As you now know, Team ROC Taiwan beat Heartland USA in the finals, 2 games to 1. I had great notes on the entire semis-finals action, but after an intense search at the fields the day after, and ripping my hotel room apart, I have lost these notes. So what comes next is purely from my lousy memory.
First match of the finals (all single games) pitted Heartland USA and Japan#1. Heartland won, although not easily. The second match of the semis was intense. Team ROC Taiwan beat Japan#2 33-31, after an intense session of catching in overtime. It was a fantastic match to watch, and Japan#2 was emotionally crushed.
First losers bracket match found Japan#1 defeating Japan#2, in a good match. Team ROC lost to Heartland in a hard fought match. Then ROC put out Japan #1 to get to the finals.
Paul "Fungi" Ganus took over 4 hours of video, with some great interviews and shots. I will get copies of the raw video, and determine better the details.
Thanks for your patience.
Nez
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P.S.--I have been asked to chair the Guts committee of the WFDF, in support of the game. In the next few weeks, I will be posing manyimportant questions on the organization, financings, and desires of the Guts Players Association and the Guts community in general. I may be willing, with the players support, to run the GPA organization in conjunction with the WFDF to try and reinvigorate the sport. What do you think? I don't want to step on toes, and I live in Texas, not exactly a mecca of Guts. But I am willing to put in the time. Do I have your support?
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To all those who couldnt make the WFDF tourney this year, you missed a really good time. Its a much different tourney than any US tournies I can remember and I will try to give you a quick breakdown on what I saw there. The US fielded 4 good teams, but most of them havent played together much or at all, so the first matches were played by teams trying to get used to their teamates and in a very high headwind/tailwind. Not real good Guts the first day for the US teams, with the exception of Library Bar, they played great. The Japanese and ROC teams have all very young players that play Guts all the time. I arrived at the fields on Tuesday around 1pm and left around 6pm. The ROC and Japanese teams were practicing the whole time! Both of these countries players are in much better Guts shape than any of the US teams.
The format allowed all teams to play each other at least one time. We (Queen City Flyers) played our first match against Japan Team 2 (the younger team). They played very well into the wind, while we basically dumped too many shots to win the match. I dove for a disc and tore my rotator cuff in my right shoulder (not good). Our next match pitted us against Helter Skelter. A few unnamed gratious players loaded my palms with these large white tablets that allowed me to at least get on the line against H.S. This match reminded me of old times, lots of argueing on almost every shot. I think Nez had been drinking a tad, because he had trouble seeing the shots the same way we saw them :) . Lige played extremely well through this match and we finally won our first of two matches in the tourney.
Our mext match pitted us against Library Bar. Before this match started, Pat Tower (Windy City) showed up at the tourney site and we quickly picked him up. Pat replaced me in the lineup, my tourney was over. Lige, Rally, Skids, J.B., Gary and Pat played really well, but we made too many mistakes to beat Library. Library played very solid, no-mistake Guts and won.
Thursday morning, rumor had it that Buck had left the tourney to go back to Marquette. The last time I saw Buck was on Wednesday night and he was taste testing his latest baking creation, Bucks Brownies. What happened Buck? A writer from a national magazine was sent to to a story on Guts and he also had sampled these baked wonders. He told me Thursday that he spent all of Wednesday night watching the walls of his hotel room shrink on him.
On Thurday, we played a very tough Hearland team. They were starting to play really well as a team and beat us in 2 games, one very close. Team ROC was next for us and we just ran out of gas. They made zero mistakes against us and showe us why they are World Champs. We ended the day with our second tourney win against a suprisingly tough Bud Light team. Our last match was on Friday morning against Japan 1. This team was the oldest non-US team fielded and in my opinion the weakest. For us, it didnt matter if we won or lost, this was our last match. We played flat and ceded the match in 3 games.
I would like to congragulate Team ROC as the 1998 WFDF Guts Champions, and also to Team USA Heartland. Heartland was the best team fielded by the US and came very close in bringing back the championship to the US. I would also like to thank Buck Bucanen and Lige Johnson for setting up this tourney. Without them, Guts would not have been part of the WFDF World Campionships.
Mark Barry
team USA Queen City Flyers
Game(s) #4
Helter Skelter defeats Bud Light 19-21, 21-10, 21-18
Team Japan #1 defeats Library Bar 21-12, 21-14
Team ROC defeats Queen City Flyers 21-13, 21-19
Heartland defeats Team Japan #2 29-27, 21-13
Game(s) #5
Heartland defeats Queen City Flyers 21-18, 21-18
Team ROC defeats Library Bar 21-18, 21-19
Team Japan #2 defeats Bud Light 21-19, 21-15
Team Japan #1 defeats Helter Skelter 21-?, 21-?
Game(s) #6
Team ROC defeats Helter Skelter 21-18, 23-21
Queen City Flyers defeat Bud Light 21-15, 19-21, 21-17
Heartland defeats Library Bar 21-?, 21-?
Team Japan #1 defeats Team Japan #2 21-?, 21-?
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Standings (after Day 2)
TEAM WINS/LOSSES POINTS Team ROC Taiwan 6-0 Heartland USA 5-1 Team Japan #2 4-2 Team Japan #1 4-2 Library Bar 2-4 Queen City Flyers 2-4 Helter Skelter 1-5 Bud Light 0-6
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Only 1 US Team Still Alive
The final four teams for the WFDF Guts Championships have been set during the second day‚s action. Suprisingly, only 1 US team, Heartland USA will qualify for the semis. Japan has qualified both its teams. Defending champion Team ROC Taiwan also has easily qualified, and will retain the top seed in the semis, with Heartland USA retaining the second seed.
The last round robin match on Friday will settle the seeding on the semifinal match, with a key match between Team ROC Taiwan and Team Japan #2. If Team Japan #2 loses, they will have to play Team ROC Taiwan again in the first game of the semis. Team Japan #1 will likely play Heartland USA in the semis, unless they lose to Queen City Flyers and Team Japan #2 wins their final match.
Intense matches were abounding everywhere, as the wind died down a bit on a beautiful second day. As the only one reporting the action, I can only speak for some fantastic matches of Helter Skelter with both Team Japan #1 and Team ROC Taiwan. Soaks of the chinese backhands were everywhere, and the infamous bantering of Helter Skelter were playfully returned by Team Taiwan throughout the match. Team Japan played a bit more competitively than playfully, but both were great matches.
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Dave "Nez" Nesbitt - Proxy GPA Representative
After an inpassioned plea from Dave "Nez" Nesbitt and "Paul " Liu of Team ROC Taiwan and Fumio "Moro" Morooka of Japan Flying Disc Association, The World Flying Disc Federation Congress approved the reinstatement of the game of GUTS in its biannual tourney, once again entitled "WFDF World Ultimate and Guts Championships". Although the Congress vote was 7-0 with 2 abstensions, WFDF procedural rules may send the issue to committee. But with the strong support of Congress, approval is a foregone conclusion.
The 2000 WFDF World Ultimate and GUTS Championships will likely be held in Germany, as they present the only at-large bid for hosting this tourney. The German delegation was completely supportive of Guts reintroduction. Issues that will need to be addressed by the Guts community in concert with WFDF include coordinating vs conflicting schedules with the Ultimate tourney, and open vs closed representation. I personally would like to send the thanks of the US based Guts Players Association to "Moro" of Team Japan for providing the motivation to hold the 98 tourney and support Guts reintroduction, to Team ROC Taiwan, "Paul" Liu for their passionate speech to save GUTS within the WFDF community, and to "Stork" Roddick for his steadfast and continuing support of our sport.
YA, WE ARE BACK IN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For you who have to know the Inquiring Details, Helter Skelter used its typical partying attitude to try and sabatoge the ROC team, by keeping their captain out until 3 in the morning, drinking the local finest. But to no avail, as ROC looked really strong.
Surprisingly to me, Heartland looks weaker than expected, with lots of dumps by key members in their first day of competition. Helter Skelter played sciszo guts, and Library really started well in their win over us. We had hands all day, but dumped enormous amounts of shots.
Didn't see much else, only drank the local pale ale. The weather was a key 6th man yesterday, and the teams who had been practicing for the tourney really took advantage.
Surprisingly, no Skelters are in jail. We picked up a second token UPer, John Healy, an old U-Mich buddy and friend. Had a great time, and really not too sore.
Nez--Helter Skelter
Working over the stats to find a way into the second
round
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Wally,
No smacks for the WFDF news reporter, eh? Your frigging Library Bar already beat us in the first round. I just got up, after a tough night of misery. I'll get you scores later, but here's first day standings.
Team W-L Point Differential Republic of China 3-0 145-115, +30 Japan 2 3-0 129-98, +31 Hartland 2-1 161-152, +9 Library Bar 2-1 118-117, +1 Japan 1 1-2 151-156, -5 Queen City Flyers 1-2 136-143, -7 Helter Skelter 0-3 125-150, -25 Bud Light 0-3 119-153, -34
GUTS Match Scores
Game(s) #1
Team Japan #1 defeats Bud Light 21-23, 21-12, 22-20
Library Bar defeats Helter Skelter 21-14, 23-21
Team ROC defeats Heartland 21-17, 19-21, 21-17
Team Japan #2 defeats Queen City Flyers 21-14, 22-20
Game(s) #2
Team Japan #2 defeats Library Bar 21-13, 21-16
Team ROC defeats Bud Light 21-19, 21-12
Queen City Flyers defeats Helter Skelter 20-22, 21-18, 21-15
Heartland defeats Team Japan #1 15-21, 23-21, 21-16
Game(s) #3
Team ROC defeats Team Japan #1 21-14, 21-15
Library Bar defeats Queen City Flyers 21-18, 24-22
Heatland defeats Bud Light 21-11, 24-22
Team Japan #2 defeats Helter Skelter 21-14, 23-21
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GUTS Highlights
The big story on the opening day of the tourney had to be the wind, and how it played havoc with shots and ups. A tough first round match of perhaps the top two Guts teams saw Team Republic of China defeat Heatland USA in 3 games. Incredible hands were shown by ROC, and too many dumps by Heartland. Said Roger Hill of Heartland, "They were piping
it up the middle, with good shots into the wind." A ROC member commented Hair Begoske's shot was speedy, but ROC's hands prevailed.
A major injury to Mark Barry of WCF occurred during a diving attempt in their first round loss to Team Japan #2. However he came back to play in a key win by Queen City over HelterSkelter in 3 games, after losing the first. Lige Johnson showed his deft skill with throwing in the wind, and soaking key shots.
Nez dumped 5 shots, with a few others and key wind play by Library Bar allowed them to defeat Helter Skelter in 2 games. Perhaps the surprise of the tourney so far is Team Japan #2. This team of young throwers were untested by Queen City Flyers, Helter Skelter and Library Bar, defeating each in 2 games. Good hands downwind, minimal dumps and accurate shots were their keys to victories.
At the end of the first day, Team ROC and Team Japan #2 are positioned well to qualify for the semifinal tourney, with Team Japan #1 and Queen City Flyers needing a strong second day to maintain hope of advancing.
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WFDF Congress Meeting Thursday Guts Needs Your Support
Dave "Nez" Nesbitt - Team Japan (been traded?)
The World Flying Disc Federation is holding its annual congress meeting at the National Sports Center at 6 pm. It is critical that WE AS GUTS PLAYERS REPRESENT OUR SPORT at this meeting. WFDF is losing its interest in supporting our sport, believing it is a dying sport. We can make a huge difference in their viewpoint and support for GUTS by showing our presence. PLEASE ATTEND, EVEN IF IS FOR A SHORT PERIOD!
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Quick highlights: Wind strong, and from end to end, weather good. Made for tough upwind shots and difficult ups all day
ROC beat Heartland in a tough first round match in 3 games. Library Bar starts out early by beating HS in 2 games. QCF beat in first round by Japan 2 in 2 games. The rest I didn't know, because I was playing.
Will upload more later.
Nez
Paul Liu - Team ROC [via Nez]
The team from Republic of China (Taiwan) arrived mid-day Monday into Minneapolis, and in spite of little sleep, went directly to the fields to warm-up. This team brought 11 players, 4 spectators, and drew a lot of attention from the other teams. WIth an abundance of youth, they stayed throughout the afternoon of Tuesday and Wednesday to play pickup Guts games. Various individual members of Helter Skelter, Queen City Flyers, Cupola Bandits, Library Bar and the entire entourage from both Japan teams joined in pickup games and informal introductions. Of significant note is many Ultimate players joined in the fracus; the hope is another international team from the Ultimate sqauds will join in the Guts fun!
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Paul "Fungi" Ganus - Helter Skelter
If you stand on the line begging for their best shot, demand to throw every burn in a close game, and showboat for the crowd after a sweet snag, you love the lime light. So don't get all camera shy and giggle like a school girl when I get you in my lens, eh? I'll be roaming around between Skelter matches looking for your best stories, anecdotes, and opinions on the present state of the game. I'm also searching for any good video or film clips from past events (the older, the better), and need copies from the cream of the crop of photos in your archives. The idea is to assemble a fun historical documentary on the game, and get us all some needed publicity. I know some of your memories may be a bit foggy, but try and remember the best players you‚ve faced over the years, who had the most blistering shots, the stickiest hands, the wildest outfits, etc.. We all know that the only thing better than playing in a tournament, is talking about it for years, so dig deeply into those memories and tell me a good story!
[Editor's note - And that means all of you who are on-line. We are producing a daily page for distribution at the tourney. Give me some verbage to help fill OUR OWN GUTS Daily Report!]
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Dave "Nez" Nesbitt - Helter Skelter
The road trip began Saturday at 5 in the morning. The guru arrived at my doorway, and we stuffed all our gear and headed north. There were signs right away that this was going to be a special road trip. From seeing the Elvis impersonators passing us on the highway, to the bald eagle picking up road kill. We were making our pilgrimage at the Cut River Bridge, just on the UP side of the Mackinaw. Its an infamous spot in Helter Skelter lore, where Corg fell from the rope while swinging over the river with Nez at this side; racing to the hospital in an ambulance, and an overnight in St. Ignace with a drunk doc on call. As we let out a yelp to announce our arrival at the bridge, who rolls out of the john but Scott Brooks (Skids), looking a bit the worse for wear! Guts has become a pretty elite community of believers, but it's never too small to find a Guts brother in the wierdest places!
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Craig "Buck" Buchannan - Queen City Flyers
The tournament format has been finalized, and is the first time the WFDF worlds GUTs tourney has used an open format, allowing all teams who desire to enter. All teams will play one 2-of-3 game match against each other over 2 1/2 days. The top four teams will advance to a single game, double elimination bracket being held on Friday afternoon, with a 2-of-3 game clean slate finals match planned for 6 pm. Tie breakers in the round robin will be head-to-head results, followed by total point differential (points scored minus points allowed). Order of play will be determined by random draw into a preset round-robin format.
A special WFDF Guts rule for this tourney will be in effect. After the first 11 points in a game, teams will be allowed to switch players at will throughout the rest of the game. Otherwise, standard GPA Guts rules are in effect. These rules include no point for a catch, the space ace rule (where the scoring team may only chose from players nearest the ace to return the throw), the squared-off reach area in between two players will be considered a good shot, and the line being considered a foot fault if stepped upon during a throw.
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Team Japan arrives with a huge group of Guts players and fans, the first in North America since their attendence at the 1986 GPA World Guts Championships in Toronto Canada. Look for a feature article on their team and Japanese Guts tommorrow.
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Kevin Land - Helter Skelter
You might come from up north with your dog
and gun
Or far away in the land of the rising sun
You might wear a cool smile, you might wear a mean frown
But I know you're butter, and you're goin' down
You might come from a place where the beer
flows like rivers
Where the winter's so cold that it gives me the shivers
You might raise up your voice and your chest you might pound
But I know you're butter and you're goin' down
You might scramble for ups with the grace
of a swan
You might fly on a plane all the way from Taiwan
Though your confidence rose when your plane touched the ground
Still I know you're butter, and you're goin' down
You might come from a place where the cars
are assembled
With hands tough as leather and discs never fumbled
You might stand pretty tall in your big, noisy town
But I know you're butter, and you're goin' down
You might come from a city of chemicals
peddled
Where the implants all burst, and great lawsuits are settled
You may think of yourselves as the baddest around
But I know you're butter...
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Dave "Nez" Nesbitt - Helter Skelter
An unnamed source is reporting that some unknown Guts player, believed to be from Virginia, was working in concert with the only 2 active guts players left in Minnesota, to get the captain of the Republic of China's Guts team to pass out in the parking lot prior to the first match. A reliable source has it that Paul Liu left without a buzz on, leaving the American guts players to plan their next move.
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Dave "Nez" Nesbitt - Guts Reporter on the scene