wk7

Multitudes of players were grateful that the league foghorn returned this week. Last week’s rainout with screeching whistles did not do the trick. This week there was no rain but the foghorn summoned the entire league to leave the beach and march over to the highway and service road where the Wounded Warriors parade wound through the Rockaway’s. Several hundred Rockaway Beach Volleyball League players stopped their games and scurried over to greet the procession of cars, motorcycles and fire engines. Folks were wearing red, white and blue and carrying American and Wounded Warrior flags. Afterward, many wondered if the small gesture meant much. The answer came quickly in an e-mail from organizer, Buffalo Joe Gajewski, who thanked the RBVL for making the parade extra special this year. Great job, RBVL! Earlier in the evening it looked like a storm was approaching but the Warriors seemed to put an end to that idea. The ever present wind made play tougher but not impossible and the matches were played with gusto.

The wind was a tough opponent and so were the Harbor Light Sandhogs but Wine with Sue Island prevailed 3-2 in a squeaker. Denise came in from Texas and never stepped on the court to bump, set or spike but still led the team with her managerial skills and willed them to victory. And now a word from our sponsor. You can always visit Sue’s kiosk at the concession stands on Saturday between 6 and 10 PM on 97^th Street. Tell her you are in the RBVL. She’d love to see you. The Stanii got off the schneid with their first win of the year, a 5-0 shutout of Ocean’s 12. (Where have you gone, Rick Keim?) The team is starting their playoff push, led be the sweet, soft sets of Reenie, Debbie and Patty and the weekly split by Maf. There were nuts everywhere and the Stanii were in stitches. The Stanii have scored 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0 and 5 so this 5-0 win was as expected as Germany’s 7-1 trouncing of Brazil in soccer. Here is the semifinal World Cup update: Germany 7 - Brazil 1. Ouch! Argentina 0 – Holland 0. Argentina wins on penalty kicks. Sunday afternoon a World Champion will be crowned and most Americans will not watch or care. Wake up, people, soccer is the next volleyball.

The Big Mahooshkas were led by Chris and beat Pico 4-1 and then stayed around for doubles action with George, Leo and Rob afterward, true volleyball fanatics. Kiss My Ace won another 2 games against Dalton’s and they seem to be on their way, getting the hang of this volleyball thing. Notorious Uma’s Pumas have won 4 matches this year with 4, 4, 3, and 4 points. They have lost 3 matches this year with 0, 0 and 0 points. Does the word erratic come to mind? It’s All Good lost to Lachner Painters 2-3. Bugsy says that their unique lineup situation calls for saving TBG and Cement Shoes for games 6 and 7 each Wednesday night. They will be well rested for the playoffs since the schedule only calls for 5 games each Wednesday. It harkens back to Murph’s early college days at Canisius. He was the freshest student on campus since he didn’t attend classes. However, he did hold down a full time job, which made him the dorm MVP since he was the only “college student” who could afford beer and chips. It took two full years before anyone realized he lived at Canisius but was not enrolled at Canisius.

What would Frank Abbracciamento say about the sorry state of affairs that has befallen his once great championship team? Would he send a tuxedo’d waiter to the beach with cases of Heineken to quench the players’ thirst as he did in their heyday? Or would he clean house and start over new? Winning one game each week is not up to the lofty ideals of this once great franchise. And thank goodness for the ladies or there wouldn’t even be one win each week. Coach Rocky may have something up his sleeve. Watch for him to make some key moves in the next few weeks and spark Casino Auto Body. Elizabeth Ann Frances Cleary was voted best RBVL Captain ever. And, surprisingly enough, that vote was by her own team. And don’t make light of that. Many teams would not vote for their current captains. Keep up the good work. A Quinnipiac survey registered only 13% of the current 74 teams as happy with their captains. Another Quinnipiac survey showed 13% of the teams in the league are currently in first place. Coincidence? Not likely.

Mr. Happy got a haircut to look good as the host of the after-party. And then he took a million photos. (Check the website.) Karen deeply regrets missing her own team’s party at Connolly’s for the first time ever. She was off to Maine first thing in the morning and couldn’t swing by.

Nobody saw the pig roasting at Connolly’s but everyone saw the pork meat pulled into large, delicious mounds - right next to the BBQ chicken, baked beans, cole slaw and macaroni salad. It made for a scrumptious indoor barbecue in Rockaway Beach, courtesy of the Portable Pig Man, whose motto is, “Have smoke, will travel.” He had it and he traveled to Connolly’s with it. Well done. DJ Matt Finley from Motion Music Management spun great tunes all night and had the girls (and Vinny) dancing up a storm. Tara and Vinny were very happy and so were their dancing Pharrell feet. How come a party breaks out whenever they are out and about? Rusty who? The Baranha’s rule.

Another Quinnipiac survey confirms that every guy in the league thinks he’s better than he really his. And that’s in every division per the dozen ladies that stopped by the cub reporter’s table. If you post a video on YouTube it doesn’t go away – ever! Search for Rockaway Beach Volleyball / Disorder in the House and you will find an old video compilation highlight film from years ago. John Sica’s fine cinematography holds up well, much better than the skills and physiques of some very familiar (but much older) players. The St. Joseph’s University crowd secretly met in Rockaway over the holiday weekend but their movements were carefully monitored and reported to league executives. Be careful, Kristen and Megan. We have agents working everywhere. By the way, earlier we asked who the original seven teams in the RBVL were. So far, the Beach House, Raintower, Fort Wade and Blackwater had been mentioned, which left three missing. This week two more teams were discovered – the nefarious Exercise Club and Hercules Exterminators. (Remember that one, CB.) That leaves one team missing. Whoever knows, speak now or forever hold your peace.

As a reminder, here is the RBVL rule on scoring for rainouts. If matches have begun and are stopped due to weather, the completed games stand. Partial games will only count if one team has scored at least 11 points. Week 6 had many incomplete matches so wins and losses in the standings no longer add up to the same amounts. Some teams have played more or less games than others, depending how you look at it. Is the glass half full or half empty? Nets are being returned pretty promptly each week. Do not let up on this important job. You have made Patty and Steve very happy campers. They don’t ask for much so let’s do this for them. A now an administrative reminder: Every year of expansion made filling referee spots tougher and tougher. Thank goodness for the many youthful refs who have stepped in along the way to help us make ends meet. Now the league is stretched to its limit and finding enough refs each week is almost impossible. Be prepared to have a week where there are no refs in your division. If that happens, play the games hard, with sportsmanship and report your scores when finished.

After all, everyone just wants to play volleyball. Captains and players are reminded that they can have team items entered in the weekly Wave article by showing up at the sponsor bar or by e-mailing Joe at jmcgivney2@nyc.rr.com by 11 PM on Wednesday night. The RBVL has a Facebook page and, if you like it, you will receive timely updates, whoever you are, captain or not. If you have any questions please call Patty Moule at 917-613-0908. (Call between 10 AM and 9 PM.)

See you on the beach!