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Ok, I am going to cut the pre-article banter short here, because I am currently riding bitch on a donkey because it was supposed to be a shortcut. My laptop battery probably won’t last long, and my screen is about to break off. So let’s get to this playoff run special of fan questions. Remember, these are questions I get from fans, and I give them answers that do not really answer their question.
Q. What’s going to happen in the NC West division race?
A. I get this question all the time. And it is coming tenfold now that both Oakland and Vancouver are so deep in a slide that Reno could possibly win the division. That’s right, Reno sitting at 4-9 could win the division. The Wolfpack have Oakland and Vancouver at home over the next three weeks, with a game at California mixed in there. So there it is, I am off the Oakland bandwagon and the Vancouver bandwagon. Screw them both, I am calling for Reno to win that division with a 7-9 record, maybe even a 6-10 record. Really, who cares what happens to that division? If Reno doesn’t get it, then I am really pissed because Vermont, Texas, Madison, or Lansing will be getting screwed in my eyes.
Q. What’s going to happen in the AC North division race?
A. Now THIS Is a good question! Those AC North guys are always yapping their mouths it seems. They just don’t like each other and it’s a beautiful thing for all fans when Cleveland, Iowa City, and Wichita are in a three way race with three games to go. Wichita has won 4 games straight while Iowa City has dropped 4 of 5 and Cleveland has dropped 3 of 5. Cleveland has the edge for two reasons. They have the one game lead over both the other teams, and they play both the other teams. Clawz, you hold your destiny in your own hands. Time to man up and take it if you want it. Also in favor of the Clawz is the one non-division game left on their schedule. For Cleveland that team would be a 4-9 Georgia team. Iowa City has 11-2 Little Rock, while Wichita has 8-5 Texas. Montreal has a big chance to play spoiler, playing both Iowa City and Wichita. Cleveland fans have never loved Montreal so much. My call, Cleveland takes it, Iowa City second, Wichita third.
Q. Madison or Lansing? Madison or Lansing? MADISON OR LANSING!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
A. Word is that the state militia’s are lined up along the border of Wisconsin and Michigan’s upper peninsula. Not sure if I believe it though, mainly because I thought state militia’s went out with slavery. If I can find a musket though, I am joining one somewhere. My point is, these two states are ready to rumble over the NC North division title. Let me settle this right now, Madison wins it. Check the facts. Both teams are 8-5, but Madison still has the edge to me and here is why. Of five Madison losses, four of them are to the NC East teams, and the fifth is to undefeated Norfolk. Madison has no undefeated teams, or NC East teams, left on their schedule. That means they win their last three games of the year, including the rematch with Lansing in week 17. Madison won the first meeting with the Ogres 31-3 in Lansing by the way. Lansing also still has to face Norfolk. See? Madison wins the division.
Q. What are the Vipers chances to go undefeated?
A. Once again, doesn’t matter if I am dog sledding back from Alaska, or riding on one of those swamp boat things with the big fans on the back down in Florida. This question comes from everyone, everywhere. My answer is always the same, I will tell you in 3 weeks. Seriously, you never know in pro football, anything can happen. Will Norfolk sit guys the last three weeks? Last two, or even just the last game? Norfolk head coach Howie Mooooooooberry is not saying whether he will or not, yet. Believe me, that will have an effect on this run. In the meantime, we will just wait and see and look at the games. First up, Hartford. Oh nelly! The arch-rival Grizzlies. Hartford will give them all they got, I can’t say that game is a lock for Norfolk at all. After that is Lansing, fighting for a division title. They finish up with West Virginia, who much like Hartford would LOVE to be the team to give the Vipers their first loss. I am going to say Norfolk losses a game somewhere in the next three. Of course, I thought they would have lost one already, and I was clearly wrong there. One more note; there has never been a team to even finish 15-1 in the Imperial League, so that would be a great accomplishment as well.
Q. What is surprising you in the division races?
A. This is an easy one. The AC South standings are surprising me big time. Only once in league history has that division not ended the regular season with two teams tied at the top of the standings. That was in 2007 when St. Louis won the division with a 7-9 record. Right now Houston has a two game lead on St. Louis and Murfreesboro though. And with St. Louis on a slide, my hopes of another tie is fading. The league has a room of 20 uber-nerds ready to figure out tie-breakers that have been on standby, and now they won’t have anything to do. At least they have other possible ties to work on.
Q. Who do you think deserves to make the playoffs but probably won’t?
A. I like this question, because it means I get to talk about how I feel some more. I have two answers for this question. First, the Mules. Otis ‘Opie’ Peterson is having a great year, and I would love to see the guy make the playoffs with a Mule team that has never played in January. This is a career year for him, and if the Mules made the playoffs a possible MVP season for Opie. Sadly though, I don’t think it will happen. Second, the Outlaws. Wichita has really made a big charge here lately to get back into the race. QB Scott Winston is a guy some people may not notice much. He was selected in the first round five years ago, but the first overall pick that year was the before mentioned Otis Peterson. Well, Winston is coming into his own now, too, and is also having a career year. In fact, I would say Winston has been one of the best quarterbacks over the last eight weeks. Once again, I just don’t think Wichita will be able to keep it going and make it into the playoffs. If I end up wrong on either of these though, at least I am happy to be wrong.
That ends another edition of The Fans Want To Know. Will be back with another one as soon as possible. Only another 50 miles to go on this donkey. I tried to get a mule, they are a little faster, but FB Sheldon Mendez is still busy running the ball in Murfreesboro. No body listens to me.
Adios Amigos,
Pinky Del Nacho
Q. What’s going to happen in the NC West division race?
A. I get this question all the time. And it is coming tenfold now that both Oakland and Vancouver are so deep in a slide that Reno could possibly win the division. That’s right, Reno sitting at 4-9 could win the division. The Wolfpack have Oakland and Vancouver at home over the next three weeks, with a game at California mixed in there. So there it is, I am off the Oakland bandwagon and the Vancouver bandwagon. Screw them both, I am calling for Reno to win that division with a 7-9 record, maybe even a 6-10 record. Really, who cares what happens to that division? If Reno doesn’t get it, then I am really pissed because Vermont, Texas, Madison, or Lansing will be getting screwed in my eyes.
Q. What’s going to happen in the AC North division race?
A. Now THIS Is a good question! Those AC North guys are always yapping their mouths it seems. They just don’t like each other and it’s a beautiful thing for all fans when Cleveland, Iowa City, and Wichita are in a three way race with three games to go. Wichita has won 4 games straight while Iowa City has dropped 4 of 5 and Cleveland has dropped 3 of 5. Cleveland has the edge for two reasons. They have the one game lead over both the other teams, and they play both the other teams. Clawz, you hold your destiny in your own hands. Time to man up and take it if you want it. Also in favor of the Clawz is the one non-division game left on their schedule. For Cleveland that team would be a 4-9 Georgia team. Iowa City has 11-2 Little Rock, while Wichita has 8-5 Texas. Montreal has a big chance to play spoiler, playing both Iowa City and Wichita. Cleveland fans have never loved Montreal so much. My call, Cleveland takes it, Iowa City second, Wichita third.
Q. Madison or Lansing? Madison or Lansing? MADISON OR LANSING!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
A. Word is that the state militia’s are lined up along the border of Wisconsin and Michigan’s upper peninsula. Not sure if I believe it though, mainly because I thought state militia’s went out with slavery. If I can find a musket though, I am joining one somewhere. My point is, these two states are ready to rumble over the NC North division title. Let me settle this right now, Madison wins it. Check the facts. Both teams are 8-5, but Madison still has the edge to me and here is why. Of five Madison losses, four of them are to the NC East teams, and the fifth is to undefeated Norfolk. Madison has no undefeated teams, or NC East teams, left on their schedule. That means they win their last three games of the year, including the rematch with Lansing in week 17. Madison won the first meeting with the Ogres 31-3 in Lansing by the way. Lansing also still has to face Norfolk. See? Madison wins the division.
Q. What are the Vipers chances to go undefeated?
A. Once again, doesn’t matter if I am dog sledding back from Alaska, or riding on one of those swamp boat things with the big fans on the back down in Florida. This question comes from everyone, everywhere. My answer is always the same, I will tell you in 3 weeks. Seriously, you never know in pro football, anything can happen. Will Norfolk sit guys the last three weeks? Last two, or even just the last game? Norfolk head coach Howie Mooooooooberry is not saying whether he will or not, yet. Believe me, that will have an effect on this run. In the meantime, we will just wait and see and look at the games. First up, Hartford. Oh nelly! The arch-rival Grizzlies. Hartford will give them all they got, I can’t say that game is a lock for Norfolk at all. After that is Lansing, fighting for a division title. They finish up with West Virginia, who much like Hartford would LOVE to be the team to give the Vipers their first loss. I am going to say Norfolk losses a game somewhere in the next three. Of course, I thought they would have lost one already, and I was clearly wrong there. One more note; there has never been a team to even finish 15-1 in the Imperial League, so that would be a great accomplishment as well.
Q. What is surprising you in the division races?
A. This is an easy one. The AC South standings are surprising me big time. Only once in league history has that division not ended the regular season with two teams tied at the top of the standings. That was in 2007 when St. Louis won the division with a 7-9 record. Right now Houston has a two game lead on St. Louis and Murfreesboro though. And with St. Louis on a slide, my hopes of another tie is fading. The league has a room of 20 uber-nerds ready to figure out tie-breakers that have been on standby, and now they won’t have anything to do. At least they have other possible ties to work on.
Q. Who do you think deserves to make the playoffs but probably won’t?
A. I like this question, because it means I get to talk about how I feel some more. I have two answers for this question. First, the Mules. Otis ‘Opie’ Peterson is having a great year, and I would love to see the guy make the playoffs with a Mule team that has never played in January. This is a career year for him, and if the Mules made the playoffs a possible MVP season for Opie. Sadly though, I don’t think it will happen. Second, the Outlaws. Wichita has really made a big charge here lately to get back into the race. QB Scott Winston is a guy some people may not notice much. He was selected in the first round five years ago, but the first overall pick that year was the before mentioned Otis Peterson. Well, Winston is coming into his own now, too, and is also having a career year. In fact, I would say Winston has been one of the best quarterbacks over the last eight weeks. Once again, I just don’t think Wichita will be able to keep it going and make it into the playoffs. If I end up wrong on either of these though, at least I am happy to be wrong.
That ends another edition of The Fans Want To Know. Will be back with another one as soon as possible. Only another 50 miles to go on this donkey. I tried to get a mule, they are a little faster, but FB Sheldon Mendez is still busy running the ball in Murfreesboro. No body listens to me.
Adios Amigos,
Pinky Del Nacho
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