The 11th eSFL season comes to it's final week and there are still a couple of playoff spots up for grabs. In this weeks article I will discuss playoff possibilities, look back at the season as a whole, and more.
First of all, congratulations to the Viall Vigilante on their first win of the season last week. Folks, take it from someone who has lost a group of games in a season, it isn't pleasant. Every single owner in the league could have been in the same situation as the Viall team was this season. Looking back at his teams performances, he honestly should have at least 5 wins going into the final week. With a little good luck, his team could have won a couple of games in which he scored low, such as 121, and that would put him at 6 or 7 wins, and that's playoff contention folks. So, what I am trying to point out here is that just because a team wins doesn't make them unbeatable or invincible. Every team in this league could have easily have been a loser or a winner, it all came down to good and bad luck. With that said, let's not under value those who have had a playoff team this season. Each and every owner has earned their record, whether it be 1-13 or 13-1. Even though I often am critical of the leagues head to head type layout, I believe it is the most exciting and enjoyable format there is. The reason is simple, even though your players are not performing well in a given week, you usually can enjoy the weekends games knowing you still could pull off a lucky win because your opponent is doing poorly as well. I don't believe the best team has always won the Ballistic Bowl however, and this is where my disdain of the head to head layout resides. We will make minor changes to the league each year, but I can say with almost 100 percent certainty that this league will always be a head to head format, regardless of my dislike for the teams with the most points scored losing week in week out.
The next thing I would like to write about here is the season as a whole. When the draft was complete every owner based the success of the other teams on the players that was obtained in that draft. Articles were written about who was going to be the best teams, radio stations discussed how it was possible that an owner bypassed a certain player for another, and so on. As I have stated before, the Ballistic Bowl is not won on draft day, never has been, never will be. Now, I at this point I do not know who is going to win the Ballistic Bowl this year, but I will guarantee they didn't win it because of who they drafted. Every owner that drafted a team had the EXACT amount of quality players on their roster as the others when the draft was complete. Sure, some draft picks were a bust, some were a surprise, but when it was all said and done everyone had the same amount of skilled players as the other. The Ballistic Bowl is won by the team who had the best two-a-days, restricted free agents, trades, and free agent pickups throughout the season. I am not going to elaborate, but I truly believe that, and have for the past 8 years. So, next year when your draft day doesn't turn out as you expected, stick to it, buckle down and be the first to get those unexpected hot players, they will lead you to the Ballistic Bowl title game, trust me.
Now let's take a look at the playoff possibilities:
This seasons Global Division was dominated by the Pardue Bruisermakers and McKinney Rednecks. The Rednecks beat the Pardue team twice this season and has a shot to win the division crown in week 13. If Pardue loses in week 13 and McKinney wins, The Rednecks will be the Global Division champions and get to select who their first round opponent will be in the playoffs. On the other hand, if Pardue wins he gets that title and selection, regardless what McKinney does this week. The Zima Ruskies have surprised many with a solid second half of the season, winning 7 of his last 9 to become playoff qualified. His team is in and will wait and see who he plays in the first round, week 14. The Temp's Texas boys will round out the Global division playoff teams with at least 7 wins. After a 5 game mid-season losing streak the Texas Boy's ran off 3 wins in a row to clinch the final spot in the division. So, in the Global division the teams are, Pardue, McKinney, Zima, and Temp.
The Appalachian Division has turned out to be the most exciting division, with three teams fighing for two playoff spots. If in week 14, the Perdew and Kav teams win, they both qualify for the playoffs and Whitmore is out. If Perdew and Whitmore win, they are both in and Kav is eliminated. If Perdew LOSES then Kav and Whitmore are in regardless what they do. OK, you got the idea right, it's complicated, and I might even be wrong, so don't be writing me saying I am wrong because when the season is over we will look at the records and figure it out. So in the Appalachian we will have Fields, Texan, and whoever.
Now that we all know the playoff situation, lets look at the format. Each division winner selects their first round opponent (week 14) from their division, and the remaining two will meet in week 14 as well. In week 15 the winners from 14 advance and will meet in the division championships. The winners in week 15 advance to the Ballistic Bowl in week 16. That's easy. But the Gunner Cup, now that's not so easy. And I am not going to discuss it in length here. What I am going to point out is that the format has changed from the one that is currently posted on the website. The image below reflects that change. The change is that the losers in the division championships in week 15 WILL NOT drop down into the Gunner Cup tourney. That will leave two teams to meet in week 16 for the Gunner Cup title. Week 17 will pit the winner of the Gunner Cup against the Ballistic Bowl winner, this is known as the Pro Bowl. There is no prize for winning the Pro Bowl. The two losers in week 15's division championship will meet in week 17 for Turkey Bowl 4. There is no prize for winning a Turkey Bowl, however wagers between the two owners is not discouraged, actually it's highly encouraged.
Finally, I invite everyone to join Josh Perdew and I in the upcoming eStandout Radio programs. All programs are live, easy to access and call in, easy to participate in, and free.
The program schedule is:
Josh Perdew Variety Hour-Every Wed 10 PM ET
eSFL Insider Live- Every Friday at 9 PM ET
eSFL Now-Every Saturday at 8 PM ET
eSFL Audibles-Every Sunday at 11 AM ET
eSFL Postgame-Every Sunday at 8 PM ET
To visit the eStandout Radio showpage, go here:
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/90576
Once there simply dial the number listed, enter the show ID (90576), and hit 1#.
Your in. You can call on your cell phone or use any VOIP service. If you do not wish to call in, you can simply enter the room by hitting the join this show button. Then you can listen and type chat.
So far this season we have had callers from our league, Frost, Temp, Kav, Josh, Fields, J. Kizima. Also, we have had unknown callers such as Pat from Fla, and a few others requesting fantasy advice. Don't be shy, join the show, theres only a few weeks left.
Thanks to everyone this year for a great season and making it easy on the commissioner. Remember to check out the official site around the end of June next year for draft day details for the 2011 season.
This weeks big games are:
brought to you by:
Perdew 7-6 vs Viall 1-12
Perdew won only contest between these teams in week 4: 121.32-128.24
OK folks, you have made fun of the Viall team all season, now let's see who talks shit in week 13. My guess is it won't be Josh Perdew, because if there was ever a ripe apple ready for pick'en, it's his ass this week. The Vigilante just improved their running game 100 fold with the injury to Frank Gore, meaning his guy, yeah, Brian Westbrook, you know, the one certain people made fun of him for picking up, and the same one the same people made fun of on public radio for still having on his roster in week 9. Oh, shit, it's time to keep your blow hole shut if you play the Vigilante this week. Not only have they improved their running game, but they are coming off their first win of the season. And, yeah, there is more good shit for Viall, his team has averaged 137 points a game over the last 8 weeks, to include a 144, 151, 150, 173, and 149 in the mix. With Brian Westbrook no longer standing on the sidelines this team just became a Gunner Cup contender, and sorry Josh Perdew, but it looks like they also just became the team that makes you a Gunner Cup contender. I see all the futility of the Viall team behind them, and not a moment to soon, because they can enjoy knocking someone on their ass and running for the Gunner Cup. This week the poor old pathetic excuse for a team, the Viall Vigilante, raise their middle finger high in the air and tell everyone in the league to kiss their pathetic little no good asses, because you dudes ain't as smart as you thought you were all season.
Viall 159
Perdew 136
Only a few weeks ago it looked like Whitmore had a playoff spot clinched and a chance at a division crown. And it looked like Ron Kavavaugh was on his way to another punch him in the stomach type of season. Well Whitmore is fighting for his playoff life and Kav has been blessed with someone not letting him make another one of his stupid trades. It is possible both these teams make the playoffs regardless who wins, if Perdew loses. The Kav team has really turned it on the second half of the season, posting a wonderfull 5-2 record over his past seven games to rebound from an ugly 2-4 start. Wideout D. Bowe has been a monster, albeit one ownership did not really wish to keep on their roster. Additionally, this team boast a nice running game with Ray Rice and ......well no one. I have been a Kav team promoter most all this season, but this week I think Whitmore continues his hot streak against the so called better teams. On the good news side for Kav, he will back into the playoffs as he sits back and enjoys the Vigilante taking down his arch enemy Josh Perdew and the Pulverizers.
Whitmore 179
Kav 165
Good luck to everyone in the playoffs!
