The Plight of being a GM

Being the GM of so many things has advantages and drawbacks. While the advantages obviously out-weigh the drawbacks, it doesn't necessarily make life easier. But more often than not, the payoff is worth it.

I've been asked, on more than one occasion, to give the Blackburn Mens' Fastball Association's web-page a make-over. The current site is technically sound (Ie the programming is solid, there's auto-updating for scores and standings and team rosters) but the site's overall look is far from what it could be, to be generous.

They initially nominated me for the role of League webmaster a couple years ago, but I rejected it. Knowing only HTML and photoshop (for images, etc) I told them I didn't have the skill set to maintain SQL and ASP programming, which the previous (and current) web master used for the auto-updating. they enquired again the following year, but with a kid along the way I politely said no thanks again, although there was this itch, this part of me that knew it wouldn't take much to give the site a major make-over.

This year, after once again letting them know I didn't really have the time to commit to it, I said no thanks, so the league attempted to hire an outside guy to do it. When that fell through (not sure how), the league decided to form a committee to work with the old web master to come up with something new.

After hearing this, my itch increased, knowing that there was a committee being formed for something I was fairly certain I could do on my own, as long as the old web master could chip in for all the technical programming. Especially considering they asked me to redesign the League's logo, and I was able to do that successfully. Well, 1 e-mail later, and I was the new web committee, lol.

Rebuilding the site hasn't been too time consuming. I've been working on it while the playoffs play in the background, and during breaks at work. The old web master has been quite accommodating, and it shouldn't be too long before we launch. So far, I'm quite pleased with what we've done.

But it has, like GMing anything, been a tricky balancing act. I try not to let me hobbies interfere too much with home life. Family always comes first, so I'm trying to make fastball my only scheduled extra-curricular activity in the summer. Twice a week is a lot when working fulltime, and there's 2 sets of parents to visit on the weekends! So fitting in rebuilding a website was a tricky task, but one that's worked out well so far. Hopefully the old web master will want to be the one to maintain it.

M@

PS, I will post a link to the site once it's launched

Spring Training Begins for The Rogues

Well, the snow has melted, the sun's come out, and all my other sports are done. That can only mean one thing, it's ball season! Far and away my favourite sport to play, fastball has been a part of my life I was dragged into it kicking and screaming by my dad way back in 1991. This year represents my 19th year playing fastball, my 11th as a member of The Rogues, the team I founded in 1999.

For a complete history and roster for The Rogues, check out our website:

http://roguematt.5u.com/rogues

This Saturday is our first practice of the season. The practice takes place at noon, and it's reported to be getting up to 26 degrees. We follow up the practice with our first game on Sunday May 3rd at 9pm against Exit A's, the team that swept us in our last 2 playoff series' in 2007 and 2008.

This year we're losing two players in Chris Amos and Kevin O'Grady. Kev comes back in 2010, but "Famous" retired from fastball after last season. His spot in the roster is being filled by a former teammate's of mine (And Amos's) Chris Fauteux, who if I remember correctly, gave Amos the nickname Famous, back in 1993. But I digest.

Our team's issue has always been hitting, so this season it's what I hope to work on mostly in practice. There's no one on our team that can't improve their numbers this year.

Anyways, with dodgeball and hockey now over, look for regular Rogues updates over the course of the summer. Full game summaries will appear on the main webpage, and I may repost them here as well. We play 24 regular season games, plus a minimum of 2 playoff games. Makes for a long season, but a great one. Even when we only go 5-15-1 like last year :(

Here's looking to improve on last season's record, and make it past the first round of the playoffs!

GAME SUMMARY: Chuck Norrii win the Bronze!

FINAL SCORE:
Chuck Norrii: 15
Blue Balls: 9

It wasn't the ideal way the end the season, but ina way it was. We got to play our arcyh nemesis / good friends The Blue Balls, and we got revenge on our previous loss, with a convincing 15-9 victory.

The game got off to slow start as we lost our first 2 games, and we were only 6 players to begin with, as Laura, Mandy, Tom and Holly were all unable to make it. So Joyce, Karen, Alex, Matt, Nick and Sim represented Chuck Norrii and stepped up their game after dropping the first 2.

Overall a very fun game, with some absolute wars, and frustrating games vs Dickon and Duane and company. Amanda was able to get me out twice when I couldn't catch her throws, and Shannon was a dodging machine, as I only got her out once. Dickon caught my throws 3 times in 1 game, a game that was still close to the end! But I got him a couple times too, so it was all good.

So dodgeball's done, hockey's done, the NCPT wraps up this Friday, so all's left is the beginning of ball!! Write up coming very shortly....

M@

GAME DAY: Chuck Norrii vs Blue Balls (For the Bronze)

Well, it all ends tonight. Ball hockey ended a couple weeks ago, and Chuck Norrii take to the gym floor tonight for the last time this season. After finishing 4th and making the A Pool, the Norrii lost their semi-final game and will now play their good friends the Blue Balls in what should be a spirited contest for the bronze medal.

The Blue Balls, if you're not a regular reader of this blog, are primarily made up of former Chuck Norrii teammates when we were known as the Spoilers. Shan Fitzpatrick, Dickon and Amanda Sandford and Duane Nearing are 4 of the best dodgeball players out there, and their teammates are no slouches either.

The Norrii may be in deep tonight as 4 of their regulars are unable to play. Laura, Holly, Tom, and Mandy are all out of the line-up, meaning the game falls on the shoulders of Karen, Joyce, Matt, Nick, Sim and Alex to carry the load. No spares. Unless the GM can find someone last minute to play in the 6pm game. With the prospect of no spares tonight, suddenly my pizza lunch isn't seeming like such a good idea....

Getting My Ducks In A Row

So, the Keeper Pool has ended for another season, and I, for the first time, did not finish in last place. I snagged 11th out of 12, which MAY end up being a blessing in disguise. You see, our keeper pool employs a draft lottery system, which has repeatedly screwed me every year. I've picked 2nd overall, 4th overall and 4th overall in my 3 drafts, never having the top spot. Hopefully, having finished in 11th will undo the string of bad luck. We'll wait and see.

In the meantime, my work did a playoff draft, and so now I must shift my focus away from the keeper and all the Blackhawks I have, and now concentrate on my new team. And somehow, for whatever reason, I ended up Duck hunting. I didn't mean too, it just kinda happened. There's 7 people in the pool, I had 5th overall pick, snake order. 12 Rounds. Took Ovechkin 5th overall, and Hossa on the way back int he 2nd round. Getzlaf was available in the 3rd round, so I grabbed him, and took Elias in the 4th.

Now at this point I wanted to keep it to 4 teams, but all the rest of the Caps, Wings, and Devils were mostly gone. (Devils still had Langenbrunner, Zajac and Gionta, but I figured no one would take them in round 5....I was right). So I took a gamble, and figured if the Ducks can somehow beat the Sharks in round #1, I may be in the clear for winning this thing. So I took Corey Perry. Then Bobby Ryan.

I then took Chris Kunitz, not because he used to be a Duck, but because he was a less obvious Penguin who could garner me a shitload of points if things go well in Pittsburgh, which I think may happen. I took Holmstrom in the 8th round, to the tune of a couple of collective sighs from some people who either forgot about him, or were hoping to take him soon afterwards.

Then I took my Devils. Langenbrunner and Gionta. Had to flip a coin between Gionta and Mike Cammalleri in Calgary, as he was still available, and could be a huge point getter if the Flames get past Chicago, a realistic goal, IMO. Well, I didn't need to flip a coin because Camallerri was mine in the 11th round, and I took Scotty Niedermayer in the last round to round out the Duck contingent. No one took Selanne.

So, my hope truthfully lies in Anaheim as exactly 1/4 of my team plays for the Ducks. With a co-worker taking mostly Sharks, it's him or me lying in a pool of blood after round #1, but that's the way it goes in these things. More to come after some games have been played....

GAME DAY: Chuck Norrii vs Hit & Run (A Pool Semi-Final)

Tonight at 6pm Chuck Norrii (6-4) take to the gym floor against the best team in the division, Hit & Run (9-1).

The top 4 teams in the division make the A Pool. This will be Chuck Norrii's second consecutive A-side Finish. (4th Consecutive if you count The Spoilers, made up of approx 50% Chucks). If we win tonight, we move on to play the winner of the First Crusaders (8-1-1) and The Blue Balls (8-2) (the other 50% of The Spoilers). That game, for the Tuesday Dodgeball Championship, would take place the following week.

So either way, there's 2 dodgeball games left, tonight's Semi Final, and next week's Gold or Bronze game.

We've got a full squad tonight, 9 players, 5 girls, 4 guys, as Alex is still out with a jammed finger he injured in a game 2 weeks ago. Both Matt and Laura will be playing in the same game for the first time this season.

Hit & Run will prove to be a tough test as they sport a strong record and have the best +/- in the league, but the Norrii have the spychological advantage, being the only team to beat them this year!

Ahh, playoffs....

M@

GAME SUMMARY: Sweat Hogs season comes to an end

FINAL SCORE:
Punishers 5
Sweat Hogs 3

A tough battle, close til the very end, but just short of a big win. The Hogs matched the Punishers goal for goal, but fell just short in the end. An empty netter in the last minute sealed the deal.

The Hogs put up the first goal of the game, as Dom Peluso wired one home for the 1-0 lead. The Punishers battled back and took a 2-1 lead, but Barton tied things up by the break.

In the second half, the Hogs fell behind again, but Pat managed to tie things up at 3 with a nice shot from the point, finding the top corner. The Hogs fought hard, but fell into some penalty trouble, as a late penalty kill resulted in another Punishers goal, and that was all she wrote. A late scramble in front of the Punishers net almost resulted in a goal, but the ball bounced away from the hog forwards. The Punishers scored an empty netter to shut the door.

All in all a great season depsite a 5-15 record. Now that we're accustomed to the gym and a different system, next year should be a better year. Hopefully all you Sweat Hogs ready this spend the summer out jogging, or on the treadmill. Remember, salads are our friend! See you in September!