Clad in dangerously short shorts and sexily customized Saucony Originals T-shirts, my little helper and I walked through the doors of 111 Minna with one mission: To bring the joys of PONG to the people of San Francisco! And bring it we did.
Although the event itself started off with only a slow trickle of block party-goers, it took no time at all for those first few people to gravitate toward our dimly lit tennis table and take a few pong hits.
Ping Pong enthusiasts of all walks and aptitudes partook, making the games, by turns, airy and fierce, blithe and competitive. As things heated up and more people crowded around the competitors in gawking awe, it became clear that the main attraction of the evening–second, of course, to the free drinks–was our table.
A couple hours into the event, the sun, in a show of grace, decided to peep its head out from behind the San Francisco summer fog and, fueled now by warmth and sunlight, the party people began reaching in droves for the Saucony Originals squirt guns, and it wasn’t long before the entire block was a cross-fire barrage of well aimed streams of water, making the mere act of walking outside an invitation to get soaked. And we’re talking everyone– from little kids to the well-built security guys to the smartly coiffed band members– was partaking in the fun.
But back to the PONG: The promise of victory (and free shoes) kept even the most disheartened losers coming back for another round, and with DJ Franki Chan providing the joyously dance-able background music, our waiting list grew from a small handful of names to an entire dry-erase board tightly packed with dozens and dozens of eager players, all of whom, even as we were literally running out of space to sign-up, wanted their chance at PONG GLORY.
The competitors themselves became a show in their own right: there were lots of fist pumps, lots of delightful squealing, lots of guffawing and shit-talking and mom insults and gasps and triumphant yelping. Even Irene from the Real World Seattle decided to make an appearance, actually winning two games and signing up for a pair of free kicks! As the night neared its end, the hours of free drinks began catching up with everyone, and the games became much less a competition and more a structured way to ensure that one’s motor skills were still sharp enough for the trek home.
Lots’o'pics below:
Team Saucony isn’t your typical sports team. It’s a league of true Originals. It’s a place to come together and play the sort of sports that don’t require cleats, pads or helmets. It’s less about the goals you score, and more about the hang.
