casual ultimate » Scottsdale, say no more, squire!

This weekend is SW Regionals in Phoenix (which is also called “Scottsdale” and “Tempe” and “a bad place to live”). I’m heading down with BCBC, a team that has grown to mean a lot to me. Not as much as Revolver or Brass, but certainly more than Machine (HOOOOOOO zing!) I’m not getting much better as a player, although being in somewhat of a leadership role without being a huge dickhead is a new one. On Briefcase, I was definitely a bit of a dickhead, and on Northwestern I was completely gone off the deep end. I may owe an amends to those teams at some point, but we’ll see…

We have a shot at Nationals out of the Southwest Region which seems silly coming from the Northwest where teams like CTR never go and where Furious, the World Champs just months earlier, did not qualify last year. We’re a non-practicing team with lots of college kids (who are pretty good, by the way) and a few savvy vets. Something I’m noticing is my continued desire to demonize my rivals/opponents. I hated Michigan in college, even in the face of some blossoming friendships. I tried to hate CLX back in the Central Region, but good luck with that; they are just good. I try to hate Jam unsuccessfully, and I really try to hate Mischief. These are all my past rivals that come to mind, and I have great friends on many of them. This season I really want to hate Metro, the other LA coed team with Nationals potential, but again, they’re good folks. It’s a game; some of the stuff they do is great; some isn’t, but the same could be said of most teams made up of 20+ competitive individuals.

I am proud of the way BCBC plays. I am proud of these kids for playing with so much heart. It’s very inspiring.

I think the thing that I am REALLY getting in spades from BCBC is an invitation to have fun. Party, goof around, get back to that attitude we all had back in college of “why not?” There’s no need to be cautious all the time. Laughter and dancing are medicine. Love is something that can be freely given and received. There is no shortage. We all need to give it and receive it. A loss of control is progress. I belly laugh that topples me over is the right outcome.

What do I want out of this weekend?

I want to play great Ultimate this weekend. I want to beat good teams. I want my fiddle to change the game. I want to take great care of myself. I want to show up in an honest way with a powerfully compassionate heart. I want to remember that I’m not in control. I want to let go of worry, fear, and control the same way I let go of the disc.

I told a friend of mine (on Metro of all teams) that I think I was meant to play Ultimate and that when I am playing the way I feel I was meant to play, it’s unique to me. That’s not particularly important: that my style be unique. However, my style is unique, and I can best serve my purpose by letting go and playing the way I was meant to play, with no fear and no hesitation, with no anger and no malice. I love playing. I love my teammates. I love my opponents. The sport is glorified along with my higher power when I play that way. “My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable…”

Good luck, Revolver, zG, Fury,…………………………….Mischief, and Jam.

SF Peeps, come see me play the bottom of the hill next Thursday 10/8 at 9:30, $8