We’re putting on a show! Down from the Big Apple, the power trio of Moyer will be putting on a show at Solly’s (11th and U St NW) to benefit the DCKickball Legal Defense Fund. Moyer is a piano-based indie pop-rock band that is in the process of releasing their second album All Made Up, which they will be touring for this summer.

We’ve never put on an event like this before, and I can’t wait! Solly’s, in case you haven’t been, is our favorite U St bar. All DCKickballers are invited, and their friends too!

• Where: Solly’s (map)
• When: Friday, June 29th (7pm-11pm)
• What: $3 PBR’s all night and 2 hours of great music!

Make sure to show up early, the upstairs maxes out at 75 peeps! The cover is $10 and the show starts at 8pm and rocks until 10pm. What better way is there to start-off your weekend! No kickball on Friday, no problem! See you at the show!

Sidenote: I apologize for everyone who recieved duplicate emails regarding the Koncert. I made the mistake of entering some “event” information when composing the email on GMail, and sure enough it automatically created an event in Google Calendar and shot out an invitation to the email list. Google Calendar then decided to send out “update” emails when I would make minor changes to the event. I hate Google right now. Sorry again

...you’re wrong. Sometimes in the process of managing an organization, particularly one that has grown as fast as DCKickball, decisions get made that seem right at the time. This summer has probably been the most difficult summer I can remember going through, starting with our insane registration period (2 weeks of which I was overseas attending a friend’s wedding) which saw us grow to 5 divisions and 66 teams spread out over Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

One of the goals that I had for DCKickball this summer was to raise money for our Legal Defense Fund. The urgency that I felt was different from last summer, now that the likely date for trial (November) was looming. I can’t explain exactly how I felt, except that I felt that DCKickball was facing an existential crisis, and that a failure to vigorously support and league’s fundraising efforts could lead to a poor result in court, and thus the end of DCKickball. Sounds dramatic, right? But it’s how I felt (and still feel, to some extent). This kind of mind set has colored and distorted my normal interactions with scores of people and organizations.

In addition to this, I have been dealing with some pretty enormous changes, first and foremost an impending move to Austin, TX for graduate school. Planning the move, finding a place to live, applying for financial aid are just the tip of the iceberg. Planning and promoting the DCKickball Summer 2007 Open has been more work than I anticipated. Bottom line: I stretched myself way too thin.

Much of this culminated with an argument I had with the Board of the Adams Morgan division. I don’t think the details are important. It boiled down to the difference between what (I thought) was best for the league and what (they thought) was best for the division. In the end, I felt that I made a decision to take over the responsibilities of the Board, feeling that the ends (what I thought was best for the League) justified the means.

The ends never justify the means. I made a mistake and hurt people that I had considered friends. I am prepared to accept whatever the consequences are for how I treated Sarah, John, Kim, Earl and Mike. I’m truly sorry about what happened. I think this can be a growing experience for DCKickball, and it makes us a better organization down the line.

I just got back from Hamilton’s, and the rumors are true: they’ve signed an exclusive agreement with NAKID for the Fall. The fact of the matter is that the owner of Hamilton’s, on multiple occasions this summer and as recently as last week, assured me that DCKickball would be coming back for the Fall. I had given them a copy of our Fall sponsorship agreement and was just waiting to get it signed and returned to me.

Anyway, that’s water under the bridge. I definitely feel like an idiot for taking Hamilton’s at their word and misinforming you all about the Fall. We had a great summer run an Hamilton’s, but will not be coming back for the Fall.

Carter Rabasa
Commish, DCKickball

This was the Pre-Season Party for the first ever season of DCKickball, back in April of 2005. We threw this shin-dig at Tom Tom (the original DCKickball sponsor bar) and pretty much took over the place, turning every flat surface in to a flip-cup game. Special thanks to Margaret Allen for her photographic wizardry during the festivities. Ah, to be young again…

See all the photos here!

Back when DCKickball was young and vibrant, we threw one of the greatest Bachelor and Bachelorette Auctions of all-time. I think we raised $3000 or so. Anyway, one of the teams (Hot Sundae) put together a website that probably started out as a way to feature their bachelor (Rob Duffy) and bachelorette (Terri Cunningham), but eventually evolved into “The Legend of Hot Sundae”, one of the most amazing stories ever told. You have to read it for yourselves.

Somehow, for all the time that we have been tracking the standings for DCKickball, we’ve been doing it wrong. See this thread for some background. The old way of ordering the standings was this:

1. order teams by number of wins (more is better)
2. break ties by number of losses (less is better)
3. break ties by number of ties (more is better)
4. break ties by tie-breaker column (more is better)

Visually, this produced mostly correct rankings, especially when all teams in a division had played the same number of games. But, alas, this is wrong. The correct way to calculate a teams win percentage (think NFL, NHL, etc) is:

win % = (wins + 0.5*ties) / (wins+ties+losses)

This has now been implemented into our standings system. My apologies to any teams that are bumped around, but this was obviously a hideous oversight and needed to be fixed.

Ok, obviously things look pretty bad outside. But weather.com gives us only a 50% chance of rain during our games, so I think we should take a chance a hope things clear up (enough). Please plan on making it to your game today. If, when you arrive at the field, conditions are not suitable for play, accept my apologies and head over to Grand Central for some comforting pitchers of Bud Light.

Ok, obviously things look pretty bad outside. But weather.com gives us only a 50% chance of rain during our games, and we’ve already behind due to prior games being cancelled. So buck up! Please plan on making it to your game today. If, when you arrive at the field, conditions are not suitable for play, accept my apologies and head over to the Front Page for some comforting pitchers of Bud Light.

Let the question for the Golden Keg begin!

The captains in AdMo will get this reference. Maybe it’s time to start reviewing my emails before I hit send. :)

• What: Adams Morgan Division’s Mid-Season Party
• Why: OPEN BAR from 8pm to midnight (kickball prices apply after midnight)
• Where: Hamilton’s (233 2nd Street NW)

In addition, Hamilton’s is donating $1 Kickball Shooters and Jello Shots, with the proceeds going to the DCKickball Legal Defense Fund.

Here’s a topic that’s come up before, and is resonating now (for various reasons). Is DCKickball different? Or, isn’t DCKickball just a mini-version of brand X?

I think the answer is yes and no. Depends on how you look at it. Is Tryst just a mini-version of Starbucks? They both sell grossly marked-up caffeinated beverages. They’re both for-profit enterprises. The owner of Tryst subsequently opened The Diner and, most recently, Open City. He’s doing quite well for himself, yet I still love Tryst. It’s my home away from home.

I think there is a world of difference between Tryst and Starbucks. As there is a world of difference between DCKickball and other kickball leagues. It just depends on how you choose to look at things. If you asked me 2 years ago what the guiding purpose of DCKickball was, I think I would have answered it then, the same as I would answer it today:

CHOICE

If DCKickball did nothing different from Brand X, it still created a marketplace (in DC) where players could now have a choice of which league they wanted to join. That’s incredibly valuable. In fact, it’s impossible to overstate how important that is. It’s so powerful a notion, that even players not in DCKickball benefit from the leverage that a viable alternative gives them when dealing with their own league. In the wake of DCKickball, we now have NAKID and District Sports offering kickball in he District.

Naturally, I think DCKickball provides tons of reasons to set it apart from other leagues. Some people who play in multiple leagues might agree with me, others might not. It’s a fact of life that you won’t make everyone happy, but you keep trying anyway. DCKickball isn’t for everybody, and I don’t want it to be. If you want a more serious and competitive kickball experience, there other leagues to try out. If you want to buy into an all-encompassing social scene, complete with tubing trips and Gold Cup tents, DCKickball might not be for you. We try to focus on what we’re good at: carefree kickball, flip-cup filled happy hours, raging parties and charitable fundraising.

But, despite our best efforts, sometimes DCKickball isn’t the right fit for everybody. So, I’d like to announce right here that I (by way of DCK Sports will help any player, team, or division that would like to start their own league. Call it whatever you like, register a domain, and you’re off and running. DCK Sports will handle (for a nominal fee) all of the registration, payment collection, and league management tools that you’re accustomed to using today. How much you want to charge and how you choose to spend it is entirely up to you. How you want to register your business (non-profit, for-profit) is entirely up to you. We’re just here to help.

So, choice is a good thing. Feel free to comment below.

What: Mid-Season Party for the Columbia and District divisions

When: Saturday, June 9th

Where: Grand Central @ 2447 18th Street NW

Price: 5 drink tickets for $5 for players ($15 for guests). Drink tickets can buy you:

• ALL Drafts (no bottles, but all drafts: including Guinness, Bass, Stella, etc)
• ALL Rail Drinks, House Wine, Rail Shots/Shooters

That’s right, $1 drinks, people! The party starts at 8pm sharp and the tickets are good until 11:30pm. Hope to see you all there! Feel free to bring as many guests as you like! Definitely do not show up fashionably late. Grand Central fills up quick, and the line can snake down the street as the night wears on.

Who: The Constitution Division (Sundays)

When: Saturday, June 9th

Where: Rhino Bar @ 3295 M Street NW

What: OPEN BAR (woo hoo!) from 9pm to midnight:

• Rail drinks
• Domestic drafts and bottles
• House wines

Price: $10 for players, $20 for guests

That’s right, $10 for three hours of open bar, people! Hope to see you all there! Feel free to bring as many guests as you like! Definitely do not show up fashionably late. Rhino Bar fills up quick, and the line can snake down the street as the night wears on.

Besides, you want to get your money’s worth, right. See you Saturday! Can’t wait to see how everyone’s feeling for kickball the next day. :)

Thanks,
Carter Rabasa
Commish, DCKickball

Ok, according to the drizzle I’m seeing out my window and this Weather.com forcast I am going to have to cancel games today. The games will be rescheduled, so no worries about that.

If you know anyone who is not likely to check their email or the website, please give them a call.

As always, $5 pitchers of Bud Light are the best way to drown your sorrows about a cancelled game (or $3 bloodies and mimosas, pick your poison). Hamilton’s door will be open, so feel free to stop in and hone your flip-cup skills. Don’t forget, the Flip-Cup Tourney is coming!

I’m giving a huge shout-out to the following teams in the District Division:

• The Red Raiders
• Balls to the Wall
• The Alcoballics
• Cement Block

WHY?

Because of TREE BALL! That’s right, no stinking, never-ending game of softball was going to keep these teams from getting their game in. Despite severe space limitations on the Mall yesterday, these teams (specifically the Red Raiders and Balls to the Wall) used their imagination and played decided that if little kids could use trees as bases back in the day, why couldn’t we?!?

Anyway, my hat’s off to all of you. I’m constantly reminded what an unimaginative kickball dinosaur I am.

WHAT?

Golf 18 holes, raise money for charity, get transported to and from the Potomac Ridge Golf Course via a Keg Bus, and generally have a freaking awesome time!

WHY?

To raise money for the National Prostate Cancer Coalition. One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes, but if caught early nearly 100% survive.

WOW, HOW DO I SIGN UP??

Download this information packet!

Hey All, so we have chosen a charity to support through our midseason party. They are called Project Northstar and they provide volunteer tutors to homeless (or formerly homeless) children in the DC Public School system. Part of our ticket sales will go to the charity, but they are also in dire need of supplies, so we will be doing a dictionary and calculator drive. Feel free to bring these supplies to Hamilton’s on Thursday or to Grand Central June 9th.

In other news, we are co-hosting the party with the Columbia Division. This means if you are sick of staring at each other across the flip cup table, there will be new people to play against, meet, etc.

I will keep you updated about time and ticket prices for June 9th, so keep a lookout for an email from me.

-Erin