PowerPlay Magazine

The Christmas lights decorated the old weather worn barn and the nearby rustic cabin.  A light snow covered the patchy grass and provided embellishment to the mountainside trees.  Beyond the barn, a large whole pig was roasting over a large open fire pit that was located beside a pavilion with picnic tables and some sort of brass pot contraption.  Not exactly the typical location for a New Year's Eve Party; however, this mountainside retreat would provide the setting for the first annual Can Am New Year's Eve Party. 

This year's party, coldmountainrebel invited the division I Can/Am handball managers (and a few surprise guests as well).  A walk around the grounds, found a variety of PPM managers.  In the barn, near the watering hole was  tescosamoa (an Irishman living in the land of the mouse. So dark pin striped zuit suit and a Leopardi Fedora and holding a Wenge wood walking stick. His tie was yellow and covered with palm trees),and ASDenisov (wearing a snazzy vest, silk tie, dress slacks, really tacky socks and shoes, viking helmet... and obviously drunk).  At a nearby table sat PuckNut27 (dressed in a tycoon bearpig suit while sipping the finest bourbons from Kentucky), skizwald (tall, dapper gentleman, top hat and a monocle),  and dupa220 (an older guy with a lot of white/gray hair and scruffy beard, wearing shorts, tube socks, and an old raggedy Michigan t-shirt.  A smoker and anti-social until he drinks, then you can't shut him up.  Party night he was very talkative telling a story about an older guy that's dating his second mother, grew up with her son since 1st grade, telling lots of incredible stories/adventures about his life...). 

On the cabin's porch sitting in a couple of rocking chairs overlooking the grounds were a couple of familiar faces in out-of-this-world garb.  There was tujague (dressed like an astronaut. You know. Space suit, helmet, everything) and canucks357 (dressed in a space suit so nobody can tell when he dozes off for a nap).  Each sharing science and space stories as they finished off 2014.

Down by the picnic area and fire pit, several managers had gathered.  xalthos (wearing t-shirt, shorts, and sunglasses based on the mild Christmas up in NY), Boba Fett (Star Wars t-shirt and jeans),  and mmessner9  (Bill Belichik-esque) were huddled near the fire pit exchanging stories and enjoying the atmosphere.  Sitting at a picnic table enjoying a plates of pork were Mrbrightside098 (6'4" and 300 lbs, wide shoulders, and wearing gym shorts, baggy t-shirt, and tennis shoes),  MaxOo (Waldo but with a beard), Outsider626 (Jeans and white sweater). 

Another group of managers stood by the brass contraption at the pavilion.  In that group was an individual with a freakishly hideous blend of 1992 Jaromir Jagr, and 1999 Henrik Sedin, whose red mullet flows like a river of fire down the back of his pale dirty neck (biznow).   Many others were celebrating, in their own ways, throughout, the Cold Mountain Retreat.  Forgive me for not providing descriptions of each manager present.

The highlight of the party might have been at the start, when coldmountainrebel  gathered everyone together, welcomed them, showed them around and explained that the outhouse (the small shed with a half-moon carved in the door) was the facilities bathroom.  The back side of the door was covered with thick white construction paper and a pen on a rope was also attached to the door's backside.  Rebel explained that sometime during the party each attendee should visit the bathroom and while in those quarters write a new year's resolution on the door. 

At party end, the following  resolutions had been placed on the door...

Improve each of my teams, in some way ... Hockey (complete 3 tier stadium); Soccer (by years end, make it to division I); Handball (major improvement in stadium & continue developing facilities); basketball (keep growing 1. by building facilities, 2. by increasing stadium size, and 3. beginning to fill a roster with quality players).   - coldmountainrebel

To not miss a day of draft scouting!! This will be done with post-it notes and phone reminders! - xalthos

Hah. I wish I had a PPM resolution. I'll be happy if I do something constructive with my teams. It's been a while. Oh. I actually do have an answer. I'd like to trim my rosters in all sports. That's an honest to goodness problem. I pull any halfway decent player and then forget to sell anyone. So my player fees are stupid right now. Especially in soccer. - tujague

To get one team into I.1 at some point in 2015. - mmessner9

In hockey my resolution is to start making playoffs consistently. In Soccer is to crack into top 5 in league 1. In Handball is to win trophy every season and have the strongest team in U.S. In Basketball pretty much the same. To have one of the top teams in U.S.  - Outsider626

All clubs to maintain or improve their league division by the end of next year  - ASDenisov

Spread ManBearPig awareness and greatness across the PPM world. And as always we will continue to invite Mr. Gore to the arena for a ceremonial puck drop. I'm super cereal.  - PuckNut27

This is more of a goal than a resolution, but I want to win the NC in handball. I got the 1.1 title this past season, so the other major trophy outside of international competition is the NC. - Boba Fett

Be a better contributor to the USA community and to also be a better coach. I'm an excellent manager but my coaching skills are seriously lacking. - Mrbrightside098

For handball, the New Years resolution is to make d.1 by the next 3 seasons. AND... For hockey, the goal is to hit an arena of 20k and eventually a good enough team to be a top 3 in my division and potentially a shot of d.1 - dupa220

I want to keep the focus on US players and see them grow up in my teams.  MaxOo

To try to get back into handball. I've been neglecting it for some time, and hope to get more involved again in the spring. - biznow

To figure out how to win in I.1 basketball with a bunch of scrubs. - canucks357

The Orlando Generals Sports Teams would like to welcome the new year in with our new hockey stick sponsor. The composite stick made by CCM has included an Wenge Wood knob that can be removed and placed in our players walking canes. With this new sponsorship the Hockey team has agreed to push for I.1 for the start of season 22. This year the team will finish third in II.4 and start looking to sign a few kids aged 26 to 28.....  - tescosamoa

To pay more attention to my soccer club. Could be better than my current ranking. - skizwald

May 2015 bring each of you health, happiness and hours of PPM fun.    I leave you with one last proclamation of Happy Holidays ... and back to work to build better Cold Mountain Sports Teams.

Almost forgot, I've replaced the half-moon door's paper and it's ready for more PPM resolutions.  Please feel free to add your resolution ... by posting below.