Who would have thunk it?

Tonight our kickball team will face off against More Cowbell and more than likely we'll pull out our second win of the season. We're 1-3-2 so far. We're not a bad team, we've just got an incredibly tough schedule this season. (I know, that's what they all say)

But it's true... we play in one of the most competitive divisions in the US. Also, DC is the hub of WAKA since it's conception at a happy hour at Kelly's Irish Times back in 1997. There are over 30 divisions in the greater DC area, with around 16 teams per division, with up to 26 players per team. That's at least 10,000 kickball players in the DC area through WAKA alone (and there are at least 2 other regional kickball leagues here, too)

So, yes, at pretty much any given moment, there is a kickball game going on somewhere in DC. And since it's a social sport, there are many a happy hour to be attended before and/or after each game.

This week it has come to my attention that the backlash against us kickballers has reached a critical mass. It would seem that there are a number of folks who despise us for one reason or another. Yes, we wear brightly colored team shirts. Yes, when we amass at a bar, we pretty much take it over... and yes, many of us end up stumbling our way home drunk as a college freshman. But are those really good enough reasons to start an underground terrorist organization?

Apparently to a few hundred local residents, it is.

Enter, the Anti Yuppie Kickball Guerilla Front. Their stated mission is to disrupt, by any means necessary, our evenings of ball kicking. This conspiracy has been quietly growing since early 2007 and apparently has started striking out against kickballers around the city in the past few weeks. Check out the tactics they advocate on their website.

A week or so ago, they showered our post-game libations with shredded kickball scraps. Rumor has it that they've run through games and stolen the kickball, then fled in an awaiting vehicle. They may have also showered a game or two with dog poo, but those rumors have yet to be substantiated.

Sadly, their antics (and more likely, their website) have attracted the attention of the US Marshals. On October 4th, at an "underground" meeting at a bar in DC, their leader was arrested on charges of advocating terrorism and providing material support to a terrorist organization. WHAT?!? I don't know whether to laugh or to cry about this!

Seriously. This happened.

Obviously, I don't agree with a group set to destroy a new favorite pasttime for thousands of twenty-somethings. But at the same time, should we really be considering this organization a TERRORIST GROUP? (doesn't it instill fear in you, just to see the words "terrorist group"?)

Apparently, he was also wanted on some drug trafficking charges in other states, so I suppose his arrest was warranted (HA!) but I'm still waiting for the Bush Administration to hold the press conference letting America know that we are once again safer, thanks to Homeland Security, the FBI, and likely the NSA, for stopping this homegrown terror netowork in its tracks before hundreds of innocent yuppies were robbed of their ability to blow off some steam on a Wednesday night (and maybe even given poo showers).

It's just KICKBALL!!

For the past 4 years, I've been playing kickball on Thursday nights in the fall and the spring on a team in the World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA). Our team plays in one of the most competitive divisions in the nation... over the years a few of the national championship teams came from our division.

I know... you're thinking "Kickball???"

Yes, kickball. It's a great, fun game and it's something that you can definitely play after a few beers without risking too many injuries. And although some teams are very competitive, we're not one of them. That's not to say that we lose every game... we usually go about .500

Our team (Turn Your Head and Cough) considers itself a social team, with a goal of meeting new people, networking, and generally having a good time. It's supposed to be fun and relaxing.

Last night, that wasn't the case. We were playing the team who was in last place, so it should have been a very easy and relaxed win for our team. But instead, the game was marred by controversy... Two of our players were ejected for explicit diatribes directed at the ump, and one of those two had also physically assaulted the ump. And this was all within the top of the 1st inning!!!

Needless to say, after that we were a bit off of our game. In the end we gave up a 6-2 lead and allowed Irish I Was Drunk to score a tie out of us.

The only question now is... do we boot those two players from our team, or will the division do it for us?

And to think... it's just kickball...

Dammit... Springtime already?!?

This winter has been quite busy for me... so I apologize to those of you who have been coming to my blog daily or even weekly, just to be repeatedly disappointed that I haven't written anything.

Ok, I know that last statement is only relevant to 3 people at most... but the apology is still sincere.

In the past month, I've been all over the place, both nationally and locally.

I spent a weekend in my home town with my parents and girlfriend. She and I did some snowboarding at Ski Liberty, then hung out with my parents at the local social club and got in some good face time... It's always good to know that your parents are doing well and having a great time in life. And I must say, my girlfriend is becoming a much more confident snowboarder!

One weekend was my girlfriend's birthday, so we headed out for a great weekend at the bars with all of her friends. Saki bombs are a lot of fun, especially with 15 people at 7pm in a restaurant full of families eating dinner and dozens of high schoolers having their pre-formal dinner with their dates!!

One weekend was spent with the little lady and some friends in Vermont, hitting the slopes at Mount Snow. Next year, the girlfriend is coming with us out west to hit the "hills"... that's how good she's gotten!!

One weekend was full of exercise in anticipation of the half-marathon we're going to be running in Nashville in April. My better half and I strapped on the blades and skated about 13 miles on Saturday (racing through 2 states and the District of Columbia in less than 2 hours), then donned our running shoes for a half dozen miles on Sunday.

And I just got back from Tahoe, where two of my friends and I enjoyed 50 degree weather while hitting the slopes sans gloves, hats, and anything else we could shed while we shredded.

Now... it's back to the daily grind. I've got no great weekend plans coming up for a while...

But I do have something great to look forward to!!

This weekend marks the beginning of our spring kickball season. I've finally gotten my team roster finalized, and we have our first practice/meet and greet this Sunday. On Thursday we've got the Pre-Season Kickball party at our sponsor bar (props to Nolan's) and on April 12th, we take the field to squash our first opponents (I hope!!).

Kids... if you have a kickball league anywhere in your area, and you have a free weeknight, or weekend afternoon, to give up for a couple months... I highly recommend giving kickball a shot. It's a great way to meet some fun people and enjoy the spring weather after a long day's work. Plus, I dare you to come up with a better reason to head down to happy hour...

So here's to kickball, springtime, and warm weather (oh, and more frequent postings on this blog!!)...

CHEERS!!