Urban Bocce '07

On a beautiful September day, it was time for some urban bocce action.

Dani prepared our shirts.
This year's events were held at Floyd Bennett Field - an abandoned airfield that is now a place for recreation.

Cheech or Chung? Still no answer to bocce's greatest mystery.
The first round was hard as hell. You had to toss from the bottom of a hill. Anything was in play. So some balls stayed on the hill and some rolled down on it. If a ball rolled down the hill, it was complete guesswork as to where it might be. Surprisingly, Erik and I were better in this round when we couldn't see what we were aiming for. Unsurprisingly, we lost the first match.
Doctor Chartreuse
Captain Visor
Cheech or Chung? lost their first game.
Our team shirts were inspired by bathroom graffiti, only one of which I have a picture of. Boccelism won four Floyd championships in a row and some people like to make fun of them on bathroom walls. I'm simply jealous of their four trophies. Here, we hold two of our trophies.
For the record, Erik is grabbing the trophy in my back pocket.
Second round - the airstrip.
It was extremely difficult to play this round. Balls rolled every which way and the wind also played a factor. We won though.
Mario and the Princess won best costume later in the day. Clearly, Balgavy's Hollywoodian hasn't yet taken over the minds and hearts of the Brooklyn bocce elite.

Round 3 - The Ring of Death

You had to toss from the grass and make sure that your ball didn't land on the concrete. We were on fire and beat Mario and the Princess 7-0 in two quick frames. We headed into the beach tournament with a 2-1 record. Not bad.
Cheech or Chung squared off against the superheroes.
Doesn't it look like Balgavy is using magic powers here? And yes, that is a Concorde.
Cheech or Chung? lost again to fall to 0-2. They didn't play in Round 2. They also lost in the first round of the beach tourney. A tough day.

Balgavy disappeared under his cape as he picked up the bocce balls at the completion of the game.
After lunch, it was time to head to the Rockaways.
SHR checked on John Maine's almost no-hitter. Either that or she was pretending to be a homeless Vietnam vet.
Now it was time for some serious play.

Erik and I advanced to the final 8 where we couldn't match the superhero-like play of Doctor Chartreuse.
Unfortunately, Chartreuse and Visor lost in the final 4. Here, the caped one waits for the final nail. Still, the duo can hold their heads high knowing that for two years in a row, they lost to the eventual champion. Last year, they made it to the finals before finally succumbing.
Dan and SHR smooth out the court for the final match that pitted two guys in ties vs. Mario and the Princess. Erik, SHR, and I took off but I heard that the tie guys won.
Look at how smooth that court is!
Balgavy's photos which are much better than mine.

Some of my favorites:
A great shot that really shows how treacherous that first round on the hill truly was.

Cheech or Chung?

I Am Doctor Chartreuse

Almost exactly what I took except Balgavy actually went over to the folks and took a nice shot.

Balgavy does indeed love wearing a cape.

Pre-Tourney Stretching

More Cheech or Chung?

Fake Boccelism and the SHR who loves them.

Also on another bocce note, check out Mitch juggling some bocce balls.