Pat and Maury Skunk Abu, Jeff and Brian

Maury and Pat skunk Abu, Jeff W. and Brian and then twist the dagger by winning again (9 pt game) 13/6. Whew!

Jeff reached 200 games played for the season (you'd never guess it by the lousy way I pointed today). Not bad, we may even get in a few more before the snow falls.

Congrats to Brandon... for topping the Rankings. I know, I know, Pat deserves the top spot.... as he's played 15x mor ethan Brandon...

Frigid Weather doesn't Stop Boule Play

Maury is M.V.P. for today

Really some unbelievable pointing today. Maury B. saved us at least three times with almost impossible pointing situations in clinch (last boule) rolls. One time his boule actually rolled over the stationary cochonnet and tapped away an opponent's boule which was sitting there at 1 cm ! It was in slow motion (just enough velocity to do that trick). But the other team had... Abu and Brian G. two very tough pointers. It was anyone's game until the final boule rolled in at 13/11.

Welcome to new players, Scott T. and Ken. Both extremely good pointers right from the first throw. Hope to see you soon.

In other news, Brandon, with just enough games under his belt - TOPS the rankings table unseating long standing champion, Pat A. I'm sure Pat will be eager to compete against Brandon and bring him down. With only 10 games on him, Brandon needs to keep winning every game to stap up there.

Scott T. Joins Us from Miller Canfield

Team Miller Canfield can count another player (bringing the tally to 2) against Honigman for petanque playing. Scott pointed great right away - and doubtless will be working his skillset towards shooting before long.

Maury's Team Caught Up and Beat Us

Hal and I were doing rather nicely, maintaining a health 3 or 4 point lead on our opponents. But then they started gaining on us, getting a point here and there until it was a 10 to 10 match. The final set-up offered up 3 points, and it was all over (for us). The game today was, I felt, particularly competitive because we played most round (ends) close (in distance). This allowed for everyone to both point (and shoot) comfortably. Yes, mixing it up is part of the game, but typically, when the cochonnet is kept at 7 meters or so, the games become alomost a boule-for boule exchange. Tim W. was shooting perfect today. There were situations where I was setting up a defensive placement of boules feeling the we couldn't be "unseated" - and then BLAMMO! Tim smacks in a solid boule shot and way we went.

Warmer Days Bring Out the Club Playing

Brrrrr !

Whatta Day - and Knight!

First of all, congrats to the New York Yankees... they've done it again!

Secondly, as it gets colder, we should still be seeing players at the piste in Cadillac Square, but hopefully wearing sensible winter gear. Some players have found fingerless gloves (really just 1 fingerless glove) to be effective at both keeping the boule hand warm and offering some dexterity. I've used close-fitting velcro-closure gloves with the fingers partially trimmed off on the left glove (i'm a lefty) with some positive results.

See you down there!

Monday's Games with Pat; Buzz; Maury; and Deric

Happy Halloween Everyone!

I'd like to add that Maury and Eric pulled a six-pointer on Friday (all in one round). Maury beleives it is the first of the season and I'd say that is probably true. Good going guys!

Mark gets a solid skunking from Buzz and Tim W.

Whew... what's that smell? Oh... another skunking. This time, Buzz and Tim W. delivered the goods against Mark and Tee. There was one moment when the 13/0 was going to be risked, but fortunately for Tim/Buzz it was Tee who pushed the opposition's boule in for a clean run of 13 points.

Other events: Mikey is back, and playing just as well as if he had never left. I'm not sure how he does it, but perhaps it is his Sampson-like beard growth... "don't shave Mike"

Abu Gets a Skunking

Mary, of Honigman Miller, joined us today upon invitation from Maury. Let me tell you, she is a very quick learner, attributed perhaps to her many years of bowling. Right away Mary pointed with excellence, and if not for my lousy shooting, we would have taken that 5/4 game!

Mark cycled by, off to some important architect meeting no doubt...

I'll have to check in with Mikey as we've not heard about his move down to Florida.

Pat Brings out his Big Balls

Jeff being called away for a fire drill, the players made do with their own boules. Pat brought out his 3 lb. wonders from Marseilles which served him well. "Maury's pointing was excellent," added Andonian - the pair took both games 13/6

Petanque... of Course!

What a nice combination of games for today! Our own game was pretty close, with Pat/Abu keeping slightly ahead of Tim and me... but then we had some lucky breaks, and Tim laid in a very close boule which Pat tried (3 boules!) to shoot away. Fortune was with us this day, 3 misses!

Chinese Invade Detroit - Can you say "Carreau" in Mandarin?

Amidst the loud Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat and heavy Thwumps of machine guns and mortar fire, the Detroit Petanque Club continued to roll their boules, like hand grenades, down the piste for their usual afternoon game playing. "I know that Detroit was rated Most Dangerous City in the United States," shouted Jeff Widen above the clamour, "but this is ridiculous!"

Actually, the noises were part of the production of the Red Dawn re-make that has been shooting in and around Detroit for a month. We're all getting used to buildings getting blown up, military vehicles including tanks and haf-tracks moving through the city as well as many uniformed Chinese "soldiers" marching about at $100 per day.

Close Game Says "Mob Rob"

Close game today (VIDEO) Maury was pointing perfectly, but we carefully planned our moves, letting Buzz lay in the strong anchoring first boule, then allowing the opposing team to over/under throw a few boules, then having Tim point in; Pat shoot away anything close and I came in for finishing up points. Effective strategy. We were behind 8 to 12 and had to hold them for three rounds, but we concentrated on not giving them their thirteenth point. May I add that Nancy and Buzz went boule for boule many times which always makes for a great game. Tim C. came in like a movie star with some difficult shots.

Mild Weather = More Players

We had a nice crew today, with Pat playing with Deric (for the win 13/11) against Mark and Tim C. That was a close game.

I teamed up with Tee against Maury and Buzz (another close game, it came down to a 12/12 and i was able to roll in a 13th boule.)

The second round had Pat back to the office and Eric coming in as replacement. We mixed the teams and played to 7 points.