And then what happened?

Newsroom

Some time after the exhausting excitment of Week Four, MUD's beat writer, like the formerly ever-present Jay Key, up and disappeared and took with him nearly every detail about the rest of the season. Perhaps the competitive pressures simply became too much for him. Perhaps he got a better offer. Nonetheless, what we have been able to piece together is that by the time of the tournament, Mateo's Vacas Carreteras and Steve's The Majority both had nine wins and thus had gained the respective top seeds. Also with nine wins was Kuo's Purple Cobras. Yet with four losses Cobras took the third seed. The remaining seeds were, in order: F-Red, Texas Jr., and Sacrebleu.

The tournament, a pool-play affair, we believe played out according to seed. We know Vacas met The Majority in the finals, and that The Majoirty won 13 to 9. Steve Nicolson became the first MUD captain to celebrate two finals' victories. Thanks to all, with the exception of our lowly reporter. Summer's a comin'!

Week Four: White Dominates, Bleu Blows It

7 May | Newsroom

In a fury of throws, catches, and jumps, The Majority had the most successful week of the season. Winning three games and tying one is something to be proud of, especially since four-game weeks don't happen for most teams. This week, however, it also happened for Bleu and they lost and lost and lost and lost.

Majority started their reign on the rainless Sunday up at Inwood. The heat was barely bearable. Taking down F-Red and Texas, 15 to 12 and 15 to 11, respectively, The Majority was feeling good. Inversely, Sacrebleu, was twice taken down by the aforementioned challengers. They did manage, however, to take Texas to universe. That's what you might call a glimmer of hope.

Over on the Riverside field, a couple titans battled through the heat in an epic win-by-two that didn't end until Vacas got to the point cap. As the season has been shaping up, both Cows and Cobras knew bragging rights were on the line. The final point lasted around 15 minutes and just about everyone on the field bid for a layout D. In the end, Vacas' Eric Xu pulled the disc in amidst Cobras' Eric Kuo's bid and the game was won: 17 to 15.

Vacas won again on Tuesday over F-Red, 15 to 7. Purple Cobras smashed Sacrebleu, 15 to 3 the next day at East River. On Thursday, Vacas stopped The Majority from a perfect week, but Majority did the same to las Cows. Their Riverside game ended about 30 minutes after the sun set, and though Vacas had the disc. The captains agreed the game should end at 12-12. Spring MUD 2010's second tie! And this one also involving road cows!

The week's final game was a week-three makeup and it featured week four's big winner against its biggest loser. The Riverside score was 15 to 11. You can guess to whom those point totals belong.

Week Three: We Got Wet; Texas Got Even

30 April | Newsroom

It all started on a slightly rainy Sunday. Although actually, not a drop fell throughout the permit-allotted time. At 3pm, six individuals representing the four scheduled teams were present. By 3:30pm, enough others had showed up to make at least a pickup game seem doable. That pickup game didn't start until about 4pm when two mix-matched teams' worth of players had arrived and, coincidently, John Kim showed his handsome face. Down at Riverside, the parks dept. wouldn't let a soul touch even a blade of grass on that soggy marsh. The matchup between Texas Orange Jr. and F-Red and the Frog would have to wait until Friday.

Riverside was still suffering wetland conditions on Tuesday and thus Wednesday's match between Purple Cobras and F-Red was the week's first legitimate game. Red tried desperately to adhere to the gender ratio matrix prescribed by MUD's player guidelines since only one of their women showed up to take on three female Cobras. Playing down a man on defense, Fred and the Frog found success with a shifting, six-person zone in the middle of the game. Up 7 to 5 at half, then 10 to 8 as darkness descended, the Frog seemed destined to repeat the winning result of their last meeting with Purple. But in the twilight, Purple threw zone for the first time and blended into the ambiance. They got three turns around the goal line for an 11-10 win on double-game point, saving their place atop the standings.

By Thursday, the geese had mopped up the Riverside basin and it was game on for Texas versus Vacas Carreteras, a long-horned, somewhat ironic meeting. The evening was nearly perfectly attended by Orange Jr. whereas many of las Vacas' players simply had better things to do. (But what's better than beating up on the team that allows the most points in the league?) All those subs couldn't find any chemistry and Vacas stomped Texas 13 to 6.

As promised, and because Riverside was feeling so marvelous, Texas and F-Red made up their Sunday rainout on Friday. Texas's only win on the season had been in week two against the Red Frog and they were mad after the whoopin' those Road Cows game 'em the day before. Well, it ain't MUD Competitive if it ain't about takin' your shame out on someone else. Texas drilled an off-shore oil refinery into Fred and the Frog and up spurted a 13-7 victory that launched Texas (and its neighbors) into the headlines.

Week Two, What What?

23 April | Newsroom

A decent showing on Sunday saw three close games and a blowout. In the first game, while las Vacas whomped Texas Orange Jr., 13 to 5, John Kim's Sacrebleu edged out F-Red and the Frog at universe point. Next the Bleu, seemingly distracted, barely scraped by Texas, winning 13 to 11. On the other field, Vacas and F-Red mirrored their Blue and Orange friends also going 13 to 11, respectively. Down river, Purple Cobras showed The Majority what a groove looks like scoring 15 to Majority's 7.

On Tuesday, The Majority exacted their revenge on las Vacas who had been enjoying a brief stint in first place. Their return to Riverside gave Majority a result they very much enjoyed as they handedly beat las Vacas, 15 to 7.

Wednesday was the week's big night as Texas Orange Jr. found its first win of the season. F-Red and the Frog couldn't hang on at the East River and neither could the sun. However, Texas managed 12 points before the light ran out. F-Red only put up 8.

The Cobras rocked Sacrebleu's house on Thursday. A bit of rain fell early in the day and threatened the field's playability. But ol' Riverside pulled through, much to John Kim's later chagrin. Kuo and Carpenter took the lid off the charm basket and let their snakes attack. The game finished 13 to 10 in favor of the dark pink venoms. With the solid win, Purple has earned the standings's top spot. Two more games remain in the first third of the season. Inwood will host these closers at 3pm this Sunday.

Week One, Done and Done

15 April | Newsroom

The precious and cloistered Riverside field is keeping tight its spring chasity belt for now, and thus with the surprising conclusion of Wednesday's East River game, week one has been consummated. In only the season's fifth game, MUD saw its first tie between the Sacrebleu and las Vacas Carreteras. Darkness began to spell danger right after Vacas tied the score. Bystanders claimed Vacas were better able to move the disc in the dark because their jerseys were black. Reports now say this is nonsense. Nonetheless, the captains amicably agreed to call the game and send everyone, like a pack of hipsters, to one of those trendy lower-east-side bars.

Sunday's games were rather well-contested with no margin of victory exceeding two points. F-Red and the Frog walked away with two wins (one at universe point). They stand atop the standings for now, waiting for Sunday where they face both contestants of Wednesday night's cage match, albeit one at a time. Texas Orange Jr. ended up the big loser of the day giving up only four unanswered points yet suffering two loses because of it. Their first loss came at the hand of The Majority led by Steve Nicolson. Texas Jr.'s second loss was the fault of Purple Cobras. However, neither of those two victors were able to defeat F-Red. Surely, one of them will have better luck against the other this Sunday.

Promises of a Competitive 2010 Spring

11 April | Newsroom

Six teams have come together under the competitive banner this spring with plans to do at each other for the next several weeks. Consider yourselves welcome to this small dance. With a schedule implying that teams will play each other three times, you can bet rivalries will run high, spirits even higher, and, as always, our blood will delightfully turn the color of MUD.