AWVP

Hello to my water volleyball brethren in Austin!

First I do apologize for not making more time this summer to be in contact with you guys. I will simply say that while I am working hard to grow my own business, we too suffered our weekend water volleyball setbacks.

I think that it all started on July 4 weekend in which my peeps and I played all day for 3 consecutive days. Several residents complained and ultimately we had all water volleyball taken away EXCEPT for 1-6 PM on Saturdays. The net isn't even up at other times. They now let us set it up on Saturdays when we're ready to play.

Through it all, I happy to say that I still have some level of respect with the Ilume management. Because one of my new players this year pointed out to me last Tuesday evening that Saturday's weather was shaping up to almost ensure that the water would be too chili for us to play in and have a really good time. As such, I started my request process to get the pool under heat. It worked flawlessly and we had some of our best games all season this past weekend.

Now: Another Post Season Invitation

We are interested in seeing if you guys would like to come back to Dallas for another tournament. I am sure that if you are able to bring just 1 team, better if more, but I am sure that I can assemble at least 2 teams to make it a really fun and competitive time for all. In addition to having Stevie Ray to DJ again, I would be able to get the Cedar Springs Tap House to sponsor the event in the pool area with beer, cocktails, etc. The Cedar Springs Tap House is one of the Ilume commercial spaces on the front of the building that will open for business this week. I have already built a great relationship with Brand Manager and he's looking for opportunities like this to help get the word out about their new location and for it to become folks' destination.

I am open to whatever weekend that you guys select and say you can make it. We can plan around your date(s). However, I would hope that it could be on before October 11 weekend. I would like to avoid the ambient air temperature being too cold to support playing, even with the water being warm.

So, talk amongst yourselves and let us know what you want/can do. However, I can tell you that any victory that you (think) you can achieve, it will NOT be so easy as it was for you last year. I would hope that I have learned my lessons from last year's defeat that our mistakes made during last year's games will not be repeated.

As always, Bring Your A-Game, and let's play some ball.

sm (aka Dallas Chief)

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Bring your "A" Game!

Chief to Chief:

I'm glad to hear from you again, albeit in less than perfect circumstances in your hood.

I'm afraid you are learning some of the same lessons I learned. Popularity breeds hubris on the part of your players (our pool, we can do whatever we want, whenever we want), and contempt (from the growing army of non-playing haters).

To speak the truth, all my boys who made the journey have positive things to say about the welcome we received at the Ilume, and would like to do so again.

Austin season is basically at an end, and it still warm out. This saddens us.

I am honored to receive a second invitation. My Pandas are hard to herd, otherwise you would have my acceptance right now. I'm sure I can get a team together, by early to mid October--your pool still heated?

Thank you generous hosts. I think it's good for the larger league to have another meeting. If you'd like, I would be willing to meet with you and your manager to answer the how full of shit are we question. We're about good volleyball, and having fun, and doing it in a way that's sustainable, and will give an apartment complex a reputation for same, that distinguishes you from other places. That's what's important.

I hope you have learned from our last encounter. And I look forward to seeing how much you've been able to do over a season.

Like I said after the last time we played, whichever way it goes through best of 3 (possibly through the 2 teams you mentioned, I doubt I can come with more than 1.5, but we'll face down what you got), let's mix it up, so we learn to play together, and talk about it after at the watervolleyball bar you created.

Nothing but respect for what you've been doing, Dallas Chief, and that's from me and all of mine.

Hope to see you soon.

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

Roll call for Dallas trip!

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

I'm in.

October 11 is the UT - Oklahoma game in Dallas.

Would probably be good to not do it that weekend.

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#23
My name's Dan

That means we would have to do the weekend of either October 4, or October 18. Those dates are both Saturdays, but we have had lots of folks ask for Sunday to be the date we play. Are you guys open to a Sunday game day? I meet with Cedar Springs Tap House tomorrow at 5 PM to discuss details for what we can do and when we can do it. They will certainly help in getting Ilume to let us amp it up a bit.

Please let me know as soon as possible. We need lead time to create marketing material and get the word out.

We are looking forward to whatever we can pull together.

Thanks,
sm

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Bring your "A" Game!

Since it's a special occasion, can we do both Saturday and Sunday (early-ish?).

As you know, this is a drinking man's game, and Pandas will have a more difficult time getting all ramped up to fight, do the AAR bar thing, and then have to make the journey home to work on Monday if we have to make it all happen in a 1 day event.

I'm thinking the Oct 19 date sounds most reasonable, and am starting to turn up the heat to get commitments now.

On that note, I'm not seeing a lot of responses, people. Roll call!

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

Dallas Chief,

I think I can bring the same team. Waiting on absolute confirmation from all concerned. 10/19 seems to be the most reasonable expectation for game.

Looking forward to it.

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

I say Saturday October 18th.

I don't think making this a one day event on a Sunday sounds very good.

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#23
My name's Dan

We could still have a Saturday get together for some games, but I think that Sunday is the better day for being able to have up to 4 teams play. I will discuss these dates with everybody this evening and see what we can get Ilume and Cedar Springs Tap House to commit to.

Also, we have discussed having a $50 / person ($250 / team of 5) that half of would pay for some of the party, but the remaining half is awarded to the winning team. Would this be good with you guys?

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Bring your "A" Game!

_________________
#23
My name's Dan

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#23
My name's Dan

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#23
My name's Dan

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

_________________
#23
My name's Dan

_________________
Bring your "A" Game!

_________________
#23
My name's Dan

_________________
#23
My name's Dan

_________________
Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

_________________
#23
My name's Dan

_________________
Bring your "A" Game!

_________________
Bring your "A" Game!

_________________
Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

_________________
Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

_________________
Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

Status update as far as I know:

In
1. Chief
2. Creepy
3. Jethro

Maybe
1. College Boy
2. Scott
3. Goliath
4. Jarrod
5. Lip

Unlikely but Possible
1. Pat
2. Ford

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#23
My name's Dan

17 days to go. Tick tick tick tick tick...

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

I have confirmation from Ilume that we are indeed on for our tournament party on Saturday, October 18, 2014 from 1 - 6 PM. It is imperative that all players be at Ilume ready to play by noon on game day. We have a program that we will be following and you guys will be 1 of 4 teams of 5 players each. It could be possible for up to 6 players per team, but I think the others around here want to keep it to just 5 players.

We are 15 days away from another great water volleyball event. We are looking forward to you guys coming back up.

I will need first and last names of each player that will be playing on your team. We are looking to be able to introduce each player on each team using their FirstName "Nickname" LastName. Ex: Steven "Coach" McFarland, or Kurt "Gazelle" Daws.

Let me know what else we need to do/plan for. Austin Chief: Let's do that conference call anytime you want to. Perhaps next Saturday morning (Oct 11) anytime before noon.

Thanks,
Steven

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Bring your "A" Game!

Kevin Nibbe, aka, Chief. position: point guard--5' 10 1/2, 137. 23rd year in the league.

Alternatively, Reese, Sergeant tech com, in the 45th under Perry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YIn-fCh6pU

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Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

_________________
Chief

Death from above! Fire down below!

Update:

In
1. Chief
2. Creepy
3. Jethro
4. Goliath

Maybe
1. Scott
2. Lip
3. Jarrod

Unlikely but Possible
1. Pat
2. Ford
3. College Boy

_________________
#23
My name's Dan