When we get the D, often times Ern will forget the plays, so he'll end up just sending a full field money flick into the endzone... which is fine with me.
"Big Ern" is a third year player and he is GOOD.
Our attention then shifted from the starvation problem towards a greater tragedy: the tremendous loss of beer, for it only takes two beers to get "Butch" off-his-keester. As exhibited in Tempe, Kevin has been known to amaze crowds with his drunken prowess and ability to break things.
Buchanan's great attitude and sense of humor continues to be a positive presence on this team. A lefty with offensive skills, the kid is deceptively quick and smooth with the disc. His ability to learn and improve, barring gambling problems, make him a potential lefty version of James.
A little known fact about Tommy is while in high school he worked summers on the Jungle Boat ride in Disneyland. Eight hours a day, five days a week of Jungleboating in the "Happiest Place on Earth." He gave the Jungle boat tour 36 times a day. Can you imagine how much that has got to mess with a person's head?...!! He can still repeat the whole seven-minute sermon, word for word, if you ask him.
He's just a nice kid. Everyone likes him. He was even voted "Most Friendly" in his second grade class.
I just don't think he understands that he is the most dominant and intimidating player in college Ultimate.
A third year player, "Nico" is quickly becoming one of the best players on this team and one of the more outspoken leaders.
He hails from Fresno where he and Jomo grew up together playing ultimate.
He's studying to be an elementary school teacher.
A second year player loaded with potential, we're still waiting for him to explode... preferably on the field and not in some elderly person's closet.
Izzy --- er, "Wizzy" (aka "The Wiz)--- also likes to be LOUD on the sidelines. He'll fire us up when he's out and step right up for big points on D or on O. A second year player, Izzy continues to improve, hoping someday to banish an interminable airbounce from his throwing kingdom.
Steven is a 19-year-old first year player, who was originally a quiet hardworking kid, but with two A-team tournaments under his belt, an occasional D or two, and some solid zone O work... "The Wad" has started talking trash.
None are sure as to how exactly this phenomenon occurred, especially because he never spoke a single word until last Tuesday. One thing is for certain and that is that none of his teammates are pleased by this recent development... except for when he talks about Ian getting scored on by a fat guy.
A first year player "G-Love" comes to us direct from the track team at UCSB. A slow learner, we've witnessed his skills steadily improving on a tri-monthly basis. His D continues to be big and his O is.... uh.... getting there.
Stepping up huge for a third year player, "Buzz" has assumed a great deal of responsibility on offense, defense, and leadership, throwing Super Bowl parties and everything else important to keep this team at the level it needs to be.
WARNING:
This guy is so fiery that he scares us sometimes. Every now and then, when things get intense, I'll catch a look at the pupils in his eyes and feel them stab into me. It is at this point that I begin to think that he just might kill someone. Guys on the team know I'M NOT KIDDING. So look out for Buzz, cause this year he's our captain, which might make him just that much more competitive and edgy....
Because Dwight brings the fire. He's been known to lay his teammates out on occasion... not by putting the disc out in front of them, but rather, by running them over, Ronnie Lott style, in an effort to grab the disc. I am one of many victims who have crossed paths with him and, in turn, ended up flat on my back.
A very solid player in both body and talent, "D-wight" always makes sure his presence is felt whether in the game or on the sideline.
He's captain of the team this year, and he's doing a damn good job of harnessing a bunch of egos, especially mine.
I guess he figures he works too hard to endure his share of trash-talk justice. And he might be right, because this rookie has pushed himself to improve since day one, staying after practice to work on throws, as well as recovering from injury and returning at top speed. His desire to win is addictive.
Ian is another nice kid who smiles a lot and is fun to be around. Good thing his heart is in the right place, because his throws aren't.
"I shall call him ... MINI MEathead"
Mitch always brings the fire and is ALWAYS ready to play. Especially when the score is high and the game is close. He actually has a special dance that he'll do on the sideline when he wants to get in. He'll put his hands on his knees and start hopping up and down in an effort to get our captain's attention. It usually doesn't work but it's quite a show nonetheless.
Mitch works hard and loves Ultimate, nonetheless, many of us are wondering why he missed practice last Thursday on 4/20. Whatever the reason, it probably wasn't his fault... it never is.
By the way, Oren is a fourth year player. His throws are money.
(with Jake)
(aka Schnikies)
Rumor has it that Dan is a little high strung. The man always has something going on in his head (like writing individual player profiles for the whole team). But we're willing to put up with this because Dan is such a sick defender. If the other team has a big-time offensive player, a big-time deep threat, Dan steps up and their man is taken out of the equation.
On the offensive side, Dan continues to improve. He is the only guy I know of to have a throw named after him. The "Schneider" is the most feared throw in the game (feared by his teammates more than the opposition). Also, Dan is a huge fan of the 1998 Callahan Rules. Especially the one that states if you catch a defensive block in the endzone, it counts for a goal. If you want a good laugh, ask him how he first injured his knee.
P.S. Dan takes good injury subs.... but for the record, he had 80 ml of fluid taken out of his knee the Tuesday after the Stanford tourney and another 40 ml taken out the following Thursday. His right knee currently looks like a cantaloupe.
[Note: Profile #2 submitted by Ian Ranahan]
When Dan isn't laying out to catch a goal in the other team's endzone, he likes to keep himself busy with highschool kids. No, no, no... not in that way. Dan's a high school teacher. And although sometimes he doesn't get any respect from the students, he enjoys telling them stories about Ultimate. Teaching is a perfect profession for Dan because he gets the opportunity to force people to listen to him everyday. To say the least, he has an opinion on everything... everything! But seriously, Dan is so down to play that he has X amount of fluid drained out of his knee after each big game. A little known fact about Dan is that he is an amateur photographer on the side... or at least that's what he tells those high school chicks. Seriously Dan, good job on the profiles, but I still think "no comment" would have been funnier for mine.
