Friday, December 31, 2010

II: Larkspur Bowl 2010

The league's sophomore season saw the playoff field trimmed to six and a change in geography, as four teams left the league: NRL alum Alabama and Carolina from the Piedmont-Atlantic regions, and the Philadelphia and DC in the Northeast. Replacements included future mainstay Pawnee of the Great Lakes. After a rough transition season, Phoenix vaulted to the top of the standings alongside the defending champion Orgrimmar Horde. However, the Oklahoma Kalsu-Club upset the Horde in the semifinals before going down to Phoenix in what would be their final Larkspur Bowl game.

DRAFT RESULTS

STANDINGS:

BRACKET:


RIVALRY WEEK MATCHUPS:

"THE BIA BOWL"
The Fighting 54's vs Arian Foster Nation"
-Two coworkers must battle it out on the gridiron, despite working at a hockey rink. Logic has no place here!!

"THE ANONYMOUS BOWL"
JackAttack vs Bob Kalsu Fan Club
-The fierce competitor no one knows, versus the flake "competitor" everyone wishes they didn't know!

"THE FORMER GLORY BOWL"
LOS BASTARDOS vs NY Finest
-A rematch of last year's championship! Man, these teams were a lot better last year!!

"THE RED STORM BOWL"
STR8HUSTLIN' vs Wieterville Wieter's
-Fellow St John's alumni battle it out, but it is doubtful either one of them even glance at the scoreboard!

"THE BLOOD SWEAT AND EDWARDS BOWL"
Worlds Finest vs edwards
-The Team that takes the league most seriously, versus the team that takes the league the least seriously, if they even remember it exists. Will be renamed "THE IRONY BOWL" if there is an upset!

"THE PETE BOWL"
Lev Grossman vs The CHeeSe GraDerS
-Two guys named Pete square off! BUT ONLY ONE WILL LIVE! Well only one will live with the name Pete after this matchup. The other will be cast off and go by the name Preston. Haha, Preston, what a loser!!

"THE BFF BOWL"
The Dead Parrots vs kibbles and vick
-Two best friends must test the strength of their bond, as they are forced to be rivals on the field of battle, and one must emerge victorious, to the detriment of their closest ally.

MID-SEASON POWER RANKINGS

-The Top 3 (6-1)

The Fighting 54's
- The 54's started last year 4-0, and then went 1-8 the rest of the season, as the RB Carousel of Doom spinned out of control. This year it is in full gear again, as the 54's have rostered a whopping 13 running backs so far this season. With the rest of the roster solid, the rotating runners are the key to the 54's continued success.

Kibbles and Vick
- A very balanced team, with a prolific QB and set of high scoring WRs, nd some workhorse RBs that pile up consistant, if not spectacuar point totals, Kibbles appears to be a lock for the playoffs, barring injuries; Perhaps most unsettling are the Injuries in Green Bay, and their effect on Rodger's performance.

Los Bastardos
- My preseason pick for number one, the defending champion Bastards have overcome some disappointments (VJax, Sims-Walker, Beanie) to the tune of a 6-1 record. With two elite QBs and RBs, the key point for these guys will be how they fill Dallas Clark's spot at the TE position in the second half.

-The Next 3 (4-3)

Bob Kalsu Fan Club
- The always prepared Kalsu has a deep roster, so his success likely depends on his gameday decisions, and I expect them to continue to be good ones. The wild card here is Jay Cutler, who has been sacked a whopping 27 times. If Cutler can remain upright long enough to make some good decisions, Kalsu is a contender.

Edwards
- Edwards has done only minor tinkering to her roster, but it has served her team well, as she goes into the second half of the season with a winning record and playoff positioning. The emergence of Roddy and Hakeem as top 5 wideouts, along with her strong RB play, makes the team very potent- if Elisha stops throwing so many picks, this is a scary looking team in the second half.

Wieterville Wieters
- Wieterville, which is Baltimore, for those not familar with the O's young Catcher, has yet to make a move this year. With 12 of his 21 roster spots filled with Ravens, (neither of them named Ray) it hasn't hurt him so far... and after this weeks 'gimme' loss (the Wieters have only 3 players going this week) the .500 team will rise and fall with the success of Flacco's team. I don't see the Wieters making a playoff run, but they have vastly outplayed my expectations ths far.

-The Back 3 (3-4)

Knee Deep
- Formerly the Dead Parrots, Knee Deep traded for McNabb and Marshawn, and somehow turned them into Brees and SJax in a trade with his father. Currently the second highest scoring team in the league, Knee Deep's fortune may rest on his WR slots, as he typically starts no traditional wideouts, instead relying on home run potential from kick returners. I expect a strong playoff push in the second half.

Lev Grossman
- Preston's scorched earth policy has been up and down in the first half, never managing two wins in a row. Ths can be attributed directly to a complete and utter lack of a starting caliber second running back, to compliment Frank Gore. If the team can find some consistancy in that slot, they have enough top of the line players at the rest of their positions that after the bye weeks end, they can make a run... if it is not too late.

Bada Bing Howya Doin
- The so called World's Finest comes in fighting at 3 and 4 despite winning (fleecing?) several trades- gaining Marshall and Hillis for spare parts. But a multitude of health issues have kept the team from gaining ground in the standings. If they fight of the injury imp, the squad is in great position to be a force down the stretch.

-The Rest (2-5)

Arian Foster Nation
- Throught the first five weeks, the Nation suffered the worst luck in the league, seemingly catching ever team in their prime, leaving them 0-5. Since then, Vinny's luck has seemed to have turned, winning two straight. If Orton can continue passing for big yardage in the spread offense, combined with the strong running game, the Arian Nation has a good chance to blitzkrieg up the standings.

The Cheese Graders
- Antonio Gates. The player that most dominates his position (having scored 30 more points than his nearest competitor) is also the Grader's biggest asset. Moving him for a #1 WR and #1 RB and a good TE, and relying on Palmer or Favre to start putting up some big numbers may give him a chance to make a miraculous run. Otherwise Pete's best chance is to drop Victor Cruz (wtf) and Shaun Hill and shop for some depth on the waiver wire... and hope he hits gold.

Str8hustlin
- Marty's deadbeat squad (two years running!) is full of underachievers, and now that his top QB has been Big Blued, there is little hope that his boys turn it around. Hustling isn't enough in this league, and without big moves for big plays, this squad is destined to end up just like his team, the Buffalo Bills. Last place! But I still love you Marty.

NY Finest
- My pops traded his first two picks, Brees and Sjax, for McNabb, Beast Mode West, and his prized possession, Paris Lenon, the #14 overall LB to date. Before the trade his team was 0-4, and since, it has gone 2-1. A good start, but it will have to better that % to finish with a winning record and a shot at the playoffs. The emergence of Kenny Britt as a TD machine gives him an outside chance.

Jack Attack
- After starting Sammy Morris through five straight losing matchups, Wacko Jacko finally smartened up and made a few moves. The result is two straight wins, and if her team can keep that streak alive, she may make the playoffs, despite her horrendous draft. This team started with Khalil Bell as a number one pick, seven kickers, and the cutest QB in the NFL, so there was no where to go but up. And there still is.

2010 ALL LARKSPUR TEAM

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