Hello fellow kickballers! Kris Marshall here. I’m here to deliver the first of what will hopefully be a whole host of insightful kickball related posts for the 2012 season. As some of you may know I am treading the path of those before me and taking over as the primary blogger for the KVKL website for the upcoming season. For those of you who took on this challenge before me, I commend you. Taking the torch from Mick Cottin will hopefully be as exciting as it is stressful – as Mick snickers under his breath in relief – and I hope to make a smooth transition into the season. I would also like to congratulate Diana Garcia, the commissioner for the 2012 season. First female to take the reins! Woohoo! Also, the rest of the board need their due propers: Nick Lerner, Josh Hunt, Erin Adams, Mick Cottin, Scott Stewart, and Jacki Becker (I’m sure Uncle Deron will make an appearance in there somewhere or at least offer his kind words of wisdom. Love you D).
As for the layout and the format I don’t think much will change. I hope to incorporate some discussion, debates, videos, statistics, and so on and so forth throughout the year. I am, however, going to channel my inner Tom Emanski and Crime Dog Fred McGriff as I plan to periodically post installments of KM’s Coach’s Corner where I attempt to break down game scenarios and kickball situations (hopefully I’m not the only one who remembers these ridiculously cheesy videos from the 90’s). I may even need a few volunteers and a cell phone camera crew to make some video segments. Anyway, I digress. If there is anything that anyone is particularly interested in talking about please feel free to let me know and I will try my best to be as accommodating as possible.
As everyone likely knows by now, we have all 32 teams returning from last year – sort of…New-new Jazzhaus team? I enjoyed the addition of new teams last year as the league expanded from 30 to 32 teams, but it is also nice to see familiar faces around the playing fields. One of the major changes that I have noticed this off-season and something that has been dominating conversation around the water cooler is that a number of ladies are jumping ship from their prior teams to set sail on other vessels. What gives ladies? I’m a firm believer that the female aspect of kickball is one that can take a team from good to great, but there are also so many game changing females that team chemistry may be jeopardized if playing time becomes an issue (not pointing any fingers here, just my opinion). That being said, it will be exciting to see a new look from some of the teams out there.
On a more serious note, I’d like to take the time to pay my respects to a former teammate and KVKLer, Aimee Ziegler, who passed away just a few short weeks ago. Aimee was a great asset to the league and the community of Lawrence. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers. She is survived by her husband and three young children. There are so many wonderful things to say about Aimee and I am certainly not doing her any justice here, but I want to remind everyone how fragile life can be and that we should not take anything for granted. We are not guaranteed another second on this earth so make sure that we take the time to appreciate the little things in life, like kickball, that we get the privilege of participating in every summer.
And with that I will conclude the first entry of the season. All I have left for you are a few logistical notes that will surely be hammered home by your team captains.
- All Captains Meeting – May 1st,6PM in the Big 6 Room at the Eldridge
- Reffing Clinic – May 6th, time and location TBD
- First Games – May 20th
- Off Week – May 27th. We will not hold games on Memorial Day weekend. I know its one week of games then an off week. I didn’t make the rules. Think of it as a “just the tip” scenario. Maybe not the greatest, but better than nothing right? Exactly.
Don’t sweat the petty things, just pet the sweaty things,
KM