week two

The Rockaway Beach Volleyball League finished week two and in this era of parity, no team is undefeated and only two teams are winless. Let’s go IFMA’s! Let’s go Kiss My Ace! Get on the victory board this week. The pennant races should be fun and exciting in 2014. The nine divisions of different levels of play in the RBVL battled Wednesday night and the weather was absolutely perfect for playing volleyball, cloudy, no sun, no wind and cool. Win five, lose five, whatever your team did it was definitely a lot more pleasant weather-wise then last week’s frolic in the frost. Last week witnessed a new phenomena: Global Colding(sic). The RBVL happily celebrates its silver anniversary this season with “twenty fifth anniversary season” noted on league uniforms. They may become collector’s items like Mickey Mantle’s rookie baseball card.

Casino Auto Body took on the Mighty (revamped) Boosh and took the first four spearheaded by Lauren and Sarah with the Sunshine Boys, Joe and Rocky, occupying a large areas of sand. As always, Charlie Brady provided the intensity and energy. The Boosh made every game close led by Alison Bagley and her band of merry young men, save John Maroney. John is merry and a man but not so young any more. Casino Auto Body emergency girl #2, Trish Kelly, was not called upon to play but made a rare appearance at Rogers Irish House. When questioned about her unusual role of “emergency girl” which means only being called up to avoid forfeit she opined, “They also serve who only sit and wait.” I have never actually seen anyone sit and serve but serve on sister. Rocky served a few points opening night but came back for a full night of spikes and reverse flippers (Kids, do not attempt this shot on your own.) during week two. The legend made his presence felt in Casino’s 4-1 win over the Mighty Boosh.

Billy Collins went up to block a spike attempt against Leaney Tolan and subsequently got himself spiked, a most emasculating situation. After the “incident” Billy was seen shaking his head and mumbling; “What was I thinking?” Leaney and Mary Beth played all five games. Did I hear someone say Grace?

The crowd that made it back to Rogers enjoyed the Guinness and juke box but the Ranger game seemed to have siphoned off some of the revelers. The Kings is dead; long live the king, King Henrich! Host bar team, Rogers Irish House Setters, defeated the Arverne Avengers three to two. The games were all close, all clean, all good, not to be confused with It’s All Good. Roger’s is off to a good start in their quest to repeat their division championship. They will have to kick it up a notch (sorry Emerald) since they were moved up to a different weight class.

Many RBVL players are in the Final Four of the Aviator indoor Spring Volleyball season which finishes up tonight with the semi-final matches at 7 PM followed by the championship game at 8:30 PM. The Flying Tigers take on the Nice Guys and Jabronies battle the Freaky Tiki All Stars in the first round with the winners advancing. These four teams were only separated by 3 points after 50 games, setting up one of the most evenly matched playoffs in recent years. Win or lose, it will be easy to find the Nice Guys, who now sport pink socks to match their pink uniforms. Thanks, Brian.

How many weeks in a row can TBG come up with a priceless quote that uses a synonym for a type of wind or breeze? First there was zephyr, then sirocco, what’s next? Here we go, there was only a wisp of breeze in the air at Riis Park and they called that wind Mariah as It’s All Good nipped Kobeyaki Got Kills 3-2. Pat Goldberg’s Sun division championship guarantee is still looking OK but there is a long way to go. Re: Kirby Korner, Cubby Cove - Cubby who? At least Kirby has a legitimate reason for being absent.

If anyone finds a brand new King of the beach ball with the name G. Sullivan Beach 139^th please drop it off at the office. Pico had all of its players and took five from Kiss My Ace. Good attendance pays off. Rusty is scratching his head, wondering where he went wrong when he can’t find an RBVL reporter after his match and his lovely bride Theresa ends up on TV saying sensible and important things. Lachner Painters and It’s All Good are the only two teams in the RBVL with their own Public Relations reps. The deadline (June 1^st) for additional uniforms has passed so do not call, e-mail, fax, text, tweet or smoke signal any more orders. Ten new net systems have been ordered. Let us know if the net you recently used is in need of replacement. This way Steve can focus on which nets to replace first. Welcome back to all of the returning sponsors and to the newest sponsors of RBVL teams. The league would not flourish without your financial support and is very grateful for your help. On an administrative note, the RBVL has gone “green” and the Rules and 2014 Schedules are posted on the website. This saves the printing of thousands of pages of copies. St. Francis De Sales Father’s Day (6/15) Beach Mass will be celebrated on 129^th St. at 10:30 AM. Bring your own chairs and please arrive by 10:15 AM.

SIGNED rosters are overdue. Hand them in to Patty on Court #1 Wednesday night. If an individual player or two has not signed your submitted roster, send them over to see Patty on Court #1; they can add their signature to the team roster form. Captains who have not handed in signed rosters are late and must take care of this duty immediately. Teams who have not submitted rosters will not receive the points they thought they won on the beach. The points will be forfeited to your opponent. 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.

Wednesday night, June 25th, is The Cabana's night for the RBVL party. So get ready for something completely different. The Cabana is located at 1034 W. Beech St. Long Beach, NY 11561 (the corner of Georgia & W. Beech Streets). And the RBVL will be providing a large coach bus with a bathroom for anyone interested in making the trip. If you've never been there it's a really fun place with Mexican-American food and lethal frozen margaritas. Tentative plans are for the bus to leave BHYC at 9 PM and return at 11:30 PM. Please poll your team and contact George Johnson so he can estimate how many people are coming. This will help him reserve the right number of buses. You can email him at fdnyrocket@gmail.com. Get realistic numbers to George so he can decide on how many buses he needs.

President Patty Moule and her Committee members have one major complaint with league players. It is a problem that has persisted over the years and there is no reason for it at all. Each and every week, a handful of teams return their nets to the equipment room late. That means Equipment Manager Extraordinaire, Steve, and several other Committee members cannot leave for the after-party and must needlessly sit around and wait. And don’t just wait for the deadline time; bring your net back immediately after your game. Then go back and finish your beverages and chit-chat. Steve does inventory every week. That helps keep the equipment coming back. Have some consideration. It’s the least you can do. This week we hit a new low. Two nets were never returned. Although both teams should help getting the net back to the equipment room, it is officially the responsibility of the “Away” team to return the net. That means It’s All Good and the Big Mahooshkas are delinquent. And in hot water. If you have any questions please call Patty Moule at 917-613-0908. (Call between 10 AM and 9 PM.)