2020 Summed Up in a Single Shot
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128059)
Gainesville, Florida
September 7, 2020 4:54pm CST
Happy Labor Day to all of you celebrating today! This weekend sure was a labor for me, but thankfully a labor of love. Our paintball team played in the third tournament of the season. In fine 2020 fashion, it poured down rain all day Saturday at the tournament, and then on Sunday the brutally hot sun baked us all day long.
It's been an interesting season so far. After playing our first tournament of the year in Vegas, all remaining national tournaments were cancelled due to COVID. After months of idleness, the league finally gave approval for teams to play in state and regional tournaments. Prior to resuming play, we unexpectedly lost one of our players, a guy who was one of the most beloved athletes in the sport. He is being revered now as the first "saint" in pro paintball. Not sure how our team was going to respond after his death, we entered a local tournament and somehow managed to claw our way to victory. It was bittersweet.
This tournament this past weekend proved a little more difficult due to the weather conditions. I'm not going to lie, I struggled throughout the entire weekend, and just couldn't seem to find my groove. Somehow, I managed to play just well enough to help keep our team in the tournament. We ended up going on to win the tournament on Sunday evening, our third consecutive tournament victory of the season.
As the photo shows, it was rough for me. I just couldn't seem to find my footing out there in the mud, and I was slipping, tripping, falling, sliding and diving all over the place just trying to stay alive. In that particular game, I got shot in the back of the head, something that rarely ever happens. But, given that it is 2020 and these sort of things seem to be the norm this year, I considered it just another sign of the times. And I've got a nice "trophy" welt on the back of my head to show for it. Yay me!
So for Labor Day today, I'm nursing a sore head and trying to relax the best I can. Of course, it's storming outside once again, so no Labor Day barbecues for me today.
How's your day going, and did you have a great weekend?
40 people like this
39 responses
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 20
Glad you had a good weekend overall. I guess my weekend was a good one too, all things considered. I spent the whole day today recovering, just lying around resting my body.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 20
@just4him I had trouble waking up this morning. I just wanted to keep sleeping, so I guess my body really needed it.
2 people like this
@just4him (322659)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
8 Sep 20
@moffittjc I'm sure it needed it. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 20
Thanks Dianne. It was good to get out there and play in another tournament, although I wish it wasn't so hot and humid. I don't mind getting all shot up in the tournaments, but taking a head shot in the one place where you have very little protection proved to be quite painful. I've been applying ice to the back of my head all day. The welt is finally starting to go down, so I should be fine in a couple more days.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Sep 20
@DianneN It definitely zaps your energy. Thankfully, we have a staff person on our pit crew whose job it is to keep us nourished and hydrated through the day. Every time we run off the field between games she is making us eat fruit, protein bars, or drink pickle juice (to reduce/eliminate cramping). Plus we're chugging water and gatorade all day long.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (253100)
• United States
8 Sep 20
@moffittjc I'm glad your welt is going down. I can just imagine how hot and humid it was. That would zap my energy, especially in all that gear you have to wear. Keep feeling better. 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 20
I'm absolutely wiped out. Exhausted is an understatement. It will take me a week to recover. We had guys dropping like flies from heat exhaustion and cramping. It was brutal. If I wasn't getting paid for this, I sometimes think I would just tell the team to call me when winter gets here. lol
4 people like this
@AmbiePam (117146)
• United States
7 Sep 20
@moffittjc I watched a documentary a few years ago about a paintball league that fascinated me. I wish I could remember the name of it, but it was on Netflix. I think they had a championship game where even people from overseas came to compete.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 20
@AmbiePam It might have been the World Cup in Orlando that the document was about, because that's the one tournament at the end of the paintball season that overseas teams would be allowed to compete in. Or, it could have been the Soldiers of Paint documentary, which is about the largest paintball battle that is fought every year in Oklahoma. But that is a different kind of paintball than what I play.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (55528)
• Canada
7 Sep 20
Having a tournament in such weather must be difficult and exhausting.
You look like you are wearing a lot of protective gear, which I am sure is necessary, but it has to be awful hot and heavy at the same time.
Your paintball buddy would be proud of you for pushing thru the negatives. 
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (55528)
• Canada
7 Sep 20
@moffittjc It would be like doing a Tuff Muder with gear in the heat, that is done on a muddy terrain too.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 20
@Juliaacv I've participated in one of those events before. Doing one of those in full paintball gear would crazy for sure!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 20
Yes, we wear a lot of thick gear, and as you can see we are covered from head to toe in protective clothing. Doesn't leave much room for heat to escape from our bodies. It can feel pretty brutal out there, and the heat and humidity just sap your strength. By the end of the day, it takes every ounce of what's left of your energy just to move.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54589)
• United States
7 Sep 20
Goodness, is that you actually getting hit in the head ? It looks like I see the paint flying off of the back of your head.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 20
Yes, that is me getting shot in the back of the head, and yes that is the paintball exploding after hitting my head. We wear tons of gear when playing, but it's all designed to protect us from the front and sides, and so we have very little protection in the back. The only thing between my skull and that paintball was a thin wool beanie I was wearing. It was very painful, as the welt on the back of my head will attest.
@Marilynda1225 (89889)
• United States
7 Sep 20
I never realized that paintball was so exhausting and physical. Glad you survived the tournament.
3 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (39839)
• Toccoa, Georgia
8 Sep 20
@moffittjc Wow, playing all day! Interesting.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 20
@LeaPea2417 It's a brutally long day. Mentally and physically exhausting. And the tournaments last three days, if you go all the way to the finals.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 20
We start each day at 6am, and finish around 7pm, and it's non-stop play the entire day. Most times there is a small 30 minute break in the afternoon while they reset the brackets for playoff rounds, but sometimes we just play straight through with zero breaks the whole day.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (168442)
• United States
7 Sep 20
I just had the same old thing. Hubby is not up to much. I do not think I would have made it through your paint ball tournament.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 20
I barely made it through the tournament! lol
Our tournaments can be brutal sometimes, depending on the weather conditions and field layouts. It's just all part of the game I guess.
@kareng (80248)
• United States
8 Sep 20
Congrats on the win and I hope your head feels better tomorrow! We ran errands today and went by car dealership. I got to feeling bad so Hub brought me home and went back to finish. Wasted trip back because his order won't be in until this coming Saturday. Somebody needs to check emails!!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 20
Thank you, my head is feeling better today, although it's still sore to the touch. But at least the welt is starting to slowly fade away. Sorry to hear you weren't feeling well yesterday. Hope you're doing much better today.
1 person likes this
@kareng (80248)
• United States
10 Sep 20
@moffittjc I got a nap today and I think that helped out a lot. Going to try going to bed early tonight. We didn't get home until after midnight last night.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Sep 20
@kareng For the last two days, I've been running on about 4 hours of sleep each night. So tonight I think I'm going to take it easy and relax and probably go to bed super early.
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (40214)
• United States
9 Sep 20
I hate to hear about your friend, so much sorrow. Glad you all won. Take care of yourself.
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (40214)
• United States
13 Sep 20
@moffittjc Not many people, get to do what they really love.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Sep 20
@popciclecold It’s a shame. More people should pursue their passions instead of chasing money and a “career” that they don’t enjoy.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
9 Sep 20
@moffittjc Yes, it has been difficult for you. You will come out stronger, I have no doubt. I've always heard that old cliche and it is true. That's what I keep telling myself every day since my brother passed away.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 20
@simone10 You have the right mindset. Don't try to do everything at once, just take things one small step at a time. I'm still thinking about you often and praying for you.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 20
2020 has been a rough year for me too. I am trying to look at it in the eyes of the old cliche, "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." If I survive 2020, I will come out stronger than ever!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (377026)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Sep 20
@Fa_Maverick Thanks for the info. And nice to meet you. 
There aren't too many Australians on here.
There aren't too many Australians on here.2 people like this
@Fa_Maverick (9492)
• Australia
8 Sep 20
@JudyEv You too
I think I may have come across you once before.
I think I may have come across you once before.2 people like this
@Fa_Maverick (9492)
• Australia
8 Sep 20
A paintball wouldn't generate enough force to give someone a concussion. If he ran into a tree or fell and hit his head then sure he could get a concussion from paintball
2 people like this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
8 Sep 20
@moffittjc
That is a shame what you had to endure for your tournament. I so glad you were able to keep your team in the tournament in spite of the crummy weather. That was great that you won Sunday night. I am so sorry about your head. Take care of yourself and congrats on the win even though all the things that went wrong.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 20
@Hannihar I am a professional athlete, I have a contract and receive a very nice salary to play. I have corporate sponsors and endorsement deals, just like other professional athletes. I enjoy it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 20
@Hannihar Thank you! I do work very hard for every penny I earn! Even on myLot! haha
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
9 Sep 20
@moffittjc
That is great Jeff. I know you earned all that and worked very hard to get it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 20
Thanks. I took it about as easy as I could today. Back to the grind tomorrow. No rest for the weary I guess.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 20
@CarolDM All my days and weeks just seem to run together now, so I never realize when we have short weeks or not.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
8 Sep 20
@moffittjc Have a good short week.
1 person likes this
@Fa_Maverick (9492)
• Australia
8 Sep 20
I am slightly disappointed the headshot wasn't red... (well the welt will be(... well... more purple...)) but also ow because clearly that is not protective gear on your head *cringes*
Sorry to hear about your friend.
Our Labour day is in October
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 20
Don't you know I bleed yellow? Kind of like when you squish a bug and a yellow goo comes squirting out! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 20
@Fa_Maverick I thought you would like that! haha
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
9 Sep 20
I cannot imagine the heat! There was a heat wave here in Southern California and we were in the 100's (such a rare sight). And, I can't imagine the weather you had to overcome. Glad it worked out in the end.
I hope you've taken some warm baths and are recovering!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
18 Sep 20
@moffittjc even if it’s hot I need a warm shower 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Sep 20
@infatuatedbby My girlfriend is like that. It could be a hundred degrees outside, and she''ll take the hottest possible shower you can take without the water actually reaching the boiling point. I don't understand how she does it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 20
I never take warm baths these days, or even warm showers. Too hot out for that. I take cold showers as a way to cool off from the heat and humidity!
@LadyDuck (497925)
• Italy
14 Sep 20
@moffittjc It is horrible when you realize that your body is slowing down. You still feel young but your reaction is slower.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 20
@LadyDuck I wish it was something I could do for 10 or even 15 more years, but unfortunately I am getting to the age where I'm not as agile as I used to be in my younger days. I figure I have about 2-3 more years of playing in the pros before I will retire. Maybe I'll get into coaching the sport after that.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Sep 20
@LadyDuck That’s exactly what I’m going through! My mind says “Yes you can!” but my body says “Oh no you can’t!”
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (132594)
• Marion, Ohio
8 Sep 20
Ouch, not supposed to get shot.
Stormed most of the day here too.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (132594)
• Marion, Ohio
9 Sep 20
@moffittjc Yes you have. Now stop doing that.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 20
@wolfgirl569 I promise I'll try to stop doing that at our next tournament in October.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 20
I'm not supposed to get shot? Dammit, why didn't somebody tell me that before? I've been doing it wrong this whole time! lol
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44518)
• United States
8 Sep 20
Wow, sure hope your next tourney is much better and sorry to hear about your team mate. We went to Myrtle Beach for two nights with most of our kids. Always love being with them.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44518)
• United States
8 Sep 20
@moffittjc Hopefully your next tourney will be better. The weather was hot, but good in SC.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 20
@1creekgirl I won’t care what what the weather feels like in our next tournament if we win! Haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 20
Wow, that is great that you got to enjoy some time in Myrtle Beach! I hope the weather was good for you!
Our next tourney is in mid-October, so I'm really hoping the weather will have cooled down some by then.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (50971)
• Staten Island, New York
7 Sep 20
Oh no! Why was the tournament still held if the weather was bad. Nothing going on for me this Labor Day. I am home as usual. Unless hubby comes home from work and says we've been invited somewhere, we're gonna be home. No barbecue. We don't have a grill.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 20
The only thing that will stop a tournament is lightning, and thankfully we didn't have any of that throughout the weekend. I've played in a tournament where we had blizzard conditions, one where it was so foggy that you couldn't see 2 feet in front of you, and one where we had to play long into the night due to lightning delays. You have to be prepared for anything out there.
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 20
@lovebuglena No, they would cancel or postpone a tournament if a hurricane was coming, because it would blow down the protective netting around the perimeter of the playing fields. Safety is number one, and without the protective netting the league officials would never let games continue being played.
@lovebuglena (50971)
• Staten Island, New York
8 Sep 20
@moffittjc So you would play in hurricane?
1 person likes this
@everwonderwhy (7355)
•
9 Sep 20
Wow! Good for you all! Amazing experience you all had out there in the wild. Peaceful, secure, gentle kind of 'wild'. I enjoyed reading through your story.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 20
Which story did you read? lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128059)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Sep 20
@everwonderwhy Oh, okay! You said "peaceful" in your comment, and I'm like thinking "paintball isn't a very peaceful sport!" lol
@everwonderwhy (7355)
•
9 Sep 20
@moffittjc This post of yours. I enjoyed this story-post. :-)
1 person likes this
