The Dreamers Tribune: The Path to 300

What started as a little experiment to blow off some tension from days of high intensity migrant justice organizing with No One Is Illegal and maybe also as a way to find a space of commonality between my normie friends and my radical pals, the Insurgency Recreation Softball Team emerged. In the old days I’d write recaps of the games as though we were all guerillas in the mountains of Chiapas fighting against the forces of power and capital.  Little did I know that our team would come to be engaging in a political experiment, one that actually includes folks who have worked directly with the Zapatistas.

These last 11 years have gone by so quickly that I didn’t even know that I was approaching my 300th career hit this weekend. So when I stepped into the box in the top of the 6th and launched a screaming line drive that was nearly caught by my former Humber teammate and pal, Laura Pin, I touched 1st base with a feeling of nostalgia for the decade + of baseball-making that I’ve done with all of you.  Some of you have been on the ride since the very first season – I see you Ryan Hayes and Johann Juarez – and others like Jill Aoki-Barrett and Samira Banihashemi are playing along for the first time.  Our team has had legends like Saeed Basiri – who played wearing war-paint while drinking a perrier and smoking a cigarette in the outfield. Like Adrian Rodill – who once shared a diamond with former National League MVP Joey Votto, but spent the better part of six season helping crush our opponents with incredible power and defense. Like Kim Lehmann – who gave us such great teachings about thinking of play as a site of politics and relationship-building. Like Andrew Thompson – who was the first to introduce short, short, short-shorts to the league.

We play among legends.
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July 8th 2018

ATTACK OF THE FRISBEE ZOMBIES

The cool breeze blew over the great giant, Lake Ontario, and caused a special portal to open up in the sky by which Frisbee Zombies emerged onto the field of play unphased by the game of ball and in search of plastic disc-like brains.  Like a group of pals huddled into a safehouse awaiting the moment when they would have to utilize melee weapons and sniper rifles to make their way around the bases and safely home, the Field of Dreamers played spirited defensive gems.  Would the Zom/bee players create friction among the Comrades or would it be the Humdingers who would be the centre of the Walking Dead soundtrack? Would the Blush kiss their spirits goodbye or would the Valley Cats join the herd and scratch and claw their way to Zombieapocalypse.

You’ll have to keep reading to find out!

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July 1st 2018

THE JULY 1st FiREWORKS SPECTACULAR

The humidex was broken, the clay surface was hardened, the frisbee game was almost unplayable, and yet the Field of Dreamers trudged onto the field to play two of the most spirited games of the season.  The SkyDome was a alive on this blistering day to welcome the 2nd half of the year, and players came decked in their finest tank tops, shorts, and replenished with an array of strawberries, watermelon, Robin’s famous browned-butter rice krispie squres and various forms of electrolytes. Would the Blush wear their hot new look all the way towards victory or would the Comrades link arms to resist a needed makeover? Would the Valley Cats burn one of their nine lives in pursuit of victory or would the Humdingers be the last ones singing?

You’ll have to keep reading to find out!

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Solidarity with the North Field Softball Community in Montreal

Dear Madam Mayor,

We are writing on behalf of the Field of Dreamers Cooperative Softball Association in Toronto, Ontario. The Field of Dreamers is an organized softball league that grew out of a pick-up style league such as the one being deposed of their playing field at Jeanne-Mance Park known as the North Field. A field that was recently torn down by your administration. We are an association of gender non-conforming peoples, migrants, educators, trade unionists, workers, and queer and trans* folks who have developed a space of play organized around a collective effort to correct for the barriers that too often keep people from playing and enjoying sports.

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June 24th 2018

 ?️‍? THE JUNE 24tH INAUGURAL PRIDE GAME

On a night where the Field of Dreamers out sparkled the glamour of the 24/7 frisbee rave, a rainy and gloomy day soon turned into a hearts-a-fire flame fest!  Dressed to impress, the Dreamers strutted their stuff along the baselines in sequins, glam, short-short-short shorts, glitter, and all other sorts of fine haberdashery.  And, as though the Fab Five themselves decided to elevate the field of play, the Dreamers matched their new looks with fierce defence, fabulous hits, and futuristic finesse.  As the Queer Eye TV screen was tuned to the game, all were anticipating whether Karamo would unearth the loving child that lives inside the unflappable Comrades? Or would Jonathan give the Valley Cats the grooming they always knew they deserved?  Would Bobby remake the Humber defence into something elegant but hip? Or would Antoni & Tan help the Blush bring out their delectable charm?

You’ll have to keep reading to find out whether this Queer Eye’d makeover took form…

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