The Chew-Off at the Golden Corral

"Then the birds stopped their singing and appeared to be very busy about the table. When they rose from it again everything on the table that could be eaten or drunk had disappeared."

C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Employee: "You have
HOW many again?"
Patrick:   5 mins to
GUMMI BEARS!

After a full day of soccer, the HSAA men and their associated entourage descended on the Golden Corral in south Springfield, MO; it starts as a trickle of folks in the lobby... but before long it begins to remind one of the Hitchcock classic The Birds.   Teenage boy with athletic metabolisms and an all-you can eat buffet.   The stuff of classic horror films, indeed-- if you happen to be skewer of Garlic Parmesan Shrimp or a dessert bar.

The entourage

This Friday night culinary Bacchanalia is a grand tradition of Nationals weekend.  Most of the parents who come to the tournament usually attend, and it makes for a very large group indeed.  It is a tribute to the team managers and the coaches that things always go as smoothly as they do.

The majority of the evening is about la table:   multiple trips to the various section of the buffet, fun and fellowship over the food, and players deciding "can I have one more plate?"

At the end of the evening, the coaches spent some time laying out the schedule for the next day, while dodging the swinging door as a few players and parents sneak back in from another food run (a certain JV goalkeeper comes to mind).   A generous and well-deserved round of applause was proffered for the team managers, for all the hard work they have put in and continue to put in for these teams.



Having damped the fires of 38 bottomless pit stomachs, at least for an hour or so, the teams and families retired for the night.  Tomorrow is another nice day for soccer!