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Shrimp Ring shiver

Out of the fridge, into the freezer.

With frigid temperatures and icy conditions, the festive shrimp ring, centerpiece of Sunday's ninth renewal of the annual Shrimp Ring Bowl to greet the new year, never really thawed out. Nor did the roadsters.

"I don't remember ever playing in cold like this," says Paul One, whose veteran side squandered a 12-4 lead before rallying to eke out the win, 21-19 in overtime. "I don't think there's any kind of experience advantage for playing in these types of conditions."

"There's a lot of sliding, there's a lot of slipping," says Billy Idol, who defied the frosty conditions by wearing shorts.

Indeed, it may have been the sloppiest game in Sunday Morning history as the icy concrete made it difficult for players to get any kind of traction to make plays, get away shots or change direction.

"Guys who usually have a lot of running ability didn't have that ability today," says Billy Idol.

"Just staying upright is a challenge," says Paul One. "Those guys that usually make moves can't make moves, there's nobody winding up with slapshots."

Unfortunately, some of Paul One's teammates thought they could play a running game. And it almost cost them. After lucky deflections and fortuitous rebounds had staked his side to their early lead, they tried to get fancy, pinching in from center court, sending give-and-go passes to skidding teammates who slid right past them. Unable to get their footing, they got caught out of position, and their opponents were quick to take advantage, battling back to take their first lead, 16-15.

"We were pressing three guys up and you can't do that because there's no way you can get back in time," says Paul One. "We got lazy, they jumped all over us."

"You can't go as fast, but if you can make some fakes you can get people moving one way and there's no way they can stop," says New Guy of his side's courageous comeback. "You're not going to make too many pretty plays out there. It's all about getting a bounce of someone's leg, getting the ball to your stick and just burying it."

It was only when Paul One and his mates returned to those fundamentals that they were able to battle to the overtime win.

"We pulled it out the same way we started the game, with confidence and dominating play," says Elvis. "We knew it was just a matter of time that we'd get the game back."

Posted by jaysuburb at January 4, 2004 04:42 PM