Tucson Dodgeball

Past Frustrations Amongst Current Successes

2011-04-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

If you ever need a reminder as to how fragile Dodgeball is, trying going on the hunt for another venue. Sometimes you end up counting your blessings and those venue managers/owners that you've worked with to forge a friendly relationship become that much more valuable.

No doubt I've been grateful for our leagues at the Y and for the successful run we've enjoyed and continue to enjoy at the Boys and Girls Club (and I am reminded with every kids clinic or Open Dodgeball we have for them) but it has been nice not having to worry about venue space when contemplating the next league season, tournament or Open Dodgeball night for the adults.

Actually, its been damn nice.

However, part of Dodgeball's success is how well prepared its movers are. We need to be looking forward, have back up plans and of course, continue to work towards bringing in new players and the drive for a new Recreational League is that much stronger now. Searching for a new venue has produced less than encouraging results and leads. With the exception of Tucson Indoor Sports Center (which is looking more and more promising) other venues such as the Randolph Recreational Center, St. Gregory's Church and Mansfeld Park are nothing more than a "been there, heard that" before.

"I...I..I don't think...no...I don't think there will be a Dodgeball League available here. (hasty pause) There is just, just too much going on right now."

So quick to say no, even if you're not the individual responsible for renting out the facility. I should find out about our second most promising lead tomorrow, after spending about two weeks trying to get a hold of this very accessible individual. We'll see although I am already prepared to hear the tried and true "we don't want the risk to the gyms" or lord knows what else.

Lol weaklings. I am starting to wonder just how many people truly had bad experiences playing Dodgeball as a kid. If only they knew that its not the same one person against a wall or enclosed in a circle (which is still damn fun) rule set. Man, something really needs to come along and change the way people see this sport.

"Dodgeball: its not what it used to be."

Monday Night Dilema...

2011-03-31T04:53:00.000-07:00

Monday Nights have been going well. Very well. With the exception of a certain few that either cannot afford $2.00 a night or can barely do so by paying in quarters...sometimes I really think of cutting my losses and focusing on the people that do understand the concept of facility fees and other adult like responsibilities...I do not charge $2.00 because I feel like it. It is not some arbitrary number just to keep someone's wallet full. But alas, I carry on.

As I was saying, the turn outs have been great, the competition fun and intense and with the right beats playing, I feel alive and I know others do. I've mentioned to core or key members/participants that I don't want to tamper with a successful product. I want and have to keep my core happy. However, like most lessons in life and repeat courses throughout my Dodgeball managing career, nothing lasts and if you are not three steps ahead, you'll get left in the dust and fast. We seem to do well with Retention, as this coming Spring Season will be yet another indicator of how we're doing but the other "R" we really need to focus on and fret about and more importantly, start executing, is "Recruitment."

We've got to get on recruiting people and then keeping them. However, Open Dodgeball is not for the weak. People will get rocked and unless their attitude is in the right place (and it rarely is), they will leave with a poor taste in their mouths. Coming to our Competitive League on Wednesday Nights only solidifies getting rocked as even our weaker players will hold their own against complete newbies...and I wouldn't have it any other way. "Competitive" was a word selected for a reason.

New recruits need their own place to play. Their own place to grow and experience Dodgeball as we all once did.

We need to reinstate the Recreational League...but what nights? Thursday/Friday/Saturday would be ideal, as the relaxed rule set, implementation of Gopher balls and (hopefully) the successful blend of socializing and alcohol will make for a hit. It will bring in new players and of those that really get into the game, they can feed into the Competitive League when they feel they are ready. Move up to the big leagues, so to speak.

The venue hunt has proved almost fruitless unfortunately. Currently, Tucson Indoor Sports Center (formerly Bladeworld and our premier tournament hosting venue) has expressed interest however they are only available on Monday Nights...I feel that this opportunity should not be squandered...after our lame tournament there in December of 2009, it would do us well to help solidify our relationship with them, not to mention be at the forefront of a successfully run Recreational Dodgeball league...decisions...

Do we seek to relocate Monday Night Dodgeball to another night? Do we seek out other venues with less appeal (no available sports bar and grill and ideal spectator arrangements)? Do we go through with it and either host the thing entirely on our own and face costs of $50 to $60 PER PLAYER? Do we allow Tucson Indoor Sports Center to do the administrative work while we run the show to keep costs down? Is this an opportunity we should not blow? Is it possible, that I can remove myself and a select few others to foster this Recreational League at Tucson Indoor Sports Center and charge the care of Monday Night Open to others? This has been done in the passed in my absence...be it in California or Germany.

Decisions...decisions...

Youth Dodgeball at the Boys and Girls Club however, has been going very well.

Updates

2011-03-29T04:52:00.000-07:00

- Still on the hunt for another venue...or two...or three. Man is that bringing back fond memories of how the general public and particularly Gymnasium managers dislike Dodgeball and generally want nothing to do with it. Okay so you sucked balls in elementary to high school and got hit a lot. Get over it.

- Saw four new faces at Open Gym tonight, promising. Two rookies returned from last week. Even more promising. Have maintained a decent amount of 12 on 12 (up to 15) for the passed two months now. Very promising. Which basically means, I won't touch Open Dodgeball on Monday nights. We do so I may have a riot on my hands. Which further means, I need to really find another venue if we're ever going to get a second season of the "No-Sting" (Recreational League) going which we do need if we're ever going to get new recruits.

- Free slice of Brooklyn Pizza for the winner of Elimination is well received. Makes the game go longer now of course since something is now at stake.

- Team Evil's getting it's ass kicked. Guess that comes with the territory of being number one.

- Kid's league or Open Play at the Boys and Girls Club is picking up. Had to open up a new court for the nine year olds. Guess I have a soft spot in my heart for the younger brother and or sister that came to watch their older brother play and wants to play. Could be something there...with the Boys and Girls Youth League that is.

- Successfully helped run a Charity Tournament through a sorority of the UofA. Heard nothing but good things from our guys and the girl in charge. Could be our way back into the UofA. Which would make for a great shot at recruiting new players...which makes the venue thing all the more important.

Sheesh. Gotta get that venue...

To the Women of Dodgeball:

2011-03-07T17:58:00.000-08:00

To the Women of Dodgeball:

I was very impressed with your performance this past weekend. However I feel that that is an inadequate statement if left unaccompanied by the following open letter:

Like Dodgeball itself, the Grand Canyon State Games has continued to evolve into what it is today. It is most impressive that this event in Arizona can continue to pull the top teams and players from Tucson, Phoenix, San Diego and Los Angeles without the allure of National Dodgeball League ranked team points, a cash prize or even a fundraiser benefit of some form. The GCSG is rapidly establishing itself as an event in which teams willing to make the trip can measure themselves and see where they stack up amongst the nation’s best.

That being said, it has also served as a proving ground for Women’s Dodgeball which itself is evolving. What may have begun with the Dodgebelles in 2006, eventually paved the way for teams like the Dirty Girls and the Ball Busters who after growing tired of waiting for the NDL to produce a legitimate Women’s division, took it upon themselves to test their mettle in the Open Division (which bears the connotation of “Men’s Division) and staking their claim as formidable adversaries worthy of the court time and game matchup.

It is unfortunate that such claims however, are still met with sexism, shrugged shoulders, resentment towards the time used for the division, lackadaisical officials and a lack of respect for the female opponents squaring up against the male opponents, but the results of the 2011 Winter Games may begin to change that. On the day of the playoffs, a quick survey of the women with several bruised legs, jammed fingers, red faces and even a dislocated thumb showed that after the day of Round Robin play, they came back for more and will do so again. It showed that they can be more than ball fetchers, more than a cheering section and more than a lover or friend pulled onto a team for the sake of making the requirement for entry into a coed division. They are a competitor that can bring serious competition and the teams that take them lightly may find themselves watching the rest of an event on the sidelines early.

A sincere heartfelt display of respect and thank you is offered to the women of The Ball Busters, The Naughty Beavers, Lady Syndicate, Black Swans and Cali Crush as well as the women who played competitively in the Coed Division who continued to highlight one of Dodgeball’s greatest strengths: an aggressive sport in which both men and women can play against and amongst one another for victory, with play and role significance shifting on either side, at any time.

If things continue to evolve this way, we can only expect to see more Women competitors.

Thank you and please continue to shock and awe.

Steven Damon

Steering the Course

2010-12-16T16:40:00.001-08:00

When I got back from my three month Air Force stint, back in the last quarter of 2008, Manny Smith, a coworker of mine (may have actually been my supervisor) and I began to talk a lot more, we got an idea for each other's goals and passions outside of "The Y" and thus I got to relate how Tucson Dodgeball was all tied to it. Yes I love Dodgeball, but I also love organizing things. I like creating something out of nothing that people subscribe to and take ownership of. Manny in a sense felt the same way and offered to help grow Tucson Dodgeball and further develop it.

And that he did. Seemingly with ease. We laid down the tracks, he provided the materials, the know how and before I knew it, it seemed that Tucson Dodgeball was going to go somewhere. But we had no real "base of operations." We managed to host a Bladeworld tournament in 2008 and it went well. We got some articles in the paper, both the Arizona Daily Star and the Tucson Weekly.

Open was hit or miss though. We managed another Arizona Daily Star Article on couples meeting through obscure events or basically, not meeting that significant other the traditional way. In Fall of 2009, Open had all but died with the exception of a few die hards, Chris Bell and Justin Acton. I had pretty much given up on it but was then asked to start the league up again and reluctantly so, did.

We managed five teams. Four brand new and with buy in from Y staff members and some friends, a fifth. An individual I had been in and out of contact with for years regarding leagues as timing never proved to be on our side, either he inquired too late, or the league wasn't available when he was, finally got in and helped generate a following that would propel us to eight teams.

We have been fortunate enough to maintain the support and development of the Program Coordinator at the Y. It has truly become our base of operations, the foundation of our "Competitive League" and it is something I do not take for granted. It affords cheap league fees, a solid venue and name brand backing.

With each passed season, we've been able to really iron out a solid set of rules, each season seeming to produce a loophole that is taken care of and this last season Fall 2010 definitely had a few. Regardless, the lessons learned here, combined with the lessons learned with the Recreational League should make for a solid 2011 year for Tucson Dodgeball. The big question is: where will it be?

Manny, with his solid contacts at the Boys and Girls Club brought us a gym with reduced rates in exchange for Dodgeball Clinics aimed at their kids. An hour per branch, per age group and although that was my living version of Hell on Earth, if we can continue to hold our second base at the Steve Daru Gym, I'll continue to develop and operate it.

The Y has committed to four seasons this year, beginning with Winter and ending with Fall. But if there is one lesson I repeatedly learn about Dodgeball organizations, its you can never take the venues for granted. Ever. League owners, operators, organizers, whatever you want to call me, cannot take anything regarding Dodgeball for granted. Our organization's lives and goals are at the whim of the venue.

This coming year I need to take the lessons learned, apply them and maintain a proactive stance in regards to securing other venues as alternates or revenue streams and a business plan of some form probably would not hurt either. I'm finally getting the help I need. I can leave and come back and the place won't be a mess. I can rely on others to take care of things. I am going to have to look beyond next season if we're going to steer this momentum anywhere.

Lessons Learned

2010-12-16T05:45:00.000-08:00

I find it funny that I have begun the last two posts with "needing to update this more" and attempting to summarize all that has occurred by informing the reader I am sparing them from "reading a novel" but a lot of time has passed since my last update...so I should not only probably update more frequently but also...present everything in a concise format so's not to have the reader...read...a...novella. HA!

October saw the launch of our new Recreational League and aside from the good folks at World Dodgeball Society in LA (formerly known as the L.A. Dodgeball Society) elevated Tucson to a monumental achievement in Dodgeball: managing two leagues. Yes, there are two leagues in Phoenix: AzDodgeball and Phoenix Dodgeball but they are separate entities. Tucson Dodgeball is a single entity and always at the whim of our venues, so the ability to run operations out of two separate venues and run two separate and distinct leagues was quite the accomplishment. A tribute to our volunteers, one Manny Smith and the dedication and passion of those that not only play, but do their best to recruit new members. Yes, for once the glory is not all mine and for that I am entirely grateful.

Speaking of, I was away on Air Force Reserve duty for three weeks, missing half the Recreational Season along with a good chunk of the Competitive Season and guess what? I returned to a fully functioning dual league organization with no issues. People stepped up, helped out and all went well. We even rolled out a new element of the Competitive Division: "Challenge Week" as proudly borrowed by our good friends at Phoenix Dodgeball and it was well received and well ran.

I came in just in time to run the Recreational Division playoffs, congrats to The Warriors by the way on their undefeated season and see my team knocked out in the first round by Lucha Patrol in the Competitive Division. The winners, Jeff Goldblum and the Chaoticians had been taking up second place for a few seasons now and their win was well earned and hard fought.

The wristbands, although I did nothing to sell them, succeeded in being presented as an award, a "thank you" for helping out Tucson Dodgeball and they are and were worn with pride by those who stepped up these passed seasons. They turned out to be a great way to say "thanks" and reinforce the fact that we're growing...

The Recreational League proved successful in that it taught me a lot of lessons I was fortunate enough to learn now as opposed to promoting a larger league with a larger attempt at marketing it. I will list those lessons later. (I really will).

All in all, it was a great year for Tucson Dodgeball (knocks on wood) and depending on how the leadership can steer its course, may be an even greater year...keeping the Boys and Girls Club Gym or not.

Also, Team Evil won season 13 in AzDodgeball and their place on the Turkey Cup. Team Evil also won the Open Division in Phoenix Dodgeball...Team Evil is once again a force to be reckoned with.

I need to update this more...

2010-10-11T02:39:00.000-07:00

I need to update this more because too many things happen in between posts and one post will not only take up at least an hour of my time, but would require the reader to read a damn novel.

I will just have to summarize:

July

- Began my third season with Team Evil for Phoenix Dodgeball League. We are currently undefeated in open and have a huge gap between us (at first place) and the second place team. We got wicked cool new jerseys, finally putting an end to a several year jersey fiasco. Coed team is currently in fourth?
- SUCCESSFULLY hosted the 1st Annual "Heatwave" Dodgeball Tournament as a fundraiser for the Arizona Rampage and also to hopefully regain some credibility for our capacity at hosting tournaments...which we did. Unfortunately, Phoenix teams AGAIN walked away with $300.00 in open division and $300.00 in coed division, however we were able to raise $500.00 towards the Rampage Vegas trip. This got me to thinking higher prizes for the future.

August

- Arizona Rampage took the world championship in vegas!

- Open Gym at the Boys and Girls Club, Steve Daru branch began and was highly successful.

- Team Evil is kicking major ass in the Azdodgeball league.

September

- Our 2010 Fall Season Competitive Division started, again with eight teams. Momentum is looking good!
- Launched our first ever, online registration system, written from scratch from one of our players. Can't even begin to thank him enough for it.

October

- Kicked off our first ever, "Recreational Division" league mixing new players with experienced players, utilizing a different rule set and the "no sting" gopher balls which were found to be successful and well received during the DWC.
- Tucson Dodgeball wristbands were made. Our first real attempt to "merchandise."

All in all, things are looking well. Just need to stay focused, vigilant and keep putting in the hard work as its paying off.

Super Fan Award Winning Letter (05/20/10)

2010-06-07T00:53:00.000-07:00

"(No Homo)

After trying to figure out what the hell a super fan is, I realized that clearly I am a super fan of Phoenix Dodgeball. I make this claim, because despite being a full time student, despite having a semi part time job, despite running my own deal here in Tucson, despite being sent to Japan only to be re-routed to Alaska, despite the frustration of having to fulfill a duty and leave my team behind once a month and despite the 80+ mile drive over and back every Sunday, my team, Team Evil and its legacy has been able to not only survive but also, pull ahead; I am able to continue playing and challenging myself among the greats of Dodgeball. Where I once plateaued, I am being pushed to become a stronger player. Where Team Evil was once stagnate, it has rejuvenated into another life of its own.

Before I was convinced to sign up and make the weekly journey, I had done away with Dodgeball. After a long and enjoyable summer virtually free of the responsibilities of Dodgeball, Open Play which had been operating at the Downtown YMCA for over four years now on Wednesday nights had turned into a joke. I was going to cancel it as I myself was not even showing up to babysit the 3 to 4 Dodgeball die hards. I didn't go to Vegas due to frustrations with people that could not commit, pissed away my pro status and couldn't care less about Tucson Dodgeball. I was done.

But the good folks at Phoenix Dodgeball showed me, within one match, that I was still a fool for Dodgeball. Playing in the league not only revived my interest, not only made me want to play more and get better, but it also inspired and motivated me (as it still does to this day) to continue on and rebuild Tucson Dodgeball and continue offering this to others out there who, like me, having decided to take up an obscure sport because of the thrills and excitement found within it. With the incorporation of a successful league (converting Wednesday Open Dodgeball to League Night) the assistance of several people that have stepped up to help out, I have been able to revive interest of Dodgeball in Tucson and continue to do so on a daily basis. The machine has been redesigned and is being rebuilt.

There is no doubt, that there is now a strong following for our league and although I know it won't be around forever, we'll have our ups and downs, teams and players will come and go, but the good folks, Ed, Ryan, Mike and Forest to name but a few, have taught me the value of persistence and perseverance despite hardship and moments of personal defeat. As a leader, it is sometimes difficult to find it within yourself to say "I need to keep doing this." It is easy to want to give up at times, difficult to pull the motivation from within to keep pressing forward. However, when you see others do it, others that are walking in your shoes, you find that motivation, that drive. The drive that allows you to put others recreation, well being and needs/desires first.

I also learned that the drama that once infected Tucson between myself and another, something of which I felt at fault for and immature, is a type of drama that can and will exist anywhere and two organizations can still exist without it tarnishing their reputation or their events. This allowed me to look passed all the bullshit, put it behind me and just continue forward.

I would also like to point out that the tireless efforts of Phoenix Dodgeball has provided me with an opportunity to solidify and create new friendships. It is quite an amazing feeling to know that I have friends in two cities. Phoenix Dodgeball has created an esprit de corps and sometimes that alone makes the hassle worthwhile.

Phoenix Dodgeball has served as a crucial turning point in my Dodgeball career. For the better.

- Phoenix Dodgeball Super Fan #1."

Wow.

2010-06-07T00:47:00.000-07:00

To sum up everything without writing a novel... Joined Phoenix Dodgeball League and learned that not only am I not as good as I used to be, but I LOVE Dodgeball. I love the competition, I love the thrill of the game. I love the rivalries and the reputations to protect or destroy. I love it all.

I began doing a league and managed to have five teams. The season went well. I played in Phoenix Dodgeball League Winter/Spring season with a good team, reviving Team Evil and AzDodgeball league's 11th season with a struggling team that I helped...all two games that I played for them.

Started our Winter season with 8 teams! Season went well despite the fact that I missed half of it due to my annual tour training in Japan.

That's right, Japan.

Started another season with 8 teams. A first, to actually not lose any teams. The league is going well, despite some hiccups. Playing in Azdodgeball league's 12th season with Team Evil and we're doing just fine.

Dodgeball is on the brain and I'm moving forward.

Interest Revived

2009-10-05T03:02:00.000-07:00

More later... Thank you Phoenix.

New Lead

2008-12-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

I've driven by it every day Monday through Thursday on my way to and from class, yet rarely had I thought about bringing Dodgeball to the Bum Steer. I recalled they had a volleyball pit that was enclosed, enclosed, already the major make or break factor in finding any Dodgeball venue when I spent my 23rd birthday there. I remembered seeing the potential with a little work and of course an open ear, hard to get with anything concerning Dodgeball.

I googled the location and explored a bird's eye view via satellite to see if it would be feasible. Last Friday, before our L.A. excursion I said "screw it," and decided to call and talk to the manager and just see what could happen. Well, the owner was receptive. VERY Receptive. The idea of Dodgeball (and I was sure to emphasize that it was Dodgeball I was peddling) and its potential to bring in teams, players and well, business was very appealing and after physically investigating the area myself, snapping a couple of photos, we have something very promising just over the horizon.

Dozens of spectators could watch here, eating and drinking while they are not playing, or rooting for their comrades.

To LA and back

2008-12-09T23:38:00.000-08:00

This last weekend Stacey, Chris Bell, Trenton Andersen and myself ventured out to California to partake in a Dodgeball Tournament hosted by the Las Angeles Dodgeball Society at the Ricardo Montalban theater. A theater that was purchased by Nike to host an assortment of events. From what I understand, Nike has taken an interest in the Las Angeles Dodgeball Society and has acted as a partial sponsor to their events.

We only venture out of Tucson for three tournaments: The National Dodgeball League World Championship and Convention in Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon State Games Tournaments in Phoenix and the occasional NDL Tour Stop in Orange County. So what got us out to L.A.? We have been invited to their events many times but due to lack of funds, inability to get time off work or school, it was constantly put off until after some last minute adjustments, we managed to take four of our guys to meet up with three of our Californian friends to partake in some glorious Dodgeball, LA style.

The cost was an whopping $3.00 with access to an open bar, live music and all the Dodgeball camaraderie one can ask for. We lodged in LA Dodgeball Society Founder Michael Costanza's home where I was able to pick his brain for a good two hours on the ins and outs of his organization.

Although the prize was an opportunity to design your own custom Nike shoe, our team took third. We were allowed to play in the Stay Puffed Marshmallow League (which we will have to emulate) and I even found myself reffing a couple of games which (reffing aside) gave us more than our money's worth.

The entire two day outing was both fun and inspirational. No doubt more ammo to use while we re-organize and re-shape what has come to be known as Tucson Dodgeball.

X-League

2008-10-14T12:21:00.000-07:00

So after uploading all of the footage onto the computer and playing with software I've done a few tests to see what kind of continuity we are looking at. The following video not only tests footage from all three cameras (Nate's Suicide) but also is used to see what kind of quality we'll have with youtube and brightcove players.

There is no sound as Windows Movie Maker won't isolate sound, if it does then I simply do not know how to tap the might power that is WMM. Either way, its not my place.

Youtube Player:

Brightcove Player:

3rd Annual Coed Naked Dodgeball, X-League and Regicide

2008-10-12T22:31:00.000-07:00

The 3rd Annual Coed Naked Dodgeball Tournament came and went and with it some great memories as well as lessons learned for future events. We implemented a six foot wide (three feet on each side) neutral zone in an attempt to prevent people from camping out and from what I could tell there was only one instance in which a team was stalling a game by waiting in the back for a catch.

11 of the 14 teams made it, leaving me with a personal financial blow but such is the way of hosting events and running things smoothly.

The competition was tough my team (Team Octocorp) was eliminated after we were pitted against the half California half Tucson Alliance known as the Carebears. It was fun though. I met some acquaintences turned friends from California (from team Rise of Brutality and Triple Dip) and had a good time at Peter Piper Pizza after the ordeal.

The main lesson learned here was registration. We can't rely too much on Phoenix teams to come down and we really shouldn't. Also, deadlines for registration should and will be enforced for the upcoming 2nd Annual Turducken Chuck.

X-LEAGUE

We filmed the first game of season one yesterday for the X-League. Matt Rios of Finishline Photography lended his services to provide for some amazing professional quality photographs of the event. We had three cameras instead of the proposed four. The Berzerkerz and the Marauders provided some fierce Dodgeball and overall the X-League looks very promising.

Also, in one of my weaker moments, I was almost overthrown by www.octocorp.com's The Ocho.

I didn't know that he was an agent or that my position was coveted. I shall have to be careful in the future.

A Busy Month

2008-09-26T01:19:00.000-07:00

Two days until the 3rd Annual Coed Naked Dodgeball Tournament. We're looking at 10-13 teams. With today's Caliente Article, we might see some late registrations. This is the last time I will make exceptions. I've learned from my mistakes, its time to apply what I've learned.

For once we managed to get an article that sounded quasi serious, had nothing to do with Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and even made a fair attempt to promote what we're up to. I am pleased.

Thank you Coley Ward.

The next article needs to focus more on the league/organization and other players. If I could change anything, well, that would be it. Soon though. Its a Tucson Dodgeball thing. Not "Damon's thing."

Maybe I should get a publicist...

Momentum is picking up and I really need to buckle down and stick with it on here, especially since the website is receiving the attention and updates it needs. Kudos David. As for upcoming events:

- Yuma Tour stop is expected to be Feb. 22nd. This is of course, if the NDL sticks with us.
- Wildcat Dodgeball is in the works
- Monday Night Adult Dodgeball League is scheduled to begin Monday, October 6th
- The Whip Ya Tournament has been postponed until October 24/25
- The X-League is coming along nicely, filming is still on schedule for October 11th.
- Halloween Ball.

These next few weeks should be busy and make for a strong finish for this year.

Tucson won't know what hit 'em.

NDL Yuma Tour Stop and Professional Exhibition Match

2008-08-21T00:46:00.001-07:00

So California and Arizona have a unique friendship. The seeds were planted during the 2006 DWC
and when two teams from California came down to the Grand Canyon State Games 2007 Summer Event, we recognized familiar faces and actually sparked conversation. When all was said and done (and it was epic if you read the above article...written by yours truly) we vowed to see each other again in Vegas of 2007 and we did just that.

Whenever Evil played California followed and cheered us on and we did the same. During 2008 we met them again at the Grand Canyon State Games 2008 Winter Dodgeball Event. Some Californians came down to our 1st Inaugural Easter Bunny's Revenge Dodgeball Tournament in April. They came down again for the Grand Canyon State Games 2008 Summer Dodgeball Event and finally, two teams from Tucson went to their Tour Stop in May.

During this passed Vegas you can believe there was a lot of support for both teams. We even recorded Rise of Brutality's heart pounding Championship Game against defending champs Triple A led by the famous Chase Feindel.

I want to set something up that will provide teams from both San Diego, Oceanside and possibly Los Angeles and teams from Tucson and maybe even Phoenix to find a half way point. To build a tournament that will offer discounted hotel rates, a chance to hang out and enjoy each other's company and of course, take part in glorious Dodgeball action. I even want to make this a full blown event, let the NDL know that we're serious with what we do, that its an honor for them to have our support. I want to host an exhibition match between the new expansion team, The Arizona Resistance and the San Diego Crossfire.

Maybe this will inspire others to do the same. The NDL, for all the shit they get, deserve major kudos points for the things they do manage to do correctly: persistence, consistency and branding. Everyone else, the NDA, the NADA, the IDBF has talked big and yes, the NDL has as well, but the NDL is the only one that has delivered on some fronts. For that, they do deserve some respect and support from us "little guys." Maybe then they won't take us for granted.

So far Yuma is biting. I'll find out tomorrow what we're working with and hopefully a date will be set and a venue secured.

Post Vegas Syndrome

2008-08-21T00:07:00.000-07:00

So The National Dodgeball League's 2008 World Championship and Convention in Vegas came and went and with it the same old feelings and open declarations of improvements to be made during the year for our return. More practices, more time with stingers, more NDL Tour Stops, stepping up the Dodgeball scene. Etc etc. It usually lasts a few months (at its best) and dissipates almost entirely until two weeks till the next DWC.

Back home we have some issues to work out: How are we going to improve as an organization? How are we going to improve as players? What are we going to do about the NDL Pro limit? Do we (those that made it) want to continue playing as Pros? For what its worth, the NDL brings together people that we naturally befriend and look forward to seeing again: Dodgeball players that are "almost as (if not more passionate) as we are" about the game. Being in a constant two-three day environment with old and newfound friends is awesome and inspiring.

Its just a matter of continuing this optimistic outlook on Dodgeball that's the issue.

Back to Blogging

2008-08-20T01:59:00.000-07:00

Yay.

Test

2008-08-20T00:40:00.001-07:00

Did it work?