The Double "Trouble" Header

That's right. Two games. Same teams both games. Trouble.

Especially with an incomplete line-up. After a near forfeit, we were handed down a gift from the gods, Jeff from The Mo' I Bocce, or as we like to call him, "Sweet Touch." Wink!

So "Sweet Touch" Jeff, together with Dan, Becca and Sean, ventured into the first of two matches against Joanie Loves Bocce (it happened to be their second of three games that day and the captain's third of four, yeesh). They tried not to look out to the bright, beautiful Brooklyn Saturday that they were missing. I let them know that while they were stuck inside, playing game after game of bocce, Rod had already been to the Flea, the Farmers' and kissed Bonita farewell that day. But then we're gloating assholes, so whatever.

Oh, right, the game. We won the first. And, in typical Rod style, got cocky and lost the second. It was tooth and nail, or more appropriately, tooth and measuring tape the entire showdown. Seriously, about 30 shots were painstakingly measured by the captain, who maybe should change career paths and go into carpentry. Or a job at Home Depot.

This was the last weekend of the regular season, and it left us with a 6-3 record. However, we would have one final, memorable, tragic make-up game ahead of us. And we'll allow Dan to tell that story at a future date. Stay posted, it's a doozy.

Rod Stuart May Love the Hamptons but Lady Luck Doesn't Love Team Rod Stewart

We took down Da Bears in two frames both by scores of 7-0. What? Wow!

We waltzed into the Final 4 for the second straight season. But for the second straight season, that is where the dream ended. We ran into the buzzsaw of some miraculous rolling by the one they call The Fixer and we succumbed to a heartbreaking loss in three games.

Game 1
We fell behind 5-1 and then roared back to win 7-5.
Game 2
We got spanked 5-0
Game 3
We had 5-0 and 6-3 leads but couldn't close it out and fell 7-6.

The Movie:

Season Record: A not so stellar 4-5.

Read Joanie's take on the proceedings.

Lethal Dose of Reality

We just aren't that good right now. After losing two games of a doubleheader, If You Want My Bocce limp into the playoffs with a 4-6 record.

In the 1st match, we made a spirited comeback against Cobra Kai and took the second game. Alas we succumbed in Game 3. In the 2nd match, we were simply overmatched from beginning to end by Joanie Loves Bocce.

As the worst player of the day, I failed my team. As captain, I have failed my team. Shit, the only thing I won't take the blame for is the shitty weather.

From the beginning of the season, I said that I wanted to get my team of rookies ready for the playoffs. Have I done that? If we had gone into the playoffs at 5-5, I'd be feeling good. Instead at 4-6, we have many question marks.

We can play well but haven't. On a day that we looked really bad, we still were somewhat competitive. Stalwarts The Balltrap and Reason To Believe had a strong reunion today. That is something to build on. Dixie Toot looked fantastic in practice last night before getting sick today. Gettin' Hungry proved that he was solid in the clutch. Lethal Dose of Love had some great shots when they were most needed. Gladrags rolled some fantastic shots, one of which saved the game for us at one point. Damn, everybody had some positive moments today except for yours truly.

I promise that the sun will indeed come out again, if not tomorrow, soon. We have two weeks to rest up and get ready for the playoffs. We need to relax. We have gotten so much into the competive aspect of this that I feel like it is messing with our heads, at least mine. It is time to take a page from Team ODIN. No, I don't mean that we should completely change our wardrobes.


But I do think we need to get looser, have a good time, and if we win, great. If we lose, at least we had fun.

Signing out for now,
Hot Legs

Pix From Doubleheader Up

If You Want My Bocce vs. Jonie Loves Bocce
Originally uploaded by Slice.

Yo. Word to all Rollas and Rolla-hatas out there. This is "Slice" aka "Gettin' Hungry." Pix from Saturday's doubleheader are up on Flickr. Go here: Bocce Doubleheader.

Ol' Cappy also asked if I would add a Flickr badge to the blog that displayed the latest IYWMB pix. It's there now.

Match report: March 4th Double header.

Game one: Cobra Kai.

I awoke from headcold induced slumber at 2pm. Beth offered me a seductive choice, I could either lie a bed all day sweating and probably get a foul night's sleep or I could muster some temporary strength and go play Bocce.
By 2.30 I was at Floyd's being berated for lack of T shirt and my general sniffly demeanor. What can you do? Cap'n Dan was all boisterous and pumped us up with heart shaped candy! Fumbling about in the dark I saw Mitch, Jim, Adam, Mike and Mr Nelson.
All wearing their marvellous green T shirts, pumped up on candy.
I was whacked out on an instant Dayquil hit and initally offered Dan that I would sit out.
All I really recall was that we could have beaten this lot. They had a really good girl and a guy with Rock hair who would tug at his pant leg just prior to bowling. Mr Nelson spotted that. A couple of Coffee Flats boys turned up to watch us, a nice touch.
Modesty should prevent me from mentioning my 'Champagne Moment'. It was a great shot and I grinned alot afterwards. It was dark and I was seriously drugged up, I can't recall anything else.

We lost 2-0 after a couple of fairly close games. The left over time allowed us to throw a few more practise balls as the Joanie loves Bocce crew began to drift into the darkened bar.

Game two: Joanie Loves Bocce

At about this point I had a conversation with Jim. I can't quite recall the detail but it ended with me going to the bar thinking, "Ah fuck it, a beer or two isn't going to kill me". I think Jim may have been expounding the virtues of afternoon drinking on an empty stomach, a heavy cold and a system full of flu medication. But I'm not sure.

After this point it got even hazier.

There was a girl from Joanie Loves Bocce (we beat them 2-0) wearing a "Scotland's for Me" T shirt. I had had a conversation with Dan about rivalries the previous Wednesday. I had told him that if he ever wore a Scottish t shirt it would annoy me. Lo and Behold, opposition girl in a Scottish t shirt! I managed to hold back but i do recall asking for the tape measure when it wasn't really required. That's what Scotland does to me.

By the way, 3 Brooklyn Lagers, Dayquil and an absence of food, not a good recipe for health, but sort of fun.