|
The
Swammi's Diary From The Madden Games
'Twas
The Night Before Nationals
After
fooling around with "The Kid" until about 6:00 AM,
I finally crashed out, only to have to wake up at 8:30 AM to
get dressed for a meeting I had with the hotel staff to go over
some last minute details. The hotel was going to charge us for
the use of the "Lobby Lounge" (more on that later),
an additional $416.00 because we did not have at least 10 guys
staying at the hotel. They were incorrect. We booked nearly
15 rooms. But after we got that clear, Danielle and I got things
wrapped up, and I decided to go back to bed. I walked into the
room about 9:40, climbed back into bed to resume my sleep. I
started thinking about all of things I still needed to do. I
needed to make copies, complete the expense report, and continue
to chase after Geocities about the site. I couldn't sleep so
I got up. Damm! I'm tired! Oh well, got to work, got to work......
So
finally I got up, showered, got fresh rolling in my PFL shirt,
and got ready to head out. Just at that time I noticed there
was a message on my phone, so I checked it and it was D. Rob
saying they were here checking in the hotel. So I went down
stairs and they were still at the front desk. We slapped hands,
with the obligatory....waaaazzzzzuuuuupppppp!!!! Ace was with
him too, along with his beautiful wife, and baby boy. They had
made it a family outing. So we arranged to meet for lunch because
we were all starving. So the five of us went over to Uno's had
lunch, talked Madden, BFL, and PFL for almost two hours. In
the meantime, Mrs. D. Rob was keeping the baby entertained.
I told them about Pasadena Soldier, who was in D. Rob's group.
The talk really sparked Ace's curiosity. So after lunch we headed
back to my room and picked up a few things because Ace wanted
to come over to the business center with me to hook up his 4
on 4 tournament sheets. Once we got to the room, Pasadena Soldier
was awake and working on his profile. I knew that was not a
good sign because Ace was going to want to get it on. He (Ace)
stood their staring at the television like he was in a trance.
I began to read his mind..... (I sure would like to open up
a can on this young whipper snapper). Or at least that what
I thought he was thinking. As soon as I noticed that, I told
him I was going to the center to get my business done. Ace stated
he wanted to play Pasadena and he would hang around the room.
Then he and Pasadena Soldier started explaining to me what they
wanted me to do to hook up their stat sheets and 4 on 4 sheets.
I said "Hold the hell up, I ain't going there to do your
$#&*, I got my own %$^& to do." So they asked me
to stay while they played one quarter. As usual, The Swammi
gives in. Now I'm thinking, I'm against the clock. I wanted
to have this done by 5:00 PM. I wanted to be set up in the Lobby
Lounge by 6:00 to start the meeting on time at 7:00. It was
almost 2:00. But I waited.
Ace
and Pasadena begin to get it on. Pasadena jumped out to an early
20-6 lead by the quarters end. We left for the business center,
but I had a feeling these two would be going at it again soon.
You
Call This A Business Center?
This was the cheesiest Fake Kinko's I had
ever been to. Business center? It was across the street from
the hotel. But they failed to even get an Internet connection.
I had to plug into the phone jack with my MAC at their place
just to get online. They were no help at all to me, but at least
Ace and Pasadena were able to take care of their business. I
was really getting flustered now. Not able to print the brackets
or expense report, no web site.... it started to seem like it
wasn't going to be a good weekend. Boy was I off base.
Arrival
Of The Ballers
I got my packets together, thanks to the help of DaBilster who
stuffed the name badge cards in their holders. Meanwhile, just
as I suspected, Ace and Soldier were eager to get it on. This
time, with different teams. Ace was able to win that matchup,
but both players knew it didn't mean anything.
But Ace learned that this young gun was more than just mouth.
Pretty soon D. Rob and X invade the room, and Trigger Fat along
with DaBilster are there as well, along with Winky White and
D. C. So just before its time for me to go down stairs. Ace
decides its a good time to get a 4 on 4 game going. "Swammi,
you want to roll?" asked Ace. "Naw man, I need to
go get set up," I replied. Aw hell come on man, we'll just
play a quarter. I thought to myself, we will just play
a quarter reminds me of that old line we used to tell
women about what we wouldn't do in their mouths...... (careful
Swammi) So as usual, I break down. All right what the hell.
So its me, X, Ron Wilborn and Pasadena going against Ace, D
Rob, D.C. and Wink Dawg. They proceed to open a can on us until
we made some half-time adjustments. We put X at receiver, and
Pasadena at QB. I took over the defensive calls, and Ron moved
to safety. We were trailing by 3 touchdowns at the time, and
came back to not only win, but shut out the other team in the
second half. I could see then that this weekend was going to
be a memorable one.
The
Lobby Lounge
When I first looked at it, the Lobby Lounge didn't seem to be
the right enviroment condusive for intense competition, and
no to mention setting up national headquarters, and communications
central. After all last year, we had our own room, buried deep
at the back of the hotel, where no one could hear us no matter
how loud we were. But this was not like that. It was a lounge
area, that used to be a sports bar. They took out the TVs and
just made it a lounge. It didn't seem spacious for 46 anticipated
ballers, but it turned out to be just fine. There were plenty
of comfortable chairs and sofas to recline and relax in, so
I liked that. But the biggest concern was that it was adjoined
to the LOBBY OF THE HOTEL. So as people entered through the
revolving doors, immediately to the right there we were balling.
However, hotel management told me they would petition it off
from the lobby with a screen or curtain. I was expecting something
heavy that would allow for seclusion. Then this guy came around
7:30 PM once the meeting had started with one of those little
screens that ladies used to use in the old days to go stand
behind and change clothes, when they didn't have a dressing
room. We had started the meeting by then and all of the ballers
just kind looked at me as if to say, that's like putting a Band-Aid
on a hearattack. It ain't gonna work. I made it perfectly clear
this was not the PSX Championship of Golf, where it will be
quiet with golf claps only reaching a moderately loud level.
No, no, this is nationals. You are subject to have an outburst
at anytime with a complement of high fives to go with it. However,
the hotel management assured me they could handle the noise
level and not to worry. Well that was almost true.
The
Ballers Meeting
One of the highlights of the weekend was the ballers meeting.
It was like a family/class reunion in a sense. And for others
it was a chance to put some of these famous names with a face.
As guys came in their registration packets were ready for them,
complete with their schedules and rule book, and most importantly,
the name badge. With a name badge, no one had to ask or guess
a name. It was right there. The room started to fill around
6:30. You could sense it was going to be something special.
"Oh, you're T Philly White," or "what's up man,
I'm Mad Guru," "Dayumm, Mad Guru wasssuuuppp, Tabasco
Cat." All of a sudden, the rivalries, the heated exchanges,
the post of the forum.....it was all gone. There was no hating
in the room. People just glad to see each other.
As
the meeting started I could see the ballers were ready. The
old heads that played in the tourney last year new what to expect.
For the new ballers, I think they were surprised at how professional
the tourney was being organized. We had everything laid out
to the last penny, and scheduled to the last minute. The meeting
set the tone for what the weekend was going to be about. Business,
competition and camaraderie!
The
thing that impresses me about the ballers is their willingness
to cooperate, work together, and listen. Everyone saves their
egos exclusively for their games. For me, it is an incredible
feeling to work with these guys knowing that they trust in what
I am doing, and they don't hesitate to show their appreciation.
The
Midnight Special -- The 4 On 4 Tourney
4 teams (16 ballers) entered the 4 on 4 competition. Ace Hill
had gone over the rules in the meeting, and set up the games,
and they were under way. Meanwhile, I had began to set up my
communications center and was preparing to go on the net live.
Since I hadn't been able to get Geocities to help me (was I
surprised by that.......NO!) I moved the site over to Xoom.com
temporarily. I set up shop, and started broadcasting at about
11:00 PM EST. I interviewed several guest, including the 4 on
4 champions, The New Orleans Ballers. Soon afterwards I thought
I would be going to bed early and resting for tomorrow. Yea,
right! I saw Ace, X, and D Rob on the way out and they asked
me to join them for breakfast. How could I turn down the second
greatest PSX league on the net? (AIF) After all, Ace bought
me lunch, at least I could buy him some pancakes or something.
We were out needless to say past 3:00 AM. So much for an early
night.
GAMEDAY
SATURDAY (TOMMOROW)
|