2006 Corporate Games kick off Sunday

The employees at Big River Telephone aren't participating in the 2006 Corporate Games just for the chance to taste the thrill of victory.

"It's not all about competition," said Big River employee Michelle Otte, who is also organizing the 22-person company team.

But then she pauses a minute, laughs and adds: "Well, mostly it is."

The Corporate Games kick off Sunday, when nine area companies and 10 teams -- Procter & Gamble is so big it has two -- compete in 21 events over a two-week period.

"It's an opportunity for companies to get their employees together in the evening and do something competitive," said Kaed Horrell, a recreational supervisor with the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, which sponsors the event.

Employees had many events to choose from. More traditional events like softball, flag football, golf and basketball are peppered with old-school activities like tug-of-war, washers, horseshoes, bowling and poker. Even a few oddities made the lineup, such as innertube water polo and dodgeball.

And Horrell said not to forget the mystery event. Each year, since the event was organized in 2003, the last night of competition features an event that is not on the schedule.

"And no one knows what it is," he said. "It's always something different. That's always a lot of fun."

Ten teams have been divided into three divisions, Horrell said. Division 1 is made up of companies that have at least 100 employees. P&G has two teams along with the Southeast Missourian/Concord Printing, Southeast Missouri Hospital and Delta Cos. Division 2 includes Montgomery Bank, Big River Telephone and MedAssets. Division 3 is Extra Hands and Yellow Book.

Teams compete within their divisions in each event. In each event, first-place teams will get 30 points, second-place teams get 20 points and third-place teams get 10 points. An additional 10 points are awarded for participation.

A new champion will be crowned this year. TG Missouri has won the Division 1 Championship for two consecutive years. But the company is not participating this year.

"Division 1 usually has the best chance of being most competitive," Horrell said. "They are more likely to have athletes because they have a larger pool to draw from. Not to say that Division 3 won't be very athletic."

Participants say they get involved for a variety of reasons -- to have fun, to compete and to get to know colleagues better and those in other companies.

"We have a lot of new people at our company," said Doug Dickerson, a computer programmer at MedAssets, a company that sets up contracts between medical suppliers and hospitals. "You can put a face with a name. When it's all over, I'll know most of the people I didn't know."

The employee-athletes will also get to know others from other companies.

"It's about networking too," he said. "In business, that's always something you can build off of."

Brock Alspaugh, a financial adviser with Montgomery Bank, is heading the team there. Alspaugh -- all 6 feet and 200 pounds of him -- is competing in flag football, basketball, poker and volleyball.

"I think we really just wanted to get something going that we all could participate in," he said. "We've got some pretty competitive people here. ... It's going to be a lot of fun."

Alspaugh said he believes his team will win.

"I like our chances to win the whole thing," he said. "Why not?"

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137

Who's playing?

Division 1: Delta Cos., Southeast Hospital, Southeast Missourian/Concord Printing, Procter & Gamble (two teams)

Division 2: Montgomery Bank, Big River Telephone, MedAssets

Division 3: Extra Hands, Yellow Book

What are the events?: Banner competition; tug-of-war; washers; golf; billiards; darts; 6-on-6 indoor volleyball; softball; 3-on-3 basketball; bike or run relay; horseshoes; bowling; poker; hot-shot basketball; flag football; swimming relays; innertube water polo; dodgeball; trivia night; mystery event