Froot Loops

Among the best things about writing a blog are the responses I get. Some are funny, some are clever, and others are mean. And then there are the ones that walk the line between ignorant and incoherent. There are usually a few of these per post, and I typically don’t respond. But I have to write something this week, so I’ll go for the low-hanging fruit. Besides, my last post was too kind and I don’t want everyone to start thinking I am a nice guy. Here is the comment I will be addressing:

“Doublewide has been around for 14 years. Has steadily built itself up into a national power after spending many years as a bottom half finisher at Nationals, then a quarters team. Maybe show a little respect to all the guys that spent years helping to shape and mold that “program” to where it is today.

Was it “selling out” when you, Mac, Martin and Chicken all left Colorado to play in San Francisco? Was it “selling out” when all those young guys decided to join Revolver because they didn’t want to play with the JAM guys? Are those guys you poached from local mixed teams also “selling out?”

Just curious. We all know Revolver is extremely “righteous” and does things the “right way” but that Doublewide paragraph comes off as sour grapes. They’ve played you guys pretty much even head-to-head over the last few years, maybe give a little credit to a PROGRAM where it’s due.”

For some reason, the above really rubbed me the wrong way, which is hard, because I usually love rubbing of any kind, even if it’s by the TSA. You see, sir, you missed my point completely, and you’re wrong on basically everything you said. So congrats on that.

First of all, if I had to lose to anyone, those original Doublewide players would be at the top of list. Outstanding group of people, led by one of my crushes, Tank the Tank. Like I’ve said before, I only talk trash about people I like.

However, I think the Doublewide culture changed significantly with the ship-a-superstar-in approach. Chris G, Brodie, Cole, and Gehret all have very strong personalities coupled with a style of ultimate that is a lot different than what Doublewide usually ran, and I think bringing them in changed their culture. Having played against Doublewide for the past 10 years, the difference in 2012 was quite visible. All those people who you say shaped the program for the first 14 years no longer held the reins to the team.

Second, of those four good players listed above, how many lived in Texas? Thanks to a short interview with Kurt Gibson, I know the answer: zero. That’s five spots on a roster given to players that have no desire to be part of the long haul. The whole point of my article was that I personally would prefer to give those spots to players who want to be part of building something. Notice how I said “I personally,” which means it is my opinion. Also, take note that my opinion is not always right or even smart. I will be repeating this “opinion” theme throughout the rest of this tirade because it is concept you have trouble grasping.

Moving on to Martin, Mac, and myself, this is one of your dumbest points. We moved because we wanted to live and work in the Bay Area, and guess what? We all still do. Do the good players that flew in to play Doublewide still live there? Probably not, because they never did. Also, we left our friends on Johnny Bravo, a team that was in the semis and finals to play for team that had only ever made it to quarters. Pay attention: the year I quit Bravo, there were two teams I could have joined in San Francisco. First there was Jam, the team who had just won the UPA championship and whose roster was full of star power that was known to lay the smack down on Revolver almost every time they played, and second there was Revolver, an upstart team that had to scrap for every point at Nationals and sometimes got knocked out at Regionals. Jam had phenomenal players like Bart Watson and Damien Scott, while Revolver was full of awkward Stanford kids. I don’t know if you ever interacted with a Stanford kid, but it can be a bit unsettling at first, as if your much older brother just told you he is actually your father.

I chose Revolver so I could help shape something myself rather than jump onto an already fully developed team and ride the coattails of other great players. Also, playing Revolver allowed me to play against Bart and Damien, who at the time where some of the hardest players in the game for me to cover. I also chose Revolver because they had a strong value system in place that I thought lined up with my own. So let me repeat: I left Bravo, a top four team, and passed on playing with the number one team in the country to play with a quarters team. That is the oddest form of selling out I have ever heard of.

Furthermore you are definitely missing the fact that I really enjoy playing against superstar teams. For the last few years, Doublewide has been one of my favorite teams to play against: they are chock-full of athletes who don’t give us an inch. And that’s not to mention that ever since college, playing the Brodie-n-Kurt duo has been something I relish, like brie cheese and bread. Hearing the news that The Duo has reunited on an already great team made my day. I probably can’t tell you how excited I am to play against Bravo this year because you would misinterpret it as disrespect.

Also you mentioned poaching local mixed teams. What?! My head actually hurts at having to respond to this. Is that like poaching local college players? Who exactly are we supposed to fill our team with? Let’s look at the mixed players and college kids we picked up this year: they are not selling out; they are buying in to become better players. FYI, I played co-ed until I thought I was ready.

Next, Revolver does not think it is “righteous.” Just because we do something does not make it right or better. Also, I don’t speak for Revolver or the AUDL. I speak for myself. This blog is my opinion. So when I say I don’t want to fly in a superstar starting seven to play on my team, guess what? I mean that, even if it was a close friend like Tank, who is an exemplary teammate. You and everyone else can do whatever you like. I will always vote to develop players who are willing to buy into our way of playing. I think that’s the best way to make a team last. Again, that’s my opinion. And by the way, Revolver has been propositioned by great players to be fly-in-players, and we have politely refused. Being good is hard, and being good every single year is really hard. And as much as I hate the Spurs, they are team that I secretly respect. Every year they are in contention without signing superstars; they sign hard workers, they sign role players and they have a coach that does not sway in his preaching of good fundamental team basketball.

As far as Doublewide goes this year, they will be fine. They have a good core group of guys, in Max, Jerrod, Will, etc, who will get to shape the new Doublewide identity.

Lastly, my opinion on making a team will always be different than other teams. That is the beauty of team sports: all teams do it differently, yet we are all striving for the same thing. There are many kinds of cereal. Cheerios mixed with Rice Crispies are my favorite and I would like to eat my combo without someone telling me that I should be eating Froot Loops. Don’t be mad, that means there are beaucoup Froot Loops for you.

PS: I am tired of going to the post office every week to send jerseys out, so I will have to stop the prize winning segment of my blog. All complaints and threats can be sent to Neeley.

To end on a positive note, here is good cause that would be cool to see get some support: http://kenyafrisbee.weebly.com/