Ultimate FD Volleyball...

Volleyball...always something funny!

 9 SHIFTS Remaining...Rick's ReFlections of his 32 years career in the Fire Service...

Duane's tooth?

Basketball, ping pong, running track, throwing a football or Frisbee, or even an occasional chip shot with the putter…all have been part of PT at the FD. As I come to these final shifts I’d like to mention two of my favorite FD activities. Today’s shift…Volleyball. Now that is Fire Department volleyball with FD rules. More than anything else this means that the net…is part of the ball. FD volleyball may have a slight appearance to what you see at your high school…not likely anything close to the Olympics…but ever so worth the time and a good laugh. As with all dudes, the laughter is never better than when you cause some pain to the opposing player…or for that matter, even your own. With this type of play there have been sprains, fractures…and even an occasional lost tooth.

 

Such was Duane’s tooth 15 years ago that has weathered the time to remain as one of the most enduring stories. Duane goes up…the ball goes ‘pop’ and…Duane goes down. It didn’t appear that the opposing player came too far across the net, so why was Duane on all fours? Finally someone calls to Duane, “Duane, what are you doing”? To which Duane raises his head with his mouth wide open attempting a big Duane smile…it must have been something about him missing that big front tooth that sent all of us into hysterics, rolling on the grass for the next 5 to 10 minutes. Oh yeah, Duane continued to search for his tooth…not to be found. Did the poor guy get any sympathy or help? Are you kidding me? Almost as funny was when Duane returned to work his next shift. Kenny says, “Hey Duane, we found your tooth. It’s out on the court”. The shift walks out to our grass volleyball court to find a 15” plastic tooth hanging from the net. Oh baby, that’s FD volleyball!

Yours truly preparing to serve...

 Or there is the time that Obie comes across the net in beautiful FD fashion. He strikes yours truly sending me immediately to the ground to which he cleverly asks, “Rick, is it your arthritis”? “Yeah right, actually it may have something to do with those big club hands of yours.” We all smile, I let the pain subside after spending minutes on the ground, then we continue to abuse one another. Sometimes, much to our surprise, the volley and play was a good one. As the time when Biggy spikes the ball across the net into the opposing players face with such force that the ball returns over to our side and we continue play as nothing ever happened. Except for the player that is still on the ground:)

And last, volleyball will forever be thankful Mitch for his hit known as…‘Meeeaaachhh’! Simply put, it’s when you think someone is going to spike the ball only to have it softly hit away from all players. I left my mark as being one of the great ‘meeeaaachhh’ hitters. Let’s hope that my replacement will be able to continue the tradition:)