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http://www.onmilwaukee.com/sportsrec/articles/musa.html

03:36 a.m. August 3, 2001

MUSA kicking up summer fun

By Paul Doro

Remember the good old days of playing kickball on the playground? As a youngster nothing topped the feeling of kicking that ball as far as the eye could see and hustling around the bases while your friends cheered you on.

A group called MUSA is bringing back that feeling for adults. MUSA, otherwise known as the Milwaukee Unconventional Sports Association, formed in the fall of 2000 with the goal of uniting people in sports that truthfully can't be taken too seriously.

"It all began as a joke between me and a buddy about how fun it would be," said founder Joe Szatmary. "After playing years of competitive sports, I started to get sick of how nasty some of the softball leagues I had been in had become and was looking for something that was more of a social experience versus a win at all costs league."

Upon its inception, MUSA's inaugural season of coed adult kickball boasted six teams and more than 100 people. Since then the group has grown to more than 250 members. And though kickball is the focal point of the group, members are highly encouraged to make suggestions (which have recently included an Atari 2600 tournament, dodgeball and the Bigwheel 500).

Szatmary has big plans for MUSA's future. "My initial expectations were smashed, but looking into the future, my new expectations/goals are to surpass the kickball league in D.C. I was made aware of. They currently have 1,600 members in D.C. and Virginia, I believe, and I am confident that kickball is a brew town sport that can grow beyond that."

Although the kickball season ended June 22, there is a summer tournament and the fall season to look forward to. Plus, the group may take a trip to a Brewers game and play paintball in the future, Szatmary said.

The end of summer Kickball Klassic is taking place Sat.-Sun., Aug. 4-5. It's being held at Wick Field on 52 St. and Vliet St. in Milwaukee. There is a three-game minimum for the tournament. The entry fee for each team is $100. For more information call (414) 322-8062.

MUSA is now accepting teams for the fall kickball season. Play begins the first week of Sept. As of now the group is restricted to those age 21 and above. It is recommended that a team have at least 15 members. If you want to play but don't have a team, you will be assigned to one.

The league really appeals to everyone, said founder Joe Szatmary.

"The average age of our participants is hard to pinpoint, but I would say between 25-40 is the age of the majority of our participants. Male to female seems to be 50-50. (We) have many married couples, boyfriend/girlfriend, as well as singles."

For additional information and more details concerning the kickball league, call (414) 322-8062 or visit www.musakickball.com.