Home of the Pocket Rockets

Worst. Season. Ever.

November 15, 2009 at 3:58 pm Leave a comment

The numbers don’t lie: 2 wins, 5 losses. The worst season in Pocket Rockets history. So I guess we accomplished something.

Behind those numbers are countless mistakes (drops, imprecise routes, terrible throws, poor coverage, miscommunication, bad angle pursuit, yadda, yadda), some unlucky bounces and inconsistent officiating. That said, we were one play away from the No. 4 seed in the Gold playoffs… and this was the toughest league in recent memory if not ever since we began playing six years ago. Keep in mind, Hey That’s Not My Flag, the team that beat us last week, was the champion of this league one year ago (another game I think we should have won, sigh).

I don’t like rehashing losses, but this one was pretty cut-and-dried: The opposing QB outplayed me. He ran well, threw well and called the right plays. I didn’t run, threw OK and didn’t call enough of the right plays. I give them credit for being a smarter team… They stopped us twice in the first half. We adjusted, but it was too late. We dug too big a hole in the first half.

Looking at the big picture, we need to do two things if we’re going to contend for a D-I title (no, were not moving down… I’ll retire first):

1. play smarter
2. get in shape

To the first point: Mean Machine is a consistent winner not because it has the best athletes, but it does play smart. It commits few turnovers and the QB knows how to exploit a defense. I’m impressed that they are all on the same page most of the time. The only way we’re going to get there is to talk football. Ask questions during the game… after the game… at The Drop after basketball. Watch games together. We’ve had relatively the same team for a few years now so there’s no excuse. We should be thinking with one mind. There should be no mystery to how or why we’re doing something. If there’s confusion, we’ve got a problem.

To the second point: We need to be 100%. In a good league, the margin for error is slim. If we’re out of breath for one play or get dinged and can’t run at full speed for one play… we’re doomed. Our competition is too good.

To both of these points: What are YOU prepared to do? Are you willing to do it The Chicago Way? Because I am.

Postseason Banquet and Awards

We WILL have a postseason team banquet, although I considered not doing it because we were so lousy. But we’ve done it two years in a row now and they’ve both been a hoot, so let’s do it and try to generate some good karma for spring. I don’t know when it will be yet, but it will be AFTER Dec. 8.

As for the awards, I’ll be posting them here the week before the banquet. Don’t forget to vote!

Soccer: Bitchiest sport in the world

As promised, here’s what I can only assume is typical soccer behavior. No wonder Hue likes it so much.

Rhode Island high school girls’ soccer… plus some authentic hooliganism in the stands.

Here are some ‘men’ proving that bitchiness is not only restricted to blonde females.

Heaven help the world if I ever reproduce, but I do not look forward to moments like this. I assume the guy congratulating the goalie is the opposing coach.

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