Seattle

I've been to Seattle once. En route to Burlington, Washington, for College Nationals. Above photo after our win that Saturday in 2004.

I have the most vivid memory being in Seattle (listen to this song while you read this post. It'll give more effect): 

Gdub ultimate finishes second at Regionals in early May and trains until Memorial Day for College Nationals in Washington state. Fly out (almost lost Snausages on the way) to Seattle with a brief stopover in Spokane (which, ironically, was the site of College Nationals 02, when gdub went for the first time).

The arrival in Seattle was a blur. From the airport, we basically drive through the city in evening traffic on the way to the field site north of town.

Gdub is staying walking distance away from the tournament hotel. Go over to visit the tournament hotel and pick up player packets and shit. Obviously everthing is impressive. Just as impressive as the first day of play...

Friday we battle against William and Mary, Brown, and Kansas. We didn't feel blown away by any of the teams, including powerhouse Brown, who we played to 15-13. I remember playing against Josh Ziperstein, who is now a teammate, and Will Arnold, who was a teammate in LA.

Saturday's not as consequential for the tournament, but important for our hearts and pride. We win our first game ever at Nationals against Illinois that morning and follow it with a great game against storied program Carleton College (see score reporter from that weekend). Watching the semis and, later, debauchery ensue.

I'm realizing now I should have made this a two-post affair. Cause the story I started with is less about the tournament and more about Sunday evening in downtown Seattle.

After watching the finals on Sunday, Gdub makes a beline for downtown Seattle. On the water's edge, up a cliff sort of from the Sound, we shop at a half-indoor market. Get lunch and explore what's outside the market; see Seattle's street culture and beautiful hills.

Around lunch, we get over to the Space Needle, where another ultimate team is killing time (Michigan, I think). So we mingle and play stupid disc games (ie tips). I try to buy Ethiopian food from a vendor, who's at the same time being told to close up their shop cause the vending hours are over. The park warden wins and I go hungry.

The memorable part of the evening combines a) Spencer's video from that year, panning down the Space Needle with background music, and b) saying goodbye to Faust. I remember joking with him as he was about to board the monorail and head back to the Tacoma airport. Until later that summer, I didn't realize how big a moment that was for him... to have achieved a dream, lived the weekend, and now saying goodbye to his college and college ultimate life -- all underneath this darkening Seattle sky and brightening Seattle landmark. I'll never forget brother's tears and his love for the sport/team that night. 

I shed similar tears the next year in Princeton. And that brother's still my good friend. Here's a picture of him catching a score in Burlington.