The Tomcat BoD will be meeting over the next week to discuss plans for the 2022-2022 season. The ever evolving pandemic looms large so we will continue to look for a way to get Tomcats back on the floor, while taking all precautions and adhering to all local requirements. Stay tuned for an update after the meeting.
Without a hitch, the Kobassa Open (a 2 man scramble format) was played on July 15 with the winners Bagzand Spanky coming in at 73. “This is a great honour to be a winner of this magnificent tournament, when the last putt went in, both Spanky and I had tears in our eyes.” Stated Bagz.
More Winners
Second place with 75, was taken by the combo of Hollywood and the Big Easy, “I am a golfer now, this may be the second best day of my life, to finish second in this prestigious event, well I am speechless, I am with out speech.” Stated Hollywood.
Third place went to Chevy and Sheepdog with a 75, then fourth was taken by Hatchie and Stevo with a 75 and fifth went to Bubbles and the Howler at 76. The most honest golfers went to The Turk and Little Bird with a steamy 86.
Closest to the pin were taken by three different winners, Sparky, Hatchie and Crispy. No one got on the green on the par 3, 13th.
Thank You Goes Out
Huge thank you goes out to Bundura, May Day, Hatchie, Big Easy, Howler/Little Bird and Sea Lion for providing the food and prizes. And thanks to Turk for the appetizers…. “Yes, I host it and supply some of the stuff, but without these guys helping me, the tournament would not be the same without them, they deserve a great deal of thanks and credit. If anyone else ever wants to help contribute please do so.” Indicated Stevo, tournament organizer.
Best Dressed
Even though there was no prize for the best dressed, it was obvious to everyone Hatchie and Stevo’s matching outfits were the talk of the tournament, Cribzie and La Bamba a close second with their red hats and black golf shirts, “Look, the tournament is fun and we just try to lay another layer of fun on top of it, I hope more guys get matching shirts next year, it’s fun and who doesn’t want or need a nice new golf shirt.” Hatchie said enthusiastically.
Next Year
“We will be having our Kobassa Open year endmeeting in October to discuss next year, I think one of the options would be to add more guys and to not go back to Stevo’s, but maybe go to Legion in Essex but we will need to look at all options before we make a decision. One thing I can tell you is that we will probably charge each golf 10-20 dollars to help offset some of the costs. I think it is only fair not to have the same people pay all the time.” Stated May Day.
Prizes and food and booze do cost money, so it will be a natural thing to do, to have everyone contribute.
Next up is the Ride Her Cup on Monday August 2, Mad Day Marauders take on Hatchie’s Humpers.
Any given Monday, the Mr. Gordon’s golf league is alive and well, if you are interested in playing, contact the Commissioner, May Day.
August 23, 24 and 25 sees the Tomcats in the Cougar Bush tour. Three days of fun and merriment. Chevy is the organizer of this stupendous event, if you are interested, please see him to be put on a waiting list.
Photos and Big Ending
There were 100’s of photos taken, cannot get them all up, but here are a few.
Thanks to La Bamba, who created the Kobassa Open page on WhatsAP… you can view more photos.
In case you are wondering if the Tomcat Forever song was belted out in the back yard of a quiet unassuming residential neighbourhood, YES IT WAS ! While you sing the song to yourself as you read this, do you think I can put my Harry Ballsonue.
Your Favourite Golfer / Athlete: I have two. Barry Sanders – no one ever carried the mail the way Barry did…you held your breath every time he broke the first tackle. The Captain, Stevie Y – the greatest leader in sports ever…no drama, no flashiness, always put the needs of the team first, always leading by example, what a true leader should be.
Your favourite Golf ball: Whichever of the many free ones my father gives me from his massive collection that also stays in my bag the longest.
Your favourite hockey player growing up: Mark Messier and Paul MacDermid
Your favourite present day hockey player: Connor McDavid
Your favourite band(s): If you need to ask this, you haven’t spent any time around me. The Holy Trinity of Rock has always been and will always be THE band for me.
Your favourite movie(s): The Shawshank Redemption
A highlight from High School: Going to a dance in grade 9 with my friend Hugh and as we wait to get into the gym, he says hi to a cute girl I had yet to meet. I asked him who that was and he said “some girl named Donna from my science class.” The pursuit was on!
If you could do one thing for the Tomcats, what would you do: Like many others, build a facility/clubhouse for the Tomcats so we could have a set up just the way we like and need it. That and get MGD to sponsor us with a lifetime supply of beer.
Your favourite Tomcat: There are so many, but easy for me it is The Falcon. We’ve been friends since like grade 3 when our mothers were volunteers at our school. He brought me to the Tomcats so I wouldn’t be here without him.
Your Favourite Tomcat Moment: For me, the Stanley’s Cup victories were fun, but they really don’t matter all that much. I really enjoy the early morning arrival on Tournament Saturday when we are working to get last-minute things in order, saying hello to some guys who haven’t been around for a while, etc. The gatherings downstairs at the Kapusta after the tournament or at Christmas time are also right up there.
One thing you would like other Tomcats to know about you: While I pretty much play defense full-time for the Tomcats, I really prefer to play forward.
Meet Stevo
Your Favourite Golfer / Athlete: Jordan Spieth now, but I use to be a big Freddie Couples and Seve Ballasteros fan.
Your favourite Golf ball: I love using the Noodle and the Calloway….and if I can find one, Titliest AVX
Your favourite hockey player growing up: Norm Ullman, Bruce Gamble Gilbert Perrault then Dominick Hasek.
Your favourite present day hockey player: Sidney Crosby
Your favourite band(s): Chicago, The Clash, Roxy Music (Bryan Ferry) Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay and Tea Party
Your favourite movie(s): In order 1-5: Love Actually, Brave Heart, Beautiful Girls, Mr. Destiny K-Pax
A highlight from High School: Wearing a brown tuxedo at graduation, we thought we looked so cool with he ruffled shirts.
If you could do one thing for the Tomcats, what would you do: State of the art facility ….all walls enclosed, benches on the side, with penalty boxes…dressing rooms, showers, a bar for beer…..a stick/equipment room (with ventilation) Underground parking, bleachers for spectators and a score clock handing from the ceiling like in the bigs.
Your favourite Tomcat: Every Tuesday sitting on stage watching the guys walk in…those are my favourite Tomcats….the smiles the laughs, you can ask those guys to do you a favour and they would jump at it…..no better set of friends then all the Tomcats I have had the pleasure to know. Come tournament time, getting chairs down for the team photo, those guys are my favourite Tomcats….all for one and one for all.
Your Favourite Tomcat Moment: Here are my top 10 (NOT IN ORDER) , 1) Nine Second Dave, 2) Essex 96’rs beating the Belle River Buckos, they left and we sat on stage smiling for an hour, 3) Bulldog after a tournament having a few pops falling too the floor as he was hanging on to the side curtains, he pulled himself up and said, “oh, I almost fell”. 4) I was playing goalie and got twisted around and now my ass was facing the play, and I’m on my knees facing the net, I put out my catching glove out to face the play and Hurricane shots it right in my glove, what a save, 5) Ditty streaking 6) Spinner interferes with me as I am going towards the net, I loose it, I start yelling, I whip my stick against the curtains, I turn around on stage and yell, “This is suppose to be for fun, and I’m not having any!!!!” 7) Winning a Stanley’s Cup with my son Big Ned, not sure who was happier, me or him. 8) Tomcat golf tournament back at Crispy’s and me fetching the Sealion Rye and Cokes….and his famous line, “ There’s no rye in this Belle River Pepsiiiiii Stevoooo 9) Every Tomcat Tournament when we lined up for the full Tomcat Team Photo…great moments. 10) Every tee shirt, jacket, hoodie, sweat shirt, touque, gym bag, track pants, shorts coozie, bottle opener and underwear.
One thing you would like other Tomcats to know about you: That every night in my prayers I ask for Love, Grace and Understanding for every Tomcat.
Your Favourite Athlete: Anthony Edwards Your favourite hockey player growing up: Mats Sundin Your favourite band(s): UGK, Lauryn Hill, Charles Bradley, Three 6 Mafia A highlight from High School: Leaving Your favourite Tomcat: My Dad Stevo and my Uncle Hollywood, with close seconds to Bundura, Sea Lion, May Day, Jingles. One thing you would like other Tomcats to know about you: If I had a ton of money I would love to own a 1977 Candy Red Cadillac
Jingles Jets captain, Jingles, is expecting big things from big Ned!
Meet Rexy:
Favorite Golfer: Phil Mickelson ,still waiting for Phil to reach in his bag of tricks and win one more major, just like Tiger in 2019 Masters, before transitioning to the senior tour. Go Phil! Favorite Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V 1 – second time around. I would never pay full up for anything with that short a lifespan Favorite Hockey Player Growing Up: John Ferguson and Guy LaFleur Montreal Canadians Favorite Present Day Hockey Player: Sid the Kid Favorite Bands: Stones and Huey Lewis Favorite Movie: Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid…Who are those guys? Highlights from H/S: Graduating One Thing for Tomcats: Rent Atlas Tube Centre and buy everybody a round Favorite Tomcat: Stevo Favorite Tomcat Moment: Saturday morning tournament and sitting at Purples for a cool one and some laughs
Meet Bagz:
Your Favourite Golfer / Athlete: Gary Player / Dave Keon
Your favourite Golf ball (if you are a golfer) if not a golfer, your favourite sporting memory: My favourite golf ball is whichever one looks the least used in my bag.
Your favourite hockey player growing up: Dave Keon, loved watching # 14!
Your favourite present day hockey player: Currently I like Zach Hyman, he represents everything a hockey player should be: toughness, heart and skill.
Your favourite bands: I like rock bands from the 70’s and 80’s like Led Zeppelin, Rush and Deep Purple but I also love Evanesence with the super vocal stylings of Amy Lee, pure gold!!
Your favourite movie(s): I have several movies which I will watch ever time they are on tv to the dismay of my wife such as The Hunt For Red October, The Shawshank Redemption, Top Gun and The Green Mile.
A highlight from High School: There are so many but two come to mind particularly: 1) Driving my car through the Grand Marais Ditch with Matt St.Louis. 2) Watching a fellow student in machine shop get his finger twisted off in a lathe, grabbing him and his finger and going to the teacher and telling him to call for an ambulance, he was marking some tests and answered without looking up, “oh do you have a boo boo?” Then he looked up, saw the injury and proceeded to vomit all over his desk!! Btw, the finger was down back on and is still functioning.
If you could do one thing for the Tomcats, what would you do: I would fly all the Tomcats to Hawaii and just party!
Your favourite Tomcat: All the Tomcats are great, but the positivity shown by Stevo is an inspiration to all!
Your Favourite Tomcat Moment: I have only played at The Kapusta Kow Palace a couple of times but my favourite memories have been playing at the training camps in Battle Creek!
One thing you would like other Tomcats to know about you: I generally like to sit back and watch people instead of showing my hand right away, some people call it stalking, I prefer information gathering!