Spring time in Texas and Easter is Sunday. Bluebonnets are blooming on the roadsides of Texas highways and hordes of partying co-eds are migrating to South Padre Island for Spring Break. Thousands of miles away in Rimini, Italy a different group of Texans, known as No Tsu Oh, is migrating to a different beach in hopes of successfully defending their fifth world title.
Paganello is a five-day frisbee related event held annually on the Rimini Beach, Italy, over the Easter weekend, April 5-9. This year marks the 17th year of the tournament that combines top level sport, performance art, music and festivities into what has been called the "Lollapalooza of Disc Sports." The main sporting event of Paganello is the World Beach Ultimate Cup (WBUC) featuring 96 teams from 25 countries competing in three divisions: Open (Men's), Women's and Co-ed.
Beach Ultimate is slightly tweaked variety of the grass-based original that was born in New Jersey during the late 1960's. The basic premise of the game is to score points by catching the disc in the end zone of a playing field. The offense can pass the disc in any direction, similar to movement in soccer. However, the players can not run with the disc and have ten seconds to make the next pass. The most unique feature of ultimate, both beach-based and grass-based versions, is the players are responsible for officiating the game themselves by making foul calls and determining the appropriate resolution in light of the rules.
Over the course of the past seven Easters, No Tsu Oh has been building a legend on the beaches of Rimini. The Houston-based team, named after a now defunct Mardi Gras-like party held in Houston, has won the WBUC Open Division title five times, racking up the longest string of consecutive match victories in any division with 30. Not bad for a team that doesn't practice as a unit until five minutes before the first game of each Paganello.
But, No Tsu Oh is not a team centered only on winning. The team sees Paganello as a venue for promoting ultimate and sportsmanship at the local level. This year the team will continue its successful youth clinic in partnership once again with the Libera Societ‡ Del Frisbee and Bliss, the United Kingdom-based six-time Women's Division champions.
Houstonist lunched at Kojak's with team founder and captain, Sean McCall. In addition to running No Tsu Oh, McCall, an 13 year veteran of conventional ultimate is also captain of Doublewide, a world-ranked Austin-based ultimate club team, and founding board member of Houston Ultimate Community.
Describe Paganello for the uninitiated.
The 2001 slogan, "The World on One Beach," sums it up best. [Paganello is] a combination of people from around the world speaking the common language of sport, having a good time and just enjoying the beach. There is a lot going on between the WBUC, freestyle competition, dance contests and musical performances, and the Village consisting of shops and other attractions.
What keeps you going back?
It's a great excuse to have a European vacation every year. The vibe on the team is unmatched compared to any other team I've been on. The Italians are such gracious hosts that Paganello & Rimini feels like a home away from home. Plus, we need to bring the umbrella back.
How has Paganello affected you and the rest of No Tsu Oh?
Crazy positive on both a personal level and as a player. Personally, it's helped me round out my world view in terms of meeting people from so many places. It's been humbling to be treated as a kind of star with the interviews and other stuff. It's fun, but humbling. Note: team merchandise routinely sells out and players are frequently asked for autographs.
No Tsu Oh and Paganello have become a second family [for the players.] They have their club team, but I think they feel that they carry part of No Tsu Oh with them always. And, Paganello is too significant an event [to forget]. You will always carry that experience with you.
How is the team received by the hosts and other teams?
As Americans, we start facing a European assumption that we are arrogant. It's true that American teams are more aggressive on the field when compared to a European approach. But, I think the other teams appreciate our efforts to play in a more European style. I think the hosts appreciate the attendance of top teams like No Tsu Oh and Bliss to help elevate the level of competition.
What kind of pressure, if any, comes with the team's success at Paganello?
There is some pressure by being the team everyone is trying to beat, but I don't think about it or feel it all that much. And, I don't think the team does either.
Where do you see Paganello and No Tsu Oh in ten years?
Good question. This year is the 17th Edition of Paganello. The number of teams has leveled out, but the tournament will continue to evolve in terms of sponsors, organization and presentation - such as the opening ceremony fireworks. No Tsu Oh's future is limited. The team was built around a core group of players that were alumni of or had ties to the Houston Houndz, the former premier club ultimate team in Houston. It represents a distinct thing that happens only at a certain time. No Tsu Oh, as a team, will retire after Paga 2008.
What is the legacy of the team?
No Tsu Oh is definitely already linked with greatness. I saw it used as a verb recently; someone made a written comment that they could "No Tsu Oh the tournament" and win it, which is cool. It will be tough to catch Bliss to be the all time winningest Paganello team, but I think the legacy will be one of excellence, fairness, fun, and spirit.
Paganello
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