A "different" feeling would put it lightly when it came to the opening rounds of the Wave F25 season. Sure, the gist remains the same - Bowls Deep solidified as the best team pin for pin in the league, Zynfadels probably stays steady and finds themselves in the running at year end, free agents will start to gel in the back half of the season, Alley Dogs associates are higher than kites serving our burgers. The foundational pillars of the Waveland League remain in tact, but that doesn't mean there aren't sizeable differences from season's past...

Chicago Social Club couldn't fill a Thursday night slot at the Land, pushing the pin boys to Wednesday night at 6pm. We all woke up Wednesday thinking there were only 2 days left in the work week - ready to slack off on Friday, and drink a couple of beers tonight and throw some stones - that feeling changed as soon as everyone looked at their calendars and noticed a darker "current" line streaking the center of 5 days on the screen. Could that throw some folks off in the initial weeks? Sure - but at the end of the day, it's just bowling and given how much the lab has been frequented in the offseason, any day, no matter the day of week, is a great day at Waveland Bowl.

Even when there are 15 teams in the league, it always seems like the Pin Boys own half of the horses in the race. However this season, the Pin Boys literally own half the steads. Yep - only 6 teams in this league, and rookie mistakes shining through the synthetic floors during week 1's kickoff. Poor lane etiquette, trying to get 5 bowlers in one game, sure we could name a handful of other headscratchers to conclude that this league is YOUNG. Not necessarily in age, given Zynfadels practically faced their parents, but inexperienced. But who is to say we always knew what was going on? We were there at one point too, so look to see gradual improvement, not only in etiquette, but also ability from the rando teams in the league, which may impact CSS Championship runs - but that is yet to be decided. 

The moral of this league's story - the Pin Boys have got themselves some bowlers. There is a ton of talent on the lanes this year and week 1 handis proved it (recap on the left). Sure, we have all been bowling for some time now (some much longer than others), but the combination of intra-competition between the boys, lab sessions, and now eating, breathing, virtually living bowling has gotten us to "ya these guys are pretty fucking good at bowling" stage in our careers. 

Glenn Zamboni said it best last night - "handicaps between the guys, and pushing to be the best is like eclipsing the 4 minute mile." Couldn't have said it better myself, I mean, "so well said". It seemed impossible to beat Alley Rat's all time single season handicap of 27, or the first person to ever run a 4 minute mile. However now, that 27 seems like the benchmark for the bare minimum to qualify these days. The new benchmark for the Tom Casey will comfortably be in the teens, if not single digits. A 4 minute mile was so Wave Octo 24. A 2 minute mile is where you compete for the Tom Casey in Wave F25. 

Can Bowls Deep run it back?

We can start here, or there, but the only true place to start is with Bowls Deep - the league's best team. The evolution of this team is bowling beauty, and while it seems like this team was rolling stones ( :) ) with Jesus Christ himself, it wasn't too long ago when they were labeled as "little brother". Bowls Deep came onto the scene when Zynfadels were at the peak of their dynasty, hoisting up Ts every other season. They were a rag tag bunch as said in previous monologues, who were striving to be in the hunt and compete. Fast forward 4 championships, 2x Tom Caseys, and virtually the greatest team ever assembled (Wave Octo 24 Bowls Deep), Bowls Deep is without a doubt the best team in the league. 

4 Tom Casey award watchlist finalists - Kenny Phillips (DNP), The Kid and The General (18h) and The Surgeon (3h) are all at the top of the leaderboards week after week, season after season. What is the limit? How low can you go? Does the limit even exist? I think this year, the questions will be health - can the Surgeon stay in one piece the entire season? - consistency - can handicaps really stay in the teens at Waveland? - and the ceiling - which for this team is the roof. When your "glue guy" is Joe Bones, who if ever wanted to become a free agent, would be the most sought after asset on the market, you know you have built a monster. 

Writer's Team's Best: The Surgeon / The General

Writer's Sleeper: Bones

Zynfadels having a Renaissance year?

Let's not forget...let's not forget. The oldest team of the Bowletin shall not be forgotten. 3x champs, 3x Tom Caseys, the highest single game score (Milk - 252), the list goes on. Before heading into the season - the team had some goals - win the ship, and win the Tom Casey, which Rubes Ruby has been on record saying, "I will win the Tom Casey this season". There was another one in there, that of all things up for grabs this season, probably means the most - beating Bowls Deep outright in the head to head. Zynfadels comes armed with veteran talent and splashy sophomore blood that makes an incredibly well balanced team of explosive games and team chemistry.

Tornado is ready to shut the haters up based on the polling results, Milk is ready to be known as a top 5 bowler in the league, Alley Cat and B have taken the next step while MDawg is ready to showcase his new technique. It would be easy for Zynfadels to live in the past, and tell their nephews about how if coach put them in the 4th quarter, they could've gone to state. The real challenge would be creating a time machine to fit between your legs that sends you back to '85 - which the Zynfadels have perfected, tested, and proved that it works after the week 1 results. 

Writers Team's Best: Tornado

Writers Sleeper: B/ Alley Cat

Alec Avitia getting Rolling Stones on track.

There is always that "rag tag" team. The team of free agents looking to solidify themselves on the lanes, and hopefully someday a spot on the podium. Recent history shows that these teams do not stick often, but let's not look at recent history - as the best teams were formed before the modern era. If you look to previous monologues, Zynfadels was formed when half of the boys in Chicago lived here. Bowls Deep was formed when Zynfadels was "full". Is this team for real? That is what Cutie Pie Avitia is trying to prove...they are here to stay and they belong at the top. 

If you look to previous monologues, Bowls Deep was labeled as a "rag tag team". We all started somewhere near the bottom, and what decides your fate as a new team is how well you handle adversity. Although there are still question marks about the validity of this team after week 1, the Writers at the Bowletin are confident that the results will start to turn in the Rolling Stones' favor. 

While the makeup of the team is new, the bowlers themselves have countless accolades that rank among the best in the league. Rawdog Siewert, a 2x champion and veteran of the Waveland league looks to return after a season ending ACL injury from flag football. This will be something to watch out for this season, not only removing some of the rust and getting back into the swing of things, but also working out the new form. Raw is certainly one of the more inspirational stories for this season, and the league is certainly excited to see him back on the lanes. 

We also cannot forget Rolling Stones were able to make a late offseason acquisition by signing Alley Rat to a 1-year contract. One of the more polarizing figures (super MAGA), and arguably one of the best bowlers in the league, the 1x Tom Casey and holder of the greatest singular season handi of all time, Alley Rat looks to provide much needed leadership and a boost in the clean up spot for the Rolling Stones. The question being - can he keep his head on a swivel and out of the gutter?

As part of the Alley Rat negotiations, it was explicitly outlined that the team needed to pick up Oren in a package deal. The simple response from Cutie Pie for this request? - "Absolutely". The long time Diversey bowler and frequenter of the Diversey tavern provides an exciting piece filled with high scores and league experience. Just know if you get locked in a room with both The Father and Alley Rat, you will walk out with either the most intense knowledge about Chicagoland bowling lore, or not walk out of those doors at all. 

This free agent team is different than others - Alec Avitia was able to put together a nice combination of fresh blood and veteran talent, which you typically don't see that type of balance from previous rag tags. That is what makes the people hopeful that this will be the team that turns it around, and solidies themselves as the "3rd", and maybe one day, the "1st" of the Pin Boys teams.

Writers Team's Best: The Father/Alley Rat

Writers Sleeper: Cutie Pie