The Observer, February 24, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 18
Virgi guarantees victory in dodgeball tourney
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Three days prior to Super Bowl III in Jan. 1969, Joe Namath of the New York Jets defiantly proclaimed "The Jets will win on Sunday, I guarantee it." Considering the Jets were playing the Baltimore Colts, who at the time were regarded as one of the greatest teams in NFL history, no one believed him. However, everyone knows what happened on that fateful Sunday, as Namath's proclamation proved true, with the Jets upsetting the heavily favored Colts, 16-7.
Thirty-seven years later, a similar prediction has been made again. Jon Virgi, a member of the team known as "Protect This House," has guaranteed a championship in the upcoming intramural dodgeball tournament, which will be held Thursday, March 2, at 7 p.m. in the Veale Center.
"I really feel that our team has all aspects of the game covered," Virgi said. "Our entire team is really solid. We have no real weak links. We have been developing different types of throwing techniques and strategies, and I feel that no other team can compete with our level of strategy and skill."
One of Virgi's teammates, Phil Imbesi, was initially upset by Virgi's prediction. However, he was not upset because Virgi was guaranteeing victory. Instead, he was upset that Virgi did not take the prediction a step further, which Imbesi took upon himself to do.
"I already called up the company that's making the champion's plaques and gave them our team name," Imbesi said.
Imbesi explained that his team prepares much like a varsity team does, practicing three times a week. The team also abides by a curfew and conducts team meetings, after which they have team victory barbeque dinners.
The team is only concerned about winning, period.
"If you can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen," Imbesi said, illustrating the team's and his own intensity. "It's very simple. Three are three letters: W, I, and N. "You play to win the game."
Joining Virgia and Imbesi on the Protect this House roster are Eric Giles, Andrew Durlak, Andrew Clary, Jeremy Gillespie, Erik Jiang, Tom Teets, Ibrahim Husain, and Josh Shaw. Coinciding with their team name, the players chant "we must protect this house" during warm-ups before games. They took the name from Underarmor's slogan, and the players plan to wear the popular athletic apparel to cut down on excess clothing that could be hit during competition.
The team members met most of each other by living together in the same freshman dorm or by playing other sports together. They are all very physically active, playing a variety of sports besides dodgeball in their spare time, ranging from baseball to golf.
"If it's got to do with a ball or point, chances are I've been doing it since I could walk," Imbesi said, describing his love of sports.
Most of the team members have been playing dodgeball for a long time now, much longer than from the time the popular movie bearing the sport's name premiered two years ago.
"I've been playing since elementary school," Virgi said. "It's always been a hobby and something to do."
Entries are due today for Thursday's tournament. Therefore, today remains the last possible day for other Dodgeball enthusiasts to sign up in hopes of spoiling Virgi's lofty expectations. However, judging by the team's confidence and pre-tournament preparation, Virgi might just be able to make good on his word while rekindling memories of Joe Willie Namath.
