Whirlyball

I've missed the past few days because of my work schedule. And I'll most likely miss the next few because I will have only occasional access to the internet. But tonight, you get something special. A three-in-one extravaganza about a topic I would have never imagined. The three-in-one? An 'It's Personal', a 'Video of the Week', and '3WW' all in one...

So, I'm in Dallas. And we're having strategic planning meetings this week with our owners. Hour after hour of PowerPoint presentations about all things technology. A rather fruitful experience for someone so inexperienced in all things regarding technology, i.e. me. Each day thus far, we have worked from approximately 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and then we have traveled to a dinner - one at Sullivan's and one at Cool River. Steakhouses, go figure.

Well, tonight we changed it up a bit and journeyed to play whirlyball.

When I saw the word, 'Whirlyball' on the agenda, I was completely clueless. Never heard of it. Couldn't imagine what it entailed. I did a little searching and found some information. But I still couldn't believe what I was reading. We'll get there.

We traveled from the office in Dallas along 75 to Plano. Lots of traffic. Lots of bumper stickers thanking George Bush. And lots of Longhorn symbols on the backs of cars. We finally arrived and stepped from the car into a heat that would cause any food to decay immediately. I would have jogged inside, but I don't think I could have made it. I slinked instead.

Much cooler inside. When I stepped in, I was immediately whacked with what looked to be an enlarged wiffleball. Not one of the real wiffleballs with slits on the top half - or bottom half if you like - of the ball. Instead it was one of those balls that has little holes in it at equal intervals. Anyway, I got whacked with one. Then another. And another. Those who had already arrived were holding what almost looked to be a cross between a lacrosse net and a jai alai basket called a scoop. They were 'scooping' these balls and flinging them - similarly to how jai alai players throw - at a target that was exceptionally well placed near the entrance. Of course, I joined in the fray. And I couldn't hit the target to save my life.

Easy enough, you might think. Scooping a ball. Throwing it at a target. Eh.

Then I looked into the plate glass enclosed court on which Whirlyball is played. The floor consisted of alternating conducting plates. The court itself seemed smaller than a basketball court, though not by much. And is set up similarly with backboards at either end of the court. Except those backboards are much lower and do not have baskets but holes only slightly larger than the balls by which I had been whacked. Those holes have heavy plastic behind them so the ball never actually goes through the hole but hits the plastic instead.

On the court? Bumper cars. Yes, bumper cars. Five yellow and five red.

Now combine everything I've told you thus far, and you have your game. People drive their bumper cars holding their scoops and try to hit the backboard - if beyond a certain point marked on the wall - for 1 point. Or you could hit the heavy plastic for 2 points if between the mark on the wall and the backboard and 3 points if behind that mark on the wall.

It was a riot. If you had been a fly on the wall, you would have seen a group of adults trying desperately to manage to control the bumper car - which has only a gas pedal and a steering mechanism - while also maneuvering their respective scoops and flinging the ball at the backboard. Suffice it to say, most of the games were low scoring affairs. The ball ended up hitting just about everything except the backboards. The funny part? Everyone who hadn't tried it before thought it would be so easy to do. But it just isn't the case. There's just so much going on and you're constantly on the move.

Well, our group played for approximately 3 hours during which time the majority of us were sweating profusely. Partially because it gets hot in the court. And partially because we were expending significant effort. At 8 p.m. we stepped from the court and talked amongst each other. Meanwhile, another group took the court. People with headbands. And gloves. And scoops with cotton covers.

Yes, whirlyball is a competitive sport. Really. And in the competitive sport, you get 2 points for hitting the heavy plastic up close and 3 points from afar. There's no backboard hitting for a point in competitive play. The people - consisting of everyone from a 20-something young guy to a rather large 30-something woman to a very tall 40-something guy - got into their cars and then started playing the game as gracefully as you would expect any other professional to play a sport. Passes were spot on. They maneuvered the cars as if the machines were an extension of their bodies. And they hit that heavy plastic. The first game had a score of 20-16! I couldn't believe it. I stood in awe.

Then I looked the competitive sport up on the web. There's a whirlyball court in Edmonds, WA. And one in South Windsor, CT. Not to mention all the other courts all over the country. Unreal...

Well, as promised, I will also give you a brief look into Whirlyball:

Here's how we played it...


And here's how the 'pros' do it...

Video of the Week: The Return of Football

This year's first preseason NFL touchdown sees a rookie punter for the Tennessee Oilers (yeah, I know, but see for yourself) run a trick play against the Buffalo-Toronto Bills.

A few thoughts about this...

I'm not looking forward to Chris Collinsworth on Monday Night Football.

Why would you want to run a trick play in the Hall of Fame game? Won't teams now be expecting that all year? I suppose they will only if Hentrich isn't in the game...

If you've played football long enough - and I assume these professionals have - wouldn't you think it's a little strange that not one but two people came completely free from the right side of the defense? Might that clue you in?

I still can't believe Houston lost to Frank Reich and Buffalo all those years ago. One of the most unbelievable games I've ever witnessed. It lead to the demise of the Houston Oilers...

I'm just glad T.O. isn't in this highlight. And that he's not in the NFC East...

Video of the Week: Failblog

Honestly, these never get old. And after two twelve-hour days, this was enough to put a smile on my face...

Fore!... Fore!... FORE!... Ah, forget it...


As Uncle Mark used to say... Down in the heap...


Hold me close, young Tony Danza...


There's much what???


Introducing a New Washington Nationals Pitcher...


Run Forrest... Oh, Wait... Wait... WAIT! Eh, never mind...

Video of the Week: Palin's Resignation

On July 3, 2009 Sarah Palin unexpectedly resigned as the governor of Alaska. Until today, I had not witnessed her resignation speech. I choose to refrain from tasteless discourse as I cannot be considered her supporter in any way. But I must ask, do you understand what she's saying?



It seems I wasn't the only person left befuddled by her speech. See Conan's special guest below...

Video of the Week: Almost Paradise

On July 21, 1989 the old man turned 36 years old. And yet, that wasn't the most memorable happening of the day. Because on that same day, he married his wife Lillian. Shannon beautiful in her dress. Danny, Richard, and I decked out in tuxedos. At a time when Richard and I were still shorter than almost everyone on the altar. We watched as our respective parents became husband and wife. And we officially became a family.

Little did we know of the future at that moment. Or of the familial bond that we would share through some rather tough and rather wonderful times. On this, their 20th wedding anniversary, I give to Lillian and the old man their song...

Video of the Week: Pugs and Strollers

It is technically Wednesday. But only barely. We have just arrived home from the celebration of Joseph's birthday. Bastille Day. July 14th.

The video this week has nothing to do with Joseph's birthday. Nor does it have anything to do with Bastille Day. Instead, I give you a pug pushing a stroller. Care of JB...

Video of the Week: Thriller

Before I come to the video, I will give you the answers from yesterday's entry:

• Past tense of the verb meaning 'to approach or move toward a particular person or place' ANSWER: Came - Cameo
  
• A noun meaning 'a wide opening; gap; breach' ANSWER: Gape - Agape
  
• A noun meaning 'the legal claim of one person upon the property of another person to secure the payment of a debt or the satisfaction of an obligation' ANSWER: Lien - Alien
  
• A verb meaning 'to assume a facial expression indicating pleasure, favor, or amusement, but sometimes derision or scorn, characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth' ANSWER: Smile - Simile

And now on this day when the world memorialized Michael Jackson, I give to you an oddity straight from the Philippines. It seems the prisoners at Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center enjoy remaking well known pop music videos.

This video is just practice, but if you look them up on youtube, you'll find a heck of a lot more...

Video of the Week: Charlie

It has been that kind of day. And the week... no, the month... doesn't promise to get much better. I therefore present to you something more absurd than Albee's The Sandbox and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead...

Charlie the Unicorn...

Video of the Week: Not America's Next Top Model

Joseph has a number of different favorite reality television shows. American Idol. Most Shocking. Cops. Dancing with the Stars. But I don't think he enjoys any show more than America's Next Top Model.

And I have to watch it too, at times.

I've learned to tolerate it. Like those who go to watch hockey for the fights or to the racetrack to see a car crash, I watch these women hoping for an absolute train wreck.

You'll see one such train wreck below. As well as some infectious laughter from a few anchors...

Video of the Week: The Great Dane

Tonight, I give you a true artist. A man of Danish birth and Jewish ancestry who caught the last neutral ship from Petsamo, Finland to the United States, this man escaped the Nazis by a hair. And when he arrived in America, he had $17 and absolutely no skill in English. But with his remarkable musical talent and his wonderfully dry humor, he made it big.

I give you two of his pieces. One spoken, one played on the piano.

Ladies and gentleman, the Clown Prince of Denmark... the Great Dane...

Mr. Victor Borge...

Inflationary Language


Happy Birthday

Video of the Week: Six Sigma Training

For anyone with whom I work, this will most assuredly make you laugh...

And for those who have absolutely no idea, well, let's just say this is what we're doing at work minus the singing...

Enjoy...

Video of the Week: Penny for Your Thoughts

It has been a long time since I've actively pursued my interest in numismatics. I remember a time spending hours on end sifting through pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and half dollars attempting to determine their respective worth. And siphoning them into appropriate holders. I still have Flying Eagle pennies, Barber dimes, silver nickels, and Franklin half dollars lingering in a safe spot.

This is the reason that this video below caught my eye. An interesting look back at the penny. And an equally interesting question about the ongoing need for a dying coin. I give to you a penny for your thoughts...

Video of the Week: Sound of Silence

It was February. I had just landed a job as an Accounts Receivable Specialist 13 days prior. And exactly 7 months prior to that, I had arrived in Seattle. The sun had already set; darkness pervaded the small 860 square foot apartment I inhabited with Joseph that first year in Seattle. Joseph was about to view a program in which I had no interest. He asked me to watch with him. But because I had decided I didn't like much modern music, I chuckled and said the following...

I will only watch the Grammys with you if Simon & Garfunkel are the opening act. Yes, I really said this...

And the result?



I watched the entire show.

Video of the Week: Norma Jean

It was 47 years ago. That would make it 1962. Some of you remember that far back. Some don't. Ms. Marilyn Monroe was tasked with singing a certain song to a certain someone, even if 10 days earlier than that someone's birthday.

But, this video has a double meaning. I post it both because this is the 47th anniversary of that occasion. And because tomorrow is my own mother's birthday.

Happy Birthday Ma!

Video of the Week: Optical Illusion

As is my custom, I sifted through a number of videos. Pet videos. Comedies. Math tricks. Darth Vader prank calls. The whole nine.

Then I happened upon the video below. Stare at the dot. Notice the castle in all its splendor against the blue sky. Then look again at the picture without looking at the dot.

Fascinating...

Video of the Week: Tulum

Good Evening all...

I give to you 2 videos that show Tulum. One from the ground and the other from the air (a cheesy advertisement, but it still does it justice).

As stated in yesterday's post, Tulum was a Mayan city conquered by Hernan Cortes in the 16th century. The name, Tulum, means walled city, but it's interesting that the name was more than likely not used to refer to the city in its prime. Unfortunately, no one really knows what the name of the city was as the majority of its inhabitants were murdered by the Spanish.

As you watch the videos, you'll notice the turquoise water - it is that blue - and the remarkable architecture. Not to mention all the iguanas. Lots and lots of iguanas.

Enjoy...

Video of the Week: Kids

Joseph and I had our first of four Home Study meetings for the adoption today. I know we're moving closer, but I can't yet admit that it feels real. Nevertheless, in honor of today, I give you a video collage of kids...

A Great Laugh


Monster v. 3 Year Old


And the Youtube Sensation

Video of the Week: Dueling Pianos

I had little idea about what I'd want to post this evening. Nothing really caught my fancy. And thus I took a stroll through the land of youtube and witnessed the Bucky Dent home run, U2's One, and Einstein's first trip to the future in Doc's Delorean.

And then I recalled a little known scene with two ducks. I promise you there's no reason for recalling this scene. Just that I hold a place in my heart for Donald, since I've been trying to imitate him since the ripe old age of six.

I therefore give to you the dueling pianos in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I still think Donald wins.

Video of the Week: Pater Noster

It is Holy Week. The holiest week of the year for Western Christians. Although a sad and spiritually challenging week, I always enjoyed heading home to St. Joseph's Cathedral to partake in Tuesday's Chrism mass which many of the Archdiocese's priests attend. It made me feel connected to a tradition that spanned millennia.

And when I think of the Church and of Holy Week, I remember a hero of mine, John Paul II. I therefore pay tribute here with his rendition of the Pater Noster, which I must admit, kept me sane and faithful during those days at the seminary when my faith was most challenged.

Video of the Week: The Dot and the Line

Many thanks to my mother for this find.

As a person who enjoys mathematics, I thought this an interesting glimpse into the realm of geometry. Not to mention the philosophical commentary associated with actualization of freedom within known limitations. Or something.

I give to you Chuck Jones' The Dot and the Line narrated by Robert Morley.