IT WAS WEDNESDAY, RIGHT?

Boasters League round 3~~

I’m just sayin’... In total, 72 bonus points were picked up last night. Now, that’s 3 more than last week, but only 2 teams picked up more than 9, and it’s a far cry from the average of last season’s first half which was 83. I’m just sayin’... That both courts downstairs were vacant at 5.30pm, and I’m sure the Handballers outnumbered us at that time 3 to 1. There are only 32 of them in their league. I’m just sayin’... That Wardogs “played” against Foss Nation last night. They only played two of the 17 matches. I’m just sayin’…

Am I disappointed / frustrated at the turn out so far for the league? Well… yes. Yes I am. To give you another idea of how much less play has happened over the first 3 weeks of the season, comparing the total amount of points scored by all teams combined at the same time last year, we are 98 points behind. That is a huge chunk. The Nicker Ballers – who are currently second – would be 6^th on last year’s comparative standings. Things need to pick up. And fast. Please? It’s cold outside now.

The standings this week were completely rearranged. Not one team kept their round 2 position. As expected Mongoose dropped significantly because of the bye week, Butter Nutz took control of the top spot, The Nicker Ballers and On the Rocks took advantage of the Wardogs shaky showing, and the Winky-Dinks climbed out of the basement at the expense of Nick of Night.

Mongoose’s bye did not stop Captain Paul – the “Don” - Huth from roaming the hallways claiming bonus points. Helen French tried her utmost to convince me to give her one, but I held strong. Her offer to bribe me wasn’t high enough. I also wish to make a shout out to Chuck Doyle, who unfortunately had to pull himself out of the boasters league for the season when he broke his ankle playing a box match earlier this week. He has a few months recovery ahead of him and we all wish him the best and quickest path back to the courts.

Not a lot of individual performances to choose from yesterday, but let’s start out with Peter Shumaker (Winky-Dinks) and Scott Langenburg (Nick at Night). Peter won the first game which must have motivated Scott somewhat for the second game. He was leading by 4 points, and only 5 away from taking the set, when a center court collision sent Peter’s glasses flying in every which direction, lens frame to one corner, the actual lenses to another. The frame was easy enough to locate, but the thin glass lens was another. Treading very carefully, the three of us scanned the court floor for at least 7-8 minutes and luckily the rogue lens was located inches from the tin. No permanent damage was done, but Scott kept his good play up – until 12-9 in the 3^rd. Peter then hit the accelerator, and stormed back for the 15-14, 2-1 win. His reward was waking up this morning with a lovely black eye.

JC Tibbitts (Butter Nutz) and Colin Bayer (Vivio’s) usually beat up on each other pretty well. This was no different. They have 39 results listed between them on Sporty HQ (including last night), JC wins 59% of the time, and only 5 of the results have been 3-0. Another 2-1 score line here, contrasting styles to say the least, but both players love to bust a lung or two. Colin’s retrieval ability is rather deceptive and often makes the difference as it did on this occasion. The 2-1 win gives Colin his first win of the season, and JC his first loss.

Moving onto week 4, I am confident that things will pick up. Mongoose battle Butter Nutz, will anyone from the Mongoose team dare not to show up? Helen French will be in Ireland, she may have to Skype Paul and plead for mercy.