Pandas, I salute you. Each and every one. I encourage you all to chime in about this day, which was truly special in the annals of AWVP history.
For one, we tried new things. I will concede that I'm old and set in my ways, and can be a bit negative about how things won't work before they are tried. But I did recognize a great amount of potential in LJ appreciation day. So roll with it we did, and, lo and behold, we had a dozen eager pandas ready to eat and fight, with a new ball and a new plan.
It was like the venue sensed that great things were about to happen, because we were the biggest, and basically only group there today.
Plenty of pandas showed up on time and ship shape in Bristol fashion to have at it. Mikey and Dub were captains.
Mikey went very old school with his picks, and I do mean OLD. Soldiers who made their reps in the previous decade: me, Navy, Pants, Ronin Steve, Attorney Scott. Mikey is the spring chicken on that team!
Something I'm not sure if you know that I'll share with the group. Being a starting ball player is a fun job, but it's still a job, which involves a lot of pressure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4VpE-0zitU
Being a starter in this league is a fun job, but it's still a job.
Even after 23 years and countless campaigns, I'm still scared to death and shaking in my manties when I hit the beach:
Shaky, feeling sick, all of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCLJhxfj608
Well, that doesn't help anybody. A lot of the offense in terms of serving and setting is supposed to run through me on that team.
Mikey displayed leadership, took team Grandpa on his shoulders, and made us fight. Dragged me out of my foxhole and made me fight. My job is to pick off as many people as I can, or assist others to do so, and not worry so much about the big guns pointed at me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgHRj2-vvs8
Amazing. Truly amazing. We went 3-0.
Given the level of interest, there were more than 2 teams available
So David/Goliath came up with another good idea--3 team captains on a snake draft. Did well on that one, too.
I think the only official BBG I lost was the last one, which should have been won, but we got beat by small ball and a Jess Mikey combo.
Moving on... I'm told dead horse being beaten, but whoever said circa 2pm, "Uh oh, the scrubs are here" is a bad man. May I suggest an alteration in nomenclature--"scrubs" = drunken Riata clown college, NOT the people who are being invited and given a chance to develop as players. Even some of the latter category are redeemable if they will break with their bad habits, drop their zero team, and come play with the heroes.
Many honorable mentions to note: Mikey mentioned Alex, who didn't flub and passed well. In a couple of games I was in, it was drunk Steve, who continued his excellence from yesterday at the net. This time around, he beat Scott 2-3 times on spikes/blocks. Mikey has the rep for dropping bombs, but Ryan hit just as hard as anyone today on about 5-6 occasions.
What was important is that a lotta people got out there, and got involved. I think once the BBGs got their fights in, they were more tolerant, and the mix it ups worked out pretty well. It brings a tear to my eye to see that it's finally starting to happen ; )
I'm told that the fights went on until the sun went down, which is as it should be. Well done today, one and all! This day made me more proud of this league, and what we do, than I have been in a long time. I'm getting a little verklempt, so I'll sign off.
No doubt there is much more to add to the telling of the tale today, so all who wish to should join in with your memorialization of this day!
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