COWAPA CHAMPS REDUX
The Astoria girls have secured the Cowapa League title in volleyball for the second straight year and third time in three years with a 22-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 win at Tillamook.
Great crowd, great atmosphere, could have been a great match if not for a ridiculously overofficious and inconsistent chair umpire, who called more setting faults in this match than I would estimate have been called in Astoria and Tillamook's last ten matches combined! This is not blogosphere hyperbole, but probably a conservative estimate! Seriously, there were 17 (!!!) set faults called in this match. You might be able to go to twenty matches combined to get that total. Ridiculous!
If Astoria isn't called for SIX set faults in the first game, it's probably a sweep for the Lady Fish tonight. Although many more were called on Astoria than Tillamook, the Cheesemakers didn't escape this fate. They even got called for it at game point in the second game. Apparently this official will call it anytime there is the slightest bit of spin on the ball off the setter's hands. OK, if that's the rule, it's the rule, but call it consistently. It's still unfortunate that these girls can play all year long without any issue and one referee comes into the gym with her pet call and completely disrupts what should be a highlight match of the year.
And what are the rules of volleyball anyway? I'm no expert, but it seems that just about every discipline in volleyball has had a rule change in the last ten years and the end result is sloppier skills and highly inconsistent applications of the rules by officials. This sport did not need fixing, in my opinion. I am not a proponent of rally scoring, but I can understand why they did it at the high school level. And if I had to watch a lesser quality small school program consistenty play endless matches where both teams side out and error repeatedly and never score.
Anyway, big props to Astoria, and particularly Sara Cullen who was specifically targeted, for fighting through this adversity and the racous crowd in that loud gymnasium. Both student sections were very entertaining. Tillamook's seemed to be fixated on Jordan Poyer. That was a funny reenactment of his injury by that Tillamook kid. Borderline tasteless, but funny nonetheless. If he had a more serious injury, it would be out of line, but it looks like he may play on Friday.
Sophie DeWitt was an animal! I particularly enjoyed her final match point block and subsequent celebration. This girl seems so relentlessly nice, it was fun to see her beserk like that. Instead of, "Oh yay, ladies what a splendid time we've had", it was more like, "AAAAAARGH! That's what I'm !@#$*@#in' talking about! I am the goddess of hellfire!!!!" She attacked full force all night. Sophie, keep the beast off the leash, baby! Big game player, that girl. I expect to see more of that in the playoffs.
One final thought (it's late and I have real, like, radio work and stuff to do, OK): I rode the rooter bus to the game and whoever had the idea that schools should not be able to charter buses for long sports trips is an idiot! In my day (pre-Field Turf and 3-point lines), we chartered buses for most trips of more than an hour. I realize that is not even the average road trip length in some of these leagues, but if the school has the resources they should be allowed to use them. And who in their right mind thinks a school bus is the safefest means of transport? Would you feel safer in a rickety old school bus with no safety belts going over a mountain pass or a modern, luxurious charter bus?
Who is coming up with this stuff? Is this the same people that are trying to force schools to change Native American mascots? Good God, please, find something productive to do with your time while you are collecting our tax dollars! I may be completely insensitive, but it's my opinion that most Native American mascots are tributes and not insulting caricatures. Redskins? Got to go, but how in the hell is Warriors offensive to anyone? Shame on the bleeding heart, hand-wringing white-guilt types who are taking up a crusade for a segment of society that for the most part, has no strong feelings about the subject and has plenty of other problems of more pressing concern. Like, how their kids are all going to need chiropracters after riding that freakin' school bus on a six hour playoff trip to the other side of the state.
Good night. I'll see you at the game!
Great crowd, great atmosphere, could have been a great match if not for a ridiculously overofficious and inconsistent chair umpire, who called more setting faults in this match than I would estimate have been called in Astoria and Tillamook's last ten matches combined! This is not blogosphere hyperbole, but probably a conservative estimate! Seriously, there were 17 (!!!) set faults called in this match. You might be able to go to twenty matches combined to get that total. Ridiculous!
If Astoria isn't called for SIX set faults in the first game, it's probably a sweep for the Lady Fish tonight. Although many more were called on Astoria than Tillamook, the Cheesemakers didn't escape this fate. They even got called for it at game point in the second game. Apparently this official will call it anytime there is the slightest bit of spin on the ball off the setter's hands. OK, if that's the rule, it's the rule, but call it consistently. It's still unfortunate that these girls can play all year long without any issue and one referee comes into the gym with her pet call and completely disrupts what should be a highlight match of the year.
And what are the rules of volleyball anyway? I'm no expert, but it seems that just about every discipline in volleyball has had a rule change in the last ten years and the end result is sloppier skills and highly inconsistent applications of the rules by officials. This sport did not need fixing, in my opinion. I am not a proponent of rally scoring, but I can understand why they did it at the high school level. And if I had to watch a lesser quality small school program consistenty play endless matches where both teams side out and error repeatedly and never score.
Anyway, big props to Astoria, and particularly Sara Cullen who was specifically targeted, for fighting through this adversity and the racous crowd in that loud gymnasium. Both student sections were very entertaining. Tillamook's seemed to be fixated on Jordan Poyer. That was a funny reenactment of his injury by that Tillamook kid. Borderline tasteless, but funny nonetheless. If he had a more serious injury, it would be out of line, but it looks like he may play on Friday.
Sophie DeWitt was an animal! I particularly enjoyed her final match point block and subsequent celebration. This girl seems so relentlessly nice, it was fun to see her beserk like that. Instead of, "Oh yay, ladies what a splendid time we've had", it was more like, "AAAAAARGH! That's what I'm !@#$*@#in' talking about! I am the goddess of hellfire!!!!" She attacked full force all night. Sophie, keep the beast off the leash, baby! Big game player, that girl. I expect to see more of that in the playoffs.
One final thought (it's late and I have real, like, radio work and stuff to do, OK): I rode the rooter bus to the game and whoever had the idea that schools should not be able to charter buses for long sports trips is an idiot! In my day (pre-Field Turf and 3-point lines), we chartered buses for most trips of more than an hour. I realize that is not even the average road trip length in some of these leagues, but if the school has the resources they should be allowed to use them. And who in their right mind thinks a school bus is the safefest means of transport? Would you feel safer in a rickety old school bus with no safety belts going over a mountain pass or a modern, luxurious charter bus?
Who is coming up with this stuff? Is this the same people that are trying to force schools to change Native American mascots? Good God, please, find something productive to do with your time while you are collecting our tax dollars! I may be completely insensitive, but it's my opinion that most Native American mascots are tributes and not insulting caricatures. Redskins? Got to go, but how in the hell is Warriors offensive to anyone? Shame on the bleeding heart, hand-wringing white-guilt types who are taking up a crusade for a segment of society that for the most part, has no strong feelings about the subject and has plenty of other problems of more pressing concern. Like, how their kids are all going to need chiropracters after riding that freakin' school bus on a six hour playoff trip to the other side of the state.
Good night. I'll see you at the game!
posted by Matt Richert at 12:06 AM
2 Comments:
Not only did Sophie Dewitt come out of her shell last night... But apparently, Mr. Richert you do have a bit of personality!!! Very entertaining write up and spot on in many of your opinions. I think I am going to like seeing your politically incorrect opinions. Go Fisherman! Oh wait, is that down grading those men and women that go out there and work their buns off to feed us?
Yeah, and did anyone respect the feelings of Fishermen before they created that goofy Stomper mascot? That looks like a demeaning caricature to me. Shameful!
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