Daniele ‘Calls His Shot’ for Pali Dad Bod

Palisades Bocce Club President extraordinaire Jimmy Dunne wrote this report on Sunset League play last week at Veterans Gardens:

What started as 25 teams in the regular season whittled down to 12 for the playoffs, four in last Thursday’s semifinals and then the top two for  the finals, where Pali Dad Bod emerged as league champions.

The winners were Neil Deiter, Pete Bartle, Jeff Karish, Daniel Tenenbaum, Drew Daniele,  Amedeo Ferraro and captain Dean Christopher.    

The Yankees of bocce are back!

In the semifinals the fantastic and exciting Bocce Boys, the amazing rookie sensations, put up a heroic fight but lost to the strong seasoned, big-money Ball Busters franchise, 6-5, 6-3. Rich Miller, Christopher Heisen and Glen Barad were just like their team’s name, but Bruce Hackett and the Allen Berman show proved too much to overcome.

On the other court, Mark Waldrep and the infamous Rolling Stones came out jamming to lead 5-0 in the first game. Pali Dad Bod met for a chalk talk. It was a Herb Brooks moment, as they exited the huddle with tails wagging and reeled off 12 straight points to win, 6-5, 6-0.

It was on to the championship match where Pali Dad Bod, sporting their kind of Elvis-like, purple-blue velvet jump suits from Velomino.com, were very intimidating.

Pali Dad Bod general manager, 12-year-old Cole Christopher, was juicing his squad with Red Bulls, standing on the bench to rub their shoulders while feeding them with up-to-date wind condition reports.

Pali Dad Bod barely squeaked out the first game 6-3. Daniel, Amedeo, and Captain Dean sizzled.

In Game 2, Ball Busters were one point away from victory, ahead 5-2 and smelling a decisive third game.

Not so fast.

Drew Daniele was at the line with Pali Dad Bod’s last ball with two balls already locked in point position. There is no way any thinking person would “Roll the Bay” in the traffic around the pallino.

Daniele looked at his teammates, clad in their snappy, fluffy suits. Some say foam was coming out of Drew’s mouth. He boldly declared:

“I’m winning it right here. I don’t care. I’m ‘Rolling the Bay.’ I’m crazy right now. I’m making history.”

With that, Daniele stepped up to the line and let his baby fly. The crowd watched it slowly slide and slurp along down the lane—right on target. Like Neil Armstrong landing on the moon, Daniele’s money-ball touchdowns inches from mother.Pali Dad Bod players chest-bumped and hugged. Some claim there was weeping. What a dramatic ending!

Summer Senior League starts June 14; Sunset League starts June 16.

Doubles Championships

The inaugural Palisades Bocce Doubles Championships take place  next Sunday, June 12 from 1-5 p.m.

Teams can be two men, two women or one man, one woman of any age. Format is single elimination to 10 points. Cost is $25 per player.

Registere by 6 p.m. Friday, June 9 at https://bit.ly/3yEppam.