The News for those few who play real croquet!                                September 11, 2005

Nathan Cole (Mike's Marvel Champion) and Alena Woicicki (last place D.C. "winner")

Mike likely loses cleaning deposit as Nathan passes by Ben for win

Mike Cough will forever be Spiderman-less. The Ironman Croquet League hosted its seventh and final annual Mike's Marvel Open Invitational. Nathan was able to pass by a street bound Ben to take the Spiderman action figure.

However, the event started upstairs in Mike's bedroom. The players had to navigate down Mike's stairs and go thru the wicket on the way down. Steve Roberts decided on a different approach. He got stuck in Mike's bathroom. He holds the historic honor of being the first player to take a shot from on a toilet.

While Steve was playing on the potty, Mike, Nathan, Ben, Steve Unfred, and Brandon broke from the pack. They made their way thru Mike's living room with minimal house damage. Finally outside, the difficult Sled shot made Ben, Brandon, and Nathan clear leaders. The rest of the field was having difficulty with the Christmas Wreath shot.

In croquet, simple can lead to problems. An easy looking shot inside a small step ladder baffled the leaders and they wasted many turns on it. Only Ben was able to get thru the shot before the rest of the field had caught up. Ben was able to get thru a difficult uphill shot and seemed destined for a repeat victory in the Mike's Marvel.

But the street has other ideas. Ben overshot the end stick twice and had to replace his ball at the penalty drop spot. This allowed Nathan to finish catch up and he cautiously inched up to the end stick as Ben was having problems. Nathan was able to claim another victory but his first ever Mike's Marvel.

Ben was able to recover an claim second as Steve Unfred was getting close to the end stick. Ben gave advice to a surging Brandon and Steve Roberts. He told them to attempt a difficult pop shot over a big bush and pray the ball didn't fall in the street. Brandon had dumb luck as he was able to perfectly land his ball and steal third. Steve Roberts wasn't so lucky and he landed inside the middle of the bush.

As Steve looked for his ball. Steve Unfred hit his croquet ball in the street this allowed Mike to steal fourth in the mean time. Steve Unfred spent the next few turns lining up to take a likely disappointing fifth. However, the most amazing shot in croquet history was about the occur.

Steve Roberts finally found his ball and attempted a shot. It snapped the mallet apart and his ball fell in the street. Since it was Alena's mallet, she claimed property damage and Steve received a two-shot penalty. With no mallet head, uneven grass, and from about twelve feet away Steve Roberts hit a miracle shot the bounced into the end stick before flying into the street. The crowd roared as Steve Roberts hit a miracle shot....to steal fifth. A shocked Steve Unfred took sixth giving Alena last place and the customary D.C. action figure. Thus ending a memorable final Mike's Marvel.

The identity of Spiderman is revealed.

By Brandon Lasher

The Ironman Croquet League said goodbye to a long-time tournament on September 11. In a league effort to look less like losers, we reduced the amount of the tournaments for the 2006 season. But the seven year old event, Mike's Marvel Open Invitational, didn't make the cut.

In 1999, the event begun. It marked the first official tournament Nathan played in and the first event away from the famed Lasher Course. Brandon beat long-time ally Jon Crawford to claim the first Spiderman. Alan Manka was honored to claim the last place prize of an Aquaman action figure.

The second year brought increase league membership and a return of this Spiderman based event. Brandon blew multiple chances to repeat and Kristy won another event. This begun a trend of close calls as the following year Brandon lost a huge lead to Steve Unfred's massive power shot with his "big" mallet. Brandon begun making childish jokes about Steve's mallet from this point on.

In 2002, a new home in the Sheldon area hosted the Mike Marvel event. Nathan dominated the year and most of this event until a firepit and a massive weed jungle slowed him down. This allowed an epic race between Ben, Brandon, and Nathan to the finish. Ben was able to claim a rare singles victory and the coveted Spiderman.

In 2003, the event was the end of close calls for Brandon as he claimed his second Spiderman. However, the event is more remembered for Mike becoming the league villian. Alena Woicicki, an innocent visually impaired girl, was playing her first ever event. Mike decided to "accidently" hit her with a croquet ball. Mike has been reminded daily of this incident since it first occured at the Mike's Marvel.

In 2004, the event had its final run at its second home. Ben was able to win again. He attempted to repeat at the final Mike's Marvel in 2005 but fell just short against Nathan who took the final Spiderman.

As we say goodbye to this memorable event, we asked tournament creator and host Mike Cough for his final thoughts. He hosted the event, bought the first place Spiderman action figures and last place D.C. figures. Ironically, he never won any of the figures he bought. But he summed up the event in this way:

"My hope was I brought fond memories to the Marvel name. Sadly, The Hulk movie ruined any fond memories of Marvel," Mike sighed.

Rest in Peace Mike's Marvel Open Invitational. Rest in Peace