The Dream last night. I was in a group of family. My brother and his wife. The usual assortment of people, and for some reason Anais Nin. There was a celebration going on, and a single bottle of champagne. We were lining up the glasses for the toasts. Someone suggested we drink to the Leo Birthdays - my sis in law, my bro and I are on successive days, July 31-Aug 2.
Someone suggested drinking to Anais Nin. I bet half of you don't even know who that is, but you can look it up.There were two or three other toasts, and then everyone looked at me for my entry. "Why, the Coneheads Gee Peat, OF COURSE! What is wrong with you people???"
In the inaugural Wilder Turf Field Senior C League Over 35 Almost Over 50 Orinda Tournament (OT I), the Coneheads once again prevailed, this time over the overconfident previously undefeated pizza boys from Pennini's. We handled them twice Sunday, and showed them that we now own the post-season in Orinda, until someone proves different.
How sweet it is. They were so confident in their 13-0-1 record in the regular season, they brought champagne, and in the one class act I have seen from them, gave it to us. Cheap champagne never tasted so good.
I don't know how many times the Old Scouts have won this thing, but no one has come close to the number of times we have. Our second in a row, and since 1997, our seventh Championship. That is seven out of sixteen, not too bad. I think we made the finals at least two and up to four other times. No one is close to that record, and these are the same teams we play year in and year out. I think only two teams have dropped out since 2000 when I became a Conehead. One year they were so shocked that the Conehead weren't in it, when they got to the second rematch in the finals, they decided to end in a tie and that became the "No Mas' year.
Here is how sweet it is: After the celebration, Julia and I went to downtown Walnut Creek to the local burrito place for some food. Guess who was there: Half of Pennini's team (actually the nicer half). We said hello, and a little later, as I walked by to go to the rest room to wash my hands before eating, I heard one of their players explaining to their rookie about the intense rivalries, and the angst involved in this tournament, and the history - and he was talking about the Coneheads, and essentially was complementing us - telling the guy how tough we are to beat.
So I looked back at the data I have from the beginning of my Conehead time (actually a couple of years before), and it amazes me - we really only have four players that have been on the team since the beginning of the MCE (Modern Conehead Era) - Joe, Chuck, Larry and Don. We have lost a few good men, but have added many that are just perfect Coneheads, and this team is the best ever, in terms of not only talent but more importantly chemistry. Gerry and Gene, Sting and Ol' G, the AWOL Pope and Markley, Chopper and Big D, and our latest Conehead Orinda rookies, Greg the Knight and Lefty. And of course super sub Haze. A better collection of talent and personality you can't name.
We don't have to worry about talking about a three peat next year, like Roger Craig did on the 49ers and jinxing it - we have already won two fall leagues in a row in Walnut Creek, so it now stands at four straight successful cotton chases. All we do is go one game at a time, one season at a time, one playoff game at a time. And our chances end up being as good or better than anyone else.
This was a tournament of firsts. As I said, first on the new fields at Wilder.
And, for example, this was my first tournament where we actually had to go retrieve a teammate in Fresno between day one and day two.That's right, as we told him a hundred times, we knew Sting, who took his daughter Jazmyne to college Friday and Saturday, would end up being superfluous and unnecessary in that situation - he would move her in, and then two things would happen - the women would just take his credit card and go shopping, and Jazmyne would meet someone in the dorms and just want the old folks to go away. Even his mother-in-law told him he would be free to go sometime before the end of our playoffs, and told him to bring a second car. Sure enough he was free to go, but was not prepared like a proper softball slut - he had no wheels to get back.
Well, Ol' G and me, we don't stop at nothing. We hopped in his luxurious ride with our rookie fan of the year Julia, and G's daughter Dayna, and extracted Sting from the burning oven that is the lower San Joaquin Valley. Operation Sting was extremely successful. Everyone was happy - there was a Giants game on the radio for Julia to listen to the whole ride, Dayna immediately plugged her ears with her iPod, and G and I talked softball all the way to Fresno. The family was OK with Sting going (Jazmyne gave daddy 'permission'), and Sting came back to go 5-7 with a home run, a couple of catches in the outfield, but more importantly, the energy we feed on, which is infectious.
It's a great story to tell our grandchildren, but seriously Sting, when are you going to start listening to me???
And Ol' G - well, maybe that car ride took something out of him, or stiffened us up. After just missing a line drive in the first Pennini game over his head, he had a chance in the second or third inning of the championship game at a shot almost completely identical. This time he was determined to get it and like a warrior stretched to the fullest extent and grabbed it. The price was too high though, and he crumpled to the ground with a bad groin pull. As the hero he is, he tried to swing a bat his next time up, but it was no good. So once again the cry of 'Win It for G' filled our dugout, but at least this year he could be there to celebrate with us and not at John Muir Hospital.
Apologies to Chopper for a great catch in the outfield sometime over the weekend, but it was the defensive gem of the games. Not only for the catch itself, but for the message to Pennini's - your line drives are no good here, and we go to all heights to bring you down.
Thus the title Gee-Peat. Let's make a deal, next year we win without Gary getting hurt. You in? (Although update from seeing Sting last night - he seems to think that we have to bring a different kind of hammer next year - if G doesn't get injured naturally, we need to pummel him in order to 'win one (or two or three) for Ol' G).
You knew there was going to be some activity around G...In the first game one of their players, and if I am not mistaken he wasn't even playing, tried to pick a fight with G. Not smart. We barely could keep G from the guy, and you know who would have been in the hospital this year, and it wouldn't be G.
And the best line of the day? Ol' G, is writhing around on the ground in pain. It takes him several minutes to even get to a standing position. He wasn't laughing at the jokes about getting ice on the spot and who would or wouldn't help him get it there. Finally he struggles to his feet like a big old race horse, and what do we hear from the stands? His better half, a gamer herself, exhorting him to "Walk it off". No wonder G is so tough.
Incidentally Larry came in and played stellar defense at second. This should not be understated. He stepped up big time, made some great stops and got to the bag quickly for force outs fed from Chuck or Gerry. Remember that on the turf fields infielders play very deep because balls move through quickly, so getting to your base is something you always have to be aware of.
Not to mention Larry stepped up big time at the plate all weekend. He was second on the team in RBIs, and muscled up for a three run home run against the Scouts in Game II.
Hey Greg the Knight - I hope you took the day off to read this, because I am just getting started.
In fact, I will spare you, it's time for me to go play yet another playoff game, so this ends Part I. Stay tuned for Part II later today...
Back to work, Greg.
Someone suggested drinking to Anais Nin. I bet half of you don't even know who that is, but you can look it up.There were two or three other toasts, and then everyone looked at me for my entry. "Why, the Coneheads Gee Peat, OF COURSE! What is wrong with you people???"
In the inaugural Wilder Turf Field Senior C League Over 35 Almost Over 50 Orinda Tournament (OT I), the Coneheads once again prevailed, this time over the overconfident previously undefeated pizza boys from Pennini's. We handled them twice Sunday, and showed them that we now own the post-season in Orinda, until someone proves different.
How sweet it is. They were so confident in their 13-0-1 record in the regular season, they brought champagne, and in the one class act I have seen from them, gave it to us. Cheap champagne never tasted so good.
I don't know how many times the Old Scouts have won this thing, but no one has come close to the number of times we have. Our second in a row, and since 1997, our seventh Championship. That is seven out of sixteen, not too bad. I think we made the finals at least two and up to four other times. No one is close to that record, and these are the same teams we play year in and year out. I think only two teams have dropped out since 2000 when I became a Conehead. One year they were so shocked that the Conehead weren't in it, when they got to the second rematch in the finals, they decided to end in a tie and that became the "No Mas' year.
Here is how sweet it is: After the celebration, Julia and I went to downtown Walnut Creek to the local burrito place for some food. Guess who was there: Half of Pennini's team (actually the nicer half). We said hello, and a little later, as I walked by to go to the rest room to wash my hands before eating, I heard one of their players explaining to their rookie about the intense rivalries, and the angst involved in this tournament, and the history - and he was talking about the Coneheads, and essentially was complementing us - telling the guy how tough we are to beat.
So I looked back at the data I have from the beginning of my Conehead time (actually a couple of years before), and it amazes me - we really only have four players that have been on the team since the beginning of the MCE (Modern Conehead Era) - Joe, Chuck, Larry and Don. We have lost a few good men, but have added many that are just perfect Coneheads, and this team is the best ever, in terms of not only talent but more importantly chemistry. Gerry and Gene, Sting and Ol' G, the AWOL Pope and Markley, Chopper and Big D, and our latest Conehead Orinda rookies, Greg the Knight and Lefty. And of course super sub Haze. A better collection of talent and personality you can't name.
We don't have to worry about talking about a three peat next year, like Roger Craig did on the 49ers and jinxing it - we have already won two fall leagues in a row in Walnut Creek, so it now stands at four straight successful cotton chases. All we do is go one game at a time, one season at a time, one playoff game at a time. And our chances end up being as good or better than anyone else.
This was a tournament of firsts. As I said, first on the new fields at Wilder.
And, for example, this was my first tournament where we actually had to go retrieve a teammate in Fresno between day one and day two.That's right, as we told him a hundred times, we knew Sting, who took his daughter Jazmyne to college Friday and Saturday, would end up being superfluous and unnecessary in that situation - he would move her in, and then two things would happen - the women would just take his credit card and go shopping, and Jazmyne would meet someone in the dorms and just want the old folks to go away. Even his mother-in-law told him he would be free to go sometime before the end of our playoffs, and told him to bring a second car. Sure enough he was free to go, but was not prepared like a proper softball slut - he had no wheels to get back.
Well, Ol' G and me, we don't stop at nothing. We hopped in his luxurious ride with our rookie fan of the year Julia, and G's daughter Dayna, and extracted Sting from the burning oven that is the lower San Joaquin Valley. Operation Sting was extremely successful. Everyone was happy - there was a Giants game on the radio for Julia to listen to the whole ride, Dayna immediately plugged her ears with her iPod, and G and I talked softball all the way to Fresno. The family was OK with Sting going (Jazmyne gave daddy 'permission'), and Sting came back to go 5-7 with a home run, a couple of catches in the outfield, but more importantly, the energy we feed on, which is infectious.
It's a great story to tell our grandchildren, but seriously Sting, when are you going to start listening to me???
And Ol' G - well, maybe that car ride took something out of him, or stiffened us up. After just missing a line drive in the first Pennini game over his head, he had a chance in the second or third inning of the championship game at a shot almost completely identical. This time he was determined to get it and like a warrior stretched to the fullest extent and grabbed it. The price was too high though, and he crumpled to the ground with a bad groin pull. As the hero he is, he tried to swing a bat his next time up, but it was no good. So once again the cry of 'Win It for G' filled our dugout, but at least this year he could be there to celebrate with us and not at John Muir Hospital.
Apologies to Chopper for a great catch in the outfield sometime over the weekend, but it was the defensive gem of the games. Not only for the catch itself, but for the message to Pennini's - your line drives are no good here, and we go to all heights to bring you down.
Thus the title Gee-Peat. Let's make a deal, next year we win without Gary getting hurt. You in? (Although update from seeing Sting last night - he seems to think that we have to bring a different kind of hammer next year - if G doesn't get injured naturally, we need to pummel him in order to 'win one (or two or three) for Ol' G).
You knew there was going to be some activity around G...In the first game one of their players, and if I am not mistaken he wasn't even playing, tried to pick a fight with G. Not smart. We barely could keep G from the guy, and you know who would have been in the hospital this year, and it wouldn't be G.
And the best line of the day? Ol' G, is writhing around on the ground in pain. It takes him several minutes to even get to a standing position. He wasn't laughing at the jokes about getting ice on the spot and who would or wouldn't help him get it there. Finally he struggles to his feet like a big old race horse, and what do we hear from the stands? His better half, a gamer herself, exhorting him to "Walk it off". No wonder G is so tough.
Incidentally Larry came in and played stellar defense at second. This should not be understated. He stepped up big time, made some great stops and got to the bag quickly for force outs fed from Chuck or Gerry. Remember that on the turf fields infielders play very deep because balls move through quickly, so getting to your base is something you always have to be aware of.
Not to mention Larry stepped up big time at the plate all weekend. He was second on the team in RBIs, and muscled up for a three run home run against the Scouts in Game II.
Hey Greg the Knight - I hope you took the day off to read this, because I am just getting started.
In fact, I will spare you, it's time for me to go play yet another playoff game, so this ends Part I. Stay tuned for Part II later today...
Back to work, Greg.
I read Anais Nin ages ago, in the mid 1970s, when her diaries were first published in the USA. She made a big splash on me-- and on others.
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