Bar Buzzin' Once Again

"WAKA VA Peninsula Presents: Real Teams of Genius"

Well folks, it's that time of year again... BAR BUZZ TIME! And what is Bar Buzz you say?! Well only the best column to grace this blog of course (if I do say so myself). Although what makes it great are YOUR bar antics every week. So how exactly does this work you might being asking yourself? Well it's simple really. Based on a (highly scientific) formula that compares each team's abilities to mingle, participate (in numbers and in drinking games), dance, and endure (note: this does not mean that you have to be the last one standing at the bar. I simply mean to say that if you're there in large groups for longer than other teams, that's going to gain you some recognition). You also get bonus points for creativity and making it into the "After Midnight" photo.

All of these things are averaged and added and THEN based on my subjective assessment (done with as little bias as you can hope for from a subjective blog)... our Pen Div teams are ranked 1-15 to reward/recognize their SOCIAL abilities OFF the field. The winner each week is granted the highest, distinguished honor of sporting (flaunting?) the Golden Bar Buzz Belt the following week and basically hilarity and shenanigans ensue. Still confused? Check out this interview with myself. It's very informative (and definitely highly entertaining... again - if I do say so myself. and well, I do).


This year the format will change just slightly - We won't be ranking all the teams (sorry guys, as an event planner on a college campus I've already got quite the fall scheduled ahead of me and my friends can only deal with so much stress from my part as I agonize over this thing). Instead, this go-round we'll rank the top half (1-8). Check back midway through the season and maybe we'll switch a few things up. Also, you can expect the column to be posted before 9pm on Mondays (hopefully sooner if you're lucky). Maybe if I give myself my own "deadline" we can avoid day of postings. Although who am I kidding, it didn't work when I was writing massive English papers in undergrad OR grad school so it's doubtful it'll help now - but it's the thought that counts... right? right?!?!?


Now that we've got the details out of the way... let's get on with the good stuff:

#8 New Kickheads on the Block: NKoTB is a veteran team to the Bar Buzz and they came out in their usual large numbers. Captain Amanda Hassell might have her hands full this season trying to create shenanigans without her sidekick (see below for more details) but the NKoTB spirit has not always been about Hassell and Co. shadow. Perhaps now the true spirit of the team can shine through.


#7 Chicken Tetrazinni: Last season CT was (mostly) a Bar Buzz contender... they had some weeks of extraordinary performance and others that were nonexistent (read: they decided to defy the Bar Buzz and go back to our "throwback" bar. I'm sure it was fun, but here's a PSA to all you new - and returning - Bar Buzzers... that's not the stuff Golden Belt's are made of!) Irregardlessly (yeah I made it up!), they've started this year off with a vengeance and are looking to stay in the top indefinitely.

#6 Free Ballin': When you go about building a franchise, the experts will tell you that you need to find a well rounded squad. You need athletes who can look at the game holistically and think on their feet. You probably want to have a back up for every position (oh yeah, and a expert player for each position) and you'll need to make sure that the females you have are 1. the right caliber and 2. will show up so you don't forfeit. What these "experts" don't tell you is that none of these things matter if these atheletes can't stack up at the bar! Kickball is a SOCIAL game after all. But apparently these Ballin' Coaches, Mary Katherine Evans Hogg and Jonathan Pilz, knew all of this and were already ahead of the curve. Early coaches polls have them at the top on the field and if their Wednesday night performance is any indication, they'll be a force on the field at Luckie's as well.

#5 Just for Kicks: Some people have said, the return of Matt "The Experience" Barcus to the Peninsula will bring about a re-energized social life for the JFKers. And that's something they truly could need. Even with a consistent showing last season, Just For Kicks always seemed to fall short of getting the edge they needed to get to the top. You'd be wise to keep an eye on [Bryan] Freed's brood... they are likely to get as wild as Scott Duncan's tights.

#4 Jiminy Kick-It: Although they didn't really reform a team this season, from the looks of it Wednesday night, they certainly have reformed their social game. Last season JKI was pretty elusive at Luckie's (earning them their name sake Cricket award on several occasions). However, Week 1 brought about an entirely different team. They were flip cup playing, bar lounging and most importantly winning over the heart of our very own CEO, Ray Smith.


#3 Five O'Clockers: We should expect a great deal from this team this season, especially now that long-time notorious socialites the Courtneys/Travis Sisters (Courtney Efird, Britney Travis and Courtney Travis) are finally on the same team. All members from our All Star Social Team, this is a trio that's going to be tough to beat. Throw in some of the antics of Josh Waldrop and Jeff White and  I can guarantee this a team that we'll find near the top more often than not.

Yohn is blinded by the light...
the Jagernaut Yellow Light!

#2 Jagernauts: Mark my words: It's going to be a solid season for the Jagernauts (I know an inside source). As if their consistent performance at Luckie's week after week didn't put them apart from the crowd enough, they now have their new Canary/Ronald McDonald yellow jerseys to ensure that they never blend in. Watch out for big moves from the Jagers this Fall - they are hungry for a Golden Belt to accompany them on their "non-kickball" endeavors.


#1 Rumspringa: They're baaaaccckkkk. Perhaps they were determined to not start this season in the same manner they did. Maybe they were reunified under their freshly donned, unscathed, bright Smurf Blue jersey. Or perchance it's just because social mastermind Brian Yohn was finally not working. Whatever the magic formula the 'Springas where back where they always are.... all over the bar.  Will they be able to keep it up for next week? Stay tuned!

Rumspringaaaaaaa! The Bar Buzz's new #1!

Other Teams Worth Mentioning: Foul Balls, Chubby Gangsters

 Until next time... Bottom's Up!

xoxo Gossip Girl ;)