we got game
The
season got underway for real this week, under beautiful
conditions. The wind was mild
and the air was warm as the
players worked through their old aches and pains.
When
Connelly’s coach Steve Gifford asked John Sica for one
of the ringers he pulls out of his phone book, he didn’t expect
he’d supply one before their opening day match up.
Jackie Kanell shined in her first appearance, leading Connely’s
to a 3-2 victory. Despite the assistance of Sica, Coach Steve
brought another ringer on his own, for one Corona.
He
bartered the beer for Donna Ward of Fillmore, and a shot to
be named later. In Donna’s
defense she was looking for more
playing time. The Bikini Bottom All
Stars (formerly Gen X&Y)
experienced growing pains after going through a radical roster
change, losing “All (my own) World” Rich, and Gen “Y”ers
Bri and Trish. There is still time
to come back. (Not you Rich).
Youngsters Mike and Eva excelled in the loss. And for Connelly’s
New Tom (the California Kid) made the team forget about
Old Tom, the disgruntled Greek. The
fact that new Tom’s
mom knows Bo “10” Derek had nothing to do with the dumping
of “one-lung-old Tom”. Also the
addition of young TJ Toughey,
who played phenomenally, makes them
the new Gen X&Y.
Won
One will have to wait to fulfill the promise of their name,
as they were swept 5-0 by the Beach House.
Despite the win,
The Beach House was playing shorthanded because one of their
players broke a cardinal rule of Rockaway, never practice before
the season. That is why no one in
Rockaway has ever practiced
before the season. The team
improved when they talked
newcomer Gary Lamboin, former high school captain, into getting
a divorce so he could play. Both
teams were happy with the
refereeing from a new ref to Rockaway from Long Beach who was
very laid back. He called himself
“The Referee, Formerly Known as
the Volleyball Player Known as Coach.”
Where
is Liam (mouthpiece) Bolgeras? Moral
for Kerry Hills
was at an all time low missing his abuse. In
his place he sent
two spikers from Ireland. Meanwhile
the heavy hitters, Allen
and John, have never played before. However
they know something
about his abuse. The team would like to welcome them along
with Trish and Brian; and Lena from Sligo.
The Hills rolled 4-1,
over the Rugby Fishheads, and would like to remind everyone
that they will be gracious hosts next week at Kerry Hills.
The featured match up of the week was the defending champions
of the top Red Division, Coppersmiths, against perennial powerhouse
Abbracciamento’s. The Coppersmith twins Claire and Marie
(a.k.a. the Gatorade sisters) are feeling a little under the win,
as their sister Regina sits atop the league in first place with
Just Healy’s. Marie say’s let them have their moment because
it will be short lived. She also wants to congratulate Mark Aiken
(Jameson’s) for being Number Two! The match was well played
and very competitive with Abbracciamento’s taking the first
two games, both going to overtime. The new addition of the
Dempsey sisters, Jeannie and Cathy, provided a very important
spark for the aging Abbracciemento’s team. Many people
may be confused as to how their roster can change after
five years of stagnation, but after so many game losses, and
the loss of Rocky’s wife Tricia, who quit despite Rocky’s
objections, and Patty to pregnancy, they gave in and picked
up the sisters. In doing so they gave the reigning champs a
run for their money. Coppersmiths, being the champs they
are, fought back valiantly after falling behind 0-2. Behind the
play of Jack Bradley, who is confidently back as the “King of
the Beach”, the champs stormed back despite the absence
of TC Sullivan. (who can be seen sporting the Coppersmiths
championship Sweatshirt.) They took the next three and
almost lost the most important Gatorade sister when Marie
was pummeled by “All (my own) World” Rich, who apparently
didn’t think Marie’s head was important as the ball. Scooty
(Scotty) was thinking of throwing him in the bush club for his
negligent behavior…time and 25 Coors Lights for Scooty will
tell. The final word on Coppersmiths for the week is that
after all the post game ribbing, their thinking of changing
their name to U.Y.A. (see JJ Butler for the translation of this
abbreviation.)
"Is
there another division higher up that we can play in?” overheard
in the Just Healy’s team huddle during their 5-0 route of the
Federation.
Even
though Chooch and Boom Boom failed to make the game
due to their domestication, (making dinner for the man of the
house), TNT did their best to win. It wasn’t enough.
The two
new players added to the team, Wubs and Groatie, said they
will return to the team despite the 3-2 loss.
Since the balls
were flying everywhere, maybe next time they’ll wear their
underwear, and maybe they will keep their balls in place.
As for Wonder Woman she promises to make an appearance
by the end of the season. Maybe by
then Marty will take his
shoes off and will feel what every Rockaway residence feels,
the sand between his toes, unless he has webbed feet.
Fillmore
started off the same way they ended last year, winning
without Jimmy “the Cheap Bastard” Katen.
The team is
hoping long may he have to work Wednesday nights.
There’s
a strange wind blowing in the air, the team is required to wear
dresses this year, Fillmore is the answer to the little black
dress. We know who wears the pants
in the family, everyone.
"I
want everyone to start calling me Lou”, overheard in the rugby
clubhouse team huddle during the tightly contested matchup
between Jamison’s and the Rugby Clubhouse.
Probie O’Rouke
afraid newly promoted Lt. Johnson would reprimand him dedcided
to try and keep things close. The
only problem is that O’Rourke
is not on Johnson’s team. As
always enough cannot be said
about the emergence of TC. After
seeing the new star wars
movie, TC says he now understands the power of the force
and how to harness and use it on the volleyball court.
The after-party was at the beautifully renovated New Irish Circle.
The turnout was great, and the league had another first when
they were served delicious Salmon as well as other delicacies.
Highlights included Scotty and Claire dirty dancing to the
beat of DJ Teddy (AKA super MAAAHOOSH KA). Jack Bradley
was also getting into the swing of things dustind off some of
his best break dancing moves. Jamison’s star of the Circle
goes to powerhouse Keith Green. The way he utilized the
new smoke machines and disco lights at the Circle to pull
off the electric slide was outstanding, and from what the
ladies were saying, “very hot”. Good show Keith!!
Next
week the party will be at the fabulous Kerry Hills. Bring your thirst and your appetite. Don’t forget to visit the Rockaway Beach Volleyball Web
site at https://members.tripod.com/rbvl/
for more league news and pictures. If
you do not have your teams story in this weeks Wave, its because you didn’t
visit one of our cub reporters at the post game party. Make sure to visit next week and bring a beer for the
writer.
