| Notre Dame tourney notes |
[Feb. 5th, 2007|08:15 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  cold | ] |
Josh came along for this tourney, his third one with his Dad. We were both looking forward to seeing the Notre Dame campus, though the forecast was for bitter cold temps. I picked him up from school at 2:00, and we hit the road. Chicago traffic was typically brutal, but we were in no rush. We lost an hour to the time change, and arrived at our hotel around 8 p.m.
Keeping to what has become a tradition, I forgot to pack exactly one item. This time, it was syringes (for insulin). We found a nearby Walgreens, and I picked up some lip balm and a trinket for Josh. As usual, I slept poorly, as the heating unit kept kicking in and out throughout the night, waking me repeatedly.
I parked at a lot rather distant from the tourney site, and used a call box to request transport, which the director assured was not problematic. The disembodied voice simply laughed at my request, but gave directions to our destination. So, with the wind chill around a brazillion below zero, Josh and I headed out on our frosty journey.
About 10 minutes later, we were by the Golden Dome. But none of the buildings had signs, so I couldn't spot our destination. Out of necessity, we found an open building, and warmed up briefly in the lobby, which had a nice heater. Josh's fingers were numb, and he was whining, which causes me to lose my patience and cool.
We finally find the right building after a few more bitterly chilly minutes. But I don't know where in the spacious building the tourney is being held. There is a Starbucks here (I'm guessing Winter's never been to this one), but no one can help. After searching to no avail for several minutes, we seek a bathroom. I'm now worried that I will miss the first game. Fortunately, Jason Idalski comes into the bathroom, and we're rescued.
The tourney starts 30 minutes late, so I'm actually early. I'm seeded 8th of 14 in D1, expected to win about 5.5 of 12 games. I haven't had much success against this field, and I'm coming off a horrendous RedEye (9-17), so I'm hardly brimming with confidence.
Let the games begin!
G1 vs. SK: He gets a nice 2X2 PI(L)FERS for 48 on turn 2, but I get AAINLOV to an open S (1) to take the lead. His (D)ENATURe for 77 is followed two turns later by ANSeRIN(E) for 71, and he's ahead, 282-191. But I come back with CEIIKSS (2) for 83, then challenge off his GORZY*, and pull away, 426-389. Power tile distribution (PT): Me QSSZ SK JSSX?? This is the first of SIX games in which I got double-blanked. Amazingly, I win four of them.
G2 vs. DP: I choke and play (G)EsNARIA*, which gets booted, then follow with AN(G)ARIEs, but he gets D(E)XTRINE for 84. I'm ahead, 225-192, before the game goes south. I hold on REBATOS, and foolishly challenge. He follows with JERRY for 62 and CHUB(B)IEr for 69, and runs away, 515-305. DP, the top seed, finishes 11-1. PT: Me SSSZ? DP JQSX?
G3 vs. LS: I challenge off COATIES*, then get AEGIMRS through an R (3) for 86, ADEGRTU through AD (4) for 63, and L(E)CTERNS for 74 before she gets a late OEsTRIN. Despite getting double-blanked again, I hang on to win, 460-426. PT: Me JQSSSX LS SZ??
G4 vs. MP: The game is close through the midgame, until I get INOSITE for 74, followed immediately by (G)AMELaNS for 83, which draws a challenge. I win, 414-302. PT: Me JSSSS? MP QXZ?
Lunch break. I've already played the top 2 seeds, and though I'm 3-1, my cume is negative. Fortunately, the building has a food court, so we don't need to go out into the Big Chill.
G5 vs. EDG: I challenge off his TOR(T)INIS* (INTROITS would have played), and he later unsuccessfully challenges my DUNK(ER), and I'm up 144-89 early, but he comes back with JEFE for 63. DEVEiNS for 78 puts me back ahead briefly, but he gets plays of 37 and 40 (twice), while I'm unable to score 20 the final 7 turns, and go down in flames, 327-397. PT: Me QSSX?? EDG JSSZ
G6 vs. AM: After an exchange, I get SPORTI(V)E for 68, but he gets ENDEARs 2 turns later to pull even. His NINNIEs gives him the lead as I'm swimming in vowels, but I get CITROUS late to pull ahead, and hold on to win a tight endgame, despite getting double-blanked yet again, 382-380. PT: Me JSSZ AM QSSX??
G7 vs. EM: He strikes first with dANGLES, but after 7 turns, I'm only down by 5. He gets a nice 9, (dE)MEANING, then draws the second blank and gets (U)nDERPAY to a TW for 92, and coasts to an easy win, 424-350. PT: Me JQSSXZ EM: SS??
So at the end of day 1, I'm at 4-3, -169. I tell Josh over dinner that my goal for Sunday is to go 4-1, which would give me a chance to cash. We brave the cold to go to a sporting goods store, and I get him a Notre Dame t-shirt and a Colts long sleeve shirt, which he wears under his Peyton Manning jersey the next morning (to match his Dad's jersey). I sleep a little better, and we find a closer parking lot. Though it's even colder, the walk isn't nearly as brutal, as we get to take a warm shortcut through the library (which has the famous "Touchdown Jesus" painted on one of its walls).
G8 vs. JC: After a few fishing plays (which I normally avoid), I get PEATIER on turn 3, but see nothing good the rest of the way. His SUNRISe for 79 gives him a lead, and he never looks back, cruising to a 454-373 victory. PT: Me X JC JQSSSSZ??
At 4-4, -250, it's looking bleak. I'm in 9th place out of 14, and cashing seems unlikely. Time to kick it into another gear...
G9 vs. HL: I start with BEIOSTY (5) for 81. She pulls even on turn 4 with NOTIFIE(R), but I get GAIn(L)IER the next turn, then challenge off her CADIZ*. cURLINGS draws a challenge, and a big lead withstands her late COINERS, and I win handily, 495-375. PT: Me JSSSX?? HL QSZ
G10 vs. FL: I start horribly, taking a flier on LAXATED*, which gets the boot. Instead of 40 for LATEX, I get zippo, and the board is tight. I then try DINOSSU through an open I (6), not sure if it's good. It survives a challenge, and the rout is on. I get (T)ENURING for 86, VIG(O)ROuS for 62, FEZ for 52, and pILEATE for 72, while FL exchanges thrice, and creates openings for me to pounce on. I win by 401(!!), 590-189, getting the high game for the tourney, good for $20. PT: Me all 10! FL: yuk
So my cume goes from negative to positive quickly, and I zoom all the way to 3rd place.
G11 vs. JI: I open with HUNKIE, a new 6, which gets held briefly, but JI hooks it with the R in GENITOR. I get ABEEIST through a K (7). His SOUnDER gives him a lead, but it goes back and forth the rest of the way. He gets IMaGINE for 75, then I get AI(G)RETTE for 68 and PEEP for 56, and it's down to a tight endgame. We're both under a minute on the clock, and I find a way to win, 463-460, and it survives a recount. I move into 2nd place. PT: Me SSZ JI JQSSX??
DP gets Gibsonized, so it's a rematch for 2nd place in the KOH match.
G12 vs. EDG: I get away with JUTTER* for 40 on turn 2. He holds my FLUORI(C) for quite a while. After a minute, I draw provisional tiles, which included both blanks and an S (I had kept an S). I'm not certain of the word, and fear a successful challenge, which would put both blanks back in the bag. He challenges, and my heart sinks. I'm pleasantly suprised that it's good. I get an easy WETneSS for 83, then challenge off his G(R)AVIDES*, and the game's in the bag. His GRIDDL(E)S late isn't nearly enough, and I win, 408-309. PT: Me JQSSS?? EDG SXZ
So, I win the last 4 in a row to finish 8-4, good for 2nd place. My rating will go up about 50 points, to near 1670. I averaged 416+, drew only 10 of 24 blanks, but had 30 of 48 S's. I had 22 bingos to my opp's 18. No phony bingos stayed on the board, though some phony non-bingoes stuck. I was double-blanked in HALF of the games, but still went 4-2 in those games. I drew both blanks in four games, going 3-1. The blanks were split only twice, and I was 1-1 in those games.
Josh told me on the drive home that he had the "best weekend ever", even though he didn't get to swim. We made it home in just over 3 hours, and caught the Super Bowl. It was the perfect end to a great weekend. Josh is seriously considering playing the game competitively, learning words and strategy from his Dad, and promising to work on his attitude, as he is a terrible loser at the tender age of nine.
No rush there. I won't push him. I want him to enjoy the game. But it's nice to think about our taking trips to tourneys together someday and having him actually compete.
We both hope to return to Notre Dame sometime, though hopefully in the spring, summer, or fall. I'm hoping to go to Urbana for another tourney next weekend.
1. VALONIA(S)
2. SICKIES
3. ARMIGE(R)S
4. GR(AD)UATED
5. OBESITY
6. SINUSO(I)D
7. BEA(K)IEST |
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| Comments: |
From: (Anonymous)
2007-02-07 04:46 am (UTC)
Beaming over here | (Link)
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Very proud of you.. and so happy you and Josh had a great weekend. Hopefully your winning streak will continue and you will make that 1700 club!! Luv ya.. Jean
From: (Anonymous)
2007-02-13 04:52 pm (UTC)
I smell a heartwarming sports movie in the works... | (Link)
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Congrat's on the great comeback and a solid second place finish. Next time you're at club we should definitely get a game in. I have to take refuge in my (maybe too high) club rating because lord knows ye ole national rating isn't spiking anytime soon. I will see you in two weeks.
-Brett
![[User Picture]](http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/46216411/10096402) | From: ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) hartsman
2007-02-14 03:41 am (UTC)
Re: I smell a heartwarming sports movie in the works... | (Link)
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Thanks, Brett. Pretty fucking boring movie, though.
I expect your rating will catch up with your ability soon enough. My infallible crystal ball says you will cash at the Arden Cup, and you'll get a nice spike, despite minimal zzz's from the new kidlet... | |
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