthy-ness is encouraged on this team. It's for living the mantra of this summer #1 popcorn movie "Dark Knight", "It's better to die a hero, than live long enough to be a villain.". You couldn't have played it better, as soon as you went out we fell apart. Way to go Richard Chadwick, you are truly an Ass.

Week Five...

2008-07-21T21:09:00.004-04:00

I'm pretty happy with the way things went Friday. Granted, we were playing against a bunch of people that had never played before and had no idea what they were doing, but when you're 1-7 you take what you can get. With, Brian, Shannon , Strong, Jen, Lauren, Tim, Aman, Leah, Autum, Fox, Jacki, Steve, and Erica all unavailable to make the game I had my work cut out for me trying to get a team together. (Side note: HBO has a documentary about Heidi Fleiss starting a brothel in Nevada on right now. Sounds good right? 7 minutes in I'm rating it unwatchable.) Lucky for me, and the rest of the team, Kerri Dhyse was on point and picked up two quality girls from work.

However, at about 1 o'clock Friday I found myself one dude short. I had made a couple of calls with little success. Then in a stroke of genius I called my old co-worker Matt Hambright, a 6' 6" 235lb monster who apparently hates kickball's because he kicked them like they stood his sister up for prom.

The ACS girls, Megan and Holly showed up and played great. (So now I'm watching Beerfest, quality comedy, but I don't like that the beer in the last scene is CGI, seems to forced.) The whole team played great defense from the get go, and being a defensive minded player this got me motivated. I ended up making the best catch of my life, it was a lovely over the shoulder Willie Mays meets Jerry Rice meets an unathletic fat 12 year old boy taking his first ballet lesson for Blair's cousin Geri from The Facts of Life. (Ah, Brewsters Millions is on, good night on HBO. If anyone was trying to think of a good gift to get me I'll take the Richard Pryor Box Set "And It's Deep Too". It's a 9 CD set, you can get it on Amizon.com, I've had my eye on it for a while).

"Ass of the Week" honors could go several ways again. Angela LaRosa ran the bases like she was trying out for he U.S. Olympic team. After reaching first on the 1st baseman's error, Ang was no longer satisfied with just reaching first anymore. After a poor throw got away from the defense Ang rounded 1st and went straight to second. She then sat patiently while the next kicker placed a ball that would have for sure been a forced out if she had ran. The next kicker advanced her to third, and the one after that brought her home. The funny part was that as she was leaving the dugout she handed her sunglasses to Cross and said "Hold these please." to which he replied, "You'll get them back after you score." Hambright, should be noticed for hitting for the cycle, Megan and Holly 'get some' for playing very smart and heading out to the bar afterwards. However, "Ass of the Week" goes to Kerri. Not only did she pitch well, get on base several times, and score a run, she has been key in getting the team ready to play the past couple of weeks. Way to go Kerri!

Kerri is the subject of the first Kickball Korner "Separated at Birth". Way to go on the 2'fer Kelly Kapowski, er...I mean Kerri!

Who are these guys?

2008-07-15T22:27:00.004-04:00

Look at those two little guys! What do you think they were talking about? I would like to think that they were discussing defensive strategy's and kickball player placement. See the little field they were playing with? I think the bow tie is my favorite part of the picture, that and the hansom kid in the red shirt.

The game this week is 6:30 at MCF, which is at Coolidge and Oak Park Blvd behind the pool at the main facility. We have a bathroom this week!

So far this week for guys we have: Me, Cross, Mike, and Todd, Steve might be in as well, we will find out soon.

For girls I have: Autum, Erica, Sarah, Ang. So I'm open to ideas on people to get to play.

Week Four...

2008-07-13T20:44:00.005-04:00

Kurt Cobain once said "I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." He also said "Do you have any shotguns with toe attachments?"...what? To soon? It's been 14 years people, I know that might come as a shock to our senior teammates.....Aman, Erica I'm talking to you. I can picture Erica lighting a candle April 5, 1994 and saying something profound to her classmates like "he was speaking right to me." he's gone Lil'E, let him go.

1967-1994

Wash your hair Kurt

For the purposes of this week's write up I want to focus on Kurt's first quote. I thought it was relevant based on the team we played Friday. Abba Zabba is a great example of what I don't want a kickball team to be. They are very good, we would have to play perfect in order to have a chance to beat them. They are going to win the league title and be the heavy favorite in the playoffs, that's a fact. They are also a bunch of Assholes. I look at Abba Zabba and I don't see the "kickball spirit" I see in Double Deuce.

"I would rather play for a kickball team that had a losing record, that I loved, than play for a winning team I hated." - Ryan Woodke

However, what I do want to see more of is people "getting in the game". The outfield should treat every play like a pickle situation. Get in there and back up 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Cover home if need be. Think about what you need to do with the ball if it comes to you. How should we adjust when a guy is up compared to a girl. Play the field, not your position.

"Ass of the Week" could go in a few different directions this week. The Toddster made his debut this week and played great, Dan and Jamie also made there first appearance and showed lots of promise. I always like to give credit to people who come out and don't know a lot of players on the team, thanks to Kerri and Erica for helping with the subs this week. A couple people mentioned that I could get it this week, I have to tell the truth, my throat was a little sore after the game because I don't think I stopped yelling the whole time. If I would have scored that run I would have considered giving myself the nod, but I didn't.

I think in the end the "Ass of the Week" is a no brainer. It has to go to Timmy. Not only did he unwittingly make one of the most amazing plays I've seen when the ball went through his legs on his way home, he brought every single member of his family to the game. Tim, since it is summer and you wear a helmet 15 hours a day, I think you should have Ang cut your hair like this dude I saw at the Tigers game a few weeks ago. So way to go T-DOG on a great "Ass of the Week" performance.

Let me know if you are in or out this week, it's a screwy week and we are going to have a hard time getting at team together.

HoCo Korner 2

2008-07-12T16:40:00.003-04:00

The caption to this picture read:

"Sisters Addison and Maria each won a rod and reel in the kids' drawing."

Big Gulp's Huh? Alright. Well, See Ya Later...

2008-07-10T19:46:00.007-04:00

It's the 7-11 game so, don't forget your Slurpee's! Get it? Because the date of the game is the same as the popular convenience store 7-Eleven that became famous because of there delicious Slurpee's, and this is pretty funny too.

The game is at Tyler 1, which is on 11 Mile between Coolidge and Greenfield. Turn at the light at Tyler Rd. We played the Jerkstore at the same field, no bathroom. Game time is 6:30. Kerri and I are bringing beer (You are responsible for your own Big Gulp cup).

We got 3 new people showing up to get a full squad so make sure they feel welcome for helping us out. It's going to be a tough game so be prepared.

Independence Day Weekend Part 2

2008-07-08T20:46:00.011-04:00

Like I said last week, I was the "Don King of Port Hope Kickball" this past weekend. As I have also said a few times my town does a lot for the Holiday weekend. Fireworks are always on Saturday night and the Parade is always Sunday at 2pm. I've been in this parade or watched it every year of my life. I have not been in it since my brother and I had a float for Woodke Lawn Service back in 1992, well I figured 16 years on the shelf was enough.

I needed to get the word out about the 2nd Annual Port Hope Kickball Tournament on August 15th and 16th and have a little fun at the same time. Lucky for me our Short Stop Tim Finkel and catcher/outfielder Angela LaRosa happened to be in town that same weekend and helped me out. Every year the Port Hope Parade has 4 things, tractors (probably 150 of them), queens (not like a Ferndale parade, but bean, sugar, 4H...), politicians (big election year this year), and sun shine (it has never rained on a Port Hope Parade). So I decided to lampoon all 4 all in one float. Lucky for me my dad had his 1944 McCormick Farmall "A" tractor home. So I had a tractor. Finding a queen was a little harder. I asked a couple girls who I thought would be up for it, but was turned down. Undeterred, I caught wind that Mark McTaggart and his girlfriend Keri Barnett (think I dicked up the spelling) were going to be in town. Long story short about Mark and Keri, they are a ton of fun and some of my favorite people that I don't get to see very often, but when we do get together it usually ends at about 4-5 in the morning in Mark's mothers kitchen making deviled eggs.

I asked and Keri agreed to be the first ever Kickball Queen probably in the history of the known universe, and Mark agreed to drive the tractor. Now I needed a politician, I found that guy when I looked in the mirror, now I needed some sunshine. I flashed a quick smile, and BOOM! There it was. Now I had a Float. Mix in Tim and Ang handing out flyers a couple kickball's 12 Miller High Life's, and now we are partyin'. Keri wore a dress that couldn't have been more perfect, I went straight to Marv's closet and pulled out a fine short sleeved collard shirt, orange tie and I was set....Here is how it went down...

Keri, Mark and Ang getting ready, you can almost see the butterflies in the tummy's. Keri and I walked pasted the Bean Queen right before the parade started, they waved and said "hi" and I said "you realize you are completely mocking her right now right?"

Me and the Queen making another Kickball Dream come true.

Tim getting a shot of me and the Flyer.

Queen Keri "Gettin' Some!"

Keri's best quote was as we are pulling onto Main St.: "This is so F**ki*g Cool."

Mark's best quote: "Keri, you might be in the Paper!" (how cool would that have been for a "HoCo Korner?)

God I'm an idiot.

Doing a little politician... I did run over and kiss my Grandma at one point.

Here's Ang, doing a great job pick out the "Target Market".

I bet I ran a mile in that Parade, but like Tim said "It's like your wedding, you plan and plan and it's over in a second."

Once again, just another great great kickball experience in Port Hope, I really think I got something growing there. Special thanks to my sisters-in-law Cathy and Gretchen, my Mom and Dad, brother Greg, Keri, Mark, Tim, and Ang who all gave me all the help I needed to make it happen.

Let me know if you are in or out this week, I think we have a short staff (story of my life).

Independence Day Weekend Part 1

2008-07-08T20:16:00.007-04:00

I got a say, the 4th of July is one of my favorite times of year. I've spent all 28 of my Independence Day's in the sleepy little town of Port Hope, that weekend the village turns into a hustling and bustling Metropolis. I get to see people I only see once or twice a year, the Hotel is always full and of course, tractor pulls, flea markets, fireworks, campfires, parades, blah blah blah. Sunday I spent a little to much time in the sun and got burned up pretty good.

This morning I got on the elevator and right after I hit the button a very attractive girl got on after me. As she got on she quickly scanned the handful of occupants and we caught eyes for a second. It's funny how much can happen in a flash. For an instant I thought, "is she checking me out?". Remember this is right at 8 o'clock, so I wasn't thinking clearly. After realizing that that couldn't be it I became temporarily telepathic and could read her thoughts, and as we locked eyes I could tell she was thinking "I wonder if the fireman that pulled that horribly disfigured burn victim from that house fire was cute."

After the 30th person said, "get a little sun this weekend?" I became annoyed and started telling people it was a new tanning lotion I was trying out, I figured if this guy can get away with it, so can I.

I'm still working on my pose, but I figured if I started spiking my hair it would become more natural looking. Now I just have to make if through the week without cursing at someone, I plan on staying close to my desk for the duration.

Port Hope State of Mind

2008-07-01T20:41:00.020-04:00

With the 4th of July looming, I may have "mentally checked out" a little premature, I think it was around Monday at 10:15...I went as long as I could.

The extra long day-dreaming sessions added to the lack of pressure from not having to play a game this Friday has proven very beneficial for the Port Hope Kickball Tournament in August. I have become extremely motivated in the recent days to getting as many teams as possible for this year. I have put together some informative flyers and posters and hope to get a Float in the parade this Sunday. Basically I'm going to be the Don King of Kickball from Thursday night to Monday afternoon, and I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm sure it goes without saying but I'm really looking forward to this years tournament, and instead of going on and on like I usually do, I'm just going to post some pics from last year.

Everyone! Come see how good we look!

Uncle Ry-Bread was pooped!

I think my pants just got shorter!

My Special Little Guy.

This is what happens when trains run on the same tracks.

Taken a break.

Tim is looking....well, like Leah

Must be early in the night...Looking good Ladies.

We are both two fisting, but I think it's for different reasons.

Nothing but good decision making going on here.

Week Three...

2008-06-29T19:46:00.005-04:00

What a difference a week makes! We must have been saving up our quality play for a quality opponent. Either that or everyone on the team responds positively to negative reinforcement, and my speech about getting The Golden Girls to play really paid dividends. I'm just going to assume it was the latter of the two and keep giving as much criticism as I can. The success of the team means that much to me. Those of you who know me know that the last thing I ever want to do is point out a flaw, or say a disparaging word about another one of God's creatures, my Mother raised me right (and it has recently come to my attention that she reads this blog, HI MOM!).

Funny story about our first win, all of which is true by the way. The week started off with a nightmare, literally. Monday morning I woke up with a jolt. I had just had a dream that bears were attacking people. Giant bears were breaking into people homes and killing them, it was one of those very vivid dreams were everything is clear and in color, you know the kind. It might sound stupid, nightmares usually do, but when I woke up I was a little shaken. I even mentioned it to someone later in the day because it stayed with me for a while. At the time I didn't know what it meant, but Thursday I really started thinking about the team we were playing Friday. Chico's Bail Bonds. The name comes from one of the all time funny movies The Bad News Bears. BEARS! My subconscious, or something, was trying to send me a message, but I wasn't taking the hint because I still couldn't see the big picture. I prefer to communicate in a much more direct way, which could also be one of the many reasons I don't have a girlfriend. Fast forward to Thursday night, obviously frustrated with me, the Universe took a much more direct path. Television executives gave me hundreds of shows and movies to watch that night, but I watched only two, Road House, and The Bad News Bears. What are the odds that those two movies would be on the same night the day before we had a showdown between Chico's and the Double Deuce? After watching them I realized something I had forgotten, at the end of the movie, the Bears lose! As we all know the Double Deuce wins in the end of Road House, but 99% of the time the hero wins, the Bears didn't and I had missed that fact. Something out in the cosmos need me to get that message, who knows maybe I have some alien relative that is looking out for us.

To be honest I gave us little chance on Friday, but there were larger forces at work. I would like to take credit but how can I when every single person got on base? Sure we didn't rack up a ton of runs but we completely overwhelmed them with base runners. Not only that we locked them down on defense, and we had a little Tatum O'Neal of our own on the pitchers mound throwing smoke. I was very happy with how things went. We had a solid chance at winning game two for the sweep, but they placed some nice kicks that we couldn't get to and ended up squeaking out a win like a fart in church.

Lots of nominations for Ass of the Week. Autum and Erica kicked the crap out of the ball. Ang made it on base for the first time ever, Steve had a couple circus catches. Hell the whole team played great. I considered giving it to Timmy for having a few very uncharacteristic butter-finger plays, but thought better of it. Ass of the Week goes to Shannon for her wonderful pitching performance. Way to go Shannon, two weeks in a row, one for not so good reasons, and one for a great performance.

No game this week have a great 4th.

HoCo Korner

2008-06-26T22:30:00.003-04:00

I've decided to add a segment to the blog called "HoCo Korner". As most of you know I was born and raised in Huron County, affectionately known as HoCo to its native sons and daughters. It's a large area of land made up of small farm community after smaller farm community. It would be near impossible to accurately describe what it's like there, at least not in one entry. I'm actually very happy I grew up where I did, and have many wonderful memory's. However, I feel that with every passing year that I don't live in HoCo (it's been 10 since I've lived there on a full time basis) I become a little more what they called "citified". I'm not sure if I have become "citified" or not, I'm sure my brothers would say that I have. I do notice that I might have gained a little more perspective on things. I would like to think that it's just a byproduct of becoming older and having a small increase in wisdom. That and putting some distance between myself and HoCo. Kind of like the saying "You can't see the forest through the trees" I've distanced myself from the forest and can see it a little more clearly....and I've found it can be rather funny to look at.

Anyway, Huron County has one daily paper called The Huron Daily Tribune. Many would consider it to be a "bad paper", but I think a large part of that stigma has to do with a limited amount of news in the area. Some of the issues they have to report on may not seem to be as important to us "citified" individuals as to the rest of the residence. Well the Huron Daily Tribune has recently updated their website to include pictures, FINALLY!!! From time to time when I see a picture of interest on their site I'm going to post it to "HoCo Korner" and challenge you fine people to post the best quote, saying, short story, or what have you in response. So with no further adieu, I give you the first "HoCo Korner"

Week Two...

2008-06-26T21:42:00.004-04:00

Week two, which was actually week 4, was not pretty. Not much to say really. I saw a girl hit a home run...just not for our team. That sticks out more than anything. I could go on and on, but I want to shed myself from that negative week. Lucky for me Road House is on WGN as I type and it's doing a wonderful job of recharging my battery's (Assist to Brian Bonsall for sending me a text to let me know it was on). Right now in the movie Dalton's whole world is falling apart....I know how you feel Sway-z...I know how you feel.

What we need to do is come together. Play a little smarter (Oh God, Dalton's best and only friend was just murdered, I sure feel sorry for whoever did it, cause Dalton looks pissed!) What I noticed more than anything in the last game was people standing around on defense. I think this week we need to concentrate on "getting in the game". If you are playing in the outfield and the ball is hit in the infield, get yourself in position to back up a throw. If a girl is up remember to adjust your position in the field, she can't hit it over your head, but she can hit it over an infielders head, so get as close to the infield as you can. If you're in the infield (Dalton just killed like 4 dudes!) remember to run the player back to the base so they can't sneak an extra base in. Remeber if we get every girl out (Very tense right now Dalton is considering killing the main villain......he didn't, thank God, but some other guys did. Good guys won.) they can't run the score up on us. All we need to do is play a little smarter and we are going to give ourselves a better chance to win....that and stop kicking the ball like we play for the Shady Pines Retirement Home Tuesday afternoon rec league. Honestly, we would be better off if we had Betty White, Bea Arthur and the rest of the Golden Girls out there kicking for us. I'm not pointing finger because I'm just as guilty as everyone else, but we really suck at kicking, and since we are playing 'kick'ball it's really starting to become an issue.

Ass of the Week goes to Shannon due to the opposing girl kicking her home run to left field, which Shannon was playing.

Game is at 6:30 at CP2. Take 696 to Coolidge South. Go 1/2 mile to Oak Park Blvd. Turn Right (west) go past all the buildings to the big parking lot, it's the main field right there. We have bathrooms as well.

Quick question, who is the hottest Golden Girl. Rank'em, and give your reasons why.

Picture Day

2008-06-23T22:33:00.008-04:00

It looks like most of the team will be here this Friday (Let me know if you are not going to make it), so I'm going to call it PICTURE DAY!!!! Don't forget your comb, because even though we might not have the best looking record in the league, it doesn't mean we can't be the best looking team. Ladies....don't be afraid to be sexy. Guys, tap your inner Swayze.

Ideally, I would like to take everyone down to Olan Mills and get some good shots done, but I think we will just do it at the field. We play at 6:30 this week at CP2, I think we will take it after the game, someone might want bring a mirror so no one ends up looking like Rocky Dennis. (What was his mother thinking? She let him grow a mullet, and you know, she smoked all that crack with a fertilized egg attached to her womb, talk about duh!)

Speaking of looking like Rocky Dennis....All American A-Holes play at 8 on the other field at Oak Park and Coolidge, so we will have a game to watch while we make the cooler weight more manageable. The games really tucker me out and it hurts my shoulder to carry a partially full cooler. We have a bathroom this week. Look for the Week Two write up soon. I'm soul searching to find something good to say...I feel like Dalton after observing all of his bouncers at work his first night at the Double Deuce.

The Fields Are As Empty As My Heart...

2008-06-17T20:34:00.006-04:00

Not to point out the obvious but the season started 18 days ago and we have played only 2 games thus far. The bye week and the rain out last week have wreaked havoc on our PT. Having my favorite past time ripped away from me has given me a little time to think. Thinking about the game, thinking about why we strap on our cleats every Friday night. Thinking about why we play.

I'm from a rural area and many of the old barns and houses in the area are pretty primitive and over 100 years old. I think about the men and women that built those buildings and lived in them, and how hard life would have been for them. Did they ever think that a working class people would ever have life so easy, that they would be able to play a silly game for fun like we do? Who has that kind of time? But the fact of the matter is that we have evolved in those 100 years and have things very easy these days. Microwave ovens, refrigeration, cell phones, computers, the interweb, all things that make life easier that we take for granted (well maybe not the Bonsall's who's power goes out every time the wind gets stiff enough to move a fart out of the room). We've been to the moon and back, for crying out loud! We live in a superior futuristic time, so we should be able to spend our time as we please, right? So if Kickball is a luxury that we choose for ourselves then so be it! It's a sign of the times "look how far we have come". Then we got rained out last week and I thought about it some more....

Maybe what we are doing is a lot more primitive than I think. In fact it's actually animalistic. On its simplest level, competition is nothing more than Darwinism in it's most basic form. Who's the strongest and fastest? Who's more clever than who? Who's going to win? Is this something we are preprogramed to do? Is our past time of kickball a natural instinct of competition that we must do? It's a fact that the most natural instinct for humans is to pack. We have family's, clubs, friends, mates, churches, political affiliation, whatever. They are all nothing more than people coming together as a group for a common goal. The Double Deuce Kickball team is our pack, and every Friday night we go up against another one and try to prove we are more awesome than they are. Some weeks are better than others, some weeks Autum shows up. Autum buys her jeans with the rips already in them so you can tell she's awesome even before you hear her talk or play. Some weeks Cross "pulls his quad" jogging over to coach 3rd...not so awesome.

Well my conclusion is this. whichever way you see it, each week I really enjoy getting our pack together and testing our metal against the other team's. I also like drinking beer.

This week we play Jerkstore at 6:30, we have somewhat of a rivalry with them from years past and in an added twist our newest player Erica is co-workers with the newest girl on the Jerkstore. So Erica don't forget to pull her chair out from under her Friday after lunch in hopes of bruising her tailbone before the big game. In the survival of the fittest there is no such thing as cheating or being a poor sport.

Let me know who is in or out this week.

A Hard Rain Is Gonna Fall....

2008-06-13T17:13:00.003-04:00

So, it's Friday at 5:15, I'm home and ready to play some kickball later, but that Bitch Mother Nature is getting in my way. I looked at the weather map and the whole state of Michigan looks like a soiled Kleenex Leah used during a severe sinus infection, 3 different shades of green with some red spots sprinkled in there.

Needless to say I'm not to happy about it, we had a solid squad and a weak team to play against. The Bonsall's were in town from the U.P., and now we have a make up game which will screw me come August 16th at the Port Hope Kickball Tournament. Plus last weeks "Ass of the Week" was coming back to try to go 2 in a row.

Looks like Cross, Kerri, and Autum won't miss a game after all.

Turns out Friday the 13th IS unlucky, right?!? Cause the game got canceled...that's unlucky right?

Field Directions

2008-06-12T20:47:00.006-04:00

Attached are the directions to the field. Remember, 8 o'clock start. I don't plan on meeting up anywhere before the game, I'll be home between 4:30 and 5 on Friday if anyone is in the area I'll be around. I plan on leaving for the field around 6:45 or 7, maybe sooner, so if anyone wants to meet up at the field or my place let me know, I'll be there.

Per Cross, Tim and Strong are on beer duty.

Friday's Game

2008-06-11T23:05:00.002-04:00

Quick note, the game is at 8:00pm this Friday. What this means to you.

1) The game is behind the pool at "the main fields on Oak Park Blvd and Coolidge, which means...

2) BATHROOMS!!!!

3) Lots of time for pre-drinking before the game. (Please note I am known to pull myself out of games when they start late, due to lose of motor skills).

4) Our Rival is going to be playing on the field at 6:30, which means I will be at the field early(around 7) to watch the competition and try to get some sun on my pale legs. But mostly to make a scene and talk some crap to Marilyn and her crappy team.

5) Lot of time to pre-drink before the game.

6) The Freeballers are 0-4, but they have faced some tough competition, so we still have to show up and play a good solid game.

So far the team for Friday is:

Ryan, Brian, Tim, Mike, Rick, Scott, Steve

Sarah, Leah, Erica, Shannon, Leigh, Ang

Rick, it sounds like Jen is out but is Lauren in? Not sure what is going to happen after the game but with the Bonsall's having a babysitter and the whole family in town I'm sure it will be an early night and Brian and Shannon will both be speaking english at 12:30 (incase it didn't translate well over text, that was about as sarcastic as I can be)

Good for now.

"Ass of the Week"

2008-06-09T23:27:00.006-04:00

Tradition: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom).

That's what Webster called Tradition. Tradition is Mistletoe at Christmas, Easter Baskets in the Spring, Fire Works on the 4th of July, eating and drinking to much at an NFL draft party, every 5th payday picking out a person at random at the mall following them home getting their address then sending them dirty pictures, or a note that just says "ONly 39 dAys LeFt, usE tHem wiSelY" written in chicken blood, in the mail on obscure holiday's like, Flag Day, Arbor Day, Take Your Daughter To Work Day.....crap, kind of let that one slip.

Well I'm proud to say this Team has a Tradition. Every week a player earns the "Ass of the Week" award. A player is picked for doing something outstanding, it doesn't have to be directly related to the field, it just has to be memorable. I base my decision on several variables. Effort, humor, unexpected events, beer consumption (mine and yours), weather, it could literally be anything, and it starts from the start of the week until everyone is in bed that night. Every week we start from scratch, and as they say, the cream rises to the top each and every week.

I call it the "Ass of the Week" as a term of endearment, call it my sick sense of humor, call it getting lucky and stumbling across that awesome trophy, call it whatever you want, but thats our tradition, thats our Mistletoe.

Homework for the week. Write a post "What "Ass of the Week" means to me.

Week One....

2008-06-09T20:41:00.010-04:00

So week one is in the books, and the Double Deuce is 0-2. I have some mixed emotions about the game. I guess I would compare it to when I was younger and I would play video games for hours on end.....It was fun, but it wasn't something I would run out and tell all my friends about. It's kind of the same feeling when you "hook up" with a not so attractive someone at da' club, or rub one out to the Victoria Secret catalog...ok you got me, the JC Penny Spring/Summer Catalog. I guess what I'm saying is that when it was all over I really didn't feel like high 5'ing a lot. However, it wasn't all gloom and doom. I still had a great time, which I hope everyone did, and we had several bright spots.

#1 Shannon's back down to her fighting weight. I didn't want to say it last year, but I was more than a little disappointed that Mrs. Bonsall didn't have the baby weight gone by the beginning of last season. I didn't bring it up because I thought there would be some backlash from the females on the team for pointing out the fact that she gave birth about 40 days before game one, that's 960 hours, 57,600 minutes. HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED!!!!!?????? I brought it up to a couple of people and the consensus was that I would be called a "Jerk" or possibly even an "Insensitive Bastard". But that's all water under the bridge because Shannon looks faster than ever, which is a big deal going forward.

#2 Two words, Steven Birchfield. In Steve's first kickball game he did very well. Some, nice kicks, and some amazing catches. Lets face it, and with no disrespect to the ladies in the field, Tim and Steve basically covered that outfield themselves in some very windy conditions. I'm unsure if Steve will be able to get back to any games this year because his mean spirited self-centered girlfriend is making him get a job. However, I look forward to facing off against Steve August 16th in the Port Hope Tournament when he brings in a team of his own....and every time he is up I'm going to yell "Hey Panicy-Pants Birchfield! Remember that time you went to kick the ball and fell on your ass? Ass Face!".

#3 It's just nice to be playing kickball again.

I would like to take this moment, to give out "Ass of the Week". We had a couple options this week, Bonsall hit a nice home run. Tim made some nice plays in the outfield. Erica Little made her kickball debut, I always take a little pride in introducing someone new to the game and become excited for them. On that note I would like to mention last year's newcomer Kerri Dhyse who completely blew off people that were volunteering to cure cancer to be at the field Friday. That effort alone gives Kerri the runner up award. However, the week one "Ass of the Week" goes to Steven Birchfield. Way to go Steve!

This week we play The Freeballers, with a little effort we should live up to our team name and our record will be a Double Deuce...2-2.

Let me know if you are in for this week by posting below. You don't have to log on, you can just post anonymously and sign your name. FYI, the U.P. Coalition will be here next week, so I'm looking forward to Mr. Bonsall being on the bench, Scott and Leigh in the field, and Mrs. Bonsall (Not Shannon) watching the baby.

One More Sleep!!!

2008-06-04T22:25:00.007-04:00

So I'm kind of embarrassed! Tim must have snuck into my room last night and took a picture of me sleeping. Ever since the uniforms came in I've been wearing my jersey to bed, and lady's, incase you were wondering.....nothing else. The kickball pillow is a trend I've been trying to set for the past six months, it's not really catching on, and I think I'm starting to develop some kind of 'bifida' from it. I was spooning the other kickball because I'm incredibly lonely.

We are playing Ballz Deep Friday at 6:30. Last year we were 1-3 against them with scores of 7-9, 5-6, 7-11 in the loses and 10-9 in our one win. So I anticipate a good old fashioned Cockfight! Bonsall, I know you don't need any motivation, but this is the team that you got all bloodied up with last year, and won your only "Ass of the Week Award".

The game time temperature will be about 88 and windy, but it is suppose to feel like 90. Needless to say Bonsall's armpit sweat will be ample. I suggest you bring a little water with you, Cross will let everyone know who is bringing beer. Tim, since you are more than likely the authority for getting a peak performance in hot weather, any tips will help. As far as I can tell the biggest advantage to it being so hot is that we will be sweating the booze out so fast it won't have time to get to our bladders and we won't even notice there is no bathroom at this field.

We are playing at Key Field. Map and directions below. Traffic is going to be a pain in the ass, with 696 down to a couple of lanes from M53 to Coolidge, so plan ahead. Try to be at the field by at least 6:10 or 6:15 please, So far we have 6 and 6. Girls are Shannon, Leah, Kerri, Ang, Erica, and Sarah. Guys are Bonsall, Cross, Tim, Mike, Steve, and myself. Should be pretty solid. I'm bringing the T-Shirt, you bring your $35 big ones.....I feel like Norman Dale right before he walked into the gym for the first game "Welcome to Oak Park Kickball" (I bet only Cross got that joke).

Fish Taco Night!!!!

2008-06-03T00:40:00.008-04:00

So there I was, sitting at my desk on what seemed to be a normal Monday afternoon, and I get an email from lead off kicker Autum Pierson. And she's all "what up? I'll be at your desk later today to say 'Hi'" So I'm happy to hear that because, while Autum and I communicate and stay in touch we don't actually "lay eyes" on each other to often, and when we get together it's usually a good time.

So sure enough, late in the day she swings by, fresh off of signing her lease in downtown Royal Oak. It was all so normal to start, we traded jokes and stories, and when it was time to leave we decided to head to Royal Oak for "A drink". Well, one drink at one bar eventually lead to several drinks at 5 bars....and someone had a Fish Taco.....I'm not going to say who, but I think the pictures speak for themselves. (sorry for the quality, my cell does not have a flash)

What's In A Name

2008-06-01T22:32:00.004-04:00

It's hard to believe that this is my 4th year playing Kickball, and 3rd year coaching the team. Without really trying it has become an yearly tradition to rename the team. The first year the team name was Miscellaneous Deductions....not my idea. The first thing I did was change the name to Cobra Kai, a strong name for sure. This name invoked fear into our opponents, because not only did they know they didn't have an elderly Japanese Gentleman to help them, but they didn't have nearly enough heart or luck to pull off a "Daniel Larusso", everyone knows 99 times out of 100 he loses that tournament.

The next year after going through what could be called my "Ron Burgundy Phase" we wound up with Sex Panther, by Odeon. While the name was alright, lets face it, it was a one trick pony.

So this year when it came time to name the team I went back to basics. I needed something strong, something that put fear into the hearts and minds of the other team but at the same time gave us a certain style and grace, in a word I needed....Swayze. But which masterpiece from "The Swayz's" catalog could to this? After about 2 seconds of thought I decided it could only be Road House. From The Swayz's seemingly limitless ass kicking ability, his perfect hair, his ability to pick up Emergency Room employee's, and being impervious to pain, we had to go this way and I think you will agree.

So the T-Shirts are in, and since I picked them up on Friday I have been wearing each and every one of the 20 shirt to try and get a "feel" for them. I think it will help bring me closer to every team member, so when I look across the field and lock eyes with any given teammate I can say to myself "Hey, I know what it's like to walk a mile in their shirt, I know what it's like to sweat like a hog in that shirt. I know what it's like to use public bathroom, after public bathroom in that shirt. I know what it's like to eat ribs and use that shirt as a napkin. I know what it's like to watch Cinimax after midnight on a Friday night in that shirt."

So I can't wait unitl Friday, stay tuned for more posts this week for more details.

The First Post

2008-06-01T18:46:00.002-04:00

With the first game this Friday at 6:30 I figured it was time to put the Blog together. Recently I decided I needed to get my own on ramp to the information super highway, so I got a computer and a camera. I anticipate this will lead to a much better coverage of the team, league, and upcoming tournament on August 16th.

Also due to some recent email regulations that are going into effect at work, I will not be sending out the usual kickball emails every week. I'm going to be using this blog as a way to make sure we have enough people for the game each week, and giving the usual kickball updates and events. Overall I think it will be better. I will email out a link whenever I post, and please use the comments section to let me know if you are in or out each week. So with that being said....let me know if you are in or out this Friday.