Fin.

The Hammers' 2010 season ended on Saturday with the playoffs analogous to the summer as a whole. Consider:

• The arrival at a damp, windy field in the middle of butt-fuck nowhere to face the Discs of Fury to kick things off (season opener at Cowie Hill vs. tourney opener in Mordor);
• The non-serious manner in which the Hammers treated all things frisbee (compare the season-long decision to avoid practice to the decision to hit Timmy Ho's and the NSLC between Games 1 and 2);
• The sensation of growing fonder of the experience as the day/season wore on.

But key (Ha! I said "buttkey"...) distinctions render it an imperfect comparison. While we all would have liked a season extension for a few more weeks, I sensed we were all happy to call it a day after three games on Saturday.

A more important distinction was found on the scoreboard after Game 1 on Saturday, leading the captain of the defeated Furious Discs to congratulate us for our progress from June through September. Whereas his early-season cigarettes were mocking, his Saturday morning cigarette was an act of resignation following defeat by a long-time rival. Pupil bests teacher and all that. His humility was more delicious than the "Everything bagel" w. herb & garlic cream cheese I savoured shortly thereafter. Barely.

Games 2 and 3 were great, other than the brief hiccup of anger caused by the other team's visor-sporting wanker on the first point of Game 3 but nothing could have brought me down after the opening-game win. The Hammers brought tenacious D all day long, unforgivingly so against the (once again) shorthanded Sloppy Joes. A few calls, a touch of fatigue (and perhaps a drunk captain) prevented the Hammers from completing a 3-0 day but kudos to Kate for coining the halftime cheer as we faced a halftime deficit - "Ain't no thang." Big props to our formerly Fredericton duo of Dan and Marcie for patient handling all day long (and also to Dan for the best layout of the year).

Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday or at any point this season. Derek, we missed you like the deserts miss the rain this weekend. Bryan (and possibly Kate) may follow the lead of Heather in looking for new teams in new cities next summer. God speed, you wonderful people. I hope everyone else can make it to next summer's roster.

As always, I love you all.