Wow, how did I miss out on Richy's house tour? Being a collector of many things myself, I would have loved it. Richy, nice Whizzer! What year is it?
I'm guessing that there were no shots of my ladder test, as I waited for people to wander off before Ta0 tested me. I had no intention of even participating in any contests this year but Ta0 talked me into it. I couldn't believe how nervous I was....Even after I was done testing I couldn't do a big scoop due to clammy hands. I did much better than I had expected. I thought I would have totally choked. I haven't had time to play tops for quite some time, other than battle tops with my kids. At home I always have some house project going on, or else I have band practice, and at work I need 20 sets of eyes to view every trick attempted by every one of my kids. Everyday after school I hear: "watch me...watch me ...watch me"...and usually all at once
I have to say though, I'm very happy that Ta0 convinced me do the ladder. It gave me great satisfaction to stand next to my awesome little 8 year old up on the stage. I was one proud "Mama".
Like Ta0, my other kid "Zac" had several awesome direct hits during the battle top event. Uuuhhh Huuum....Ta0, if you remember correctly, it was McBride who made the final judgement about you not getting points for hitting my top. I only pointed out that there was no way to prove whether you had indeed done the damage, or if it had happened during my own throws, since we only marked for damage at the very beginning of the game, and my top had come into contact with the concrete on more than one occation after the game had begun. I honestly think the death and destruction round needs some reworking. I totally disagree with you about thinking that the win should have gone to the big guy who cracked the arena (Jake?). The whole time he was throwing (other than when he was the "chump") I never saw his top spinning. He basically just threw the top like a rock at the target. Where as Alan clearly showed "spin-top" throwing skill. If we continue with the same rules next year and the no string length requirment rule, I'm just going to tie a tiny string to my finger and throw my top like a rock as well. I might have better luck. In fact, when we had the disk arena, a few years back..this is how Shultzy took the contest that year. He would throw like a rock at the side of the arena to rock it and knock the tops out. But, being more of a purest myself, I would suggest the following:
1 point Hit the chump top (always by direct hit) chump top stays in, your top goes out
2 points hit the chump top both tops stay in "spinning"
3 points knock both your own top and the chump top out of arena
4 points knock chump top out of arena and your top stays in "spinning"
5 points Knock cap off of chump top
By these rules you would have gotten 4 points for your skilled shot at my top....and we won't have to worry about overall top damage since it always too dark to see anyway. Also, I suggest we BRING BACK THE WEDGIE
Those were the good old days: When Men Were Men, and Men had Wedgies!
My Nats highlights: When I landed two clean Evil Knievels in a row and Ta0 was there to see
Visiting with old friends and meeting new ones. Poptops son ... just as cute as can be standing up on stage with his dad
All the help my kids got from you great guys (and Val) who shared your wealth of knowledge and skills with them.
Photos to follow...Lynne still has to give them to me......I hope I still remember my photobucket account
