Hey Ballas,
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME KICKBALL!!!??
—–
“February Madness” is back again for 2008 with “Lunatic Bowl IX” on
Super Bowl Sunday once again back in Jonquil Park in Lincoln Park.
Yes this sounds completely insane but just ask anyone who’s done it
before… you just can’t pay for this kind of entertainment!!
Here’s the tradition – on Super Bowl Sunday folks would gather at
Jonquil Park around 10:30am for friendly game of kickball in the
snow and to have a few drinks. We use orange traffic cones as the
bases (regular white bases don’t show well in the snow) and there
would be traditional “team meetings” between innings to take hits
from a bottle of Mad Dog kept under the second base cone.
A group of 12-15 is ideal and it was a great warmup for all those
Super Bowl parties later in the day. As you are playing kickball in
the snow, little or no athletic ability is required or makes much of
a difference. Yes, this is the same game of kickball we played in
Third Grade.
For reference, here’s Festa’s old webpage on it:
http://www.itsalongstory.com/fun_archives/chicago_kickball.htm
In keeping with ritual and tradition the 2008 game will be held at
the spiritual home of Festa Super Bowl Sunday Kickball, Jonquil Park
at the intersection of Wrightwood, Sheffield & Lincoln. It’s also
close to public transportation and parking is usually quite ample
for Lincoln Park as it’s Sunday.
Note this is a Chicago Park District property so please don’t show
up with a half barrel, a case of beer or other conspicuous alcohol.
Bottles in bags or pre-mixed drinks have done us well in the past.
Also I have all the sporting goods (traffic cones and foursquare
balls) already thanks to my participation in kickball league in
Milwaukee (more pictures below for those with time to kill) so just
bring yourself and your favorite refreshment i.e. “warm you up
drink” (like schnapps, hard cider, Mad Dog, etc) or any nonalcoholic
potables for those so inclined.
http://www.chicagofourth.com/Homestuff/Pictures/Kickballpix.htm
I will try and get Festa himself to make a celebrity appearance.
Bring it on!
Looks like there are lots of post-kickball actual Super Bowl (the
other game that day) activities to choose from and postgame we’ll
probably have a drink or two and warm up at The Grand Central across
the streeT.
A few quick things to keep in mind
1) Please remember this is the beginning of February in CHICAGO so
it will be COLD and likely there will be snow on the ground
(hopefully unlike 2007!) so please dress appropriately. Speaking of
which, this is an outdoor game so wear something you don’t mind
getting a little dirt/mud/grass/snow on if you plan to play
(cheering sections are welcome too).
2) I will be there a little early to setup. Games will start after
we get rough quorum and run as long as people are in the mood to
play.
3) Remember this is a Chicago Park District park so those who want
to bring “grownup drinks” please be discreet. Note that many of us
are watching some sort of football game afterwards (likely with more
grownup drinks too) so pacing is not a bad idea.
4) The other usual playground rules apply – three strikes is a
strikeout, as is a foul ball third strike (like in softball), there
are no walks (everyone has to kick!). Runners cannot lead on bases
and deliberate throws to the head are discouraged. Teams will be
chosen odd/evens (avoid the dreaded “last picked in gym class
syndrome”) and best out of three in rock-paper-scissors will
determine which team bats first.
5) Don’t forget this is for fun. Those deemed “playing too
competitive” may find themselves doing penalty shots of Mad Dog
and/or Boone’s Farm. We will have longer than usual between inning
breaks for folks to socialize too (another tradition).
See y’all Super Bowl Sunday 10:30am @ Jonquil Park! Game on!
Party on,
–Fuji