Winter Dodgeball - Week Three: These Punks Don't Know Who They're Dealing With.

Bring on the rookie teams. We'll take 'em apart piece by piece, while being sure to remember where all the pieces went, just so we can put them back together and then take them apart again. All while their family and friends watch, dejected and misty-eyed, from the sidelines. Ruthless? Maybe. Fear-instilling? Definitely.

We didn't have matches last week, and while some of us (or at least me) were concerned that it could possibly wreak havoc on the small amount of momentum we had built up over the course of our past three consecutive victories, any concerns I had were squashed as soon as the balls started flying. We were down one of our dudes, and maybe that lit a small fire under our collective buttocks. Or maybe we were just so damn happy to be back on the court after another too-long break from playing. Either way, the intensity levels were as high as I've seen them. Some of us clearly had some pent-up aggression to release (this game is superb for that), and while that can often spill over into sloppy play (I know first-hand about this), I'd say we did a fine job of harnessing the anger and focusing it properly.

And I can't speak for anyone else, but my arm felt great. I think I've figured it out: One week off from throwing is not quite enough rest, three weeks or more off from throwing is too much rest, and two weeks between matches is perfect. I also warmed up really well this time around, so maybe that had something to do with it. Whatever it was, I need to pinpoint it. Because there was no strain, no fatigue, and no errant throws as a result of either of those things. Because they were nonexistent. Can't ask for much more than that.

So, yeah, we gave the first team we played a solid trouncing. They were, like many new teams are, mad spazzy. I bet once they calm down and figure out what they're doing, they'll actually be pretty good. As it was, we handed them an 8-2 loss and sent them packing. To where, I don't know. Actually, they probably stayed put, because our next match was on the opposite court. So they must have stayed on that same court for their second match. That's usually how the scheduling works.
Our next opponents were another squad that was visibly wet behind the ears, partial to wide-eyed wandering as though they were in awe of the big show. They were in need of guidance. They needed someone to hold their hand and walk them through a humiliating defeat. We were happy to oblige.

There were a few tense moments between the many losses we handed to this squad, most involving this one tall lug on their team, who just kept southpawing his tosses at a height of about six and half feet - just enough to go over our heads, but also enough to keep us ducking. There are rules about being called out for repetitive high throws, but they're never enforced. So flailers like this guy are allowed to wing wildly to their heart's content. It is maddening. I gave him a few dirty looks and possibly said a few things. You might be able to see that in one of these videos.

He apologized to me after the match, and I accepted, while also giving him my "if you can't control yourself I don't know what you're doing out here" speech. It was possibly uncalled for, but I regret nothing. He is a menace, and someone needed to call him out for it.

Check the video above. A solid ending on that one. And a solid ending all around. We walked away with two more victories, and had one of our funnest nights in recent memory. And while my arm doesn't hurt, I have been sick in the bronchial region for the past three days, so that is sucky. Hopefully I'll regain some lung capacity before Monday. Because I want to keep this shit going.

We're tied for second with two other teams. Standings here. Not sure who that first-place team is, but someone needs to knock them down a peg. It's coming.

And there's one more video on my Vimeo page.