Thanks guys.
I kicked once before NYJ, on Dec. 13, didn't record any highlights but my note says "generally moving in the right direction." Guess I'll focus on the NYJ writeup for the rest of this post.
So, for me NYJ was very different this year. I think a lot of it has to do with how my schedule is right now. I've probably mentioned this before in the blog but I'm working and taking more than full time classes, so life is very hectic (except for this week, which I basically have off from everything). The timing for NYJ was actually pretty bad for me, I really need my weekends to get caught up on all my school work. But it worked out fine.
In the weeks leading up to NYJ my only involvement was lodging some people/making some suggestions to people about getting hotel rooms. Let's see, how should I put this... in 2009 there were a lot of problems with accomodations. This year I thought was much better in that area, despite the uncertainty about the third day of the event. Again, it worked out fine.
I'd like to do a long, very detailed narrative recap but I honestly don't remember enough. I'm also kind of struggling to find some highlights. Like I said, this was a very different event than most years for me. I didn't play that much, I didn't really care that I wasn't playing. In previous years, how well I played really mattered. Not so much this year. The fact is NYJ is in the middle of the offseason and I'll never be at my peak for it. Its become more important to enjoy spending time with all the friends that I don't get to see except for once or twice a year. And playing badly & enjoying myself generally don't go hand in hand.
The day before NYJ, the guys from Toledo - Donovon, Greg, and Sawyer - crashed at my place. We went up to Reile's & hung out with the crew, which was a good way to get things started.
On the first day, I played for a while at the event site, probably too much, and really wore myself out. But it was fun. I got to play with a bunch of cool people. Eating deep dish pizza basically shut me down for the rest of the night.
I barely went to the event site at all the second day, which was on purpose. For one thing I had to check out of one of the rooms that was in my name, and for another I walked around the whole event looking for other sports to try. Golf is hard. And apparently I've got a swing like Charles Barkley. Maybe its time to change my nickname here on modified... Archery was fun. I would do it again. Having archery and footbag for hobbies might just be too weird for me to handle.
After basically blowing off the event on the second day, I watched part of the Steelers game in the CIC room & ordered some Thai food with Tim, since neither of us partake in the beef sammiches. Then went to the sauna with Ken & Evan, which was great.
I did compete in request combo and the 2 square tournament. I got to the sixth round I think, which was ripwalk> pdx whirl or some toe-to-toe combo with legbeater & some other trick I've never done. I commented to Emily & Steve that I could do one of the four tricks in the round, and figured I'd at least hit the ripwalk and then maybe have a valiant attempt at the pdx whirl. Nope. Out on ripwalk for the second year running. Which is fine, I hadn't been working on stepping lately & it was pretty poor all through NYJ.
As far as 2 square goes, I'm pretty sure I had the toughest pool in the tournament, with Zeke and Tommy. Three Chicago guys in one pool? And I looked at some of the other pools and man... anyway. I did not advance out of my pool. With Zeke in the pool, I figured I would have to sweep everyone else to advance. Even though I put up a good defense against Zeke and capitalized on his mistakes, I also made a lot of mistakes. Four outs and two short kicks that landed in my own square - just way too many mistakes against someone as good as Zeke.
I started off well against Tommy but he really stepped up his game and I did not advance. He had one shot that I just could not defend. I was kind of mad at myself for about five minutes for sucking out on the last point, but oh well. Again, a few years ago it really mattered to me to at least make top 8 in 2 square, but I've barely been playing squares these past few years so I can't really take it too hard. I watched and judged several of the remaining games, which were all pretty good I thought.
Played some good games of warzone, and also some shady games of warzone. Sorry Ken. The warzone league should fine me for that hit. I think its really fun but its definitely not for everyone. And while the tackling aspect can be fun - e.g. picking someone up & bring them into your square to get a foul against them is hilarious - I think its the most problematic part of the game. Maybe a rule against holding on to the other player or something is needed. I felt like Reile, Tommy & I built some good chemistry & developed some good plays.
Other than warzone & the 2sq tournament, I didn't play any foursquare. This is fine. I don't like the really big foursquare games with super long lines.
Checked out the next day, straight back into the grind of another week of classes, which could have gone better but oh well.
After the event, I kicked with Tom, Tim, & Zach. I was really glad to do this because I barely kicked with Zach at all during the event. Maybe briefly on the first day? I had a great session. Probably the last session that felt this good was kicking with Tom at Merrimac when I hit pixie ss rake & pixie op rake bsos, or with Tommy downtown at Millennium when I hit swerve> dlo & a bunch of other stuff towards the end of the summer.
terrage x4
slice
pixie muted clipper> double pickup
pdx dlo
smear> plo> smear> pixie ss clipper> ripwalk> whirl> dlo> symp mirage> some bops
assorted other good strings
Shoutouts/highlights/random other things:
the first documented case of "footbag fans" - five of them! And they all snickered at "gyro butterfly swirl"
props to Toledo for showing up, especially Donovon for organizing that scene. Looking forward to hearing more about the Toledo jam.
Grant Mooney is a funny guy
Quench Man
Waking up next to Ken
"This guy bones like Frank Sinatra!"
Steve Goldberg, for sponsoring the shred room and giving us all a place to chill
Everybody who contributed $$ to the shred room
Montreal, for road tripping out like champs. Always good seeing you guys
kicking in a hack circle
Emily, for stooping to my level
Zach Jahner, great to see you kicking again & not being injured
The Pennsylvania/Ohio guys for getting another active scene together
Tom Kotsakos, for running all the shred room stuff
Scott Davidson, for running the event site stuff
Tim Werner, good hanging out while you've been in town, maybe San Fran this summer? Maybe
James Risden, we didn't really play but it was fun hanging out
Antoine Dodson, just for being himself
Zac Miley, for killing it in circle & advancing to finals
Sauna with Ken & Evan
All the other homies that I am forgetting at the moment
Brian has gotten so good since, what, two years ago when he got 2nd in intermediates at NYJ? Crazy.
Zeke, for a great Christmas present that I will most definitely get a lot of use out of
Anyway, if I didn't mention you by name, my bad. Good times had by all.
Because my future is so bright, etc. etc.
