RETROSPECTIVE: We are watching you

From Dalian tournament

Beijing Ultimate 2008 slideshow on Youku, CUPA

Thanks to Ivan Xu and Balance Wang for linking the Year in Review slideshow on the China Ultimate Players Association website. The Youku link is here, and the original post here.

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Happy birthday, Ken and Steph!

Backdated 10/21


The girl with the butcher's knife is Steph, and Ken Dry is the one in blue. They are a couple, and isn't it always so cute when couples share a birthday? Who's a cute couple... that's right, they're a cute couply wouply.

On Friday night they had a birthday gathering at a Xinjiang restaurant across from Worker's Stadium. Afterwards we walked over to Paddy O'Shea's to see The Redbucks, currently the hottest bluegrass band in town, featuring Beijing Ultimate's own Chris Boehner, et al.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Dalian

Backdated 10/21


Not to say a lot didn't happen at the tournament party, but we're pretty bummed about our 15-11 loss in finals and have nothing to say about anything happy.

GOOGLE GROUPS POST OF THE WEEK:

Tao:

"I'm Mr. Awesome, cause I'm ripped, I got black spiky hair, but more
importantly, when I'm stripping and I'm dancing, I can pick that
dollar up off the ground with my butt cheeks! Yea, Mr. Awesome CAN do
that."

Go, now: http://v.youku.com/v_playlist/f2908794o1p0.html

For a future tournament party, we need to assign the following
monikers to everyone on the team. Reserve now if you'd like.

Party Tool
Slacker Tool
Tiny Tool
Loud Mouth Tool
Cold-Hearted Tool
Playa Pimpin' Tool
Power Tool
Greek Tool
Naked Tool
...and more!

Proxy problems

Hotspot Anchor, it seems, has been blocked. Tragedy. Please stay tuned while I figure out whether I can email-upload photos and contemplate whether it's worth it to buy Witopia.

RETROSPECTIVE: Long-lost footage from China Nationals I

From Tianjin Richie's Youku profile:

Click here if the video has failed to properly embed itself.

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Dalian tournament

Beijing Big Brother finished 2nd and Beijing Bang finished 3rd. More coverage over at China Ultimate.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Preparing for Dalian tournament this weekend

During National Day preparations? Not always a good idea...

Jeff Orcutt:

The fact of the matter is that it is China and nobody really knows what is going on and even if they (they being whoever) truely knows at some point that doesn't mean it will not change as it is implimented. It also doesn't mean that every location will be operating under the same rules.

Basically, yes, they can close down the city to pedestrians. If they want to. the basic problem for everyone is going to be crossing Changan jie, where the parade practice is going to be held.

Since the subways are closing down at 4:00 I think that the streets won't totally close down until then and maybe a little after (I saw 17:00).

Since it is China be very friendly with the guards and if you get stuck just keep trying different intersections and guards until you find some that will let you through. Or just make sure you are south of Changanjie by 16:00 or 17:00.

I am going to leave a little bit later since I am feeling ill and need a nap (I know, gumpy old man). On the way to work in a cab this morning I saw that Changan jie was closing at 17:00 (that is what it said on the signs over the second ring road, again, not necessarily the truth). So I am going to get in a cab at around 4:00pm. Worse case I have to drive to the fifth ring road to get around Changanjie.

Be vigilant and leave plenty of time (two hours is more than enough time) but don't freak out and expect body cavity searches.

Cheers,

Jeff

*

Oh, Ellen...

You do want to leave earlier since they will be setting up over there. A colleague of mine got trapped in his house last week when it was surrounded by tanks.

Enjoy!

RETROSPECTIVE: Our favorite Jim

From Jeju 2007 (picture by Anne Town).

Here's to hoping Jim, who's in the U.S. right now, sees this before returning to the land where Blogger's blocked.

Video of Tianjin-Beijing friendly

A two-part video from Saturday's event:


Also on Youku (accessible without a proxy): Part 1, Part 2.

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Pictures from the Tianjin-Beijing friendly

Players from Big Brother, Bang and Hangtime were in Tianjin on Saturday to help run drills for the locals and play a few friendlies. We went to an international school called TEDA Maple Leaf in Tangu, about an hour outside of downtown Tianjin.







Tianjin has arguably the most developed Ultimate community in mainland China, in large thanks to the efforts of Edward Wang, Richie Liu and Nick Liu (no relation), all first-generation Ultimate players and graduates of Tianjin Sport University. In addition to being great athletes (Richie is a regional champion in the 400-meter dash), they are all enthusiastic Ultimate players and always welcome help and support. Although Beijing-Tianjin friendlies have not always gone as planned, Tianjin players have always been gracious hosts whenever we go.





The day couldn't have been more perfect. In the first game, Beijing X played an intense game against Tianjin Speed. The score was knotted at 7, going to 9, before Beijing scored on offense and won a hard-earned break.

Beijing Y had fewer problems, winning 11-2 against TEDA before using the rest of the time to organize a cutting/huck drill.




TSU is a cradle rich with Ultimate talent, as most of the students there train every day to become athletes. As advanced Ultimate Frisbee players, our job is to help them work on their throws, field vision and team play, including concepts like the cup zone.

Below, Gareth and Mike Shyu explain the trap to a very eager group of Tianjin Speed players.






Edward and Richie in the picture below...




After playing both Tianjin teams (Beijing Y beat Speed 11-6), we played a Beijing vs. Tianjin "all-star" game on a nearby grass field.

Beijing took half 7-2 before deciding, as Richie and Nick were gone buying us beer, that we'd start over. The second game was a lot closer, though Tianjin could never get the break they needed. Final score: 9-7 Beijing.









Dinner afterwards: lots of dumplings

Ultimate has come a long way in Tianjin, which is saying something considering it started at a decently high level. In the first-ever China Nationals in 2007, Tianjin Speed finished second, to Air Kazak. It was the same result the year after. Richie, Nick and Edward graduated afterwards and formed their own team, which lost in semis this past year to eventual champions Hong Kong. Speed, meanwhile, is rebuilding its empire, with some of the fastest players this side of Shanghai. If you haven't watched them, do try sometime: they rely on quick cuts from all their players and quick throws, often telling one another, "Kuai yi dian'r, kuai yi dian'r" -- faster, faster.

Of course, their game has a ways to go as well. But in Asia Ultimate, Tianjin is a sleeping giant: in two or three years, when Richie and Nick have developed into huckers (Edward already has a nice deep throw), Tianjin will be a team to contend with, and not just at China Nationals. This past year, Tianjin won its pre-quarters game in Shanghai and finished tied for 5th, their best result ever in an international tournament. They can do better.

Tomorrow, expect two videos showing our clinic and games [update: here]. Thanks go out to Five Ultimate for partially sponsoring the trip.

WEEK IN REVIEW: Return of the...

Tianjin, here we come! Beijing Ultimate is leaving the confines of Sixth Ring Road tomorrow for a friendly at TEDA Maple Leaf International School in Tangu, Tianjin. Details about the trip after the weekend.

This is your week in review.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK:

Welcome to Beijing, Amy and Liz. (The guy on the right is Justin.) And welcome back, baijiu game!

A few minutes after this video, Jehan would say "baijiu" on his own accord, without prompting, to much laughter. Poor Jehan. Um, I mean, bai wine. I didn't say it!

GOOGLE GROUPS POST OF THE WEEK:

Ever wanted to live in a hutong? Contact Missy Rock:

Hello all –

If you know of anyone looking for housing over the next few months, please pass along my information.

I'll be leaving Beijing around mid-November and would love to sublet my place to any interested parties.

My renovated pingfang home in a hutong neighborhood south of the Drum & Bell Towers, east of Houhai and west of Nanluoguxiang, is complete with its own yard and rooftop scenic patio. The place would be perfect for 1-2 people, a couple, good friends, and so forth. There is a main bedroom that gets great sunlight, has a queen sized bed, dresser and closet. The living room is also furnished with a couch, coffee table, small bookshelf, two end tables, two smallish sofa type chairs, and some other wooden chairs. There is a third room that is somewhat a cross between an office and a bedroom and can serve as either or both depending on your needs. Right now my roommate has a single twin-sized futon bed in there along with a couple other pieces of furniture. Blankets, sheets, pillows, etc… are also available if you need them.

There is a good sized kitchen (fully furnished with pots, plates, water and wine glasses, medium-sized oven & blender) and bathroom (western style toilet and shower curtain that separates the shower from toilet and washing machine area of the bathroom). The yard is totally quaint – complete with date tree. A ladder leads up from the yard to the roof where you can watch the neighbors across the alley exercise their pigeons on a daily basis.

My place is centrally located – and close to bus and subway stations. There are veggie markets, fruit stands, small mom & pop restaurants, and bigger shops all nearby as well.

The place is officially available starting November 15th. But it's possible I can find someone to sublet for 1 month (into mid-December) if this timing would better suit your needs (however I would need to set that up ASAP, so contact me right away if you are interested but can't move in until mid-December). Or, conversely, if you're in need of a place somewhat earlier, I can arrange to move out by November 1st.

Rent is 5000 rmb/mo + utilities (which include electric, water/sewage and internet).

Please feel free to contact me if you're interested!

Cell: 13717760232

Missy