NEVER MIND THE HEAT – PLAY IN THE MUD: Or at least get out there and watch other people play in the mud. The Birmingham Ultimate Disc Association, called BUDA by those in the know, is bringing its annual tourney back to Birmingham this weekend. Mudbowl has been held in Shelby County for the last few years, but the playing fields they used have now been turned into a housing development, which brings the BUDA back to beautiful George Ward Park, on Green Springs Highway.
The free snow cones alone would probably be worth showing up to take in a few games, but Ultimate, called Ultimate Frisbee by those not in the know, is great to watch even if you’re not a sports fan. A non-contact riff on football, played with whizzing discs hurled betwixt seven team members attempting to make a pass that reaches a teammate in their opponents’ end zone, the sport is less about competition than about “the Spirit of the Game,” which the Ultimate Players Association defines this way:
Ultimate has traditionally relied upon a spirit of sportsmanship which places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of the bond of mutual respect between players, adherence to the agreed upon rules of the game, or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate adverse conduct from the Ultimate field. Such actions as taunting of opposing players, dangerous aggression, intentional fouling, or other ‘win-at-all-costs’ behavior are contrary to the spirit of the game and must be avoided by all players.
To give you a sense of how serious this cavalier attitude is, consider the fact that at the end of a game, the defeated team usually cheers for the team that just trounced them. Ulimtate is a rare really happy sport, freewheeling and fun.
Competing in this year’s Mudbowl are corporate and community-sponsored teams with cleats and jerseys for the following:
· Alabama Power
· ArchitectureWorks
· BE&K
· Compass Bank
· DAXKO Software
· First Financial Group
· Merrill Lynch
· Mountain Brook Community Church
· Pucker Powder
· Southern Progress
· Birmingham YMCA
This is the 26th annual tournament and as in years past, all proceeds from the game will benefit Pathways, a United Way agency that provides hot meals, employment training and support services for homeless women and children.
The first games began at 9 a.m., but you’ve got all day to watch them play: The championship games start at 2 p.m.
Did we mention free snowcones for spectators? Free snowcones for spectators.
**Bonus Pick**
YEARS GROW SHORTER, NOT LONGER: Jimmy Buffett sang so. The whole line goes, “Years grow shorter not longer the more you spend on your own. Feelings for moving grow stronger and you wonder why you ever go home…” But that song seems sort of melancholy for our purposes here. How about “Landfall” lyrics instead: “I’ve seen incredible things in my years. Some days were laughter and others were tears. If I had it all to do over again, I’d just get myself drunk and I’d jump right back in…” That sentiment suits the “party with a purpose” motto of the Magic City Parrot Head Club, hosting “Margaritaham” this Saturday, Aug. 11, to raise money for Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama. Starting at noon, the party at Logan’s Roadhouse will feature live music by Jimmy Buffett tribute band A1A, plus dancing, door prizes and a silent auction. The event is only scheduled to last until 6 p.m., but will hopefully go on a lot longer. The MCPHC is one of 200 like-minded clubs nationwide to have raised more than $7.9 million for charity in the last five years. To learn more, visit www.mcphc.com
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Who indeed? You might have missed the news last week that Birmingham’s longest-running football franchise had finally closed its doors. Hell, you might have missed the news that we had a football franchise. Nine years is a long time, but if you’re not into arena football, maybe you never even heard of the Steeldogs. Weekly staffer Matt Hooper had not only heard of Steeldogs, he all but charted his life by them, which made the news of the team’s quietus pretty tough for him to take. His remembrance of pigskins and pork skins appeared as a commentary in last week’s edition.
