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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 136 anonymousDiscussion: Senior Softball is a Joke
| Posted | Discussion |
| June 4, 2010 GALE 1 posts | Senior Softball is a Joke Reno tournament was a joke we came in second 50 women. We spend all of that money traveling to Reno and having a lot of aces and pain and battling 8 hours to first place and do you believe what the tournament game us for second place the bad thing it was from them it was a donated visors from a vendor. And senor softball made over 16,000 from the women tournament and gave there second place noting wow SENIOR SOFTBALL USA IS A JOKE!!!!! |
| June 4, 2010 #6 Men's 60 1173 posts | Since when is coming in "second place" worth anything ? If your playing for awards.......your playing the wrong game ! |
| June 4, 2010 wagon487 Men's 55 578 posts | GALE, your husband already started a thread on this, why don't you read it and see what everyone thinks? If you don't like it, stop going. peace and love, peace and love |
| June 4, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | You guys are still acting like decent awards are some kind of privilege. Why shouldn't there be? |
| June 7, 2010 Webbie25 Men's 70 2413 posts | I sure don't play for the awards. It is the fun of the competition. We won the 55AAA this weekend in Reno and got bat bags. That was nice, but I believe to a man on our team that the satisfaction of doing the best you could and winning a tough tournament will remain long after the bag has seen its better days. We had a couple guys that never dreamed of winning a ring or a tournament like that and to watch their reaction to winning was, well, like nothing else. It doesn't get any better than that. Also, the comaraderie we found from a classy R & R team will also last after 4 meetings with them. We beat them in the 1st round and they came all the way back and forced an if game. They played 12 and we played 9. Two tired teams battling it out. The memories will last a lifetime. I believe that is what this game is about. |
| June 7, 2010 TOMAR77 Men's 65 333 posts | Webbie25, congrats on your 1st place finish. I absolutely agree with your statement, including your praise of the R&R team. As a team in So Cal, we have met with R&R in the past at Oxnard they have always been a classy group of players. The real rewards are the fellowship and the health to be able to compete. |
| June 7, 2010 garyheifner 649 posts | This topic was hit on a number of months back. Gale, some of the mentally challenged will say shut up and play. I agree with you. There are 100s of award catalogs that have very nice certificates, framable and medals with ribbons that cost around $1. The awards and rings that I have be fortunate enough to win are not so much for me as something to leave for my grand children so they will know their grandfather was a little more than the old guy with hair hanging out of his nose and ears. |
| June 7, 2010 Dbax Men's 65 2100 posts | Senior softball is not a joke, but I have to agree, the red Tanel hats for second place are. You must be able to come up with something better than that. Every year, it's the same. |
| June 8, 2010 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | Agree with Dbax, Senior Softball is not a joke, there are a lot of hard working people providing us a place to play. The awards for these tournaments are laughable though, especially the All-Star patches that don't say what tournament it is for or year it was. Why would anyone want to wear anything that said "2nd Place". |
| June 8, 2010 einstein Men's 50 3112 posts | Senior softball is no joke. We've got some problems but a la LVSSA last year and SSUSA in Reno with all the smiles we're alive and well. We need to take a thorough and well represented look at ourselves and senior ball and be prepared to make some adjustments/changes to avoid throwing the baby out with the bath water. |
| June 9, 2010 Cuervo13 33 posts | I play the game for the love of it. Bottom Line. Two Best Awards I ever recieved were: A Large Towel in Incline for taking 2nd place and a huge Travel bag for winning 1999 "B" Usssa State. Both are alive and well and have been used a couple hundred times. As for the trophies and shirts I have won I could do without them. Bottom line Is I play the game for fun, not awards. I don't care if the entry fee is $200 or $495 the awards mean nothing. Matter of fact the two World rings I have sit in a drawer collecting dust. |
| June 9, 2010 ffdonnie Men's 60 137 posts | Senior softball is far from a joke. Like Joe said there are a few issues but that's it. Just got back from Carson City, finished fourth, hurt my arm, but wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Great times. The only thing that's a joke around here is you and your great English skills. Did you proof read your message before you sent it? Maybe try put down the bottle before typing. Garyheifnner if that's all you have to show your grand kids then your kind of pathetic. See it's easy to insult people sitting at a keyboard. Why is everything so negative on here? |
| June 9, 2010 Enviro-Vac Men's 65 489 posts | I kinda' like the game the way it is.... |
| June 9, 2010 GALE D 2 posts | okay for one thing we wasn't playing for the prize it is the principal and for another thing I was typing to fast and I mispelled a few words. And we are not crying for the prizes so you people who are voicing your opinion keep them to yourself because you don't know or team and what we went through. I have a right to say what I want regarding the tournaments and personally it was a joke. ffdonnie you are an axx and i mispelled that on purpose. Believe me we enjoy the game and that is not the problem. We don't want anything that says second because that was not what we were shooting for the problem was the visor we would have been better off getting nothing at all since it was for charity anyway. And our team is a classy team but the year after year we kept our mouth shut and if we don't say anything how would things changes because some of the statements that are posted are uncalled for and the reason why I am speaking out is for change not for prize. Silver Fox #58 |
| June 9, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | Gale if you and The Silver Foxes are all that unhappy with SSUSA theres always SPA, ASA, NCSSA, UPS, USPS, FEDEX and others you might try. "Most" of us consider Senior Softball recreation, if we want awards we can visit the supermarket and hit the quarter vending machines. We play because we enjoy time with our friends, and away from our daily grinds, not for some trinket. |
| June 9, 2010 GALE D 2 posts | WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT E4/E6 I SAID WE LOVE THE GAME SO STOP TAKING IT TO A NEW LEVEL I HAVE A RIGHT TO VOICE MY OPINION. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE MEN OR MORE CONCERN THAN THE WOMAN BECAUSE THAT IS ALL I SEE WHO IS VOICING THERE OPINION. |
| June 9, 2010 #6 Men's 60 1173 posts | GALE D., Give it a rest ! Screaming doesn't make it better ! And you are the "only" woman voicing this ! |
| June 9, 2010 jc24 96 posts | Ladies/Gentlemen..I've read all these captions and I must say, honestly..these last 7yrs of Senior Softball have been the GREATEST YEARS of my career. I'm 57, had more fun and laughs, GREAT TIMES with my friends on trips, van rides, stories of the tourneys we played, some World Championships, etc, etc...to celebrate with your friends 300 or 500 miles away from home, you did it together, FAR OUT WEIGHS the All World selection, RINGS,MVP, bags, plaques,etc,etc. I wouldn't trade these last 7yrs for ANYTHING. The commadre among all the age groups, 50 -80yrs is 1st CLASS wherever you go, guys are smiling and having fun, playing a kids game at 50 to 80+...the smell of BEN-GAY or Bio-FREEZE...haha..knee wraps, leg wraps. THANKS to ALL OF YOU that make this Senior game ..WHAT IT IS....a "true blessing"... Jerry Carter #24 Dayton Legends 55's |
| June 9, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | Gale, there is no disrespect meant, just making a point. That "if" the awards are that important to you and the Silver Foxes, maybe SSUSA isnt the association for you. Jerry, very well put. I can smell the hot dogs, Gator Aide, and Icy hot now! =) |
| June 9, 2010 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | hey guys just asking,do pro teams get any money for placing second,yes they do,the losers of the finals in all the sports get a nice check for coming in second.most every tourney(besides senior ones)i have been to gives something usually down to 3rd(if enough teams are there)and charge half as much for the entry fee.just saying. |
| June 9, 2010 Dbax Men's 65 2100 posts | I agree with Mad Dog. Better prizes for 2nd place. It's time for teams to speak up. And why is ffdonnie being such an A-hole? |
| June 9, 2010 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | All I saw in Reno/Carson City was good competition, good comroderie, good balls, good bats and even good umpiring. Sure there are a few things that could be better about our game but what is the alternative? ... not play? I don't think we want that! Any message board tends to bring out negative comments. Make it a point to bring out something good about the game when you are writing in to make suggestions on what can be done to make it better. |
| June 9, 2010 zonk13 8 posts | ffdonnie, you're no savant. "then your kind of pathetic"???!! How about: "then you're kind of pathetic"? Well done, Homer. Doh! |
| June 10, 2010 #6 Men's 60 1173 posts | All have a good weekend.I am outta here.......heading to Dallas for the Texas State Tournament. mad dog.......I guess if we play you again , you still want the 5 runs.lol have a safe trip and see you there ! |
| June 10, 2010 Webbie25 Men's 70 2413 posts | I have never been so speechless over the direction a thread has taken.Whew! I have boxes of trophies and plaques in the attic and keep a few 'special' ones out, but that is not the important thing .The important thing is the competing and the friendships I have formed over the years.Have you really thought what it takes to put on a tournament??The TD'S go out, set a date and find fields by talking to people all over the nation to determine good venues for us to play at.They advertise the tournaments, arrange specials at hotels, get the best umps that they can (and that takes time to determine that they are getting good umps, that the umps can and will participate, how much to pay the umps, they handle all the finances for the tournament, arrange for 'rewards' for the tournaments, determine what rules we will play by, and there is a lot more I don't have time to write about. That is the beginning. When the weekend arrives, they have to have brackets ready, late cancellations accounted for, equipment for the tourney (Balls, field maintenance prepared for, make sure the park has concessions, ETC. ETC.). Then the tourney starts-they check ID's, bats if necessary, handle controversy (I know that is rare :-) ), handle angry teams, and keep the tourney moving, etc. THEN IT RAINS!!! And they go nuts rescheduling to get it in. ETC. ETC. I think Dave Dowell and all involved really deserve our thanks for doing this. Dave spent TWELVE days in a row in Reno for us to put on that wonderful tournament. To say Senior Softball is a joke because the reward did not live up to expectations was a bit harsh. At 57 years old I would not trade these experiences for anything and am thankful I am healthy enough to compete. Thanks SSUSA. |
| June 10, 2010 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | #6 its raining cats and dog up here(tyler) at the moment,not sure how dallas is doing. |
| June 10, 2010 Cuervo13 33 posts | Gale D: My question to you is "Would we be having this conversation if the awards package was better? Seems like there is a lot of anger built up inside from way back. Not just the handful of SSUSA tourneys your teams play in. Over 10 years ago when our team was playing Usssa B tourneys up and down Cali and the West coast. One of our players got into a debate with myself and the other coach. He was really pissed off cuz he did not get an all tourney award. I told him he shouldn't be playing if he needs a little 11.00 trophy up his self esteem. He was hell bent on the subject. You know what??? We red tagged him the next season. find a new hobby if you want the little awards to be a big thing in your life. |
| June 10, 2010 JLD930 Men's 55 67 posts | Mark, perfectly said |
| June 15, 2010 Hauler 3 posts | Heck, I'd be happy just to be able to play in these tournaments. I have not gravitated to the senior leagues yet, 56 and still playing with the kids. Would love to be on a senior team and travel with them if given a chance. Peace Gale! |
| June 16, 2010 GeHall44 Men's 55 88 posts | Jawood -love your comment and agree that the comraderie, competition and just having fun playing ball almost always does it for me. But I also can relate to the cost versus reward debate. Dave, Franny and Terry supply us with a great product that a lot of us enjoy. I always look forward to giving them a bit of sarcasm and love at the same time to get their attention when I see them. As for rewards, I have a few ideas that seem positive to me. Rings - don't offer them unless they are free. I payed for a few my first few years, then just let them go after that. All Tourney patches - do away with them please. They just end up in the bottom of your sock drawer or something worse. Second place hats - same as All Tourney Patches. Bat Bags - nicer but still not what most people want which are the expensive wheel bags. I would like to see these award possibilities. First Place, Second Place and Third Place. Take the combined cost of the current awards and turn them into something that all of us want - Senior Bats - one for the Team or more if possible. Gloves - for MVP maybe. Batting gloves - instead of second place hats or All Tourney patches maybe. Team Credit for future SSUSA events - nothing like money to create more incentive to win. Just a few suggestions I would like to see because my 2nd place hat I just saw laying in the trunk of my car just reminds me how we should have won that frickin IF game in Reno... |
| June 16, 2010 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | A couple of good suggestions there, GeHall44, especially money!! USSSA gives out travel money now for National Championship play. |
| June 16, 2010 #6 Men's 60 1173 posts | Jawood, Every USSSA tournament I have ever played for National or World, always paid travel money...when you "showed up" to these tournaments, you got a check ! |
| June 16, 2010 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | Looks like you are older than me but we never saw any. |
| June 16, 2010 Captain Marauder Men's 65 91 posts | We still play in money tournaments in Canada in fact we play in one this weekend,won it last year donated the money back for cancer research . Its nice to win a prize I play for the love of the game. Maddog sharpen your bat see you at Mequite. |
| June 17, 2010 JoeB021064 Men's 45 8 posts | Gale, after reading your original post, I wish that the tournament had given out punctuation and grammar as a second place prize. |
| June 17, 2010 Garocket Men's 55 259 posts | Gale if you think Senior Softball made 16000 on your womens's tournament then you are the joke How about the time and money it takes to travel into cities and get this tournament set up Then you have motel expenses for Tournament Directors and Umpires ball expense. Field rentals and more hidden cost then you will ever know On the women's tournamenmt they might have made 2000, but no where near 16000 But thats not a lot, when Senior Softball has an office to keep up and how many hours does Terry, Fran , and Dave have involved in this tournament You lady, have no CLUE |
