Archive for November, 2008
PRs swallow yet another bitter pill
The Pocket Rockets keep finding new and creative ways to choke away championships. One hopes that sooner rather than later we’ll run out of ideas and just win one. Yesterday’s loss to Hey That’s Not My Flag was especially bitter for me. Had I not been completely smashed by the time I got home from Uncle Ron’s (sometime after midnight), I doubt I would have slept one wink. There is little doubt in my mind that this season’s squad is the best we’ve ever had. And, though the competition was strong all season, a league minus Murph’s team and Laces Out is one we should win.
A few points on the game and season:
I won’t throw Steph under the bus for her colossal blunder (Before next season, you will get the following tattooed on your person somewhere: “If there’s nothing there, run it!”). All season she had shown excellent judgment with the football — throwing and running. That’s why I went back to her for the conversion on our late, surprise touchdown. Furthermore, I called the play. It’s something we have never run before. Sure, if it works I look like a genius. But, with the wind howling and a cold, wet football, a diamond-end-around run would have been a better call. Or perhaps me running a stop-and-go. Interceptions are game changers. We need look no further than Damian’s crucial play last week as evidence. Can’t happen, especially on first-and-goal… ever. But, we had other opportunities, and we did not take advantage of them.
Our defense, for the most part, was solid. We were thisclose to a couple of interceptions that would have put us in good shape for the second half. But they took advantage of some undisciplined and lazy play on our part. Too many easy passes got through, we missed a lot of flags early and they picked on the right side of our defense all day. We need to play smarter… know the down, distance, gender plays, etc. You have to know what’s coming… We don’t want to tip our hand by calling the defense from the sideline.
Considering the handsy defense we faced, I thought the offense was pretty good. Throwing into that wind was tough. If I had to do anything over, I would have run more in the second half. Those were easy yards… and of course I’d like to have a couple of throws back, especially the one to Danny on fourth down. We made some really nice plays, though. Damian’s bomb was probably the highlight… a secondary highlight was the play of our women (the best in the league) who had lots of nice catches and runs.
Sigh. Sorry, but I’m bummed. Because we lost. Because we won’t play again until April. Because I really look forward to seeing you guys every weekend. We really have a great team, and I want you to be rewarded for your friendship and loyalty with some BSSC tchotchkes. Sigh again.
The Fall 2008 Pocket Rockets... in happier times.
As for the postgame shit-show, that was one for the record books at The Bus Stop… 15 pitchers! Good work. I don’t think anyone can challenge us at the bar. The scene at Uncle Ron’s was… um… oddly fun. Ronnie pulled out samples of his high school artwork, we told more embarrassing stories and drank ’til midnight. I really needed that. I also got a little cheering up from my goddaughter Abby and her brother, Jack, at the BU game… Terriers 3, Huskies 0. Woo-hoo!
Daddy, why does Jon smell like cheap beer? He usually smells like IPA.
So that concludes another season of Pocket Rocket football. I really thought the fifth-year anniversary would be the year. We’ll need to do something to keep our competitive fires burning during the cold winter months… or at least keep the social calendar filled with PR events. Stay tuned, and thanks for playing and putting up with me.
Rookie’s INT sparks rally; PRs advance to semis
The Pocket Rockets are celebrating their 5-year anniversary this season. Four players — Stepha, Mere, Uncle Ron and Vegas — have played dozens of games together over that time and have pretty much seen it all (er, except a championship game). With that as background, it should be noted that the Pocket Rockets may not have played a better or more complete game than in Sunday’s playoff matchup vs. Shopping Cart. Leave it to a rookie, Damian “The D Man” Barry, to make the play of the game.
With the scored tied, 13-13 at the half, the PRs embarked on a long scoring drive to take a 20-13 lead. I can’t remember who scored, though. My apologies. Anyway, Shopping Cart, a squad built of small and fast athletes and a solid quartet of women, marched down the field against the PR zone. Facing a first-and-goal from about the 10-yard line, SC was in great position to tie the score… but Freddie forced the quarterback to throw over the middle where Damain was waiting. The D Man (the D is for defense, no doubt) raced just past the 20-yard line on the return. The PRs were back in business and ready to ice the game.
The first play called for a Vegas run around the left side on a snap from Uncle Ron, but having surrendured several runs to the surprisingly fleet-of-foot QB (Vegas, lest anyone be confused) already, SC opted for soft coverage. A running play would not yield good results. So Steph just went to the line. Nobody knew what would happen next… but it wouldn’t be a run. On the snap, Steph bolts downfield on a deep out… 30 yards later, the PRs have a first down. Later, on second-and-goal, Uncle Ron says his defender is ready to bite on a pump-fake. With Freddie lined up wide left, Ron takes a spot in the slot. Freddie runs his slant and Ron wheels out to the flat…. on the pump, as if on cue, here comes Ron’s defender… and there goes Ronnie behind him. Touchdown PRs! A 1-point conversion to The D Man put the PRs up 27-13 with about 8:00 left.
SC scored with about 3:00 to go to cut the deficit to 27-20, but the PRs were able to run out the clock, lilterally, with a series of hand-offs, fake hand-offs and pitches.
The first half saw strong play by both teams. SC scored methodically on its opening drive, slicing through the PR zone. The PRs countered a few minutes later when Mere beat her defender on the wheel for a 20-yard score. I think Ron got the PAT. After another surgical drive by SC, the PRs marched down the field again… this time Vegas ran it in from the 8 after faking a hand-off to Stepha (who had run for a first-down earlier in the drive). Game ball goes to Damian for his timely interception and a few offensive grabs. The pick, however, really made the difference. With very few exceptions, the PRs played outstanding offense and defense against a good opponent. In addition to our scoring plays, Jackie made quite a few catches out of the backfield for good yards, and defensively we got our hands on a lot of passes. Freddie, as usual, kept a speedy QB under wraps.
Here’s some game footage:
The win vaults the PRs into the semifinals… again. This time against Hey That’s Not My Flag (No. 7 seed) at 2 p.m. at Smith Field this Sunday. In the other semifinal, No Defense (No. 1 seed) plays our friends Beer Factor (No. 5 seed). Nice showing by D-1 East. The championship game will be held at 3 p.m. at Smith.
Afterward, Vegas, Stepha, Uncle Ron, Kell(i,y,?), Mere, Jeff, Freddie, Damian, Jackie and erstwhile Pocket Rocket Keith Borgaro went to the Bus Stop for chicken wings, a chicken salad sandwich, chicken salad club and three turkey clubs (two with sweet potato fries) and several pitchers of Bud Light. Anyway, we overpaid $20, so we’ll save that for next week’s postgame.
Danny Boy is a man now — an old one
Today the Pocket Rockets’ second-best player (according to Freddie) turns 30! Happy Birthday, Danny. He won’t be with us this weekend because he’s competing in some kind of alcohol decathlon on the Cape. The pregame began at the Last Drop early this morning with a few rounds of shots just after midnight… just me, Freddie, the birthday boy and his designated driver Kimberly.
Here’s a few others we can raise a glass to today:
Pat Tillman
Rebecca Romijn
Ethan Hawke
Maria Shriver
Glen Frey
Sally Field
Mike Nichols
Walter “Big Train” Johnson
James Naismith
John Philip Sousa
Y hoops update
The Misplaced Apostrophe’s welcomed The D Man back to Y hoops with a 35-33 come-from-behind triumph over everybody’s favorite opponent, The Fire Breathing Rubber Dukies. Channeling ‘Mad’ Mike, TFBRD were called for two technicals and an intentional foul. The free-throw barrage helped M’A climb back into the game.
In other action, Fig Newton outlasted Lacks Initiative, and Old and In the Way pwned Oblivious.
Election Hangover
Phew. Glad that nonsense is finally over. Leave it to The Onion to put a smile on my face. Here’s a great video.
Crying in their Beer Factor: PRs secure No. 3 seed
The Pocket Rockets, displaying heretofore unseen offensive explosiveness, secured the No. 3 seed in the BSSC Division I playoffs yesterday by rolling up 50 points against previously unbeaten Beer Factor. Last week the PRs hung 48 points on Dumpy Drawers. The PRs will face No. 6 seed Shopping Cart at 11 a.m. at McKinney Park on Sunday, Nov. 8. (Full playoff pairings below.)
The PRs scored on every possession, except the last one (thanks to Jos’s butterfingers), and had an answer for every Beer Factor adjustment in the 50-26 shellacking. Whether it was Danny splitting the D on the post, Mere on the wheel, Steph on the chair, Damian on the deep out, Freddie on the in-cut, Jos and Jackie on crosses, or crafty Vegas on the fake pitch/sneak, Beer Factor had no answer. Even when the designed play broke down, we were able to create space against the defense and find some holes. No doubt a frustrating afternoon for BF.
Defensively, the PRs forced three interceptions (Steph to thwart a late first-half drive; Jos to set up our first score of the second half; and Danny to set up yet another score) and held on fourth-down twice. A game that was 21-12 at the half quickly became 50-12.
While I could award the game ball to several players, Freddie gets it this week. His constant pressure on the speedy southpaw (in other words, nondescript) BF quarterback led to several errant throws — a few of which we picked off. Furthermore, he didn’t complain about being the invisible man on offense for most of the game. He also gave Stepha and Jackie a ride to Kenmore square… such a team player that Freddie.
After the game, me, Jackie, Damian, Freddie, Uncle Ron, Mere and Stepha went to the Green Brier for breakfast and buckets o’beer. Service was slow, but the food was hearty and a good value.
Playoff pairings
Here are the matchups this weekend:
#1 No Defense vs. #8 Hale and Dorr (Go East!)
#4 Mean Machine vs. #5 Beer Factor (Go East!)
#3 Pocket Rockets vs. #6 Shopping Cart (Go East!)
#2 UPS vs. #7 Hey That’s Not My Flag
A thumbnail analysis: The North Division was the weakest (No Defense). The South Division was the toughest (UPS, Mean Machine and Hey That’s Not My Flag). I don’t know anything about any team in our bracket except that Shopping Cart lost to No Defense and UPS beat Mean Machine. I wasn’t much of a scout this year. I may show up early this week to see Mean Machine and No Defense play.
Halloween recap
Mmm… not sure how much of this we ought to relive. I must say Uncle Ron in a chicken costume might have been the funniest thing I saw all night (unfortunately I missed him taking a header down the stairs, which would have ranked as one of the funniest moments of all time). Thanks to Mere and Jeff for hosting yet another smashing party. I also made it up to the Frangies’ on Saturday night. Tony was an Italian chef. Mindy was a pregnant party hostess.
Anyway, here’s what you really want. Pics!
Spicy chicken (pre-fall) and Danny Ballgame.
Dust bunny Kimberly and drunk pirate Kelly. Or is it Kelli? I dunno.
Infatuated Republican Freddie and would-be Madame Vice Prez Jackie.
Two sloppy drunks, er, Rock Star Jos and Mandy as Holly Golightly.
More pics on the way, I’m sure. Stay tuned!
Vote tomorrow
Tomorrow is election day. Vote. Here’s a short educational video. Bear with me. I won’t be able to do this for another four years. And to those who say ‘He can’t win!’ I say, read this. It’s gonna be a rout around the nation and especially in Mass. Vote your conscience.
And here’s a guide to local elections, ballot questions, etc.
