Pass Fail

Solid throws can't PASS the grade unless they are caught.

Warning

WARNING: Ultimate is addictive.
FDA recently revealed larger warning labels for small cancer sticks. It's only fair all activities are given full disclosure.

"With these warnings, every person who picks up a [frisbee and starts playing Ultimate] is going to know exactly what risk they're taking," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters.

Double Dipping

Life Guard: No Frisbee. No Boombox. What was that thing you wanted to do again?

Handblock Sense

You already know what a handblock sounds like [Schbwap] & feels like. Now enjoy what a handblock looks like...

SOURCE: Gingervitis on Flickr.

Next for Research + Development: Tasting a handblock!

Game of Throwns

Sporting a Name Change: Ultimate [SLOG News Room]

Washington, DC – Ultimate players are tossing around the idea of changing the name of their beloved sport, and it looks like the option is catching on. A DC official and others with different throwing skills gathered recently to listen to the public's input and there was an overwhelming support for the name change.

The sport of Ultimate Frisbee®, or "Ultimate", will now be referred to as Game of THROWNS.

"The main idea behind changing the name is to attract more players," said a local pickup game organizer. "And during games, many throws are thrown."

The name change of the athletic sport may possibly be mixed up with the wildly popular HBO series "Game of Thrones" which chronicles the violent dynastic struggles among the kingdom's seven noble families for control of the Iron Throne.

During formerly named "Ultimate" games, seven players per team vie for control of the plastic flying disc. Further, players use a multitude of throws – forehand, backhand, scoober, hammer, thumber, push, huck – to pass the disc; eventually into their end zone for a score. Running and catching are also important elements to the game; yet don’t sound like "Thrones".

If interested in having Ultimate renamed in your area, please contact your local provider of
Ultimate Game of Throwns.
##

MORE: Previous Name Change Attempt.

Garden Variety

Sarah's community garden is having their annual fundraiser. The Mamie D. Lee Garden, located in northeast DC, is one of the original "victory gardens" established during World War II, & has provided some tasty ingredients for Sludge stomachs.

When: Thursday, June 23 6-9pm

Where: Looking Glass Lounge [3634 Georgia Ave NW, DC]

Featuring: Music by GR!NGO

Good Problem to Have

ULTIMATE: the Booming Sport You Might Not Know About [Pitt Post Gaz . 6.19.11]

It's like touch football with a disc, or playing soccer with your hands. It's poetry in motion, free, democratic and dynamic. And it's happening all over town. An Ultimate primer...

What's the next athletic obsession for this sports-crazed town? If current trends continue, it might well be Ultimate Frisbee.

What? That's right: Pittsburgh is well on its way to becoming a sporting town with a Frisbee problem.

Most of us know Ultimate as a casual game played in informal settings. Perhaps your hippie cousin whipped up a game for the family picnic, or you wandered past an impromptu game on the quad. Most of us don't see the sport's remarkable growth, or the extraordinary athleticism on display at its most competitive levels.

The image is bound to change, though, for organized Ultimate has truly arrived. According to a study by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers' Association, Ultimate is among the fastest-growing sports in the nation. Worldwide, an estimated 5 million people played the game last year. It's booming locally, too. Here are a few snapshots of Pittsburgh's growing "Ultimate Frisbee problem."

Read more...

Injury Report

Jen
Dx (March 2011): Sliced left forefinger.
TREATMENT: Avoid spinning sharp blades.

Dx (June 2011): Patella chondromalacia - damage/ softening of the cartilage behind the kneecap, aka "Runner's Knee."
TREATMENT: A ton of PT and no Ultimate frisbee until the fall.

Matthew
Dx (spring 2011): Nagging heel. Possible undiagnosed plantar fasciitis.
TREATMENT (self-diagnosed): Walk on the side of foot.

Russ
Dx (2001): Piriformis Syndrome - pain in the ass.
TREATMENT: Rest. To be determined.

CHarlie
Dx (Dec 2009): Incurred same injury in Dec 2009 as recent NBA final MVP, Dirk Nowitzki.
TREATMENT: n/a. Healed.

Where in the World?

Paying homage to the worldly mobility of Sludge...

Today's Features: Charlie; Rachel

Q: Where in the World are they?

A: They are in ColoradO - RacHel for the summer; CHarlie for annual hiking trip.

The Ultimate-Priced Frisbee

Sports equipment can be expensive, but flying discs needn't be.

Luxury Leather Frisbee [Geoffrey Parker]

Info: A flying object that will surely be identified, this premium leather flying disc features felt lining for finger comfort, and comes in an array of hues from which you can choose.

Price: $305.00

Stock Shock

Popcorn at the movie theater.
Cotton candy at the circus.
Turkey leg at the Renaissance festival.
Beer at the pub.
Discs from USA Ultimate Online store.

Billed as "The Official Online Store for the Sport of ULTIMATE" USA Ultimate's Clothing + Gear Shop appears to be lacking the necessary & appropriate frisbee. "DISCS COMING SOON" appears under Accessories.

On Target, but Out Dated

Ultimate Youth Outreach Frisbee Kit [target]

Info: Educator's kit for teaching kids how to play Ultimate Frisbee. Choose from 2 sizes of UPA-approved (USA Ultimate) discs: 10.75" dia. or 9.75" dia. ideal for smaller hands. Includes 10th Edition (2004) Rules & Regulations book, UPA Ultimate Frisbee curriculum handbook and Ultimate 101 DVD. Game instruction and techniques are printed on a set of 8 discs.

Price: $35.99

Playtime

To Play Ultimate is more than just play.

HandSome

S-C-H-B-W-A-P. Schbwap [UrbDi'nary].

Definition: A popular onomatopoeia in the Ultimate Frisbee community. The sound of hand to plastic during a handblock. Can also be applied to a footblock. Often, it is repeated by sideline players.

CH in CH

After many, many years in Capitol Hill, CHris recently bought a bike-friendly rowhouse in... DC's storied Capitol Hill neighborhood. A mere 1.2 miles away from his former residence, yet 1.2 miles closer to Ultimate fields at Anacostia Park.

Welcome to (a new area of) Capitol Hill!

Do Over: Spring Season 2011

Week 1: Loss 10-11 (0-1)

Week 2: Loss 12-13 (0-2)

Week 3: Cancelled (0-2)

Week 4: Cancelled (0-2)

Week 5: Cancelled (0-2)

Week 6: Cancelled (0-2)

Week 7: Win 15-12 (1-2)

Week 8: Win 14-9 (2-2)

Week 9: BYE

Pool Play: Win 10-6 + Loss 11-13 + Win 13-9 + Win 12-11 (5-3)

Tourney: Win [forfeit] + Win 15-14 + Loss 5-15 (7-4)

Bhutan or Bust

Bucci is biking TO IN Bhutan at the end of June for an organized ride to educate students in Bhutan about various climate issues.

Consider good karma by supporting the Bhutan Foundation to help the bikers from Bhutan (they have no gear!), the bikes, food, plus the educators & filmmakers airfare to Bhutan.

Bring a Sludge disc + camera to update the Himalyan Ultimate team.

Ultimate Exposition

Was it Paul Revere who said "The College Ultimate All-Stars are coming! The College Ultimate All-Stars are coming!!"?

NexGenUltimate is a new venture promoting Ultimate by increasing accessibility to elite-level athletes and instruction.

What: College all-stars travel to different cities this summer competing against the top club teams in the world & teaching youth the skills essential for creating the next generation of Ultimate. All games feature USA Ultimate certified observers, announcers and recent players at USA Ultimate's College Championships Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.

Washington, DC game: Friday, July 22 @ 8pm at Washington-Lee High Skool. FREE!

Offense Driver

You Dumpin' to me?
You Swingin' to me?
You Dumpin' + Swingin' to me?

Pool Party: 06.12.11

Even tho the calendar'd summer is still days away is no reason to stay away from a pool party in Potomac!

Sunday, June 12th
Time: 3:00 PM - 7:30???

goalFRISBee

Frisbees + hockey have been seen before, but not at the NHL level.
Goalie Roberto Luongo, of Vancouver Canucks, retrieves a disc from his net.

EmpaFrisbee

Watch + feel empathy for how frisbees feel.



WARNING: May (definitely) cause dizziness!

Flyin vs Flying Saucer

What a difference a "g" makes.

Flyin-Saucer: It flies *Straight *Curves *Circles *Skips. Will Not Break! (1948)

WHAM-O Pluter Platter Flying Saucers Are HERE.
It Boomerangs; It Sails; It Flies. (1954-5)

Favoritism

Yesterday was better than today because I played Ultimate.

No O for Ultimate

In the spring 2011 issue of USA Ultimate's magazine, the 'Opening Pull' article reported the positive news that Ultimate had a 20% growth in sports participation. Moreover, Ultimate was in the top 5 [#1 Triathlon/Adventure racing (47%); #2 Lacrosse (33%); #3 Gymnastics (28%) & #4/5 Rugby + Ultimate (20%)].

Another interesting tidbit was a statement that Ultimate as an Olympic sport is "an unlikely outcome...in the near future."


Instead, Ultimate Flying Disc will continue as a 'trend sport' in the World Games.

Tourney: 06.05.11

:Game 1:
In a word, the first game was “effortless”. The opponents couldn’t handle the rematch field a team, and so danCAFE graciously gave us prior notice & a bye. Win (forfeit).

:Game 2:
Thus, Sludge’s second game became their first game to play. Rachel set the offensive tone right away versus Ultimallerz with a deep cut for a score & then later scoring on a fab forehand up the line by Jen. MicHael set the mooD with a layout swipe at the front cone & then, later in the same point, a tip away to prevent another score. Sludge was methodically moving the disc by either: A-throwing to the open cutter (usually Sarah) or B-dumping & swinging (typically to Charlie).

5-3, 5-4, 5-5. At 5-6, Sludge’s stifling zone D revealed some weakness but kept composed especially near the endzone.

Sludge flowed back with “one with the Frisbee” Christy’s flick score to David. Before half, brown stayed in the game with Steve’s hand block and Brian’s huck. 6-8.

Though overcast, there was absolutely no wind; otherwise termed “negative wind” by the sideline. Sludge tightened up their zone D, and efficiently transitioned to a scoring offense. Like when Bucci smacked down the disc in the cup, and then Joe found Matthew for a score. 12-9. Points became even more competitive. A long point was finished off by a Charlie to David to Rachel to Andrew to Sarah score, adding only 1 to the score, but adding much more value to confidence, 12-10.

For the 13th point, during a timeout, Brian designed an iso play to Rachel from 20 yards for a successful score.

Now at 13’s, flashbacks of the 6-point collapse appeared. But that was 71 days ago (but who’s counting?); and Sludge was too BIG experienced to fail!

At 14’s, play was back and forth with each team controlling their own destiny of universe point. If the field was one yard wider, the game may have ended differently. As it was, Sludge worked the disc up to their end zone & Joe looked for options – left, right, sides, dump, up, down – and then tossed a low 4-yarder to MicHael for the DIffinitiVE final score. Win 15-14.

:Game 3:
Sludge won to advance to the quarter-finals, but lost the execution from the previous game. Down 3 early to CardSins, Matthew connected with Steve for some flOw. Sludge was seemingly in this game with a Mike D, a David huck & a Russ appearance, 3-8.

This game was memorable because Sludge primarily played person D. The reason: brown's zone was not effective! 4-12. Loss 5-15.

Notes: Thanks to Dennis from SnacPac who contributed surplus water. Not quite the pool party we expected!

Tied for 3rd place!

Ultimate Diet

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently composted the food pyramid designed to help with dietary guidelines. The new frisbee chart shows appropriate portions.
Four slightly different-sized quandrants are inside the frisbee, with catches & running taking up half the space plus throwing and teamwork making up the other half. Teamwork & running are the largest of the four. Spirit is also recommended for a balanced Ultimate intake.

Now Trending

Good question... What kind of things does one write when tweeting? Follow @sludgebrown

Ricky Gervais Show topic: Frisbee

The Frisbee made its way into the discussion on The Ricky Gervais Show.

Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington banter "Modern Inventions" [Season 2: 9th episode]...

0:21
Karl: Look at the Frisbee....It's alright. It's a good idea. But we don't need it.

Stephen: But the Frisbee wasn't being worked on by the top brains of our generation. That was some novelty toy some manufacturer made.

[The discussion continues as Stephen twirls the blue flying disc on his finger]

In another episode...Ricky Gervais Show Review: "Natural History", Frisbee makes yet another appearance.

Ricky: So I love it! The Frisbee.... Anything too clever "it wasn't an invention, it was an alien." There's nothing between Frisbee & a computer chip.

Tournament Sched

After an impressive 3-1 record during the Round Robin, Sludge advanced to the next round!

Tournament Elimination Schedule [Updated: 6/3 2:21pm ET]

Date: Sunday, June 5th

Time(s): 9:30am; 11:30am QUARTERS; 1:30pm SEMIS; 3:30pm FINALS

Location: Lake Fairfax, field #5

Win & keeping playing. Lose & go to the swimming pool (possibly).

Do Over: May 2011

Catch up on last month's noteworthy posts you may have missed...

Pool Play (3-1)

Frisbee Finger Medical Malady

Don't Spike the Frisbee

Quotables from CEO of USA Ultimate