If you have never met him...you are missing out.

He writes the best cheers on the face of the earth—truly. He’s got this insane energy that makes you want to join in on the fun. I think my first memory of the man known as ‘the Gata’ is from Kaimana about five years ago. He re-wrote Maria from West Side Story, substituting lyrics pertaining to the Kaimana Klassik. He did it standing on a table—with literally everyone at the tourney watching— and he even included a table dismount at the end. Truly amazing.

Some of you may have seen him featured in the Above and Beyond 2000 Womens video (he was the Home Brood mascot). The Gata stories could fill this magazine...his crazy outfits and half time stunts. Yes, he was the guy at Tempe ’02 who did the finals half time barrel dive...and he has a scar to prove it. Let’s see what this man has to say for himself.

How and when did you start playing ultimate?
I really started at Harvard under the tutelage of Zeph Landau, but my interest was peeked when I worked at a place called Camp Becket.

A lot of people know you as the Home Brood cheerleader…what was your role with that team?
Home Brood isn’t a team so much as a way of life, and I abide by their teachings. I would say that I contributed energy and a spiritual revitalization to the team. I was a mascot and a spiritual advisor.

What is your favorite tourney and why?
Kaimana is the obvious choice...the pavilion, the fields, the beach…and it’s all in Hawaii. Also, I was the mayor of tent city there in 2002.

What is your favorite moment in your ultimate career?
My first year playing with Harvard, we were playing at Regionals vs. Hampshire. It was the game to go, and on the last point I ended up making a lay out grab to end the game. It was a really long point, and I was so exhausted, I just laid there clutching the disc for what seemed like minutes.

What are your hobbies and interests other than ultimate?
Bocce ball is a very relaxing game, and I enjoy frying turkeys— there’s a skill set involved there. Also, every year I host a ‘pie-off’. It is a culinary event of my creation...an event of the highest integrity, out of respect for and to pay homage to my mother’s apple pie.

Tell me about your worst loss in a roshambo?
I entered a rock-paper-scissors tourney as Professor Scissorhands once. I lost in the first round...obviously.

What are some of the teams you have played on?
Harvard Ultimate, Luv Gun, The Great Kabuki and the Bootalicious Express, Jackson Family Victory Tour, Bumpy Knuckles (although I really just named the team and then bailed on all the tourneys.)

What is your favorite tourney stunt/ performance?
The Kaimana/West Side Story ode was pretty sweet, it is true, but I think my super-duper favorite was singing Thriller on the Jackson Family Victory Tour at Humboldt Harvest ‘97. During quarters we took a time out so that we could perform it, choreography and all.

Do you do any training for ultimate?
Absolutely not, I choose to ignore all soreness, injuries and lack of being in shapedness. Best policy for game-time prep—watch old Battlestar Galactica episodes, hold your flask close to the vest, and wait for the ‘visions’ to stop torturing you.

You are well known for your cheers...can you tell me a bit about your favorite one?
Well, the Mama Say cheer that Chicken and I wrote for Home Brood ‘01 was pretty strong. It went to the tune of Michael Jackson’s Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’:
call: hey brood, what’s that you’ve got?
response: aww, it’s nothing, we ain’t got a lot
call: looks like you’ve got a caribou, or even a moose-a
response: well, it ain’t this and it ain’t that, it’s just my macoosa
call: who’s coosa?
response: my coosa
You get the picture.

I just have to know where you got your theatrical skills...because you really have a talent for it.
I have always wanted to be Tony from West Side Story...I have been training for that all my life. I got a lot of ideas and creative thoughts from my friend Dave Reiter.

And lastly, here are some kind words about this legend they call the Gata, from his pal Frankus:
“He is well loved and admired. The man does everything with gusto. He flies through the air and does amazing things on the field...he also leads the cheers before, during, and after every game. He leads, we follow. It is he, Mr. Tha Gata, that I turn to for strength, courage and most of all, connections to attractive young white women. He makes the impossible possible. He is a legend, that I know.”

—Stacy ‘Daisy’ Hubbard

Daisy is a gal around the ultimate scene. She knows people and what’s cool. She lives in Portland, Oregon. She plays with the Womens team Fever, the coed squad Hee-Haw, and others.