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Online now: 3 members: Antiques, Swany20, TABLE SETTER 11; 93 anonymousDiscussion: VA Player Looking to Play Dalton
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| June 29, 2010 Al T 8 posts | VA Player Looking to Play Dalton Looking to play Dalton in July. 50's or 55's (56). Currently on a 50's AAA SPA and 50's Major SSUSA team in Virginia. Can/will play any position. Formally with Diamond Fever 50's past 6 years. Contact me at farhiker@hotmail.com Al T |
| June 30, 2010 Al T 8 posts | Found a Team. Thanks |
| June 30, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | How do you have a 'national' tournament where guys are just picked up for it? That is wrong on so many levels. |
| June 30, 2010 oneofeleven18 Men's 50 57 posts | I thought the rules required you to play at least one SPA tourney with your new team before you could play in the National. At least that is what Ridge told us a couple of years ago when he would not let us play with a team. Our team folded so we out in the cold as to say. |
| June 30, 2010 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Perhaps if he played with another team that "qualified" got his ok. National... nationally advertised... World... it's advertised & on the internet...doesn't that work the same way? lol Heck, they sound good at least. Go play, have a good day doing it. |
| July 1, 2010 wagon487 Men's 55 578 posts | Dirty and taits, don't be hating let the guy play. rules allow you to add people to your roster. there are check and balances in play here. let the guy play, he loves the game. |
| July 1, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | 'hating'???? What are you, 16? No hating at all, and if it is a rule so be it. But it still makes a farce of an already very questionable "national" tournament that my guess is there are NO qualifiers for and you can pick up guys last minute. So what if he 'loves the game'. That is nice, I suppose, but completely irrelevant to the point here. |
| July 1, 2010 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | all assoc in all age groups allow a pickup or 2 for nationals,so what is the prol.oh and they have been doing it for a long time. |
| July 1, 2010 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | Bob, you may want to check the individual association's rule books. I don't beleive SSUSA or SPA allows out of region players. NSA does for sure and maybe ISA. |
| July 2, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | If they want to allow a pickup, so be it. But make the pickup BEFORE the qualifier. Oops, never mind........... |
| July 2, 2010 birdie Men's 70 802 posts | I am not sure if this helps but there is a SPA tourney the weekend of 7/10/10.in our area. If he plays with that team and is on the roster then that should eliminate any problems with being a pick up. Thanks Harry |
| July 2, 2010 Bomber #7 Men's 60 62 posts | I have read several of your posts Dirty, what Association to you play in? It looks like you are from a different group, trying to belittle SSUSA. Am I correct? If not, why all the petty berating for an organization that gives so many seniors a place to belong, a multitude of exercise to keep seniors more fit and help prolong lives, and a wonderful tool to meet other seniors with similar interests. You should start your own association, I'm sure whoever you live with would be happy to get you out of the house. In what regional tournament are you next participating? What is your tournament schedule for the remainder of the season? |
| July 6, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | Truth be told, they are NOT 'nationals', not unless there is qualifying for them. What makes them different than any other weekend tournament besides the arbitrary name? And how do you change your roster for one weekend and call it "your" team? |
| July 6, 2010 neck10 714 posts | dirty why dont you start your own leauge maybe you could agree with yourself instead of being so negative all the time????????????????? |
| July 6, 2010 diehard Men's 55 246 posts | I believe that a team is supposed to play in a qualifier, and that roster is the one that must be used in Dalton. Now, a player can play in a qualifier with one team, and if that team does not go to the Nationals, then he can hook up with another team, as long as his first team signs a waiver releasing him. But he must have first played in a qualifier. Now as far as calling something a National tournament, well the dictionary describes National as; A contest or tournament involving participants from all parts of a nation. Often used in the plural. Now I believe that The SPA tournament would qualify as a National Tournament since teams come from all parts of the country. |
| July 6, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | diehard, so by that definition there can be no such things as Eastern Nationals and Western Nationals. There is only one nation. The East is not a nation, neither is the West. Neck, baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! |
| July 6, 2010 armiho211 Men's 70 449 posts | MY .02C- players should be added if the team is going to be short or has only 10 players due to injuries. |
| July 6, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | Exactly correct. Much like 'courtesy' runners should only be used when a runner it truly hurt, NOT after some guy just legged out a double or triple but there is a faster guy on the bench to put in. |
| July 6, 2010 armiho211 Men's 70 449 posts | oops ! hit wrong button. BUT THE ADDED PLAYERS should be fron the same strength/age level as the team. LVSSA allows players from the next higher strength level to play down, this is not right. most teams try to keep their team as intact as possible, ADDING STRONGER PLAYERS destroys the parity of the group. |
| July 6, 2010 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | frank,ssusa doesn't allow same age players to be added,till you drop to 10 players or less i think.they have to be from the next older group at least.also must be same level or lower. |
| July 6, 2010 diehard Men's 55 246 posts | Gary, If there is a tournament held in the East, and teams can come from anywhere in the nation to play in it, then it would be an Eastern National. If it's held in the West, and teams from all over our country were invited, it would then be a Western National. I thought you were smart enough to understand that, but maybe not. The more you argue these trivial points, instead of just sticking to the basic disagreements with the game of Senior Softball that you have, such as equipment and rule changes, where some of your points are valid ones, the more trivial that you become. The more that you disagree with every word that everyone says, makes you sound like an angry old man, just going out of your way to get under peoples skin. Which if that were your true objective, then you have been quite successful. I guess that in your mind, if you can get under someone on this websites skin, make them hot under the collar, then that makes up for your lack of skills at being able to compete on the field of play. Especially on the National level. |
| July 7, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | diehard, if it was one or the other I could understand. But there is BOTH. So there are TWO 'nationals'??? If that is the case then I sure hope the NBA uses that logic and has a second round of playoffs. Then maybe the Cavs could win the title and LeBoob would no longer be the Championship-less One. |
| July 7, 2010 diehard Men's 55 246 posts | All National means is that teams from our nation can participate, that's it. The word National does not mean Championship. And I don't think the fans of Cleveland will have LeBron after 9 p.m. tomorrow night, when he announces that he is going to play with either Chris Bosh and D. Wade in Miami, or Amar'e Stoudemire in New York. And maybe there are 2 meanings to the word National, but SPA clearly states, SPA National Championships. |
| July 7, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | That is not what the word 'National" means in just about any other sport at any other level I have ever heard of. I understand people can twist the English language many ways, but tell that to the guys who claim they won "Nationals" and hope everyone around thinks it means what it used to. As far as the Cavs, except to the owner's checkbook his loss would not really be one. Seven years, seven rosters with James' name on it, and NO championships. At the same time seven other rosters without James' name have won titles. Clearly he is neither a guarantee nor a requirement to winning it all. Let some other poor fans listen to how he has "spoiled them", and how he "feels sorry for himself" that they did not win. His act is really old here in Northeast Ohio. |
| July 8, 2010 diehard Men's 55 246 posts | It means the same now as it meant 20 years ago, you are the one who misconstrues the meaning of the word. To say "we won the Nationals" simply means that they won the National Championship, that's all. To keep implying the word National means Championship is silly. As far as Lebron, Cleveland will miss him, and Miami will welcome him with open arms. There has never ever been one man who plays a team sport, that was great without having a great supporting cast. I really enjoy playing the game of softball! Meeting friends, looking forward to the comraderie, and the thrill of competition. I would hope that before your time is up, that you too, could enjoy the game of softball, the way the men and women our age that still have the ability to play this game do. Stop dwelling on the things that you dislike so much about the game, and just go out and play before it's too late. |
| July 8, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | Not really. To win 'Nationals' means, or used to, or should, that you won the ultimate title in your sport in the nation. Can't have that if there is more than one, as in Eastern and Western. I have lived in NE Ohio for 53 years, and most of the region couldn't care less if he is gone. Losing the Browns was MUCH more of a blow economically and the the psyche of this area than a guy with NO titles will be. By the way, Bird at Indiana State and Manning at Kansas were great without much of a cast at all, just to name two that come immediately to mind. His cast was just fine during two seasons in which they lead the league in wins. When Damon Jones, Donyell Marshall, Larry Hughes, Mo Williams, Shaq, and Antwan Jamison were each brought here everyone raved about how they will put the team over the top, how all the pieces are now here. Then, when LeLoser can't do his part like Kobe, Michael, Magic, Bird, and on and on have done before him it was everyone else's fault. People can't have it both ways. |
| July 8, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | By the way, I play six games a week and the occasional tournament. I am enjoying it just fine. I just don't like to be snowed by things like bogus tournament names and silly rules. We can both enjoy the game and still think about the silliness you know. |
| July 8, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | SSUSA adds a "qualifier" to every tournament they host. So whats the problem? Dirty your wife must be ecstatic, with you gone that often. It'll be nice having LeBron here on the West Coast! |
| July 8, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | Actually I think the kids like it more. No one at home to make them do their chores. :) It will be nice to have him out of the North Coast. Now perhaps they can build an actual team instead of just running around grabbing players he approves of to make him happy. And all for nothing! |
| July 12, 2010 Bomber #7 Men's 60 62 posts | So basically Dirty, I'll assume from you skirting the questions on your schedule or avoiding answering what Regional or 1/2 National you'll be playing in, you aren't a player in demand; in other words, you aren't wanted by any decent travel teams in your area. You are a rec player who likes to stir up problems for nationally rated serious players. If it was any other way, you'd be able to state which team and tournament you'll be in this season. How about an easier question, what regional or national have you played in since 2000, and what team would that have been with. For your info, Labron will be missed, watch your attendance figures in 2011 and see for yourself. Lastly, how many of these boards have you been banned from other than Softballfans? I view small minded guys like you without the talent to be a decent player as a wannabe with a "little big man" syndrome. Use your talent, instead of your chip on your shoulder, to be part of the solution, not the problem. It's obvious you aren't an idiot, just lacking common sence and compassion. |
| July 13, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | What is a 1/2 national? Was that "1/2" meant to be one-half? I thought the Civil War reunited the nation into one. Ask Gilbert how much James will be missed. James has won exactly the same number of NBA titles as you and me. What will be missed? His posse on the team plane? Behind the bench? Running around the practice facility and the arena like little kids at recess? James telling us he has spoiled us, and that he feels sorry for himself after they got eliminated? I think the region will survive just fine without the drama of the Championshipless One. |
| July 13, 2010 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | I think having an eastern nationals and a western nationals is the only way to go. Lots of teams have budget problem or guys on the team that just can't afford to go all the way across the country to play. It is just the economic truth. Why do we have to keep cutting down the people that provide us a venue to play and do the best they can? At our age-I know I am thankful to still be able to play and compete-we should be thankful-not grumpy old men. :-) We have 3 guys out with surgery right now-and another got his sternum broke by a one hop rocket in Pinetop last weekend. One is our leadoff man, and his return is uncertain because of the seriousness of his surgery. He has played very little and missed both qualifiers. Why should we not be able to add him to the roster, or add someone to replace him? We are getting older-there has to be a provision for adding players in circumstances like that. Why so critical, Dirty? |
| July 13, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | Webbie, I agree and that is fine. But just call them Regionals, they are not and cannot be "Nationals". You can't logically have two Nationals in one nation. I understand marketing, and that must be all this is, but a little honesty and integrity never hurt anyone. Not trying to be critical, just to keep some integrity to the game. Your team's injuries might very well be legit, but you open the floodgates with this to teams who will find many reasons to pick up players to improve their teams. I compare it to the silly "courtesy" runner rule. It started out for guys who were actually hurting, and now it is clearly just an excuse to get a faster guy in the game. Same here. Will easily just be an excuse to improve a roster. I don't find integrity to be such a bad thing. |
| July 13, 2010 Bomber #7 Men's 60 62 posts | Speaking of silly, your comments add nothing constructive to any topic you comment on. And Dirty, once again you show your colors by not answering your schedule questions. Not much in demand in a sport you like, take it out on others. No travel team interested in your services, degrade it on their website. Talk about silly, what a waste. And as for the Cavs, they never had enough talent to go with LaBron. If you look at the good national teams, instead of your neighborhood regional team, you'll see they had one thing in common, they brought in a top level supporting cast, unlike the Cavs. He had no help. I'm not sticking up for him, I in fact don't care for his immature "hot dog" ways. But, a team can't win with one player, ask Ernie Banks. With that said, attendence will be down next year and so will the number of wins. Like all other sports in that region, the Cavs will be forgotten. No wins, no support. Answer the softball questions so we can give your statements some merit. |
| July 13, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | You assume far too much. They had all the talent the de facto GM ever asked for or approved of. He approved ALL transactions. I live hear, I know exactly what was being said. EVERY time they brought someone in that James wanted, from Damon Jones to Donyell Marshall to Larry Hughes to Shaq to Mo Williams to Antwan Jamison all anyone ever said was now we have what we need to win it all. When it didn't happen, it was everyone's fault except for the Championshipless One's. Funny, he had enough help to win over 60 games each the last two years. Then he couldn't perform on the big stage, and it was everyone else. And then he felt sorry for himself. Hilarious! He has NO leadership skills, which he has shown in abundance since the season ended. |
| July 13, 2010 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | These 'Nationals' are open to everybody. If one team goes to the Eastern Nationals from the west or vice versa, doesn't that make it a national? Or does it take 2 teams, or 3 or what? We again are not pros and do not have a pro budget and a lot of very competitive guys and teams just cannot travel like that. Sheesh! |
| July 13, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | What tournament isn't open to everybody? So how does that make these "nationals"? Are there tournaments that are geographically closed? I didn't think so. |
| July 15, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | What part of "Qualifier" isnt clear? Common sense tells us that a Western National is just that. An event that is held in the Western HALF of the Nation. Seems pretty clear. TOCNov. 10 - Nov. 15, 2009 WINTER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (BEGINNING OF 2010 SEASON) Qualifier Ft. Myers FL TOCNov. 17 - Nov. 22, 2009 WINTER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (BEGINNING OF 2010 SEASON) Qualifier Las Vegas NV Jan. 9 - Jan. 17, 2010 Winter Classic Qualifier Menifee CA Jan. 23 - Jan. 24, 2010 Tune Up Qualifier Phoenix AZ Feb. 3 - Feb. 7, 2010 Top Gun National Qualifier Santee CA Feb. 10 - Feb. 14, 2010 TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS Polk County FL Feb. 13 - Feb. 14, 2010 Gold Glove Qualifier Phoenix AZ Feb. 20 - Feb. 21, 2010 Gold Glove Qualifier Phoenix AZ March 6 - March 7, 2010 Gold Coast Spring Challenge Qualifier Oxnard CA March 6 - March 7, 2010 Spring Kick Off Qualifier Clute TX March 10 - March 11, 2010 Top Gun National Qualifier TBA CA March 13 - March 14, 2010 Top Gun National Qualifier TBA CA March 20 - March 21, 2010 Spring Training Classic Qualifier Phoenix AZ TOCMarch 23 - March 28, 2010 SPRING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Qualifier St. George, UT & Mesquite NV TOCApril 9 - April 11, 2010 PELICAN CLASSIC WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS Qualifier Clearwater/St. Petersburg FL April 10 - April 11, 2010 Gold Coast Spring Challenge Qualifier Oxnard CA April 10 - April 11, 2010 Yuba City I Qualifier Yuba City CA April 15 - April 18, 2010 Chesapeake Challenge I Qualifier CANCELLED Chesapeake VA April 16 - April 18, 2010 Makule Kinipopo-TBA Qualifier Honolulu HI April 17 - April 18, 2010 Gold Coast Spring Challenge Qualifier Oxnard CA April 17 - April 18, 2010 South Puget Sound Qualifier Lacey WA April 17 - April 17, 2010 Puget Sound Recreational Tournament Kent WA TOCApril 20 - April 25, 2010 SPRING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Qualifier Polk County FL April 22 - April 25, 2010 Bay State Senior Shootout I Qualifier CANCELLED Palmer MA April 22 - April 23, 2010 Top Gun National Qualifier San Diego CA April 24 - April 25, 2010 Top Gun National Qualifier Cathedral City CA April 30 - May 2, 2010 Brickyard Invitational Qualifier Indianapolis IN May 15 - May 16, 2010 Gold Coast Spring Challenge Women's Qualifier Oxnard CA May 15 - May 24, 2010 New England Classic Qualifier North Branford CT May 15 - May 16, 2010 Raleigh National Qualifier Qualifier Raleigh NC May 15 - May 16, 2010 Las Vegas Tune Up Recreational Tournament Las Vegas NV TOCMay 18 - May 23, 2010 ATLANTIC COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS Qualifier Loudoun County VA May 20 - May 23, 2010 Heart of Texas Qualifier Georgetown TX May 21 - May 23, 2010 Milwaukee Classic Qualifier Milwaukee WI May 22 - May 23, 2010 Lansing, Michigan Qualifier Lansing MI TOCMay 29 - June 6, 2010 ROCK 'N RENO CHALLENGE CUP Qualifier Reno NV June 4 - June 6, 2010 Bluegrass Challenge Cup Qualifier Clarksville IN June 4 - June 6, 2010 Bridgewater Garden State Tourney Qualifier Bridgewater NJ TOCJune 10 - June 13, 2010 TEXAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Qualifier Dallas TX June 12 - June 15, 2010 Bay State Senior Shootout II Qualifier Palmer MA June 12 - June 13, 2010 10,000 Lakes Classic Qualifier Rochester MN June 12 - June 13, 2010 Players' Memorial Recreational Tournament Lacey WA June 17 - June 20, 2010 Chesapeake Challenge II Qualifier CANCELLED Chesapeake VA June 19 - June 20, 2010 Gold coast Summer Challenge 40s Qualifier Oxnard CA TOCJune 22 - June 27, 2010 JIM SHERMAN MEMORIAL NORTHWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS Qualifier Portland OR June 23 - June 27, 2010 Quad Cities Classic Qualifier Quad Cities IL June 26 - June 27, 2010 Gold Coast Summer Challenge Qualifier Oxnard CA June 26 - June 27, 2010 Chili Pepper Classic Qualifier El Paso TX TOCJuly 6 - July 11, 2010 MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS Qualifier Shawnee KS TOCJuly 9 - July 18, 2010 WESTERN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Lacey WA July 15 - July 18, 2010 Salt City Classic Qualifier Syracuse NY July 22 - July 25, 2010 Crabtown Classic Qualifier Glen Burnie MD July 23 - July 25, 2010 Veterans' Tournament Qualifier College Station TX July 31 - Aug. 1, 2010 Arizona State Championships Qualifier Prescott AZ TOCAug. 3 - Aug. 8, 2010 EASTERN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Raleigh NC TOCAug. 10 - Aug. 15, 2010 CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Qualifier Yolo County CA Aug. 13 - Aug. 18, 2010 Ocean State Classic Qualifier Warwick RI Aug. 13 - Aug. 15, 2010 West Texas Qualifier Lubbock TX Aug. 19 - Aug. 22, 2010 Top Gun National Qualifier Chino Hills CA Aug. 19 - Aug. 22, 2010 Classic Rock at the RAC Qualifier Lacey WA Aug. 19 - Aug. 22, 2010 Badger Senior Softball Classic Qualifier Oshkosh WI TOCAug. 20 - Aug. 22, 2010 SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS Qualifier Birmingham AL Aug. 26 - Aug. 29, 2010 Labor Day Festival Qualifier Boerne TX TOCAug. 26 - Aug. 29, 2010 NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS Qualifier Lansing MI Aug. 27 - Aug. 29, 2010 St. Louis Open Qualifier St. Louis MO Sept. 10 - Sept. 12, 2010 Homer Winbush Classic Qualifier Lawrenceville NJ Sept. 11 - Sept. 12, 2010 Yuba City II Qualifier Yuba City CA TOCSept. 14 - Sept. 19, 2010 SOUTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIPS DATE CHANGE Qualifier Seminole County FL TOCSept. 21 - Sept. 26, 2010 NORTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIP Qualifier Cape May NJ Sept. 23 - Sept. 26, 2010 Washington State Championships Qualifier Lacey WA Sept. 25 - Sept. 26, 2010 Kansas City Classic II Qualifier Shawnee KS Sept. 25 - Sept. 26, 2010 Mesquite Tune Up Qualifier CANCELLED Mesquite NV Oct. 2 - Oct. 3, 2010 Last Chance Qualifier Phoenix AZ TOCOct. 9 - Oct. 10, 2010 Last Chance for Phoenix Qualifier Lacey WA TOCOct. 15 - Oct. 24, 2010 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Phoenix AZ TOCNov. 9 - Nov. 14, 2010 WINTER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (BEGINNING OF 2011 SEASON) Qualifier Fort Myers FL TOCNov. 16 - Nov. 21, 2010 WINTER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (BEGINNING OF 2011 SEASON) Qualifier Las Vegas NV Feb. 9 - Feb. 13, 2011 TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS |
| July 15, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | As a footnote, the TOC isnt open to everyone, only SSUSA major event champions. Sorry for the complete tourney calendar, but it does add a nice effect. |
| July 15, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | So every 'national' is ONLY open to teams who 'qualified'? Each and every one? Again, how few tournaments on that list aren't open to anyone who wants to play? And, speaking of common sense, you CANNOT have two nationals!!!!! Not unless there are two nations, but I thought the Civil War settled that. |
| July 15, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | By the way, if I read the list correctly there will be SEVEN national or world championships counting for the 2010 season. Too bad the NBA doesn't have that many playoffs, the Championshipless One perhaps could finally win one. But I doubt it. |
| July 15, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | Hockey comes close, maybe Baby James can be a two sport player. Gary my thinking on the National issue is this. All National events are open to the entire country, when they are held in the east its the Eastern Nationals, when out West its the Western Nationals, etc. Either way, who really gives a shit? They are all great tournaments and different venues to play. I'll be in Menifee this weekend sweating out the 100 + heat. Guess what, its only a qualifier. For what I have no idea. We will still play. |
| July 15, 2010 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | Western Nationals - 2 teams in the 50+ Major! |
| July 16, 2010 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Jawood-you're right. You too E4/E6. We are trying to increase teams and I think it is as more seniors see the brand of softball we play, but the overall truth of the matter is there still aren't enough guys playing at tournament level to get 15-20 or more teams per bracket in every tournament. SSUSA does recognize, though, that a lot of the guys still playing have not played at this level all their lives and the chance to win a 'National' Championship is special. Financial concerns keep so many from traveling. Dirty keeps referring to the NBA. What a poor example! 8 teams from each league make the playoffs and too often they are .500 or below teams. Who wants to see that mediocrity? They reward these teams in the name of money. They stretch out the playoffs forever for more money. There is no fatigue factor anymore, playing 1 game every 2 or 3 days. It is a 'ME' game like no other. I cannot believe the Lebronathon. Especially in a time of massive recession, 10% unemployment, people losing everything, 3 guys decide to 'take a cut in pay' to $100 million??? And we go bonkers. 'Gee, can I live on $15 million a year??? I have to feed my family.' Crap. Come on, Dirty, let us senior guys have a shot at a National Championship at our age, instead of splitting hairs on the definition. It means so much to so many players. Thanks SSUSA for the tournament schedule. I bet MOST of us appreciate it. See you all in Prescott. |
| July 16, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | Webbie, I just think guys our age need to keep, or at least find, some pride. To win a 'national' that has few if any standards is just not the meaningful. Yes, it is a tournament win and those are great, but to call it a National Championship is just really a stretch in most cases. And to hit a homer with special bats is not much better. Why are guys our age with presumably so much maturity, experience, and wisdom so easily led? |
| July 16, 2010 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | Softball Nationals are about as much of a stretch as the World Series, just one country! Silly. And, the World Series of Poker, no qualifer! Why are people who do things for the good of humanity and entertainment of the masses not as smart or politically correct as Dirty? I wonder why the doers don't think like some of the brilliant wannabees? Do those that don't partake in traveling to our better tournaments have more time to just berate those that make the sport fun to play? Does anyone have a list of the World Champion criticizers? How bout' just the Regional Champion Criticizers? |
| July 19, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | curveball, "nice" diatribe! So you really think these are all 'nationals', and mean nearly as much as when the very best had to qualify to come to Parma in the 60s and 70s? |
| July 20, 2010 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | Just exposing a spade as a spade. They are better tounaments now than they were in the 60's or 70's. Under the qualifying systen back then, you didn't get the best teams possible to the tournaments. You got the 2 teams from each region that played well regional weekend. Too many good teams were left out of the mix. The players in general are better today, and with the advent of various divisions, competition is more intense and a lot more even across the board. There is now room for more teams across our nation to partake in tournaments at a level at which they can compete. A positive change for the majority, rather than a select few sponsored or bought teams. Also, with todays equipment, there aren't just a few teams that are supplied special bats from their sponsors, the senior bats are available to everyone, evening out the playing fields from a hitting standpoint. Loved the old days, but playing that way again would be a huge step backward. SSUSA has made our game so superior to the old days. Your question does it mean as much? For those that play in them I'd say yes, for those that don't play in them, there's always time for the internet to critisize and throw stones. |
| July 20, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | So by that 'logic' the Super Bowl is not a credible game because it only includes those two teams playing well in January. The World Series is useless because it only includes the two teams playing well in October. Sure, there are a few advantages with today's system. Yes, more teams can say they are "national" champs, assuming being the JV champ is worth something. I just don't agree with how a "national" tournament with perhaps 5 or 6 teams per bracket is superior to winning a tournament in which County Sports, Howards, Jiffy Club, Little Ceasars, Jim's Sports Shop, Copper Hearth, Poindexter Lumber, Pyramid Cafe, Teamsters 293, and on and on were all participating in the same bracket. |
| July 20, 2010 softballerK1 Men's 65 30 posts | To me the system today is better. More teams get to participate in the bigger tournaments, regardless of what you call them. In the old days, there were a lot of teams in the regionals that got eliminated by playing the much better teams. I understood the elimination process then, but didn't like it. A lot of teams only got to play only two extra games at the end of the year and could never make it to the state finals. And regardless of what anyone says, not all ballplayers are created equal and no amount of "hard work" will make them equal. If that were so, a lot of us would have played major league ball because the work was put in to get better. It's like that in any sport...they all have divisions based on abilities. That's why some baseball players never get out of the minors. The work is put in by them, but there is someone better that gets promoted. Natural ability has an awful lot to do with the quality of play and it also is a big factor on what team you play on. |
| July 20, 2010 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | If the World Series and the Super Bowl were used to determine which two teams advanced to the overall final championship of the World, playing against two teams from each region(like Guam,Qutar, and Switzerland, then you'd have a similar situation to the 60's and 70's system where the best teams did not always make up the field. Oh, there were a lot of good ones, but the field was deluted with weak teams from weak regions filling the qualified spots. Too many good teams were left at home; today, that doesn't happen. Today we have more parity, then the bottom teams were just that, bottom teams. As far as you agreeing or not agreeing, I could care less. You are not one of the participants, not one of the competitors I look forward to do battle with at my level, nor are you compassionate enough to understand you are a very negative voice on a website of mostly positive players. I, like many, don't even have a clue why you are even on this website. You agree with no one, don't like the current game, against the current equipment, current rules and regs you condone, are against changes for any reason, and, don't ever intend on playing any of SSUSA tournaments. So, what's the point? Those teams you named, and you left out most of the best, were all in the same age group, covering the entire nation. Because skill levels decline with age, senior ball is divided in 5 year increments. There aren't as many teams in each individual group as there was in the entire nation in the old days, but there are still an adequate number of teams in Phoenix for the World Championships for it to be a very rewarding win. Having experienced both, the thrill is bigger now at an older age than it ever was when I was young. For a person like you who cannot understand that, has never gone down that road, with no intention of being able to win at your own level, I'm so sorry. For, if you were to be able to experience that thrill, you'd never belittle those of us who worked so hard to attain that goal, being a World Champion. The older I get, the more I appreciate not only being able to play at a top level, but really appreciate having been able to win at it. |
| July 21, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | Of course those teams covered the "entire nation." That is what is required to call a tournament a 'national'. Without that it is a regional, at best. Yes skill level declines with age, but not rapidly enough to justify only 5-year brackets. More like 7 or 8 year brackets would be completely sufficient. And what makes you think I don't play? |
