The Falcons softball team was started in 2006 with 13 girls and 1 token lesbian. The core of the team featured a well seasoned coach and a mini Asst. coach looking to start a up a team to represent Long Beach, California. Mixing a few talented players and a rag tag team of beginners, the men launched what would become a dynasty.
Sponsored by Paradise, the team would soon give the local pub on Broadway the comeback of the decade. Paradise, a piano bar, was on the verge of financial collapse and a "dump" suddenly blossomed with new energy to survive. It was the underdog story of the year. The vintage Falcon "D" team was heavily marketed throughout Long Beach, San Diego, Minneapolis, Huntington Beach, San Francisco, and Prague, ultimately bringing Paradise back from the dead and into a whole new shining light. The Falcons were born.
By the end of the first season, the team had garnered itself a fan base, a web site, an iTune soundtrack, bobbleheads, snuggies, and an exclusive break with "SCORE" sports magazine. The non-English speaking coach , Andy Marquez, was hailed as a "miracle worker" on local Spanish television. He and the rising Asst. Coach "Mini" Ricci had brought back the team spirit to the community.
Soon, individual Falcons began to take the spotlight all over Long Beach. The rise of Ling Ling, B-O-B, Black Lightning, Miles, Jeter, Guerrero, and others became local stars that continue to shine today.
The Falcons were loved by all. Life was good.
But, it was a fatal night in 2008 when the news shattered the Falcon's base camp. The team that put the Falcons name on the map was about to spin off into a two teams. ...and so they were born, the Baby Falcons, a D team to replace the original team that was about to move up to the C level.
With paparazzi a flutter, the hunt was on for a new group of fresh, younger, faces to help build the Falcon legacy. Asst. Coach Ricci, along with his two wildest players (David and Ling Ling), spun-off the new Falcon D team. They would take the daring steps forward to see whether their fans would follow both teams.
They did. Like Katy Perry to cocaine, the fans followed religiously, leaving behind a trial of atheletic supporters.
By 2008, the Falcons had also launched "The Travelling Falcons," a cirque du Paradise travelling team. The travelling Falcons attended all the softball tournaments nationwide. Not since the globetrotters had a team diversified itself to become the media darlings of Long Beach, California.
Then, came the scandal. It is believed that the famous scene of Paris Hilton exiting a limo showing her vagina to the photographers was a blatant rip off of Falcon's heavy hitter, Brandon, doing the exact same pose just one week earlier for a local gay rag. Brandon's hung penis was a you tube sensation before Paris's carbon copy scene stealer. But not even a scandal could rock the Falcon power house.
In 2009, both Falcon teams continued to play hard and enjoy the success. they were living. Soon, every one wanted to be a Falcon.
In 2010, the shocking news was heard around the world:
Asst. Coach Ricci was leaving on a sabatical (or as rumors have it, rehab) to the UK for Season V. It wasn't logn before the fall. Misery loves company and soon it was a domino effectt of bad press. The announcement arrived two Falcons announcing their intent to serve on the Surf & Sun Softball League, causing even more devastation.
Ling LIng's sudden departure to pursue a career in plus size modeling was the final cut that left the team bleeding. Bleeding, we say, like the arms of Lindsey Lohan, the Falcon's fate hung by thread.
With the disappearance of Coach Marquez just one year earlier, now believed to have gone the same fate as Natalie Hollaway: sold into sex slavery in Thailand, what were the Falcons to do?
Was a dynasty about to crumble?
What will happen in 2011... stay tuned.
BACK TO ALL PROJECTS
FALCON PRIDE
PAST EVENTS
The vintage Falcons had set forth the agreement with their sponsor, Paradise, that the team was created to have fun. The Falcon guidelines were drafted to specify that there would be "no drama" caused by any of the players. The intent was to develop a team worthy of a team spirit, honesty, friendship and, if available and willing, sex. Dating within the team was forbidden and each Falcon would contribute and participate in keeping the Falcon's represented at all the fundraising events.
A Falcon Pride was born in the hopes that, in the years that followed, generatiosn of Falcons comprised of good men could look back and be proud of beign a Falcon. "Being a part of team is like saving your virginity," Coach Marquez once told a young recruit (Eric), "You can give yourself to everyone you meet out there, but give yourself to the Falcons, you'll always remember that first ball, that first score, that first homerun."
Coach Marquez's words would live forever as he concluded, "I have a dream, too, and that's to make sure every Falcon man who is honored to wear the Falcon logo (now on sale) will, in the future, run into a generation of Falcons and they wll bond together like men do. Hard. Hard like candy."
VINTAGE FALCONS
The success of the Falcons has also been contributed to the mass marketing of the Falcon legacy.
There have been many Falcon fundraising events that have left years of memories, thousands of photos, a couple of STDs, and, yes, a murder.
But, the majority of it was all good and we honor the events in our galleries and the forthcoming photos that will posted in the years to come.
...or, at least, until Paradise stops paying for this web site.
a
2011 Teams to be announced.
Our Falcon players are currently negotiating their contracts . When the official players have been announced, we will post them here.
Michael
Robert Jeter
Miles
James Alva
Ling Ling
Our 2011 Spring schedule will be made available here next January. In the meantime,
be sur eto check out our schedule every year.
LONG BEACH I 1800 E. BROADWAY, CA 90802 I (562) 590-8773 I WWW.ParadisePianoBar.com
Welcome to Long Beach, California.
OMG! This is the official home of the brand new 2011 web site of the Paradise Falcons, voted Long Beach's most popular gay softball team five years in a row.
The Falcons play in the Surf & Sun League of Long Beach and Orange County.
The Falcons are glad you checked us out!
We wink right back at you!
During the off season, the Falcons take a break, but come Spring season, the official teams are selected and the men of the Falcons become true stars. (However, you can always find the Falcons at the local pub along the Long Beach gay cooridor on Broadway.)
During the Fall season, the team practices and tests new recruits. The Falcons is "the" team to join and the team that draws the most fans to our stadium.
With devoted families, friends and one night stands, our bleachers are packed with fun, laughter and cheerleaders! ...and, fo course, alcohol. Heck, even our cheerleaders come in drag!
So, why not come out and be an athletic supporter?
We are always in the need for sassy cheerleaders willing to jump up and root for our players.
After the Spring games on Sunday mornings, our men of the Falcons hang out in the local dug out at Paradise Piano Bar & Restaurant.
Paradise
1800 E. Broadway,
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 590-8773
Spring Season V is over, but the fall balls continue until we Spring when Season VI begins.
PARKS PLAYED AT:
Mile Square Park Sports Complex
16801 South Euclid Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708-3005
(714) 962-5549
*Always call ahead on rainy days
