Game Room Olympics 2014

Yesterday was the occasion of the playing of the Fifth Annual Game Room Olympics.  The GRO is the brainchild of my good friend John Frissora, who conceived the idea of the GRO five years ago, organizes and manages all of the events, and, most importantly, hosts the Games at his beautiful home in Wexford.

The GRO V featured a new event this year, Pinewood Derby Racing.  Now, back in the days of my youth, I was never one for models or putting things together.  I had no affinity for it, and still don't.  Nevertheless, I got into the spirit of the event and produced, the Badger Car:

Many years ago, when we worked two offices apart from each other at Highmark, John hung the nickname "Badger" on me, as then Penguins coach "Badger Bob" Johnson was much in the news those days.  So, the following was emblazoned upon the right side of the car:

My car did have a sponsor - this blog!

Here is a glimpse of the competition....

and a glimpse of the Badger Car as it revved up for it's first race...

upon the GRO Pinewood Track....

Unfortunately for me, competition-wise, this was as good as it got for the Badger Car.  Some serious design flaws relative to the weight placement on the car doomed it to finish well up the track.  I take pride, though, in knowing that the Badger Car was among the best, if not the best, LOOKING car in the competition.

I need to note that for the landing area at the end of the track, John used the blanket that his dog, Max, uses to relax upon, and at one point during the competition, Max just decided that enough was enough!

All thanks go out to John for another great day of fun and friendly competition at the Game Room Olympics.

Game Room Olympics III

While the Summer Olympics were drawing to a conclusion, an equally momentous event took place in Wexford this past Friday: the Third Annual Game Room Olympics (GRO).  The GRO are a product of the product of the genius mind of friend John Frissora, and with this third edition, the Games are proving to be a highlight of the sporting year for those lucky enough to receive invitations.   The GRO consist of seven events: golf chipping, poker, darts, table hockey, pool, slot car racing, and, new for GRO III, table shuffleboard.

The day officially got under way when the torchbearer, Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another and his jockey, Mario Gutierrez, arrived with the Olympic torch.

After the reciting of the Game Room Olympics oath, the torch was lit.

Fourteen Olympians took part in the Games this year, and while we all remember that the honor is in competing, not winning, I have to say that while I still have yet to earn a trophy as a Top Three finisher overall, I was very happy with my performance this year.  I just missed qualifying for the knockout round in slot cars, I blew my chance in golf chipping when my final shot clanged off of young Clayton Frissora's swing set (fortunately, Clay was not playing on it at the time), and I was eliminated early in pool and table hockey. I went 0-3 in hockey, although I did manage to score one goal in one of the games.  Three years in, and I have yet to come even close to winning a table hockey game.

On the plus side, I managed to earn GRO "hardware" (trophies) with third place finishes in poker and shuffleboard, and a fourth place finish in darts.  Here I am with the esteemed GRO Commissioner receiving the hardware.

It was great day, and lots of fun.  Many thanks go out to John for hosting this great event.

GRO IV is set for August 9, 2013, and admit it, you know that you want to be there!

Game Room Olympics II

Today is the second annual Game Room Olympics hosted by my friend John Frissora. Last year's inaugural event was a smashing success, so another good time is assured.

Last year's event had 16 participants in five events: pool, darts, slot car racing, table hockey, and Texas Hold 'em Poker. To my surprise, I managed third place finishes in poker and slot car racing. (The top four finishers in each event wins a coveted GRO Trophy, or "hardware" as John puts it.) However, like the motto of the real Olympics, the honor was in competing, not winning.

For GRO II, the field has been expanded to 18 competitors, and a sixth event, golf chipping, has been added.

Here are my goals for this year's event:

• To have fun. This is a guarantee.


• To win a trophy in the golf chipping contest.


• To have chips remaining when the 60 minute Hold 'em table is shut down.


• A top 8 finish in slot cars.


• A top 8 finish in darts.


• To win one match in pool.


• To score one goal in table hockey. I have no illusions about actually winning a match. Last year, I went 0-2 in this double elimination event, and was shut out in both matches by huge margins.

I shall let you know how I fared over the weekend.