Thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s air hockey tournament a success. We had a few note-worthy events this year:
- Fatt Matt won a game, and only lost the other 2 by a razon thin margin. Watch out for this up and coming hockey heavyweight.
- For the first time ever, a player went undefeated. Plus, it was a new-comer.
- Atnip did not play in the finals this year, thanks to some powerful new competitors to the tournament.
- I don’t recall any significant injuries.
This year’s champion was newcomer Dave Barwick, who filled in last minute as a stand-by player, quietly came out of nowhere to claim the golden puck award. The brick wall was awarded to Kurtis Denton for having the best defense. I later realized that Skurv actually tied him, but since I only have one brick to give out, this mention is the only prize he gets. While Jimmy may not have won in terms of games, he left his mark on the stat board, having the highest scoring average of the night (6.0), as well as tying with Hannah for the most goals scored in a single game (8), tying with Atnip for the games with the largest margin of defeat (6), and coming in second on total number of goals. Atnip, while not even making it to the semi-finals still managed to rack up the most total goals of the tournament, scoring 8 more than the next best (and 28 more goals than me). Although no one went scoreless, Drew was pretty close with just 1 goal on the night.
Here are a few photo highlights:
Here we have the final bracket, thanks to my nifty web-app I made to keep track of the games and live stats.
Here we have Ian and Hannah duking it out early on. I don’t remember for sure, but I think Hannah won. I assume that because she almost always beats me.
The finalists from 2 years ago going at it Battle Royale style.
Here we have grant. At least we know he won’t be injured. It must have been terrifying for whoever had to play against that creepy mask.
Here we have our Puck off 2008 runner up, Kurtis Denton. Btw, the brick says “Congratulations, you’re a BRICK WALL”. I made that myself. Thanks.
I must say that was a very fun evening. I talked to Atnip Sunday after the tourney and his arm was sore from all the scoring apparently. but he said he’d be back strong next year. as for me, i guess i fell short of my promises from my trash talking email. however that wont keep me from writing them in the future! at least i lost to a good guy! I was happy to even be in there with a loss to Skurv midway through, then having to go through Atnip and Skurv again. I think this went largely un-noticed that I somehow rang up 3 goals in the final minute with 2 of them in the last 18 seconds to beat Skurv to get into the finals. I’m going with that as my excuse this year. I was completely exhausted from my previous game to be in any condition to win the championship. yeah. that sounds good. haha. thanks again, it was a blast.
In my opinion it was a very humbling experience to de-throne the previous champion. What am I talking about, I knew I was going to win it all the second that McCoy asked me if I wanted to fill in. The only reason I didn’t sign up in the first place is because I didn’t think it would be much of a challenge at all. Judging by my perfect record, I was right.
Kurtis’s inspiring last-second victory over Skurv nearly moved me to let him win one game against me, but as I was about to let the tying goal pass I saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes and it was too much to pass up; I had to quash it.
Muchas gracias to Ryan for hosting the tournament. I look forward to next year when I can build upon my undefeated record. I hope you guys bring your A+ games next time, because your A games don’t cut it!
Ryan, I encountered your site through a relative that found your pics of a Kansas graveyard near where he grew up. I thought your commentary was sweet and looked round your site a bit.
As a Paul supporter, I wondered what you thought about Ron Paul’s distaste for Separation of Church and State, and his declaration that the founding fathers intended to creat a “Christian Nation”? The man would impose a Religious Right Conservate agenda upon the nation and circumvent Constitutional protections offered to the individual by appealing to “state’s rights” and “local authority.”
Ron Paul complains that the government ought not to be blocked from establishing official prayers in schools and at public events, and promoting the Old Testament as the source of American law in courthouses through the exclusive display of the Ten Commandments. In doing so, Ron Paul sided with radical right wing Christian zealots who seek theocracy, like Judge Roy Moore from Alabama.
Ron Paul’s legislation, if enacted, would have enabled a two-class system of rights in America, with members of majority religious groups able to establish special rights to enforce their beliefs through the power of government institutions, and others unable to protect their right to not participate in the majority’s religious rituals through the constitutionally-guaranteed access to the courts.
I am interested in what you think about this as a yyoung politically minded person.
Sorry, but also the fact that Ron Paul’s a young earth creationist? As one writer commented, “This to me, has major implications for a presidential candidate. If he is able to turn a blind eye to Evolution, and deny it simply because it conflicts with his religious beliefs, how can I ever trust him to have sober judgment when it comes to serious issues facing a presidency? He has now demonstrated the ability to look away from reality when it proves inconvenient to his own beliefs. How could we ever trust him to deal with Global Warming, or Islamic terrorism, or any other issue that requires wide open eyes?”
Is his appeal so strong that one could overlook those issues?
Honestly, I have never heard Ron Paul advocate any of the issues you speak of. I did do a quick bit of research and found a few references that didn’t appear particularly credible, but I will look into it more because I like to consider myself informed. I like Ron Paul because of the issues he advocates, not because of what other people who don’t like him are saying about him.
The majority of my friends and family, myself included are practicing Christians, and I really don’t believe many, if any of them support less separation of church and state. If they did, I can’t imagine that they would even consider voting for anyone other than Huckabee. Ron Paul talks about things that matter concerning government, like our disastrous foreign policy and irresponsible financial situation in Washington, to name a couple. Religion and politics in my mind are unrelated subjects.
Thanks for your thoughtful response Ryan. Yes, in an ideal world religion and politics serve different purposes, but sadly, some feel the pull of using the force of government to promote religion. Please do some more research. It’s always good to know the company one keeps if you’re looking to put the nation in his hands. Some phrases I suggest “Gary North” “Christian Reconstruction” “Neo-confederate” especially review copies of the 1990′s “Ron Paul Political Report” here: http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=74978161-f730-43a2-91c3-de262573a129
I press here because you seem like a bright, engaged and well intentioned person. Just look around at what you find. Thanks, Lyra
It is sad to see the greatness of my victory overlooked for something as insignificant as a presidential election.
Ha no doubt! Not everyone gets a feature on my website!
Oh yes, I’m most sorry… Congratulations on your Golden Puck Dave. What are your plans after this great victory? Have you been offered any lucrative endorsments?
I just got off the phone with someone claiming to be Dave’s personal trainer. he said he has needles and gauze to prove Dave has been using steroids and HGH laced with horse urine and bat poop. Forfeit his title and give it to me!!!!! I’m a sore loser…….
Haha! Kurtis!
I’m glad we’re back to the right subject for this entry.
Thanks again for hosting another exquisite event! It was great fun and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. Can’t wait for the next!
I won’t deny it, I’ve been using HGH and steroids, along with a litany of hallucinatory drugs, since I was about 8 years old. I don’t think that’s any reason to forfeit my title, however, since as a direct result of all this drug use I was easily dazzled by the bright lights and fast movements of the tournament and fell to the floor in a dazed heap at least a dozen times throughout the night, including twice during the championship game against Kurtis! In my (extremely humble – not to mention brilliant) opinion this makes my victory all the more glorious!