Our First Matches

The Dupont Office & Storage Beach Volleyball Team officially started their season today. It was a HOT one, and the old guys definitely made a good showing. Here's a picture of Chris cheesin' the cam right before he pounded one in the first game.



We split games (1-1) with a couple of the best teams in the league: Team Helms and the Love Drunk Monkeys. Ergo, we are 2-2 so far this season. These are both "Division A" teams and we are considered "B+" (they wanted to put us in the "Nursing Home Division", but I opted out), so we have to feel pretty good about our first day.....we only lost by a couple points in each of the games we lost. Nobody blew us out. We also won the prize for the highest combined age as a team, and we DID blew the rest of THEM out in this category. We also won "Best Dressed" and "Most Likely to Need Icy Hot". Sorry. I just can't pass up the "old jokes". It won't be long until I'm the butt of those jokes, but until then.............................take your Metamucil.......sorry, it just keeps comin'. :)

Actually, I was impressed with everyone's play. Y'all did an awesome job.

Are you READY?!?!

Because of all of the publicity from my picture on the Fair Play Volleyball Blog, I have received several high-end endorsements. My agent took calls from Nike, Red Bull, even Preperation H. The best thing that happened was that they put me into a video game. Here's a screenshot of me.



Thanks Fair Play!!!

Anyway, guys, our first game is
THIS SUNDAY........SUNDAY........S-S-S-SUNDAY!!!
The first game starts at 5:30pm. Be there at no later than 1pm.

I'm kidding. Be there early enough to warm up a little....5:15 or so.

I should have shirts for you guys....if my shirt guy ever gets them to me.....I was supposed to have them by last Sunday and still don't have 'em. Bring a fluorescent pink shirt just in case they aren't here yet. Those are our team colors. (Please tell me you know I'm kidding)

If you haven't read the "Beach Rules" yet, SHAME ON YOU! Let me REVIEW the main points (I've been taking lessons from Gerardot):

1) You CAN NOT set a serve or a "non-hard driven ball"
2) You CAN NOT set over the net.
3) NO fingertip control dinks (a closed hand or a wimpy roll shot is acceptable).
4) The server only gets 1 toss on a serve. If you catch your first toss, it's a point for the other team.
5) NO punching the net judges (it's okay for line judges).

See you there!
Kyle Zimmerman (a.k.a. ZIM)

PHOTO ALBUM

First Game Pushed Back

I just wanted to throw in an action shot of the last beach volleyball tournament. I went bobbing for apples in a vat of sunblock right before the game, as you can tell.



Anyway, the first game has been pushed back one week to Sunday the 30th (I suppose to rally up a few more teams). However, they are holding "open court" this Sunday night, and I am suggesting that everyone show up in order to get a little chance to play some practice games as a team against some real opponents. It will give us a good feel what we are up against....not to mention, it will be fun. Open court starts at 5pm, but I thought we could go about 6pm....if you are able, of course.

The Roster - Old or Gold?

No more grass stains, fellas. It's gonna be sand burns from here on out.

The newly formed Dupont Office & Storage Beach Volleyball team has done some heavy recruiting, and they have made some interesting picks in the draft.

Meet the players:

A seasoned veteran and former Ball State intramural champ (we won't bother to mention what decade)....Tony Fingerle!!! This folically challenged German Superman has a big heart, a big block and a surprisingly good vert for being...ehem...well....from the Laverne & Shirley era (Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer, Incorporated!). Tony has a large following....and they will be anxiously awaiting those games with Tony's kills in the double digits. Some massive hits from Tony have been clocked at speeds of up to 105 mph!

Our next team member is basketball star turned volleyball specialist....Ryan Romey. "Rome" has made it his pesonal objective to get to those balls that are seemingly impossible to get to. He spends the majority of his time stretched out horizontal about a foot off the ground. It will be interesting to see if this 30 something rookie can make the switch from grass to the sand. Keep your eye on this defensive madman.

The roster continues with The Man with Plan, Chris Gerardot. This church volleyball veteran has been playing on the grass for many, many, MANY....uh .....many (I hope you're getting the point), many years, but 2 questions remain: can he handle the sand and can he still hang with the young'ns? The net is higher than he's used to and the ground is not as firm. Can this shepherd lead the flock to the Tourney Finals? Stay tuned.

The next member of this team of underdogs is Kyle Zimmerman. It has been said that "Zim" has a lost a step since he turned 30 this spring, but he (half-heartedly) denies it. This guy loves to play and lives to eat sand, but his game is not as sharp as it was in his college days. His competitors say that "his bark is worse than his bite." This may be due to Zim's favorite offensive tactic: screaming like he's going to pound it on you and approaching the net full force....when he knows the ball is going to land on the other side anyway. By the way, what's that thing he wears on his head? What a goofball.

One of the youngest (and shortest) members of this team is none other than Matt Kindness. Matt, a.k.a. "Matt-ee-poo", makes up for his height with his speed and agility. He will try to bring young vigor to the bunch with his tremendous hustle. Matt just has a hard time remebering that you can use your hands in volleyball....he keeps wanting to kick or headball it over. Not only that, but he is having a hard time choking down the fact that he is playing for Dupont Office & Storage. Wear the name with PRIDE, my friend. He's also the only team member who has a motorcycle, which is also translated: Matt is the only team member not married yet. Take your pick. By the way, he also designed our logo.....isn't it cool? What a guy!

And last, but certainly not least, there is the ex-hockey player Shannon Rose. Don't let Shannon's thin build or girlie name fool you. Those wrists he's got snap like a rubber band on steroids. "Shanner" is also a youngster who hopes to add a spark to the team. Like Tony, Shannon also has a fan club......which is extremely loud.....and is 1 person.....but we all love the "Lisa Dance".

The season starts on Sunday, July 23rd, so we'll see if this new expansion team has what it takes to make it in this competitive beach league. Will they work well together, like a well-oiled machine......or Matt's old truck? I'll see you there.