We had a strong summer turnout yesterday for the mid-summer MN Monthly. The rest of the yard work and lakeside activities could wait for Sunday, as we were ready for some foos in shade and a/c by late afternoon on a hot day. 30 players participated across three events, with cameos by Brad A, Dave P, Tom H and Gillian M.
We had a great showing of out-of-towners from greater MN and neighboring states. Thanks to Jason B, Gary B, Brad D, Steve L, Chris M, Scott P, Mike P, Jason P, Adam S.
We had two family team-ups Saturday, with the Phillips brothers making their first appearance as a team, and another father-son team to the lineup: Jordan's dad Jeff in town from TX. (He had a prototype goal liner for his variant foosball game Black Hole Foos that we used during pick-ups. It showed some promise.)
We also had dramatic returns of Ringo and Jim F in their first monthly appearance post-surgery and Brad S post 'paternity leave.' Welcome back fellas!
BYP Results
15 teams
1st: Mike P/Jason P
2nd: Brad S/Nate O
3rd: Skip S/Rick B
4th: Tristin H/William W III
Chris M/Jim F
Jordan P/Jeff P
John W/Tom D
Steve M/Wayne A
Gary B/L-Bob
Mike E/Jared W
EB/Ben T
Ringo/Tom B
Tony M/Jason B
Adam S/Scott P
Steve L/Brad D
This was a pretty interesting line-up, with some Twin City/out-of-town team-ups (Gary/L-Bob, Jason B/Tony), Bill taking nets for Tristin, Chris M working on his forward game.
Surviving a tough first round battle against Bill and Tristin, the Phillips bros were on honed to take down anyone else in their path, going undefeated through match play. Congrats to Mike P, Jason P, Bob T, Mike E and Nate O on their wins.
Special congratulations Mike P for going 2-0 in his first two monthly's (with two different partners)! This may be a feat never before accomplished at the MN Monthly. Going back in the annals of MN Monthly history, such prestigious heavy hitters as Gummy, Dillon A, Ringo and Horton all lost their first open doubles appearance at the Monthly. Nate W won his first appearance but lost in his second to Dillon and Larry L. You're in the record books Mike, congrats on two great tourneys!
Minute2WinIt Singles Results:
7 players
1st: L-Bob
2nd: Skip
3rd: Chris M
Plus: Steve L, Steve M, Brad D, Mike E
Lazer Bob and I had a fun Minute-2-Win-It final where each game involved the first point scored about 30 seconds in, and whoever had that 1 point lead ended up holding it (2-1) in each game. Unfortunately for me, Bob had that lead int he deciding game. Nice win Bob.
Countdown DYP
6 teams
1st: Nate O/Mike E
2nd: John W/Steve M
3rd: Jordan P/Tom D
Steve L/Ben T
Jeff P/L-Bob
Chris M/Brad D
A lot of our out-of-town guests left after the bring to avoid a late road trip home, but those that stayed for the timed formats had a fun time. There's a whole different form of pressure and excitement when a shot from the 2-rod ties it up with 12 seconds left on the game clock.
There is always interesting strategy in clock management for these formats, but Mike E definitely improved it for next time I run it by suggesting we timeouts be eliminated in the final minute of play (restricting how much time the team with the lead can burn off the clock).
Thanks to Jimmy and Suzie for hosting. I know they were very grateful for our business on a hot summer day. A friendly reminder to throw away pop cups/beer bottles before you leave (or even bus dishes to the counter when you're through) to help keep our area clean and speed up clean-up at the end of the night.
Thanks to Brad, Steve M, Jared, John W, and anyone else that helped run the tournament when I was holding the rods for Rick B. Thanks to all the time-keepers that paid it forward to make the Countdown and M2WI events work, and to all the players for showing up and making for a special event.
Be on the lookout for announcements on special pick-up game events at various metro locations in July and August as a Summer Foos Tour (details soon) and see many of you at the August Monthly on Saturday 8/3.
Happy foosin'
