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In This Issue:
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Vol. II, Issue 3 - January 20, 2003
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The Joy of Bocce Weekly
The FREE weekly Ezine for bocce aficionados everywhere
Volume II, Issue #3 January 20, 2003
Publisher: Mario Pagnoni Copyright 2002 http://www.joyofbocce.com
Come visit us often at joyofbocce.com. We have bocce info, merchandise, links to other great bocce sites, and the best selling bocce instructional book in the USA.
Order Now @ just $13.95 by clicking on the book image to the right.
I hope you will like this electronic newsletter. To be deleted from my list, you can Unsubscribe at the end of this issue. One of our enthusiastic readers suggested that “…bocce and unsubscribe are mutually exclusive terms.”
If you know others who would enjoy and benefit from this Ezine, encourage them to sign up. You could forward this issue to them so they can decide for themselves if they want to "opt in". I promise that I will never be in the business of selling or trading your email address or other personal information.
A word about ads: Like any entrepreneurial type, I'd love to turn a profit from something I really enjoy. For now, I have decided not to accept paid advertisements. If I pitch a product here, it is something I have examined and tested and deem it beneficial to our readers.
PLEASE – we are always looking for bocce photos and feedback from all over the USA. We want to connect bocce fans everywhere. You can email (author@joyofbocce.com) or snail mail (Mario Pagnoni, P.O. Box 608, Methuen, MA 01844).
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Recently I was reminded that I had to register to officiate the Special Olympics World Games this summer in Dublin, Ireland. It’s the first time these games are to be held outside of the United States.
After officiating in 1995 in West Hartford, CT and in 1999 in Raleigh-Durham, NC, I figured I was a seasoned veteran and destined to be a much sought after referee for the 2003 Games.
Wrong! Apparently the officiating is being handled mostly by the Dublin group and there isn’t much room for guys from the states like me. I was informed that I was too late to apply and that all of that was done via the World Games web site.
I visited http://www.2003specialolympics.com and found even more disturbing news.
The Bocce page starts out innocently enough...
"This sport will take place at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, one of Ireland's biggest conference, entertainment, exhibition and sports centres."
Then the following disturbing information...
"The original bocce rules were based on rules created by the International Bocce Federation in Utica, New York. After the founder of this organisation passed away a few years ago the Sports Rules Committee tasked the Sports Department to research the existence of a true international governing body for bocce.
After much research it was determined that many different versions of the game exist and many different organisations claim to be the international governing body.
The bocce organisations that do exist are not fully functioning. Several requests for their rules went unanswered. It was decided that the present rules of bocce in the rulebook included the basic elements of the various games.
Until such time as a true, functioning governing body is identified, Special Olympics, Inc. is the international governing body for Special Olympics bocce. The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games will use the rules as written in the current version of the official Special Olympics Summer Sports Rulebook 2000-2003 Revised Edition."
What they are talking about here is securing Open Rules to govern Special Olympics play.
"Many different versions of the game exist and many different organisations claim to be the international governing body."
What an embarrassment for our sport!
"The bocce organisations that do exist are not fully functioning."
Ouch!
"Several requests for their rules went unanswered."
Shame on us.
Again, what an embarrassment for our sport! I can't see why all the groups can't get together and hammer out a set of Open Rules that all can agree to play by.
The International Rules have their governing body in Italy and no one who runs sanctioned events deviates from these standards.
We know that many in this country will not embrace the International style of play, but will enjoy Open Rules.
Sometimes it reminds me of soccer fans trying to push the sport on the American public.
ABC soccer announcer Jack Edwards said “Look, you are not going to convince a man to fall in love with a woman whom he doesn’t think is pretty. The MLS should not try to win over soccer haters. They should better serve those people who love the game.”
How about we take a page out of Edwards' book? Let's serve those people who love our game. There's room for International Rules play and Open Rules play. I just want to play!
I'd be more than happy to spearhead a group to create Open Rules for once and for all. Heck, we could even do it via email. We'd have to identify the players, find out where they differ, weigh and discuss options, and come to an agreement.
Then we could publish these Open Rules and list all the groups that endorse them.
Please REPLY if you can weigh in on this issue.
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This week’s pictures come to us from John Ross of the US Bocce Federation. John tells us that…
“These photos are from the dedication of two beautiful courts at The Villages, a residential community located in San Jose, CA. There are great golfing, swimming and tennis facilities at the Villages, and now the residents can cross train and play the great sport of bocce.
The courts have a 4-inch concrete slab placed over compacted base rock. The slots in the concrete curbs provide surface drainage. The playing surface is synthetic turf "Sports Courts" made by Grass Tex, Inc. (www.grass-tex.com). The only maintenance required is blowing off the leaves with a leaf blower!
The courts play a little slower than our courts at Campo di Bocce, but after a few rolls, you can dial in the speed. The courts play extremely true. The ball goes wherever you throw or lag it. No excuses!
Carm Grande, the bocce club organizer, said that over 300 residents have expressed an interest in joining The Villages Bocce Club and playing in organized leagues at the Villages. Fortunately, the master plan allows room for two more courts to be built in the future!”
{Thanks to John for the wonderful photos and descriptive text. Please follow his lead and send us photos and info about bocce happenings in your area. Together we can promote the sport we love.}
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{chronological order}
Please - anyone running a tournament - do me a favor - put a notice near your tourney bracket board informing players that they can go to http://www.joyofbocce.com and "opt in" for my FREE Ezine on bocce.
January 31, 2003 – Amateur USA Bocce Clinic – Chicago, IL. Contact Phil Ferrari of World Bocce Association – 1-800-OKBOCCE.
February 16, 2003 – Mazzini Verdi Superball Midwest Open – Franklin Park, IL. Contact Phil Ferrari of World Bocce Association – 1-800-OKBOCCE.
February 22, 2003 - Two Men - One Woman Open, Italian Athletic Club, Stockton, CA, Open Rules, Contact Ron Jacobs (209) 957-1223 or ronjo9445@aol.com.
March 8 & 9, 2003 - The Italian/American Bocce Association of Punta Gorda, Florida.
Fourth annual Southwest Florida Open Bocce Tournament. For more Info, contact George Farruggio at Tel. # 941-575-0482, Fax. # 941-575-6231 or E-Mail wam@strato.net.
March 28, 2003 – Cape Coral Superball Classic – Cape Coral, FL. Contact Phil Ferrari of World Bocce Association –1-800-OKBOCCE.
March 29, 2003 - 1St Annual Long Island Bocce Club Spring Fling - 4 player Team - Single Elimination - Milldam Park Huntington New York - Cost: $100.00 Team - Honorarium Awards for both Teams in the finals and Best Team. Contact: www.libocceclub.com or email James@libocceclub.com.
March 29, 2003 - Cape Coral Bocce Association, Money Tournament, Open Rules, Veterans Park Bocce Courts, 4100 Coronado Parkway, Cape Coral, Florida, Four Player Team, Prizes 1st = $2000, 2nd = $500, 3rd = $300. Entrance Fee = $200 per Team ($50 per man) Based on 18 teams, Register by March 15, 2003, Contact Skinny Battista (239) 540-8246 or skinny@prodigy.net.
April 5, 2003 - Four Person Team, Italian Athletic Club, Stockton, CA, Open Rules, Contact Ron Jacobs (209) 957-1223 or ronjo9445@aol.com.
April, 2003 – Biltmore Invitational – Lake Tahoe, NV. Contact Phil Ferrari of World Bocce Association – 1-800-OKBOCCE.
April 26, 2003 - Three Person Volo, Waterloo Gun and Bocci Club, Stockton, CA, Volo Rules, Contact David Canclini (209) 957-3314 or canclini@gotnet.net.
May, 2003 – Herrin Festa Italiano Superball Championships, Herrin, IL.
June 8-15, 2003 - United States National Bocce Tournament - Highwood Bocce Courts, Highwood, IL
winners will compete in the WORLD COMPETITION in SWITZERLAND. Contact Mike Conti @ 847-692-6223
July 11-13, 2003 Bocce Classic IX Tournament, John Pirelli Lodge, 2625 County Line Road, Dayton Ohio, contact rbloomky@aol.com.
NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL, NO MATTER WHAT PART OF THE COUNTRY, SEND US YOUR TOURNAMENT INFO SO WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT IN THIS COLUMN. PEOPLE MAY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR EVENT OR JUST VISIT TO CHECK IT OUT TO "BROADEN THEIR HORIZONS."
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