First off, let's get this out of the way: traveling, what the hell is it? Because clearly I don't know. To resolve, let us now open our copy of the Official USA Ultimate 11th Edition Rules Handbook, as linked from the hideous HURL website, to section XVI, Violations & Fouls, sub-para J, Traveling, sub-sub-paras a and b (and keep in mind that this is a self-refereed sport):
J. Traveling: […blah blah bah...] each of the following is a travel:
a. A player catches the disc and either speeds up, changes direction or does not stop as quickly as possible before establishing a pivot (XV.B).
b. A player receives a pass while running or jumping, and releases a pass after the third ground contact and before establishing a pivot (XV.C).
c. […it goes on...]
So, basically: upon catching the disc, you have to stop as quickly as possible, yet may advance the disc without establishing a pivot if you can do so within three steps, provided it would take you more than three steps to stop "as quickly as possible", I guess. Sheesh - I can't see how this could possibly be misinterpreted, what with all of that solid objective and in-no-way-contradictory logic (maybe it will be corrected in the 12th Edition). Further, a call of "travel" results in a stoppage of play and a "check", which... god knows what the hell that is. In conclusion: that guy was a dick, and I am but an innocent angel.
MOVING ON. Despite the double loss, I thought we played quite well last night. Lots of great runs; some really good disc movement; some great diving catches from Aimee and Sandy and Jean (ha ha, sorry Jean); lots o' nice D (yay Melisa and Mike); and the usual expected but not-taken-for-granted handling skills of Gregor and Jenn and Becky. Our first win will come soon enough, and when it does, I may vomit out of sheer relief/happiness/poor pre-game meal decisions. If I had any suggestions, and these are particularly rich coming from me, we should (i) practice a a little more patience with the disc, (ii) work to set up the stack a little more consistently, and (iii) try to avoid clogging up the passing lanes. But, whatever, improvement noted all around.
And now for the Bag Of Hammers injury update: Nick says his knee is still sore, but less so than last night when he was forced to leave out of fear that he would talk himself into playing again (his words). This is good news. Meanwhile, Chris "Patrice Bergeron" Ruddick was able to play the entire second game with a sore lower back, and I've had no reports of him being hospitalized today. As for my sore quads, still sore... the drugs, they do nothing!
The Armview Regrettable 9:30 PM Souvlaki Wrap Players of the Game: to Melisa and Sandy, for their fabulous timing - arriving when needed most, to provide subs for our ailing troops. And for playing real good, too.
Until next week, folks - stay fit and have fun!
-AA
Friday, June 28, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
All Knotted Up
That's more like it.
During the pre-game disc toss/flip - my only real responsibility as co-captain aside from prepping useless info-graphics, obnoxious cheering, aggressive high-fiving and congratulatory back-patting (which, incidentally, I've made a mental note to stop doing, as it may be off-putting to some… at least I've stopped winking at people) - the captain of the awesomely-named Draft Punk team assured me that his team was "pretty chill", with some newbies, so to expect a relaxed game with lots of potential picks and fouls. Well, apparently, such games are where the Bag Of Hammers are best positioned to succeed, or at least, not be completely annihilated. A tie is not a loss, and a non-loss is basically a win, so... FUCKING A!
That said - to think what might have been had I not uttered to Jean, upon going up two points (the most dangerous lead in Ultimate, apparently): "feels good to be winning for a change". Ugh. And then at half, we made the similarly regrettable-in-retrospect decision to agree to one last point after time expiration - a point that would eventually negate our last beautiful lead of the night. So: sorry, Hammers, for my contribution to the perfect storm of short-sightedness and karma that denied us the sweet, sweet taste of victory for another week; clearly the patchouli-scented, hippy god of Ultimate (w/ knee-high tube socks and headband) has bigger plans for our team…
But the improvement, oh the improvement! Bolstered by the triumphant returns of Michelle, Jean and mighty handlers Derek and Gregor, our offence increased by infinity-% (har har); everyone touched the disc (many times); the scoring was fairly distributed; we were able to execute a successful stack or a number of plays; and I don't think anyone left the field wondering why they bothered to sign up. Improvement! And the highlights, from co-Freeman's Giant-Ass Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Beverage (w/ booze, pictured below) Players of the Game: Aimee and Cruddick Ruddick, who executed a fearless diving snag and perfectly placed hammer for the score (heh heh), respectively. Huzzah!
Seriously fun game, team. See y'all at the Spryfield double-header next week. In the meantime, I'll try to brush up on the rules...
-AA
During the pre-game disc toss/flip - my only real responsibility as co-captain aside from prepping useless info-graphics, obnoxious cheering, aggressive high-fiving and congratulatory back-patting (which, incidentally, I've made a mental note to stop doing, as it may be off-putting to some… at least I've stopped winking at people) - the captain of the awesomely-named Draft Punk team assured me that his team was "pretty chill", with some newbies, so to expect a relaxed game with lots of potential picks and fouls. Well, apparently, such games are where the Bag Of Hammers are best positioned to succeed, or at least, not be completely annihilated. A tie is not a loss, and a non-loss is basically a win, so... FUCKING A!
That said - to think what might have been had I not uttered to Jean, upon going up two points (the most dangerous lead in Ultimate, apparently): "feels good to be winning for a change". Ugh. And then at half, we made the similarly regrettable-in-retrospect decision to agree to one last point after time expiration - a point that would eventually negate our last beautiful lead of the night. So: sorry, Hammers, for my contribution to the perfect storm of short-sightedness and karma that denied us the sweet, sweet taste of victory for another week; clearly the patchouli-scented, hippy god of Ultimate (w/ knee-high tube socks and headband) has bigger plans for our team…
But the improvement, oh the improvement! Bolstered by the triumphant returns of Michelle, Jean and mighty handlers Derek and Gregor, our offence increased by infinity-% (har har); everyone touched the disc (many times); the scoring was fairly distributed; we were able to execute a successful stack or a number of plays; and I don't think anyone left the field wondering why they bothered to sign up. Improvement! And the highlights, from co-Freeman's Giant-Ass Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Beverage (w/ booze, pictured below) Players of the Game: Aimee and Cruddick Ruddick, who executed a fearless diving snag and perfectly placed hammer for the score (heh heh), respectively. Huzzah!
Seriously fun game, team. See y'all at the Spryfield double-header next week. In the meantime, I'll try to brush up on the rules...
-AA
Friday, June 7, 2013
Welcome To The Jungle!
Well, the first game of the season - it was what it was ('twas what 'twas?). And what 'twas was a (re)introduction of many of you to the Bag of Hammers, and even to the game in general - and by those measures, it was a resounding success!
As for the game itself, as I seem to type every year following the first game, it was merely a rough approximation of what we will soon become - a smiley and casually athletic team with good legs and hands... with a hidden dark passenger just waiting to wrap an opponent in Saran Wrap and dissect them into tiny bites at the first hint of disrespect (that last part may just apply to me and my repressed rage issues, but if it does by chance apply to you as well, feel free to acknowledge with the standard sociopath association handshake, and meet me at the Mic Mac Rogers desk next Saturday night to "settle my phone bill"). Once we are relegated to our most appropriate division, we will score points... we will win games... we will be competitive - I have no doubt. In the meantime, don't get down, enjoy the fesh air and exercise, and ask plenty of questions if you got 'em!
And myself, I acknowledge making some poor decisions with the disk last night, and will strive to hit the near open guy (apologies Melissa x 2), vice launching a wobbly, misguided bomb to a streaking Cruddick or Mike (but keep streaking, guys, KEEP STREAKING).
The WTTWD team awarded Becky and Sandy(1) the male and female MVPs last night, and I can't so much disagree - but note that we all played well, wind be damned. I'll also acknowledge Nick's birthday performance last night - playing through injury (a sore pinky - eat shit, Gregory Campbell), before slamming back two big beers and duetting with Laurie The Guy at Lions Head karaoke for a lovely version of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald " (eat shit, Gordon Lightfoot)**.
Can't wait to see y'all again next week!
Sincerely,
-AA
PS: did anyone pick up my Frisbee? I seem to have, um, misplaced it.
** Note: may not have actually happened.
As for the game itself, as I seem to type every year following the first game, it was merely a rough approximation of what we will soon become - a smiley and casually athletic team with good legs and hands... with a hidden dark passenger just waiting to wrap an opponent in Saran Wrap and dissect them into tiny bites at the first hint of disrespect (that last part may just apply to me and my repressed rage issues, but if it does by chance apply to you as well, feel free to acknowledge with the standard sociopath association handshake, and meet me at the Mic Mac Rogers desk next Saturday night to "settle my phone bill"). Once we are relegated to our most appropriate division, we will score points... we will win games... we will be competitive - I have no doubt. In the meantime, don't get down, enjoy the fesh air and exercise, and ask plenty of questions if you got 'em!
And myself, I acknowledge making some poor decisions with the disk last night, and will strive to hit the near open guy (apologies Melissa x 2), vice launching a wobbly, misguided bomb to a streaking Cruddick or Mike (but keep streaking, guys, KEEP STREAKING).
The WTTWD team awarded Becky and Sandy(1) the male and female MVPs last night, and I can't so much disagree - but note that we all played well, wind be damned. I'll also acknowledge Nick's birthday performance last night - playing through injury (a sore pinky - eat shit, Gregory Campbell), before slamming back two big beers and duetting with Laurie The Guy at Lions Head karaoke for a lovely version of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald " (eat shit, Gordon Lightfoot)**.
Can't wait to see y'all again next week!
Sincerely,
-AA
PS: did anyone pick up my Frisbee? I seem to have, um, misplaced it.
** Note: may not have actually happened.
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