Bar Buzz, Fall 2016: Week 1 -The fix is in.

Every new season in WAKA is an adventure and the first week really sets the tone.  I loved seeing so many people come out to Tapps last Wednesday.  There was no challenge.  No one had an agenda.  We were just there to get to know new people or kindle the fires of friendship with familiar teammates.
A new Bar Buzz Belt was revealed and many a newbie's curiosity was peaked.  Many asked what it was or why it is.  Some scoffed at the silliness of grown adults wearing an expensive adult toy (the belt I mean, stick with me here).  Others marveled, knowing its special meaning to this league.  The belt itself, in spite of its craftsmanship and artistry, is just a thing like so many other symbols in our lives.  It represents many things.


 It is Grand Pubah Overlord Commissioner Wentworth who has put so much into building this league from fledgling roots to a bustling
 capacity league that has spilled over into new nights and areas.


 It is Commissioner Neal who interrupts diving into home for the walk off win to tend to the needs and happiness of the players.





 It is Social Czar Baer who plans incredible parties and delivers month after month.  It is bloggers and podcasters who love this league and the players in it that they gladly give up their time, talents and energy to make your experience better than any other league you could ever find. 

Penultimately it is team captains who welcome you warmly into a small subset of a bigger family.  Most importantly, it is every collective laugh, smile or hug given freely by any and all players.

 Symbols carry a lot of weight in the hearts and minds of those who understand their meaning.  That being said, don't get so caught up winning the belt that you forget what makes it important to us.  When you meet new people and have more fun on a Wednesday than you do any other night of the week, then you have already won.

Although the belt truly belongs to everyone, only one chosen team is given the right to  wear it from one week to the other.  I'm honored to once again be the person who gets to choose those teams.  (At least if I'm not that person, someone should have told me before I stayed up all night writing this.)

Week one is all about fresh faces and establishing your core within your team.  I spend a lot of time trying to get you guys to get out and mix it up with other teams, but this week I chose a team that I felt exemplified this. 


There was certainly tough competition out there and I hope that continues throughout the season.  Those teams that you expect to be creating buzz were all there.

Hot Dogs and Tacos

Alcoballics

Forcing Third Base
 

KILFS and Balls & Dolls had a good showing.







Before I reveal the Bar Buzz Belt team, let me introduce you to the Lone Wolf recipient this week.  Although B&D started out strong, all but one left early.  Undeterred, Bryan Horton continued to mingle with every team around.

The team that starts of the season with the belt is Five Toe Death Kick.  A team full of rookies that didn't shy away from the after game social scene.  They didn't spread out much this week, but they still have a lot to learn about themselves first and took a big step right into Tapps.

We don't even have shirts.

With me as their captain, they did have an advantage.  I was already paying a lot a attention to them.  If you want to have the belt next, make sure you take a cue from the teams listed above.  First show up. Then, create your team buzz.  Takes lots of pictures or write up what your team is doing this week.

Week two's challenge will be to take pictures with team members from other teams or write a quick post about the person you met for the first time this week.