RBVL Awards Coveted Sweatshirts

By Joe McGivney                                                                   9/7/12

The Rockaway Beach Volleyball League concluded its 2012 campaign on Friday evening, 8/31, by awarding their coveted championship sweatshirts to the nine division winners.  A net was set up on 127th Street for pick-up volleyball games and drinks and pizza were ordered to help honor the victors.  A few folks played ball by most just grabbed their sweatshirts and ran, which was OK.  What’s not OK is not sending someone from your team to get the shirts.  Only one team fit that bill this season.  But they recovered by showing up Saturday to take home their rewards.  Local weather has finally cleared so everyone can return to their normal daily life, bumping, setting and spiking to their heart’s content.  (Or until the snows arrive.)  Once again, Chris from It’s All Good Tees worked OT to make this all happen on time.  Every year he comes through for us and we can’t thank him enough.  Congratulations to the nine champions of the different divisions of the RBVL.  They worked hard to get to the top of the pack.  Here are the 2012 champs:

DIVISION

2012 CHAMPION

Ocean

West End Tents

Ocean Breeze

Kenosha Kickers

Wave

Miley Quality Home Improvement

Beach

ROCK FAM

Boardwalk

The Beach Bums

Sun

The Stanii

Sun Ray

Notorious D.I.G.’s

Moon

William J. Lachner Painters

Star

Hamilton Hardware Hammerheads

 

The mood is always both festive and bittersweet at the end of a season as the joy of another terrific year is offset by the sadness that many friends go their separate ways over the next ten months, not seeing each other quite as regularly anymore.  Thank you all for making the season a great success and making the playoffs one of the RBVL's most spectacular events ever.  Your camaraderie and friendship elevate the league to heights no other league enjoys.  Thanks to Corona Light who provided the team uniforms (and some frosty beverages and bicycles) in 2012 and thanks to all the sponsors who contributed financially.  Your help is essential.  Commissioner Patty traditionally concludes the 2012 season with her final thoughts: “To all RBVL Players, Friends, Family, Referees, Sponsors and Future RBVL Players, Here goes: As I get older, the season just keeps going faster.  The RBVL is my second family and it gives me so much pleasure to see my son Alex playing, my daughter Lauren reffing and little Juliana keeping score.  I look around and see all different families of all ages playing together and it gives me such a good feeling of contentment.  I want to thank all the players, refs and fans who make the RBVL such a wonderful experience to be a part of.  It's magical.  As always, I want to thank my RBVL committee members who continue to amaze me.  As we age, they are more hard working then ever (OK most of them are retired now) and they truly are one of the most cohesive groups I ever had the pleasure of working with.  They are a well oiled machine that improves as the years go on.  (Is the oil actually Ben Gay?)  They are: Denise Brunner - treasurer, refs, scheduling court assignments, sweatshirt orders - she really is the brains of this outfit; I am just a figure head.  She amazed me by doing much of her RBVL work via the internet from Texas.  Rocky Dorogoff - equipment meister, cub reporter, playoff social organizer - he tirelessly takes on many tasks.  The same goes for Steve Gifford who runs that equipment room like a tight ship.  Look out next year as he creates new ways to examine those bags. No one better be rude to our Stevie or they will have to answer to me.  Joe McGivney - cub reporter, email guru and rules chairman.  He continues to be my voice of reason and "right hand man" though he has gotten a little less patient with unsportsmanlike behavior as he ages.  And last but certainly not least, John Sica - web meister and cub reporter.  He is a “nice guy" and just wants everyone to be happy.  He makes it look so easy.  I’m looking forward to seeing you around town.  Have a great year.” 

Just because the league is officially over doesn’t mean that the volleyball games must stop.  In a short while, Aviator Sports will start up their Fall indoor league, in which many of our players take part.  As always, if you have any volleyball questions 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 in 2013!  Practice week is scheduled for 5/22/13.