Brazil IV - The Last One

The morning of the finals seemed very normal, but everyone was a little more distracted than usual. I borrowed a bike someone had rented so I could get to the fields faster, but then the chain kept on coming off, so then I tried to put the chain back on, but I should have been mentally preparing // warming up. Anyway, that's just the sort of distracting thing a lot of people were going through. I hope I can learn from this sort of lack of mental preparation and be more diligent before tournament finals in the future (well, I mostly hope I'll have reason to learn from this).

The other big distraction was that the masters final was going on while we were warming up, and a lot of us wanted to support the masters guys in their effort to take home the title. Well, we were ready to take the field just as they were pulling for game point. Up until that point their puller, Jason Trevor, was throwing rollers so they could get down field without giving the other team a brick. On the last point he made a great adjustment telling his team he was going to float one to catch the British off guard, so the D needed to hustle down. The adjustment worked brilliantly and the US guys got the block on the second or third trow, then converted the break to take the title. It was really great, and inspirational leading up to our game.

Our game started with us going down wind and our O scoring on one possession. Our D then went out and forced a turn pretty quickly. Well, we weren't able to convert, but we got it back again, and once again weren't able to convert, the Germans finally scored, and I knew things were about to go south. Basically, whenever a team wins a hell point, they'll definitely win the next point, or at least that's what I've observed recently. Well, sure enough our O turned it and the Germans converted on their first chance, putting them up a break. I went in on the next O point and set my guy up for a deep cut right as the disc was being centered to our captain and main handler Dave. Well, the throw went up, but it was a little slow (dave puts a ton of spin on his throws, so they tend to move slowly, but they're very accurate) and thus gave a poaching German defender enough time to catch up to the disc and make a play on it, well, I was ahead of the disc waiting for it to catch up to me, and I understood that I had no chance to make a play on the disc until after he did. He layed out and tipped it, but I was still able to catch it easily for a goal (check facebook for some pics). Well, we traded for the next 30 min or so (only really eventful moment was me turning the disc over right after calling a timeout, man I'm good).

Anyway, the game was tied at 9-9 and we were going downwind and once again on D. Well, they moved the disc well, but we finally get them to turn it on a high stall count throw that they try to put up the line. Finally, our D fastbreakes effectively and we move the disc down with two long gaining in cuts. After the second in cut Erin gives me a quick little dish and so I have the disc 5 yards out and maybe 5 yards from the left sideline. Well, right as a catch the disc Erol runs between me and the near sideline and says, 'Yeah Joaq!' as he's running towards the flick side of the endzone. Somehow I knew what he wanted and put a high backhand right in the near side of the endzone and he turned just as he crossed the perpendicular between me and the endzone. He caught the goal easily and we took our first lead since 1-0 at 10-9.

Between points the time cap went on, and according to the rules of the tournament we then played to 11. A fresh D line went on and we pulled for the win. The D got the turn near the endzone, and after a few quick passes Arnie threw to Carla for the win, and the gold. We all rushed the field and partied on Carla for a minute or so before going and having our post game spirit circle with Germany. Right after the spirit circle, the guy I was covering most of the finals comes up to me and says "Do you want to trade jerseys?" I quickly replied "My white for your white?" He said "Yes." and we had a deal. I was stoked that he was down with the white jersey, because I had already arranged to trade my red to a Philippines player.

After hanging with the Germans and cheering them multiple times, we all set up in the bleachers with beers to spare to watch the next two finals games. Both games followed a similar path. The team with fewer players come out strong and gets a couple of breaks before running out of gas and eventually succumbing to the depth of the other team. The only difference was that the US women were not only short on players, but aside from the other Americans, they were short on crowd support. The Philippines on the other hand, were the darlings of the tournament, so in a way it was nice to see the 'villainous' Ausies win, seeing as they were put in the same spot as we were.

When the open finals ended the tournament awards ceremony was held in the stadium. There were commemorative discs presented to the people who got the most assists, goals, and D's in each devision, along with and MVP disc for each devision presented to the person with the greatest sum of D's, goals, and assists. Well, three awesome things came out of this. First, in the open devision, guys from the Philippines won in each category. Second, in the Mixed devision, we didn't have a single person win any of the discs, in either gender, showing how much of a team we were. And finally, in the Woman's devision, Becca Tucker from the US won all four awards, now that's just sick.

Anyway, after the discs were presented, medals were given out, and each gold medal wining team got to give a short speech. Everett was very eloquent in giving ours, and made a point to shout out the Spanish team seeing as they were the only ones to beat us. After the ceremony was over the Peace Team organized a small ultimate clinic for the local kids, it was really cool, and they all dug it. I don't think it'll last long in Maceió, but it was all the rage while we were there, and there's a small chance it will have some staying power.

I left part way through the clinic to go back to the hotel and do some packing//sopering up//cleaning up for dinner and partying. We tried to get a team dinner at the nice all you can eat place in the back of the beer themed party venue, but it didn't quite go down. People from both the mixed and masters teams rolled through, and we all had a good time (I mostly ate sushi, I mean, it's not that often that you get down on some all you can ear sushi). As dinner was ending everyone was feeling real tiered, but a couple of shots of espresso later and we were inspired to make the trek to the party.

Once again we were duped into walking do to faulty information, and once again we walked through some sketchy ass places to get to the party venue. When we finally arrived we found that the party venue was full, and that no ultimate players were there. Luckily there was a sweet bar with a huge patio just down the street and all the ultimate folks just changed venues (and I was able to sneak some jungle juice in, so there was no need to buy drinks inside). Anyway, at the party I was introduced to the medal game by some of the Ausie girls. The game goes like this, if someone is able to dunk their medal in your drink while it's still around their neck, you have to finish your drink. All in all, it's pretty sweet, and a good way to make friends and get drunk, what more do you want?

I think this party is where I let loose the most, it was really fun. Even though I left earlier than from the other parties, I'd say I partied harder. So, I guess you could say I mailed it in, but I'd just say I went home early.

Anyway, the next day went by quickly. I packed then caught a cab to the airport with some teammates. The whole trip home seemed much faster than the trip there (and that's not only because we had a 2 hour layover instead of a 12 hour one). The most memorable part of the trip home was saying goodbye to all my new friends, but seeing as we all play ultimate, I'm sure I'll see them all again. Anyway, Sunya and I made it home safely and swiftly.

Okay, that's it, nobody has to endure any more poorly written brazil posts. I guess it's time to asses the college ultimate scene (and maybe write a quick something about lei-out). I should have a post up after next weekend's Stanford Qual. I'll be out in Palo Alto on Sunday, so I'll try to write about the elimination games. Word.