I love you guys so much. We keep each other strong. We may move around or live new lifestyles, but nothing stands to keep us apart. I want you all to realize what a fantastic crew we have; so many thanks to Victor for that. I’ve been lucky enough to deal with a decent amount of different types and forms of local foos communities across the country, and though they’re awesome in their own respects, practically none that I have visited offer the kind of positive personal inflection that reverberates throughout me every single day that I have known you all. I know I’m being a bit passionate/dramatic, but whenever I’m really angry or sad, thinking of our years together [thick and thin] never fails to remind me how lucky and loved I am. I look forward to many more years with you.
I love you, Victor. I am so proud of your brave next step in life. I want so much to be a part of it as much as I can. I owe you gazillions, and while you may not be as perceptive to it, I still stand by you, with unending graciousness in my heart.
You all are really good people, with great, inspiring aspirations, and I am so happy to have stumbled upon this wonderful group so early on. And so glad to know you feel the same way about me! <3
Friends For Life.
Ellen Moon
Hello SF foosers!
It’s Ellen again from NYC. I finally have a chance to post something, have been super busy with an internship I received not a week after I returned from my wonderful and memorable vacation. I want to thank all of you for the crazy wonderful reception you guys gave for me all over the bay area. I definitely got to see you guys more than I did in April, and I am so glad I decided to come back. I wanted to extend some extra gratitude to Josh [you will always be one of my besties, no matter which coast you reside at, coping with my wildness for two whole weeks, keeping me entertained, and keeping me company], Lexi [for eating my toiletries so I wouldn’t have to be bothered at airport security - always looking out for me, you wuvable son of a gun], Jerry [I had SUCH a blast hanging out with you and seeing all these cool places and thank you for trusting me with your car :)], Mo, Vince, and Jim for playing with me :) I had such a great time! Great to finally meet you, Matt. Nice to see you again JOHN :) Hope to see you in my city soon.
So sorry I missed Lang, Amy, and Binh :( Glad I was able to catch up with Eric & Michael [congrats again, Eric!! woohoo!]
I am definitely coming back before 2013 :) Maybe I’ll see you guys on tour one of these days. If you are EVER in NYC, please give me a shout so that I can arrange something!
If I forgot something or someone, super sorry, I blame it on sensory overload.
In other news, as a heads up - Utah boy, One of NYC best players, Lee McClure will be moving from Nevada to SF, so expect to lose your lunch money soon.
Good Luck @ HOFC
-Visitors: *Alex Jasper [Hilton Head Island, SC; one week]
-Current worlds status : on the fence
-Probably going to North Carolina States thanks to Alex again
-NYC Foos will probably make their next major family appearance: Fireball US Open Championships @ Timonium, MD and Fireball Massachusetts State @ Boston, MA
Drop us a line, readers! We want to know how things are everywhere else!
xoxoEllenxoxo
-Visitors: *Michael Bittarelli [Massachusetts, Pittsburg, PA; 2.5 days]
*Bruce Weltin [Rhode Island, “Over the next several months I’ll be going to NYC on a regular basis.”]
*Nathan Thomas [June 15th, 2010 - Tuesday Draw]
*Chris Forest [June 15th, 2010 - Tuesday Draw]
*Jennifer Hulmes [June 15th, 2010 - Tuesday Draw]
-Last week’s weekly draw final[June 15th, 2010] was recorded on the cam http://vimeo.com/12670785, if you want to see me get double dipped. [rats]
xoxoEllenxoxo
-Hello World!
-First off, I’d like to say thanks to all those who personally complimented me on the blog. I always try to have my audience in mind when writing, so it’s good to be able to put faces to geographic analytics.
-I also wanted to remind subscribers that FCF is an information hub on what’s going on in NYC. If you want a more specific update of this nature or want aspects of different topics covered, the comment function at the end of each entry is the place to mention this. I will try to be a bit less biased too :)
-Whoa so much to write about!
-Visitors: *Michael Burns [Orlando, FL, Atlanta, GA; 2.5 months]
-Past Tournaments :
*NY State Championships [4/9/2010 - 4/11/2010; Clarion Hotel, Syracuse]
***Christopher Forest & Robert DeVito [AD - 5th]
***David Blank & Horst Beham [DYP - 4th]
***Luis Gonzalez & Kevin Hill [AD - 4th]
***Lee McClure & Victor Lam [OD - 4th]
***Kevin Hill & Robert DeVito [BD - 3rd]
***Kevin Walker & Ellen Moon [OM - 2nd]
***John Back & Michael Burns [3500LTD - 1st]
***Michael Burns & Horst Beham [AD - 1st]
*Special Notes - Michael Burns placed as a forward and as a defender. Nice job! Kevin & Rob’s first tournament and both did pretty awesome! Horst also did pretty well :)
*MD State Championships [5/14/2010 - 5/16/2010; Holiday Inn, Timonium]
***Horst Beham [AD - 4th]
***Horst Beham & Adam Emmons [DYP - 4th]
***Stephen Santomassimo & Kristin Grogan [OM - 3rd]
***Stephen Santomassimo [OS - 3rd]
***Stephen Santomassimo & Randy Stolzberg [OD - 3rd]
***Victor Lam & Achim Stock [DYP - 3rd]
***Ellen Moon & Kevin Hill [AD - 3rd]
***Ellen Moon & John Scully [Last Chance - 3rd]
***Ellen Moon & Kitty Shadman [WD - 2nd]
***Stephen Santomassimo & Randy Stolzberg [PD - 2nd]
***Sean Lotterhos [SPS - 2nd]
***Stephen Santomassimo [PS - 1st]
***Joseph Carrafa [SPS - 1st]
***Ellen Moon [WS - 1st]
*Special Notes - Wow awesome showing at MD States. Props to Steve, Horst, Ellen, and Randy for multiple placements. Steve killed. Kevin with the placement again :) I played forward for most of my events. Woohoo!!
-Thanks for hangin with us Michael. We enjoyed your company and hope to see you again in the future!
-Shout out to my peeps in Orlando & San Francisco
-Nice to meet the small amount from Southwest in MD. Xocoyotzin, Achim, & John - had a great time hanging! Hope to see yall at worlds
-Great seeing some of you from Southeast [JASONNNNNN, SEANNNN, & Mac’in,Chaazzz]
-Having Ryan & Tony have a guess-my-age fit was hilarious
-Extended love to extended family - Philly Foos & MD Foos [Washington, Virginia, New Hampshire, & MA Foos too!]
-I’m all graduated so I’ll have more time to post - look for regular updates!
-Happy Birthday Rob DeVito!
xoxoEllenxoxo
PS - Read below for profile article on Ellen M [plz disregard noted age]
Rising Moon
“Hell hath no fury like a women scorned.”
This oft-quoted piece of wisdom, usually reserved for romantic narratives, has a whole different meaning in the world or professional foosball. Discouraged at first by her male competitors, Ellen Moon, 26, has made an impressive showing in her first year on pro tour, taking first in amateur doubles at the Dallas World Championships and North Carolina Cup. “I just kept on winning, so I kept going,” she says in bewilderment.
The Queens native got hooked on the sport when she attended Baruch College and started hanging out in one of the school’s game rooms. There, she was drawn to the energetic clatter emanating from the foosball table. “These guys were always on the table and they would never let me play because I was a girl,” she recalls. “girls tend to not do well in foosball…or sports for that matter.” Moon steered clear for a year until she bit the bullet and decided to take her hits in the ring until she got good enough to, as she puts it, “whoop everyone’s ass.” Eventually, one of her defeated opponents took her play at Fat Cats Billiards.
Slight of frame yet highly energetic, Moon still blends seamlessly into her forest of male competitors, trading jibes, shoving and laughing. She isn’t above the occasional bout of profanity either. What Moon’s competition thought was her disadvantage turned out to be her primary motivation, that and her preference for death metal as warm-up music. “I do find it challenging,” she says of her position in a male-dominated sport. “but find it motivational as well and I think that’s actually what keeps me going.” Her friend Victor Lam describes her success as a combination of “accuracy, technique, speed and discipline.” Without this last quality, Moon would not have the focus to progress her skill while maintaining a professional life. “I still have to train,” she says. “But I have a job now and can’t come play for hours any more.”
Along with her timetable, foosball has wormed its way into Moon’s professional life as well. At the executive search firm where she works, her co-workers are well aware of her athletic alter ego. Recently her CEO advised her to put in on her resume and began mentioning her accomplishments to her clients.
In the long term, Moon wants to become one of the top female players in America, “at least.” The scoreboards show that she’s well on her way to doing it. Though she’s only currently ranked as 75th by the Valley International Foosball Association (VIFA), most of the of those ranked above her are older and have been playing much longer. Moon has played only one year on the professional circuit so far.
Yet even with a bright future in bar sports ahead of her, a life on the road hustling foosball tournaments isn’t in the cards. “I’ve managed to break even,” she says. “which is more than most players can say in their lifetime. I’m definitely an office girl and I still want to be a professional person.
I know it has been a while. As soon as I get out of college, I will be writing in much more frequently. I know that many of you are still reading this on a daily basis despite my laziness and I can’t thank you enough for your loyalty and support!
An update on the FCF blog:
Since inception, this blog has been viewed by 36 different countries and 413 different cities across the world.
Used as a complement to Victor Lam’s OnTour blog, this page has been successful in capturing some of the world’s finest in their days in the great city of New York as well as updating those planning on visiting and those who have visited in the past on the ongoings of my world famous event FCF. :)
Since my last visit:
I’ve visited Orlando, FL for vacation and let me just take the time to what an awesome crew they have there. Thank you Jason Arenz for driving me all around Intl Drive. Thanks to Dave S. for the ride to Tampa. Thanks to Dave S for helping us win a dyp while I was down there. Thanks Alex J [South Carolina], Josh S., Jesse S., Jason, Ray, Mike B., Josh M., the rest of Orlando Foos, and Tampa Foos for an awesome time!! If any of you decide to visit, definite hit those guys up @ Backstage Billiards.
Also, Mike Burns[Orlando] will be living in NYC for a couple of months so yay!!
I’m headed to San Francisco in about a week so I’ll be looking for some more foos!!
Upcoming:
Some of us are going to NY States in Syracuse so we’re pretty excited about that. Also, this will be Lee McClure’s last tournament as an nycfoos rep.
Most of us are going to MD States in Timonium and we are going to kick some butt!! woohoo!
I pretty much have all my partners lined up for worlds so I guess I’m going to that too. Yay!
Happy Birthday Sean Lotterhos and Bill Lotridge!
xoxoEllenxoxo
I just want to thank everyone again for everything. Victor, my brother, sometimes I lose sight of it, but you are always there for me in the bestest of ways. In a time where growing up is mentally kicking my ass, you have been supportive, committed, genuine, and guiding.
In my classes this semester, I’m learning a lot about business strategies and how companies & firms tend to do very well in the long run when established core values and beliefs are deeply rooted in company action and in it’s employees’ work. I apply my life virtues in my work @ nycfoosball wholeheartedly and am so glad that my personal commitment and endeavors are apparent in our community. Foosball has taught me a valuable life lesson - that investment does pull through in hard times for long-lasting rewards as long as it’s foundation is secure and the message is not lost. FCF is living proof that synergy, strategy, focus, & core everything plays a definite and crucial part of achieving a goal.
I am so proud of ALL of you as a friend, but most importantly as a family member, in this large hospitable world of foos. Keep on reppin’!
xoxoEllenxoxo
PS - That is one glamorous trophy.
PPS - No words can describe my gratitude… though I keep trying. I mean, you notice how my thank you post became long-winded in the attempt to try?
Matrimony
I’m not there yet. I’m not good enough. Not yet. So many people are so much better. With less to lose.
Scatters of hope like motes of dust. Brought to light by the future like the sun. Protected by the past. Secured by experience and fate. Not because of the luck of the future. Everybody has equal chance of luck. Just the promise of time. Waiting for time to bring life.
Current time is full life. Current time mentions the impossibility of more life fitting into a single body. And this is why it is called a miracle. Current time is present. Current time, however, is also promise of future. So is it not future itself? Man who does not know death is coming is in fact living in future, the current time. Not ignorance, but 190% potential.
Man faces impossibility every second. Show fear to yourself and you will crumble. Be True. Understand the nightmares. Don’t disappoint yourself. Patience is a goal. Realize the risks within each step you take, but surely take them.
With each success, you become more uncovered. Watch out! People are watching, scheming. Self preserving. Don’t fault them but acknowledge their love and dedication. Applaud them in the end, because you will be better because of their seeming self interest.
At times, it will be hard and self-destroying. But you aren’t perfect. Would you rather build upon a crumbling foundation only to, in a century, realize your undoing?
It will be repetitive. Jack of all trades, master of none. You decide.
No path is wrong except the one laden with self-deceit. You must PUSH other voices out.
Understand your trade offs. Constantly remeasure the margins. Innovate. Survey tried and true. Strive for second best or you’ll end up without entertainment.
by Ellen M on Foosball & Life
Holiday Present from NYC Foos to Foosworld
Part I - Listen to first!
Lyrics below
Holiday Present from NYC Foos to Foosworld
Part II - Listen after the first one.. a continuation
Lyrics below
We do a stick wall pass
We do a stick wall pass
We do a stick wall pass
And you still sit lane
I once was a noob-ie in the foos world
But now i own your five with a bait lane stick wall
Oh, once in a while I’ll toss you a
Lane just to fuck you up with
I’ll go back to doing walls, and youll start to get pissed.
You finally decide to switch up your incompetent defense.
You stay on wall I fake you and you unintendedly twitch back up.
Finally, I’d like to just address this
I think you’re swell and today is christmas
So from New york City Foosball, kisses and a happy new year
-Lyrics & vocal representation by Ellen M
Kevin, Christopher, and I singing the first part of NYCfoos carol in Four Faced Liar to Horst
I’ve been talking to Sia and other people, and we want more NYCFoosball.com merch! I know a lot of you are shooting yourselves over not buying it the first time round. Some people came to the foosfamily after the fact. Some out-of-townees want some [I always get asked on tour]. Some of us want extras [Maybe for ourselves, or to give it to our loved ones to represent, or both!]. Either way I want head counts and sizes. Also Sia wants to know if you guys would prefer hoodies over the jackets but I definitely want a jacket so I’m going make a post for both. If you are interested in grabbing one or five, post on that topic [how many & size & how I can reach you]. We are estimating the price to be around 30 to 40 a piece.
Here are the links to post your head count, sizes, etc
I want to wish you all a GREAT & GRAND holiday season. <3
From the NYCFoos factory to your-foos-family-name-here factory,
xoxoEllenxoxo
