robert cerny (rc@apollo-imaging.com) posted:
congratulations from austria,
i have seen you in scotland last year and you were the most impressive team for me. you are one of the reasons i practise hard, because ultimate can look so good, if athletes play it :)
looking forward to the video,
robert,
thebigez, vienna, austria.
On 10-30-2000 08:29 am
keay() posted:
Today, there is great joy in the sanctuary. The latest restoration phase, begun in the mid-90ís, has allowed the program to come full circle. These magnificent young birds withstood death and angry primates to once again allow the species to sit at its rightful place on top. The old birds can rest comfortably, thankful that prospects for survival have never looked better.
On 10-30-2000 02:22 pm
Phil Studarus (phil@acninc.net) posted:
Congratulations to the Condors on their National Championship (and North American victory)!
The Condors soared to unimaginable heights in achieving their championship. For the last three games of the tournament, in particular, every member of the team gave absolutely everything they had, and then somehow reached down deep inside themselves to seize those special strengths that only champions have.
With every point the Condors got stronger and more confident. Even as the fierce competition fought back, the Condors maintained their poise. Then, finally, Taro "announced" the final point and pending championship victory by holding his hands for a second above and below the disc floating in the end zone. How sweet!
Way to go guys! You are winners and champions in every sense of the word!
Phil
PS Thanks Joe for encouraging me several years ago to attend my son's first national championship tournament. Win or lose they are an unforgettable life experience, not only with my son but with the entire team.
From: chrisopher york <yorkchri@pilot.msu.edu>
To: stevedugan@juno.com
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 16:08:03 -0500
Subject: congrats
Steve. Just wanted to congratulate you on your championship. What a great feeling it must be. The Condors are a great team and a great group of individuals as well. I'm very happy for you.
I was looking down your line at 15-15, game point, and I saw you, JD, Taro, Andy, and Jason all on the line. What this tells me is that not only do you need to be a talented, smart, and cohesive team to win a championship, you need to be persistent. Five of the seven players out on the line at championship point were players that I played with in Santa Barbara MANY years ago. That such a core has stayed together so long and finally reached the desired goal is outstanding.
Please pass my congrats on to the rest of the team for me.
chris york
Condors,
One big happy HUGE congrats goes out to you!
It was so great watching you beat Boston and then overcome the Monkeys to get that fucking monkey off your back. You guys played with such heart!
Knowing most of you for many years and having played with you in the past made it even more special for me because I KNOW what you guys have given to the sport both as a team and as individuals. I am even more proud because the way you won was so classy. It was obvious that you guys not only wanted to win but that you knew how to win and you did it while showing respect to your opponents.
I am inspired by you CONDORS! Thank you for your effort and accomplishment this past week!
Respectfully,
Sean Federbusch
condors,
congratulations! fuck... i mean
CONGRATULATIONS!
i am so glad i went away for a year to make a movie so i couldn't have the possibility of playing with the condors these last two seasons.
NOT!
i look forward to seeing the big fat grin on your faces this weekend at brent and amy's reception. i expect full bragging and continual play by play on how sick each and every one of you performed to make the great team you are!
best to you and your families,
shepherd
Condors,
I just got home (Tuesday night) after visiting my Aunts and Uncle in Florida after Nationals. They are aging and brought me back to a bit of reality.
Within 1-2 days you will begin to see the Condors web site reflect the results of Nationals. I'll keep you informed. Don't miss it... I don't plan to hold back.
On the flight home, I began to develop the theme for my message to you. I have one major request... but there are a few other topics to cover too.
1. The Condors are the UPA 2000 National Champions! To get there, you had to defeat the 6 year reigning champion, Boston's DoG, in the semis, and then Furious George, the Canadian national champs in the finals. Everyone thought DoG was unbeatable, and the race was for 2nd place. But the men on the Condors are of a different breed. And you had help. I don't think the Condors are just the 21 men on this year's team. You are every Condor that has played since 1974. No other team goes back even 10 years, let alone 26 years. All Condors alumni should participate in this victory.
2. Let's start with TK - the 'father' of the Condors. He started the tradition, and is unquestionably (in my mind) the most remarkable leader/athlete I have ever met. His mentoring and gentle pushing to achieve the greatness within oneself is still the tradition of the Condors today. TK's disciples are too numerous to name, but you all know their names belong here too.
3. Then there's Steve Dugan. Taro put it best Friday night at dinner when he publicly anointed Steve the 'sole' of the team (as well as his 30th birthday). During the cold winter period of the Condors from 91-96, Steve kept the spirit alive. And as the ice began to melt in 97, he gently molded the new players into a unit. Without Steve, what TK started may not have survived.
4. So I'm ready to talk about me now. How do I fit in? Why have I been working so hard the past 7 years - first for the Tide and now the Condors? It started in order to encourage other parents to experience the amazing benefits my family received spending time with our son on the Ultimate field. And that quest continues. But I now know my efforts have expanded. I want to be a part of the Santa Barbara Ultimate 'family'. I've never played Ultimate, and that keeps me apart from the players. But perhaps I fill another role that's also important. But TK's the 'father' and Steve is the current 'sole' of the team. What can I be?
The team showed me Sunday shortly after the finals. After winning what many of you have been working for for many years, you shook hands with Furious, received your trophy, and... before hugging your girlfriends... before really thinking about yourselves... you thought of me.
What you did when you saw me up in the crow's nest (where I had been videoing) is the picture I will never forget. I believe you have made me your dad. Not your real Dad (with a capital D), but your 'other' dad. The one you can go to for extra things. My request is to no longer be Mr. Seidler, or Joe. I want to be dad.
Okay, now to tonight. It's about 10:30pm Tuesday night. I'm sitting in the living room with the video camera hooked up to the big screen TV. And guess what I'm watching? I've got 2-3 hours of National's video including highlights of pool play and quarters, almost all of semis, and all of the finals. I've got 6 cold ones on the table with a bottle of 'T' (the T's for you Bart). If you see this tonight, feel free to call. I'll be up until I'm out.
Love,
Joe
j.d., thanks.
Thanks, Joe. I'm sorry that we lost, and I wish that I and we had played a better game, but I'm proud that we fought it out to the end and made you guys win it. I've been a part of big losses before where I thought the team quit and handed it over, but this wasn't one of them.
Again, congrats to your boys, and enjoy the banquet circuit.
Jim Parinella
Condors,
Congrats. We definitely earned the championship. It took much hard work and it paid off. I'm still a little stunned. I keep having flash backs from Nationals. I listed some of the highlights for me, feel free to add more:
- Beating Boston
- John Hammond's catch over Moons and Shank
- JD's catch over Gewirtz
- Dan Dewey's Block in the Semis
- All Taro's Hammers (especially the two in the semis)
- Tommy's hammer catch over ???
- Jimmy's play (as my uncle says "like a deli, always open")
- Ernie's huck forehand to Manking
- Jason's catch in the final over Al
- Corey's poach block on the huck to Fortch
- Adam's offense, ran it better than anyone else
- Mike's footblock on Shank (too bad we couldn't get the garbage)
- Andy's perfect advice Saturday night
- The team effort and support
- JD, Brandon and I finally winning the big game
- Both of Hammond's catchblocks (in the final and against Parinella- the observer missed this one)
- 4-7 to 9-8 in the Final
- Andy's defense against Parinella
- Hammond's defense against Moons
- Beating Ring, I love beating that team
- My conversation with Joe on Saturday night
- Seeing Taro wide open on the last point with big eyes!
- Parental Support
- All black in the final
- Calling Doug the Bum after my fourth final with a new message, "We won!"
- 3 turns against Florida
Steve
Birds, I haven't been sleeping well lately. This morning I was up at 5AM wondering what you guys were up to. I need a high five. I too keep running the tape in my mind of the weeks events. I watched the final point arm and arm with a couple of you. We knew that the game was in the hands of our brothers, but coming together at that moment symbolized for me the power of our team. The unity, support, confidence and love that each person put into this team effort led to a National championship. I want to thank our leaders for reminding us of the importance of sticking together. The power of the positive gave us the confidence to overcome an early 4-7 deficit and gave us the mental toughness to score the winning goal. The Condors are the best. We knew it and now we have proved it. Keep the psych bullets coming. They are keeping me in touch with reality (I'M A CHAMP).
I will see you all at our victory celebration, I mean Amy and Brent's reception, this weekend.
Peace Ted
One of my favorite memories was looking around the circle of guys and feeling that energy and looking at the faces that showed confidence/excitement/desire. I feel like we could have moved a mountain with all that energy.
Brent Russell
Howdy Champs,
Unfortunately this is not a psych missile for the team, but in other ways it is. My brother's wife gave birth to three healthy babies [Kira, Haley, and Walker (my middle name:)]. This weekend I will be going to spend time with both of my brothers and my new nephews. I regret this only because I will miss out on the energy that only my teammates can truly provide for me at this point (regarding nationals). I know everyone I talk to is very happy for me and I love that. What I now, more than ever, realize is that we did it for each other and not ourselves. When someone pats me on the back I want y'all to know that I am sending that energy to each and every one of you because we ALL deserve it.
I love you guys,
Ryan
You rock on Joe, what a great National experience, and I really must commend the *CONDOR family* for its incredible, unconditional support of this SPIRITED clan!! namaste
KWA, our Seattle masters team, pulled off our first lead of the game @ 15-14 to capture the 2000 National Masters Crown from "LA and the Burbank curse" (not my words :). Three ex-Santa Barbara players Sean Federbusch (xCondor), Charlie Morrison, and Rick Martz (me-xCondor) were bringin' it home along with the 2000 National Open Champions the Santa Barbara Condors. HOTTA!
take care, i care for you
RickyDude
OK, It's time for me to chime in.
You guys are the shit!
I've been following every moment, thanks to Jason's parents, and it's been one of the hardest things I've ever had to endure. I will forever be sorry I was not there.
Congrats to everyone. I'll give you all your proper kudos when I next see you. Thanks for letting me experience it vicariously through you.
Blake
Hi Jason,
Many of my teammates, both past and present, would probably resent me for congratulating you on winning nationals, but whatever. You guys were/are a phenomenal team and are well-deserving of the title. I initially had a great dislike for you and your team, much of it due, I think, to your propensity to end our season. I hated your cockiness and what I considered to be disrespectful play. As I have struggled to create a championship team in the twin-cities area (where third in the region had been the top finish before '98), I have wished that our team had more and more of the qualities (as I consider them now) that you and the Condors possess. You play with unwavering confidence and you clearly believe in each other. You and your team have always played best in the toughest situations. Your semi-final game against Boston was a great, great game. You beat them at their own game. Your relentless defensive pressure caused them to crack as they started making unforced errors. And you didn't give them the disc back. You clearly were the best team, in my opinion.
Congratulations and good luck repeating,
Eric/Turtle
On 11-03-2000 04:30 pm
Snuffy (mikeinsb@aol.com) posted:
Last time was 1981 - it's truly 'bout time the Title came back home. The Tide have done an admirable job in the College Nationals, and the Women have been simply awesome. But it's good to have the Men's Open Title back where it belongs.
Congrats!
Snuffy '78-83
First things first: Brent, congratulations on your recent betrothal! Now then: Nice "five year plan," men! Condors win Nationals... unbelievable, yet somehow so believable! Your days, months and years of dedication and sacrifice have finally paid off BIG TIME. I offer my heartiest congratulations to everyone on the squad. You guys have now completed the Ultimate return to glory! Nineteen years between titles(!?!). The boys' been close on several occasions over those years; other times we were down so low it looked like up to me, but this is absolutely incredible. Send my congratulations to all, and let me know if you plan on having a victory celebration down in SB, as I'd like to be there to shake the hand of every man on the 2000 National Champion Santa Barbara Condors. Way to go!
Jim Mallon
San Luis Obispo, California
Hello Condors,
I would like to extend a very heartfelt congratulations to each of you on behalf of GAIA. It appears that you have the essential ingredient for team success: cooperative action.
I'm sure that it was not an easy road to such a victorious season . . . as every weakness in an individual is felt and every triumph experienced by an individual is shared. Though you all have different strengths, weaknesses and personalities you came together to create a team dynamic more powerful than any other. And a team performing to it's fullest is much more exhilarating than an individual's performance. Congratulations on uniting at the right time and place; congratulations on being the best TEAM out there.
Thanks for representing GAIA in 2000 and we look forward to a long-term partnership going forward.
Regards,
Jennie Craig
Dear Joe and Marcia,
Thank you both for keeping us informed and updated with your wonderful commentary on the National Ultimate Tournament! You may not have seen us or heard us but we were rooting for the Condors and almost everyone at my job were very aware of the Condor's winning! It was great to come in after the weekend of not knowing to find the Condors had won!
With gratitude, Joyce Ramberg
Condors,
I received an email from Billy Rodriguez. Billy has nine national championships (six with DoG and three with NY-he had never lost at nationals). He wanted to pass on a few words to the entire Condors Family.
. . . .
I have been extremely impressed with you guys, as a team and as individuals. You play the sport the way I think it should be played, enthusiastically, aggressively, and completely clean and without calls. You played a great game against us in the semis, and equally well against Furious in the finals, and proved to everyone which team is the best in the country this year, deserving champions. Congratulations on a great season, or really on three great seasons, and especially on a great Nationals.
Be good to the trophy. And appreciate it: no matter how long you have it, it's always too short, and there's always someone who wants to take it away from you.
Peace.
bill
Congratulations on your win! It is so huge, I cannot even fathom it... and you made my limerick come true (on your birthday card!). You have put so much time and commitment to the team and to training this year, I am really impressed, and I am fired up at the same time to see it all pay off for all of you. I am just really proud of you and all of you guys. That was a WHOLE team roster win and it was obvious. I cannot wait to see the tape! (Great throw to JD on Johnny by the way!). Sorry i couldn't yell more during the game.. my voice shut me down a bit.
I hope you are walking around this week with a big grin on your face... you should be!
Cheers
Rachel
ya know, I gotta give yer team credit for peaking at the right time. it's something boston has done w/o parallel over the years, except for this year when I believe they must have peaked at worlds. jam peaked in the summer sometime, like the mental midgets that they are. you guys ramped it up all season -- any pre-potlatch prediction I might've made was based on how y'all looked thru june, without reckoning on the notion that the team might pull it all together at the right time. anyway, to backtrack further, I thought I said you wouldn't beat boston in the finals cuz they are more vulnerable in games other than the finals if you ask me. I didn't count on a semi matchup... that shit is all history. what matters is that you crazy kids won the big one. and that makes me happy.
Chris Page
Condors,
I received a great card today from Brent. Your words were beautiful and much appreciated. My parents are here for Thanksgiving, and they were very impressed I received such a great message. Thanks for making me look so good. Marcia was quite touched too... thanks again.
Who knows what next year will bring for the Condors. What I hope for the most is to be on the sideline when you take the field with the other teams knowing they are playing the best. I remember how other teams felt when they were about to play DoG. I can't wait to see that uncertainty and fear when they play you.
One of the stats I do not have (can you believe it) is the average age of the Condors. But I wouldn't be surprised if you were among the youngest teams at Nationals (even with Dugan getting so old). It's fun to wonder how awesome you would be in 5 years if you were all still playing together. Hell, a 7 year run would be a piece of cake.
Many thanks for such a rewarding year!
Love,
papa Joe Seidler