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In This Issue:
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Vol. VII, Issue 1 - January 7, 2008
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Notes from the publisher
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Bocce product of the week
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Bocce news & readers' feedback
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Non bocce product of the week
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The weekly Ezine for bocce aficionados everywhere
Volume 7, Issue #1 - January 7, 2008
Publisher: Mario Pagnoni Copyright 2008
76 Emsley Terrace, Methuen, MA 01844
http://www.joyofbocce.com (vm 800-211-1202 ext 4949)
Happy New Year my bocce friends,
This issue marks the beginning of our seventh year of publication. Fasten your seat belts. I think it's gonna be a big year for me and The Joy of Bocce. More importantly, it's going to be a big growth year for our sport.
My number one resolution for 2008 is to get the ezine back to its previous publishing consistency. I missed too many deadlines in 2007, only managing to get 37 weekly issues to press.
The second item of importance is to re-do the photos (too many low resolution pics) for my Joy of Bocce 2nd Edition, thereby creating a 3rd edition (with new and improved photos of 300 dpi). When my winter bocce league begins next week I'll begin re-shooting those photos that I am able to. Then, beginning with this issue, I'll ask loyal readers to send new photos of bocce in their neck of the woods (300 dpi per photograph is the goal). With hard work and a little luck, we will have a Joy of Bocce 3rd edition by the fall of 2008.
Next up - it looks like we'll be doing a lot more bocce parties and corporate outings. We have a big one scheduled for February (photos to follow after the event) where an event planner is flying me and my bocce posse to Ft. Lauderdale to organize and officiate the bocce competition. The attendees will be from all over the USA and a few from Europe and Australia. These events are a good use of my time in terms of exposing the game to others who might in turn promote it when they return to their respective homes. Please recommend me to other individuals or companies within your sphere of influence.
Keep rolling,
Mario Pagnoni (The Bocce Guy)
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{Publisher's comments in brackets...}
The photo to the right was selected as one of the "top photos of 2007" by our local newspaper (The Eagle-Tribune). It was taken at our annual outdoor "bocce in the park" youth tournament held at the Nevins Memorial Library (Methuen, MA).
Eagle-Tribune photographer Katie McMahon noticed that one of the players (the one with the 42-inch vertical leap) was very animated and kept an eye on her for a good photo op - which she got with this "jump for joy." Click the photo for a full-size version of the photo that does it better justice.
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Good news from "Bocce Bum" Ben Musolf...
"On January 21, 2007, the very first television special on Bocce will air. The 2007 Madden/Mariucci event and the finals of the 2007 United States Bocce Federation National Championships will be a part of a show with commentary and commercials. The show will premier on Fox Sports Net Bay Area at 7:00PM and will be aired 3 more times afterward. Please tune in and tell all of your friends.
The exposure radius is as follows:
Oregon Border to Monterey, CA.
As far east as Reno, NV. (From California)
If the audience wants more, than it can be aired at Fox Sports Net’s discretion.
Enjoy the show!"
Benjamin Musolf
Campo di Bocce
http://www.campodibocce.com
Peter Rabito responded to the good news with...
"This is great news! I am extremely pleased that a commercial production showcasing bocce will be broadcast - albeit regionally...
On a somewhat selfish note, I'll get to see it here in New York as Fox Sports Net Bay Area is up linked from my facility - Rainbow Network Communications; a division of Cablevision Systems.
Great job Ben...You continue to practice what you preach: the advance of bocce for its competitive, brand and entertainment values."
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Toni (Antonia) Bos, to whom I submitted a bocce anecdote for his upcoming book, gives us an update...
"Regarding the Encyclopedia of Hobbies and Interests: at the last moment the publisher changed his mind, and I have been sending queries to other publishers and even agents. So far no luck, but I keep trying. Initially I waited contacting everyone since I hoped to give the news of a new publishing contract at the same time, but this has not happened yet. If you are familiar with a good publisher or agent, please let me know, because at this point I can only go with digitally or traditionally published lists.
The manuscript is titled ‘Things To Do When You’d Rather Not Watch TV – The Adventure & Sports Solution.’ It lists over 300 active hobbies for the average North American. The concept alone is already great, but each individual photo, quote and story contribution from ‘real people’ like yourself, makes this project quite unique. I am as excited about this manuscript as I was when I first conceived of it, and will continue working hard to get it published. People will not only love reading it, but they will also be thrilled with their new spare time activities! In addition to having the book in stores, I will market it on the Internet (the website www.thingstodowhen.com has been reserved).
As soon as I have a new contract with a publisher, I will let you know. Please note my new e-mail address below -I welcome your comments any time. Meanwhile I hope you are doing well, and I wish you a fabulous 2008."
{You can contact Toni at antoniabos@rogers.com .}
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News from Al Orbinati Jr., Coordinator for the World Series of Bocce...
"Happy New Year to you all from the World Series of Bocce!
The gears are just starting to turn on the 2008 WSB, we have some really great ideas in the works for '08. Can't wait!
On a side note, much of the work that we do for the tournament in the off season goes toward spreading the popularity of bocce nationwide. I know that bocce is slowly growing in a nation obsessed with steroid-driven sports (sorry, had to get that political statement out of the way); we want to help the game/sport of bocce grow. We are advocates of the sport, and need your help to get the word out. So please, do the game of bocce a favor and tell your friends about tournaments like the World Series. Get out there and play, and invite some new people. And most important, grab some young people and get them involved!
Here's an equation for all you math types out there:
Young People + Bocce = Bocce for the Future (YP+B=BF) Got it?
Just revamped the WSB website - easier, more user friendly, good looking...just plain better. Check it out:
http://worldseriesofbocce.org
Remember you can download the application from the site, as well as book hotels, and get directions. It's pretty slick. Look forward to hearing from you. Be safe!"
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Joy of Bocce 3rd Edition - Photos Needed
I have a pretty good deal of experience with traditional publishing houses, having published 5 books that went through about 10 different publishers. I thought that there was a good chance that a big outfit might pick up the Joy of Bocce 2nd Edition once it was on the bookstore shelves for a year or so. This hasn’t been the case and I think there are two reasons.
First, there still is this sense among publishers and especially book acquisitions editors that bocce is a relatively obscure sport, enjoyed by only a small number of fanatical aficionados. While the sport is still a ways from the mainstream, it is not nearly as obscure as the general public and the publishing industry thinks.
A second reason might be the photographs. There are about 300 of them in the book. But most I took with my first generation digital camera or were sent to me by people with early digital cameras. They tend to be 72 dpi which is great for the Internet, but not so good for print reproduction. We had to make many of the photos smaller than we would have liked to make them look halfway decent. In some cases, especially some magnificent bocce courts, the small photos don’t do the venues justice.
So, I’ve decided to do a third edition, re-doing almost all the photographs. I’ve got a great new digital camera and can re-take many of the shorts. In addition, I’ll ask readers to submit new shots – at least 300 dpi is the goal. I'm asking you and my friends like court builders David Brewer, Mike Grasser, and Tom McNutt to re-submit photos of their best courts. The new edition will probably not be much different in terms of text (although I may tighten it a bit – friends of mine say to me…”Leave it to you to write a book this thick on bocce”).
I'll need your help with this effort. Please submit high quality (300 dpi) pics (and permission to reprint) of bocce in your neck of the woods. This project will be my main focus for 2008. Please help.
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Drive to get Bocce to the Senior Games in 2009
Bocce is a senior game event in many states (i.e. Massachusetts, Michigan, Florida) but is not yet at the national level.
There is a National Games committee that reviews the process of adding new sports to the Summer Games. I was able to coax my friend Carl Fetteroll of the Massachusetts Senior Games to put in a formal request that bocce be considered.
If you know of Senior Games officials in your state, please have them do the same. The request should go to:
Ray Hoyt
Director of National Games and Athlete Relations
National Senior Games Association
PO Box 82059
Baton Rouge, LA 70844-2059
rhoyt@nsga.com
If we can get the games recognized, that would mean that 2008 would be a qualifying year and 2009 we could compete in the "Senior Olympics" in San Francisco, CA. This would go a long way toward getting our sport the notoriety it deserves. Send an email - send a letter - offer to host a qualifier in your state if there is none. Bocce is headed to the mainstream. It just needs a little push from people like you and me.
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This week's photos come courtesy of John Anderson. They show off his deluxe home court in Salinas, California.
The court measures 70' by 8' and features a Burmese temple bell circa 1700 which is used to ring out the score. "In the period of the bell they were used to communicate every morning and night, between temples... a way of checking in. The temples were often besieged by looters, evil doers, etc."
Regarding the court surface material, Anderson says..."Being a molecular soil scientist, I chose decomposed granite fines from a local mine. It is very high in silica, which has a very high energy level, thusly allowing the balls to 'roll lighter' because of the energy release from the playing surface - 'dg fines' three feet thick."
Reminiscent of billiards, the Andersons tally score via rings (games to 9, 15, 21) "...depending on how many people show up and how much time we have to play as a group."
"The drapes at each end act to enclose the playing areas from any rogue wind, and the whole court is lit with low voltage wire lighting over head. The court is placed in a private valley. The drapes add to the ambiance, however if it gets cooler than we like (playing into the evening) then we close the drapes and turn on the heaters.
The centerpiece to the court is a 1700's Burmese temple bell. "The highlight for the players on the new court is walking across mid court and sliding the rings for their points and 'banging off the points' on the bell."
The mallet on top can be used to slide the rings and to bang the bell, once for each point scored in the frame.
"Now the bell is the center piece and its chime marks each point, and the rings suspended mid court act as tallies sliding from left to right, with each metallic ring marking the end of a game (9, 15, or 21)."
Coming soon - the Rolex Invitational Bocce Tourney. Winner gets a diamond studded Rolex. Details to follow in The Joy of Bocce Weekly.
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Merchandise still available at joyofbocce.com
Check out the first-rate equipment we offer. The finest measuring devices for bocce (made in UK by Prohawk for lawn bowling, petanque, and bocce) - the finest bocce balls in the world (made in Italy by Perfetta) and the number one selling instructional book on bocce in America - Check them out.
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