RBVL Concludes Regular Season

By Rocky D. and Joe McGivney                                                                                8/9/13

The Rockaway Beach Volleyball League completed the 2013 regular season Wednesday night and played under some weather that could have gone either way and thankfully went either way but not to Riis Park.  That’s the least that could happen after Sandy.  Suncycle Fitness Island led by Jack Brunner battled the wind to take two games with the good old boys club.  Unfortunately, Pat was never initiated. The game revolved around serving but isn’t that the case with most games?  Suncycle Fitness did not want to show their true hand but they will display all on Saturday. Many players will become spectators if they really display all on Saturday.  Get your cameras ready.  They are not the oldest team in the league but they are getting there.  Once upon a time, Joe and Rocky used to say that and now they are the oldest team in the league.   Rodgers Irish Setters and Suncycle Fitness would like to give a shout out to the entire RBVL committee for another great season.  Thanks again so much.  Six and half year old Adam Bishop Jr. sustained a toe injury and simultaneously yelled, “Dad, I will never play football again.”  Several members of the team, hovering around a hydration station, suggested taking Adam Jr. over to Casino Tow and Auto Body for repairs but less hydrated minds whisked him off to the hospital.  Best wishes to the half pint man for a speedy recovery and remember whatever you hear, “Don’t toe (sic) the line!”  It is very likely that Brave Adam will play football again.

Honorable mention goes to Kerry Douglas for filling in and leading Bryans Auto to a 3 to 2 victory.  Kerry fills in like a Broadway understudy and a grave yard worker.  Edison Place and The Stanii played long close sets and Edison took the match three to two.  It was a great job by the Stanii but a greater job by Edison.  The new Mrs. Richie Conklin on the Stanii wants to thank her teammates for the white roses and Lennox picture frame, which she is mandated to place a picture of the volleyball team in lieu of her new husband.  That is RBVL Rule # 324.51-55.  (You may call Ed and Jenny to confirm.)  The Sleaze Fries arrived for tonight’s game solidly in first place but by the end of the night had slid to third. Yes, position night can be a cruel mistress.  And so can a 0-5 shutout by your competitor, Diggin ‘n Swiggin.  The team could not even win one for Tom Malloy’s birthday.  Check the record books to see the last time Steve Collins finished in the cellar in any division.  You are probably still checking because it never happened.  Someone asked noted child authority, Rocky, when babies usually begin talking.  He replied when they are two years old or in Joe’s case, two days old.  He hasn’t stopped since.  If only professional yapping were an Olympic sport.  Senior ref Coach added a nice touch to the festivities by presenting Bobby Fash and the Beach House team with a lovely bottle of “Beach House” wine.  They planned to open it to celebrate their championship this season but they hit a little snag by not making the playoffs.  Hopefully both the Beach House and Oceans 12 will agree to play each other in the annual Fun Bowl for teams that miss the playoffs.  You can miss the playoffs but you don’t have to miss the party on Saturday.

The Mighty Boosh and Casino Towing played for the third week in a row in their position week battle in the Ocean Breeze Division.  The first time out Casino won 3-2, followed by a Boosh 3-2 victory in meeting number two.  Casino took the rubber match 4-1 on the final week of the RBVL regular season and just missed moving into 3^rd pace.  The Mighty Boosh held onto 3^rd via the head-to-head tiebreaker against JG Electric.  Otherwise, a new record would have been set for four consecutive matches between the same two opponents.  The squads were already getting incestuous, sharing one cooler and huddling together on time outs.  After the match both teams raced each other to the ocean for a group swim.  Several teams had previously clinched the regular season title in their divisions – Freedhand’s, Bryan’s Auto Accelerators, Jameson’s and ServePro NW Brooklyn.  Five others joined them on the last night of action – the Big Mahooshkas, Sands Point PT, It’s All Good Tees, Diggin n Swiggin and Tax City Suns of Beaches.  Thanks to the Rockaway Gliders, Mary Edwards and her dad, John, the Cookie Monster for the buckets they donated to remove rocks from the fields.  They are a big help.  Dickie Flanagan out-trumped the quote master TBG by tearfully calling the last night of action beautiful but bittersweet.  Players had to be dragged off the beach but they knew a fun night at the BHYC awaited them afterward.

Head-to-Head tiebreakers were used to determine playoff positions in six different divisions.  In the Ocean, Flip Cup tossed Gatemate 3-2 on 7/24 and Miley beat Casa Bella 4-1 on 6/19.  The Ocean Breeze saw the Mighty Boosh edge JG Electric 3-2 on 7/10, contrary to the memories of everyone on the beach.  You’re not getting any younger, people.  Connolly’s beat the Mormon Hitting Hands 4-1 in the Wave and Epstein’s nosed out the Stanii 3-2 to win those tie-breakers.  Two divisions had multiple games between tied teams.  In the Sun Ray, LeGreann beat Dalton’s 3-2, 3-2 and lost 2-3 for an overall 8-7 lead while Rogers Irish Setters beat EZ Company twice by scores of 3-2.  So much for positioning; now it’s time to play for the sweatshirt.  The W. J. Lachner Painting team wants to thank their sponsors Benita and Billy for their sponsorship and support.  The team would like to wish a Happy Birthday to Conor McHale.  He is still serving them right down the middle.  The “bestest” and “moistest” food of the year, great music, great service and the biggest turnout of 2013 added up to the best party of the season.  Kudos to Mary Morgan and John McCann of the Belle Harbor Yacht Club for putting on a great and ample spread as well as a great time, another job well done.

Due to unusual circumstances this year we could not get uniforms here this season.  We apologize and appreciate your understanding regarding this matter.  Next year things will be back to normal.  Over the years some unruly, scornful, impolite, semi-dastardly people, who shall remain nameless (because they don’t exist), have accused the RBVL of not giving a shirt.  Well, after two decades of whispered finger pointing it turns out that finally, these people, for one year, are right.   2013 will go down as the year that the RBVL did not give a shirt.  To borrow a phrase from Lemony Snickert, “It was due to a series of unfortunate events,” directly and indirectly related to the SS Sandy.    But the good news is that next year we will all be tanked top upped!   Next year’s pre-sanctioned motto is, “Dig our silkscreen in two fourteen.” 

Remember that Saturday is a daytime event and many of you bring friends and guests.  Please advise them of the no bottle rule.  We appreciate the great effort made this year and just want to stress the extra importance of this rule for this Saturday.  Last year we had a couple of temporarily lost children. Any unattended children we find will be given a large cup of espresso and a stray cat to take home.   All six people on your RBVL Committee are willing to help you with any problems that come up tomorrow during the big final day.  And make sure to check the website and Rockaway Wave next week for more pretty pictures and funny stories. 

 The RBVL 2013 Playoffs will be played by all divisions on Saturday, August 10^th at 10:30 a.m. sharp.  10:30 is both the start time and the forfeit time for game #1.  Nets will be available for set up and practice at 9:30 a.m. and must be up by 10 a.m.  All matches are best of 5 games to 21 points – win by two points and no cap.  Round 1 - 10:30 a.m.: 1^st place vs. 8^th place, 2^nd place vs. 7^th place, 3^rd place vs. 6^th place and 4^th place vs. 5^th place.  Round 2 - 12:00 p.m.:  3^rd/6^th winner vs. 2^nd/7th winner and 4^th/5^th winner vs. 1^st/8^th winner.  Round 3 - 2:00 p.m.: CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.   Some sandwiches will be provided for lunch.  Please bring any other beverages you require but remember that officially, alcohol and bottles are not allowed on the beach.  Make sure that you bag and clear all of your garbage from the beach when you leave.  A rainout on Saturday is very rare.  We may be under the buildings for a while if there is lightning but we are likely to play through the rain.  With 40 6-ft. heroes ordered, 37 referees contracted and a DJ it is very hard to postpone.  Of course, check your e-mails and the website for updates.  The RBVL season ends tomorrow, August 10^th.  Is that possible?  Is the season really only one day from being over?  Say it ain’t so, Joe.  I’m getting verklempt! 

See you on the beach, one last time!