Winter Dodgeball - Week Six: Maybe We Should Get A Coach...

Because one of the other teams had one on Monday night. Seriously. He stood on the sidelines with them and argued with the ref. At our dodgeball game. More about that in a bit.

It was the last night of the regular season, and we had our work cut out for us. Not only were we playing against a team we had yet to play, but our second match was against a team that we beat (barely) in the first week, and they're of the "not stoked when they lose" variety. So, we knew it was time to put our game faces on and really get wingin'.

Our first match went really well. The team we were playing against were really nice, and though we won fairly easily, it seemed that everyone had a good time. This, my friends, is the way it should be. I guess it helps when the game's not super close, but this can be such a fun game when everyone isn't taking it too seriously. A lot of teams seem really determined to beat us. I don't know if that's because we've been in first place for part of the season, or if they hate us.

When it came to our second match, I ended up feeling like it was a combination of both. They're a competitive bunch, and by that I mean overly aggressive and awkwardly mouthy. To top it off, they house a few members who are all-around spazzes. I don't mind a few errant throws (we've all thrown some too high), but when you're consistently doing it, it might be time to sit out a season or two until you can get your shit together. Or at least don't complain when you drill a guy with glasses in the face and then you're declared (by the stoned ref) "out." Ugh.

The match was frantic, with their 400lb coach yelling at us, yelling at the ref, and probably consumed by thoughts of post-game pie. By the time the final game came and we were tied at three apiece, I almost wanted them to win. One of the cro magnon men on their team seemed both gooned on the juice and on the verge of tears. If this was that big of a deal to them, they could have it. And have it they did, in a very close last game. In my first conscious move of unsportsmanlike conduct, I did not high-five their coach when he lined up for the perfunctory "good game" hand-slapping. He whiffed and then tried to pat me on the back but I slipped away. That'll learn him!

Standings are here, and by god, we finished in first place. Given our odd "draw" from the second week, we should probably be tied for first, but hey, first is first, even if we tied. Looking at the schedule, I'm realizing we don't play next week, so it looks like playoffs will be delayed till the 30th. I'm hoping we can break our streak of sub-par performances in the postseason.

And avoid any more yelling.

Bonus pic: (Thanks Erin!)