In the seemingly
un-ending purgatory that has been August (hopefully
news this week on that front), I've finally started to
refocus on the 4-Square Reality Show. The past two
weekends we've been playing hardcore for
roughly 3 hours each time, and aside from being
unbelieveably sore after, I am stunned at how
addicting it is. Everyone makes fun of it when they
first hear about it, then they play one game and
they're hooked. The key, as Pat will show us
here...
...is the
underhand restriction. It completely changes the game.
I never played this way as a kid, and once you've done
it... there's just no going back because it takes away
all cheap shots and requires serious skill to find
ways to pack some power with control when it's
underhanded. Tyson, please demonstrate:
BWAHAHAHA. I laugh
because this was so completely unnecessary (though he
did get me out - lol) but, actually - watch the video
of this. Friggin' Classic. I have continually hurt a
sore muscle in my back laughing at this move while
editing the movie. LOL:
So crazy. BTW -
the sudden death was a race to 3, win by 2. And
EVERYONE called that ball out except me and I made
everyone come in and watch the tape on the big-screen.
And Tyson... the man just... flails like crazy. But
he's one of the best players by far. He's so tall and
those friggin' long-ass arms...
Oooh oooh and
check out this shot...
Got him out here
and it of course proves I'm underhand. That's such a
big argument in this game, which brings us to our most
difficult problem for the show:
Officiating.
The
line between under and overhand can be
nearly impossible because the
follow-through after you strike can go
nearly anywhere. As well, we've now played
so much that people are changing their
technique to get away with an overhand
even if you start on the ball underhand.
Kinda like the "Carry" rule in
basketball. So hard to officiate. Then of
course, the lines...
The
inside lines are "out" and the outside
lines are "in". It actually becomes second
nature when you play it, but the constant
arguing over in and out is pretty tough.
You need at LEAST 2 line judges and even
with that - once it's in your mind that
it's one way or the other - until you
actually see it on tape you'll just never
believe it.
The
other problem of course is the scoring.
You score for A, B & C - 3, 2 & 1.
Well with 4 people it gets pretty
complicated and even though we're using
the honor system now? Sheeeeeit - when the
whole show is on the line? No, we're gonna
need an actual judge with a scorecard.
Which, jesus - add in cameramen? This
becomes a crowded space.
...especially
because so much of this game is really dodgeball. So a
full clearing of the back yard, and maybe even some
padding has to go up. A lot to do to get ready for
this.
Including
finishing up the casting. I'm actually
pretty lucky that most of my friends are
ridiculously colorful and all I really
need to fill out the rest of the slots is
a couple, some younger peeps and of course
the funniest player which will be some 12
year old kid. Heh. How we're gonna be able
to pull this off without seeming all sorts
of creepy to the kids' parents is beyond
me, but I gotta try. Eveyone would be
rootin' for the kid the entire
show.
Hoping
to have everything together and reay to
have the first shoot Sunday, September
20th. Of course any of you in the LA area
that are interested - please contact me.
No matter what it's really freaking
fun...
...you feel like a
kid. :-) As you can see from Tyson's reaction to
getting to "A"...
I think this may
be a mini-mid-life crisis for all of us. All wishing
we were in 5th grade again on recess. It's awesome, I
was talking to Pat last night and he said he may not
be able to come because he had homework due at noon
(he's doing an online animation class). I just had to
laugh. That's just a perfect excuse to miss a game of
4-Square isn't it? Love it.
Alright, promise
the Donna entry next (barring breaking news) 'cause it
was spectacular that I did all the paperwork on my
wedding anniversary with Jess. So journeyriffic. Oh,
wow - it's now Jess's birthday (the 24th). Spooky.
