Sp16 W1: Randall’s and East River

MUD 2016: we have begun. Just who are we? There are 130 of us on six teams. 31 are first-timers; 31 others have played the past five seasons. 18 of those have played the past 10 seasons, and 2 of those have played all 25 seasons. 21 of us are Centurions. 13 are returning champions. And among the teams, 5 men and 2 women played in MUD’s first ever season back in spring 2008. Can you name them? Clue: at least one of them is on your team unless you’re Chosen.

Randall’s Island hosted the league’s first Sunday games, and right away things seemed balanced. Sure, MTA and BBQ didn’t send rosters to the season’s short-notice opening games, but the other four teams each went 1-1. In the very first games, JAWS bit off a narrow win against WooLooHooShoo, 10 to 9, and The Chosen Ones scored the last point despite a 6-0 run to force universe by The Rejects. Though he lost, Reject captain Mateo said, “That comeback may have set the tone for our season.” In the next round, WooHoo and The Rejects won battles of attrition against Chosen and JAWS, respectively.

Next we went to the Lower East Side. The first week’s weekday games were held exclusively at East River Park. Chosen and LooShoo met again on Monday and suffered the daylight situation of a pre-April Week One. WooShoo managed a 9 to 6 victory.

On Wednesday, BBQ met each other at last vs. The Rejects. First-game excitement brought a few too many out for BBQ, which left them struggling to find chemistry and momentum. The Rejects impressively put up 14 points as the sun set in a five-point win.

On Friday, MTA unveiled itself with authority, handing JAWS its second loss at 12 to 7.