Bye Bye Bye

This past Wednesday was the Crowe BarFlies Bye week, so Mom and I headed over to Hunter's Pub to watch our sister team, the Crowe Wildpuckers take on Hunter's Rocks. The Wildpuckers came out on top to make their record 6-1.


This week we are up against Woodie's Ice House for the last game of the first half. Hopefully we'll keep our winning streak alive!

GO BARFLIES!! 

Image by Oberazzi via FlickrOkay, so now that that's taken care of, I want to hear from you!  Yes, you!! Since I can't seem to get anyone to write a guest post for me I've come up with this brilliant (HA!) idea. I'm going to try (most likely unsuccessfully) and come up with a weekly shuffleboard question and I want you to answer it in the comments. Ready? Here we go!

What is your favorite part of shuffleboard?

Pretty easy right? Can't wait to see your comments (hope I get at least one)...


**UPDATE** 12/13/10 - I never got a comment. Sad face.

So Nice We Did It Thrice

Image by Rex Roof via FlickrThe Crowe BarFlies are on a three game winning streak, and it feels wonderful! We beat the Stafford Sandblasters 4-2.

First up for the Crowe BarFlies was Dave and Patrick against Phil and Jean. This was a seesaw game that eventually we lost 13-15. Next up for the visiting team was Danny and Charlotte against Nathan and our birthday girl, Shelly.  This one was a little rough and we go down 3-16. Steve and I take on Annie and Patty for the third game and in 6 frames, we have our first win of the night, 15-7.

Phil and Charlotte are sent in by the Sandblasters after Margaret and Roger are announced as our next players. With the score at 13-12 in the 11th frame after Phil scored 6 points, Margaret scores 3 to win it 16-12. For the 5th game, Danny and Jean go up against Bert and Lexie. This game started with no handicap points and the BarFlies hit their stride quickly. Bert and Lexie win this one 15-6. Time for possibly the last game. Margaret and I are picked to take on Charlotte and Annie. It took 12 frames, but Mom and I win it, 17-9 to end the match.

Image by bashford via Flickr
The Crowe BarFlies have finally started to click and it feels nice. This Wednesday is our bye week, so I'll be heading out to cheer for our sister team, the Crowe Wildpuckers. Hopefully, we can play better than the Texans after our bye week when we head to Woodie's next Wednesday to try to end this half of the season 4-4.

Big 'Ol Fat Goose Egg

 Yup. That's how many games we won. Zero. Nil. Nada. Nothing. Zip. Not a one. You know what the worst part about it was? We didn't play all that bad.

So why can't we win? I have no clue. Got any advice?

I looked back at last season's first 3 games and we went 1-2. So we are one game behind last year.

Okay BarFlies. That's enough losing. It's time to win. And it's off to Hunter's Pub to play against Hunter's Rocks. Let's win BarFlies. Let's win!

Battle Royale

It's almost time for the 0-2 Crowe BarFlies to take on the 1-1 Crowe Wildpuckers.  Who will win? All I know is that it will be a fun night!




Myspace Countdown Generator

Deja Vu All over again

Image via Wikipedia
Well crap! The Crowe BarFlies took the Stafford Ye "Olde" Puckers to game 7! And what happened? We lost. Grr!!


We're up to our same old tricks again I guess. Didn't we start off last year on a losing streak? Hopefully we'll snap out of it soon. 


Next up are the defending champs, the Crowe Wildpuckers. Great. So thanks to my genius scheduling abilities, we played the 2nd place team the first week, the 3rd place team the second week and just for shits and giggles, we play the 1st place team the 3rd week. Yeah, I'm that awesome!

But enough rambling, back to this week's game. We almost had them!

We lost the first game by, well we'll say a lot. Lex and Roger had a rough time against John and J.R.  The second game didn't look much better, but somehow we pulled it out of the gutter. My partner Patrick and I played this one against Keith and Becky. At one point, we were down 14-3 and managed an impossible comeback to take it 18-14. I think I had a mini heart attack after that. Then it was time for another newbie to get his first win. Nathan and Dave played against Doc and Bear and beat them 17-10. Next up was Bert and Steve against Steve and Paul. The weird thing about this game was that the "Steve"s were the only ones who scored points. Odd. We lost this one 12-15.

Okay. So we are tied 2 to 2. We send Margaret and our newest player Shelly to play opposite Keith and J.R. They almost held onto this one but lost 13-16. Patrick and I go up again for the 6th game, this time against John and Paul. We win this one 15-12 and Patrick and I get to enjoy the rest of the night from the bench.

So here we are at game 7. The Ye "Olde" Puckers have Keith and Steve playing so we send in Margaret and Dave to get our last win. But Keith and Steve were too much for them and we lost 11-17.

We played a helluva match, in my opinion. So good job BarFlies! We'll beat them when they come to our house! But for now our sights are set on the Wildpuckers!

Image via WikipediaThis next part has nothing to do with shuffleboard but it must be said. GO TEXANS!! Our Houston Texans will be taking on the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday and if (when) they beat the Cowgirls, the Texans will be 3-0!


So GO TEXANS and GO BARFLIES!!

First Game Jitters

Image via Wikipedia
 Well, the Crowe BarFlies started the season off with a... wait for it... loss. Damn! 


I know right! Grr! What is it with us? It seems like we always start the season with a loss. Well, now that the losing is out of our system, there is only one way for us to go.

So we played the Cozy Corner I team and lost 2-4. We definitely tried. Our games were all pretty close.

So what do we do now? Honestly, I have no clue. We just have to keep playing and hopefully the luck will catch up with us.

Our next hurdle of this young season is a tough one. We have to travel to Stafford Ice House and play last season's 3rd place winners, the Stafford Ye "Olde" Puckers.

Come on BarFlies! It's time to start a winning streak!

Almost Time to Dominate

Image by iChris via Flickr
 That's right, I said it... Dominate!

Our first table shuffleboard game of the new season is this Wednesday against  Cozy Corner I, a team that we lost to twice last year. But with the BarFlies under new management (Go Lexie!), hopefully we can pull out a win. It'd be nice to start the season 1-0.

We've got most of the usual suspects coming back for another year, but we also have a couple of new faces (welcome to the BarFlies Nathan and Patrick!).

It's going to be a great season for the BarFlies... I can feel it!

GO BARFLIES!

A New Hope

Image via WikipediaHere we are again boys and girls, almost at the start of a new season. How will the Crowe BarFlies do this year? You'll just have to stay tuned to find out.

Our new shuffleboard season starts in exactly one week. How exciting!

For anyone who's new here, I'm Amy and I play shuffleboard. Every (well almost) Wednesday, I, and the rest of the Crowe BarFlies set out to beat the other 8 teams in the SHSL. But there's an added twist this year... I'm a board member! That's right! I actually have responsibilities (scary!!) now to the league and all of it's members.

So, good luck to all the shuffleboarders out there (especially the other BarFlies!!) and to my fellow newbie board members Tom and Lexie. I know this will be a great year!

And for those of you scratching your heads as to why I have a Star Wars picture on this post, it is a picture from Star Wars IV: A New Hope. See what I did there? 

Last Dance

Image by Leo Reynolds via Flickr

The end is finally here boys and girls! We have made it to the last regular game of the 2010 Spring-Summer Southwest Houston Shuffleboard League season. Phew! Anyway, it's been quite a rocky road for us, the Crowe BarFlies. We started out a little shaky but found our groove. Unfortunately, that groove ended and we haven't been able to find it again. 


Tonight is our final match against the Stafford Sandblasters. It'd really be nice to finish the season (somewhat) strong and with a win, especially since we haven't won a match since June 2nd. Yikes. That wasn't very easy to type. I think we can do.

GO BARFLIES!

Two More To Go

Thank God there's only 2 more games. I'll keep this post short and sweet (well, bitter, actually). We lost. We lost in 4 games. Yup, your read that right. We lost 0-4.

Oh well.

Next up are the champions of the league, our sister team, the Crowe Wildpuckers.

That is all.

Broken Record

We need a win. How many times have I said it? How many more times do I need to say it? I hope not many. We have 3 games left in the season, I'd like to win just one. That's all I'm asking. We started the season shaky and now we're finishing it shaky as well.


Our sister team, the Crowe Wildpuckers have already clinched first place with a record of 12-1, with 3 games left! Way to go Wildpuckers!


So without sounding like a broken record (I know I already do) I decided to find out how to say "We need a win" in different languages. Here's what I found.

English: We need a win!

Chinese: 我们需要一场胜利！

Dutch: We hebben een te winnen!

French: Nous avons besoin d'une victoire!

German: Wir brauchen einen Sieg!

Greek: Χρειαζόμαστε μια νίκη!

Irish: Ní mór dúinn an bua!

Italian: Abbiamo bisogno di una vittoria!

Japanese: 我々は勝利が必要だ！

Russian: Мы должны победить!

Slovak: Potrebujeme vyhrať!

Spanish: Necesitamos una victoria!

Yiddish: מיר דאַרפֿן אַ געווינען!

I used Google Translate to find all of these translations so if you see a mistake, take it up with Google. There are a ton of languages available so I just grabbed a handful.

Come on BarFlies! WE NEED A WIN! 

What a Shocker

Image by Richard Milnes via Flickr

Well, we came, we saw, we tried, we lost. Again. I don't know what it is but the Crowe BarFlies just can't seem to catch a break. 


We almost won on a technicality if I hadn't opened my big, dumb mouth. See, in our league, if a player wins 2 games in a night, that player is no longer eligible to play. It was game 7 and Woodie's wanted to put up Bob and Stephen. Stephen had won 2 games that night and I had to tell them. If he had shot one puck they would have had to forfeit that game and we would have won the match. But that's the chicken shit way to win in my book. They put up a different player and won fair and square.


Every game was a fight down to the last point. It was pretty scary when we lost the first 3 games (yeah, we're that good) but we managed to claw our way back and win the next 3. We just couldn't close the deal.


Now we are down to the last three games of the season, and I'm pretty sure we've sealed our fate out of the top 3. 


Next week, we travel over to Cozy Corner to play the Cozy Corner Clusterpucks. Our team never plays that well over there so we'll really need some good luck to help us to a victory on Wednesday. 

Record

6-7

Next Opponent - Cozy Corner Clusterpucks

Go BarFlies! 

U-Turn Ahead

Image via Wikipedia

Well, it's Wednesday again and again it's time for the Crowe BarFlies to make a 180° turn. Coming off of a 3 game losing streak isn't easy, especially after not playing for a week. 

Including today's match, we have 4 games left in this season. We still have a chance to get into the top 3 (well, the 2nd or 3rd spot). Unfortunately, it's a pretty slim chance.

C'mon BarFlies! We can do this! Okay, enough of the pep talk.

So I've gone back and forth on how to write this blog. At first I liked doing a game by game recap, but after a few matches, it felt like I was saying the same things over and over, regardless of who won. Now, I just kind of ramble on about how we need to win (because I'm awesome like that). I have no clue what tomorrow's (well, probably Friday's) post will look like.

Tonight, we're up against Woodie's Ice House. In the first half of the season they struggled to get enough players to some of their games but it seems now that they're on the comeback. Tonight should be a good match. 

Go BarFlies!

It's a Sure Thing

Image by tizzie via Flickr

We can't lose! Yup, you read that right. No I'm not being cocky, the entire league is off this Wednesday due to the July 4th holiday. So anyway, I'm going to head over to the Crowe Bar (if I ever get out of work), drink some Miller Lite, and play some video games and board games.

We got the updated standings this morning and our sister team, the Crowe Wildpuckers have clinched a top 3 finish with 4 games to go. Well aren't y'all spiffy? We are currently tied for 4th with Hunter's Rocks, which isn't too shabby considering we've been on a down slide lately. Stafford Ye "Olde" Puckers are in 2nd place at 8-5 and on their heels is Cozy Corner I at 7-5. I think if all of the stars align (we win - everyone else lose) then we might still have a fighting chance to get into the top 3.

Record

6-6

Next Opponent - Woodie's Ice House

Go BarFlies!

Well, crap!

Another dreary, never-ending Thursday is here and thank god, almost over. The Crowe BarFlies had a tough match against the Stafford Ye "Olde" Puckers last night. 

Lexie and I of course got to the bar late, it being the last day of the month, and already Taco and Dave had won the first game against John and Doc.

Unfortunately, that was the last win for the BarFlies. We managed to lose the next 4 games in a row 9-15, 14-17, 10-17 and 11-15. We tried our best but it wasn't to be. In all of our games we had good shots, great shots, questionable shots and bad shots. They were all heart breakers. We'd gain a little then fall back. Ugh! That was a tough match!

When I started this blog I would try to have a funny quote from that night. Most of the time I just forgot to write something down and the Miller Lite washed it out of my memory forever. But that changed last night.

Quote of the night: "If I wasn't holding John's head I would have put my foot in his ass." -Keith

So here's the story. Last season when we played at Stafford Ice House, John from our team fainted and hit the ground pretty hard. It scared the hell out of us. So the ambulance was called and John came to. Then this guy started asking him all these dumb ass questions and John was getting a little aggravated and all of us were like "Who the hell is this guy?" I'm sure this guy didn't mean anything by the bone head questions he was asking but John's whole team was there for him, to keep him conscious but we couldn't get to him because of this dude. That guy is who Keith is referring to in this quote. I don't really remember why we started talking about that last night (surprise surprise) but when Keith said that line I had to write it down.

So back to shuffleboard. Next week we are back at the Crowe Bar and up against Woodie's Ice House. We HAVE to get it together to break our 3 game losing streak. Maybe next week will be our week! Man, I hope so!

Record

6-6

Next Opponent - Woodie's Ice House

Go BarFlies!

We REALLY need a win!

Wow! We really freaking need a win tomorrow night. After the standings were posted today, we are tied for 3rd with the team that we lost to two weeks ago - Cozy Corner I. 

We're 4 games back from the mighty Crowe Wildpuckers and one game back from the strong Stafford Ye "Olde" Puckers. 

But nipping on our heels is our tomorrow night opponent, Hunter's Rocks. 

If we can hang in there it could be another close finish. 

GO BARFLIES!!

Can we hunt the Hunter's?

Image by el swifterino via Flickr

Calm down. I don't mean literally. So, our next game is against Hunter's Rocks, but on our board. After having a week off, I hope it has given us some rest so we can possibly start a new winning streak.

I guess I should focus more on winning a game rather than thinking about a streak of games, right? Whatever, I do what I want.

I haven't been writing anything about our Sunday shuffleboard lately because, well, we haven't gone. We were struggling to get 8 players and that just isn't enough to keep running the tournament. We might try and get it going again in the future, but right now, I'm digging my pajama couch potato Sundays.

Record

6-4

Next Opponent - Hunter's Rocks

Go BarFlies!

First up for the Second Half

Image by Lottery Monkey via Flickr

It's time to start playing shuffleboard again!

This Wednesday the Crowe BarFlies face the VFW Flyers and we are out for blood! Just kidding (or am I?). They beat us on their board so I want to give them a taste of their own medicine. Also, they're right on our heels at only one game back from us. We need this win to stay ahead of them.

Hopefully, I can pull our team together and pull out a win. Right now we are in a 3 way tie for second. All of us 2nd place teams are two games back from the league leaders, our sister team, the Crowe Wildpuckers. They are playing out in Stafford against the Stafford Ye "Olde" Puckers, one of the teams we are tied with. The other team, Cozy Corner I, has a bye, so a win for us would definitely be nice!

Record
5-3

Next Opponent - VFW Flyers

Go BarFlies

Baseball

So all Baseball is, in shuffleboard, is a slight variation on Horse Collar. Instead of playing to 51, you play 9 "innings." 


I'm guessing that if after 9 rounds the score is tied and you keep playing until one team/person is the winner. But everyone should get another shot if the first person scored. Kind of like being the home team, you always get a final chance.

Horse Collar

Okie dokie folks! Time for another shuffleboard variations! This one is called Horse Collar. I've never actually played this one but unlike Crazy Eights I have heard of it.


game overview provided by Bowers' Corner
Horse Collar Overview
Games can be played one-on-one (2 players) or with two or more teams of two players per team, playing on same end of the board.  Each player/team uses one set of weights [red or blue].  Depending upon the number of players,  teams may need to alternate ends as the frames change. Games are played in frames until one team scores 51-points.  However,  scoring 51-points first does not necessarily make that team the winner. Every team gets to finish each frame and the highest score is the winner. If the team that scores 51-points or more has the hammer (the last team to play), then they are declared the winners. Before a team can score any points at all, at least one weight must be 3-points or more. Weights are considered in play if they are on the board and past the designated foul line [which typically is the "short" foul line nearest to the player's end of the board].  It is important to know before the game starts which foul line has been designated, but typically it will be the "short" foul line nearest to the player that is shooting. 


If playing singles, one player will throw all eight weights.  If playing teams (4 or 8 players), one player will throw 4 weights of the same color, then the other player will throw the remaining 4 weights. The objective is to get at least one weight into the 3-point or more zone to get the scoring started. You may bump or tap weights to accomplish this or simply lag one in. All weights must be past the designated (short or short) foul line or off the board.  If a weight remains on the board that is not past the designated foul line, no points can be awarded - but if it is not your last weight, it may be knocked off.  Again, the objective is to get at least one weight into the 3-point or greater zone [without any weights short of the designated foul line - again, typically the "short" foul line], in order for any points to count.  See below for specifics of How to Play with 2 players or in teams of 4 or 8 players. 

How To Play With 2 Players

Players stand at opposite ends of the board, facing each other.  The first player shoots all 8 weights (4 blue; 4 red) consecutively towards the opposite end of the board.  After all weights have been shot, the score is counted as shown in below illustration under "Method of Scoring".  Then the board is cleared and the opponent shoots in the same manner from the end of the shuffleboard at which he is standing.  Players alternate shooting until one player has scored 51 points (See "Technical Points" - Rule 1 below).

How To Play With 4 or 8 Players

With more than two persons, Horse Collar is a team game.  If there are 4 players, they divide into teams of 2 each; if 8 players, they divide into teams of 4.  To start a game the opposing teams station themselves at opposite ends of the shuffleboard -  all players of one team at one end, all their opponents at the other end.  The first team shoots all 8 weights toward the opposite end at the other end of the board.  The first team shoots all its 8 weights toward the opposite end, with each member of the team shooting his quota consecutively, in the following manner:

On a 2-player team, the first player shoots 4 weights, in a row and then his partner shoots the remaining 4 weights of opposite color.

On a 4-player team, the first player shoots 2 weights in a row, and each of his partners in turn shots 2 weights in a row until all 8 weights have been shot.

When all 8 weights have been thrown, score is counted as shown below in "Method of Scoring".  Then the opposing team clears the board and shoots its 8 weights in the same manner as described above.  Teams continue to alternate shooting until one team has scored 51 points (See "Technical Points" - Rule 1 below). 

How To Count Players/Teams Scores - "METHOD OF SCORING RULES"

After all 8 weights in a round have been played, it must first be determined whether at least one weight is completely in the trey (3)-zone or overhanging the End or the left or right hand Corner of the shuffleboard playing field.  If there is NO weight in this zone, NO SCORE OF ANY KIND CAN BE COUNTED, regardless of how many weights remain on the board.

If there is at least one weight in the trey (3-point zone) or overhanging the End (13-point zone)  or the left or right hand Corner of the board (26-point zone), then the score is counted, as follows:

	All weights touching or in front of the deuce line count 1 point.  This applies to the entire area up to the designated foul line (typically "short" foul line is designated), but weight must be completely clear of the designated foul line to count.
	All weights between the deuce line and the trey line (including any touching the trey line), count  2- points.
	All weights between the trey line and the far end of the board count 3-points.
	All weights overhanging the board at the far end count 13-points (13 point hanger) .
	All weights overhanging the left and/or right hand corner of the board count 26-points (26-point hanger).  Note:  Some establishments or tournament directors may not include or count the hanging corner any more than a hanger from the end of board, but most tournaments will include the 26-point count possibility.  Hanging corner is another item you should be informed about before you start to play.
	All weights which fall into the alleys, or do not clear the designated foul line are dead and do not count.

SCORE COUNT SUMMARY:

In order to score, a team must have at least one weight being worth 3-points or more [It does not have to be the first weights thrown in order to score].  For example, if a team throws 1 weight worth 3-points and 2 weights worth 2-points and 3 weights worth 1- point and all remaining weights on the board are past the designated foul line (again, typically "short" foul line), the team would score 10-points.

Hangers are worth 13-points [hanger being a weight that is hanging partially off the end of the board].

Hanger on Corners are worth 26-points [weight is hanging partially off the end and partially off the side of the board in either corner].  Note:  a weight just hanging only off the side of the board does not have any special meaning or point value unless it is a 26-point hanger on one of the two Corners.

Games are played in frames until one team scores 51-points.  However,  scoring 51-points first does not necessarily make that team the winner.

Every team gets to finish each frame and the highest score is the winner (51-points or greater).

If the team that scores 51-points or more has the hammer (the last team to play), then they are declared the winners.

OPTIONAL:   Sometimes players will play Horse Collar also having what is called a "Hickey" count which means every time a player does not score, it constitutes a "Hickey", and each player that does not score in a round puts an agreed upon amount of money into a "Hickey Jar"  (e.g., $.25, $1, $5, etc.) and the final winner of the game gets the contents of the Hickey Jar.  This is just something that can be done to make the game more interesting, but may or may not be part of your agreed upon Horse Collar tournament rules.
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Technical Points

1. A game is NOT complete until player or team which has been shooting last has taken its LAST TURN AT THE BOARD, even though the player or team shooting first has already scored 51-points or more.  If both teams go over 51 points, the one with the FINAL HIGHEST SCORE IS THE WINNER.
2. During play, no contestant may leave his position to check the location of weights he or his partners have played.
3. All weights which do not completely CLEAR the designated foul line (typically the "short" foul line nearest to the player shooting are dead weights, but must not be removed from the board.
4. On the 9-ft. and 12-ft. cushion boards (a.k.a. bank boards), Horse Collar is played and scored exactly the same as described above, except that each weight played must first carom off either side cushion on its way to the scoring areas.  On cushion shuffleboards, the center foul line applies on all foul line rules (Note:  On the 9-ft. BANK-SHOT the "5" zone is disregarded and anything in that zone is considered in the trey zone.)

I have played a shortened version of this game that is called Horse Race. In Horse Race, you only get one shot to try and get the highest score possible with all 8 pucks. We usually play for $1 since most of the time you get one shot at it. Also, in Horse Race we have a rule called "One Tie All Tie." This means that even if you got 0 points and there were two people who tied for the highest score, everyone (including you) pay another dollar and everyone shoots again. This continues until one person has the highest score and they take the pot.

Good Luck!