I am currently sitting in the passenger seat of my cousin’s Explorer on my way to Colorado Springs to compete in a WSOBP satellite. It is currently 8:55pm. Kyle is drunk-calling everyone he knows while AJ and Ted are watching Paranormal Activity in the backseat. No setting seems more appropriate for the debut edition of the Corner. I hope to use this blog as an outlet for my creative awesomeness and on-point philosophical/political insight, but more than likely it will result in inane rambling. Hopefully you’ll read it just the same.
Organized NM Beer Pong
New Mexico’s beer community is varied and strong, but unfortunately there has been little done in the past to really organize. Pong has flourished in other parts of the country to the point where some lucky players have two or more tournaments to look forward to each week. Can you imagine if we had that kind of thing here?
I watch Maryland and SoCal and Vegas and Arizona and all these other places with such vibrant communities and I ask myself how they pulled it off? It seems to me the key is organization. In New Mexico there are currently three beer pong organizations of note: Clovis Beer Pong, the New Mexico Beer Pong League in Las Cruces, and our modest little Albuquerque company, Southwest Beer Pong.
Each organization has its own character and its own way of doing things, as well as its own throng of players. I have a dream of a unified New Mexico; one where pongers are organized and able to compete in large-scale events a la Maryland’s state championships or SoCal’s SCBP Open. Hell, the whole reason I even got into this business was to promote the kind of play that propels beer pong from the college party game into the large-scale sport it has the potential to be.
With that idea in mind, I have talked to a few people about the possibility of a New Mexico State Championships type event, wherein teams from all over the state would compete for a larger-than-average prize pool. It would be awesome if we got the best teams from ABQ, Clovis, and Cruces to compete in one large field, and I know we'd get teams to come in from Arizona and Colorado at the very least. I dunno, tell me what you think. It's possible, but how badly do you want it?
Can We Do Better?
At last week’s Coaches tournament, we noticed a diminished number of teams. What was strange to me was that the spectator count hadn’t seemed to go down at all, just the number who decided to play. We hope to counter the trend by offering lower-cost tournaments in the future, so teams don’t have to pony up $40 at each tournament, but is that enough? I want to go ahead and ask you all what else you think we could do to create a better tournament experience. If you have any input on how we could do better, please head on over to the forums and let us know.
Team Review
It only seems right that the first team to get coverage is the two-time SWBP winner Boats and Hoes. One of the original teams hailing out of CHBP, Kyle and Gary are two of the founding members of SWBP. They hold two SWBP wins, as well as two CHBP wins. Though their out-of-state performance has yet to yield a victory, they are probably the most feared team in the 505.
Players:
Gary Cadwell
Age: 24
Occupation: Information Systems Analyst
Kyle Sweetland
Age: 24
Occupation: HP Business Acquisition
When did you guys first start playing together?
Kyle: I wanna say it was circa 2004, I was pledging Sig Ep and my friends tagged along to our parties. It was here that I learned about the greatest game ever, on one Tuesday night Gary and I were doing beer bongs in the patio and were challenged by a few of the brothers. After running the table all night I decided then, Gary and I were going somewhere.
Gary: Circa August-September, 1974.
Where did you get your team name?
Kyle: Step Brothers
What is the best part about your team?
Kyle: I would have to say that being the most hated team in Albuquerque has to be the best part, well that and all the cash and tournaments we have won.
Gary: Planning and development. We’ve established a stellar program filled with strategic investments and ‘real-world’ market initiatives in order to sustain quality beerpong for the long run. We have proven our market solidity over the past three years with record finishes, completing multiple tournaments in top 3 positions and taking it home when “it counts” winning such prestigious competitions as SWBP II and IV as well as having taken home the coveted CHBP Doubles Team Trophy. Beerpong analysts have continued to give us high scores across all benchmarks earning our team an extremely high outlook for the coming year, predicting large earnings right from the start in first quarter ’10. With an explosive first half of 4th quarter ’09, there looks to be no stopping the duo of Cadwell-Sweetland.
What’s the worst?
Kyle: I would have to say being the most hated team in Albuquerque.
Gary: I don’t like your tone.
Any pregame rituals?
Kyle: Depending on the tournment, local we usually stick with Jack and Fat tires, we continue this in between games and while we are playing. In Vegas things are a little different, the best way to prepare is trying to get at least 2 hours of sleep followed by 5 shots of vodka chased with whatever beer we have left over from the night before.
Gary: Several shots of Jack Daniels.
Who do you most fear or hate playing against? Why?
Kyle: Anyone from AZ, well Tempe to be exact, fuck them and their low altitude. If you've seen them play then you know why, I am just hoping that they choke in Vegas as bad as they did in the 'burque.
Gary: I hate playing against Ted Wallace. He poses no actual threat to victory, but he only shuts up after you defeat him. Needless to say, he has been silenced many, many times.
Who is your biggest beer pong influence?
Kyle: Biggest beer pong influence would have to be my partner Gary, that son bitch has to have the strongest back I've ever seen. It comes in handy when he has to carry my ass in big games.
Gary: John “Juan” Dubois and Eric “Last Place” Searle. Hey, Heather!
Anything else you’d like to add (plug)?
Gary: T-shirt sponsor opportunities are available, now accepting applications: Please contact kyle@swbeerpong.com or gary@swbeerpong.com for more information.
Well guys, that’s all for now. Please please let me know if there’s anything you’d like me to discuss or overanalyze in the next issue at jeremy@swbeerpong.com. Until then, keep those balls in the air!
-Clawless
Organized NM Beer Pong
New Mexico’s beer community is varied and strong, but unfortunately there has been little done in the past to really organize. Pong has flourished in other parts of the country to the point where some lucky players have two or more tournaments to look forward to each week. Can you imagine if we had that kind of thing here?
I watch Maryland and SoCal and Vegas and Arizona and all these other places with such vibrant communities and I ask myself how they pulled it off? It seems to me the key is organization. In New Mexico there are currently three beer pong organizations of note: Clovis Beer Pong, the New Mexico Beer Pong League in Las Cruces, and our modest little Albuquerque company, Southwest Beer Pong.
Each organization has its own character and its own way of doing things, as well as its own throng of players. I have a dream of a unified New Mexico; one where pongers are organized and able to compete in large-scale events a la Maryland’s state championships or SoCal’s SCBP Open. Hell, the whole reason I even got into this business was to promote the kind of play that propels beer pong from the college party game into the large-scale sport it has the potential to be.
With that idea in mind, I have talked to a few people about the possibility of a New Mexico State Championships type event, wherein teams from all over the state would compete for a larger-than-average prize pool. It would be awesome if we got the best teams from ABQ, Clovis, and Cruces to compete in one large field, and I know we'd get teams to come in from Arizona and Colorado at the very least. I dunno, tell me what you think. It's possible, but how badly do you want it?
Can We Do Better?
At last week’s Coaches tournament, we noticed a diminished number of teams. What was strange to me was that the spectator count hadn’t seemed to go down at all, just the number who decided to play. We hope to counter the trend by offering lower-cost tournaments in the future, so teams don’t have to pony up $40 at each tournament, but is that enough? I want to go ahead and ask you all what else you think we could do to create a better tournament experience. If you have any input on how we could do better, please head on over to the forums and let us know.
Team Review
It only seems right that the first team to get coverage is the two-time SWBP winner Boats and Hoes. One of the original teams hailing out of CHBP, Kyle and Gary are two of the founding members of SWBP. They hold two SWBP wins, as well as two CHBP wins. Though their out-of-state performance has yet to yield a victory, they are probably the most feared team in the 505.
Players:
Gary Cadwell
Age: 24
Occupation: Information Systems Analyst
Kyle Sweetland
Age: 24
Occupation: HP Business Acquisition
When did you guys first start playing together?
Kyle: I wanna say it was circa 2004, I was pledging Sig Ep and my friends tagged along to our parties. It was here that I learned about the greatest game ever, on one Tuesday night Gary and I were doing beer bongs in the patio and were challenged by a few of the brothers. After running the table all night I decided then, Gary and I were going somewhere.
Gary: Circa August-September, 1974.
Where did you get your team name?
Kyle: Step Brothers
What is the best part about your team?
Kyle: I would have to say that being the most hated team in Albuquerque has to be the best part, well that and all the cash and tournaments we have won.
Gary: Planning and development. We’ve established a stellar program filled with strategic investments and ‘real-world’ market initiatives in order to sustain quality beerpong for the long run. We have proven our market solidity over the past three years with record finishes, completing multiple tournaments in top 3 positions and taking it home when “it counts” winning such prestigious competitions as SWBP II and IV as well as having taken home the coveted CHBP Doubles Team Trophy. Beerpong analysts have continued to give us high scores across all benchmarks earning our team an extremely high outlook for the coming year, predicting large earnings right from the start in first quarter ’10. With an explosive first half of 4th quarter ’09, there looks to be no stopping the duo of Cadwell-Sweetland.
What’s the worst?
Kyle: I would have to say being the most hated team in Albuquerque.
Gary: I don’t like your tone.
Any pregame rituals?
Kyle: Depending on the tournment, local we usually stick with Jack and Fat tires, we continue this in between games and while we are playing. In Vegas things are a little different, the best way to prepare is trying to get at least 2 hours of sleep followed by 5 shots of vodka chased with whatever beer we have left over from the night before.
Gary: Several shots of Jack Daniels.
Who do you most fear or hate playing against? Why?
Kyle: Anyone from AZ, well Tempe to be exact, fuck them and their low altitude. If you've seen them play then you know why, I am just hoping that they choke in Vegas as bad as they did in the 'burque.
Gary: I hate playing against Ted Wallace. He poses no actual threat to victory, but he only shuts up after you defeat him. Needless to say, he has been silenced many, many times.
Who is your biggest beer pong influence?
Kyle: Biggest beer pong influence would have to be my partner Gary, that son bitch has to have the strongest back I've ever seen. It comes in handy when he has to carry my ass in big games.
Gary: John “Juan” Dubois and Eric “Last Place” Searle. Hey, Heather!
Anything else you’d like to add (plug)?
Gary: T-shirt sponsor opportunities are available, now accepting applications: Please contact kyle@swbeerpong.com or gary@swbeerpong.com for more information.
Well guys, that’s all for now. Please please let me know if there’s anything you’d like me to discuss or overanalyze in the next issue at jeremy@swbeerpong.com. Until then, keep those balls in the air!
-Clawless
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Upcoming Events
WSOBP 8 Satellite Tournament
February 4th, 2012
Southwest Beer Pong
Spectators Sports Bar
Guy/Guy Teams: $50
Guy/Girl Teams: $40
Girl/Girl Teams: $30
Preregistration Discount Here
Albuquerque, NM
February 4th, 2012
Southwest Beer Pong
Spectators Sports Bar
Guy/Guy Teams: $50
Guy/Girl Teams: $40
Girl/Girl Teams: $30
Preregistration Discount Here
Albuquerque, NM
2012 Southwest Beer Pong Championships
August 3rd-5th, 2012
Southwest Beer Pong
Spectators Sports Bar
Friday: WSOBP 8 Satellite
Saturday: $5k Doubles Main Event
Sunday: Singles Championships
Albuquerque, NM
August 3rd-5th, 2012
Southwest Beer Pong
Spectators Sports Bar
Friday: WSOBP 8 Satellite
Saturday: $5k Doubles Main Event
Sunday: Singles Championships
Albuquerque, NM