A new foosball table has been purchased and was set upin the cellar this past Saturday just in time for this year's tournament . The new foosball table, which Jim has nicknamed "Gillette Foosball Table" has been called "very sharp looking." The Harvard-brand table "looks like its from Harvard" said Jim.
The new foosball table came courtesy of long time Halloween Foosball Tournament supporter, Bill Ostis. Uncle Billy purchased the table as an early Christmas present and it is a great one.
There are several differences between the tables. For one thing, Greg's wishes have been answered as this table is much faster than the old one. The biggest difference is the three players (goalies) on the back line instead of one goalie. The entire playing surface is flat, unlike the other table where the corners slanted up (thus allowing one goalie). The field is much deeper, so that (plus the lack of slanted corners) may cut down on chops a bit...however balls will still be flying off the field at a good rate due to the speed increase. How these minor changes will affect people will obviously have to be seen. Some believe it opens the door for more upsets against veterans (read: Greg) who will have virtually no time to practice on the new table.
Jim is conflicted when it comes to this table. "There is absolutely nothing about this table that I don't like. The three goalies and the look of the players obviously are things that will need some getting used to, but for the most part, its a beautiful table, in fact soda cans will likely be banned from tableside this year...I have no problems with the table itself. But I will miss the old table. More than anything else, even more than the Halloween Party...I can honestly say if it weren't for that foosball table, none of this would be possible."
Jim has embraced the new table, but is also fighting hard to preserve the old one. Calls by some establishment to throw the old one out have been immediately challenged by Jim. The table will definitely stick around in some form. Rumors have it that the table may move back outside eventually, and serve as the "outdoor table."
Jim, who on Friday night was working to get the rust off the rods for the old table, admits perhaps it was time for a change anyways. "The thought certainly crossed my mind. We will never forget the original table's contribution, but now the focus should shift to the players controlling the players as opposed to the players on the table." There would have been a lot of work involved in getting the old table back to its peak condition. The months it spent outside certainly didn't help as it wasn't well protected from the elements.
In any event, a new era in foosball will begin on Saturday the 26th, so in many ways this is the biggest event ever covered by this website. It was fitting that the last official match in the Halloween Foosball Tournament to take place on the old table was Jim vs. Greg, the two founders of the tournament, in the closest finals match up ever.
