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In This Issue:
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Vol. I, Issue 37 - September 30, 2002
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The Joy of Bocce Weekly
The FREE weekly Ezine for bocce aficionados everywhere
Volume #1, Issue #37 September 30, 2002
Publisher: Mario Pagnoni Copyright 2002 http://www.joyofbocce.com
Come visit us often at www.joyofbocce.com. We have bocce info, merchandise, links to other great bocce sites, and the best selling bocce instructional book in the USA. http://www14.mawebcenters.com/striker/orderform.ivnu - Order Now @ $12.95 by clicking on the book cover 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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{Publisher’s comments in brackets}
Ed Webster from the Long Island Bocce Club needs a quick answer to this…
“I'm travelling to San Antonio Texas on Oct 12. I was wondering if you know of any clubs in San Antonio that I could connect with while down there. I will gladly take pictures for you and submit. Let me know - any help appreciated. Thanks.”
{I emailed Ed the few contacts that I knew of in TX – can anyone help? Please REPLY}
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The illustrious Dr. Cordano writes again and once again, makes great sense.
“First of all congratulations on your book which besides being an ABC for beginners is very well written, easy to read and provides insight on many of the ways bocce is played in the US.
In issue #33 you ask for comments on the subject of the pallino and I agree entirely that the tossing is a vital part of the success in your game for all the reasons you mentioned: your strength, weakness of the opponents, etc.
I disagree in regard that the one who toss the pallino must roll the first bocce ball, because some players never recognize the cerebral part of the game and neither have the finesse to do it. Also some people can't control a smaller object well. At international level the pallino can be tossed by anyone and usually is the best player who does it, to assure the position that's more convenient for the team.
{I didn’t know this – as a matter of fact, I am embarrassed to admit that I have never seen International play. I see now that it is very important that I view this style of play to broaden my bocce horizons.}
I agree entirely about playing the first ball in front of the pallino not only for the "nuisance value" you mention, but to allow your "hitting man" or "shooter" to be worry free to take the team's ball away after hitting the opponent’s target.
On October 18,19 and 20 at Highwood, north of Chicago, the North American Bocce games will take place in an inside, air-conditioned environment. Newly built synthetic surface courts (4) 86 feet long will allow all to see the skills of the best PUNTO-RAFFA-VOLO from the US and from Canada. There will be three men’s teams and two women’s teams from each country. The competition will be in the 3 international modalities (SINGLES, DOUBLES, and TRIPLES) and players walk up and down after the completion of each frame. The speed of the courts and the international rules will showcase the finesse of the game as well as the power of the RAFFA and VOLO actions. Every ball to be hit (the target) has to be called to a referee and VOLO is obligatory up to the 54 feet line. Raffa is allowed only after that line. If you hit the wrong target the ball is removed from the court and the target is placed back on the marked position. Referee marks every played bocce ball.
CIAO
Dr. Cordano”
{Doc – thanks again for the great tips and I will see if I can clear my schedule to view and photograph this level of bocce.}
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{Bob Whitlow sends this…}
“Our local Bocce club plays WBA with an added old traditional local rule here that I cannot find anywhere in researching bocce rules on the web.
The local traditional rule is as follows: When the "in" team has the winning point on the court, the opposing "out" team has NO remaining balls to be rolled...the winning team is required to take all their remaining balls that have not been rolled from the ball rack or any being held in their hands and toss or drop them onto the court.
This must be done before the judge/referee can announce the match as being won. Also it is a standard local rule that the judge/referee may not instruct the player to toss or drop their balls to the court.
Do any other clubs play by this rule?”
{I’ve seen this practice in many areas of the country. The players toss their remaining balls a couple feet in front of the foul line to signify that they are done playing and the match is won. If they were to play a ball they might “sell the point” as they say around New England. That is, knock an opponent’s ball closer or redirect the pallino to a position that is advantageous to the other team, thereby giving away the point (I don’t know where the selling part comes in). I don’ t know why players just can’t say, okay, we’ve won this game, and not toss the balls. Can readers shed any light on this?}
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Steve Kahn of Banning, CA had this answer to Tom Thomas’ question about bocce art work…
“Go to images.google.com. Type "bocce” without the quotes. You'll get to a web site with 2,640 pictures. Good luck”
{Thanks Steve – this was a great tip. There are some great photos here – some may not be in the public domain, though. I originally thought Tom was looking for bocce clip art and didn’t think of this option.}
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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.
Tempo Italiano Fall Classic is scheduled for a Sunday in October.
Refer to www.tempoitaliano.net for more details. Teams of 4 players with an entry fee of just $50.00 per team. Guaranteed First Place team award of $600.00, 2nd Place Team award - $400.00 and Third Place $200.00.
Contact Pam Richetta @ richetta@enter.net for more info or check out www.tempoitaliano.net.
OCT. 18-20, 2002 - North American Bocce Championship USA VS CANADA
Highwood Bocce Courts, Highwood, IL
Contact Mike Conti 847-692-6223
October 26, 2002 – Long Island Bocce Club Fall Fiesta – Mildam Park, Huntington, NY.
Two-person teams. For more info go to www.libocceclub.com or call James Schiffmacher @ 516-449-0238.
November 2, 2002 - Campo di Bocce. This will be the 2nd annual Big Ben Punto Raffa Volo (International game and rules apply). Typically a two ball per person game with two on a team, but I tweak it a little and give each player 3 balls. This is a variation which enables the players to correct an errant shot and score more points at the same time. The cost is $50.00 per entrant. I will take the first 16 teams, but have the ability to take up to 24. Big money for bocce is at this tournament and the best of the best will be here. Call "Bocce Bum" Ben Musolf at 408.857.0074 for details. This is a first come first serve event and will be sold out.
November 14-16, 2002 - Peppermill Hotel Casino, 2707 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada 89502, contact Cathy Spinetta @ 800-648-6992 ext.7425
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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