week 5

The Rockaway Beach Volleyball League was greeted by beautiful weather in week five and the timing was perfect as the league scheduled an outdoor, boardwalk party afterward at Riis Park to celebrate the night. The Gray Rider Band began playing while volleyballs were still flying around the beach and Bugsy did some play-by-play announcing for the nearby games. He also announced the arrival of TBG who made it to Riis by game 4 of his match, one of his earlier arrivals this season. Maybe it was to help celebrate Joe Moore’s 57^th birthday. Congratulations, Seal. You don’t look a day over 56 and a half. TBG has always maintained he is the right player for a 6 game league; he’d always be on time for game #6. Wednesday night was a beautiful night for volleyball, without rain or humidity or wind, which meant many teams didn’t have an excuse for poor play. The Bungalow Baranha’s played Curran’s Superior Meats, taking three out of five. The games were well-matched with plenty of volleys on the court. Many of the Baranha’s were still feeling the post-Mermaid Parade high from marching Saturday in Coney Island. They rocked it out with the Punk Rockaway Mermaids, who had to head to Brooklyn to show that borough how to party. Welcome back, Jack, Denise and Caroline. How is your Texas volleyball league going?

The girls of Rathbone and Harbor Light Sandhogs

The Rincon Gringo’s beat Connolly’s 3-2 but Connolly’s held onto 6^th place in the Ocean Breeze division by a point. 26 years ago these two teams were fighting for the championship in the top (only) division. What has happened? Old age?

Connolly’s Island rocked their new tie-dye jerseys, taking inspiration from the Baranha’s. One player said they, “paid someone from Brooklyn,” to make the new jerseys, which seems like cheating. Sets and spikes may not have been in the air, but love was for the Flip Cup All-Stars. Two of their players got engaged – Mike Gambino to his fiancée Renee and Jacqui Woods to her fiancé Dave. The good news and a visit from John Boden’s son Luke was enough to distract them as they dropped three this week to West End Tents. At least they have weddings to look forward to. The Beach House lost all five tonight to some young whippersnappers from Breezy Point, “something with Aces,” a player trying to forget the competition said. The Beach House is transitioning from a formerly cleaner level of play to a more haphazard “just get it over” approach. And they can’t blame the wind tonight.

JG Electric beat Casino Auto Body 4-1 with three of the games going to overtime. The ever-gracious Casino veterans said the other team was flawless, and the female players were spectacular. They could have used some of that shine for Casino. Rocky’s vintage vertical leap isn’t where it used to be (In fact, his team is still not sure if he even got off the sand.) but he was still sporadically dominant at the net. Next week they hope to get a few more W’s on the board. The Mighty Boosh took home three against Bella Casa, but they could have played better. And that was all one Quiet Boosh would say about tonight’s games. Miley’s Quality lost four games to Sullivan and Galleshaw. One distraught Miley’s player added that they need to fix a whole lot before next Wednesday’s battles. Coach is checking his Yelp Referee rating. Does the phrase “downward trend” mean anything? The Cabana beat ROCK FAM 3-2. Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio (George Johnson)? No, really, where did you go? In a classic rivalry matchup, Rathbones edged the Harbor Light Sandhogs 3-2 and players from both teams resembled extras from Jurassic Park, not Riis Park. A little long in the tooth, so to speak. The Moon division remains the closest in scoring with only 4 points separating the top and bottom teams. Next week the standings could be turned upside down depending on the results. Right now the Channimals lead the pack, followed closely by Boarder’s Surf Shop, IFMA’s, DysFUNctional, Wine with Sue Island and the Odd Couples.

EZ Company was lucky to win even one game against a formidable Last Call team. But not as lucky as Young Danger, who gets married to his beautiful fiancée this weekend before a two week honeymoon in Europe. All the best! The California Rolls were missed and they'll be missed even more at the Classic Kegger at their house this weekend. Double M saw a dead seagull in the parking lot and asked a teammate to "help it.". Sheila EZ's absence continues to haunt the squad. La Bamba stayed focused, with only 48 hours to go until quiet time. The Maine-iac played way over his head, as usual. Hemingway must be teeing folks off since nobody on the team has commented yet. C-Eth broke the 11th CUA commandment but in fairness she had lots of help. The Devinator is dealing with the medical alphabet of MRI and PT. We hope she's OK. Hipster hates needing glasses to tell the difference between XL and XXL.

The after-party wasn’t far – the Riis Park Bazaar played host just steps from the sand courts with live music from The Grayriders, good food and drink specials. The Grayriders rocked out on stage with classics and were joined by many local celebrity musicians from different bands. The best dancer award goes to little James Cassidy, who was out way past his bedtime and upstaging his uncle Vinny with some of his dance moves. We hope to see him on the court, and at the after-party, in a few years. Delicious food from diverse concessions provided a cultural cornucopia. The new food offerings include fresh fish, barbecue, fried chicken and the Bazaar offered a two-for-one drink special that will be offered each Wednesday just for the league. This week some sort of attendance record must have been set because there were RBVL players and friends as far as the eye could see. The Bazaar is open seven days a week so please support this exciting new business in Rockaway. As Bugsy said on stage, it’s just what the peninsula needs, our dollars and our drinking habit. They’ll have Rockaway bands each week and are doing a great job of reaching out to all their neighbors. The RBVL has definitely turned a chapter in its every changing and evolving sports institution with the first annual Bay Nine Festival. The nearest party I can equate it to is the liberation of Paris in 1944. Now that was a party.

We are trying our hardest with refs, but we keep running short. That’s what happens when the league grows as big as the RBVL has. The captains have been informed of this tough spot on many occasions and the general feedback is that everyone wants the big league in spite of the referee shortage. Right now each division is schedule to have a night of play without a referee. Also, captains, if you do not have a referee at your court by 6:30 PM come up to the boardwalk and see Colleen immediately. We may have a standby ref available but you must see Colleen. If there is a clipboard at your court, bring it up with you. Thanks for your assistance. Sullivan and Galleshaw still has not picked up their uniform shirts; your sponsor can’t be too happy about that. He supports you and you should do the same by wearing his colors.

Rosters are also waivers and must be signed by players. For this reason and reasons of fair play, teams are not permitted to pick up players from the sidelines on nights they are shorthanded, not even if the opposing captain approves it. If you did not hand in signed rosters, you will forfeit your games on 6/24. Patty is so happy that Mother Nature was kind to us tonight but Patty is not happy about the roster situation. There are only a few new teams, which means that all of the veteran teams (74) know that completely signed rosters are due by week 2 or 3 not week 5. Because dozens of teams have not handed in signed rosters there will be a new restrictive roster rule enforced next year. One or two or three bad apples can spoil the whole bunch and this is just not acceptable. Too much of our committee's member’s time is spent on things that should be understood at this point. Enough is enough! All Captains and players have to understand that, with the popularity of the league, it is a privilege to play in this league and everyone should act accordingly. Enough said, good night!

Just a reminder, since week one was cancelled due to weather all of those scheduled games will be played on the night we originally planned a position night. Position nights get bumped when the RBVL needs to make up a regular week. So you’ll eventually see that week one opponent down the road. Captains 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. Your RBVL Committee members will be around each and every week to help out on any matters and answer your questions. 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!