Kickball has become a bona-fide chicago tradition and trademark signature event and ritual among my chicago friends. It's pretty simple -- a field, bases, and a $4 rubber playground ball, and suddenly you are transported back to 3rd grade. Although I have personally had little to do with the organizing, promotion, or flourishing of the kickball program, I did have a small part. Back in early 1995, before I was friends with most of the gang, Goze invited me to a softball game the group was having. I showed up and took with me a kickball I had bought in a toy store at the mall the day before, as a joke. After one game of softball, they decided to play kickball for game 2 of the doubleheader, and we've never played a pick-up softball game since.
The group plays typically every Memorial Day, Halloween, and Super Bowl Sunday. The first as a summer kickoff, the 2nd in costumes, and the 3rd in the snow and cold of the chicago january frozen tundra. Yes, there is some skill involved, but the joking around, socializing, liberal scorekeeping, and occasional drink here or there tend to have a democratizing effect on the whole process. Almost all games are played at Jonquil Park, 1002 W. Wrightwood Avenue, Chicago, at the corner of Lincoln and Sheffield, across from the 7-11, 2 blocks from my old house. Feel free to contact me if you want to join the fun and I will put you in touch with the right people. Cheers
Super Bowl Sunday Kickball 2001
all -- enjoy the photo below of superbowl kickball 2001! even though the snow was hard and the air was cold, spirits were high and the competition fierce. Jen (pictured below) was winning pitcher and unanimous MVP. anna from germany (front left) was rookie of the year...are you sure they don't play kickball in bavaria? anyway, it was a better game than ravens-vs-giants and a great time. cheers!
The 5th Annual Memorial Day Kickball Extravaganza, brought to you by Steve, Don, and the makers of "Mad Dog", was a SMASHING SUCCESS, with one of the best turnouts ever! The doubleheader, held at the park @ Wrightwood / Lincoln / Sheffield, was rocking with the thrill of competition and sheer athletic endeavor. After the exhausting, exhilirating doubleheader (somebody won, can't remember who...), we adjourned to Steve & Don's for the "apres-kickball" pizza, drinks, cigars, and very loud music. The blissful holiday afternoon was punctuated by a visit from the police (which Mary was able to charm her way through and convince them to move on), and a violent thunderstorm. As the pictures illustrate, we frolicked and played frisbee in the rain, making the most of what mother nature dealt us.
No Gatorade allowed!
 
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