Violation!

Well folkz, the Hammers (Bag of) have come back down to earth. After starting the season with an inspired 3-0 run, we have dropped the last two like so many of my panicked pizza cutter flicks. Despite the narrow margins - 2 points and 4 points - this sudden about-face brings to mind the rapid ascent and equally rapid descent of the Toronto Maple Leafs and their Canadian sports media cock tease of a start to the 2010-11 NHL season. Recall that they sat atop the Eastern Conference after a quick and meaningless start before remembering that they were the Toronto Maple Leafs and began acting appropriately (i.e. losing). I am always loathe to draw parallels between my life and that of the Leafs (but quick to jump at every opportunity to mock the Leafs and their aggressively-optimistic-despite-all-logic fans**) so I hope this depressing smugly-satisfying anecdote does not turn out apt. Hammers - may we bounce back like the 2008-09 Penguins.

** Sincere apologies to all Leaf fans on the Hammers. If you'd like some ammunition for retaliation, know that (a) my Habs are equally dysfunctional and over-rated, albeit marginally more successful of late, and (b) I have the bulk of the Coldplay and Counting Crows discographies on my iPod. Use at your own discretion.

Right. The game.

Some days our laid back and unconfrontational (real word?) nature proves to be a detriment (see: here as well). While not solely to blame for our loss last night, it maaaay have been a contributor. For example, witness the first point the Querks tallied, which probably could have been called back on account of a travel (one of many), a pick (maybe?), or an out-of-bounds (as viewed from the sidelines). Now maybe I don't "know the rules" or am a "sore loser" or am "struggling to find an angle", but I suspect that, collectively, we would rather lose with relative dignity than engage in a long-winded and ultimately fruitless argument with some sweaty, mouthy, anal dude in a head-band. Which I am okay with. What am I trying to say here…? Jesus, I don't know. As you were.

But enough whining, let's make with some positives. Last night saw the Hammers employ sound defensive strategy with a zone D into the wind, which might have been our undoing, but was certainly the right idea. We also had more stacks on offense than ever before, and a pretty good run of handling against their zone D (which they totally copied from us). We had a few excellent sequences of short quick passes up the field (Becky -> Aimee -> Marcy -> Dan, I think), and some truly selfless play from both Matt and Derek, who sacrificed both face and several layers of forearm skin to ensure the game remained within reach. The Freeman's Bottled Heineken Player Of the Game, though, goes to Dan for not only being in attendance and providing me with spare cleats after my $30 Canadian Tire jobs disintegrated, but also for the fantastic, inadvertently-dirty pre-huck advice of "go in slow and out fast!"

Huzzah!

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to both Marcy and Maria for repeatedly getting your names mixed up (know that I do in fact know who's who), and also to Disc Array whom I greeted at Freeman's last night as Random Fling. But I blame Michelle and Matt for that one.

Until next week,
AA

PS: also to consider/discuss:
- should we reschedule the July 28th game on account of vacations and Arcade Fire concert attendance?
- July team BBQ/dance party anyone?
- Are Hall & Oats truly deserving of their Number One Pop Artist (1980-83) designation, per Casey Casem?