"8" Unlucky for our Adversary

I've heard from our French players that "8" is an unlucky number for the French. Friday's game proved this to be true as Pat/ Maury/ Kevin were stuck on 8 points as Tim/ Raphael/ Jeff steamed ahead to a 13/8 victory.

Today's team composition was pretty fair: Tim has become an excellent shooter - he's reliable for 80 percent of his shots. Then Raphael is the very stable pointer - with his signature "Raphael Push Pointing" to move the enemy positions aside. I've been pointing better than shooting lately - perhaps due to the extreme distances of the cochonnet laid down by Monsieur Binkow whose tennis-arm puts the cochonnet at 14 meters!

Maury's strengths are definitely in the pointing realm coupled with strategy - but he's pushed adversary boules out of the way more frequently these days. Pat - always good as a mileu (all-around player with a very strong "Pat the Rocket" shot, and a mindful pointing. Kevin, also a great pointer - but his teams rely upon his expert surgical shooting to win them points.

Look Who is Back on the Piste...

In a complete reversal from the other day where Pat's team came from behind an 8 point to zero standing to win ... Jeff/Tim/Abu were at the zero mark against the 8 point score of Pat/Maury/Mike (8 is an unlucky number for the French) to win 13 to 9.

The second game - played to 7 points didn't turn out as well... with Pat/Maury/Mike sweeping 7 to zip.

VIDEO from today.

Pat and Maury Make an Amazing Comeback Win

Tim, Abu and Jeff were ahead 8 to zero against Pat and Maury in Tuesday's game. We were already thinking about how funny a 13/0 fanny would be for the blog.

But then, it happened: the penny.

Pat eyed a lucky penny on the court, mentioned how his luck has changed, and it truly did. Before we knew it, Pat and Maury were zooming ahead, even with us, then passing us (we were stuck on 8 points)... with eventually an 11 to 11 set-up.

The final boules thrown... Victory to Pat and Maury 13/11

Nailbiter of a game today in Michigan

Today's game was a real nail-biter (VIDEO).

Maury, Pat and Kevin exchanged boule for boule throughout today's game against Hitesh, Jeff and Tim. Tim was shooting like a superstar, even successfully eliminating two boules (front and back) with one shot. But in the end, the 13/11 victory went to Maury's team.

Pat & Hitesh Sweep Friday with a Double Win

Pat & Hitesh won big time today, tormenting Jeff and Tim in both games: 13/4 and 13/12. The last game was a nail-biter, with a 1 point decider (to Pat & Hitesh).

On an interesting note, Hitesh mentioned today that Kevin's lousy shooting cost them both games on Thursday. "He is going to really need to practice before I'll partner up with him again" said H-man.

Two Doublettes Today at Campus Martius Park

Today's games were a win/loss & loss/win for each team. I was fortunately (unfortunately for Kevin I guess) teamed up with Kevin and we lost 1/13 against Pat & Tim. But then my pointing came back somewhat, and Kevin's pointing was incredible, making a double-hit with one boule (the 2nd on a ricochet!) to give us a 13/10 (7 point game) victory.

Abu is Back!

Today's triplette: Pat, Jeff & Deric against Kevin, Tim & Abu. I pointed terrible today, every boule rolling too far left or right. Perhaps it was the surfase - fast hard and flat (sounds like a bad Porno). Pat was right on with his shooting - with hit after excellent hit - smacking away the competition. But alas, Kevin's team held in there and beat us 13 to 6 (brutal) It was great to see Abu back on the piste - we hadn't seen him since the season closed on 2008.

Kevin is temporarily knocked into second place as Abu's win rockets him to the top slot. As the average mellow out the rankings, I'm sure things will change. My own horrible ranking... will stick around for a while...

Another Honigman Sweep in Detroit

A warm-ish Monday, and Pat with the assistance of Kevin and Tim (switching in for Kevin) made a magnificent comeback from 8 to 1 to win it with 13/8 against Deric and Jeff. We heard from Pat that Mike is unde the weather - hopefully he'll heal up quickly so he can re-join his boule-partner, Pat.

2009 Detroit Season Warming Up

As the weather adjusts, our weekday players have been coming out of hibernation. Last week's game included Pat/Mike/Kevin with a 13 to 9 victory over Tim/Jeff/Raphael/Mark. We began quite strong, building up a 9 to 2 lead, but then Mike (who is twice the man Pat will ever be) starting hitting his marks, resulting in a strong comeback win.

Tete a Tete on Thursday

Yesterday there was a break in the cold weather and I was able to play a Tete-a-Tete against Kevin C. over at Campus Martius Park.

The ground, after all of the snow/ice melt - was pretty soft and so we had to modify our pointing and shooting to allow for this. Hardly any rolling along the surface - mostly plombe.

Kevin took a nice lead, I think he was at 5 to 0 before I got in any points. But then it was tied up and we wentto 12/11 before I took the win.

Afterwards, we played a brief 8 point game - Kevin took that one.

Today is a bit on the damp side - but these days you never know when an acceptable boule day will arrive.

Bob Moyer Speaks About Petanque in Winston-Salem

Our fellow petanquer, Bob Moyer, (Carolina Petanque Club) spoke about petanque during the Winston-Salem Tournament captured on You-Tube: video

A very good player, Bob has visited us in Michigan many times (and beaten us plenty!)

Surprise Season Opener in Detroit

Not as hardy as the Chicago Petanque Club which plays during snowstorms, the DPC waited for a 58 degree day to gather at Campus Martius Park for some boule.

It was good to see the familiar faces, Mark, Tim & Pat, Hitesh, and Deric and I played in a true triplette. The competition and game play - very tight, with an 11/13 finale... the victory going to Pat/Mark/Deric.

Here's a short video of today's shenanigans... VIDEO

If tomorrow's weather holds, we'll see you down there!

Breakfast of Petanque Champions

Breakfast of petanque champions! Boules et Cochonnet looks like it probably contains all of your daily iron supplements too. I wonder if it comes in different patterns and sizes.

Our Thoughts Are With You

Our sympathy to all of the members of the Detroit Petanque Club for the loss such a good friend.

Chicago Petanque Club

Gene Sanford - Friend, Petanquer, Good Man - Passed Away

Today I received a phone call from Sharon Hunter. She told me that Gene, the love of her life & her best friend, had passed away on Wednesday at 7:43 p.m.





Gene Sanford, 51, had complications from his asthma which necessitated a hospital visit. Shortly thereafter associated difficulties brought on a seizure and heart attack.



I first met Gene and Sharon five years ago. They comprised the core initial group of the Detroit Petanque Club. In those days, it was Gene, Sharon, Tony-T, me, James, and Sharon. We had been playing on the sandy pistes down along the Detroit River (Pre-Detroit Riverwalk). Gene was always with his Sharon, and together they played a very strong petanque team. In a very short time Gene and I became good friends, and we'd talk about all sorts of things while awaiting our throws. I can proudly say that Gene, though constant practice, became an excellent tireur (shooter). When most of the club members were shying away from cold weather playing, I could always count upon Gene to be ready for a good game of boule.

I'll miss him.

Sharon told me that she is in the process of making Gene's funeral arrangements. When she knows more information, I'll be sure to share it with you.

Attached are some (of many) photos I have of Gene over the years:

Chicago's Midwinter FreezerBoule Games

View all photos of The Chicago Petanque Club 2nd Annual Midwinter FreezerBoule Games. Click on the Flickr link below OR cut and paste the code into your browser.Then click on the "SLIDESHOW" button in the upper right of the Flicker website.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1024640@N22/pool/
NEW! Join The Chicago Petanque FLICKR Photo Group (its FREE) to post and share your best petanque shots.
View the Winter Freezer Boule Games slideshow on FLICKR and leave a comment.

Memories of Last Summer

Since we're in the throes of winter, when we can only dream of Sunday afternoons playing pétanque (at least those of us not brave enough to play in sub-freezing temperatures), I thought I'd share some pictures of warmer times last summer, during the Midwest Pétanque Tournament in Chicago. This was my second year of competition, and I'm really looking forward to my third. Enjoy.

Grant Park once again provided a beautiful venue for the tournament.

My partner, Paul Murphy, and me prior to the start of the tournament.

Paul laying in a point.

A pause between games.

During the Consolate round -- The flip of the coin.

The 2008 Midwest Pétanque Tournament competitors.


The Consolate round on Sunday was cut short by a horrendous thunderstorm, but this didn't dampen our spirits in the least. (Taken from Paul's car.)

Because of the rain-out, there was no awards ceremony, so Paul and I had our own. We came in first during the Consolate round. (Sorry, I had to throw this one in.)

Winter Session of Detroit Petanque Club

VIDEO





The weather was favorable towards a little afternoon petanque, so I sent out a "call to arms" and three of us were hardy enough (Tim, Pat, Jeff) to assemble beside the ice rink at Campus Martius Park for a little petanque.



It wasn't a pretty game, with Jeff beating the Honigman fellows - but I'm enthusiastic that we'll have a few more wintertime sessions until the Spring sets up the fulltime schedule.

It is Pat's birthday on Tuesday (12/30/2008) and Mikey's on New Year's Eve! I knew those guys are like twins...

Chicago Petanque WINTER GAMES

To get you in the mood and build up your courage to play outdoors this January 10th in Chicago, click on this link (or cut and paste into browser) to view 30 photos from last winters event.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/938624@N24/pool/