Once again the wily cats clawed their way back to the top of the heap. Despite all attempts by the dogs to hold them in the basement, they overcame the loss of their secret book and held off a last minute surge. In one of the closest alley fights in weeks, fur flew, tails swished and spectators howled with excitement. It was good to see the old spirit back in the fight. No more sweetness and phony politeness between teams. The spitting, biting, hissing and barking was back and back with a vengeance. To those of us who watched, it was the difference between silent films and talkies, Rolls Royce and Yugo, or peanut butter and jelly and sex.

What was the inspiration that brought the cats back from the depths of last week? It may have been the return of the beloved Cathugo, or the lack of a "take charge" doggy or even the rumor that certain dog teams had a total of less than 10 HC points in all 3 rounds. We will probably never know for sure but each of us will have a story. A story of doom or a story of glory depending on which side of the alley you are on.

That's one of the things I love about this alley. No matter which story you tell this week, there is always a new one next week. Today's hero is next week's goat, today's slam is next week's Yarborough, today's 3-0 is next week's 0-3. Whatever the reason, there is a banner at the end of the alley that reads "CATS RULE DOGS DROOL". There it will stay till next Saturday when a large group of furry and fuzzy combatants assemble over the empty boxes and crates in the center of the alley we have come to call "HOME". No matter what else gets you down, you can always find family in the alley. Dogs by themselves can get pretty yappy and cats by themselves wander off and do whatever they want. In our alley we mix everybody together to get the best of both groups and keep them on their toes. Even though we have a rivalry, we also have the community's nicest Mutual Admiration Society.

Final score was Cats 25 - Dogs 23.

We welcome these new friends - Dale; Cecilialou; Cheryl_2276; Dastarly; Davy_alan; Vernc001; Lynh_uk; Jimkat; Adele_UB7; and Huckleberry. And welcome back after too long an absence to old friends Melkor_Vala; Roblyn; Joel; Tis; Ytme and Cathugo.

Seen sitting on the fire escape: Cheeringonthecats - Kareyn_au - Rueful_Rabbit - Mrykath - Sinus_iridum_uk - Seaweed - Redone

Perfect 3-0 rounds were played by: Ryderpuppy/whi1t3fang; Bratpuppyrover/Bratpuppymax; Jean/Dmoen

Slams bid and made: Watchdog/TheHolyGuy 6H; Clear Blue/Pollyvw 6S; Pob/Redbird 6D; Jean/Dmoen 6S; Little Ladybug/Dale 6D

Supersubs: Smilodonkiwi; Puppy_qats

Dogs were: Ryderpuppy/whi1t3fang; woo7NT/Meanboxer; JamesGreyWolf/SandraJoy; Watchdogoo/HolyGuy(sub puppy_qats); Clear Blue/Pollyvw; Bratpuppyrover/Bratpuppymax; Producer/Joel; Tis/Ytme; Linda/Felden; Pob/Redbird; Jean/Dmoen; Cecilialou/borderline

Cats were: Harlequin_smiles/cheryl_2276; debb/dastarly; dj_fleabag/davy_alan; poppeye/cathugo; Melkor Vala/Roblyn; Little Ladybug/Dale_65; Bobmt/Vernc001; AlanMitchell/Lynh uk; Nuageman/Jimkat(sub Smilodonkiwi); Adele_UB7/Huckleberry; Meowmixjin/Francylou; Cats_up_2000/Errikos