Origins of IBM Ultimate
Last month, a crop of IBM players participated in the corporate tournament and took first place. Some of them had honed their skills in the long-standing IBM pickup game that runs MWF shortly after noon on IBM's campus in North Austin. Here, Brian Konigsburg tells us a little bit about the roots of this game.
How did the IBM ultimate pickup game start?
Konigsburg: I used to drag people up to Wells Branch until we had critical mass here.
When was this?
Konigsburg: 1995. I started in April from Tandem. I got a game going up there and commuted for several months. When there were as many IBMers as Tandem-ites, I moved the game. For quite a while, Tandem people kept coming down to the game in Century Oaks [park on the West side of Burnet, where the Domain is now].
Who were some of the early attendees? Do any of them still play besides you?
Konigsburg: [IBMers] Dave Levitan and Scott Warnock [who moved to Canada last year] were early players. I worked in the same unit as them so they were easy recruits. Dan Joyce played at Tandem.
Did you guys always play by the official rules?
Konigsburg: We started on the IX rules. But we didn't call fouls or picks too often. I taught everyone at tandem. Brad [McCredie] was one of the few that came knowing rules. One of the Tandem guys found rules on line and we encouraged everyone to read them.
How would you describe IBM Ultimate to the Austin community today and how has it changed from the early days?
Konigsburg: It used to be a bunch of beginners in a very casual game. […] The level has gone up quite a bit and there is a definite competitive bent to the game.
We also seem to attract some players as a warm up for tournament play, like [Steve] Milan and others.
What about general attitude? Is that pretty much the same?
Everyone used to be in learn mode. We have a lot more experience out there now, so expectations are higher. I think the game is harder for a beginner to break into than it used to be.
Everyone wants to improve. It’s hard to slow down to teach. Teaching takes a lot of effort. I'm not sure I could start a new game from scratch again.
Did you guys ever team up and play tournaments?
Konigsburg: The Tandem group and then IBM used to regularly enter Centex. We never did very well. We couldn't win a game at Centex! But it was fun.
The IBM group went to regionals as a masters team. Although there were more than just IBMers on the team.
Several of us went down to San Antonio [to watch] when nationals was there.
Is there anything else interesting about the old days?
In the early days, everyone had a nickname. That's kind of faded. Mine was mouth (imagine that). Big Galoot and Mr. Conservative were Dave Whitworth and Brad McCredie. That's where Scooter [Scott Warnock] got his name as well.
Brian Konigsburg, Brad McCredie, and David Whitworth continue to be regulars at the MWF lunchtime pickup game at IBM (see pickup listings) that Konigsburg started. David Levitan and Steve Milan continues to show up every once in a while. Dan Joyce still makes a rare appearance. Scott Warnock moved to Milwaukee about a year ago, but his leftie throws still got mentioned last Wednesday.
