DCCityBalla's,
Don't forget there's only ONE day left to vote in this month's poll! As of right now, the ODB/Pourhowzers matchup has a comfortable 2 vote lead!
Also, sidenote -- I was talking to someone about Bugles, not the boogie-woogie boy kind, or the taps variety, but rather the finger-topping highly salted corn snacks. I replied, "Bugles suck." He disagreed. Later, I arbitrarily searched the terms "bugles suck," on google. To my dismay, it appears only 5 times on the entire interweb -- and I'm not even sure those 5 people meant the snack food. There are 260 NEW porn sites created PER DAY, numbers are in the hundred-millions...but less than 5people in the english-speaking world think that Bugles suck? Seriously?
Rivalry week this week. Bring your A-games fools.
-Play Ball!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Honor Among Honours
Yes folks, what you've read on the CNN news wire is true -- after months of speculation, I have in fact been awarded the inaugural DCcityBall Player of the Week honors! I have many people and shovels to thank. First off...I couldn't have done this without the help of Jesus, the rest of DCcityBall, and a pretty healthy stout addiction.
Umpiring is not my job or hobby, nay! it is my calling. I would like to regale you all with a brief anecdote, regarding my origins in the officiating vocation. Let me take you back to the year nineteen hundred and ninety-nine( or MCMXCIX for you Romans and film copyrighters out there): I was a troubled unemployed youth looking for answers, Y2K was wreaking havoc on the world, a young two-testicled phenom named Lance was dazzling cyclists for the first time in France, and Brian Littrell was steadily killing rock music with hypnotic dance-pop beats and killer white-boy dance moves.
On one of my frequent stallion rides out into the country ( I was trying to clear my mind, and get "Quit playin' games with my Heart" out of my head) I came across a lowly beggar-man, wrapped in burlap clothes. As I passed him on my galloping steed, he reached his hand out for alms, but I ignored his request and rode on. Miles down the path, my stallion, Mr. Black-Patches, got spooked by a water-moccasin and bucked me into the thorny brush. Hours later, I came to, badly injured and thirsty as the large vague outline of a man interrupted the sunlight's warmth on my face -- that day, my friends, I saw a vision . It was he, the beggar-man I had passed by on my horse, and as he pushed back his burlap hood, I saw that it was HIM. Eric Gregg, National League Umpire! Creator of the 24 inch plate! Eater of chicken wings!
He touched my hand and I was instantly healed, my thirst quenched. He said to me "Go now." But I hesitated. I told him that he saved my life after I had passed him by and refused him alms. He explained that this was the Umpire Code -- "Always help those in need, and THEN demand payment."
"What can I do to repay you, Mr. Gregg," I asked.
He said, "Take this," and handed me a trinket which looked to be made of the most glorious gold this side of the Aztecs(but upon further inspection was indeed plastic). This, he explained, was a very special artifact. It was his umpires clicker. This clicker, Gregg told me, would not only keep track of balls and strikes, but innings, and outs, for that matter. It glowed like the gilded pages of the Holy Bible, and its fluorescent green discs clacked like the tap shoes of Christ Himself.
"You are one of us now, young lad, until you repay your debt -- 10 years, or 100 dollars." It being 1999, and me being completely unemployed, I shook his hand and committed 10 years service to the sports officiating profession.
That day I became an umpire and a man -- I've been both ever since.
Flash forward 9 years into the future, and here I am, proud member of the DcCityball family, still holding that magical clicker, still keeping track of every inning, and still thinking of that wondrous day in which the cosmos reached out to me, and I high-fived the crap out of it.
I'll leave you with the words that Eric Gregg left me on that fateful afternoon --
"In life, you gotta either swing, or get rung up, Bitch. Swing or get rung up...."
Thanks folks,
Play ball!
Umpiring is not my job or hobby, nay! it is my calling. I would like to regale you all with a brief anecdote, regarding my origins in the officiating vocation. Let me take you back to the year nineteen hundred and ninety-nine( or MCMXCIX for you Romans and film copyrighters out there): I was a troubled unemployed youth looking for answers, Y2K was wreaking havoc on the world, a young two-testicled phenom named Lance was dazzling cyclists for the first time in France, and Brian Littrell was steadily killing rock music with hypnotic dance-pop beats and killer white-boy dance moves.
On one of my frequent stallion rides out into the country ( I was trying to clear my mind, and get "Quit playin' games with my Heart" out of my head) I came across a lowly beggar-man, wrapped in burlap clothes. As I passed him on my galloping steed, he reached his hand out for alms, but I ignored his request and rode on. Miles down the path, my stallion, Mr. Black-Patches, got spooked by a water-moccasin and bucked me into the thorny brush. Hours later, I came to, badly injured and thirsty as the large vague outline of a man interrupted the sunlight's warmth on my face -- that day, my friends, I saw a vision . It was he, the beggar-man I had passed by on my horse, and as he pushed back his burlap hood, I saw that it was HIM. Eric Gregg, National League Umpire! Creator of the 24 inch plate! Eater of chicken wings!
He touched my hand and I was instantly healed, my thirst quenched. He said to me "Go now." But I hesitated. I told him that he saved my life after I had passed him by and refused him alms. He explained that this was the Umpire Code -- "Always help those in need, and THEN demand payment."
"What can I do to repay you, Mr. Gregg," I asked.
He said, "Take this," and handed me a trinket which looked to be made of the most glorious gold this side of the Aztecs(but upon further inspection was indeed plastic). This, he explained, was a very special artifact. It was his umpires clicker. This clicker, Gregg told me, would not only keep track of balls and strikes, but innings, and outs, for that matter. It glowed like the gilded pages of the Holy Bible, and its fluorescent green discs clacked like the tap shoes of Christ Himself.
"You are one of us now, young lad, until you repay your debt -- 10 years, or 100 dollars." It being 1999, and me being completely unemployed, I shook his hand and committed 10 years service to the sports officiating profession.
That day I became an umpire and a man -- I've been both ever since.
Flash forward 9 years into the future, and here I am, proud member of the DcCityball family, still holding that magical clicker, still keeping track of every inning, and still thinking of that wondrous day in which the cosmos reached out to me, and I high-fived the crap out of it.
I'll leave you with the words that Eric Gregg left me on that fateful afternoon --
"In life, you gotta either swing, or get rung up, Bitch. Swing or get rung up...."
Thanks folks,
Play ball!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Memorial Day
IntheVicinity and DcCityball would like to wish you all a happy Memorial Day, especially those of you who have served or currently are serving our country. Enjoy your cookouts and BBQ's and remember, if we stop playing co-ed recreational softball, the terrorists have won.
Enjoy your holiday guys and gals -- come back next Sunday rested and prepared for another exciting week of DcCityball match ups! It's Rivalry Week folks!
Enjoy your holiday guys and gals -- come back next Sunday rested and prepared for another exciting week of DcCityball match ups! It's Rivalry Week folks!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
May 18th Notes: Under Protest Edition
That's right, put this post on the illegal list cause its double-walled baby!
Well folks, it seemed impossible, or at least improbable, but DcCityball fought through the 23-game mud-riddled schedule and came out on top! Thanks, of course to its tireless work crew, fearless commish, 5 bags of dirt and some double-walled shovels!
While there were too many games this past weekend to recap, there were some special highlights. Crusher Destroyer crusher-destroyed McKlovin behind bearded-captain Ross's killer shortstop play on field #5 while the Blue Team was all business, rolling on to victory on field #4.
Our late day game featured DcCityball's red cup-toting pals Gang Green against the gang IN green, the Pourhowzers. Gang Green gave the reigning NL champs a scare, but eventually the Howzers pulled away.
Our only postponed game of the day, the much anticipated AAR vs Masterbatters match-up, will be made up at a later date. The game was called entering the 4th inning due to massive puddles, torrential rains, and the increasing likelihood that yours truly would completely faceplant in the mud sometime in the then immediate future.
Evan Stancil Injury Update: the Swingers slugger re-injured his hamstring while doing his very best Mo Vaughn impersonation, lamely stretching for a ball on first base -- but that didn't stop him from belting a majestic double-walled round-tripper, while doing his second best Mo Vaughn impersonation, lumbering around the base paths at a vision-blurring pace of approximately two and a half minutes. The opposing sounting report is that Swingers (aside from the raw power of Stancil and Kate, as well as the slick pitching combo of Dave Sack and Ryan Hemmingway) owe their win to timely hitting, fundamentally sound fielding, and witchcraft.
In off the field news, DcCityball is currently taking requests for which version of the Star Spangled Banner will play prior to the Spring Championship game. Send requests to david@dccityball.com. Personally, I'm pulling for BoyzIIMen...but would settle for a Jodeci rendition, if such a thing existed. Anyway folks, don't forget to vote on this month's poll. Voting will end soon! The winner gets....well...bragging rights I suppose.
That's all for now, more to follow later in the week.
Till then, keep your eyes on the balls, and keep your bats legal,
Play ball!
Well folks, it seemed impossible, or at least improbable, but DcCityball fought through the 23-game mud-riddled schedule and came out on top! Thanks, of course to its tireless work crew, fearless commish, 5 bags of dirt and some double-walled shovels!
While there were too many games this past weekend to recap, there were some special highlights. Crusher Destroyer crusher-destroyed McKlovin behind bearded-captain Ross's killer shortstop play on field #5 while the Blue Team was all business, rolling on to victory on field #4.
Our late day game featured DcCityball's red cup-toting pals Gang Green against the gang IN green, the Pourhowzers. Gang Green gave the reigning NL champs a scare, but eventually the Howzers pulled away.
Our only postponed game of the day, the much anticipated AAR vs Masterbatters match-up, will be made up at a later date. The game was called entering the 4th inning due to massive puddles, torrential rains, and the increasing likelihood that yours truly would completely faceplant in the mud sometime in the then immediate future.
Evan Stancil Injury Update: the Swingers slugger re-injured his hamstring while doing his very best Mo Vaughn impersonation, lamely stretching for a ball on first base -- but that didn't stop him from belting a majestic double-walled round-tripper, while doing his second best Mo Vaughn impersonation, lumbering around the base paths at a vision-blurring pace of approximately two and a half minutes. The opposing sounting report is that Swingers (aside from the raw power of Stancil and Kate, as well as the slick pitching combo of Dave Sack and Ryan Hemmingway) owe their win to timely hitting, fundamentally sound fielding, and witchcraft.
In off the field news, DcCityball is currently taking requests for which version of the Star Spangled Banner will play prior to the Spring Championship game. Send requests to david@dccityball.com. Personally, I'm pulling for BoyzIIMen...but would settle for a Jodeci rendition, if such a thing existed. Anyway folks, don't forget to vote on this month's poll. Voting will end soon! The winner gets....well...bragging rights I suppose.
That's all for now, more to follow later in the week.
Till then, keep your eyes on the balls, and keep your bats legal,
Play ball!
Commissioner's Corner-DC CityBall 1, Weathermen 0.
In what can only be described as the greatest commissioning this side of Bud Selig, a tough decision to keep games going proved to be the right decision as we were able to get 22 of 23 games completed last Sunday. I definitely want to thank all of the teams (especially those who played 3pm games) for toughing it out. And big thanks to the grounds crew for keeping the fields playable during the showers and the Garrett's bartenders for serving FREE Bud/Bud Light all day. With only 2 weeks left in the regular season the tension down at the fields is palpable. Well,its not, but I expect some competitive games as we head towards Rivalry Week on June 1st. We also have some more specials in the works for the next few weeks so stay tuned.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Commissioner's Corner by Commissioner David Sack
After a solid 5 hours the fields are in great condition and ready to go for a DC CityBall record-breaking 23 games tomorrow (weather permitting). As the seasons go by the DC CityBall field crew is really getting good. The investment in a manual sub-pump definitely helped out and also encouraged one passing rollerblader to comment, "Man, that dude takes his softball seriously." Yes I do rollerblader, yes I do. But that wasn't the only interesting moment of the day, as I was also treated to a nice exchange with the National Park Service (who are responsible for maintaining the fields). After a few tense moments I was able to convince the officers that my rake and shovel were meant to help the fields, not harm them. Before returning to their maintenance truck one employee gave me the thumbs up and yelled, "Good Luck!". These words of encouragement instantly became the 2nd most helpful thing the Park Service has ever done for me-trailing only the moment last year when they decided to fill a sink hole in the outfield in the 5th inning of a semi-final game. Hopefully all of the hard work will pay off and we will play our full schedule tomorrow. And don't forget the FREE BEER ALL DAY at Garrett's in Georgetown.
Monday, May 12, 2008
May 11th Notes etc, Mother's Day edition
Break out your pink bats and send mama some flowers, its the Mother's Day edition of IntheVicinity!
Well, another week of games is in the books (sort of), so here are the May 11th reflections and musings, etc, etc.
Midweek rain and some poorly draining soil threatened to wipe out week 5 alltogether, but with the hard work of commissioner David Sack, DcCityball jack-of-all-trades Ryan Hemingway, and yours truly, along with the help of a few iron rakes and a bag or two of dry dirt, DcCityball was able to get underway shortly after 10:05am on fields #5 and #6.
Field 6 saw the Mad Cows lose a tough one to an understaffed Bayside Tigers squad, 17-5, while the artists formerly known as Burt Hill, The Square Pegs, couldn't find their groove in the early game, getting hammered 27-3.
Now, be careful with those high-fives, as it's time for the Game of the Week honors!
*Down on field #5, The Swingers faced off against a tough Ace of Basehits crew. While the Ace of Basehits may be the early front runners for Uniform of the Year honors, they couldn't hang on to early momentum -- after setting the Swingers down 1-2-3 in the first inning, the Ace of Basehits couldn't manufacture quite as many hits as their Swedish techno-pop namesakes, eventually falling 10-3. Highlights include a home run, ninja high-five (hope you're alright Danielle) and game ending Willie Mays catch by right fielder Salim, as well as a valiant Lou Gehrig-like performance by the injured Evan Stancil.
In what would prove to be the last game of the day, Gang Green lost an absolute heart breaker in a rain shortened 5 inning game, getting clipped 11-10 by an 8-man Wide Stances team...and then the rains came.
A game-time decision for the 4:15 game was made a whole lot easier as the wind and rains picked up, peppered with the ominous clack of far away thunder.The softball gods had seen enough for the day, as the last 6 games of the day were washed out. Fortunately DcCityball was able to get the bulk of their games in, but a few will have to be made up on a later date. Sounds like an exciting double-header Sunday to me!
The rains are still fallin' so that's gonna do it for this weeks recap. Keep an eye out for new updates this week, and be sure to check out DcCityball's spankin new website , with a certain awesome umpire named as Player of the Week! Take that, weird guy from Masters of Eminent Domain!
Good luck next weekend to all teams involved and stretch out those hammies.
Till next time,
Play ball.
Well, another week of games is in the books (sort of), so here are the May 11th reflections and musings, etc, etc.
Midweek rain and some poorly draining soil threatened to wipe out week 5 alltogether, but with the hard work of commissioner David Sack, DcCityball jack-of-all-trades Ryan Hemingway, and yours truly, along with the help of a few iron rakes and a bag or two of dry dirt, DcCityball was able to get underway shortly after 10:05am on fields #5 and #6.
Field 6 saw the Mad Cows lose a tough one to an understaffed Bayside Tigers squad, 17-5, while the artists formerly known as Burt Hill, The Square Pegs, couldn't find their groove in the early game, getting hammered 27-3.
Now, be careful with those high-fives, as it's time for the Game of the Week honors!
*Down on field #5, The Swingers faced off against a tough Ace of Basehits crew. While the Ace of Basehits may be the early front runners for Uniform of the Year honors, they couldn't hang on to early momentum -- after setting the Swingers down 1-2-3 in the first inning, the Ace of Basehits couldn't manufacture quite as many hits as their Swedish techno-pop namesakes, eventually falling 10-3. Highlights include a home run, ninja high-five (hope you're alright Danielle) and game ending Willie Mays catch by right fielder Salim, as well as a valiant Lou Gehrig-like performance by the injured Evan Stancil.
In what would prove to be the last game of the day, Gang Green lost an absolute heart breaker in a rain shortened 5 inning game, getting clipped 11-10 by an 8-man Wide Stances team...and then the rains came.
A game-time decision for the 4:15 game was made a whole lot easier as the wind and rains picked up, peppered with the ominous clack of far away thunder.The softball gods had seen enough for the day, as the last 6 games of the day were washed out. Fortunately DcCityball was able to get the bulk of their games in, but a few will have to be made up on a later date. Sounds like an exciting double-header Sunday to me!
The rains are still fallin' so that's gonna do it for this weeks recap. Keep an eye out for new updates this week, and be sure to check out DcCityball's spankin new website , with a certain awesome umpire named as Player of the Week! Take that, weird guy from Masters of Eminent Domain!
Good luck next weekend to all teams involved and stretch out those hammies.
Till next time,
Play ball.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
May 3rd Notes and New Website
Greetings DcCityballers,
After a brief hiatus, IntheVicinity is back in action!
This past week saw some new teams rising making names for themselves, notably ODB, KBR, and the Diamond Cutters, among others, in addition to some Cityball staples -- The Swingers, Bayside Tigers and the Blue Team -- continuing to build upon their respective legends.
The 3-week forfeitless streak was sadly broken only moments after Commissioner David Sack was heard to have said, "I hope I didn't jinx it." Sadly David, you did.
The week went smoothly, with the Game of the Week honors going to a marathon 7-inning, 7-hour slug-athon between More Cowbell and the Killer Bunny Rabbits, with KBR coming out on top -- More Cowbell needed a few more runs, and a bit less cowbell. Get em next week MC!
In other DCCB news, the PourHowzers and Swingers both continue to cruise, seemingly on an irreversible collision course with one another, as only time, and the last week of the season, will tell.(Editor's note: Swingers outfielder Evan "knee wound" after suffered a strained hamstring and a bruised ego after an embarrasing split sliding back into 2nd base last Sunday. Team Doctor Salim (sp) pronounced him "done" for the day. Stancil is listed as a game-time decision.)
In other points of interest, down on field #4 the Masterbatters were unable to overcome an early inning offensive explosion by the Blue Team, while on field #5 IntheVicinity favorite Gang Green lost a tough one to the Ligers, who showed some wicked skills in magic and getting extra base hits.
IntheVicinity would also like to point out the league's new-look website DcCityball .
Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for posts by your favorite Commish Dave Sack in IntheVicinity's Commish's Corner, as well as interviews with featured team captains and umpires!
Till next week, keep your eyes on the prize and your beers in a cup
-Play ball!
Ps. Check out the most recent issue of On Tap magazine for a great little write up of DcCityball and a fabulous half-picture of your's truly.
After a brief hiatus, IntheVicinity is back in action!
This past week saw some new teams rising making names for themselves, notably ODB, KBR, and the Diamond Cutters, among others, in addition to some Cityball staples -- The Swingers, Bayside Tigers and the Blue Team -- continuing to build upon their respective legends.
The 3-week forfeitless streak was sadly broken only moments after Commissioner David Sack was heard to have said, "I hope I didn't jinx it." Sadly David, you did.
The week went smoothly, with the Game of the Week honors going to a marathon 7-inning, 7-hour slug-athon between More Cowbell and the Killer Bunny Rabbits, with KBR coming out on top -- More Cowbell needed a few more runs, and a bit less cowbell. Get em next week MC!
In other DCCB news, the PourHowzers and Swingers both continue to cruise, seemingly on an irreversible collision course with one another, as only time, and the last week of the season, will tell.(Editor's note: Swingers outfielder Evan "knee wound" after suffered a strained hamstring and a bruised ego after an embarrasing split sliding back into 2nd base last Sunday. Team Doctor Salim (sp) pronounced him "done" for the day. Stancil is listed as a game-time decision.)
In other points of interest, down on field #4 the Masterbatters were unable to overcome an early inning offensive explosion by the Blue Team, while on field #5 IntheVicinity favorite Gang Green lost a tough one to the Ligers, who showed some wicked skills in magic and getting extra base hits.
IntheVicinity would also like to point out the league's new-look website DcCityball .
Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for posts by your favorite Commish Dave Sack in IntheVicinity's Commish's Corner, as well as interviews with featured team captains and umpires!
Till next week, keep your eyes on the prize and your beers in a cup
-Play ball!
Ps. Check out the most recent issue of On Tap magazine for a great little write up of DcCityball and a fabulous half-picture of your's truly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
