No Kickball?!?

So apparently there aren't any games scheduled this week. Wtf?
Well, the momentum of the WDROS steamroller will surely last two weeks. Rest up, team!

WAKA people suing each other

Carter posted a link to an article in the Washington City Paper announcing some d-r-a-m-a going on internally within the WAKA world. Here's the text:

Owners of Kickball Goliath Now Suing Each Other

Posted by Dave McKenna on May. 18, 2007, at 12:16 pm

The evil geniuses who make a living by claiming a kids game as their own aren’t playing well with each other anymore.

The four founders of the World Adult Kickball Association (David Lowry, Jimmy Walicek, Johnny LeHane, and Rich Humphrey) made themselves look like playground bullies last year by filing a federal lawsuit against fellow local adult kickballer Carter Rabasa. That complaint alleges that Rabasa’s league, DCKickball, violated copyright law by using the same kickball rules that WAKA and every third grader since caveman times use.

Well, it turns out that those wacky WAKAns aren’t content to just sue outsiders. While waiting for the DCKickball litigation to be resolved, these fine fellows are suing each other, too. According to the Virginia Lawyers Weekly, the three other founders apparently decided that Humphrey wasn’t pulling his weight and voted him out of the limited-liability corporation that owns WAKA and takes in millions of dollars in dues. Then they filed a lawsuit against Humphrey in circuit court in Fairfax County alleging he was tampering with the group’s Web site. (WAKA brass is big on Web-site chicanery, having bought up the dckickball.com domain name after Rabasa announced his intention to form a rival league.) Then Humphrey filed a countersuit against the other three, using all sorts of grownup words like “fiduciary” to say that his apparently ex-pals ripped him off.

Somebody needs a spanking!

Seriously. Seriously!

It sounds like a disaster. Also it sounds like WAKA has endless sums of money and lawyers on retainer and plans to spend a lot of time generating paper in a paralegal's cubicle.

Ohmygod we won

We friggin' won. We WON. First game of the season!

We had a full house too - me and Hutch, Brian, Fred, Lan, Kat (heckling from the sidelines and on the field), Ari, Jeremy, Zach, Jeff, Noah, Becki, Liz, Liz's gf Alisha, Brighton's friend Joanna. And the other team... well they didn't have enough guys. So inevitably we beat them. But we didn't know that.

Hutch can write up a far more effective write up than this. But lets' just say that Hutch, Brian and I got sick of losing and started strategizing. We were up by 3 at the end of the first inning, and swept the other team away by the end of the 3rd. Lizzie scored a run. She wants everyone to know that. Kat wanted dibs on the returning MVP dibs. Rookie MVP honors goes to Lan, for continuing our multi run streak in the first inning alone.

In the third inning, Steve was at first and I was behind him in right field and I kept yelling that I had his back. (This didn't go so well). Fred made the most bizarre loop around the bases and almost got Hutch out. Like somewhere between second and third, he made a detour or something. I didn't understand it.

Hutch totally took charge of the team strategy. I am so proud of him.

It was a heart racing, heart pumping round of kickball. I am going to be so sad when I have to leave.

Meanwhile the league party is at Grand Central in AdMo on June 9th.

At the bar, first we proved we were the better yellow against the goldenrod team ("Lickballs"), which was okay because there was a guy on that team who was sort of cute. Then we got together and ganged up on the team we beat earlier ("the Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins", whatever the hell that is). There was this dude on the green team who started totally hard core heckling us and Hutch and I would smack him on the forehead and scream back at him.

So see you again next week! I'll be the one with the cube.

Tonight, Redemption is spelled H U T C H

Tonight, the unbridled beast will return to the kickball field.

Tonight, the other teams will tremble.

Tonight, they will need an extra ball after I split one in two.

Tonight, I will land on the field in a helicopter wearing helicopter shades.

We must win tonight. Let's win one for Sirinyay, who is leaving for LA.

Let's win one for our faithfully departed - Allie, Damian, Kyle, Heather, Suja, Andrea, the Hebrew Hammer, Sean, Rebecca, Adam Heller.

Let's harness the passion, skill and energy from our dominating flipcup night to a kickball win.

Let's put the league on notice that we will not let this aggression stand.

Let's argue every call with the referee.

Let's make fun of the other team for bunting.

Let's win.

Pics from Week 4- Courtesy of Brandy

Click here: http://picasaweb.google.com/brandice78/BVRWeek4 for some more sweet pics from Wednesday.

Happy Friday everyone!

I'm sorry I wasn't there

I ran into Steve-O near Brighton's place while riding my bike home from work. I was rocking my Youth L yellow shirt (thank you Carter for dutifully fulfilling my requested size), so of course Steve-O could see me from a mile away. So it rained for like an hour way before the game started, but the grass was soaked and the likes of me and Hutch would've messed up the field had we played. Steve-O asked me where I was headed, as he was going to the bar. I went home. To pack. That's because I am leaving the DC metro area.

So last night, I packed up the books I wanted to schlep home. Team, you may claim any of the following selections:

-GRE prep books (a Kaplan guide, 10 sample tests, etc) and variations of how to get into graduate school
- Summer Breeze by Elin Hildenbrand
- a book by Anita Shreve
- Take Time for Your Life (a life coach book)
- Take Time for Your Finances (a finances book)
- Healthwise Notebook (a Kaiser Permanente publication
- Prep, Curtis Sittenfeld's outstanding debut novel

I know I am lame. My lame train name is JewBagel.

We are the champions

...of flip cup, that is. For those of you that did not make it to the Front Page last night (i.e. everyone except myself, Steve, Dan Yang, Hutch and Ari, with a brief cameo by Jen), you missed a great show. It started off small-- me (double-cupping) and Brandy (from Bob Vance; a real trooper--she had just given blood AND it was her bye week, but she still came!) versus Hutch, Dan and Steve-- and then got bigger as we stole more and more tables and found some people from the Lickballs team to play against. Basically, IDROS plus Brandy plus Donovan dominated the entire time, including when we all used only our left hands to flip. I think the other team maybe won two games. But that's just because we let them, kind of like they let their little sister win sometimes...
I could go on and on about how amazing our flip cup performance was, but I will soon be posting some pictures that I think speak for themselves (e.g. cups being flipped with tongues, feet, elbows, etc.)
Anyway, thanks to everyone who was there for a good time, and to everyone who wasn't-- now you know what you are missing.

Jesus hates kickball

So the games have been cancelled tonight, due to weather which hasn't even arrived yet. Reminds me of the time I was in Junior High in Seattle when school was closed early because of an expected windstorm, which wasn't even supposed to start until 5 pm, and didn't actually start until 10 pm. Regardless, we were let out of school at 1 pm. No one complained.

So who's planning on going to the Front Page tonight?

The Art of the Man Bunt

The Man Bunt is what bothers me the most about kickball. The Man Bunt occurs when someone who appears to be male steps up to the plate in kickball and then daintily taps the ball in front of home plate. He then invariably sprints like a girl to first base with his arms waving all over the place. Are you that intimidated by the kickball defense that you need to do this? Are you afraid of someone catching the ball? Are you afraid of someone gunning you out at first base? What are your motives for playing kickball, proving just how afraid you are? Go find another, safer sport. Why don't you try synchronized swimming?

Unfortunately, the prevalence of man bunters in the league has cause kickball defenses to come up with new strategies to defend the powerful tactic. I once was at a game where the defense had the catcher in front of home plate, the 3rd baseman and pitcher creeping up, and another infielder in between the 3rd baseman and the pitcher. It's kind of sad that kickball has evolved into this type of game.

The main defense that my team uses is that I loudly proclaim "Ladies and Gentleman, that was a MAN BUNT!" upon successful completion of this humiliating exercise. I've also been known to read the bunt and charge home plate with enough speed to catch the ball in the air. During the playoffs last year there was a team that had 100% man bunting during the semifinals. They went up 4-0 using this tactic. During the third inning, I read a bunt perfectly and caught the ball in the air. I then ran up to the other team's bench and threw the ball at them and yelled at them "this is what happens when you MAN BUNT" exactly like how Walter says in the Big Lebowski "This is what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass!" Needless to say, we immediately rallied and won 5-4.

Attitude is everything

So we lost. Again. But it's okay because we got to finish up the keg at Liz and Jeremy's afterward. (And I played pool there, which is a potentially bad idea.)

I think we may actually be at the bottom of the league. However, we finally found ourselves a decent first baseman (the Token Asian Guy, Dan) whom I think he'd be even more effective at second base or as short stop. So Adam Heller, where ARE you? Ari and I were the only ones to score runs; we were at the top of the line up, so Capts Brian and Hutch are doing something right.

Becki is on the injured list. She injured her thigh somehow, but I hope she makes it back next week.

Kat is our returning MVP because she got three fly balls in a row. Dan the TAG is the rookie MVP because he did an outstanding job tagging people out at first base.

Come out and see us next week. You'll find me on the sidelines cubing because watching the actual game itself is too stressful for me.

THIS IS NOT NAM

Our ref in the last game blew it for us. One of the girls on the other team was taking a lead off of second base when they scored the go ahead run. She was halfway to third base and I immediately started screaming "SHE IS TAKING A LEAD". This incident reminded me of our team ethos - Walter Sobchak:
Walter Sobchak: OVER THE LINE! Smokey: Huh? Walter Sobchak: I'm sorry, Smokey. You were over the line, that's a foul. Smokey: Bullshit. Mark it 8, Dude. Walter Sobchak: Uh, excuse me. Mark it zero. Next frame. Smokey: Bullshit, Walter. Mark it 8, Dude. Walter Sobchak: Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules. The Dude: Walter, ya know, it's Smokey, so his toe slipped over the line a little, big deal. It's just a game, man. Walter Sobchak: Dude, this is a league game, this determines who enters the next round robin. Am I wrong? Am I wrong? Smokey: Yeah, but I wasn't over. Gimme the marker Dude, I'm marking it 8. Walter Sobchak: [pulls out a gun] Smokey, my friend, you are entering a world of pain. The Dude: Walter... Walter Sobchak: You mark that frame an 8, and you're entering a world of pain. Smokey: I'm not... Walter Sobchak: A world of pain. Smokey: Dude, he's your partner... Walter Sobchak: [shouting] Has the whole world gone crazy? Am I the only one around here who gives a shit about the rules? Mark it zero! The Dude: They're calling the cops, put the piece away. Walter Sobchak: Mark it zero! [points gun in Smokey's face] The Dude: Walter... Walter Sobchak: [shouting] You think I'm fucking around here? Mark it zero! Smokey: All right, it's fucking zero. Are you happy, you crazy fuck? Walter Sobchak: ...It's a league game, Smokey.

WAKA

Sirinyay,

You better be careful or WAKA will sue you for defamation. I don't understand why they care if someone calls them the Microsoft of kickball. I would love to be a multi billionaire, personally, and dominate my industry. It is pretty clear to me they are trying to squash the competition.

I have to hand it to WAKA for starting the idea of kickball in the first place, but I think that DCKickball is a better league for the following reasons:

• Carter Rabasa - Has always been honest and generous with the social funds (I'm a sucker for free food and beer). We always get a response whenever we email him about league issues.
• Less teams means there is more of a family feel. I see the same people year after year.
• The people are nicer
• I don't feel like I'm going to Walmart, I feel like I'm going to Target.
• The fees are lower and you get more for your money
• There isn't broken glass on the field
• Sirinyay is in this league and hates WAKA. Seriously, why would anyone want to mess with her? She is 100 pounds! She wouldn't hurt a fly!

The DCKickball lawsuit still continues

Lizzie G., my bff, sent me a link to DCist's blog entry on the WAKA LLC v DCKickball. Apparently the lawsuit still continues. For those not in the know, WAKA is currently suing Carter Rabasa, founder of DCKickball, for the sum of $356,000 for - get this - copyright infringement and defamation. The copyright infringement stems from the supposed stealing of rules and the defamation stems from the time that Carter was quoted in the press calling WAKA the Microsoft of kickball. (It was an opinion, but furthermore, it could be argued that WAKA is the Microsoft of kickball.)

The suit is currently in its discovery phase. Fundraising so far for the case has been meager - just some $2500. That's the problem with being primarily a league for young DCers -- most of us have no money.

Anyway, the case has gotten attention in other media outlets over the past year and in the past couple of days:

• The Sports Law Blog has written today and back in 2006 about the case.
  
• The Sacramento Bee wrote yesterday about the rise of WAKA Kickball up in their area.

The Sports Law Blog quoted a John Marshall School of Law professor who pointed out the weaknesses in the WAKA case:

You are free to copy the method of play, but you need to express it in your own words (or in words in the public domain) . . . The protection for the wording of rules has limits, however. When there are only a limited number of ways to express a rule, which would seem to apply in this kickball case, others should be free to copy the rule's wording under copyright's "merger" doctrine . . . WAKA's claim sounds very weak. It seems WAKA thinks it can monopolize a game mechanic or a short, one-sentence statement of a game mechanic. -- Professor William Ford

To me, it seems as though the (moronic) bigwigs at WAKA wanted to intimidate Carter into shutting down the league. Click here to read my own two cents on the controversy... It makes me ESPECIALLY angry, given how unresponsive WAKA was to our own concerns about its lack of policing and enforcement of its policies.

Our blog welcomes all estonians

So I am looking at our site meter stats (it's a pretty cool tool at the bottom of the page). Here is a breakdown of the countries for people who have visited the site:

United States - 92% Here is where I am shocked because I thought it would be 100%
Sweden - 1%
Norway - 1% I am seeing a trend here. We are popular in Scandinavia!
Cambodia - 1% I didn't even know they had internet. I associate their country with brutal dictators.
Spain - 1%
Estonia - 1% I wouldn't be able to find this country on a globe.
Argentina - 1%
Unknown - 2%

How are they finding us?

The rug really tied the room together.

Hey, kickball is a cause!

Overheard (from here):

Everyone's gotta have something to believe in.

18th and H Streets, NW:

Woman: "Are y'all protesting something?"
20something: "No ma'am. Kickball. We're drinking."

Yet more pics, this time from the website

Yay team!

Yellow stands on the sidelines
Steve pitches

Becki tries to kick but misses the ball (sorry dear)
Yellow in the background


Now onto the bar!

Fred and Ari roll up their sleeves
Liz cheers!

part 3 of kickball game 1 pics - are you sick of this yet?

Kickball game 1 pics: part deux

My take on our 5/3 game

So for once in my life, I got to the field early. The Hutchster was already there, reffing the early game. I sat down on the side of the field and ate my dinner, which was a ham, cheese and spinach salad. After I finished that, I worked on solving the third layer of the rubik's cube. If you think that's lame, then check out this link to the greatest cubers I know because they'll totally change your mind: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_bWv1T-YuOg.

Hutch can probably render a far more accurate round-up, but here is what I remember:

• during the first inning, Liz stood out in right field. I was her backup. The ball would come flying out toward her for some reason and I'd run to catch the ball after it popped off her.
• Becky asked to pitch. This turned out to be a stellar decision. She is totally our rookie MVP. She would roll the ball so slowly that the blue team only scored one run during the three innings that she had pitched. She would also fall over sometimes after throwing the ball.
• If someone bunted, Hutch would run, grab the ball, and throw it over to first base.
• During the second inning, Fred caught all three balls that came in his direction. He deserves props as our returning MVP.

Liz, Brighton, Hutch and I noted that Kyle's absence from the kickball field was extremely visible; Kyle used to dash across from left field to right field to catch any and all fly balls. I guess now this means that Liz and I should actually practice catching.

So I found being in the outfield so stressful that I sat out the rest of the game after inning 2. And I couldn't bear to watch, so I kept my back to the game and resumed cubing. Consequently I can't tell you what happened during the rest of the game. Sorry.

Oh yes, the blue team were fabulous sports and we love them.

Hearts and kisses,
Sirinyay

Pics from Game 1: part 1

My Philosophy

We have received some comments about our post making fun of another teams costumes. I will get to that in a second, but I need to go over something first.

When Sirinyay Tritipeskul first approached me to join kickball, I responded with the following email.

Sirinyay,

Not only will I join your kickball team, I will be your biggest superstar. Kickball combines the three things I love most in the world:

1. Beer
2. Competition
3. Women

Andrew

I play kickball for these three reasons only and don't understand what other people's motivations are for playing. That is why I teased the other team for wearing costumes. I feel that kickball is the greatest game in the world because of the friends you make in the league over marathon flipcup games listening to Total Eclipse of the Heart and the "enemies" you make while trash talking.

What everyone needs to know is that I really don't take it seriously. I am allowed to tease you for wearing a costume and you can make fun of me for slipping on my ass after hitting a home run or knocking over the 1st baseman. I am making fun of myself when I act like I'm taking it seriously. I dont hate people in the league, I like that they are there to provide strong competition.

Proper Flipcup Strategies...and What NOT to do

After years of experience in flipcup, I have attained excellence in my field. Here is what my strategy is:

• Use 2 hands to place the cup as fast as possible face up
• Flip the cup a 1/2 revolution
• Try to flip it low and straight

And that's it. Watching other people play flipcup is often hilarious because they don't follow this basic strategy. Here is their strategy:

• Use 1 hand to place the cup and not pay attention whether it is face up or down
• Flip the cup straight up in the air, often going 2 or 3 revolutions
• Retrieve cup from floor or beer pitcher and repeat
  

Shomer Shabbos! Let's win tonight!

Walter Sobchak: I told those fucks down at the league office a thousand times that I don't roll on Shabbos! Donny: What's Shabbos? Walter Sobchak: Saturday, Donny, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that I don't work, I don't get in a car, I don't fucking ride in a car, I don't pick up the phone, I don't turn on the oven, and I sure as shit [shouts] Walter Sobchak: don't fucking roll! Shomer shabbos! The Dude: Walter... Walter Sobchak: Shomer fucking shabbos. The Dude: Oh fuck it.

Pictures from our game on 4/25

Hey kickballers,

The Hutchster plucked these pictures of us from the DCKickball site. Check it out. Yellow has never looked so good.

Is that Becky making the run home?

A strange picture of us hanging out on the sidelines. I (Sirinyay) am the one with the black capris. Rafaela, Brian, Kat and Hutch are also definitely in this picture.

YAY! Me!

We don't roll on shabbos gets into their field positions. Brian is heading into the outfield while Ari prepares to pitch another no-kicker.

And there Ari goes. Man, you gotta love how the digital camera blurs the ball, making it seem like he is rolling the ball at 90 miles per hour.

Becky is at home plate, waiting for someone - anyone - to throw the ball to her and tag that dude (Josh is his name) out. She's a sharp cookie.

Hutch is proud of his biceps and flexes them at every opportunity.
In this case, it's at the pre-season party.

We play today at 7:15 in Stead Park.

Why do Kickball people think it's Halloween

You know what really angers me? Losing to a team that had just stepped out of a Halloween party. One of these losers was wearing pajama pants. Another one was wearing a helmet. This other guy was wearing the tshirt of a different team. And most of the meatheads on the team were wearing eye black. This is kickball, not a costume party!

Hutch almost hits a homerun!

So I was up to kick in the first inning. The wind was angry, my friends. On the first pitch I showed what a winter in the weight room can do. I blasted the pitch to deep left center, over the outfielders' heads. I began to ran around the bases through the 4 inch grass on our terrible field. As I rounded third to jog into home, I did not trip, I slipped on some wet grass in front of the other team's bench. Little known fact, the other team threw water down in front of my path. I tried to get up to run back to third and was tagged out. At least I got an RBI and the memory of the ball flying through the air.