June2007

Missing Ducks Unlimited: Bad Quack in Schedule

June 6, 2007

Clearwater, FL

     Missing Ducks Unlimited: Bad Quack in Schedule

 

 

I just got a chance to view the Ducks Unlimited draw for this weekend and have to tell you I think this sport is missing the boat “BIG TIME” where only Aspen Interiors, a local, is the sole representative of the top ten ranked teams. That is very troubling!!

 

     Most of you know I have been a huge proponent of Western Canadian Fastpitch and its prowess and talent, not to mention the quality of competition and the facilities. How much better do you get than the Gordie Howe complex and across the street? Fans in Saskatoon are huge fastball followers, and right up there with Victoria in knowledge of the game.

 

     Now forgive me if Melfort is 20km away from the stadiums I am used to playing in when I have gone there in years past, but the fans do not change. The lack of participation by top fifteen ranked clubs is appalling and I guarantee you the losers will be the team who chose not to attend.

 

    I can give you three insurmountable reasons why you should flock (first duck pun of the article) next year, since most of you are staying south!

 

     Reason One: When the Farm, the Diamonds, and other top five teams attended, they invariably witnessed the quality of talent on those other teams that did not have the budget to attend the ISC and were able to fortify and stock their roster with some of those guys when injuries, or other reasons kept your full squad from posting at the major tourneys and you needed the manpower. Those teams are not household names, I will grant you, but the talent and competitive spirit is there and they just need  the exposure. Good managers never stand in the way of a player bettering himself, so if they cannot afford to take a player to the lights of Paris, then at least the top ten teams can give that opportunity. It creates more excitement anyway.

 

     Reason Two:  Tosh & Paddy Mack…..These two guys are some of the finest brothers in any sport you can imagine, including the Mario Brothers on Atari! They work tirelessly to promote the tourney, and Ducks Unlimited has a great reputation throughout Canada as well. Ducks Unlimited can afford to pull the plug and find other places to put their money, and what does that do to help Fastpitch? Don’t get me wrong….the Diamondbacks may not be nice to me on their website, but they are a first class organization and I can assure you they have a surrounding cast to promote this tourney right!  And who else honors neckbands for beers the following year if you neglected to use the ones you bought up this year? NO-BODY but Ducks Unlimited!!! I once had a customs agent casually notice a duck’s neckband in my attaché when he was perusing what I was bringing into the USA, and immediately remarked about Ducks Unlimited!!

I told him they were unused beer tickets and he just looked at me and waved me ahead….

 

 

     Reason Three: Saskatoon Itself!! It is the City of Bridges, the City of Rivers, it is inexpensive wherever you go and stay (once you get there). Car rentals cheap, hotels very inexpensive, traffic easy to navigate, food varied and waitresses very accommodating (they still have a problem with unsweetened ice tea), it is not like you cannot drink the water… Saskatoon is a great value once you get there and I guarantee you will get plenty of time to bond with the guys, it has been known to get a few rain drops this time of year.

But weather for ducks? No! It is June and weather for fastpitch where you do not get worn out! It is a quick hop from Minneapolis non-stop, and just about everyone changes there or is from near there.

 

     Stanley Cup is again going to an American Team stocked with Canucks and Finns. So what is there to do other than come to this tourney? I know there are travel league commitments and that is a very important commitment for all teams, but this tourney has values that transcend the cost, and that is what I am ruffling everyone’s feathers about!

 

  Take care and travel safe. One last remark……Good hunting in your competition!

 

Peter J. Porcelli, II

Reply to: PeterJPorcelli@Aol.com

 

 

 

 

 

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