From: davidb@is.morgan.com (David Birnbaum)
Subject: WORLDS Update - Monday, August 17
Organization: Morgan Stanley & Company
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 14:20:48 GMT

	     WORLDS Update - Utsunomia, Monday, August 17

[ Sorry I don't have all the scores, folks...the organizers were
  supposed to fax them to my hotel tonight, but I would guess their
  hands were full.  I'll try and update everything tomorrow. ]

The first day of the tournament was a fabulous experience.  All the
teams were out in force and tried out their legs - some for the
first time ever in international competition.  I'll leave the
official brou-ha-ha to the official press types, and simply write
whatever strikes me.  For those of you who just want the numbers:
 
        Men              Women             Masters
  ------  ------    ------  ------     ------  -------
  USA 21  NZL  7    JPN     SWE        GER     JPN
  FIN 18  JPN 20    AUS  6  USA 18
  AUS 17  SUI 15    JPN  W  AUS  L          Guts
  SWE  W  TPE  L                       ------  ------
  CAN 21  GBE  8                       No games played
 
A few quick administrative notes, thought - first, keep in mind
that I'm playing with the US team, so everything is from a biased
perspective.  Secondly, all of my other mail is going fallow right
now, so if you're sending me mail and I'm not answering, it's
because I'm playing DISC!!!  And finally, these are all unofficial,
unchecked, uncorroborated scores and descriptions, and for all you
know, I could be making this all up...well, OK, I'm not, but please
don't flame me too bad if I make a mistake or two.
 
With that out of the way...the US "Dream On" team faired well against
a determined group from New Zealand.  Not a particularly spectacular
game with regards to great layouts or inspiring flow, but very clean,
straightforward disc.  Neither team is used to the heat, and the folks
from the Southern Hemisphere have to deal with playing worlds in the
middle of their off-season!  Perhaps a WFDF '93 Worlds bid from
Queensland....?
 
The Australians and Swiss faced off in a later match of the day. 
The game was very intense - but a rather interesting combination of
spectacular defensive and offensive bids mixed in with some very
frustrating throwaways for both teams.  The Australian team has to
win for the most excellent uniforms, though; the hot fluorescent
green is enough to blind from 200 meters.  No missing the man in
the end zone with those shirts on!
 
The Canadians overwhelemed a slightly smaller and more
inexperienced team from Great Britian.  Several of the British
players showed their form with some great layouts, but the disc
skills and speed of the Canadian team gave no quarter, and they
pulled away in the first half and didn't look back.
 
The game of the day for the men was the Finns against the Japenese
home squad.  The game was capped with the Japanese up two points at
18-15.  The whole game was filled with an extremely well-rehearsed
Japanese squad, who showed excellent control of throws and flow
throughout the game.  The Finnish team came within one, to 19-18,
with a series of long throws and Japanese throwing errors, before
the locals finished the game off 20-18.  The final throw was a
blade into the wind missed by two Finnish defenders and caught by
a skying Japanese player as he was falling onto his back - truly a
fantastic catch.
 
Being the local team, the Japanese men's and women's squad both
have the ability to pour waves of players onto the field, making it
difficult for the rest of the teams to keep up, especially with the
heat.
 
Unfortunately, I did not get to see any of the women's games. 
However, a suprisingly strong, but short US team was able to defeat
the Australian women in the morning game.  The score was 9-0 at
half, showing an excellent offensive threat, although the true test
will come tomorrow against the imposing Japanese and Swedish
squads.
 
Just a note on the tournament - the fields are great, and the
organization of the tournament is fantastic.  The directors of the
tourament and the president of JFDF deserve a big hand from the
international disc community for the work they've put into the
tournament so far.  The Utsunomiya community has been fantastic and
supportive of the tournament, including two excellent sushi chefs
at the Paseo sushi bar on the fifth floor - they even knew what a
disc was.
 
That's it for today.  Huckin' from the line,
 
David.
--
David Birnbaum                   + "Be liberal, but not totally uncontrolled."
Morgan Stanley & Company, Inc.   |
New York City, NY  USA           |  Just remember...computers don't write bad
davidb@is.morgan.com             +  code...people do.
From: Eric.Simon@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Eric Simon)
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