Jolian

[joshua...@gmail.com]

2003 was a rebuilding year for Mamabird. We were coming off a season
where we struggled early (having lost 18 players in two years) and
often, escaping out of Regionals and ultimately having a successful
Nationals. It was all we could have hoped for, with a team that
lacked depth and big game experience. We made semis that year but it
was widely considered to be a product of "lucky matchups". We knew we
were primed for a breakout but needed a spark to get it going.

Enter Jolian Dahl. Jolian first showed up for Mamabird practices in
2004. Fresh off a successful high school career at Paideia, he was
used to winning. He showed up to his first Mamabird practice and
immediately proved to be the most talented and versatile player on the
field. He stepped on the field and matched up with our coach Juice, a
great guy to have on your side but an intimidating figure
nonetheless. Jolian was a confident player but off the field he was
soft spoken and respectful. All the talent in the world yet he knew
he would have to work to gain the respect of every player on the team.

Throughout the year, he continued to show up at practice and outwork
everybody else on the field. He was an extremely gritty player, never
trying to do too much, just putting forth the effort to help us attain
the goal of a national title. Despite his talent level, he was still
playing second fiddle to another Mamabird freshman. He never
complained though. Jolian was content with his role and understood
the path to success was made with blood, sweat, and tears.

Before we knew it, Nationals was upon us and expectations were high.
We all tasted bitter defeat the prior year and knew that anything less
than a finals appearance would lead to disappointment. Jolian played
as well that Nationals as anybody on our team. Roga picked him as one
of the 7 most outstanding D players at Nationals that year. This
coming from a guy whose job was to watch every game as an unbiased
reporter. Jolian was the MVP in the finals that year, racking up a
staggering 4 Ds. He helped Mamabird earn their first championship.

Since then, Jolian has been a 2 time (possibly 3 time) Southwest All-
Region team member and has played in 3 more national title games (club
and college).

Over the years, Jolian has grown as a player and as a person. He has
never been satisfied with his own success. He has made himself a
complete player as well as an outstanding leader to a young Mamabird
team. His impact has been huge and cannot be measured in the span of
one season. It will be felt by the next generation of Mamabird
players with the work ethic he has instilled and through the many
lives he's touched whether it be his teammates or his opponents.

He's a great teammate and a better friend. I am extremely lucky to
have played with and learned from such a talented player and
phenomenal person. I can't speak for any other Callahan nominees (no
doubt they are all deserving candidates) but I can attest to the grit,
determination, class, and leadership that Jolian brings with him
everytime he wears that patch.

Joshua Ackley

[DikEar]

Great post Richter.

Jolian has, in fact, been a baller since day 1. I met Jolian the first
day he came out for Mamabird his freshman year. We had an annual alum
v college kids game. I was on the sideline when Jolian went deep,
covered by our coach Juice. Jolian skied Juice, let out a barbaric
yawp, and spiked it right there. My jaw dropped. What incoming
freshman freshman skies his coach and spikes it on the first day of
practice? Juice merely shrugged, and trotted off the field with a shit-
eating grin on his face. I think Juice had just seen the next five
years of Mamabird legacy flash before his eyes, and he was psyched.

I then turned to whoever was next to me and said "Jolian will be the
first Mamabird player to win the Callahan." Of course later that year
Richter proved me wrong, but I think that goes along way to the
potential I saw in that 18 year old kid.

But it was clear from that first sky, that first spike. Jolian brings
an unparralleled intensity to the field. Not anger. But intensity. He
is not intimidated by anyone. He simply has no fear. And he has shown
this again, and again, and again. During increasingly high pressure
situations. He BALLED his freshman year during the finals, as Richter
mentioned above. Plus he killed it during Club Nationals finals this
year. Someone please post that sick shot of Jolian getting a lay out
D.

And I fully expect Jolian to bring it to the finals of College
Nationals this year.

For all that on field intensity, you'll never meet a chiller, more
level-headed dude. I've never heard a single person complain about his
spirit, or attitude. He's a born competitor, and a born leader.

It's gonna be a tough Callahan race this year. I feel there are a few
truly worthy candidates. But because I know Jolian, I've played with
Jolian, and I've played against Jolian, that there's not another
player that better embodies what I think the Callahan should be about.

-dikear

[Jay Schulkin]

Jolian Dahl for Callahan 2004!

[sam.jo...@gmail.com]

Well, and I'm not saying that this is high usual standard, I don't
know. But I'm pretty sure Jolian called someone on a usually pretty
well liked Arizona team a "Bitch" in the middle of the game. Then
again many of his teammates were just as bad, unhappy with some calls
Arizona had made almost all of which were upheld by the observers.

[andysammons]

Kidding right?

[DikEar]

A much less snarky response might have been "Jolian Dahl for Club
Finals MVP 2007." But you see what you want to see.

I think what you're choosing to ignore that Richter and I seem to
agree that Jolian has been a baller since day 1. If you'd like to
disagree with that, I'd love to hear it.

What was it Dostoevsky said? Snarkiness: the last refuge of modest and
chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and
intrusively invaded.

-dikear

[DikEar]

To avoid confusion. My response is directed to Jay Schulkin, not Andy
Sammons. Or anyone that posted in between.

-dik

[Jay Schulkin]

My post was directed to the two hype posters, not to Jolian's Callahan
candidacy.
I obviously am not contesting that "Jolian has been a baller since day
1"

[Jay Schulkin]

*More accurately, directed to the content posted by the two hypers.

[joshua...@gmail.com]

Was this the same Arizona player who received a TMF in that game?

[Smellsworth]

I can't think of any previous Callahan winners that wouldn't call
someone a "bitch". Especially, in the middle of a game.

[sdiego...@yahoo.com]

My favorite part of the post is "Unhappy with some calls... ALMOST ALL
of which were upheld by the observers." Almost all? Yikes, sounds like
at least some of those calls were bullshit. Thanks.

My second favorite part is "a usually pretty well liked Arizona team".
Well, if they're "pretty well liked" I guess that absolves them of any
bad call making. Particularly in the game to go at Regionals.
Especially when the fact that bad calls were made is conceded later in
the post. Nice.

I watched this game, and I thought it was great. Sure there was some
chippy calls, some heated debates. But, ummm, this was the finals of
Regionals. You know to go to Nationals. Kershner played great. Jolian
played great. I think Jolian is the best player in the SW. But that's
me.

Maybe you AZ types are a little soft (assuming "sam jones" is an AZ
rep, if not, nevermind), not every ultimate game is the love-fest you
want it to be. Not that it shouldn't be. But intensity should not be
mistaken for bad spirit, in my humble opinion.

Making bad calls = cheating. That's bad spirit.

And bofa? Really? Nothing more than vague insinuation. Classy.

-alex

[m.s....@gmail.com]

On May 2, 5:31 pm, sam.jones4...@gmail.com wrote:

Best post yet.

Sam Jones does have a point. In the award criteria it says, "When
evaluating a candidate's merit for the award, voters should treat any
example of grossly poor sportsmanship (cheating, fighting, kicking,
flagrant rule violation, swearing, using strong language such as
"sucks, crap, geez, etc.", not waving to fans after scoring, not
calling their mom after a win, etc.) as an infraction so severe that
the player should be eliminated from consideration for the Callahan.

Seriously. Gibson clearly has way more spirit than Jolian. Florida!

[andysammons]

mmm... yeah... I've been trying not to be a big dick recently. I
guess that feel through in my vague insinuation.

Jolian is a sweet player, no doubt. I just couldn't help but chime in
on that comment about "I've never heard a single person complain about
his spirit, or attitude."

I've definitely thought about messing up his hair a few times.

[Ryan Thompson]

HIT THE WEIGHTS!!!!

[Adam.Cre...@gmail.com]

I have been teammates with Jolian since he was 13.

My confidence in my team's ability to score triples when Jolian is on
the field. He should get your vote because he really does have the
best skill set in each facet of the game of anyone in college.

Let's talk about the best college throwers. Jolian would be at the top
of that list.
Let's talk about the best college receivers. Again Jolian. See www.mamabird.com
if you need any confirmation.
Let's talk about the best college defenders. Jolian, no question. I
would be uneasy in a game against Sockeye or Jam if I had to put any
other of the candidates on Sam C-K or Bart. Jolian OWNS Bart. He has
since he was a freshman when Mamabird was battling Berkeley for the
college title.
Let's talk about the best college teammates. Jolian. And this is where
he truly separates himself from the field. He never bitches at his
teammates. He takes full responsibility for his team's success, and
they lean heavily on him. It's not just that he makes his team better
because he's such a sick player. He makes each of his individual
teammates better because of how much he believes in them. He knows
that all of his teammates are capable of great things. Even in the
times when they may be unsure of that.

Speaking from a particularly large data set of experience, I am
grateful for a teammate like that whenever my confidence is shaken.

Jolian gives his team a swagger. That, more than anything, is why
Mamabird is a very dangerous team yet again this year.

Looking forward to nationals,
-Adam Simon

[DikEar]

Chicken, your middle name is Creed? That explains so much.

JOLIAN FOR CALLAHAN!

-dik

[La Maldad]

Jolian Dahl, your 2008 Callahan:

http://dopacetic.blogspot.com/

Hh

[b_rainw...@yahoo.com]

Tanks for the article about playing with altitude! I think it will
help!

[degnan...@gmail.com]

You're welcome.

Vote Jolian.

Degs

[joshua...@gmail.com]

There's still time to do the right thing.

[Chad]

1:41 in the highlight video made my jaw drop

He's pretty sick at beer pong too

[joshua...@gmail.com]

On May 14, 6:30 am, Chad <chad.bo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 1:41 in the highlight video made my jaw drop
>
> He's pretty sick at beer pong too

That layout D was one of the best I've seen. You can see him bait the
throw, then he kicks it into another gear. Just before the disc
reaches the guy he lays out in front and goes with the 5 foot
horizontal spread eagle without touching the guy. The best part is
the disc was D'd so hard that the guys on the sideline next to the
play all scatter to avoid the disc. The huck right after it was a
beautiful throw as well. I-O backhand between two defenders to a
streaking cutter in the back corner of the endzone. Can't teach that.

I know all too well that Jolian is a Beirut god. Jolian and Mac
destroyed Teddy and myself in a 100 cup game (30 rack a side). Of
course there's not much you can do when you match up against a blue-
eyed cyborg and a bronzed monument of a man. Ted spent the last hour
failing to connect ball with cup.