Return of the Buzzards

I understand, with the New Hampshire primaries and the Joe Gibbs’ retirement that the Buzzards return to Ultimate this week may have flown under the news radar. However, the return after what seemed like an interminable holiday respite, was very welcome. It helped that the D.C. area has had almost record warm temperatures the last couple days.

Turnout was a little sparse yesterday though. Initially only a 3 on 3 game loomed but Phil & Kashyap dragged their boss, Scott out of the office and then an 8th showed up after about 20 minutes and saved the gold team from running 3 on 4. It was obvious that Phil had explained the gist of the rules to Scott because he thought poking me in the eye was a perfectly legitimate defensive strategy early in the game.

You have to love the surprises you always get in a game of Ultimate and we all enjoyed witnessing the two shortest pulls of recent memory, by Todd of all people. In trying to fairly report the facts, I’ll note that they were against a slight breeze and it looked like he might have been trying a new throw (the 65 yard roll pull) but neither throw came close to approaching that yardage and we actually got some extra rest in walking down to pick up the disc that lay much closer to the pullers.

Kashyap may have earned himself a new nickname… "Mandolin” as he came out with a heavily taped finger and wearing one glove to protect a wound suffered at the blade of that dreaded kitchen gadget…not the small guitar-like instrument. I'm not sure what's harder to imagine, him slicing julienned carrots or playing the Orange Blossom Special.

The field was a little soggy yesterday and I enjoyed sliding around some and bringing a couple layers of mud back in with me. Even with cleats the traction was questionable. Just ask Phil, who, when getting ready to make a cut, found himself completely sprawled out with his face in the mud, nobody within 10 yards of him.

The holiday toxins, in the forms of turkey, spiral ham, marshmallow covered yams, 15 dozen cookies, Merlot, Riesling, and a nice new Cab-Franc, began to drain from the body after a few trips up and down the field. The rested upper leg tendon reminded me it didn’t get enough rest and required a hot bath last night but it was great to be back on the field.

Thanks to Travis & Rodney who have tried, with moderate success, calling games in my absence. Let’s enjoy these unusual temps before winter returns next week.

Pull!