I'm Out

Fellas,

This is my last post as the Boomland Travel’s blogger. I seem to have an increased amount of work due to physical therapy, getting back into shape, and trying to get into law school or something like that. It just seems that I am unable to give you guys the kind of attention you deserve as respected men of the Ultimate community. I may have some random posts throughout the year, but nothing on a consistent basis. No worries though, your media crazed minds will be left in the extremely capable hands of Mark and Wego. I cannot think of a better tandem to take over this huge honor.

McLain

Ultimate: A Cultural Perspective

I. Introduction

We all love playing the game of Ultimate or else we wouldn’t practice, lift, and workout every week. However, our love is not felt by the majority of the world. Keeping these two views of Ultimate in mind, let’s examine the question of whether Ultimate is a mainstream novelty or an accepted athletic endeavor.

What exactly does it mean to be inducted into mainstream culture? What even is the mainstream? The mainstream, as reported by Wikipedia, consists of the common and current views held by the masses. These ordinary and usual beliefs are tied to corporate or commercial entities. Mainstream culture is propagated by the mass media to the popular culture. For an activity to be considered a novelty of mainstream culture it must be dropped from popular consciousness in a fad-like fashion.

On the other hand, how does a sport become accepted by culture? To be accepted, a sport most be respected enough to be played by athletes that will further the game. To have people play a sport does not necessary ensure that sport’s success, they must be organized and passionate.


II. Disc and Ultimate History

1871 – 1958 = The Frisbie Baking Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, makes pies sold in tins with “Frisbie” imprinted on them.

1920’s = Supposedly Yale students begin tossing the tins as discs.

1948 = Walter Frederick Morrison and Warren Franscioni invent a plastic version of the Frisbie tin.

1957 = WHAM –O buys the rights to the plastic disc and begins production soon after.

1958 = WHAM–O modifies its plastic disc and trademarks the name "Frisbee.”

1967 = The International Frisbee Association is founded.

1968 = Joe Silver designs a team disc game (the early form of Ultimate) at Columbia High School in New Jersey. The first game is between the Student Council and school newspaper.

(Side Note: There were no limits to the amount of players on the field, you could run with the disc, and it had a series of downs. Soon after running with the disc and the downs were eliminated. Also, defensive rules were made and fouls were defined “as any action sufficient to arouse the ire of your opponent.” Instead of Spirit of the Game, the players used the term “gentlemen’s game.”)

1970 = the first printed version of Ultimate’s rules were printed and sent to surrounding New Jersey high schools.

Nov. 7, 1970 = the first interscholastic game between Columbia high School and Millburn High School was played (43 – 10).

Nov 6, 1972 = the first intercollegiate competition was held between Rutgers and Princeton (29-27).

1974 = World Frisbee Disc Championships held at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA.

1975 = the first organized Ultimate tournament is won by Rutgers.

1978 = Frisbee Disc "Hall of Fame" established in Houghton, MI.

1979 = UPA founded.

1980’s = Joes Cuervo sponsors several Ultimate tournaments throughout the nation.

1985 = First World Flying Disc Congress held in Helsingborg, Sweden with representatives from 19 nations in attendance.

1986 = Cub Scouts introduce activity badge for participation in Ultimate.

1987 = The General Association of International Sports Federation accepts the World Flying Disc Federation as a member.

1993 = The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports accepts flying disc sports as a new category for Presidential Sports Award.

2001 = Flying disc sports become part of the World Games in Akita, Japan.

2003 = CSTV broadcasts the College national Championships.

Information from: http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa980218.htm
http://www.whatisultimate.com/history/history_game1_en.html
http://www.frisbeedisc.com/about/history.html
http://www.metroactive.com/metro/04.11.07/ultimate-frisbee-0715.html


III. Reasons Ultimate Players Don’t Want Mainstreaming:

Purists believe that if Ultimate goes “public” much of the game’s tradition will be lost. They contest that the more popular something becomes, the more money will be a controlling factor in how it is seen and thought of. It is difficult to think of the media having a frenzy due to an Ultimate doping scandal or kids rushing out to buy some Air Korbesmeyers on the first day they come out. It recent years, the more well know sports have lost some of their allure due to situations like these. Also, society has gawked at Ultimate for decades, why give them the satisfaction? Many contend that because Ultimate started in a grassroots fashion, it should stay that way to keep its homegrown reputation.


IV. Evidence of the Mainstreaming of Ultimate/Ultimate Related Topics

These videos lend themselves more to the commercialization and mainstreaming of Ultimate than to its athletic acceptance (all of them except the Disney Channel one), but it’s still cool to see.

A. Commercials:
Nike


Michelob Ultra


I Don't Even Know What This is For


Other less impressive commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHqUvgyGY5E = Frosted Flakes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-eq0v9779w&feature=related = Snickers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ovu-sp0Us8&feature=related = O2 (TV network)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZeuvT1L8Jc = Aquarius water
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6Z9QIHODso = Jeep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUulvQvbjpY = Country Insurance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG7N1ki4Zy0 = Fruity Pebbles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peV0saGddfs = German food

B. Television:
Cheap Seats on ESPN Classic


Disney Channel


C. Music:
Autopulver - Frisbee


D. Movie:
PCU


E. Video games
http://ultimatefrisbee.sourceforge.net/main.html
http://ds.ign.com/objects/898/898907
html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Games


V. Problems that May Arise in Athletic Acceptance:

First, many people believe that the pace of the game is too slow due to the self refereeing of games. A team sport that is self officiated is considered an oddity as call arguing on the field can hurt the flow of a game. Second, not enough people outside the sport may know about Ultimate, they just think it is a hobby for hippies. Third, a fear of change is an attribute of human nature. The big four sports (baseball, basketball, football, and soccer) are all played with balls, and as many of you know, Ultimate is not. A change in sporting equipment can be quite daunting. Last, many companies are fearful to get involved in Ultimate because of the suspected minimal return on investment. While there are some companies such as Discraft, Innnova, Five, and Gaia that have found their niche in Ultimate marketing, many larger firms remain skeptical.


VI. Conclusion

In the end, I think the UPA has been thinking about this issue and is trying their hardest to find a way to represent Ultimate in the best light. They certainly don’t want Ultimate to be just a fad and I think fact that it has been around for this long is testament to that. As ABC Family as is may sound, we view it as a true sport, but many don’t…so let’s become the best ambassadors we can be.

VI. Insightful Questions to Think About as Ultimate Grows:

Is it considered mainstream to become popular? If something becomes mainstream does that mean that it sold out?

Boomland Bios

By Keenan Hammel

Cozza- The Mike Cozza plays for one thing, and one thing only: the love and affection of the women’s team. He always plays better when members of the opposite sex watch him on the field. Thriving on this attention at parties, he is one man you can always count on him to make a night out fun.

J Ko- The beloved B-Team coach sacrificed his body last year to land himself in coach-hood. This reflects in his huddle talks that inevitably descend into shouting at the huddle. Once he settles down he’s pure gold, our own Jekyl and Hyde.

McLain- The heart of the team, McClain brings his unique ability to pump up the team to the field every tournament. Finding Nemo and Aladdin speech topics manage to inspire confidence and enthusiasm, and if that doesn’t work watching him play with a pinched nerve in his throwing shoulder definitely will.

Jon O- The member with easily the most impressive facial hair, Jon O strikes fear into lesser souls with his manliness. He has nasty throws and poaches that are perfectly scoped in for lay outs. Look for a Merlin beard next year to yield a +2 to his defense.

Talon- One of the best looking guys ever in the world, with the hardcore determination that just makes the women swoon. Once his high socked, backward hatted head steps onto the field, the game has changed. His job on the field is never done as he will shut you down with nasty d and then burn you deep for the huck. Oh, and he is so good in the air.

Keenan- Gangly, gangly, gangly. Keenan is a tall drip of water and also has a very Cozza-like approach to women: Ultimate women all the time. He now has in arsenal the longest stretching forehand leans on the team and is a giant of a man but yet can get cruelly low to the ground.

K Hundo- The first recipient of a Pavan cleat gooning. Kevin is an integral part of the tree cup and plays angry. At 6’3” and a solid 100 pounds he brings a killer instinct and incredulous victims will not believe their pain as this stick figure attacks.

Sidrys- Part 2 of 2 of the tree cup, Joe is super long. He is approximately 2 J Ko’s in wingspan and utilizes this height and length to stupefy whoever he is playing defense against. Have I mentioned yet that he can palm a disc? That’s just silly.

Hatcher- Johnny Wego, sweet cuts. He plays like a man possessed and utilizes his football skills to snatch any disc near his person. He is a man of strong emotions, from the time spent talking to his girlfriend to when he lays out through you to grab that D.

Shane- Shane may be the most adorable Ultimate player you will ever meet. He could date your sister and you couldn’t be happier for her. One time, Shay sacrificed day 2 of sectionals to go to Prom his freshman year. We’re working on his priorities, but there’s hope yet.

Peyton- Actually Ryan Tomchek, he is the benefactor of Joel forgetting names and assigning nicknames. This is due to his sweet throws and pale, gawky build. Luckily for him, he’s a Bears fan.

Sul- Scary. Sul is someone you would be wise to be intimidated by at first site. However, he’s like a giant teddy bear, cute and cuddly on the inside. He’s wicked fast, always comes down with the disc, and doesn’t consider his practice clothes clean until they’ve got a smattering of blood on them. Look for him to do some damage in the next 3 years.

Dave- Due to the confusion of having 2 Daves in the program, a certain Brian McLain took it upon himself to find a suitable substitute for Dave J. Inspiration would strike at Mardi Gras when he decided that puddle jumping was a good idea. Thus “Splash” was born. A layout legend will undoubtedly follow.

Nascar- Jeff Gordon is on our team. No, not the devastatingly attractive millionaire, Nascar is from a far off land. He makes devastating circle cuts and has never been to one of our parties. There is only room for improvement from here.

Mark- Mark spent the majority of his youth in suburban Chicago, but that changed one fateful day when the

family moved to Kansas. He would spend the next 3 years dreaming of Illinois and returning home. A promising handler, he holds a Rip-like hatred for the University of Kansas and plays with that passion. Add to that the ability for speechmaking and he is a force to be reckoned with.

Anthony- This young writer, the next generations Bettsy, had to quit the team to follow the women’s track team his freshmen year to write for the Daily Illini. His future skills will only be supplemented by his ability to get track girls to come to our parties. The ratio will well and truly be destroyed.

McKinley- Since the number of nicknames is directly related to playing ability, Kyle McKinley is a god. The recipient of no less than 3, to my knowledge, never gets called his given name while around the team. He’ll be the guy with the throws and D’s. Back to the name game, his girlfriend is Kyla, shenanigans indeed.

Max- The only man to drop his pants on Bourbon Street, Max Docauer will undoubtedly become an Illinois Ultimate legend. He’s got the squirrelly handler thing down too. Even after playing with him for a year, there are times when we’re left scratching our heads; leading the defense to have no idea what’s going on, just how he likes it.

Tom- He’s our mystery man. He comes to practice and tournaments and has been known to throw on the quad from time to time, but beyond that appears to not exist. Popular theories involve Batman and Transformers.

Michael- Old Man River. Michael Simeone could be some of rookies’ father. He claims to have invented Ultimate, discovered gravity, and thought of the wheel. Popular discussion topics involve UPA 10th Edition and the timing of when a pick is to be called.

For Those Who Gained some Summer Pounds

Since school and practice are o going to once again commence in less than a month it might be time for some people to take a look at themselves in a mirror and evaluate their shape. I know that because of my shoulder surgery recovery I have gained a few pounds, and am looking forward to a time when I am allowed to do more than 5 mile walks. Along these same lines I recently came across an older article related to burning calories. What follows is a summary of some points I found most interesting.

In discussing which activity burns more calories running or walking, many believe that the two burn the same amount. The article’s author, Amy Burfoot, is Runner’s World’s executive editor. She states that running burns more calories than walking at a pace slower than 5 mph (12 minute pace). Running burns more calories because running has a more dynamic motion. The act of basically jumping from one foot to the other uses more energy than walking at say 4 mph (15 minute pace). Burfoot also mentions that during a run you burn more calories because your body is required to take in more oxygen. However, walking at 5 mph (12 minute pace) is said to go against the natural motion of the human body. This awkward movement causes the body to work harder and thus require more energy and burn more calories.

To calculate how many calories you burn during a run Burfoot offers this formula for net calories burned/mile: 0.63 x your weight (lbs.). For walking at a rate slower than 5 mph the net calories burned/mile is equal to 0.30 x your weight (lbs.). Net calories burned/mile is used instead of total calories burned/mile to incorporate the amount of calories that would normally be burned due to the basal metabolic rate. Once again, walking faster that 5 mph would burn more than running.

However, there are some discrepancies with the formulas. The proportion of calories burned could be higher or lower depending on the terrain being ran on, how efficient a runner’s form is, the altitude of the run, etc.

To read the actual article check out http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-304-311-8402-0,00.html.

With this new found information get out there and train so you don’t look fat when practice comes around.

New Positions

It has come to my attention that beginning next season the Illinois program will be restructured. As with any reconstruction of an organization, be it a corrupt foreign territory after a coup d’ etat or nationally ranked collegiate athletic club, new faces need to be introduced. So just to keep everyone on the team on the same page, here is what your new Illinois Ultimate administration will look like in the fall.

Captains – Denis & Phelan

These fellas take care of us like mother hens on and off the field. They are inspirations to us all.

Junior Captain – Chuck

He is an "inspiration to us all" in training.

Presidents – Brad & Cozza

These guys do the administrative paperwork that keeps the team running smoothly. Their behind the scenes actions are imperative to keeping us on the field and practicing consistently.

CFO – Rip

Follows strict guidelines set forth through Sarbanes-Oxley and oversees the money fundraised, collected, and used by the program.

Treasurer – McKinley

Makes sure we have the money where and when we need.

Fundraising Chair – Me

I try to get money from sources other than the university and your pockets.

High School Outreach – Austin

I am not exactly sure what Austin will be doing this year, but I do know one thing. Austin loves making young men happy so he will do his best to make this work.

Website Coordinator – Somefield

We will once again have an up and running website to show the world what our program is about. The program's website will be a great addition to our Google Group and two Blogs.

Travel Coordinator – Brad

He will make sure we have places to sleep at tournaments that will hopefully be extremely comfortable and accommodating.

Social Chair – Miles

Probably the most important job out of all of those listed above. Miles is going to make sure we have people to party with and earn a spectacular reputation around campus.

Summer Training Motivation

Staying focused on training during summer can turn out to be quite a task. The season seems like it is months, you may not be around your teammates, and your job may leave you feeling tired and impartial after a rough day at the office. Whether you are running, doing cross-fits, lifting, or tossing, sometimes you need that little extra push to get going. Here are some things to think about while you are determining whether or not you should workout.

- Train with friends – a 10 miler sucks a lot less when you can talk with someone. It is a whole lot harder to give during a hard workout when you are with a buddy. For some, the temptation to give up when solo is too much.

- You know your teammates are training – as good of friends as we are all, we all know that there are a finite number of spots on the field and on the team. Therefore, becoming paranoid and freaking yourself out by internally muttering, “I know Phelan’s training right now, so I need to be too.”

- Its awesome outside – take your shirt off and get a tan. You don’t want to kicking yourself because you fretted away the warmth of summer come cross-fits in the winter.

- Have a reward waiting after your workout – you worked hard, why shouldn’t be rewarded for sweat and determination? A nice glass of lemonade or a beer would be refreshing.

- Set goals for yourself – reach a new max on bench, map out a run on gmap-pedometer.com to try and PR, or anything else that can be measured. Make short and long term goals for the month, season, or year. Just remember that you might not achieve the goals right away, these things take time. Just keep working at it.

GlaxoSmithKline

While searching for Ultimate videos on YouTube my friend came across this little gem. It is a whole lot harder than it looks. The University of Sussex Ultimate Frisbee Club, Mohawk, out of the UK, created this game. All you need is four friends, a soapy table, and a crappy disc (this game tends to bend the plastic a little). Once you get the hang of the spinning it’s a lot of fun to see how long your group can keep the disc going on the table. However, neither the video nor the team’s website explains any actually rules, but after playing a little I have these suggestions:

- Turn the game into two 1 v 1 games

- Those at the heads of the table (slappers) are the only ones who can score.

- A score occurs when the disc gets passed the opposite slapper

- The other two prodders are unbiased and do their jobs