A Little Love for the S.N.I.T.P.A.T

Disc golf and soccer. Wait! Don't leave. Please don't turn the page or click the 'Back' button on your browser. Give the little sports a chance. They need some McLovin' too!

Why should you care? Perhaps you already do care and you just haven't realized it.

Soccer excites casual sports fans during World Cup matches. Even with the built-in U.S.A. versus the world mentality, many eschew the sport. What if I told you there was a bastardized version being played right here in T-Town.

The "Americanized Version" includes a non-stop clock, liberal player substitutions and high-scoring affairs. Are you interested now? A little? What if I told you throwing tomatoes at opposing players was encouraged? I made that last part up. No vegetables, please.

The Tulsa Revolution joined the American Indoor Soccer League this season and the league is now finishing up its current calendar year.

"We're doing an exhibition season this year. The reason being is all too often you see soccer teams come out and go full force their first year and they really don't know too much about what's going on or how the league operates," said 23-year-old team owner Adam Mellor.

The youthful owner joined the ranks of franchise owners after the opportunity fell into his lap. He was born in Maryland before his father's role in the military found him being home schooled overseas.

After graduating from NSU, he managed a local 'Wing' eatery before realizing his dream of continuing with his soccer aspirations. A bum knee sidelined his career on the field and dropped him in the line of duty.

"The first season for a brand new team is always the learning season.

The on-the-field product is high octane. Typical outdoor soccer matches bog down due to enormous spacing, defense first mentality and don't lose attitudes.

Instead of a huge outdoor field, these players are trapped indoors. There is no out-of-bounds. The unlimited substitutions keep legs fresh and action flowing. Upwards of 20 goals can be scored in one game.

The SoccerCity field measures 180' X 80'. The teams consist of five players per side plus one goal keeper. The Revolution squad is filled with players from across the globe. Brazilian, Bolivian and American are just a few of the cultures represented.

Tulsa's sports are constantly vying for our entertainment dollar. We have high-caliber minor league teams sprinkled throughout the city. Add the indoor soccer league to the mix. Visit HYPERLINK "http://www.tulsarevolution.us"; www.tulsarevolution.us for more information.

Not Just for Hippies

The 2008 Tulsa Ice Bowl cometh. This is not a fancy title for a cheesy reenactment of the 1967 epic clash between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys.

Tulsa Disc Sports Association is hosting the 13th annual, and wildly popular, charity disc golf tournament this Saturday morning in the heart of winter at Riverside Park.

Disc golfers are similar to regular golfers. Some are extremely talented while others are there for the good times and tranquility.

The frigid temps are enough to keep most Tulsans indoors. Several dedicated disc golfers will venture outside in what will likely be brutal conditions at 9am.

However, as their motto clearly states-NO WHIMPS, NO WHINERS! The entry fee is a mere 15 bucks or five cans of food and 12 bucks.

Now, if this is the first you are hearing of this event, you probably are not planning to join the fun. However, it's important to give credit where credit is due. Donations and proceeds go to benefit the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Sports for a noble cause. Yes--disc golf is a sport.

"The Ice Bowl is for all disc golfers gutsy, crazy or fun-loving enough to join together for a good cause," said Wayne Forest, the tournament director.

"This takes place regardless of the weather conditions. The idea is to have fun, raise funds and food for the Food Bank and dispel the gloom of winter."

Last year's event raised 381 pounds of food and $2,748. That's a lot of canned corn. Disc golfers provide other valuable contributions to the community.

It was a couple of disc golfers, not "frisbee" golfers, who stumbled upon a body dangling from a tree earlier this month at Hunter Park. How long would the body have hung from the tree without the disc golf community patrolling the wooded areas? A month?

Speaking of heroes, the New York Giants of the National Football League are my only hope. To say I dislike the New England Patriots is on par with saying the presidential race is up in the air. Extreme understatements.

We'll break down the XLII match up like no other local sports outlet can. Stay tuned!