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After 13 years and a ton of money raised for the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation, it's almost dumb to describe the annual Mudd Volleyball Tourney as "unrivaled."

We're talking nationally.

It's a smash hit and has been since Year One.

I first participated in 1999. I was truly stunned at what I saw that year. A good friend, witnessing it for the first time, said it looked like a scene from the movie "Troy."

Trust me, television cameras don't do it justice. It's an assault on the senses. A little bit rowdy, loud and generally on the edge. Not quite my scene frankly, but I can see the appeal.

By now, there's virtually no one left in the city who has not at least heard of it, known someone who has participated or dipped a toe in one of those mud pits.

Good on us. In fact, the Mudd Volleyball Tourney is so successful it's now being copied in other cities.

Something, however, is starting to feel off-center about the tourney, especially after this weekend.

I'm starting to wonder if this event is approaching a tipping point, because some wits are nearing their end with frustration over the drinking and fighting.

It's been creeping up for years, and it needs attention before a really good thing becomes a bitter memory.

"This year was different in escalation," says Missy Penor, an 11-year veteran of the event with her company, Miscellaneous Publications. "It's unfortunate that a few idiots make everyone's fun go away."

Let's talk about this. Carefully. As the days have gone by since the event, so has a sense of proportion on the situation.

Part and parcel of this event is alcohol.

For some, a little bit. Just like they'd consume it in any other part of their social life.

For others, it's a ton, likely more than the event organizers are comfortable with.

Part of the problem this year, depending on your point of view, was the decision not to open the beer stands until noon, well past the anticipated and traditional 8 a.m. start. Apparently, that didn't go down well with a thirsty few.

Again, depending on whom you talk to, tempers either got wildly out of proportion — that word again — or people were just disappointed.

What did happen, however, was a public address announcement, following a fight, warning that everyone needed to chill or this thing was going to get shut down and everyone sent home.

Think about that. A fight at a charity event involving mud, volleyball and a competitive spirit of winning that's a pretty low priority for most attendees.

The 8 a.m. beer-fest start is now probably mud volleyball history.

"It's very, very frustrating, especially because it's a children's fund-raising event," said Penor, who has seen it all - including winning best costume four times.

"People need to stop and check themselves," she said. "It's a great idea if everyone plays nice."

Penor is quick to point out the nature of the few spoiling it for the many. All it takes is a few knuckleheads to send something backward. But clearly something needs to be tweaked.

The folks at the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation, whom I could not reach for their take, are in a tough spot here. We're talking a pretty good chunk of change, in past years close to six figures for the event. But reputations die hard.

Everyone involved needs to take a breath and figure this out. If not, the next step assuredly is someone at City Hall splashing in on a white horse and "solving the problem." And haven't we had enough of that lately?