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Paul None: A special report

With his shadow yet to darken the concrete at the road hockey courts this season, Paul One has become Paul None. And, say some of his former foes, the game is suffering.

Once known as one of the grittiest, hard working players in the game, Paul One has become largely unknown to a whole generation of players. His last game was in April of last season, after only sporadic appearances through the year.

It's a far cry from the commitment he once showed, and which became an example to the other players. In good weather and bad, One was always there. He was the first to pick up a shovel to clear the concrete from an overnight snowfall. He was undaunted by rain or sleet or ice. And when goalies were lacking, he'd step up to strap on the pads.

"He's one of the most valuable people we had out here, one of the most valuable teammates you could have," said Elvis.

"Paul One always brought a lot of heart to the game," said fellow founding father, Living Legend. "He was the kind of guy when he stepped on the court, you'd have to follow his lead."

But his absence so far this season has left a void, say some of the roadsters. And never more than last week, when the venerable game was upstaged by a motley band of roguesters in the neighboring court who played on through the winter slush and cold while only three Sunday Morning players slipped away in shame.

FOR A SPECIAL MULTIMEDIA REPORT ON PAUL ONE'S DEMISE, CLICK HERE

After last week's humiliation of a squandered game, Sunday's game was a triumph for the veterans, three of whom outworked and outscored their younger opponents and led their team to a resounding 20-13 win.
Living Legend scored three times, Lak Attack added a handful more, and Wink reclaimed his post at the point to spark their team's offense. The senior linemates were an example to their mates and a lesson to their overmatched opponents, who struggled to establish their speed advantage on the slippery concrete, slicked by slush and a semi-frozen snowpack that took almost 40 minutes to clear prior to game time.

Shamed by Lak's lament for the game after last week's cancellation, Wink made his first start of the season on Sunday. He vows it won't be his last.

Posted by jaysuburb at December 30, 2007 11:27 PM