Day 3 - Chain Lightning

After Day 2, I think we all felt as though we had something to prove and we are ready to play Chain in the Q's.

We get a few early upwind breaks on some great plays and throws to take half 8-4. We were feeling good about our situation. At a minimum trade out and we walk our way into the Semi's. Unfortunately, things didn't go quite as planned.

We pulled to Chain going downwind and they scored. We answered back to make it 9-5. A few points later it was 11-8 Revolver when we get an upwind turn and are about to score when the disc is dropped. Chain promptly goes down wind to score 11-9. Then get us to turn again and now it is 11-10 with us going down wind. Still all we need to do is trade out to win.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen. We turn it over and Chain scores upwind 11-11. They get the downwind D, 12-11 chain. Final was 16-14 Chain as we turned it over going upwind on our last point.

The wind today was a bit strong and did affect decision making and throws. They were able to pretty much huck it anytime they wanted and come down with it. There were very few hucks, if any they didn't catch...even a missed huck would somehow float into one of their guys just hanging around. Our height, or lack thereof, came into effect against Chain.

It's only upsetting because it was our game to lose. That being said, we have grown with every loss this past year. So, looking forward to next year, I am betting this team will be even more improved with the knowledge and confidence gained.

Personal note, 3 turns in this game, one bad choice and one turning to throw before catching the disc, fortunately none of those were converted by Chain...but nonetheless...I hate turns and probably dwell on them more than I should as I feel that all my errors are mental errors...and I dislike mental errors the most.

UPA's Day 1 & 2

Day 1

Nicest day i've seen it at Nats to start. Calm, serene, warm with little dew.

We get to start out with Machine. As Alex said, they like to huck it and they took half 8-5 on us. We tightened up and started to play our game and took the game 15-13. Machine was good, and we a number of errors that were uncharictaristic for us which allowed them to stay in the game.

Next up, Vicious Cycle. We knew this would be a tough game going in, and sure enough it was as they played well during the first half to take it, and us playing sloppy again and not converting when we got the D's. We end up tying the game at 14-14 when I get a layout D on a huck and the offensive player calls strip. You can see it here. The angle is difficult to see why I am 'theatrical' as Travis opines on RSD. Anyway, I catch the disc as my momentum is going forward into the O player who then grabs on to the disc as well. As a D player, you are somewhat stuck in that situation...had I not caught the disc and macked it instead, there is a good chance it would have been caught...by catching the disc, it all the O player to grab onto the disc and then call strip. I'll leave it open for now as to what the observer ruled.

Anyway, we get a D at 16-16 game to 17, and as Alex likes to point out, I threw into a poach. The player who threw the disc to me moved into the lane I was throwing to and brought his guy directly into the path of the disc. I should have seen it...they score...game.

Next up, DoG. We go up big early, and you can read Alex's blog for a pretty good recap, or the UPA's. Nan Gao gets a great layout D and we take it to score, then score on our next O point to end the game.

Day 1 is probably one of the worst day's I've played in the past few years having quite a number of turnovers, I think I had over one hand's worth. Very depressing (especially the last). None the less, we make it to the power pool and Ican forget about all the mistakes as they have cost us nothing, so far.

Day 2

Rhino - We come out flat, and they come out playing very well. There was some wind today, enough to make a bit of a difference. We know them pretty well by now, so we knew what to expect. We are both good teams, and if we have an off day, they will kick our butts...which they did 15-7. We played tight, and they played loose.

Now for Furious - We come out again and are feeling good. But that doesn't stop FG from taking a 4-0 lead. We are able to bring it to 5-4 FG with the disc on their goal line to tie it back up and turn it over. They score the upwinder, then the downwinder and take half 8-5. Second half a bit more of the same, they win going away 15-8. We played well during this game and the effore was there this time, just not the execution. We know we can do better...

So now we get to go watch Rhino & DoG finish their game. I'll let Alex post on that, but it was an exciting finish.

Anyway, we get to play Chain Lightning in the Q's, and assuming we win....we play the winner of FG and Ring in the semi's.

Oh, and we keep both WC's in the NW.

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Strategy = Winning

So, I read Idris' Strategy...it has to be fun post. The first thing I thought of was a personal email exchange I had, and then reading Parinella's comment in Idris' NW Regionals '06 post got me thinking further.

First, I would like to post selective sentences Idris wrote...

"If you truly believe your strategy is a recipe for success, you will get that fun feeling. That excitement that drives you individually and the team.

...

But at the end of the day, if you’re not having fun doing what you’re doing… you won’t be successful."

And then follow it up with Jim's thought on the NW regionals

"I’ve always thought identity and chemistry were effects, not causes, of good play and winning."

and

"I guess I would say that having an identity is not important in establishing a winning team. For chemistry, it depends on how you define it. Of course, if players know what each other are doing, then things will run more smoothly on the field, but I think what people usually mean by “chemistry” is captured in quotes like “I knew someone would pick me up because that’s the kind of team we have.”"

I think, and I could be wrong, that if I were to be philisophical about what Idris wrote, that I would come to the conclusion of the following:

If the strategy is fun, then you will win.

And to evaluate what Jim wrote, I would come to the following:

If you win, then the strategy is fun.

Although I pretty much agree with much of what Idris writes, I think he has this one completely wrong.

Why is Idris wrong? Well, I guess it depends on your outlook. I'll go with what I am assuming is Idris's outlook it that if you are having fun, you will be successful. Having fun does just simply not equal success. I can have a fun strategy at playing chess, but that doesn't mean I am going to win at chess...you can huck and hope (tm parinella) and although some might consider fun...just because you are having fun doesn't mean you are going to win.

Secondly, it depends upon the value you place on winning. If you place more emphasis on winning than you do on having fun...then strategy does not have to be fun.

Which brings me to Idris' other point, which is buyin. If the strategy is a winning strategy, then there will be buyin because you are winning. If the strategy no matter how fun, does not equate to winning...the initial buyin, if any will fade.

Let's look at Kobe Bryant. He won three titles with Phil Jackson at the helm. Kobe never felt that the strategy was fun for various reasons...but they won three titles. Phil takes off for a year and a new strategy was implemented and the Lakers had a bad season even though Kobe had his best statistical season.

What was Kobe's reaction? Bring back Phil. Why would he ask to bring back Phil? The reason is simple, although Kobe realizes that he is not having "fun" in Phil's system...he is winning. Kobe places a higher value on winning than he does fun and the reason they win is Phil's strategy.

East coast vs. west coast play and strategery. It appears that his theory is that players would be frustrated playing the different styles. I would tend to agree. However, I think it is more about the individual player.

As an example, player A is a great receiver playing for the East Coast (EC) team and loves to recieve hucks. Well, the EC team doesn't huck as much as the West Coast (WC) team. If A moves to the WC, then he would get more hucks, and I would bet have fun with the strategy as he is receiving more hucks. Reverse the above, and I bet he would be frustrated since he wouldn't be hucked to as much.

I think the same would apply to a thrower who can put it deep. They would be more frustrated in the EC offense than the WC offense.

I think where it gets a bit more tricky is when you have great role players who don't fit into either of the two roles above. Then, based upon how they learned to play the game, they would be frustrated moving from one type of play to another type of play since that is not what the player is used to playing.

Anyways...maybe it makes sense...maybe not.

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Regionals Sunday - Game 7

After finishing the game against Rhino, we are all excited. We take about a half hour to celebrate and and just hang out before getting back to business. We make our phone calls, etc. Then it's back to work.

Game 7 - Sockeye - This is for the 2/3 seed and we are looking forward to this game. Each time we have played Sockeye, we have come back as a better team. I expected no less going into this game. I expected the score to be closer to 15-10 than yesterday. I think 15-12 is reasonable...and if we are close at the end of the game...who knows.

I would agree that the intensity as in the previous day did not quite seem to be there from both sides. That being said, I feel as though Sockeye brings it every game. So, I think the final score is somewhat representative of how close the two teams are. As I said before, I would expect 15-12.

Since we are in, I'm trying not to further aggravate and injury and also watch the JL/Rhino game. The game is close through 6's. Nothing that I can say really stands out. We are now starting to come togethe and play really well. We pull to Sockeye and they score to take a 7-6 lead. Sockeye calls TO as they feel they should be beating us 6-2, and we razz them a bit for calling TO as the game already feels like it is taking so long...but they are trying to up their intensity. After a few turns Sockeye is able to punch it in to take a 8-6 halftime lead with us pulling.

We pull and come down in zone and catch them off guard. Simba gets a great block as the thrower tried a high release over the cup by the goal and we punch it in to bring the score 8-7. We decide to come down in zone again. They work it for a bit and then get a fast break going down to the goal line and, I playing Deep /Deep am isolated with the thrower and a receiver behind me waiting for the goal. I correctly pick the type and location of the throw and am able to layout and get the block. We work it up field to get the score and bring it to 8-8.

We pull again in man and this time Sockeye tries to throw a laser huck which gets poach blocked by me and we work it up field. I get the disc and think I have eye contact with my receiver and put an around throw to the break side for a goal...unfortunately...he did not have eye contact with me...and the other people on the break side watched it fall helplessly to the ground. Sockeye goes up to score 9-8 and there was our chance.

Sockeye gets another break to make it 10-8. We trade until 12-10 when the hard cap goes on...we throw a huck that is missed. Ben uses his power as captain to throw a callahan goal to Sherwood to finish the game 12-11 Sockeye. Can't say I blame him, since the game is determined, might as well no one get hurt.

All in all a satisfying game...except for the turn. Wish I could have that one back.

Now it is time to celebrate.

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Regionals Sunday - Game 6

After the JL game we get a bye during the next round. So a few of us stick around and watch the JL and Voodoo game. JL went up a couple breaks early and took half. Then Voodoo started making some great plays to bring the score to 13-12 JL, I believe. Voodoo pulls and I believe JL scored pretty quickly to make it 14-12. JL forces a turn on the next point and scores to close out the game 15-12.

The Voodoo team really improved since Labor Day. I would say they are very similar to Revolver in that they have a lot of young players who are on the rise and play hard. We'll see what happens in the future.

Game 6- Rhino - This is for the 3 seed and to play the loser of 1/2 for the second seed. We start out on D and get a great D. We walk it down field and I throw a break mark throw for the first score. The next four points, we trade and the score is now 4-4.

Rhino pulls and generates a turn. This was another mental mistake and Rhino took advantage of the turn to score and make it 5-4. These type of things will happen with a young team. The next thing we know, it turns into a flood of mental mistakes behind the disc and Rhino takes half 8-4.

We huddle up for half and have our half-time talk. We are disappointed to be down 8-4 at half as we feel that we simply gave them the disc. Our D is fired up and ready, and you can see that look in everyone's eyes.

For the second half I am now moved back to my favorite position, O handler with the option of playing dump. Rhino pulls, and we walk it down...now was that so hard? Just like old times, 8-5.

We pull, the D is on the field sans me, and we get a turn and score pretty quickly. 8-6. Revolver pulls again with our D on the team and generate another pretty quick turn and score to bring it 8-7. You can feel the momentum changing.

On D again and generate a third turnover. We are able to punch this one in again to tie it up at 8-8's. Rhino calls timeout. We are on a roll. But we know that Rhino will not give up. Neither of us really wants to play JL in the 4/5 game to go to Nationals.

We pull again, generate another turn. However, this time no team seems determined to score. The point lasts quite a while until Rhino calls another TO. We are fired up as they are having a very difficult time moving the disc. After the TO we get another turn and move it up to the goal line before turning it...Rhino eventually scores to make it 8-9 Rhino.

I am back on O now, and we move it up field effortlessly and score to make it 9-9. We trade out point until 13-13 and us pulling to Rhino for the game. I get back in on D with what is basically our best D line, which is what you want at that point.

We pull to Rhino. Since I was involved on the last play which Idris referred to as a controvertial block, I will give my perspective. A couple throws to move the disc and the O player takes me down field and then comes back up the break side looking for the disc. He flairs to the open side looking for the disc, but the disc comes to the inside of him making him have to stop, change directions and reach back for the disc (maybe this is why he felt O player was stationary?). I am very close to O player the whole time and was planning on making a bid on the throw regardless, but when I see the throw is to the inside my eyes light up. I make a layout bid and get to the disc. As I get to the disc I feel the O player's shoulder hit into my chest and hear the dreaded foul call.

Of course I'm upset as I think it is a good bid, but I stay composed as does the O player. We talk about it for a few momemts. His arguement was that there was contact between his shoulder and my chest. My arguement was that the disc was thrown behind him, I reached the disc before any contact had been made, and that he had to stop and reach back into me in order to get the disc. We tried to work it out, but you know that at 13-13 game to 14 nobody wants to give up the disc, especially on a play such as that. We go to the observer, we do not give our reasons for going to the observer....and the observer ruled in my favor. I would also point out that the observer explained his reasoning for the ruling at that time to us and made the same arguement that I made.

We work it up field and call a timeout before getting stalled. After the TO, we set up and start. Cahill throws the disc and we score...but wait...there's a call. Stall. Robbie contends that he got the disc off before 10 and secondly it was a fast count. Oberserver says no it was not off before ten, but yes it was a fast count. (Question here, shouldn't that be a goal then?) . Robbie gets the disc again and I make eye contact. The disc is checked in and he throws a nice backhand to me for the goal...but again...another call. Disc was not checked in.

Let's try this one more time. Disc gets checked and and Robbie tosses a nice push pass to Sherwood for the win.

There isn't much I could say at that time. It was seriously the best feeling since beating FG to play in the finals in 2004. To have played with these group of guys all year, who are awesome, and then to get the layout D on the final point. Well, it made me feel vindicated, so to speak. Many of us with a common bond rose to the challenge and performed well. There is not a group of guys I could be more proud of. They have grown all year and are now able to see the fruits of their labor.

Additionally, the caps have done a great job and made the adjustments necessary at just the right times.

Up next would be sockeye who just lost to FG for the one seed.

Other personal notes 4 blocks during this game and no TO's. (Actually, no TO's to this point all weekend).

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Regionals Sunday - Game 5

Saturday night we had a great dinner at Bob's...quite a bit of talking about cougars.

Go home and watch Flavor of Love on VH1. If you have never seen it, I highly recommend it. Flavor Flav is hilarious, and the chicks they have on this show are unbelievable...but I digress.

So we get to bed early because we have an 8am game time. Wake up at about 6:15 and get ready to be at the fields by 7.

Again, the morning is chilly with some fog on the field and the sun is just about to rise. It was very pretty once again with very little wind.

I couldn't find the score reporter to provide accurate details for a point by point analysis.

Game 5 - Justice League - This game is the game to play for the 3 seed. Needless to say I was ready for this game, as were a few other players. Actually, our whole team. We start out on D because we love our D team. They have been our strenghth the whole season so far. We get the first turn work it up to the goal line, Tom James makes a great break throw to me and I throw the disc for our first goal.

The next point takes about 10 minutes as there were multiple turnovers and a few calls, some which I thought were quite dubious and was probably too vocal about. And maybe I am wrong here, but when there is contact with a thrower's hand after he releases a disc, it is not a foul on the throw. Secondly, when the thrower openly admits that the foul was after he released the disc, yet refuses to take back the call, like some other's I tend to get annoyed. JL finally scores to even it up at 1-1.

The next point as well took about 10 minutes as well and there were multiple turnovers. During that point on our goal line JL had the disc to score and Jit made the cut of death and Eric made a great poach D to save the score and we go on to score to make it 2-1.

We trade out a few more points that go by relatively quickly compared to the previous 2 points. At around 6-5 Revolver we force another turn. After a few passes Nan and I make eye contact and the hammer goes up to the corner and is as almost a perfect throw. My defender had been poaching off of me a bit and closes pretty well but I am still able to get up and make the two-handed catch and with contact go to the ground. What happened while I am in the air, I'm not entirely sure (I am told I was pushed, but did not really feel it), but the next thing I know I'm in the middle of quite a few people jawing back and forth about the play. Things then settle down.

We trade out and take half 8-6.

We receive the disc and score rather easily to make it 9-6.

I believe we pull and get another turn. During this point a travel is called on a break mark throw and there is quite a bit of discussion regarding the travel. When it looks like everything is settled the JL player fakes like he is going to throw a punch at our player, unfortunately, he actually made contact. Everyone was able to maintain their cool and the game continued. I believe we scored to make it 10-6.

Writer edit: That is what it looked like from the sideline. In actuallity, it was push in complete jest to our player who unfortunately deflected a finger into his eye.

We pulled, they scored to make it 10-7. We scored again to make it 11-7. The hard cap went on during the point and JL scored to end the game 11-8. Revolver moves on to play the winner of Hippo and Rhino.

Other notes.

Idris posted in his blog that our strategy was one "...of fouling incessantly on the mark..." I definitely must disagree with this statement. At no point did we ever discuss fouling on the mark as a strategy. However, we did notice that at Santa Cruz and Sectionals that JL like to use a very hard mark while on D, and I thought they were doing so to try and intimidate the younger players. Fortunately for Revolver, our young guys stepped up to the challenge and learned from JL during those games and Sockeye game how to play at the higher levels and used that knowledge. I found it personnally amusing that one JL player took exception to one of our "fouling markers", who himself is known to be quite the physical player.

Robbie Cahill had a gigantic D in that game.

Maybe my hearing is not as good as I thought, but I coulda sworn that during time outs and or at half time JL cheered "F$% Them," which I thought was...I'm not sure...seeing as though JAM had our Sorry 'bout it cheer. Though that was an inside JAM joke that wasn't necessarily devised as a cheer towards the other team, just happened to evolve that way.

I predicted to a few people after we lost by one to JL at Santa Cruz that we would beat them at Regionals...references provided upon request. I think I'll stop there for now.

There are at least 10 players on the Revolver roster cut by JL, including myself.

Definitely a very satisfying game.

Rhino game to come later.

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Revolver is...

the 3 seed from the NW.

Saturday morning in Burlington was quite nice, chilly, but nice since there was no rain, not much wind, and some sunshine.

Game 1 - UW - We got an easy game to start off with UW. Apparently they were missing some of their big players that they had at sectionals. They were young and ran, but were not overly skilled. We won the game 15-5 or so...score reporter doesn't have the score up. Never really close.

Game 2 - Blackfish - This is another team from Vancouver. We again beat them pretty handily. Game was never really close. 15-3

Game 3 - Hippo - These are all the former Rhino guys and other Eugene area players. Apparently they had Talbot and Schneider at sectionals, but neither were able to make it to regionals. They were ok, they liked to heckle and talk crap most of the time trying to get in your head. But once the game was in our control, they basically just shut up and accepted the beating of 15-9. It was definitely interesting to play this game.

Game 4 - Sockeye - It is obvious that for us to beat at team like Sockeye, we must play perfect. The game starts off with us trading points to 3-3. We then have a mental throwing error that then turned into a Sockeye goal. The wheels came off for at a couple more points and I think it was 8-3 at half. We regroup at half, come out on O and score, then get a D and score again to make it 8-5. I believe we got another D to make it 8-6 before Sockeye ansers. We have the disc and the disc is 11-8 when Sockeye gets another D and scores to make it 12-8. We score a couple more and they score 1 more than us to finish the game 15-10. All in all, it was a good game and had proved to us that we had improved both offensively and defensively since Santa Cruz.

Talking with some Sockeye guys afterwards, I noted that at that level, they really didn't get many D's, but they forced us to make mental errors. Those mental errors on O caused us to turn the disc over to them by making poor choices and they promptly scored. If we get rid of some of the mental errors, it would be closer. That's not to say they aren't the better team, they clearly are a better team and one of the favorites to win it all. I think, though, that we still have room for improvement and can give them an even better game.

Sunday to come...

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Regionals

Sorry 'bout it.

Now the question is who is Revolver???

Recap to come later.