by posted 06/20/2009
 
Yellow basks in Spring FVASC Championship win

The Blue/Orange game was over. Earlier in the day, they had managed a hard fought victory over a tough Gray squad. Now the fate of the lads in Yellow was held by a Black squad with seemingly nothing to gain, nothing to lose. That's when it hit like a bolt from the blue. "I'm not sure if this will be my last go of it," pondered perennial Black defenseman Norm. A sentiment that hit home to the Yellow boys, themselves longtime veterans of the league. Not long before teammate and defensive specialist Ted Newton uttered much of the same upon leaving the pitch earlier that afternoon. Seasons come and seasons go, but we all can't be over 30 forever. Even if we foil the odds and stay competitive - and relatively injury free - through our forties, the over 50 pasture is much greener when the old legs just won't be fooled by the young mind anymore. While we still have one last game to play, however, we can let them know a little bit of who we were in earlier days. So it was with Ted in the earlier game, refusing to be substituted as time wore down, his legs surely worn down from an extended period of play. If the intent of the determination in his eyes was any indication, so it would be with Norm.

And yet, as the clock struck 6pm, it looked as though such thoughts would be of little matter. Where were the refs??? As the prior refs left the field, all hope of a 3rd game was nearly abandoned to a handful of well worn fellows with yellow jerseys. "What if they don't like me," uttered Yellow stopper Chris Klatt. "Not sure if my teaching union contract allows for that," chimed in middie Kurt Stanco. "I'm a ref, but I'm here to play," remarked an unnamed Black player (later to be a major player in another sport - that of the bench clearing brawl). But alas, Green captain (and karate kick from the side with no one looking expert) Bach Bang, cell phone on ear, relayed a heartening message: "the refs are on their way from the Meade!" Cheers broke out on the sideline! Hurray! The clowds broke. From a small section of the bleachers, a collective sigh was uttered, coupled with the familiar pop, pop, pop of bottle caps.

From the first whistle it was apparent Black would not go down lightly. Back and forth the two teams made it down the pitch, each with little opportunity to put one in the net. The defenses were holding strong. And then the big fellow from Green came lumbering down the sideline, ball positioned on his left side. It looked like it may go badly for Black, when all of a sudden came Norm, promptly booting the ball out of bounds and stifling the attack. Moments later, and long cross and a few nifty moves up front and Black was ahead, never to look back.

At the end of half it was 2-0. Shortly thereafter it was 4-0. Smiles turned to full out grins on the Yellow sidelines, as two things became readily apparent: 1) they were the FVASC Spring Over 30 Champs and 2) it was finally time for defenseman Dave Conway to get to UCONN and have his busted lip stitched up....