BOCCE PLAYOFFS

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Yesterday, the bocce playoffs! The games started at noon.

We were eliminated in the first round. I doubt any of us felt bad. We got killed in the first game. Came back to kill the other team in the second. Got killed again in the third game.

We played well in one of the three games. Sufficiently so that we were able to walk off the court with our heads high.

I thought we were equal to the opposing team. Most of my team mates thougt not. They were of the opinion the opposition was better.

We were missing three players. Not offered as an excuse. Merely for information purposes. Don was at his brother in law’s funeral in California, Clare and Keith working.

There is an excitement that goes along with making the playoffs. For us Key Westers, the day of the playoffs is like the World Series, Super Bowl and Final Four rolled into one. Thrilling is the only way to describe it.

Syracuse lost again yesterday. Lost a football game to Pitt 30-7. We have only won two games this season. There is one game left to play.

I have a feeling the basketball team may not be as good as in recent years. Then there is the investigation. Could be a bad time for Syracuse sports.

Things have to improve. Dramatically.

One reason is that a lot of money is involved. Millions of dollars from TV alone. The universities have come to rely on that money. However if a team is not up to snuff, there is less prime time TV involved and the dollars diminish.

2015 is going to be an interesting year for the Syracuse University sports program.

Enjoy your Sunday!

A COLE PORTER EVENING

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It could not have been a better evening! Cole Porter tunes sung by the best of Key West. To mention one or two would be remiss. There were twenty performers in all.

Cole Porter created his music back in the 1920s, 1930s and into the early 1940s. Tunes like Begin the Beguine, Night and Day, and From This Moment On.

The evening thrilled me. Everyone in attendance, also. It was obvious by the reactions to the performances. The Waterfront Playhouse is to be commended.

My seat was perfect. Third row. Jenna to my right and friend Susie to my left. The lovely Jean Carper in front. Old friend Skip behind me.

Dinner with Jenna beforehand at the Hot Tin Roof.

We made the bocce playoffs! Won 2 out of 3 games thursday night. At noon today, I will be throwing the pollina.

The playoffs are a big deal. Tents over the benches for the players. Food and drink. All for the players and free. A huge crowd watching.

I hope we win the first match. The playoffs are tough. You play the best of the best.

The Chalk Festival got rained out for today. The concrete must still be wet. I hope the bocce playoffs do not get canceled. The clay should absorb last night’s rain. The courts will be a bit slower, however.

Back to the Chalk Festival. It will be tomorrow on the promenade next to the USCG Ingham on the Truman Waterfront.

Enjoy your day!

BOCCE REPORT

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Not a bad day yesterday! The bocce playoffs.

This was our team’s third trip to the playoffs. It is like any other sport. You have to be there a few times before you can win.

We had not defeated anyone in our first two playoff appearances. Yesterday, we did!

Our noon game was against the #4 team from the Tuesday night league. We are #4 in the Thursday night league. The win was convincing. We won 16-4 and 16-5.

Wild!

At six, we played the #1 team from the Monday night league. They are the best of the best. Won everything last year. Lost only 2 games this year. In addition, Monday is considered the toughest league.

They destroyed us. By scores similar to those by which we won in the morning.

They were exceptional! Precise! Blasters! Whereas we worry about making one point, they were always figuring how to get two or three points from one shot.

It was a pleasure watching them win, even though it was against us. I complimented an opponent after a particularly good shoot. He said it took years of practice.

My team members are overall pleased. We move up another notch each year. At some point, we will be there.

My diet continues. I am into day 9. I will not tell you how much has been lost. You will think I am crazy.

The diet does affect me. I am slower than normal, dull and tired all the time. But the diet is working!

I got to watch the last 4 minutes of the Alabama/Georgia game. Must have been a thriller!

Key West weather this morning is perfect. An all blue sky. A bright sun. A touch of breeze.

During bocce yesterday, the weather was as it should be this time of year. Tee shirts and sweat in the morning. Sweatshirts and a bit of a chill in the evening.

Enjoy your Sunday!

BOCCE PLAYOFFS THIS MORNING

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Big day!

Bocce playoffs this morning!

Whether we win is immaterial. We are thrilled to be in the playoffs.

We have been a team for about 8-10 years. Some additions and deletions along the way. We always got beat at the beginning. It takes 15-20 years as a team to become extremely good.

A few years ago, we came in last. The next season we came in 4th. Made the playoffs! A very big deal!

We got crushed that first time 16-0, 16-0. We did not score one point! We did not care. We were thrilled to be there.

Two seasons ago, we made the playoffs again. We won the first game, lost the second two. To the team that eventually won.

We have been making progress. Today, we hope to do better.

I enjoyed doing the Key West Lou Legal Hour yesterday on TV and the Internet. A professional setting. I have a producer and engineer.

Post show comment indicated interest/discussion involving two topics.

The first was the Chinese woman who sat on the toilet and ejected her new born baby into the toilet. The baby disappeared down the drain. Firemen saved the baby. I thought this was a unique situation. Turns out it was not. Several people told me it was common place and not newsworthy. Interestingly, one such comment came from an Italian viewer and another from a Chinese one.

Teen pregnancy and the rise of HIV among 13-17 years old drew much attention. A serious topic. A scary one.

The TV station is located at the beginning of Stock Island on Route 1. I decided to walk a bit of Stock Island immediately following the show. I walked streets rarely seen. Streets I had never seen when driving through Stock Island.

The streets were a disgrace. Monroe County should be ashamed that people are permitted to live in this fashion. I could not believe what I saw. Run down homes and buildings, filthy streets, on an island in between two rather nice living areas. Key West and Key Haven. There is no question affordable housing is needed.

Where is it? Why is  it not getting done?

Syracuse basketball last night. On ESPN, so I was able to watch from my bed at home.

Syracuse won 91-82. Beat Arkansas.

I was disappointed in the Syracuse team. They do not have it together yet. They were missing easy shots and having the ball stolen from them. Syracuse’s fabled zone was being penetrated. Except for a 12 point run in the middle of the second half, they did not look like a Syracuse team. Many times I thought Arkansas did.

Big sports day today. Bocce this morning. The Alabama/Georgia football game this afternoon.

Enjoy your day!

WE MADE THE BOCCE PLAYOFFS!

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Bocce last night! Last games of the regular season. There are 14 teams in the thursday night league. The top 5 go to the playoffs.

We were #4 going into last night. We played the #3 team. All games close. We needed to win 3 to move up to third spot. We won only 1, lost 2. However, the 2 defeats did not drop us in the standings. We still ended up 4th.

The playoffs begin at 10 tomorrow morning. A big deal! Tents to cover the players heads to avoid the sun, food and drinks. A very festive occasion.

Bocce is played 4 evenings a week. Five teams from each evening compete in the playoffs. Lose and go home.

Cheryl stopped by while we were playing. A loyal team fan. A friend. She had a new hairdo. Short. Looked terrific!

Key West Shoe Girl Stephanie came by. She has just returned from Paris. We are having dinner together next wednesday.

Pati came by for a hug and kiss.

The courts were relatively quiet. No Larry Smith. Without him, it was like playing in silence.

I spent time yesterday fine tuning today’s TV/Internet show. Teen pregnancy is my opening topic. You will be shocked by some parts of it.

The show can be viewed via television on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. On the internet world wide. www.tvchannel19.com.

Show time is 10 in the morning my time.

Join me, if you can.

I walked Duval yesterday as part of my good health program. Walked more than I intended. The people and store fronts attracted my attention.

Time is short friday mornings. I have to shower, etc. and head over to the TV station.

Enjoy your day!