Chattanooga, TN: Rafting and Riding

Nashville, TN to Chattanooga, TN

Fun times in Tennessee, TN! The Team takes the long trek from Nashville to Chattanooga to visit the future site of the 2009 USHA Master Championships. We arose at 4am to leave Nashville after a night at the Opryland Hotel and Resort. Emmett and Dave took in over 140 miles this day, as Suhn Lee drove the Toyota Pace Truck.

In Chattanooga we:

1. Clinic at the Sports Barn

2. Passed out 67 Handball DVD's, 200 magnets, and fliers

3. Met some locals

4. River rafting down the Ocoee/hanging with "Rockin" Rob Pearse

The Team tour Opryland before getting on the bikes.

Opryland Resort and Inn was scenic, beautiful and full of flavor.

Suhn Lee and Dave Fink bond at a Waffle House in Pre-Chatt


The Team made it to the Sports Barn 45 minutes late (2:45pm), "What time zone are we in?" -Emmett Peixoto (2:46pm)

At 2:47pm Dave Fink "worked the magic"

By three in the afternoon, Fink and Peixoto started their Chattanooga Clinic. Newcomer's, handball vets and former pros Rob Pearse and Scott Kelly challenge DF/EP to a "WPH Fundraiser" handball exhibit.

Suhn Lee played doubles and instructed multiple youth/beginners and added a warm addition to the WPH traveling road show.

Suhn Lee gets set for a full day of handball

Dave Fink gets his instruction on, as locals line up to face the top 10 pro.

It's a family affair, as Rob and family stop for a brief pose. What's that (center pic)?? former pro, Scott Kelly, getting ready for his "death match" vs. The Team

Matt sweeps the floor; meanwhile Emmett stretches as he prepares for the doubles exhibition.

The crowd began to pack in at 6pm sharp for the big show; The Sports Bar is a primo handball hot-bed.

Scott Kelly and Rob Pearse (former professional handball players) agreed to a WPH Fundraiser/exhibition, as local supporters threw $$$ into the hat and rooted on their favorite player.

Kelly/Pearse quickly jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first game (to 21).

Fans began to leak around the front and side glass, as Dave Fink and Emmett Peixoto edged back into the match. Scott Kelly and Rob Pearse engaged in multiple 30 shot rallies, but fell short of scoring 21 points (21-6, 21-3).

The WPH thanks the whole Chattanooga handball club (...and Sports Barn), plus sponsors, for organizing, running, and supporting our handball efforts. Over 50 WPH videos, fliers, magnets, and paraphernalia were handed out on this day, as locals witnessed top handball by 4 professional players.

The after-party took the bike tour to the historical district of Chattanooga. Rob, "Smoke's", Matt, et al., migrated downtown to the outdoor patio. Good food, drink and music made the night shine.

Emmett sells his latest CD, Under Roses, gives the crowd free entertainment and is a hit with the locals.

Taylor and Emmett swap stories; someone left with a tear in their eye on this night, as The Rock's music has this effect on folks.

Emmett was a huge hit at this outdoor gathering

Later in the night, Suhn Lee, Emmett Peixoto, Dave Fink, Rob Pearse, and myself drive to Rob's summer home on the Ocoee River. Whitewater rafting trip in the morning made for little blog-update time, but great conversation between the handball players lasted until the wee hours of the night.

In the morning we rafted 5 miles down the Ocoee. The day was packed full of adventure and fun. But most of all, ...REST, for The Team.

Blog-Hog, Emmett Peixoto, finds his 100th pic on this website. Setting? Rob's Summer cabin on the Ocoee

Happy-to-be anywhere, Emmett and "Smokes" have fun in the sun.

Fink hates the water, but loves the sun; BEST PIC OF THE WHOLE TOUR!!!

NEXT UP? PITTSBURGH, PA

On May 19th, 2008, two world class athletes and personalities known simply as The Team embarked on a 3000 mile/25 city Bike Tour starting in San Francisco, California and potentially ending in New York City to promote and play the extreme sport of handball across the Heartland of America. The Team is comprised of the devastatingly handsome and sublime professional musician, Emmett Peixoto, who is also the #2 ranked world handball pro and his eccentric side-kick, and strangely lovable best pal, David Fink. Fink is currently ranked #7 in the world (with a bullet), according to the World Pro Handball Rankings. The Team made stops in: San Francisco, Berkeley, Sacramento, and Grass Valley, CA, then rode across the Nevada Border making stops in Reno and Elko, Nevada to play ball. While in Utah, the Team played handball in Salt Lake City (4 and 1-wall) before riding to Grand Junction, CO to play Fronton Handball and 4-wall handball with the locals. The Team will not only impart their vast handball knowledge, prodigious handball talent and charm in various handball clinics and exhibitions, but will also be playing in the 2 most prestigious events on the handball calendar The USHA 1 and 4-wall Nationals.

The Team is riding across America to raise money for professional handball and production costs for a youth instructional handball video.To sponsor or donate to the World of Pro Handball and the Toyota Tundra Bike Tour, please contact us at weplayhandball@cs.com : Dave Vincent, C/O WPH, Box 208, Rough and Ready, CA, 95975