Garth McQueen 11/05/2004 09:28 AM Mark: Opening night gitters for most of us are all gone. Being the second game for Mike, Bruce and I , we were able to relax a little on the ice. Mauro on the other hand has been in class far too much lately and is getting a little Tonyism in him. Mark, we ended up being delayed for almost an hour on the way home last night. The rink was closed and the Welland Swat team was brought in to pat down everyone in search of Mauro's keys and coat. It wasn't until the RCMP a rrived that he discovered that he had left his coat on another chair. I get the feeling when he was hunting they were naked the entire time because he didn't know what to do with clothes. Well enough of the excitement: Score: CTFS 8 Wiskey Runners 3 Ends: CTFS 6 WR 2 We knew we were going to win right off the bat. Two of our opponents opend the game by kissing Bruce. So right away I knew those guys didn't care about Sars or HIV and health wasn't important to them. You know Mark, we always seem to do well with teams that use the pole to throw rocks and once again we played well. Unlike the previous week, the game was tied 3-3 after 5 ends so we were confident we found our stride. We went back to our stealing ways and took th e next 3 ends. Bruce was skipping again last night and he seems to be getting more relaxed. He even paid attention to where Mauro would place the broom. I won't ever forget the glazy eyes he had last week, he was so focused that he almost popped any eye ball or two....but not last night. As I said many times last year, we continue to be very consistent in our play. For some pretty strange ice last night, we all had a good game (up to our level, as they say). Now I am a little concerned that our strong start ( 2-0 with an end winning percentage of 62.5%) that our drive for D will be hampered. Luckily as we reviewed the schedule,,,,, playing all the A flighters over the next 6 weeks, will assist us in finding our proper placement. Oh, I can't forget to relay that Mike played well and got thumbs up on every shot while his daughter and wife were there. We couldn't refuse his begging to look good for his daughter. Too his credit though, he did manage to make his shots under their scrutiny. Mark, you should know that Mauro refused to have a beer after the game. He said he had a headache. I guess that made him forget where he put his coat, but the real reason was he was delirious from the all the sweeping he was forced to do as the third. At one point he actually said he only had two balls,,, now how delirious was that!! Mark Pioli 11/05/2004 11:34 AM Garth you put in a full day's work in already go home take a bath in tomato juice and relax be the way you spelt whiskey wrong.... Injury report Due back (no pun intended) December 9th, I understand you can't lose your position on the team due to injury no matter how many games in a row you win. It was nice Mike brought his family to watch, cupcake will have him sweeping the floors and driveway after she saw his performance last night. Bruce Clark 11/05/2004 12:17 PM Mark: Good news about the back.The team misses you!!! So last nites game is progressing well. Garth takes his usual 15 minutes getting into the hack. I call for a tap back as plan "A" with a come-around as plan "B". This seemed to confuse Garth as he then formed a "WAM" meeting consisting of the rest of our team, the other team as well as players from other sheets as he had never heard of a "tap back,come-around". Let confusion rain/reign. Once Garth understood my call he then proceeded to send his shot down the ice (way inside of the broom) where he performed the "come-around" as requested(not the rock I wanted him to come-around) where his rock became shot and counted one at the conclusion of the end. So I ask you Mark,should Garth just not have come down the ice to discuss with me what shot I was requesting. NO!!!.As a stratum 2 he felt it beneath him to ask for help from lower-level personel. He then rejoiced in the fact that even thought he had screwed up,mission accomplished (Think George W. Bush) As Mauro said to me,"Bruce,don't give him options,it will only confuse him" Garth McQueen 11/05/2004 12:30 PM Last weeks comments from Bruce speak volumes: Mark: The pressure of leadership!!! Now I appreciate what Mike,George,Garth,Patton and Macarthur are/have been faced with day after day, time after time as they wrestle with the constant strive for perfection." Mark, clearly in his new found position of leadership Bruce failed to deliver clear communications upon which I could clearly see he was confused and just proceeded to do the right thing. Seemed pretty simple to me.... Guess I am just used to make the tough call. Now earlier in the game, both Mauro and Bruce sought advise from the other team. Both Mike and I felt betrayed and neglected. Leadership is earned not obtained. Bruce Clark 11/05/2004 01:01 PM Mark: Please deliver this clear communication to Garth. Team = 1 win,0 losses,1 tie Ends for = 10,Ends lost 6 Total focus of the skip (25% of the team had total focus) Total team harmony during my tenure at the top!! Fear in the hearts of the enemy. BYTE ME!!..