Beat Down City Tour by Thomas Taylor - Last stop on the tour was in Oceanside at Camp Pendleton - a 2 day clinic. We got to go and it was awesome. Learned a bunch. I mean a whole bunch. The next 5-6 posts below this one are pictures and YouTube links from the weekend. We learned that Dad can't snap shoot worth a darn, Sawyer is awesome left handed, how to slide correctly in different ways, the proper technique to REALLY shoot a lane - the list goes on and on. We also had a bunch of fun with contests and seeing other players out there - Ironmen was practicing for the World Cup and Sawyer got to jump in a small game with them. Thomas had fun contests like the speed feed bob, pictured below, where you had to bob for speed feeders in a TON of broken paint. Dad won that event and the sprint contest later in the day - almost beating Thomas (he won by 6 inches). We won some great prizes and had a fantastic time. Thomas is a great player and teacher and really takes care of the fans. He stopped to have dinner with us (His wife Tiffany and friend Freddy as well) on his way up north last night and we had a great time getting to know more about one another.
Oh yeah - Sawyer had long hair on Day 1 and we shaved it down to a mohawk and painted it green for Day 2. For even more videos on the clinic - Thomas has a YouTube channel - BeatdownCityTour - you should check out - his first webisode on the tour just aired today. It's really funny. If you have never gone to a pro clinic - you really need to. There is so much to be learned from these guys.

TANKS BABY, TANKS - A little break from playing at the clinic

We had a chance over the weekend to stop a few times and check out the cool tanks!!!

Pics of Sawyer's room

Pics of Sawyer's and his brother's room. First is the wall opposite the beds full of posters (2 Oliver posters and banner, Thomas Taylor, Dynasty poster) and all kinds of cool stuff (Nicky's goggle straps, Clone Wars patches, gloves from Arsenal HB 2009 USPL). 2nd pic is above the window with a Nicky poster, HK Posters, Nicky's old Nuskool stickered lenses. The jersey's are above the top bunk (Sawyer's). Jersey's are (right to left) Chicago Legend, Ironmen, Nicky Cuba. Sawyer is always willing to accept any new donations :-)

Paintball Camp Pics

Little bro and Sawyer loading their hoppers and getting ready to attack the bunkers. One of Papa getting in on the action and one of Sawyer having some fun with a Kingman pistol.

Paintball Camp Pics

More pics from camp. A few of Sawyer doing his morning workout with dad to get stronger for paintballing using a lightweight resistence rubberband. Loading the hoppers to play. Writing in his journal - which dad makes him do everyday on every trip. And one of Sawyer and one of his little bros on the Go Kart.

Paintball Camp Pics

Friday, Saturday and Sunday we did a camping/paintball trip to Nana and Papa and Uncle Don's in Banning. Dad surprised Sawyer with his new team jersey and head wrap. We camped out, cooked out and played paintball and did lots of other camping activities and some other fun things like ride the go kart. It was Sawyer, Dad, 2 little brothers, little sister, dog (Dagney), Nana, Papa and Uncle Don. Above two of the pics are of JP and Sawyer shooting in San Fran Explicit T's, a team we met at the last USPL tourney.

More Saturday and Sunday at USPL

Saturday morning started with Sawyer and Oliver on the hill where we watched most of the games from and soon the rest of the DC Arsenal team was there too for a team meeting. The bruises are from Saturday night's paintball games and last is a pic of Sawyer just havin lunch and lovin life between games.

Day 2 USPL SC Village

Sawyer and Dad pitted for Chicago Legend and Sawyer had about as much fun as he ever has in his entire life. Lots of autographs, lots of pictures, lots of wandering the trade show and lots of fun cheering for Legend. Here a a few pics of him trying to be a good luck charm wearing a 3xl Legend jersey. The one of the jersey is the jersey the team gave him today after all his hard work. They all signed it. Also is a pic of Sawyer with his favorite XSV player Thomas.

In this Second group of photos we have break time at the pool in the middle of the day including Sawyer schooling his dad at Farkle (dice game) then getting a pic with two of his favorite players and Ironmen Brandon Short (left) and Nicky Cuba (right). The picture of the field has Sawyer walking on the sidelines - He'd be the real little one pretty much in the middle of the shot. Of course we ended the night with a great Chinese dinner.