AJP #20: An Inbetween Average Joes’ from DePaul

Average Joes' Podcast Logo…DePaul hosts the Average Joes’ Podcast.

In Episode 20, we discuss:
The upcoming Nationals, bids for Nationals 2013, final season rankings, some injures, rule changes, ball sponsorships, and general fun.
Hosts: Spencer Flynn, Zigmas Maloni, Pierce RAVE McBride, Becky Seemann

Recorded on a Rockband Logitech USB Microphone (bought used for $5)
Minimally edited in Audacity
Hosted on NCDAdodgeball.com/ajp/
51MB, 36:56 minutes

Rough production time:
37min recording, 1 hour of personal audio review, 5 minutes receiving the soundbites from Raymer, 30 min of editing, 15 minutes saving, uploading, and writing these posts
= total time 2-3 hours

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Six questions with AJP’s Hosts

Wondering just who Jazzy’s put at the helm of the NCDA’s beloved Average Joes Podcast? Let’s find out. What follows are six questions designed to introduce our new hosts in a way that only college dodgeball could pull off. What also follows? Utter hilarity.

1. What aspect of college dodgeball was most surprising to you when you first got involved with the game?

Alex: How serious the game was. I was expecting a whole lot of goofing off and no real organization. I was impressed by the degree of planning and organization involved.
Zac: Definitely the intensity. I never thought the level of competitiveness would be as high as it is.

2. What are you hoping to bring to Average Joes’ Podcast that will help make the show the greatest podcast in history?

Alex: I hope to keep the show informative and entertaining. I think humor is the best way to broadcast news so that’s what I’ll shoot for.
Zac: Besides my awesome good looks and sexual voice, nothing. I kid. I would have to say my insight into a game that has long befuddled critics, skeptics, and scholars alike. College Dodgeball is a peculiar game, and I am a peculiar man.

3. Which would you rather see during a dodgeball game: a sick headshot or a sick shot to the groin? If you were playing, which would you rather have happen to you?

Alex: Hmm… Groin shots are classic but a head shot can leave a more visible mark. I would have to say groin shot only because of the possibility that crying or vomiting could occur.
Zac: Groin. Way funnier. Every guy hates to admit that a shot to the business is hilarious, but no man wants to take one… so I would take a doming before a groin shot.

4. When the podcast finally hits the big time and we’re raking in the millions, what’s your plan of action for all that dough? Are you splurging on a mansion and nice cars? Buying your own sports franchise? How do you spend the money?

Alex: Two words… Playboy Mansion.
Zac: Probably savvy investing, and a decent ride. Nice penthouse in Nashville too, I would think.

5. What’s your most embarrassing moment?

Alex: Walking into a girls bathroom in a movie theatre. Made it all the way to the stalls before I realized I was surrounded by chicks. So I just made a confused face and said “Nope she’s not in here” and left very quickly.

6. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Alex: Two words… Hugh Hefner.

7.  Let’s pretend you’re a big time sports announcer now. What sport would you be covering and what would be your signature catchphrase? Explain your choices.

Zac: I would love to be covering professional eating. I wouldn’t need a specific catchphrase, because let’s face it, the double entrendres you can create at a wiener eating contest are endless.

8. You’re a big roller coaster fan. Describe the ultimate fantasy coaster that you would build with all your money from the podcast. Give us a name, location, specific details and it’s reputation among coaster enthusiasts.

Zac: Diamondback, but taller, faster, and with more air. And much more adjacent to my couch. The name would have to be something bitchin’ that they couldn’t call a theme park ride because its too violent or awesome… you know, like, THE MURDERATOR, or SKELETALDEATH. Basically, just find some arbitrary heavy metal band and name it after them.

The Rebirth of a Podcast

I’m a perfectly content 21-year old going into my last year of college.

Thus far, I’ve spent my summer lounging in my parents’ basement in my boxers watching Sportscenter and occasionally finding time for some menial online work.

Not to mention I get to stay up until 4 am every night and wake up at the crack of noon without ever having to worry about missing classes.

That being said, why am I secretly not dreading the return of school as much as I should right now?

I almost feel traitorous to my age demographic for looking forward to September just the teeniest, tiniest bit.

One reason: I’m an overachieving loser who longs for the return of a set schedule and the rigors of homework to prove to myself I still have some self-worth.

That’s a possibility. Not likely, but possible.

Here’s a more likely reason: I’m scheming.

The focus of my nefarious plans shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows me semi-well.

Standing on the precipice of what could be my final year on a college dodgeball team, I want to go out with a bang.

I’ve already made a mild impact with revamping the league’s website and image, as well as founding a team at Western, but I still have a couple more tricks up my sleeve.

My quest to raise college dodgeball to the same level of national prominence enjoyed by football and basketball is like an all-consuming fire.

Or, in the immortal words of my hero Ron Burgundy, “… one great passion that lives deep within my loins like a flaming golden hawk.”

Maybe it was my complete boredom during the dog days of summer, but I felt compelled to share my thoughts and plans with the rest of college dodgeball nation.

The main way I want to help this league expand is something I’ve actually been working on for quite some time.

It’s always been my firm belief that a great way for this young league to grow is through the use of media, particularly the forms of the media that college students can relate to.

But I’m talking about more than the typical “Attend our first home game!” events on Facebook and posting sick headshots on our YouTube channel.

Don’t misunderstand me, those are awesome ways to grow the league and have thus far been very successful at doing just that.

But I’m thinking about something a little different. Something with a little more depth.

What exactly is this brainchild I’ve become borderline obsessed over?

The funny part is that most of you reading this column have already experienced it firsthand in six sporadic episodes spanning the course of last season.

That’s right…I’m talking about Average Joes’ Podcast. The official podcast of the NCDA. A place where everyone seems to get real, freaky naughty.

(Those last two lines are from our intro for those of you scratching your head)

When I first started AJP, I envisioned it as a bi-monthly program that would break down upcoming matches, recap games already played and dissect the game’s biggest issues.

Needless to say, hosting changes, technological restrictions and being a college student in general quickly destroyed my little plan.

Besides that, I always fancied myself a “behind-the-scenes” type guy. It never suited me being out in front of the camera, or in this case, a microphone.

After recording the sixth and final episode a couple months ago, I was torn.

I wanted the show to continue very badly. But I didn’t want it to continue in its current state.

We needed almost a complete overhaul if I was going to be happy with the finished product every time we recorded an episode.

So what did I do?

I got to work.

My first goal was to find hosts who could really capture and maintain the audience’s attention while simultaneously combining wit and actual dodgeball knowledge.

Something akin to the dynamic teaming of Al Michaels (the talent) and Cris Collinsworth (the knowledge) would be perfect.

I had already locked up my good buddy Alex Heichelbech as “the knowledge” after he returned this summer from a semester spent in the Land of the Rising Sun.

His love for the game of dodgeball combined with his command of the microphone made him the perfect fit for this job.

Now, I just needed the talent to make my dream combo complete.

For months, I racked my brain, trying to think of someone who could bring authentic broadcasting talent to our little production.

Then, driving to Lexington one weekend (I always do my best thinking when I’m driving!), it hit me.

A few months earlier, our team had hosted its first ever home game against Miami University.

To make the occasion more entertaining for fans, one of our players had invited his broadcasting buddy to do some announcing for us.

His name was Zac Newton, and as soon as he started broadcasting from behind that cheap microphone we’d provided, I knew WKU Dodgeball had found its voice.

In fact, the game was such a blowout that I look back and consider Zac’s announcing to be the highlight of the whole affair.

After mentally kicking myself for not thinking of Zac earlier, I shot him a Facebook message with the details of my proposition.

Let’s just say it didn’t take long for him to respond with an ecstatic “Yes, please!”

I think it’s also say to safe that I’m giddy about the prospect of having Alex and Zac woo our tiny listening audience twice a month this season.

After that major hurdle, the rest of the overhaul was a walk in the park.

New logo? Check.

Updated intro, outro and transitions? Check, check, check.

Updated hardware and online hosting capabilities to help bring a better quality show to our dedicated listeners? Checks all around.

Heck, I even made myself a shirt to celebrate the rebirth of my beloved podcast.

And come August, I’m confident AJP’s fanbase will be celebrating right along with me.

AJP #05: Part 1

In this episode, Ben plays the harmonica like it’s nobody’s business. After that, him and Josh talk about BGSU’s tournament, WKU vs. Miami and Wreckeation Nation.

The episode finishes with an in-depth Nationals preview. Josh and Ben preview every team, pick their Final Four and predict the winner and score of the championship.

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AJP #04: Part 1

In this episode, Josh returns to the show to discuss Delta vs. Saginaw and the MDC with Ben. Also discussed is the upcoming Battle for the Bluegrass and the issue of forfeitting.

The action continues as Josh and Ben discuss the Battle for the Bluegrass and the issue of forfeitting in the NCDA.

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AJP #02: Part 1

In the first half of this two-part episode, Josh talks about reaction to the website launch, tells schools how to start a team and previews the GVSU-SVSU match.

In the second half of this episode, Josh chats with SVSU captain Bryan Janick about the upcoming season and takes potshots at GVSU with Jason “He Hate Me” Stein.

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