Not long after the team captains' meeting had concluded, teams began to gather around the courts, preparing for a day of battle.
Our team, Thunderbots (an amalgamation of the two greatest groups of cartoon heroes from the 1980's, Thundercats and the Autobots) comprised of several spirited and unique indivduals:
Kristin Mitchell, a newcomer to the island and first-time volleyball player. What she lacked in experience she made up for in enthusiasm.
Brian Miller, long-time veteran of Jeju and an Obama fanatic. He strikes fear into the heart of his enemies with his serve, shouting from the depths of his soul, "OBAMA!!!!"
Matthew Poll, a.k.a "Speed Racer," a.k.a "Capt. Faclon," a.k.a "Birdman." A mild man and teacher by day, wild and whimsical beer magician by night. He searches the land, sea and air for rare feathered creatures. He is guided by the way of the blue rock thrush.
Bridget Best, a Jeju-Northsider, measures up to her own name as her actions out on the court speak for herself. She plays with a fierce passion that any team would be lucky to have.
Niamh Nicholas, an Irish fighter with a heart of gold. After only a few practice sessions she has found her footing in the game and can hold her own.
Lastly, myself, team captain and spiritual motivator. An average-at-best player in the court with some hustle and a serve that falls from the sky like Thor's hammer, smiting our enemies.
Unfortunately, for all the spirit and motivation we had, we didn't possess the skills to go very far in the tournament. We didn't end up in last, but we weren't far from it.
Saturday was a long day with a few short-lived victories. Thankfully, there was pizza and beer to sooth our egos. The Jeju gods must have been smiling, as the weather turned out to be perfect again with another brilliant sunset.
Nathan would have been proud of the way everyone played. The tournaments were a big success and a great time for everyone involved. Hopefully it'll be a regular occurrence.
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