This Wednesday, we're hosting our inaugural (hope you're happy, Heichelbech) end-of-the-year team dinner for dodgeball. We've tried team dinners in the past and had mixed results, but my first two years at the helm have passed by without a celebration of our season. Since this is my last season, what better time to start this new tradition?

I've stated it elsewhere, but I'm a tad bit jealous to be stepping away from my team at this point. I have no doubt WKU Dodgeball sits on the cusp of its best season yet. In addition to hosting Nationals, there are some big changes happening that will make our team more competitive and much better dressed. I won't give too much away (in case my players read this) but just know that 2010-2011 will be a landmark season for WKU's program.

Despite my sadness about leaving the team, the dodgeball gods decided to smile on me this past week. In what was a landmark day for the NCDA as a whole, Aleks Bomis was elected our first-ever commissioner. Along with his election, I was given the somewhat superfluous title of media coordinator. This basically means I handle all of the league's online media and manage the website (i.e. what I already do now). In truth it's no big deal, but having a title that anchors me to this league is nice at this point in my dodgeball career.

In what has become an encouraging trend in recent league history, I've chosen my successor and am completely confident in his ability to lead the team in my stead. NCDA members take note: Felix Perrone will be a superstar in this league. He's got the passion for the game and organizational skills that I had AND he can flat out play. Plus he's handsome- your classic triple threat!

Working at Western's yearbook this past week (the Talisman, which has been around for 70+ years), I thought about how weird it would be for those first editors to see who took their place decades down the road. To know that they helped start something that people would pour their hearts and souls into for generations has to be a truly amazing feeling. Will WKU Dodgeball end up like the Talisman? Only time will tell, but I was getting freaked out thinking about it. Coming back to WKU 30 years down the road, who will have control of our program? Will they even know who I am? Man, this whole legacy thing weirds me out, so I leave you with one final reminder:

Be sure to check out the May issue of Obscure Sports Magazine for my article on Nationals!