"I Can't Stand Still" (FOOTLOOSE)

Last night was a return to watching a little bit of college volleyball action. It's early in the season for the AVCA-ranked Division III NYU Violets. I started watching the NYU teams back in April 2004 after Peter S., my info guru on all things volleyball, mentioned something about their matches, so I decided to check them out. That season would be followed by the women's matches in the fall, and at just about any home match since then you would find me there. It's hard to describe the draw to those matches besides the obvious factor, but it was a chance to learn more about the game.

I realized that in order to improve, one must observe then adjust. I needed to do exactly that because I was still a beginner. I needed to correctly learn the basic skills. Since I didn't have any coaching in the sport and playing in the league matches left little room for instruction, I had to find some way to learn the basics. I was teaching myself which sometimes is not the best way. Since I was new to the sport, I did not have a clue about clinics and such from leagues like Gotham to train wit. So watching the college matches was my display and I learned from it. Obviously, I was not doing things like the men and women on those teams, but I was able to witness body position and movement that helped me greatly. So last night I continued my support of the Violets for another season and who was there with me to cheer/heckle Peter S. and Amy.

I actually had a full night of volleyball. I got through two games of the NYU match, and then I went from the Coles Center down on Mercer and Bleecker up to Brearly HS on 87th St and 1st Ave to catch another match at 8pm. Now this was a men's match that had several supporters there, and I made it just in time. Now I completely shout a cheer, clap my hands, and make a lot of noise for a game, especially a good one, but when it comes to being a close game, the points tied up as it reaches the cap in a rally game, I totally freak out and get nervous. This happened in the second game of this one match I watched, and I was completely gasping for air with each point. Not a good thing to be around me when that happens because sometimes I can't look but the suspense is killing me and I look anyway. That is what sucks about being a spectator because the team keeps their cool as they play each point yet I'm pacing and screeching with each point. Thankfully, they pulled it out and came from being down 16-23 to winning 27-26. Way to go team Five Old, One Young. Then I jumped on the bus and made it crosstown to Brandeis on the westside to watch DFA, a late-starter match which worked out for me. They had a rough start but provided better results in the latter part of the match.

So someone asked me why I would go to all of these games, jumping all over town in a single night. And I just said to them, "Why not?"

SCORECARD:
Kevin and Knut's Team (Hit It and Quit It): 1-2