John Locke first coined the phrase, which was later penned by Thomas Jefferson, that all men are created equal and have inalienable right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”… and even today we hold these truths to be self evident. However, by the older and more seasoned fellows, simply the “pursuit of happiness” in and of itself, pure hedonism, oftentimes doesn’t lead directly to that happiness despite every explicit intention of reaching that destination.
Which is odd, because as with most things, you hit what you aim at… where as in this case, it appears that if you hold to a few axiomatic beliefs about what truly matters, in regards to frisbee (ie spirit of the game, good defense, good flow, having fun, playing hard, learning, teaching) rather than solely focusing on the end result of Vain Glory and the Thrill of Victory, you somehow end up achieving happiness and oftentimes victory as a biproduct. The caveat being, that every defeat is not a reprisal of these facts, but rather one step closer victory (assuming you dont give up and actually learn from your mistakes… aside: i guess the only mistakes are giving up and refusing to learn) all the meanwhile never having to ALSO sacrifice happiness. Happiness and success is somehow a biproduct of doing the small things correctly.
Maybe its some mathematic thing, where the sum of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
I have seen many a man compromise his soul, his integrity, his friendships, his fidelity to attain victory at all costs. But at what cost? And how long does the buzz last before you’ve gotta intoxicate yourself again?
The gains are diminished, and the back taxes/interest rates on them will bury you. ‘The Good will out’, ‘The truth will out’, ‘What is done in the dark will be brought to light’… or just plain ‘karma’. These cheap victories never last, and leave the culprit hollow, striving for their next grift because they know they took the short cut to greatness the first time.
Maybe I’m taking the long way round and rambling about whatever put me in the mood to write, or maybe, just maybe there’s some “frisbee adjacent” morsel of truth hidden through my Ayahuasca trip of an opening paragraph.
Aside: There’s nothing more stupid, than a stupid person who is currently high, or been to some other alternate reality…. because now… among other things, he believes the veil of existence has been lifted and he’s been given a higher knowledge about the nature of reality… except, when asked about it, he insists that the ‘secret’ is hidden between the cheese and the buttery goodness of a Sonic double cheesburger with CreamPie Milkshake. I digress, but also I need to wipe the buttery goodness off my keyboard.
Maybe happiness is a cruel mistress, if you try to hard to get the dance, you end up appearing awkward and desperate, and as a result end up having call a cab for yourself, and hold your own hand all the way home. You gotta rizz her up by glancing in her direction, and acting slightly ambivalent, instead choosing to have a good time and waiting for the right moment to “sweep her off her feet” and “onto the dance floor”… yes… this… “This is the way”
Game 1 – I pulled up to the fields, early, yet again. In truth, even earlier than I had the week prior. As if slowly cleating up, and breathing in the dry dusty pollen is a form of masochistic meditation that I will pay dearly for the next morning in Claritin, Kleenex, and Saline Eye Drops.
I always see, probably Nate, laying cones in some indiscernible way, but clearly there’s a method to his madness. But every week, without fail, I squint and wonder “is that Eric Buenuestro? no… who the hell is that?” I raise my hand to shield my eyes (even though I’m wearing a hat) and squint even more, no thats definitely Nate, no… is that Zach? no…” to hell with it… At this point I have no idea who’s responsible for the cones that magically appear on the fields every week, but I’m convinced its one of those lizard elite’s that Trumpers talk about, or a shape shifting Spectre sent to haunt me…
Devon pulls up with a friend and sets down his stuff under the north side oak tree then casually jogs over to chat Nate up and says something about “future job prospects” and “interview processes” and Nate looks at him, says something indecipherable (I think i need to get my eyes and ears checked) and next thing I know it looks like Devon’s new job is setting up the remaining cones on field 3. Well done good sir, you eliminated about 70% of the 400square feet of woopdies<<<— technical term for those humps on fair slides, where you sit in a potato sack and scream… simultaneously hoping you dont get 3rd degree rug burn while wondering if you’ve already paid this years deductible for health insurance. We were slated to play back to back games on field 3 so safety precautions were much appreciated.
Games 9 and 10 looked to be pretty daunting. Considering about 80% of our Group Chat disclosed they are sick, injured, outta town on a wedding or studying hella hard for medical school about 20 minutes before game time. And even though all the above are mentioned weeks or days in advance I never fail to feel betrayed by those I whole in highest regard…. my league teammates. I think I have a problem.
Anyways, as I tied my cleats, I literally prayed that I would be “fast and accurate” (subtle nod to Mel Gibson in ‘The Patriot’) because I was pretty sure Get Shrekked was going to field a team the equivalent of 3 muzzle loaded muskets, against the strongest naval and land force the world had ever seen since Alexander the Great, and that I would also, by the grace of God, somehow maintain a cheery and pleasant disposition as our opponents stomped on our undermanned and understaffed necks. Not only that, we had back to back games against the only two teams who’ve managed to defeat us this season Short Kings and the undefeated OGres. On top of that we were missing our Captain, reigning champ and MVP, Drew Wright…. our only glimmer of hope was the Jacob Geotz returning from the plague showed up for his first official games of the season. ***This would turnout to be the biggest darkhorse of the day and hopefully our season***
But, as fortune would have it, we had 3 women and 5 guys. Just enough to call ourselves not savage. And Dustin and Kate were nowhere to be seen. Literally our opening strategy was to play the quickest/cleanest offense we possibly could in hopes that we could get to halftime before they touched the field. Intel provided from our opponents indicated Dustin and Kate were in route… so we needed to get up so big that theres NO WAY WE BLOW A 4 POINT LEAD going into half, right?!?!?!
I coerced Matt to take his shirt off, bc we were all already in white and his whole team, except for him was already in dark…. and though he protested continually that it didn’t matter, he also was insistent that his team go white and we go dark. Fortunately, reason and logic prevailed. And we all got a little chip and dale show as a result…. THANK YOU MATT… however I was hoping you would offer to buy me a drink and offer a dance with all those ones I stuffed in your waist band.
After “winning color” we also won the toss and Jaylynne confidently snagged “Offense” and glanced over to me as if to say “don’t make me regret this”, I shuddered and was quickly reminded of my daddy issues… 18yrs of being a bitter disappointment to my father. We called Naomi, Adub, and Jacob Geotz back as handlers and proceeded to run a hoe stack for the next 11points.
We quickly score the first point uphill, and throw a junk zone, to which Brandon Bowlin, Clyde and company quickly dissect and move the disc EFFORTLESSLY 68yrds down the field, only to turn it over on the endzone line. Shrekked quickly breaks and repulls, only to watch the ShortKings literally do the same thing two more times. quickly 3-0 good guys. Finally, Short Kings get on the board with a massive hammer from Brandon to a wide open Short Queen. They were finally able to get Coley in no man’s land where he has to choose between letting off the gimme flick or hoping that Bowlin Squibs a cross field hammer…. Coley made the right choice, and Brandon made him pay for it. Just in time for Dustin and Kate to pull up, suit up, shove snacks in their kids faces, and Dustin to pull one of his monster backhand pulls.
At this point, I greatly doubted a 2 break lead would hold, but as has been the Achilles heel of this team they didnt really adapt, or change, with the addition of their two superstars. The last time we faced them we simply did not have an answer for them, as they threw deep and often on us and yet this time, our junk zone, though it posed no real threat or concern, generated turn after turn after turn. And it hit me, Yanuck and Danny were not in attendance. Yanuck is an absolute problem and pest in league, there’s literally nothing you can do to really keep him from resetting the disc, and thats all Dustin needs to casually assert his dominance. And Danny is there only vertically gifted *** it seems a stretch calling a 5’11” guy vertically gifted but work with me here) player so it seemed like noone really knew what the plan was, or who’s job it was to reset, who’s job it was to score, and everyone was just looking at Dustin to make big monster throws to absolutely no cutters.
If it aint broke dont fix it. We proceed to throw junk zone and run Ho’ the rest of the game.
Unfortunately I don’t really remember much from this game, we won almost 45 minutes before our next game it was over so fast, and I believe Short Kings, though Tall in Heart, only managed 4 scores. Let it be known that players like Danny and Yanuck have a premium importance to the overall cohesive-ness of a team… I really wish I had more to say, more newcomers to hype up, but our team didnt really learn much about ourselves from this game, and it uncharacteristically lacked “big plays” bad calls” layouts, or funny writing material.
Highlights – Manny handblocked an Adub Hammer. Bowlin’s hammer and its subsequent catch by Mandela. Karol Paucar and Clyde were probably the best two offensive players for SK’s constantly finding the space in the junk zone. Also watched Ben Chapin (in another game on another field rip the most YOLO huck to nowhere… I mean a stand still Zach Floyd… that if it wasn’t for his touch on the throw and Zach’s quick footedness would have fell to the grass and looked absolutely like sabotage…. rather Zach made up the ground in arguably the quickest disc run down I’ve seen from him in 15yrs. It reminded me of Road Runner, where his legs were taking quick short blurry strides…. apparently you still got it Zach.
Also Manny had a sick hustle play to snag a D’d disc, or a doinked disc, cant remember and then quickly toe tap it in to save an otherwise painful turnover. This heroic play lead to 25% of SK’s scores.
I believe Tommy Akin had a D that turned into a full field same third scores/bookends. Naomi limited Kate’s effectiveness once she arrived and also anchored the Shrekked O-line. Coley had a layout D in the first couple of points that basically sealed SK’s fate, because they hesitated to challenge him the rest of the game. Jaxson was able to show up from Reserve Duty, and a totaled car, to play a massive support role pulling in several scores and pivotal catches with zero turnovers (high quality stuff there brother). And Adub true to form had an endzone to endzone flick huck for a Coley sky.
Overall I’m still suspicious of this victory, though happy, suspicious. Because I’m not sure we “earned it” nor am I convinced they were on Sunday who they will be in the playoffs.
SHREKKED-11 vs short kings-4
The second game was much more memorable. Mainly because it lasted longer, and was against the undefeated OGres. Who apparently had to play 30 minutes longer than us to eek out a win. I was hopeful that this would mean Ogres would suit up tired and fatigued against us, or cramping injured and locked up. Both teams had an amiable discussion about managing lines to favor the “axioms of spirit” because Bonnie wasn’t feeling too great… the only hope we had is they were without, arguably, their most impactful male player Nick… **insert exhale of relief and brow wipe***
I think we won toss for jersey and disc. Jaylynne once again took offense, which had my fingers jittery since our Oline hadnt seen the field in probably 67 and a half minutes. But, wise players know, no sense in starting down a break against a good team, when “On serve” just means “lost on universe” when the other team is undefeated and doesnt give you any opportunities to win.
We started this game out hot, and quickly got two breaks. Up maybe 4-2 before Adub laced a massive OI flick huck, left side of field to right front cone of east endzone to a streaking and unguarded Jaylynne. (Ogres of course threw zone so she found that space to split Ben between guarding Tommy for the Backhand or Hammer Or Jay for the risky high skill throw) Ben made the right choice and took away the easy throw and Jay and Adub made him pay for it… no good deed goes unpunished. However, Jay landed and her knee seemed to buckle under her as she collapsed into the endzone. These types of things are NEVER good and everyone just grits their teeth and hopes that someone as tough as Jay gets up and just “dusts off her shoulders”. She did get up after a bit, but needed help limping to the stands. Shrekked was now savage, without their captain, without their female advantage and staring down the barrel of 1.5 halfs left against the leagues best team.
Naomi subbed in for Jay and proceeded to throw a breakmark throw to Jacob Goetz.
Tommy also threw a huge breakside assist. and Jaxson had a pivotal catch on the goalline which he quickly dumped rather than forcing it into the endzone. This selfless play turned into IMPORTANT, not to be underestimated break points. Its the little things that lead to happiness and victory.
I believe Shrekked takes half maybe 6-4 maybe 6-3.
First half highlight would be several handblocks by OGres on tough marks by KJ.
Jacob Geotz nailing every around break throw, and Naomi roasting deep to the back right cone at least once in each endzone. There’s a distinct and obvious reason why she’s one of the best players in the South East.
Second half, OGres clearly found their mismatches and started exploiting the hell out of us. We couldn’t really stop them, even in man. We try’d to bracket their women to hide our glaring weakness and like all well coached teams it didnt matter, and despite what they said first half, Bonnie could not be stopped. I am fully convinced she either REALLY hates losing…. or SHE REALLY LIKES WINNING… because we couldn’t really stop her, it literally felt like they threw 6 straight scores to Bonnie alone. Maybe the play call was “Bonnie every other”… who knows either way she was as free as a bird.
Second half was mostly just Bonnie putting the whole team on her back, and Shrekked playing literally flawlessly.
There were lots of teaching/learning opportunities as teams discussed pick calls, OB calls and even though with the likes of KJ, Adub, Ben, and Zach all on the same field all that could be heard was laughter and friendly banter… speaking of, someone who will go un-named said that if you want to cuss someone out in a disputed call, just say “screw you” and laugh maniacally so no one will take you seriously…. so let me know if this works for you as a good way to avoid grievances… i however will take no such risks.
Second half highlights, KJ had a NASTY fearless guts like D against a raging Adub flick. He stood like a pine tree right off the 6th tee at northside park and gave zero f*cks about your shot at 5 under par…. Adub of course, with eyes only for the endzone, drilled KJ in the outstretched redwood like hands… and then Tommy and Adub both instantly exclaimed “SICK D” and KJ proceeded to pick up the disc and throw a backhand straight into a bidding Adub layout D.
Jacob G had a “call your own shot” score on the back line of the endzone where he pointed wildly at the endzone begging someone to just “feed me the damn disc”. Jaxson got several scores in this game. Lydia got her one and only D at the very end of the game, where she played hard on a Bonnie deep cut, and because she was there, she forced a key misread by Bonnie.
Also, did anyone else notice Ogres switch to backhand force somewhere late in the second half????? interesting strategy, probably too little too late. Adub with high release back hand to ungaurdable Naomi outta the 1 in the stack… she quickly give goes with Goetz up the field as if they’d been doing it all season…. then breakside dump reset to Adub, quick give go strike back to Goetz…. quick highrelease backhand to space in front right corner endzone to a streaking Coley.
Game over. Down Goes the last undefeated team in league.
Once again I’m not fully convinced if we played them 10x’s that we would win 5 more games…. but we did learn that we are FULLY capable of playing flawlessly, with several players turning in zero turn play in two games, everyone getting involved, and Jacob Geotz playing prime ultimate. We had a running bet that he might be able to play 90% T:O ratio Sunday… turns out he turned in a 100% completion rate day along with about 6 other players.
Closing thoughts. I love the effort from this team. I’m so proud of us avenging our only two losses of the season so far. Lydia is quickly picking up the game and Jaxson is absolutely coachable and quickly turning into an asset… doubt he’ll fall down the draftboard next season. Still waiting to hear back from our Captain about how her knee is holding up, hopefully the only prescription is ibuprofen, ice, and ice cream…. #get better. Also, George, I think sustained a concussion… hopefully it doesn’t manifest as anything worse than a momentary loss awareness..
All men are created equal and have inalienable rights to the pursuit of happiness AND health.. stay healthy guys… take care of your bodies, hydrate, etc…. too many injuries in our community the last year or so.
Looking forward to closing out the season strong and obtaining a playoff bracket OPPOSITE of OGres.
11:07pm Wombat out.
