First off, thanks DKarlinsky for this. Recsportdisc without so much spam, we'll see how long I use it for though, I'm just so partial to beta google groups.
and now this post on Carleton's bad spirit.
Kyle W. makes a good point. If you are rating on a 1-10 scale 5 is average right? so Jerome is taking a blind taste test. Budweiser, warm Natural Ice, and Wittekerke. He gives the Budweiser an 8, the NattieIce: 5, and the Witt: 10. This is how most people rate things. We don't think much about the rating system. Really NattieIce is like a 1 or 2 - possibly the worst beer you've ever tasted and Witt, while it's a good beer, a 10 means it really couldn't be better. When you go to a restaurant and they put those checklists in your bill, how was our service? I usually find myself giving 4s and 5s on a 1-5 scale. But what does this really mean. 5 is the absolute best, it couldn't be any better. Of course you rate against your prior experience, so you give the service a 5, doesn't that mean it is possibly the best service you've ever received ?
So that aside, the UPA spirit ranking makes sense if you look at it this way. On a 1-5 scale 3 being 'average' and a 3 is quoted here:
'3 – Generally exhibited respect towards opponents, officials, and spectators. For the level of play, showed adequate knowledge of the rules and abided by them during the game. Any conflicts were resolved plainly and without incident. Opposing team's conduct generally did not detract from our enjoyment of the game. The opposing team generally played fairly and with a decent attitude.'
Carleton received a 3.1, so in my book we had 'average' spirit. You know I wish teams had felt we were more spirited, but I think frisbee is still at the point where we view playing competitively as unspirited. And people will deny this but when it comes down to it - the UPA official runs over immediately after the game and asks for a rating - of course some other things come into play.
For instance:
Against Stanford, when TJames made a desperate bid and injured Kanner, the Stanford fans proceeded to talk shit about it being Kanners fault... regardless of that being apart of spirit rating, I gave them a very low score. Was this fair, probably not, was I pissed as hell and not thinking objectively, yes. If you watch that highlight Stanford is spiking, making bad calls, and look at their marks...
So trying to say we have poor spirit based on our ratings is bs. I wish teams realized that our competitive play against them was actually more spirited because we honored them as opponents and played our best. Not to point fingers but Colorado spiked their first 2 goals - how many did we spike??? I dont think spiking is bad spirit but it's the kind of thing people give you low scores for, and so you all know we gave Colorado a 4.5 rating which reflects the game they played.
I never made a call I didn't think was correct and as for fouling intentionally that is never an issue. In basketball when a player is on a breakaway the defense commits a hard foul to make sure there is no basket, is the defender being unspirited??? Idts he is acting in his teams best interest and frankly is the offense upset? I doubt it, because he would have done the same thing.
I routinely have a more aggressive mark early in the count, I don't want the huck to go off, get broken, etc. I dont purposely foul ie. hack the guy or shove him to the ground. But I force him to make a hard play, and in doing so I honor him as an opponent. If he calls foul, fine, no contest, I would expect the same from someone defending me.
So the fact that many teams received a 4+ spirit rating tells us that captains don't know how the spirit rating works. "sh0wed above average knowledge of the rules" wtf is this? based on what, the people you play summer league with.
30 July 2009
Bad Spirit and RSD with less SPAM
29 July 2009
NYI
New York Invite this weekend. In the pool with Bodhi - can't wait to see those guys. This is the information I have so far:
POOL A:
GOAT
PoNY
Rhino (*First round Bye)
Sons
Wiretap
POOL B:
Bodhi
Phoenix
Voodoo (* First round Bye)
Forge
Replicants
POOL C:
Mephisto
Pike
Colt
Wilmington (*First round Bye)
Brooklyn
From what I know, it seems like the pools are by strength of team. GOAT, PoNY, Rhino all very good maybe the 1.2.3 at the tournament. Bodhi is good though and would contend for the 2.3 spot possibly. I haven't heard from Mephisto or Pike (since Ironside sucked off all their talent) who knows though, I never played any of these teams before. Follow the action here
The Boston Invite was won by GOAT this year. Hotly contested Semi's and Final but unlike years past, the competition was sparse. Only BAT made the trek to join the east coast teams. Now just over a month later a similar line up of teams, who will be the new champion???!??!?!?
22 July 2009
Celebrate
Celebrate – The success of a team and the life of a friend. Winning nationals brought some confusing emotions. Obviously it’s a dream come true, elusive to so many, we were lucky enough to end with the highest honor. With nothing to show but some dinky medals and a laser engraved plaque – thank goodness for teammates.
Derek did a marvelous job in preparing us for the end. I’m thankful everyday for the advice and mentorship I received from him and countless other alumni. Revel in the moment, your teammates, your friends. These words helped me fully appreciate the awesomeness that was CUT 2009 and CUT every year before and CUT every year to come.
The two weeks I spent in Alaska after graduation hold some of my most treasured memories. I knew I was leaving and though I had appreciated my home before, I really took things in. Also college coming to an end, the end of the CUT for me, weighed heavily on my mind and I was more aware of the present as a special time.
My last trip to Bill’s cabin, the Jamboree, Whittier, 4th of July. Time I spent with my most dear friends, time spent I will never forget. Watching Kalgin pound a beer and then Nate drunkenly egg him on to drink another. But Kalgin never wavered, and in true form finished them both and the race with much style. Swimming out to the mooring at 1am in Prince William Sound only to find it was warmer up on the platform. The huge bonfires we built, knowing that we would stand 20 feet away for the first hour until the fire died down enough for us to close in. Waking up to find Kalgin with his tent wide open and the race in only 6 hours.
These memories are all very clear to me.
I think back to Monday morning on the day of the finals. Getting up, going to breakfast, the awful dishes that people ordered (pancakes covered in cream cheese). Luke and Ty left at the hotel looking for a wallet. The practice field, adjacent to the playing field was unimpressive. There was a weird sort of non-energy present in the pre game warm ups. It was a feeling I’d never had before. We were all rookies in that moment. I felt no more prepared to deal with our situation than Miq or Hai.
After the Pittsburgh game I said I knew we were champions. Looking back I meant that as a team we were champions. The heart and soul poured in over the years had paid off. I felt so epically close to each of my teammates and I knew, regardless of outcome I would still feel the same way about each and everyone. I don’t remember the track, the practices, the blow-ups, the downs, the highs any differently because we won. As Kanner put it so perfectly on the airplane ride back, “It’s like we had the perfect recipe all along, though nobody knew it until the end, and had we lost, every detail would have been questioned.” I know now that we did have the perfect recipe – and we had the perfect recipe the last 3 years too. If you make it yourself from your sweat and your tears it will always taste good.
Again the parents and fans were out in numbers. We had a shade tent with every amenity imaginable underneath - Pooh took an overnight flight just to be there. Something that really stands out is the pre game roster announcement. As Colorado was called out we were huddled around – just joking and laughing. Everyone was focused, not on the announcer, or the fans, or themselves, but the stupid silliness of a group of 20 guys with absolutely nothing to lose. Who decides which team is called out first? Because while we were lost in each other for the duration of Colorado’s roster, Mamabird clapped for all of our players. It makes me wonder what they were thinking as the CUT was called onto the field?
Derek told me that the reason he played so well in Finals of 2001 was because he stopped caring. It allowed him to throw questionable hammers, and forehands (also the reassurance of Nord on the other end).
As we formed that last huddle (see above) I felt all the pressure and nervousness of the pregame warm up slip away. I remember this, my heart slowed I looked up at the bleachers, down the field, and thought, this is what they were talking about – just let it go, enjoy the final moments with your team, and play Frisbee.
The first point was a real doozie. Aggressive play both ways, turns, and hucks. We were right on top of every play, and when Grant dropped that first goal, my confidence grew. Much like in the Pittsburgh game, I knew that wasn’t how we were going out. In that, we were going to play this game on our terms and it was almost a joke on Grant’s part to open the door a bit wider. If you keep watching the first point, it’s clear that Colorado was not ready for our precision and stinginess. Early on, I think they expected us to give the disc back – like many other teams before had. Hell Colorado had been broken seven times in quarterfinals versus Michigan but still won the game 15-10; Michigan scored only 3 offensive points. We turn the disc again before we finally have the patience to put it in upwind. Evange catches it on the goal line and 10 throws later, Adam breaks inside to Powers. CUT 1 – MB – 0
Side note: when you watch the video – the constant cowbell in the background, that’s my mom.
The second point we were still ancyinthepancy – A backhand gets away from Kanner as he overthrows Jerome downwind. It looks as though Colorado is going to score - they are moving the disc quickly. Eventually we get a solid mark on the sideline that slows the disc and allows our D to set up, and after Jerome eliminates Mac’s upline cut our mark does the rest forcing an awful high release dump. Kanner hits Curme for an easy goal. CUT 2 – MB - 0
We don’t turn the disc over again until the seventh point, when the score stands 6-0. In practice this season we started running for unforced turnovers. Immediately, the offending team jogs to the sideline and runs a there back (40->40<-) then play resumes. We learned to treasure the disc and also play defense when tired. When Kanner and I met to plan practice we put a premium on mental toughness. What can we throw at the team this week that will really get people thinking, fired up, hot headed, etc. (Tiina Booth instilled some greatness in Kanner – and me partially at NUTC)
A nice Jedi block by Grant and we score 3- 0. Great help D by Adrian we score 4-0 – close D by kanner to pick up some trash and it’s 5-0. Dropped pull makes it 6-0. Drop in the endzone and about 40 throws later between myself, Luke, and Chow and it’s 7-0.
Finally Colorado scores 1 and a break to make it 7-2
We take half 8-2, Broken out of half 8-3, a beautiful point with 6 touches for 9-3, 9-4, 9-5, 10-5, 10-6.
Our defense earned 7 breaks in the first half and the offense gave back 4 in the second half. Though Colorado closed the gap we were never in danger of losing. Too much work all year, too much discipline at practice. We’d been in this situation before and we knew what it took to come out victorious. The pressure was on, Mamabird was really playing, but we knew the game plan. Every tournament, practice the O-line preached ‘Don’t make the hard throw – you are playing with 7 of the best players in the country, trust your teammates and we will get the job done, nobody needs to be the hero.'
I playback the final point, Grant throwing the upline, me turning upfield to see Jerome in perfect position, the awkward throw/catch and the smiles and shouts that erupted after the observer dubiously called it a goal. I threw up my arms and ran to the pile, in celebration of the victory, but more in celebration of the CUT.
Last Point: 1
Last Point: 4
The tears that came to me then were of joy and sadness. The sadness of knowing it was all over. A dream of mine since Pooh first mentioned Carleton when I was 14 – after roshamming me for the tiedyed spirit shirt – which he won. I applied early decision to Carleton and had no backups. I invested myself from day 1 in Frisbee. After losing to Madison in 2006 and not making nationals in a long time (+16 years) I shared in the sadness of those seniors and I made a pact with myself that we should never again suffer that fate. As a rookie, not going to nationals paled in comparison to watching the devastation on the faces seniors that year – Leon, Ben, Carson, Chris, Curly. Now I know, losing to Madison added to the pain, but they were mourning the end of their CUT, much as the 5 seniors of 2009 mourned ours. I realize now the pact was not about winning, but about devoting myself entirely to a team and a cause second to none.
I fly home on Friday to attend a celebration of Kalgin’s life. While it may seem silly and incomprehensible to some, the loss of CUT helped prepare me for this tragedy. I share some awesome memories with Kal as do many people because he was that type of person. When I celebrate with friends at alumni weekend or Mt. Marathon, I will be celebrating with you Kal. You live on in all the people you’ve known, for you certainly live on in me.
Seward - Sandbar - Cale - Emma - Kal - Hannah - Fire
20 July 2009
Kal
A fierce competitor, loyal teammate, and most genuine friend. Peace and Love forever - What a Baller.
17 July 2009
16 July 2009
SarahLasselle
15 July 2009
14 July 2009
TYTHX
Hannah and Alyssa + Me went out to the local Knarr last night - unknowingly (on my part) to meet up with RonKubalanza and Cycle. Really??? Bitter Hodag and Florida Boner. The nice thing about graduating is you dont hate people any more. They threw a very warm reception to the PacNW and I was probably the bigger douche all along.
10 July 2009
RIGHTBACKONTOP
OHKAY - sorry for the long pause - Friends, family, 4th of July, Alaska, etc... honestly haven't had a free moment until now. Pictures from our Kayak adventure in Whitier, lots more later. PS I live in Seattle now :)
