The Heat Is On
By
Rocky D. and Joe McGivney
6/22/12
Summer arrived with a smoking hot vengeance on Wednesday
night as the Rockaway Beach Volleyball League played its 4th week of
games on the scalding sands of Riis Park.
The thermal switch was dialed up to summer numbers as temperatures
clipped past 97. However,
temperature doesn’t matter much to RBVL players; it’s all about the wind or lack
thereof. Did you ever hear of skiers
complaining that it’s too cold out when there are two feet of fresh powder on
the ground? Sands Point lost the
first game to Snotty Yachty’s but came roaring back to secure the next four in
the win column. The fourth game
drained both teams with an overtime final of 24-22.
Steve Kelly is finally starting to play like a 6’5” player.
Chris Reilly’s defense was integral in the four victories and Eddie
showed no residual effects from his broken leg.
The Bungalow Baranhas succumbed to the Comeback Cats 4-1.
Casey said the score didn’t matter since they had a great time and
enjoyed the camaraderie of the
C’Cats. Both teams will become one
at the Mermaid Parade on Saturday.
Connolly’s may have lost all five and Connor may have out dueled Captain Steve-o
but when Steve removed his shirt it was apparent Steve has been in the gym more
than the neophyte Connor.
The Kenosha Kickers took all five from Casino Towing and
were led by the terrific talents of Rachel.
She blocked Rocky’s shot which is pretty amazing considering he has not
been blocked by a woman since last week.
Charlie Brady tried to avoid the sweep by mistakenly and embarrassingly
taking down the net after the fourth game. Obviously,
there is no math on the FDNY applicant entrance exam.
Rocky and Joe tried their best but you
can’t lumber after balls in this league.
Maybe they should go to Sands Point to have their lumbar’s worked on.
This is the first time in league history a player has been described as
lumbering. Somehow it just seems
age appropriate. Kathleen McCarthy
came out of semi retirement to help out Casino and Alana McCarthy was standing
by in case she was needed, too. As
the coin was being flipped John Begley showed up and Alana got the night off.
The Land Sharks were seen feeding on another three to two series win.
It’s getting monotonous.
Patrons at the Blackwater socked away the Corona Light
and the Corona rep, William, is very happy about that turn of events.
He and Kendall (of Plattsburg) were mingling with the crowd at the
Blackwater Bar while dispensing Corona hats and raffle tickets for the coveted
bicycle. James Kalisha was the
lucky winner of this week’s Corona Bicycle but was unable to ride it home due to
the normal size bicycle seat.
Corona Light will continue to raffle off a bike each and every week of the RBVL
season at the sponsoring bar. But
you have to fill the tires with your own air.
Check
www.rbvl.com for photos from week three if you want to see what ref Mike
Peraino really likes about the post-game festivities.
And you mistakenly thought it was the food.
A very strange occurrence transpired at Blackwaters on Wednesday.
The eat-and-run refs actually were seen in the bar five minutes after
their plates were emptied. And they
almost won the bicycle. Katie
Salica was more than up to the task of keeping the crowd well sated behind the
rectangular bar. Sister Leann did her best to keep Katie busy.
Mike Moran was sighted at the Blackwater doing his best impression of Tip
O’Neil. Since Dickie has returned
from his vacation with Murph (TBG) he has traded in his cement shoes for Bruno
Magli loafers. What does that tell
you?
The Blackwater Water Boarders got on the winning track
thanks to the cross-country recruiting effort of John Sica who drove to Pacific
Beach, San Diego to bring back his niece and Goddaughter, Kathleen.
Kath complimented Rita and Christine and was solid in the team’s victory.
John showed no rust from the two week party across the south and helped the
Boarders win 4-1. (And he had enough energy to perform as a guest bartender
Tuesday night at Jameson’s, using all the skills he honed at the Sica Tiki Bar
to please the crowd.)
What is the most feared serve in the RBVL?
Is it the slow knuckle ball Joe Abbracciamento (R.A. Dickey?) throws up
each and every time or the speeding jump serves of the Ocean Division spikers?
Only Coach knows the answer.
Here is the trivia question of the week:
After four weeks of play there is no undefeated team in the RBVL.
Who is it? Answer:
No one. We just told you.
All 74 teams have lost at least once this season.
RBVL Wave Division player (and our President’s son) Alex Moule is making
his second consecutive trip to the Nationals where he will represent Xaverian
High School on the CHSAA All Star team.
Good luck and enjoy this great experience.
The future of the RBVL continues to shine brightly with young players
like Alex.
Tax City Suns of Beaches won 7 games in all of 2011 and
are up to 14 games after four weeks of 2012.
Keep an eye on them.
Following them in the Star group are six teams separated by only 4 points -
Servpro NW Brooklyn, EZ Company, Wii Not Fit, Thai Rock Island, Hamilton
Hardware Hammerheads and Last Call.
Also look at some of the other pennant races as they stand right now.
In the Ocean Division, Gatemate.net, West End Tents, Sullivan and
Galleshaw, Flip Cup All Stars and Freedhand's are all within one game of the
lead. ROCK FAM is 4 games ahead in
the Beach but six teams are bunched behind them and within 4 games of each
other. In the Sun, the Stanii lead
by two over the Land Sharks and the Odd Couples who are ahead of Serves ‘Em
Right and Team Margarita by another two.
It is hard to believe but the Sun Ray Division has seven teams within two
points of each other from 3rd through 9th place.
The Moon standings look like a poker straight with Rathbones at 14, the
Social Yachties at 13, Rockaway Seafood Company at 12, William J. Lachner
Painters at 11 and the Arverne Avengers at 10.
If a team’s signed roster was not handed in last week, they may have played
Wednesday night but they did not gain any points.
Their match was scored as a forfeit.
So if your team won some games and did not get credit in the updated
standings, you better call Patty ASAP to investigate.
Your roster may be missing.
The RBVL Committee told you they don’t like chasing people for the proper
paperwork and they mean it. For
everyone else who took care of this important matter, thanks.
Keep up the good work. All
six people on your RBVL Committee are willing to help you with any problems that
come up; just take care of matters in a respectful manner.
For new players, the RBVL Committee is made up of President Patty Moule
(The Stanii), Steve Gifford (Connolly’s), Denise Brunner (Thai Rock Island),
John Sica (Blackwater Water Boarders) and Rocky and Joe Abbracciamento (Casino
Towing). You can find them every
week, playing ball on the beach.
They are always available to help out on
any matters and answer your questions but especially:
Steve and Rocky for equipment issues, Denise and Joe for referee items,
John, Rocky and Joe for articles for the Wave, Denise and Patty for uniforms and
schedules. As always, if you have
any questions before then please call Patty at 917-613-0908.
(Be sure to call between 10 AM and 9 PM.
Remember, Patty has a life outside of VB, too.)
Or just check our website at www.rbvl.com.
You'll find the answers to most of your questions there, not to mention
pretty pictures and funny stories.
See you on the beach!
