The Bad News Brews

About two months ago, my roommate and I decided we should try to join some sort of club or team so we could meet more people. One of her friends told her about a co-ed kickball team called the Austin Sports & Social Club. She said it was fun and that people would sometimes drink while playing.

I was sort-of weary of the idea, I mean, the last time I played kickball was seriously in the sixth grade. I definitely couldn't be good at the sport, but then again, who HAS played since the sixth grade (if you don't count those who played in this league the year(s) before)? So I checked out their website and their info about kickball. They have two different leagues: the social league for "players with kickball skills" and the super social league for "players with limited skills." It was stated in the rules that if an official deems a player to "have skills" they would be bumped up to the social league and no longer eligible to play with the super social that season. That was enough to sell me on the idea of rekindling my kickball playing after 14 years. Come on, if drinking was allowed, then we could just get there a little early, have a few drinks and when the ball was pitched/rolled all I would need to do is kick it as hard as I could and then run, right? Seems simple enough.

So on Sunday night we get an email informing of us our team's name as well as all the teams names in the league. I was caught a little off guard by some of the names. We were on the "Bad News Brews." Some of the other team names were: Drunkin Monkeys from Queens, Balls N Hoes, M.C. Hammered, Meet My Meat, Swift Kick in the Grass, Sir Kix-a-lot, Menace to Sobriety, and Nacho Balls. That's just to name a few of the sweet names (I think they are funny but I am also being sarcastic) the teams had come up with.

Monday night was the night you go pick up your shirts and meet your team. We were a little nervous about meeting them, the team pretty much would make or break this thing. We just didn't want a team that wasn't fun. As we pulled up to the crowded bar, there seemed to be quite a few people outside making their way to the bar and not so many spots to park. So as we circled looking for spots, we did the whole, "I'm not playing if that guy/girl is on our team." There did seem to be quite a few interesting characters around. So many that I was doubting whether there could be anyone that I'd actually want to be on a team with.

So we got inside, got ourselves a drink, and waited in line to pick up our shirts. After getting the shirt, we realized they didn't like set you up with your team. It was just you could possibly meet them there if you tried to meet them there. So we walked around with no such luck at finding matching bright orange shirts like ours. And, just to make matters worse, the bar was so crowded we found the only way to be out of the way was to stand in a lonely corner. We decided it sucked and as soon as we could finish our beers we were back at the bar trying to close our tabs.

At one point I saw, what could be the scariest looking people I've ever seen, walking by with orange shirts. These were the type of people that you steer clear of because they look like they were the "fighting type." As soon as they passed we looked at each other with horror. I thought I had detected a slight color difference in the orange and sure enough, once I got Jessica to stand in the same spot with her shirt, it was a different color. Close call.

Then, another group of people came up to the bar, this time definitely carrying the same colored shirt, and much more friendly looking. We asked if they belonged to the "Bad News Bears" and we were shocked when they said they didn't. There was apparently a Wednesday night group, which was in addition to our Thursday night group as well as another one on Tuesday. So colors would be repeated.

When we got up to the bar (finally), I overheard a girl tell someone else she was on the "Bad News Brews." I nearly made her jump as I grabbed her attention to let her know I too was on the "Bad News Brews." She got excited, then turned and held up her shirt, which was gray. We both looked at each other in bewilderment and then realized there was more than one sport (softball) picking up shirts that night. So looking by team name or shirt color wasn't a fail proof method, then what was?

Well, just as we were walking out, it was like a shining moment as a couple came in holding orange shirts. They were finally a match! And just as we were getting to know them, seven more came in, four of them with matching shirts and on our team! It wasn't all of the members of our team, but it was a good start. Honestly, I am not even playing this up, we all got along very well right from the beginning. The group of seven just moved to Austin from Virginia. They had all been friends in high school, went their separate ways in college, then decided as a pact to move to Austin together! How fun!

One of the veteran players from another team joined us for some drinks. Since no one on our team knew anything about this game, we asked him tons of questions. The first thing he informed us of was the fact that the ball is MUCH bigger than a regular kickball. And after asking him how it was playing with that ball, his exact quote was, "I mean, if you think you are going to go out there on the first day, drink a couple beers and then kick it as hard as you can when it comes to you, you will probably fall over on your butt." So there goes that plan...

But that is something I can worry about later, like next Thursday. For now, I am just happy that our team ended up being the last team at he bar. Here we were so worried about meeting our team, and already we seem to have no problems getting along! So now, let the games begin!!!

BTW- I now think the "Bad News Brews" is quite fitting after I woke up an hour late for work the next day and had to suffer through a day of feeling terrible. That is bad news since the season hasn't even officially begun...