PAX Centurion - September / October 2014

Page 20 • PAX CENTURION • September/October 2014 617-989-BPPA (2772) BPD Softball Tournament: Old stupid men vs. young idiots O n Saturday, Sept. 27 th , seven teams took the field at M St. Park in South Boston to try to bring back some of the cama- raderie we lost two years ago. For many years, the BPD had a softball league where officers gathered on Sunday mornings to play ball and have a great time. But like many other social occa- sions (the BPD bowling league, etc. etc.), the softball league fell victim to forced, mandatory overtime, vacations, lack of interest, the need to perform details to make financial ends meet, and a host of other concerns. Areas A, B & C each placed a team in the tourna- ment along with HQ, Special operations and the gang unit. The big surprises were the Areas who were unable to field a team. Areas D and E had been past powerhouses in the league. Because of this, we were forced to go outside the department to fill the tournament. Thankfully, N-Star, at the last moment, was able to field a team. (Unfortunately, as the price for field- ing a team, our electric rates were raised by 37%, and the N-Star captain, a man known only as “grimy Bruce”, de- manded unspeakable things which were provided without question and joyfully by Officer MacPherson, albeit out of public scrutiny.) The championship game was a heated contest between Area B and N-Star, withArea B ultimately taking home the tournament trophy. It was apparent from the start that Area B had a seemingly unbeatable roster, which inexplicably in- cluded three questionable last-minute acquisitions for the final game. (editor’s note: MacPherson’s, the Scotsman’s, opinion, not mine…) Thanks to the BPPA who brought the canteen truck and provided food and refreshments all day . A special thanks to retired officers Joe O’Malley and Bill Flippen for bringing the “Blue Goose” to the event.You could always count on Joe to be at the field early and ready to play every Sunday morning. (The definition of “ready to play” is randomly definable, according to individual preferences.) Many of the elderly officers, including Officers MacPherson and Ronca, were escorted off the field with their walkers and wheelchairs by the younger officers. Unable to compete due to advancing age and receding hairlines, these officers were quickly By James W. Carnell, Pax Editor, with assistance from Ed MacPherson, a balding. aging player from days gone by…