Ghost Man on Third: The Dicta from On High Edition

The  Award Winning Official Newsletter of the MA Commonwealth Division

"What is kickball, but the people?"  

WEEK EIGHT: "If there's music, we can use it, we need to dance. We don't have the time for psychological romance. No romance, no romance, no romance for me, mamma. Come on baby, tell me what's the word. Word up" - Cameo

Table of Contents: 

I: The Olympus Moans  

II: Tougher than Sticks and Stones

III: Quieter than Actions 

IV: The Radosty of The Old In and Out

V: Standings and Schedule 

VI: Announcements

VII: It Comes from The Hitch

PART I: " About to tell you something, something. You might already know but a green light flashes before my eyes and it's time for my verbal flow You're over there I'm over here. And I got things to say the latest news, about this and that and whatever might come my way. So I can tell you anything, anything you might wanna know" - The Hives

For those of you out there that are living breathing consumers of media, you are probably aware that the summer Olympics will soon begin in London. Now this quadrennial bacchanalia of sex, booze, and monopolistic merchandising, periodically interrupted by athletic contests and loaded with "You can't make this shit up" Human Interest stories, will transfix the global sports landscape for the next sixteen days. (Of course here in the US, it will just further fuel the fires of Community fans, about how their show plays second fiddle to Team Mixed Dressage).

While the world watches the men, women, and horses of the Triple X Olympiad (and I mean that as #30, rather than all the stuff that happens and stays in the Olympic Village), soon our league eyes will be transfixed by the playoffs and the final assault on the summit of Mount Immortal Kickball Glory. 

For those of you who are new to the sport, or to the league the playoffs are a seeded tournament, that follows the structure of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

Playoff Week 1: August 2nd (times and fields TBD)

Game A: #1 v. #8

Game B: #4 v.#5

Game C: #3 v. #6

Game D: #2 v. #7

Playoff Week 2: August 9th (FieldTBD)

6:30 pm 

Game E: Winner of Game A v. Winner of Game B

Game F: Winner of Game C v. Winner of Game D

And after the conclusion of those two games, the Championship game will occur. 

7:15pm 

Game G:  Winner of Game E v. Winner of Game F

The team with the highest seed in each game gets to pick whether it wants to be the "road team" (kick first) or "home team" (field first). 

Next week, in this space we'll go over the differences between playoff rules and regular season rules. For more information on League Tournaments and Rules, you can check them out here. 

PART II: "And every one of them words rang true, and glowed like burning coal.Pouring off of every page, like it was written in my soul from me to you. Tangled up in blue." - Bob Dylan

With the Olympics upon us, a tall, bearded friend of mine brought an article to my attention. It's an essay from 1896 about the first modern Olympiad. As my friend stated in his email to me, "If you appreciate Victorian prose AND casual ethnography, take a look".  As I navigated my way through the aforementioned prose, and laughed at the ethnocentric descriptions of the non English athletes, I began to ponder about the value of words, and how valuable they are in life. And then I stopped (collaborated and listened) realizing that yes, THAT PREVIOUS SENTENCE is probably the most banal and insipid thing I've ever written (and I've written a lot of banal and insipid things over the years.) Huzzah! 

So I stopped thinking about the value of words (really, words are important. No shit, Sherlock) and started thinking about boobs, Bruins, BBQ,  bourbon,Batman, bananas, Bieber, Bach,Boobs, Beethoven, Brahms, Boobs, BNSF, The Bunk, a bit to entertain the ever dwindling number of kickabrigians that read this blog. So what did the brilliant gears of my alleged mind come up with? WORDS!

So using the random Word-A-Day generator, I started with one word, and just clicked the next random word (no skipping) and made it my duty to entertainingly use  the word it offered to describe each of our league's teams. This has a winning comic bit written all over it. Strap yourself in. 

INCOGNITO: adverb, adjective

Having one's identity concealed. noun: 1. One whose identity is concealed. 2. The state of having one's identity concealed.

Well, this one is easy. This word of course could be used to describe the Ninjapocalypse Now. Ninjas of course make their living in popular culture as masters of the incognito. Of course our Ninjas, embrace this tradition by wearing the brightest possible yellow, announcing their presence at the beginning of each game with a cheer, and handing out many, many awards that recognize individual achievements rather than a team devoted purely to blending into the shadows. Perfect. 

TROPRISM: noun

The turning or bending (typically by growth instead of movement) of an organism in response to an external stimulus.

Holy poop, this bit was a terrible idea. How the hell I am going to relate this word to one of our teams? So did anyone see The Dark Knight Rises? I can't believe there was a talking pie, and the butler did it! (NOT SPOILERS) (Stalling, stalling), Oh wait, Teleballin'. And I'm not just pulling it out of my ample posterior either. This one is definitely them, as they are new team with a soccer background who've not really played kickball or baseball or softball before. Yet, presented with these new rules and ways (you mean run from base to base!) slowly and surely they've become a team. Sure, they haven't won a game yet, but it takes a seed many, many years to grow into the larch. 

STRIDENT:  adjective

Loud, grating, strongly expressed.

This obviously has to reflect Kickin Nuggets, aw fuck it, who am I kidding? The most strident team we have is Dirty Mike and the Boys. Their bold fashion choices (JORTS!), brash demeanor and solid kickball play this season may be loud, possibly grating, and definitely strongly expressed, but they are a great bunch of guys and girls, and definitely have added value to this kickball season. 

HOBSON'S CHOICE: noun 

An apparently free choice that offers no real alternative: take it or leave it. 

When reading this definition, I nearly evacuated. How in the hell am I gonna think of a team that fits this phrase. And then after much straining, I finally relaxed, let it go, and realized this is fitting for "We've Got the Runs" Why? Well, We've Got the Runs have proven to either have runs or not have runs, as they've been shut out a league leading four times. They either score. Or they don't. 

NIRVANA: noun

1. Freedom from the endless cycle of birth and death and related suffering.

2. An idealized state or place free of pain, worries, etc.

Now, you'd think that a fan of rock n roll as I am, I'd have wished that I'd saved the Ninjas and applied this word to them, so that I could wax philosophically about my love for Nirvana. And while I've come to appreciate them over the years, and feel like the line "With the light's out, it's less dangerous" should be on my tombstone (or headboard) I was (am) a Pearl Jam fan, so I'm not too bummed. However one team that I think of when I think of the being freed from the endless cycle of birth, death and related suffering are the Kickin Nuggets. Despite their lack of winning, there is also a sense of calm and joy, as if they have transcended the chains of kickballian torment, and entered that idealized state free of pain and worries (and winning). Ha!

CYNIC: noun
1. One who believes people are motivated by self-interest only.
2. A person with a negative outlook, one disposed to find fault.

There are no real cynics in this league, but in terms of team name this is fitting most to Looking to Bust Balls. Ball Busting as we know is not just an odd sexual fetish, but the art of finding fault with someone, constantly focusing on that fault to make sarcastic or humorous statements. And of course, since LTBB are looking to bust balls, they are focused solely on their self-interested search for opportunities to bust those aforementioned balls. 

GOOGOL: noun

The figure 1 followed by 100 zeroes equal to 10¹⁰⁰

Crap. Math. YOU SAID THERE WOULD BE NO MATH. (Who am I talking to? Or for your Grammar Fascists, To whom am I talking?) Anyway, this definitely reminds me of Pumped Up Kicks, who since they've entered in the MA Commonwealth league have pretty much won all their games, so if their all time league winning percentage isn't quite at 10¹⁰⁰ it has to be getting close, or so it seems. 

EUPHEMISM: noun 

Use of a mild, neutral, evasive, or vague term in place of one considered taboo, offensive, blunt, or unpleasant. 

I will admit when this popped up on the browser, I started running around in circles, making a "woop,woop,woop" noise, much to the chagrin of my befuddled co-workers. This was perfect for Don't Come on My Base! Then of course, I settled down and realized "oh crap, Don't Come on My Base! isn't a euphemism, it's a pun at worst, and an entendre at best. Damn it. Damn it to hell." But since we are talking about words, and since English is my native language I think the best euphemiser was of course William Shakespeare (or Edward deVere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, for those of you who know the truth). You couldn't talk about sex in Elizabethian England, at least not the way you could now. (Wow, I've just broken the record for most English Queens mentioned in a GMOT. Maybe I'll find a way to quote Elton John to go for a threesome...I mean trifecta.) Somebody wrote a book just to catalogue all the sex eupemisms!. And speaking of Shakespeare, I recommend you all go see the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's production of Coriolanus (suprisingly not a euphemism for anything sexual or taboo. Which is even more surprising considering Coriolanus is a Roman leader, and they did everything Taboo. Nice civilization you've got Caligula) that is free on the Boston Common between now and August 12th. It's not a well known drama by the Bard (de Vere), but according to my good friend who is the stage manager it "has a few riots and some war." That's good enough for me! (Now I will giggle uncontrollably for several minutes as I've now said Coriolanus multiple times)

THEOPHANY: noun

An appearance of a god to a person

And this of course refers to Tim, the friend of Looking to Bust Balls, who has descended with his Olympus (okay, it's really a Canon, but let me use some poetic license) to capture the highest quality shots of the league kickball action I've ever scene. Another huge thanks to Tim for coming this week and providing all the great league shots. View the full album here.

PART III: "go little record go. it is named by, some guy named joe. and the words
are the letters of the words, said." - Pixies

6:30pm Games

Ninjapocalypse Now 3 over We've Got the Runs 0

Coming into a match up with the top team in the league, We've Got the Runs assumed the worst, but instead we found ourselves in a very tight game. In the end lack of the runs continued to be our downfall as we lost 3-0. We played well but just couldn't get on the scoreboard. We left the bases loaded in each of the last 2 innings. Our defense kept us in the game. Frank "The Tank" got his first start at short stop and was like a human vacuum, getting every ball that came near him. Kevin, Kerry, and Mike all made great plays in the outfield and Andrew continued to pitch well for the Runs.

As for the Ninjas, while We've Got the Runs may have not gotten any runs, they did give the Ninjas many many fits. While the Ninjas were able to stifle the Runs offensive chances, the Runs were almost equally as stingy. It took the effort of Sword of Honor winner Ed, who scored all three Ninja runs and Medallion of Strength winner Sam to power the offense. Defensively Paul paced the team with his pitching, earning him the Helmet of The Horror, The Horror, and the play of the game was a long running catch on the hill in foul territory by Hand Drum of Destiny winner Dave P, which lead to an inning ending double play a third, that kept the shut out in tact.

Sam B and David M contributed this report

Pumped Up Kicks 7 over Kickin Nuggets 1 

While the Nuggets lost last Thursday to league powerhouse Pumped Up Kicks, the game was anything but a slog, and wrapped up in under half an hour! The Nuggets kept the pressure up against the Kicks consistently while fielding, with special mention going to outfielder Jen D and especially catcher Sabrina  for nimbly catching more than one foul ball. Justin scored his first run of the season, and all the Nuggets enjoyed an exciting, if short, kickball game!

Nathan H contributed this report

PART III:"I'm gonna pull you in close. I'm gonna wrap you up tight. I'm gonna play with the braids that you came here with tonight. I'm gonna hold your face, and toast the snow that fell. Because friends don't waste wine when there's words to sell." - Interpol

7:15pm Games

Dirty Mike and the Boys 7 over Don't Come on My Base! 1

There once was a pink kickball team
With 4 straight wins, we were livin’ the dream
Then along came Dirty Mike
Who we very much don’t like
And with one game our season went downstream

Although we were all clad in velvet and furry vests
Something happened that none of us could have guessed
Dirty Mike took the lead
Running with lightning fast speed
While DCOMB’s captains nearly went into cardiac arrest

Luckily DCOMB’s players do have some skill
Dan circled the bases looking for a thrill
He got our only run for the night
Although it was an entertaining sight
To see him run in a tuxedo vest, looking dressed to kill

Two other pink players tried to help our team save face
And did everything they could to get on base
Matt did a forward roll
And Jodi’s slide took a toll
But at least they both went down with a lot of grace

To be a good player one must constantly keep their eyes peeled
And this week a great catcher was revealed
Meaghan is this week’s MVP
Because she screamed with glee
When she caught one epic fly ball to outfield

Illana contirbuted this limerickical report. 

Looking to Bust Balls 5 over Teleballin' 2 

LTBB was able to pull out a 5-2 victory thursday night thanks to a solid defensive effort combined with a good offensive execution. The top 3 in the order, Adam, Tara, and Ben, went 6-6 with 4 runs scored and 2 rbi's. Jay k and justin also added to the offensive with 3 more hits and 3 rbi's. Defensively AJ settled into the catcher position with strong fielding and constant put outs at 1st base. Lindsey, Jon, and Steve all added run saving catches in the outfield to help preserve the win for LTBB.

Ben contributed to this report

PART IV: " What do I do to make you want me? What have I gotta do to be heard?
What do I say when it's all over? Sorry seems to be the hardest word " - Elton John

Standings:

Schedule:

Equipment to the Field: Kickin' Nuggets

6:30PM

Dirt: 

We've Got the Runs! v. Kickin' Nuggets 

Referee: Don't Come on My Base

Grass:

Dirty Mike and the Boys v. Pumped Up Kicks

Referee: Ninjapocalypse Now

7:15pm 

Dirt: 

Teleballin' v. Ninjapocalypse Now

Referee: We've Got the Runs!

Grass:

Looking to Bust Balls v. Don't Come on My Base

Referee: Pumped Up Kicks

Equipment to the Bar: Looking to Bust Balls

PART V: "People say 'beware!' But I don't care. The words are just rules and regulations to me, me ." Patti Smith

Announcements, Announcements Announcements

PLAYOFFS: Playoffs begin next week. Since there is the chance of extra innings, start times and time limits will be strictly enforced. 6:30 games will be declared forfeits if minimum 4 males and 4 females are not present at 6:45. 7:15 games will be declared forfeits if the minimum is not reached by 7:20pm.  

RULES: There are some slight rule changes about extra innings that may come into play in the playoffs. Please review those rules before next week. 

ALL-STAR GAME: The second annual MA Commonwealth All-Star Game will be held on August 16th at Lowell Field. Come and cheer on your All-Stars. More information will be coming in next week's GMOT. 

BOCA BAR: Only three more weeks left after tonight at BOCA. Please come and thank them with your patronage.  

PHOTOS: Special thanks again to Tim who provided the bulk of this week's photos. Fantastic work and check out his full album here. 

TWITTER: Remember to follow the league twitter account. @Macommonealth for all the latest news.

PART VI: "There was that night that we thought John Berryman could fly. But he didn't, so he died. She said 'You're pretty good with words, but words won't save your life' And they didn't, so he died. - The Hold Steady

Words are cheap, yet when it comes to events that ephemeral, those moments that recede into time as quickly as they came upon us, often times words are all that we have left to describe the moment. Now, often time in that moment of victory, we cannot find the words to express what we are truly feeling. But they come out in time, and provide the lasting testament to the experiences on this journey of life.

The champion of this division will be determined not by words, but by actions. Yet because of those actions, the winner will express their joy, while the losers will deal with their defeat. May you find the right words and actions to write the story of your victory, or dull the agony of defeat. 
Good Luck and Happy Kicking,

- David, GMOT Editor

Ghost Man on Third: The Perfect Me Double Three Edition

The  Award Winning Official Newsletter of the MA Commonwealth Division

"I play kickball, therefore I am"  

WEEK SEVEN: "No man born with a living soul, can be working for the clampdown. Kick over the wall 'cause government's to fall. How can you refuse it? Let fury have the hour, anger can be power. Don't you know that you can use it?" - The Clash

Table of Contents: 

I: Do You Know Who I Am?

II: In order to converse with an equal, I'm often forced to talk to the Almighty
III: Appetite for Perfection

IV: The Pinnacle of Evolution... For a Moment

V: I'm Not Dead, I'm Immortal!

VI: Standings and Schedule 

VII: Announcements

VIII: Self Indulgent Narcissism 

PART I: "I was born a child of grace. Nothing else about the place. Everything was ugly but your beautiful face. And it left me no illusion." - U2

Leading off with a special shout out to Tim a friend of Looking to Bust Balls who took some professional quality shots of last week's league action. Please check out Tim's album here. I'll be using a few of them throughout the blog this week, but there are so many more great shots. 

Secondly for those of you who couldn't make it on Friday night, you missed any awesome time at the MA Commonwealth Mid-Season Party. Above are some of the sights as your fellow league members put on their best costumes and competed for Immortal Kickball Costumed Glory! Congratulations to Matt from Don't Come on My Base! for winning with his beyond detailed Mad Hatter costume. (Seriously, a thread bandelero and pocket watch fob? That is dedication!)

PART II: " I know I was born and I know that I'll die. The in between is mine. I am mine" - Pearl Jam

RIVALRY CHALLENGE WEEK DRAWING - TONIGHT!

Remember, tonight is the much anticipated, highly publicized, can't miss event of the pre-playoffs post Mid Season Party, event on the kickball calendar. Yes, that is the Rivalry Challenge Week Drawing! This is the weighted drawing that will determine NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE OF GAMES! Have a grudge to settle? Want to play another team again because you like the color of their shirt? or think a particular member of that team is kinda attractive and you are looking for that in to say hi? Or you just want to humiliate and disgrace an opponent again? Well this could be the chance to do it. It's a weighted drawing based on reverse standings. If your team is picked you chose your opponent, and the opponent choses field and time. Let the trash talking begin!

PART II: "Some folks are born into a good life. Other folks get it anyway anyhow. I lost my money and I lost my wife. Them things don't seem to matter much to me now. Tonight I'll be on that hill 'cause I can't stop. I'll be on that hill with everything I got. Lives on the line where dreams are found and lost. I'll be there on time and I'll pay the cost. For wanting things that can only be found, in the darkness on the edge of town" - Bruce Springsteen 


In keeping with my Procrastinarian nature, last Saturday after the haze and ecstasy of the Mid Season Costume Party wore off, I find myself starting to seriously think about my costume for the party that had already happened. For those you who missed the awesomeness (for shame. For shame) I came dressed as a slightly pudgier less addicted to heroin version of guitarist Saul Hudson, aka Slash. In a GNR state of mind, I began aimlessly wandering in the non-porn segments of the internet refreshing my memory about GNR related, watching various performances, and making notes in case I'm ever forced to a costumed affair again and have procrastinated to a point where I don't have a costume, so I just throw on a Social Distortion T-shirt, a black curly wig, top hat, aviators, and metal up my belt and pants, and try to be as authentic as possible. (Again, sans the massive, massive heroin addiction. May I never run across a golf course in Arizona naked thinking that demons are crawling over my skin...again). In my wanderings I discovered that Appetite for Destruction was released on July 21, 1987. Which makes this Saturday the 25th anniversary of the release of one of the more perfect albums ever crafted.

Now I was only eight years and one day old when Appetite was released, but that fall I definitely remember the buzz of the album. (Mainly in the form of the mini-controversy the older brother of one of my classmates caused when he wore the now famous skulls on the cross GNR t-shirt to school one day. It was as if Satan himself had come to teach religion class that day. The devil you say!) It wasn't until I was much older and could contextualize rock n roll, that the near perfection of that album struck me. With the iPod and digitalization of music, the concept of the album has faded a bit. For me a perfect album is one where all songs fit into a singular artistic vision, and the song order is such that you are not tempted to hit the shuffle. And for me Appetite is one of those albums where it all comes together. Yeah, I know that stadiums and "classic rock" have probably diminished the visceral impact of "Welcome to the Jungle" or "Paradise City" that existed when you first heard the song, but the songs that weren't played to death and chewed up still hold up and excel, especially "Mr. Brownstone"," Anything Goes" and "Rocket Queen." There's not a "skip" song in the bunch.
Of course, my musing about Appetite made me think of the other perfect or near-perfect albums I've heard over the years, and then as the afternoon became night and the bourbon flowed, I began to muse, like I do around this time of year, about perfection. Not whether it's achievable in this life, (it's not) but about how the pursuit of it, should drive us. As a staunch evolutionist, I feel there is a primordial need to be better, as if the destiny of the individual is hurled in perpetual motion towards constant improvement over time.

But then I get out of my head for a bit and go, "Damn, I need to come up with something funny for the newsletter this week, so the dozen or so of you who actually read this, don't come up to me, punch me in the stomach and said "NERD!""

So as we move closer to the playoffs here is one not-so-humble person's assessment of each team to date using a little thing I like to call: Good, Bad, Even Better Than the Real Thing:

Ninjapocalypse Now
Good: Hands out more post game awards for achievement than your typical kindergarten class, fostering team spirit and the comedy of having their poor captain attempt to say "Indefatigable" out loud every week without using the cadence of Monty Python's song from The Holy Grail movie.
Bad: Have yet to fully incorporate the psychological drama and desolation of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness into their defensive rotation.
Even Better Than the Real Thing: The extended kickball game in a random French plantation somewhere in Indochina is not present in this edition of the Ninjas.

Pumped Up Kicks:
Good: Have allowed the GMOT editor to refer to Reebok Pumps on several occasions this season.
Bad: Unfortunately this has forced the GMOT editor to address some long repressed memories about that time he pleaded with his parental figures to get him a pair of Reebok Pumps when they first came out and were all the rage.
Even Better Than the Real Thing: The GMOT editor's therapist can now upgrade his cabin on the Queen Mary 2's next transatlantic voyage from New York to Southamption, to a room with an open bar!

Don't Come on My Base!
Good: Have shattered the Commonwealth Division record for games where members of the team have been in costume.
Bad: Have strained the GMOT editor's self control to not make crude adolescent jokes about the entendre behind the team's name, to the point where the next time he sees the ad and telephone number for the Elizabeth Grady Skin Care and Beauty Schools on the MBTA, he will die laughing. (1-800 Facials. COME ON)
Even Better Than the Real Thing: If the GMOT editor dies laughing, no more philosophical space filling rants to that display the awesome, awesome pictures by guest photographer Tim. Yay!

Dirty Mike and The Boys
Good: They have single handedly brought back the jort.
Bad: They have single handedly brought back the jort.
Even Better Than the Real Thing: They've allowed the GMOT editor to make a reference to Arrested Development by wondering if in fact they are all never-nudes who are bravely going where no never nude has gone before.

Looking to Bust Balls
Good: They still only looking to bust balls, and have not caused any testicular damage to anyone.
Bad: Testicular damage to anyone ever.
Even Better Than the Real Thing: Remembering the Simpsons episode where Academy Award winner George C. Scott starred in the Hans Moleman short film "Football to the Groin". "Ow my groin" gets me every time. Such gravitas!
 
We've Got the Runs
Good: Allows us all to ponder the benefits of a balanced diet high in fiber.
Bad: Makes the GMOT editor lazy by going to the well too often with poop jokes
Even Better Than the Real Thing: As least you know the jokes will be regular. (ZING!)

 

Kickin Nuggets
Good: Come with a wide variety of sauces
Bad: Unfortunately those sauces have high fructose corn syrup, which further enrages the GMOT editor in his long standing feud with the Corn lobby. (Damn you to hell Ethanol)
Even Better Than the Real Thing:Like a Happy Meal, you can never stop smiling when you hang out with them.

Teleballin'
Good: They have had at least one player show up to every game.
Bad: You need minimum 8 players four males and four females for the games to count. D'oh!
Even Better Than the Real Thing: While they may be last in the standings and they will have the most chances (please be M&M's) in the drawing for Rivalry Challenge Week, they mark the sweet merciful end of this segment. And that makes us all winners!

PART IV: "I live cement. I hate this street.Give dirt to me. I bite lament. This human form. Where I was born. I now repent." - Pixies

6:30pm Games

Kickin Nuggets 6 over Teleballin 3

The Nuggets are speechless as they finally won their first game of the season. 

The Teleballers took another L this week, but they didn't go down without a fight. We had a couple of players who debuted their talents for the first time this season, Mike D, Dan F, and Maria. I decided to interview Dan F after the game and he's what he had to say:

Me: What was it like hitting a home run at your first at bat?
Dan: I felt my team needed a spark and I was going to give my all to deliver it. The old adage, 'keep your eye on the ball' really helped me out.Me: What was like when you tried it the second time and got thrown out at home?
Dan: My hat's off to the fielder who made that play. I thought I was 'home-free' (pun intended) but they made a play on the ball and beat me by inches. Being that close to a second home run only encourages me
to do those extra windsprints after practice so next time it'll be a different outcome. At the end of the day I gave my best and that's all I can do.

Me: How did you decide on playing in loafers?
Dan: I find the broad, flat surface of my loafers allows me greater control on my ball placement. What I sacrifice in speed I believe I make up in accuracy. It's an unconventional decision, but one I stand by.

Me: How do you feel about the overall team experience?
Dan: I've been on a lot of teams but never one quite like the Teleballers. Everyone is supportive of one another and it's genuinely a "we - not me" attitude. I am happy to be part of it.

Me: Any advice you can give to future WAKA athletes?
Dan: When you're in the batters box, take a deep breath. Breathe. Get in the mindset that it's only you, the pitcher and the ball. Then just do what comes naturally.

Words to live by. Words to live by.

Meghan contributed this interview. (Loafers!)

Ninjapocalypse Now 10 over Looking to Bust Balls 1

For the Ninjas, it was one of those games where everything went right. Against annual nemesis but all around good guy Ben K, the Ninjas were able to jump out early and hold the lead with solid kick, base running and defense. Indefatigabe Can of Spam winner Jon M, handled the pitching, holding LTBB to 1 run. Hadley won The Helment of The Horror for her alliterative feat of hitting an hRKI. Rick won the Medallion of Strength for his huge triple to open up the game in the fourth inning. The Ninja Aeronautical Space Suit went to Jackie for her efforts on the field and at the plate. And the Hand Drum of Destiny was awarded to Andrew M for huge offensive and defensive plays that set the tone.

As for LTBB, The Ninjas jumped on Looking To Bust Balls with 3 quick runs in the top of the first but LTBB answered with a run of their own in the bottom frame when Jamie’s sacrifice fly scored wifey Tara. Andrea and Ben were stranded on base though as the Ninjas held LTBB to just the one early run. Defenisvely, the Little General stood tall at third base while Justin and AJ made some nice grabs in the outfield to keep the score at 4-1 through 3 innings. However, it all came crashing down when the Ninjas put up a big five spot in the 4th en route to a 10-1 victory."

David and Jason contributed this report.

PART V:"But when your innocence dies. You'll find the blues. Seems all our heroes were born to lose." - Guns N' Roses
7:15pm Games

Pumped Up Kicks 2 tie Dirty Mike and The Boys 2

The full squad was back and ready for action this past Thursday for an epic defensive battle. Both teams played hard as DMTB took an early 2 run lead and was leading going into the top of the 4th. Pumped up Kicks battled back tying the game going into the bottom of the 5th. Costly base running mistakes caught three runners on third throughout a game where base runners came at a premium. 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, a decent toe on the ball by Derek led to a crushing catch and 2-2 tie.

BDO contributed this report

Don't Come On My Base! 10 over We've Got the Runs 3

In order to distract our opponents, DCOMB arrived at week 6 in a way never seen before, with everyone wearing the WAKA-issued pink t-shirts. The unnatural unity produced a very strong showing as our front four all scored in order in the first inning. Between the shade
produced by an oversized third baseman and the humor of left field, the lead grew to ten runs going into the final at-bat. The smooth sailing was almost disrupted by a perfect storm in the fifth, but eventually the rally cap shenanigans were stopped at two runs. If the  ance-off at the bar is any indicator of kickball talent, look for a serious throw-down next week between the team captains of DCOMB and Dirty Mike and the Boys.

As for We've Got the Runs, after a forfeit victory the previous week We've Got the Runs was hoping for the real thing against the pink team - Don't Come on My Base. Unfortunately for us we had no answer for their strategy of having everyone bunt and fell behind early. We had somewhat of a rally in the last inning but ultimately came up short. Defensively Tracy made a great catch in center field. Vivek played well at third base. Offensively Mike B almost was successful on the rare slide into first base. Tracy, Natalie, Brad, and Andrew all got on base.

Erik and Sam contributed this report. 

PART VI:"I never wanted to stand on your pedestal, man, I was born to build my own. " - The Hives

Standings:

Schedule:

6:30PM

Equipment to the Field: Pumped Up Kicks

Desert:
We've Got the Runs v. Ninjapocalypse Now

Referee: Dirty Mike and the Boys

Grass:Pumped Up Kicks v. Kickin' Nuggets'

Referee: Teleballin'

7:15pm 

Desert:
Dirty Mike and the Boys v. Don't Come on My Base!

Referee: Pumped Up Kicks

Grass:
Teleballin' v. Looking to Bust Balls
Referee: Ninjapocalypse Now

Equipment to the Bar: Teleballin'

PART VII: "People tell me that it's a sin. To know and feel too much within. I still believe she was my twin, but then I lost the ring. She was born in spring, but I was born too late. Blame it all on a simple twist of fate." - Bob Dylan

Announcements, Announcements Announcements

SPECIAL THANKS: Special Thanks to Friend of Looking to Bust Balls, Tim who brought a real man's camera to the game to capture some of the stunning, stunning photos throughout this week's GMOT. View the entire album from last week here.

SUNLIGHT: Sunlight will become an issue soon. Remember games start 6:30 and 7:15pm. There is a 15 minute grace period for the first game. But there is only a 5 minute grace period for the second game.

PHOTOS: If you think you can do better than Tim, or even if you don't, please take pictures at the games and send them to me. Thank you

BOCA BAR: Where Flip Cup Dreams live. Come to Boca!

TWITTER:  @Macommonealth it's the place on the internet where you can enjoy Paul's lesser, more gradual descent into madness.

PART VIII: "one last breath. the sky is high. the hungry earth. the empty vein. the ashes rain. death's own bed. man's own kin. into the wind. one last breath. hole in life. love knot tied. braid undone. child born. the hollow horn. warrior cried. a warrior died. one last breath. lick of flame. spirit moaned. spirit shed.the heavens fed. man's own kin. grips the sky. and he's gone again" - Patti Smith

The original Matrix is one of those movies that packs a lot in that many people miss. For me when Agent Smith talk about how when the machines first used humans as their power source, the human mind could not accept a perfect world, and millions died. As human we are not meant to be perfect. But that does not mean we cannot constantly strive towards that goal. Whether it is together as a team on the march towards Immortal Kickball Glory, or an individual passing another milestone in life, the journey towards perfection is the best we can hope for. And honestly that is the only perfect way to be.

Good luck, happy kicking!

-David, GMOT Editor