Boston Invitational
Hooray! We actually won our home tournament for the first time since 2001, handing Pike their one and only loss of spring 2005. And talk about hellish weather. Greater than 90 degree weather both days with significant humidity. Unfortunately, this year's rendition was somewhat weaker than years past, as a few of the elite teams that normally have been coming out and making the elite division very competitive decided to sit it out, including Ring, B.A.T., and Machine. This coincided with the continued expansion to 16 teams, and the combination of the 2 resulted in a softer Saturday schedule than in years past. More details below.
Also, there were some questions going into the tournament on seeding. On a personal level, I was initially resistent to our #1 seed, only because it appeared to give us a really easy schedule on Saturday, and at this point in the evolution of the elite game, until Nationals, we are more concerned with getting good competition and good games in preparation for Nationals, rather than tournament victories (although they help...). At first blush, our Saturday schedule look REALLY easy, especially given Pink Pony's (NY, NY), early season performance. However, with some recent SubZero additions, including Masulis and Cooter and I assume a more complete roster than some of the early spring tournaments, they played a much better game against us. Of course, 90+ degree weather and high humidity also added to the equalization of the teams, and fortunately, we were not split-squad for this version, otherwise it would have been a far different story.
Game 1, Pink Pony. Reasonably close first half, pull away in the second for a 14-9 victory, for one of our rare capped games (although more than we used to have, unfortunately). Game 2, 15-6 over Philly Rage, who has still never recovered a shred of their former competitiveness, which is weird, given their status as a major metropolis. I'm assuming that some Philly residents are playing with Pike, but who knows. 3rd round bye spent in the shade (because the bar was closed, so no easy access to AC, but there was a sufficient breeze to make it comfortable). Game 3, Phoenix, who is sporting a HUGE roster. I guess I was expecting a better game, considering that we were still doing wide-open subbing (this is what I call subbing when I don't play most offensive points...and not because of poor play) as we were working out all of the tryouts that were playing with us. This definitely resulted in some interesting lineups on offense, and sometimes defense. However, Phoenix never really threatened in the late day heat, and we won 15-9. This was the first game that the team showed real energy off the field. While not the prototypical field rush and high 5's after goals, there was a LOT of voice on the sidelines, and a lot of cheers with minor field rushing after goals. I hate to say this, but it definitely works/helps the team (and I'm sure other teams) to do this, as it gets you mentally in the game. No more 90's DoG coasting on icecold emotions and confidence and blithely racking up the wins. Spend another hour watching Twisted have another huck/turnover fest and Pony have a competitive cross-over round with Double-Wide, but left before either game was finished, although apparently Twisted won the double game point against a Canadian team to advance this round (as opposed to last year's Regionals game to go). Wish I could have seen it, although I hear there was quite the crowd exhorting both teams on to greater heights of foolishness/turnovers.
Confirming my earlier concerns about an easy pool, we were the only team to make it out to the quarterfinals with Twisted coming out of the Pool of (D)eath (3 teams making it) to beat our 2nd seed Phoenix in the crossover. In what appeared to be a series of unexpected upsets (although we'll see come fall), 4th seed Bulge from Tampa beat both Double-wide AND Twisted Metal (and HOV) to take the pool, with Double-Wide beating Twisted Metal to get 2nd.
Then, of all the stupid things, they made the quarterfinals at 8:30AM the next morning, followed by a 2nd round bye. Much hotter in the early morning Sunday because of little letup from the previous day AND the fact that our welcome little breeze was gone. Quarters was against Potomac (DC), who was sporting a gaudy 2-1 record against DoG this spring, including 2 victories to eliminate us from tournaments (although conveniently I was not there for either one, sporting a 0-0 record...). Nothing really exciting in this game which we won 15-11 except for one offense hell point. I thought I had been called in, but Ted pulled me from the line, which was a little embarrassing, and then both teams proceeded to have at LEAST 5 turnovers apiece, many of which were comedic in nature after awhile, 3 timeouts (2 by DC, 1 by us), but it was not a runaway victory by any means. Then we had to sit for a bye and watch mixed (?!???!?!?!), and you can imagine how that made me feel.
Semifinals at 12:30 in high heat against Sub-Zero, who crushed Bulge 15-9. Since Sub Zero finally broke through and beat DoG back in 2000 or 2001 at Nationals, they have had our number. No matter how poorly they do against common opponents, we always have tough games with them, and are at best .500 with them in the last 5 years, including a loss in the finals of the Boston Invitational. Well, this game proved no different, as we pulled out a 17-16 squeaker, receiving at 16's and scoring without a turnover. This was the first of two games where we had the disc to score, failed, and had a game extend for at LEAST another half hour after that point. At 14-13, I had the disc on the right sideline maybe 15 yards from the goal. Josh McCarthy was sprinting for the cone, juked his guy out of his pants, and then made an away cut which I stepped out and floated the game-winner. But no, I was called for a push off because the guy was humping my leg. When I tried to stand back up straight after the throw, I basically had to push him off me. I bitched and moaned for about 10 seconds, and then stopped realizing that there was little to NO chance he was going to concede the weak call and just hand us a victory. So, stall 6, we call a play to get the disc off the sideline. My 2 handler cutters screw up the play, leaving me nothing, I look upfield for the usual hammer bail, NO ONE even flinches for it, I release a hammer at 10.5 seconds to Josh, who catches it and turns and throws the goal, and I scream 'You have got to be kidding me' (there might have been a swear in there also). My marker asks me if I'm contesting the stall, and I say no, I was pissed at my team. They ultimately score, and we battle it out to the 17-16 victory. Ugh! After the game, I limp to the sideline and worry about the next game with Pike, who has been hanging out in the shade for awhile after their dominating victory over GOAT 15-9 in the semis. I commiserate with Jim about whether this game will even be competitive, but I guess we have a surprise in the kitty.
After not that long a break, where I have gone to the pavilion to rest and get out of the sun, and somebody else flipped for shirts and lost (?!?!), we start the game on offense. Pike comes down in their zone transition, which I of course am psyched about. I believe we score pretty easily, and continue to do so for the first few points of offense. Eventually, they give up the ghost on the transition zone, and come down in straight man, which is unfortunate, but they only get one pull good enough where I am unable to get the first pass because of a streaker. The defense gets some early opportunities and fail, before they finally start scoring. They get a few breaks, the O gives one back, and we take half 8-6 with a break in hand. Lots of trading in the second half before the D gets another break, which the O eventually gives back. Finally, 14-12 and the D gets a turnover, ends up with Funboy on the right goal-line forced sideline with Zip streaking to the cone open, and he gets point-blocked with the force on a casual forehand release for the 2nd of two potential game winners that end up with a huge delay. Pike scores, the wind picks up, and it starts raining. They come down in zone for the first time in awhile, I promptly turf a 30-yard hammer (OK, blade) to Forch just out of reach of his hands. The second it came off my hands, I knew it was trouble. Awkward release, etc. This just after I told the team on the line that we don't want to let Pike score, and then have to score upwind (which is now significant) just to stay on server. However, Pike gives it back to us. Now we are in panic mode with everybody cutting, trying to end the game. I trip over my defender trying to get a dump just as Casey calls time-out. After confirming that I did NOT call foul (probably could have in retrospect, but whatever), and then they blow the horn to clear the fields because of lightning. After at least a 45-minute delay, we get out, warm up, and finally score after another 10 passes where I don't get the disc. Advantage and game, DoG!
On a personal note, I played a little tentatively on Saturday because I had missed the previous 3 weeks (NJ invite and 2 weekends of double practices) due to the travel in Brazil, and the wide-open subbing wasn't helping my confidence in my role on the team. However, I was something like 8-8 on hucks on the weekend (hopefully reminding the team that I used to throw those and that they should cut for them), although a couple of them weren't so hot and the receiver made great catches. I'm not counting the one forehand attempt in the semis (I think) to Zip because it didn't go far enough to be called a huck, although the fact that they other team quickly threw a swing out of bounds on the first pass meant it was a successful 30-yard punt. Can't remember when I had that many hucks without a turn, conceivable ever...:) Otherwise, I felt I had a very good weekend, proving that I can still provide some functionality with this 38-year old body.
Also, there were some questions going into the tournament on seeding. On a personal level, I was initially resistent to our #1 seed, only because it appeared to give us a really easy schedule on Saturday, and at this point in the evolution of the elite game, until Nationals, we are more concerned with getting good competition and good games in preparation for Nationals, rather than tournament victories (although they help...). At first blush, our Saturday schedule look REALLY easy, especially given Pink Pony's (NY, NY), early season performance. However, with some recent SubZero additions, including Masulis and Cooter and I assume a more complete roster than some of the early spring tournaments, they played a much better game against us. Of course, 90+ degree weather and high humidity also added to the equalization of the teams, and fortunately, we were not split-squad for this version, otherwise it would have been a far different story.
Game 1, Pink Pony. Reasonably close first half, pull away in the second for a 14-9 victory, for one of our rare capped games (although more than we used to have, unfortunately). Game 2, 15-6 over Philly Rage, who has still never recovered a shred of their former competitiveness, which is weird, given their status as a major metropolis. I'm assuming that some Philly residents are playing with Pike, but who knows. 3rd round bye spent in the shade (because the bar was closed, so no easy access to AC, but there was a sufficient breeze to make it comfortable). Game 3, Phoenix, who is sporting a HUGE roster. I guess I was expecting a better game, considering that we were still doing wide-open subbing (this is what I call subbing when I don't play most offensive points...and not because of poor play) as we were working out all of the tryouts that were playing with us. This definitely resulted in some interesting lineups on offense, and sometimes defense. However, Phoenix never really threatened in the late day heat, and we won 15-9. This was the first game that the team showed real energy off the field. While not the prototypical field rush and high 5's after goals, there was a LOT of voice on the sidelines, and a lot of cheers with minor field rushing after goals. I hate to say this, but it definitely works/helps the team (and I'm sure other teams) to do this, as it gets you mentally in the game. No more 90's DoG coasting on icecold emotions and confidence and blithely racking up the wins. Spend another hour watching Twisted have another huck/turnover fest and Pony have a competitive cross-over round with Double-Wide, but left before either game was finished, although apparently Twisted won the double game point against a Canadian team to advance this round (as opposed to last year's Regionals game to go). Wish I could have seen it, although I hear there was quite the crowd exhorting both teams on to greater heights of foolishness/turnovers.
Confirming my earlier concerns about an easy pool, we were the only team to make it out to the quarterfinals with Twisted coming out of the Pool of (D)eath (3 teams making it) to beat our 2nd seed Phoenix in the crossover. In what appeared to be a series of unexpected upsets (although we'll see come fall), 4th seed Bulge from Tampa beat both Double-wide AND Twisted Metal (and HOV) to take the pool, with Double-Wide beating Twisted Metal to get 2nd.
Then, of all the stupid things, they made the quarterfinals at 8:30AM the next morning, followed by a 2nd round bye. Much hotter in the early morning Sunday because of little letup from the previous day AND the fact that our welcome little breeze was gone. Quarters was against Potomac (DC), who was sporting a gaudy 2-1 record against DoG this spring, including 2 victories to eliminate us from tournaments (although conveniently I was not there for either one, sporting a 0-0 record...). Nothing really exciting in this game which we won 15-11 except for one offense hell point. I thought I had been called in, but Ted pulled me from the line, which was a little embarrassing, and then both teams proceeded to have at LEAST 5 turnovers apiece, many of which were comedic in nature after awhile, 3 timeouts (2 by DC, 1 by us), but it was not a runaway victory by any means. Then we had to sit for a bye and watch mixed (?!???!?!?!), and you can imagine how that made me feel.
Semifinals at 12:30 in high heat against Sub-Zero, who crushed Bulge 15-9. Since Sub Zero finally broke through and beat DoG back in 2000 or 2001 at Nationals, they have had our number. No matter how poorly they do against common opponents, we always have tough games with them, and are at best .500 with them in the last 5 years, including a loss in the finals of the Boston Invitational. Well, this game proved no different, as we pulled out a 17-16 squeaker, receiving at 16's and scoring without a turnover. This was the first of two games where we had the disc to score, failed, and had a game extend for at LEAST another half hour after that point. At 14-13, I had the disc on the right sideline maybe 15 yards from the goal. Josh McCarthy was sprinting for the cone, juked his guy out of his pants, and then made an away cut which I stepped out and floated the game-winner. But no, I was called for a push off because the guy was humping my leg. When I tried to stand back up straight after the throw, I basically had to push him off me. I bitched and moaned for about 10 seconds, and then stopped realizing that there was little to NO chance he was going to concede the weak call and just hand us a victory. So, stall 6, we call a play to get the disc off the sideline. My 2 handler cutters screw up the play, leaving me nothing, I look upfield for the usual hammer bail, NO ONE even flinches for it, I release a hammer at 10.5 seconds to Josh, who catches it and turns and throws the goal, and I scream 'You have got to be kidding me' (there might have been a swear in there also). My marker asks me if I'm contesting the stall, and I say no, I was pissed at my team. They ultimately score, and we battle it out to the 17-16 victory. Ugh! After the game, I limp to the sideline and worry about the next game with Pike, who has been hanging out in the shade for awhile after their dominating victory over GOAT 15-9 in the semis. I commiserate with Jim about whether this game will even be competitive, but I guess we have a surprise in the kitty.
After not that long a break, where I have gone to the pavilion to rest and get out of the sun, and somebody else flipped for shirts and lost (?!?!), we start the game on offense. Pike comes down in their zone transition, which I of course am psyched about. I believe we score pretty easily, and continue to do so for the first few points of offense. Eventually, they give up the ghost on the transition zone, and come down in straight man, which is unfortunate, but they only get one pull good enough where I am unable to get the first pass because of a streaker. The defense gets some early opportunities and fail, before they finally start scoring. They get a few breaks, the O gives one back, and we take half 8-6 with a break in hand. Lots of trading in the second half before the D gets another break, which the O eventually gives back. Finally, 14-12 and the D gets a turnover, ends up with Funboy on the right goal-line forced sideline with Zip streaking to the cone open, and he gets point-blocked with the force on a casual forehand release for the 2nd of two potential game winners that end up with a huge delay. Pike scores, the wind picks up, and it starts raining. They come down in zone for the first time in awhile, I promptly turf a 30-yard hammer (OK, blade) to Forch just out of reach of his hands. The second it came off my hands, I knew it was trouble. Awkward release, etc. This just after I told the team on the line that we don't want to let Pike score, and then have to score upwind (which is now significant) just to stay on server. However, Pike gives it back to us. Now we are in panic mode with everybody cutting, trying to end the game. I trip over my defender trying to get a dump just as Casey calls time-out. After confirming that I did NOT call foul (probably could have in retrospect, but whatever), and then they blow the horn to clear the fields because of lightning. After at least a 45-minute delay, we get out, warm up, and finally score after another 10 passes where I don't get the disc. Advantage and game, DoG!
On a personal note, I played a little tentatively on Saturday because I had missed the previous 3 weeks (NJ invite and 2 weekends of double practices) due to the travel in Brazil, and the wide-open subbing wasn't helping my confidence in my role on the team. However, I was something like 8-8 on hucks on the weekend (hopefully reminding the team that I used to throw those and that they should cut for them), although a couple of them weren't so hot and the receiver made great catches. I'm not counting the one forehand attempt in the semis (I think) to Zip because it didn't go far enough to be called a huck, although the fact that they other team quickly threw a swing out of bounds on the first pass meant it was a successful 30-yard punt. Can't remember when I had that many hucks without a turn, conceivable ever...:) Otherwise, I felt I had a very good weekend, proving that I can still provide some functionality with this 38-year old body.
posted by Alex de Frondeville at 7:20 AM
5 Comments:
My bad. So I guess the two turnovers were 'mine'... The hammer to Forch against Pike, which if I complete, we will quickly score in a few passes, and the bogus foul call followed by the no cut stall 10.5 hammer.
Just to address Al's little Mixed zinger.
He looked VERY comfortable under the tent, reading the paper, hanging with Simon and Adam, even though it meant having to suffer the indignity of watching his friends play Mixed. Such drama. We almost got him into our break mark drill. I thought if I framed it as a learning experience for us...he would bite.
It was great having fans on the sidelines.
-G
Aw George, you know I don't really mean it...or not. Unfortunately, the other team was not competitive, which meant that there weren't nearly enough turnovers to make fun of. I prefer dingfests like some high-wind women's games. They are easier to make fun of and to stay involved with. But your team was scoring way too easily.
I wanted to join the break mark drill but it was really hot (and the last thing I needed was to be humiliated by getting point blocked, like I was in one of Saturday's games on a break mark backhand swing. Ouch!)
Yeah, that game wasn't very interesting to watch, though the problems weren't really because it was Mixed (more, as Al says, because the game wasn't competitive). But I'd hate to go on and turn Al's post about his victorious open team into yet another referendum on Mixed...
Al, I was surprised we could get you out of your seat!
No, it was fun to have you guys there...and I did not take your comment seriously. I sometimes manage to retain my sense of humor.
Congrats on the win!
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