Who are these guys?

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...

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

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...

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

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

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

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.