FootNotes

Fotter For an Argument

As you probably know, I have never written to FootNotes, and probably never will again, but a letter written by Gib Fotter, from Nevada, (FootNotes, Vol. 12, No.2) inspired me to write. I took this letter VERY personally, and so did a lot of other people, and considered it an attack almost, at least an unwarranted stab at myself and a lot of other good people who have put our souls into the sport. So, here is my reply to Mr. Fotter:

Dear Mr. Fotter:
I don't know who you think you are putting down the footbag scene on the east when you obviously have no clue about this, or even the sport of footbag, for that matter. Let me spell a few things out for you: first of all. the east coast has an extremely dedicated following, and holds more tournaments a year than the west, with generally more prize money. This year alone the East Coast can claim the number one overall American competitor, Eric Wulff, and the World Freestyle Footbag Champion (myself), half of the World Team Freestyle Footbag Champions (Tuan Vu), and the Women's Intermediate Net World Champion (Ann Lasken). To me this doesn't sound like "schmucks fumbling over themselves like cattle on a freeway." Over half of the Big Add Posse hails from east of the Mississippi, and some of the hottest net players in the world as well ( Sebastian Verdy, Emmanuel Bouchard , etc.). On top of all this, the World Championships will be held on the east coast this year.
Your letter is so full of falsities and garbage it's funny. At the end of it you recommend that "anyone just getting started in this sport pay no attention to anyone behind the Appalachian curtain", but instead, let me recommend that YOU pay attention to this east coaster, because people who talk this kind of trash are usually subjected to serious spankings from my Virginia Live Oak Paddle. If you don't think the east coast has anything to offer, then come kick with me and a few of my friends from back east. We'll send you back to Nevada thinking straight.

Peter Irish
1991, '92, '93, '95 World Freestyle Champion

Thank You Sir, May I Have Another?

Reading through the letters in your FootNotes section is usually encouraging. I love footbag and I love to hear how the sport is growing. One letter though, prompts a response. It was from some clueless Satanic imp named Gib Fotter (Vol..12, No.2). From where I stand, the east coast works just as hard as the west coast to promote the sport of footbag. The east coast has some damn good tournaments, from Funtastik to the East Coast Championships. The caliber and number of players is rising. Let me throw some names at you: Peter Irish (Virginia Beach), Tuan Vu (Virginia), Vince Bradley, who is an excellent tournament director and player from Maryland, and me, in my own right, making a name for myself. Not to mention others from New York and Michigan. Probably your biggest show of disrespect was to Eric Wulff. Basing his awesome finish at the Worlds on the radiation. WHAT?!?!?! That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard of...except for the name 'Gib'. You probably haven't heard of these people because your head is so far up your Appalachian Curtain! Next time you start to dis the brothers and sisters on the east coast, I suggest you pick up some issues of Footbag World and have your mother read it to you. The east is just as dedicated, just as good, just as stacked, and just as much as the sh-- as the west. Come to an east coast tournament and step into a circle when I'm in it and I'll send your schmuck ass packing back to Nevada. Show some respect next time, punk.

Jason Frost
member # 08978
Columbia, South Carolina

Turning Tricks in the Heartland

I've been kicking about two years now. For a long while I practiced the kicks and then along came some groovy stalls, at the time. A friend of mine had a boyfriend who introduced me to my first sight of footbag tricks. I instantly knew that I just had to do them! I didn't know the names then, but I've learned that they were the Around The World, Butterfly and the Pendulum. Of course he could stall all over his foot, and I loved the whole concept. I am now at a turning point in my game after going to a tournament in Kansas City, Missouri last summer. I really see what I want now! See, I almost gave up the game, I just couldn't vision a trick to work on, but I believe my friends took me there about that time in my life so I could see what the game is all about. Wonderful atmosphere and people who just wanted to play the game more! I agree!
Right now I'm working on the Drifter Stall. I'm so close but I just can't get it. I plan to enter some tournaments this summer, and hopefully be up there with the big add boys and girls.
R. Ross Newton
Kansas City, Kansas
member # 30154

FootNotes is a regular feature in Footbag World, and in each issue this space will be reserved for staff editorials and general reader response. This is YOUR space, so if you have any issues you would like to address or letters of feedback, just send them to the WFA offices in care of FootNotes, P.O. Box 775208, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477. Or send letters and comments via e-mail to <wfa@worldfootbag.com>. Footbag World reserves the right to edit all letters for clarity and space. Writers whose letters are selected for publication in FootNotes will receive an extended eight-issue subscription to Footbag World. Please include your WFA membership number upon submission.

On-Line Edition by Steven L. Goldberg, July, 1996.