08/29/2026
I just found a 2014 draft post on www.buffalofoosball.com announcing the first ever Monster DYP that I ran - using a windows program that predates Kickertool, sent to me by Jens Uhlemann.
Jens made a trip around the US that spring. I chatted with him at TX States over Memorial Day, then hosted him for a day in Buffalo, where we spent countless hours discussing European and USA foosball, and brainstormed league ideas over some Ted's Hot Dogs. 2 months later I got my first chance to run it while Mark was out. "When the cat's away, the mice will play".
I recall the players' reactions being very...curious. Having a tie/draw at 6-6 was the biggest change, and we did not utilize draws for very long. I don't believe we were the first in the US to play Monster DYP, but definitely the first season!
Another big change I was able to pass into law here was the table fee, doing away with coin op during events. That had to have been as far back as 2010. I didn't know of any other clubs around the country operating that way, but after seeing how well it worked in big tournaments, I knew there had to be a way to make it work, locally. $5 was the easiest number to arrive at, but I was afraid Mark and the players would consider it too high, since some players could spend a Thursday night using just a few dollars to play. Fortunately, Mark and Tony were receptive and we never looked back.
Might as well finish this origin story...
By the end of 2014 or sometime in 2015, Mark had ceased organizing weekly events after 20 years of being an outstanding community organizer. Unfortunately, there were no publicly accessible, tournament quality tables left in the entire Western NY area!
Fall of 2016 I acquired 2 tables, (1 of Mark's and 1 of Kevin Westcott's from the 2016 NY State Championship in New Amsterdam), and found a location. I was excited to have full creative control and I used Monster DYP format and beginner-only events as the basis for Buffalo Foosball.
November 21, 2026 will be 10 years of myself running Buffalo Foosball. I have installed new tables in 28 different venues in Buffalo and Rochester that have come and gone over the years, and hosted events in 15+ locations.
Today, we have a beautiful clubhouse at Bison Billiards and I am excited to host all our region's players there on 11/21/26.
Monster DYP is making its first appearance at the World Foosball Tour Worlds next week.
See you there!
Matt McCrorey
