Cold Beer And Cigarettes - David Bazan
Friday, June 12, 2009
"Up the Interstate, He's Been Awake and Pretty Drunk for Three Whole Days"
Back to blogging, with much to tell. The demo version of this song was titled "The Devil is Beating His Wife", a title I greatly preferred.
Cold Beer And Cigarettes - David Bazan
Cold Beer And Cigarettes - David Bazan
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The WUFO Blog, Pt. 2
Regionals: 16 teams, double elimination, 2 spots to Nationals
Day 1:
Game 1: Williams vs. Boston College
We're seeded 3 in the tournament, BC is seeded 14. We're not expecting much. Surprised to find that BC has a decent offense built around a couple of strong deep threats. However, this is the only dimension to their offense and they often turn the disc under pressure. Our consistent offense rarely turns the disc, and we easily win. Williams 15, Boston College 9.
Game 2: Williams vs. Brown
Brown is a shadow of their former glory. They're a fairly smart team, but we dominate every single match-up on athleticism. After some opening jitters, we force several turns and take half 8-6. They seem to give up in the second half, regularly dropping or tossing away the disc. Williams 15, Brown 9.
Game 3: Williams vs. Tufts
Tufts is the 2 seed, and is the first serious threat we've faced. Their offense is crisp and they actually put forth a defensive effort. The teams seem to be very evenly matched, but we go up 13-10, two goals from victory. Then bad things begin to happen. The wind picks up, we commit unforced errors, and soon it is 14-14. We turn again. We commit an offsides violation on the next pull and receive the disc midway in our endzone, with Tufts allowed to set a defense before play starts. An ill-advised short throw becomes and Callahan. Tufts 16, Williams 14. Another loss sends us home.
Day 2
Game 4: Williams vs. Boston College
Ho! Apparently BC was underseeded, and is one of only six teams to make the second day of regionals. This game is a carbon copy of the first. Williams 15, Boston College 10.
Game 5: Williams vs. UMass
UMass is exhausted, as a second round loss to Tufts made them play four games on Day 1. We take advantage and get several early breaks, then trade points for the second half, conserving our energy for the final. Williams 15, UMass 11.
Game 6: Williams vs. Middlebury
Wow, regionals looks a lot like sectionals. Unfortunately, Midd just lost a heartbreaker to Tufts and their star deep has been injured. The winner of this game goes to nationals. They are wounded but not crippled and we trade through the first half. Midd takes two breaks in the second half, but their rotation has little depth and they start to tire. We regain one of the breaks. At 11-12, Midd receives the disc and soon turns. We're rather exhausted ourselves and begin a back and forth of bad decisions and stellar d's. Eventually, Midd takes the point, but the damage is done; their line is utterly spent. We hold, 12-13, they hold 12-14, we hold 13-14, to the best of my recollection. We break. 14-14. The game should now be played to 16. We can breathe. The pull goes up, Midd receiving, and the hard cap horn sounds, indicating game point for both teams. We force a turn and a huck to Kieran Brennan clinches the victory. We're going to nationals. Williams 15, Middlebury 14.
Day 1:
Game 1: Williams vs. Boston College
We're seeded 3 in the tournament, BC is seeded 14. We're not expecting much. Surprised to find that BC has a decent offense built around a couple of strong deep threats. However, this is the only dimension to their offense and they often turn the disc under pressure. Our consistent offense rarely turns the disc, and we easily win. Williams 15, Boston College 9.
Game 2: Williams vs. Brown
Brown is a shadow of their former glory. They're a fairly smart team, but we dominate every single match-up on athleticism. After some opening jitters, we force several turns and take half 8-6. They seem to give up in the second half, regularly dropping or tossing away the disc. Williams 15, Brown 9.
Game 3: Williams vs. Tufts
Tufts is the 2 seed, and is the first serious threat we've faced. Their offense is crisp and they actually put forth a defensive effort. The teams seem to be very evenly matched, but we go up 13-10, two goals from victory. Then bad things begin to happen. The wind picks up, we commit unforced errors, and soon it is 14-14. We turn again. We commit an offsides violation on the next pull and receive the disc midway in our endzone, with Tufts allowed to set a defense before play starts. An ill-advised short throw becomes and Callahan. Tufts 16, Williams 14. Another loss sends us home.
Day 2
Game 4: Williams vs. Boston College
Ho! Apparently BC was underseeded, and is one of only six teams to make the second day of regionals. This game is a carbon copy of the first. Williams 15, Boston College 10.
Game 5: Williams vs. UMass
UMass is exhausted, as a second round loss to Tufts made them play four games on Day 1. We take advantage and get several early breaks, then trade points for the second half, conserving our energy for the final. Williams 15, UMass 11.
Game 6: Williams vs. Middlebury
Wow, regionals looks a lot like sectionals. Unfortunately, Midd just lost a heartbreaker to Tufts and their star deep has been injured. The winner of this game goes to nationals. They are wounded but not crippled and we trade through the first half. Midd takes two breaks in the second half, but their rotation has little depth and they start to tire. We regain one of the breaks. At 11-12, Midd receives the disc and soon turns. We're rather exhausted ourselves and begin a back and forth of bad decisions and stellar d's. Eventually, Midd takes the point, but the damage is done; their line is utterly spent. We hold, 12-13, they hold 12-14, we hold 13-14, to the best of my recollection. We break. 14-14. The game should now be played to 16. We can breathe. The pull goes up, Midd receiving, and the hard cap horn sounds, indicating game point for both teams. We force a turn and a huck to Kieran Brennan clinches the victory. We're going to nationals. Williams 15, Middlebury 14.
"My Lack of Knowledge is Vast and My Horizons are Narrow"
Strong words from a man whose songs have provided some of the most biting British social commentary this side of Ray Davies.
I Never Said I Was Deep - Jarvis Cocker
I Never Said I Was Deep - Jarvis Cocker
Monday, June 1, 2009
The WUFO Blog
Last Sunday, I had the honor of playing my final game as a member of the the Williams Ultimate Frisbee Organization (WUFO) to claim 9th place at the National Championships. For the uninitiated, a nice summary of the sport and of the tournament can be found here. Our achievement is significant - we are a self-coached team with no recruits, built in a school of 2000 students, and we compete against state schools with students bodies of 50,000 students, coached by retired masters who competed at the highest level of club play.
And there is a great joy in what we have done, in the friendships that our organization has created and maintained, and in the play itself. Others have reflected eloquently on this. Our team president said at our final post-game meeting, "To accomplish a goal like this and to do it with twenty of your best friends - you don't get many moments like that in life. Enjoy this." There is Eric Liddell's famous formulation in Chariots of Fire, "God made me for a purpose. For China. But he also made me fast and when I run I feel God's pleasure." Finally, Johan Huizinga's definition of play, "a free activity standing quite consciously outside ordinary life as being 'not serious,' but at the same time absorbing the player intensely and utterly."
I have found that the point of view of the serious athlete or competitor and that of those who eschew playful competition are essentially incommensurable. There is no rational argument to persuade the skeptic of the importance of the competition to the competitor, nor can the skeptic persuade the competitor that the competition is irrational. The joy and depression of athletics is too deeply felt to be subject to such persuasions, and ultimate particularly is a game of heart. While offense in ultimate is a cerebral affair, a calculated effort to minimize turnovers, good defense originates in the gut, and requires complete disregard for safety. When one is on defense, the body is expendable because nothing is more important than gaining possession of the disc. I do not believe that argument can have any bearing on one's judgment of the importance of this matter.
Now, to something more mundane, a recounting of the team's official tournament play this season: sectionals, regionals and nationals. High placement at an earlier tournament is necessary to qualify for a later tournament.
Sectionals: Two day tournament at Williams College, 12 teams in competition for 3 spots at regionals
Pool Play:
Game 1: Williams vs. UMass-B
Come game time, UMass-B is nowhere to be found, so, in accordance with the rules, we begin assessing points. A few in, we learn that UMass-B players were involved in a minor car accident that morning. After 12 assessed points, four players arrive and we play a short mockery of a game. Williams 15, UMass-B 0.
Game 2: Williams vs. Middlebury-B
Midd-B has a few quick kids and a couple who can throw, and manage to get off a couple of deep shots. But again, this is a B-team. Williams 15, Midd-B 3.
Game 3: Williams vs. Amherst
Amherst has not beaten Williams in eons, but has almost always kept things close, invariably playing zone defense on every point. Our O-line slices easily through a weak cup, but Amherst hucks with authority and keeps things close. Finally, we force the necessary break. Williams 17, Amherst 15. Too close for comfort.
Game 4: Williams vs. Vermont
Vermont has a couple of great athletes, but not enough to fill an O-line. We force many turns and win easily. Williams 15, Vermont 8.
Game 5: Williams vs. Williams-B
The B guys play a solid offense that regularly falls apart near the end zone. Michael Levy d's Wenis repeatedly. Williams 15, Williams B 2.
Bracket Play
Game 1: Williams vs. UMass
Things stay reasonably close through the first half, Williams up 8-6, with UMass showing little interest in playing defense. In the second half, they show an equal lack of interest in playing offense. Williams 15, UMass 7. Clinches a spot at regionals.
Game 2: Williams vs. Middlebury
We get chuck-happy in the first half - bad policy against a team whose two best players are over 6'2". Midd plays expertly on both sides of the disc and easily takes half. We put our heads back on for the second half and try some zone to throw a kink into their offense. Their handlers are simply too fast and precise for us to do much damage, and we can only muster an even second half. Middlebury 15, Williams 9.
More to come tomorrow.
And there is a great joy in what we have done, in the friendships that our organization has created and maintained, and in the play itself. Others have reflected eloquently on this. Our team president said at our final post-game meeting, "To accomplish a goal like this and to do it with twenty of your best friends - you don't get many moments like that in life. Enjoy this." There is Eric Liddell's famous formulation in Chariots of Fire, "God made me for a purpose. For China. But he also made me fast and when I run I feel God's pleasure." Finally, Johan Huizinga's definition of play, "a free activity standing quite consciously outside ordinary life as being 'not serious,' but at the same time absorbing the player intensely and utterly."
I have found that the point of view of the serious athlete or competitor and that of those who eschew playful competition are essentially incommensurable. There is no rational argument to persuade the skeptic of the importance of the competition to the competitor, nor can the skeptic persuade the competitor that the competition is irrational. The joy and depression of athletics is too deeply felt to be subject to such persuasions, and ultimate particularly is a game of heart. While offense in ultimate is a cerebral affair, a calculated effort to minimize turnovers, good defense originates in the gut, and requires complete disregard for safety. When one is on defense, the body is expendable because nothing is more important than gaining possession of the disc. I do not believe that argument can have any bearing on one's judgment of the importance of this matter.
Now, to something more mundane, a recounting of the team's official tournament play this season: sectionals, regionals and nationals. High placement at an earlier tournament is necessary to qualify for a later tournament.
Sectionals: Two day tournament at Williams College, 12 teams in competition for 3 spots at regionals
Pool Play:
Game 1: Williams vs. UMass-B
Come game time, UMass-B is nowhere to be found, so, in accordance with the rules, we begin assessing points. A few in, we learn that UMass-B players were involved in a minor car accident that morning. After 12 assessed points, four players arrive and we play a short mockery of a game. Williams 15, UMass-B 0.
Game 2: Williams vs. Middlebury-B
Midd-B has a few quick kids and a couple who can throw, and manage to get off a couple of deep shots. But again, this is a B-team. Williams 15, Midd-B 3.
Game 3: Williams vs. Amherst
Amherst has not beaten Williams in eons, but has almost always kept things close, invariably playing zone defense on every point. Our O-line slices easily through a weak cup, but Amherst hucks with authority and keeps things close. Finally, we force the necessary break. Williams 17, Amherst 15. Too close for comfort.
Game 4: Williams vs. Vermont
Vermont has a couple of great athletes, but not enough to fill an O-line. We force many turns and win easily. Williams 15, Vermont 8.
Game 5: Williams vs. Williams-B
The B guys play a solid offense that regularly falls apart near the end zone. Michael Levy d's Wenis repeatedly. Williams 15, Williams B 2.
Bracket Play
Game 1: Williams vs. UMass
Things stay reasonably close through the first half, Williams up 8-6, with UMass showing little interest in playing defense. In the second half, they show an equal lack of interest in playing offense. Williams 15, UMass 7. Clinches a spot at regionals.
Game 2: Williams vs. Middlebury
We get chuck-happy in the first half - bad policy against a team whose two best players are over 6'2". Midd plays expertly on both sides of the disc and easily takes half. We put our heads back on for the second half and try some zone to throw a kink into their offense. Their handlers are simply too fast and precise for us to do much damage, and we can only muster an even second half. Middlebury 15, Williams 9.
More to come tomorrow.
"The Spirit Fights to Find Its Way"
Just returned from a short vacation to Hilton Head. Lots to tell, and may soon begin writing posts of some substance.
From now on, songs of the day will be titled with a quote from the lyrics. Today's song became an instant favorite when I first heard it several months ago. The second verse will be the epigraph for the untitled novel I am working on.
Thats When I Reach for My Revolver - Mission of Burma
From now on, songs of the day will be titled with a quote from the lyrics. Today's song became an instant favorite when I first heard it several months ago. The second verse will be the epigraph for the untitled novel I am working on.
Thats When I Reach for My Revolver - Mission of Burma
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