The Finals - Well, I must say this season certainly didn't play out like I thought, but that's why we play the games. I would like to take a second to personally thank everyone for indulging me for the past 15 weeks and for making this one of the most competitive and fun Gamers Fantasy Football season that I can remember. I enjoy playing this game with you all and hope that my rather offbeat brand of humor has not offended TOO deeply, anyway. :) Remember this week is for cash and draft order. Next week, all teams will enter a line up and the highest scoring team for the week will get $100.00. last week The Maulers won that prize, proving anyone can do it. I have a hell of a cold so, I'll apologize in advance for the following nonsensical ranting. Blame it on Day-Quill On to the picks......

REMATCH! For the first time ever, This years Championship Game features the same two contestants. Last years game featured The Magic squeaking out a 6-point win 79-73 after Coach "Beelzebub" Quinn apparently drugged Peyton Manning on Monday Night. Coach McMahon has been burning voodoo dolls of Coach Quinn ever since and has vowed revenge. However it seems the Magic are up to their old spell casting tricks, while WoWW is losing players rapidly to injury, (4 gone for the week and Ricky Williams with cracked ribs), The Magic GAIN Shaun Alexander due to an injury to Watters. Clearly there is something fishy in the midst. Rumor is that Coach Quinn is not only in league with Satan, but has also enlisted the help of Madam Cleo as his person soothsayer and Tonya Harding as an enforcer. WoWW is trying desperately to be this years "team of destiny". Having fought from behind to win the South. Then stepping up to crush the highly favored Storm last week. They are hoping top bring that momentum to the field this week in what has to be considered another underdog role. It won't be easy though, over coming the untimely injury problem is one thing, but The Magic have scored an average of 88 points per week over the last 6 weeks while WoWW has not scored 88 points in one week this year, period. In other words, if moss feels like playing this week, we will have our first repeat as Champion.

Magic 90 WoWW 75

Storm (12-2) vs. Cougars (9-5)

With the cash decided and simply picks 9 and 10 on the line. This game is for honor more than anything else, of which these two teams have little. That 2 in the L column for the Strom just looks darn pretty, don't it? Odd that both came from the same team, don't you think? Really though, that has GOT to sting. Having by far the best regular season record in the history of the league, leading the league in scoring with 1012 points, looking to cruise to a championship, and then losing to WoWW, twice. I'm betting this will be a good time to by stock in Budweiser, because Coach Sheridan may not actually get off his bar stool until June, or maybe July. I will say though, I empathize 100% with him since I have been on that end twice myself. The Cougars are just about as equally stunned as the Storm. After a mid season run that looked of championship caliber, The Cougars have dropped 3 of their last 4 to end up here in a repeat of their y2k performance. Looks for that trend to continue as The Cougars find out that the chuck and duck offense only works in the East.

Storm 95 Cougars 65

The winner gets $150 and the 5th pick, the loser $50 and the 6th, that makes this one heck of a game to win. Last Years Bridesmaids champs, The Storm, nearly used this game to catapult themselves to a league title. Nearly. Unfortunately for Col. Piro, the seamstress didn't have enough time to find enough chiffon for his bridesmaid dress, so she simply bought a tent, cut a couple arm holes and a head hole and with a nip here and tuck there, well the Col. has never looked better. Coach Sour has decided to tastefully wear the same sequin ensemble as his pet pig, Mommy, with a dashingly plunging neckline. The two I hear are stunning to together, if not nauseating. I must say I as impressed with The Panthers this year as I am disappointed inn the Maulers. After losing their star running back early, they have performed well beyond expectations and have finished on a high note with 3 straight wins. However with Bettis out for the 3rd straight week, that streak will be hard to maintain. Look for Eddie George to actually score points this week and The Maulers to win a close one.

Maulers 65 Panthers 60

Sharks (8-6) vs. Knights (7-7)

The Knights scored a mere 25 points last week after apparently not able to rebound after losing a tough battle for the North Division crown. The Sharks on the other hand scored a daunting 40 points last week in a loss to The Maulers and currently have lost 4 of their last 5. With a closing record like that, Maybe Coach Osama bin Michaud should change the name of his team to The South Valley Taliban. In any event, this game is for what little pride is left and who gets the 7th and 8th pick. Looks for The knights to rebound and salvage an otherwise fine season.

Knights 55 Sharks 50

The Winner gets the 1st overall pick in the year 2002 draft and the loser gets the 2nd. I must say those picks probably couldn't go to 2 more deserving teams. Both teams fought very tough inaugural years through injury plagued and bad karma and it is nice to see them in position to play a game that means something. Both teams have pretty decent match ups and both seem to be hitting their stride. Really this one could be a high scoring affair and this could be the week that the Bruce/Holt duo finally pays off.

Lightning 75 Onslaught 65

Nukers (4-10) vs. Crushers (4-10)

The winner gets the 3rd pick and the loser gets the 4th and the knowledge that they lost to The Lightning and The Onslaught.

Crushers 55 Nukers 50

Best of luck and enjoy the holiday,
~Jim

P.S. Santa BRING ME A TITLE!