Worlds 96 and US versus Sweden, round 1

So, 1996 saw the first non-NY, NY worlds representative since 1986. This does not include the hodge-podge that went to Japan in 1994, which Paul Dixon covered over at techmo77.blogspot.com. As I had mentioned in the last post, we had won another VERY exciting and close nationals. This qualified us to represent the United States at the World Championships in Jonkoping, Sweden in the summer of '96. Even more ironic is that in '95 we had had our first foreign import, Anders Jerhamre, from Gothenburg. He was a stud for us that season, and began our love affair with the yearly foreign import (who buys US cars anyway?). Well, this added a certain spice to the entire Worlds Experience, knowing that we would be playing Anders on his home turf. Little did I know what this would presage 4 years later. That's for another post. But back to Worlds.


7. 1996 - WFDF World Championships - Jonkoping, Sweden - Team USA (DoG)

I coordinated this trip along with another two weeks in France with my girlfriend (now wife) of the time. However, she left to return to Boston while I continued on to Sweden and the tournament (or the reverse, it is all getting rather foggy). Now this tournament was very well run and had a great setup. Basically, all the teams that ponied up enough money were staying in this one main complex (as opposed to tent or gymnasium city). The meals were served there (ahh, forcemeat), and there was much carousing at the bar. Interestingly enough, the Boston women's team, Lady Godiva, had also won nationals at the right time and were representing the USA along with us. They were so cocky that they drank heavily ALL week and ended up losing to the Swedes in the finals, which at the time was quite an upset. For the mens side, our biggest game before the finals was a pool play game against Sweden. Very tight throughout the game, with Anders taking it to us, it was finally double-game point (I think), and Sweden had the disc on the far left sideline going right. Just before a long backhand was uncorked Lenny Engel called pick as his receiver cut deep. Well, that was the guy who caught the disc for the goal and the upset victory (the NY, NY guys I know were quick to point out later this was the first international loss by a US national championship team). After a VERY long argument, which should never have occurred in the first place as a pick is a pick and it was clearly called before the throw, Moonee abruptly overruled Lenny and gave the Swedes the game. Well, poor Lenny's head promptly exploded. I'm not sure I have ever seen someone so furious. I admit I thought Moonee (yes, I know it's Mooney) had no business interfering in that call, but the man does have some stature in the game, which made it that much more galling.

Well, that proved to be the wakeup call we needed, because we took it to the Swedes in the finals, winning 19-12 after taking half 11-8 or 9. The home crowd quickly became subdued (except for the chants covered below). There is nothing like taking the hometown fans out of the game. And now, for the high/low lights.

Memorabilia:
* Our jerseys were referee zebra stripes. We also had yellow and red cards. Don't know if this contributed to winning the spirit of the game, but it was a lot of fun, and we were colorful.
* Big Bob Lobel riding around on one of the Swedish bikes (which were just left around everywhere, cool socialist economy).
*At one of the many long nights at the bar in the building we were staying, I got Jim Parinella to throw an early fire. We were in the ro-cham-round mode, where loser bought the next round. It was down to Jim, Bim (Jim Johnston), and myself. Well, lo and behold, the piker throws fire on the next throw and leaves himself open to a LIFETIME OF MISERY WITHOUT HAVING FIRE IN HIS BACK POCKET. He said something along thelines of 'how much longer am I oing to be able to use this?' Little did he know that he would STILL be playing ultimate 10 years later.
* Adjoining the building we were staying was an indoor water park. After one of the dinners, they opened it up to the tournament. They let us have access to the 10-meter dive platform, and it was very amusing to watch people try to jump or dive in view of the ultimate players eating dinner across the way, including John Bar killing himself in a very awkward 'fall' from the platform. They also had a huge wave pool next door. Much hilarity and wetness ensued.
* During the finals, the stands were doing a chant off. The USA junior team sparked it up and it became fast and furious U-S-A, SVE-RI-YA. It actually gave me the chills.
* The Finns REALLY drink a lot. I think it's like the national hobby. Must be the only way to get through those looooooong dark winter nights.
* They had a festival down by the lake where they also showcased the Guts Finals. Well, they had a crane doing bungee jumps, so Jordan Haskell was eventually talked/shamed into trying it. Well, no sooner does he jump then he gets TERRIFIED, and when he bounces back up, he grabs the bungee cord in his arms and hangs on for dear life until they reel him in.
* I did my first stage dive, and it was all for a good cause. One of the things that we were most proud of was not only did we win the World Championships, but we also won the Spirit of the Game award, which was the first time ever for any team (imagine NY winning that...). At the tourney ending party, when they announced that, we all filed on stage, and then went stage diving into the crowd. That was actually really scary, being held up horizontally like 8 feet off the floor (and there were NOT a huge number of people) and sort of inebriated.
* My mother showing up for the finals. She is one half Swedish, and we have some family in Stockholm, so she coordinated a trip to Sweden with the championships and came out Friday before the finals with my Swedish uncle. Naturally he was unable to cheer for the US, but was able to cheer me on at an individual level.
* Oh yeah, winning.