MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

Here is wishing all of you a Happy Holiday and Prosperous New Year.
For those of you getting new boules for Christmas, congratulations.
For those who have not yet, I'm sure Phillipe is waiting by the phone as we speak, anticipating your very call.
To Jeff, Joe, and all the crew of Detroit and Michigan Petanque Clubs, Merry Christmas and pray for an early spring.

Gumper

Pointing and Shooting Template

I received an e-mail recently about a new shooting/pointing competition template which can be used for easily setting up the positions of the boules and cochonnet. There's no price listed, but it is my duty to report to you, my fellow petanque enthusiasts, about anything that may exist in the world of boule...

Most Dangerous Petanque Club in the United States

a recent report came out that Detroit is rated THE MOST DANGEROUS CITY in the nation. Second is St. Louis; and Thrd is another Michigan city: Flint. That being said, the Detroit Petanque Club is therefore the de-facto most dangerous petanque club in the country.

Not many people know this, but all of our club members wear body armor, pack heat, and we have to play inside an electrified cage.

Despite these safeguards, we lose about 2 players each week due to snipers; pitbull dog attacks; and nearby drug-deals gone bad.

In fact, if our club weren't part of FPUSA, the federation insurance would have been about $2 for the entire collection of petanque clubs. Sorry guys...

CHICAGO "BoulerBear" Winter Tournament

The Wild "BOULER-BEAR" Winter Singles TOURNAMENT is coming to Chicago in January 2008. Are you ready to take on the challenge? Be a SURVIVOR at the craziest winter petanque event of the Midwest. For more details, visit www.chicagopetanque.com.

Are you man enough? Are you woman enough? Are you wacky enough? Be a part of this coming winter's COLDEST, WILDEST Tournament. The "BOULER-BEAR SINGLES".

Chicago Petanque Club
www.chicagopetanque.com

Ken Chance wins "Best of 6 Games" Trophy

Ken Chance, President of the Rocket City Petanque Club in Huntsville, Alabama, came by to visit Jeff in Wyandotte, Michigan. We played a series of petanque games (6) - of which Ken was the victor! (see trophy).

Windy but still Boule-ing

The 12-1pm lunchtime petanque gathering is still going strong despite the threat of cold chilling winds. We'll try to play as far along into November as we can - but when the snow falls - we'll need to switch to other things... for me, perhaps lunchtime reading.

Mail from Ulf Malmberg

FROM ULF MALMBERG:

Jeff,

Thank you for the information you sent to me about petanque in the Detroit area. I had a great Sunday afternoon playing petanque with some of the players in the Michigan Petanque Club up in Royal Oak park. The were very hospital and friendly and let me both borrow boules and winsome games. One of the players I met was Joe Zajac the president of theclub. Unfortunately the battery in my camera was dead so I could not take anyphotos. Instead I’ve sent you some from the Boule-center we have in Gothenburg.

If you or any other player from Detroit come to Gothenburg please let me know and I will introduce you or them the petanque player here.

Best Regards,

Ulf Malmberg
UMALMBE1@volvocars.com

MPC Last Day? :-(

The last of the die-hard MPC players braved the cold this last day of play in our Royal Oak piste... The leaves hid the wild landing shots, but the games went on!

We just couldn't let go of the seemingly last day of play before the traces of snow start to touch down this week (as is predicted). Daylight-savings time even cut yet another hour, and we decided to call it a season about 5:30 tonight... next winter, a glow-in-the-dark cochonette, a heater? We can only wait and hope!

Christmas Tree at Campus Martius Park - Detroit

The Christmas tree was lowered into position atop the fountain at Campus Martius Park today. Then a team of climbers secured it with cables and then went into the tree to "open up" the branches (it was wrapped tightly and transported from New York). Here is Joe Z. having a bit of fun decorating the tree with a boule (at the top - naturally!) I'm not sure when the first snow will arrive but we'll probably get in a few more weeks of petanque. It was a surprisingly mild day on Saturday - not bad for a November.

Mike is an Excellent Player

Mike has been showing real progress in his boule playing. As of late his shooting and pointing has been flawless. I am really proud of him as he has a boatload of difficulties to overcome - and yet - he's been playing like a real pro.

Kikkoman Petanque Club

Kikkoman is the official new mascot for the Detroit Petanque Club.

Check out his kick-ass video HERE

Army, Blisters; and Charlene Returns to Denver

Saturday's club meet began with Cheryl showing us her Pop-Tart injury... (see photo if you haven't eaten yet). The blisters were caused by the searing hot insides of a brown-sugar pop-tart leaking all over her hand. Cheryl's a trooper - and she played petanque all day despite her injury!

The Detroit Marathon ran Sunday, and the local Military ROTC cadets came out in force to help with the set-up. They spent a few hours marching around, singing in unison, packing and unpacking, moving canopy tents, and keeping us all safe.

Charlene, from Denver, came by to let us know that she would be returning to Colorado after her long stay in Michigan helping with a family matter. We'll all miss her but we're sure she'll return next season.

New Rule for Cochonnet Size?

I was perusing the Aoyama Petanque (Japan) website and looking over their excellent photos and comments from the 43rd Petanque World Championships in Thailand when I found this entry (see photo). Perhaps it is time to throw out our 25mm & 35mm jacks? Looking at Article 3 which states:

Article 3— Approved Jacks

Jacks [Cochonnets] are made entirely of wood or of synthetic material which carry the maker’s mark and have secured confirmation by the F.I.P.J.P. that they comply exactly with the relevant specification.

Their diameter must be between 25 mm (minimum) and 35 mm (maximum).

Jacks may be painted any color.

Campus Martius Decorated for Halloween

Beatrice from Nice, France Played at Campus Martius Today

Beautiful Petanque Day in Detroit

Boules and Tiger Fans at Campus Martius Park

Cathy and Mike A. joined us at the C-Mart on Saturday. It took a round or two to get used to the different terrain - as they usually play petanque up in Royal Oak on Sundays. But after a while they were pointing in like pros. Also, Louise joined us, she was away for a time, but despite not having lifted a boule in over a year, she saved by bacon by getting two close boules at a 15 meter distance! That game ended in a 13/12 victory for us!

Nicole shows her Shooter Cred

Nicole played boule at Saturday's games in Campus Martius Park and she showed her power shooting. I'm not sure when she began shoting so well, maybe at the Detroit Tournament when she teamed up with Charlene or perhaps when she was receiving personal lessons from Mamary ("Mo") - but whenever she started becoming a petanque milieu (shooter AND pointer) she certainly has become a difficult player to beat. Good luck in New York next week Nicole!

Limping Jeff Widen Makes a Quick Draw!

The field of play, Cadillac Square, the two cowboys faced off: Arnold Allenic, from Ann Arbor in town to give some lectures at the Materials Conference against Jeff Widen, newly injured in a petanque battle from the previous day. The first game, a close score, with victory to the visitor, Arnold, 13/11.


The second game, the revenge match, began badly for Jeff, with Arnold getting some early points, and advancing to a 0/7 position... This ole cowpoke ain't done yet! Not in my town, even with my bum leg, I ain't gonna give up!

POW! POW! the score advanced for me, POW! POW! POW! 12/7 ... then the final... 13/7 Got yah!

First Ever Petanque Injury Sustained by Jeff Widen

The Cadillac Square pistes, in case you don't know, are a combination of gravel stretches checkered with pave stoned areas. It is ideal for boule, but sometimes, when a boule is shot, it flies for quite a long way along the flat, hard surface. I was chasing after an errantly shot boule (a miss by the way!) when I heard a POP! and my left leg was in it's own personal hell. Limping around a bit on it, I finished up the game with my comrades (Auessa and Rob) - a squeaker, but a loss: 13/11 (victory to Tim, Pat, and Mike) and then ambled back to the office for bag of ice and some leg elevation.