NationStates Jolt Archive

The Ministry of Sport is now accepting rosters and recounts of your World Bowl teams.

Facts about: Extra Points and Modifiers (From the World Bowl 1 thread)

Extra Points/Two Point Conversions– The extra point is a very uneventful part of the NFL as the only time you’ll see one on Sportscenter is when one was botched. Therefore, a complicated formula for one is not necessary. According to a information I retrieved, the historic extra point success rate is 97.5%. Therefore, a random number, 1-100, will be generated per TD. If its 2.5 or above, the extra point will be successful.
– The same concept will be used for determining whether a 2-point conversion will be successful. According to the same source, the historic 2-point conversion success rate is 32%. Therefore, for a team with a “0"style modifier, a random number between 1-100 will be generated, and if its 32 or under, the conversion will be successful. Because offensive teams, in theory, are more likely to convert, I will add/subtract your style modifier to the 32. So if you are a +3, if it is 35 or under, it will be successful. If you are a -5, if you are 27 or under it will be successful.

When to go for two?
– At time of posting a roster, you will provide me with one of four options: always, aggressively, logically, or never.
It will be done as follows:
1) always/never= Self explanatory. You will either always kick an extra point or always go for two, no matter what.
2) aggressively= You will go for two every other TD.
3) logically= Here’s where it gets good. If the end result has you losing by one, and you scored at least one TD with an extra point, you will then have the extra point processed as a 2-point conversion and the shot at getting that additional point. If you lost by two, and you had at least 2 TD’s, you will get 2 cracks at 2-point conversions, and so on.

The deal with style modifiers:
This is where we factor in how offensive or defensively focused your team will be. +5 is the highest offensive setting, and -5 the highest defensive. This is my interpretation of the type of team each modifier number would likely produce:
+5: Your team will have a heavy pass based offense. You’d rather win 56-49 then 14-7.
+4: Still relatively pass based. But a little better defensively.
+3: Offensively focused, but with good run/pass balance.
+2: Offensive mainly focused on the run.
+1: A grind it out, run down the clock, running team.
0: Everything is balanced, but nothing stands out.
-1: Balanced, but with a bit of an edge to the defense.
-2: Defensively responsible, but you can score as well. Pittsburgh Steelers-ish.
-3: Strong defense, with an offense that can have its moments.
-4: Still defensively dominant, but your offense is not quite as lethargic as a -5.
-5: Defensively dominant, but not much offense. The Baltimore Ravens come to mind. You like winning 6-3.

With RP permissions, there hasn't been an established box of parameters, but I would recommend everyone mention what is and isn't allowed in the theme of other RP permission boxes you have used.

Group 1: Schedule is here. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13990435&postcount=19)
Arroza (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13994801&postcount=44)
Dancougar (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13988487&postcount=10)
Kenavt
Newmanistan (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13989523&postcount=17)
Swilatia
The Candrian Empire (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13982207&postcount=4)

Group 2: Schedule is here. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13990443&postcount=20)
Bluth Corporation
Cotenshire (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13985619&postcount=8)
Kura-Pelland
Lovisa
Miroxia
Qazox (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13982677&postcount=6)

Group 3: Schedule is here. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13990449&postcount=21)
Milchama
Myedvedeva (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13989336&postcount=15)
Rennidan (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13980354&postcount=2)
Secristan (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13991403&postcount=30)
Taeshan (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13981497&postcount=3)
The Valerian Empire (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13987418&postcount=9)

Playoffs: We're going to do this SEC Basketball tournament style. The top 12 teams will make the trip to Atalanta for the playoffs. The 4 top seeds (all group winners + the best 2nd place team) will get a bye while the other eight teams will play each other in the first round in order to get the numbers down to eight. From there we'll use a standard single-elimination knockout tournament to get your winner.

After they failed to make a full-force appearance in the first World Bowl, the Sports Association of Rennidan decided to cut all funding to the sport known as 'American Football'.

For most fans of the Gridiron, this was a blow that could very well have spelt the end of their favourite sport all together.

But luckily, at the heart of the industrial centre of Rennidan, there are a group of fans that are willing to give more than 'most other' fans are.

These, ladies and gentlemen, are the Rennidan Brutes.

They came into the second World Bowl as nobodies.

A bunch of loutish thugs who never had a chance of making it anywhere in the World Bowl.

They had no kit, no proper training.

The did, however, have heart.

And they showed that heart and detemination is all you need...

To win the World Bowl.





http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png
THE WORLD BOWL CHAMPIONS

RENNIDAN
Team Roster|Third World Bowl Entry|The "Brutes"

Play Style: As defensive as physically possible.
PAT: Logically

Team Kit: Luckily, these guys don't have the finances to pull a kit together. Instead, they wear their work jeans. They wear t-shirts or jackets. They wear heavy damned boots without studs, and they don't wear pads.

They would look like ordinary Joes if it wasn't for the fact they look meaner than most professional players.


Team Stadium: Warehouse 17, The Industrial Sector, Rennidan.
If they can't afford a uniform, there's no way in hell they're getting the cash for a stadium. Instead, Larry managed to wrangle up an old cheap warehouse that was falling to pots in Rennidan's Industrial Sector. A bit of spray paint to mark out the lines and the posts on the floor and walls, a few planks of wood and some fun with nail guns means that, whilst it's still a shithole, it won't be falling down on anyone's head and you can actually play a game.

Team Owner, Coach, Manager and General Head of Everything: Larry Daniels


Players:

Note: Rennidan doesn't play with substitutes. Someone gets injured? They keep playing. Someone dies? They make a great offensive lineman.

OFFENCE

Quarterback:
Pat McGraw
19, 6’4”: Young, restless, and wants to win, McGraw works part time as a mechanic. He chooses to wear his work overalls when he plays as "it gives me boss free advertising".


Wide Receivers:
Lewis Seffer
20, 6’5”: Uses his height for the long throws, he’s not the fastest on the team, but he can break a lot of tackles. Often gets a bit drunk before playing. Can be quiiite amusing.

Marcin Lai
20, 6’0”: Fast, fast and fast. Slightly furious too. If you don’t keep both eyes on him, you’ll just see a cloud of dust.


Fullback:
Duncan Smie
25, 6’0”: A powerhouse of a man, Smie can run through a brick wall if he had the heart to. Unfortunately, he's lazy as hell. Still, he's enough to make most men have second thoughts about whether the tackle is worth it.


Tight Ends:
Tom Gui
34, 6’1”: Gui is one ugly mofo. Seriously, this guy should be the advertising campaign as to why you should wear a damn helmet when you play football. Just don't say that to his face.

Ed Yecks
23, 6’2”: Likes knocking people over. A lot.


Halfback:
Jason Yeilds
20, 5’8”: The fastest guy willing to play. He’s often called Supes, as he ‘moves faster than a speeding bullet’. Good at squeezing through the smallest of gaps in the defensive line.


Center:
Nathan Yecks
28, 6’4”: A big bastard of a player. Not afraid to play dirty in order to keep the other team away from the QB. Watch out for brass knuckles.


Offensive Guards:
Glen Feik
24, 6’3”: Nothing special. He gets the job done and, whilst he does it well, he’s hardly hall of fame material. Not that we can afford a Hall of Fame...

Wayne Willas
23, 6’1”: Likes pancakes. On and off the pitch. Seriously, this guy is one heavy sonova...


Offensive Tackle:
Rick Sestan
32, 5’11”: Former Rennidan National Wrestling champion, Sestan signed up when he realized Wrestling was getting too camp for him. He needed a real sport. Without Speedos.

Micah MesAlta
24, 5’11”: Heavy and fast, this combination means no one’s getting past him if they value their internal organs.



DEFENCE



Linebackers:
Daniel Cuddeford
23, 6’7”: Often used as a MLB due to having the best eyesight out of the three LBs. Strong and mean.

Daniel Guest
27, 6’1”: Stronger and meaner. Good at smacking the run blocker into the turf. Guest works part time as a butcher, and often elects to wear his work clothes during the match. It's never fun running at a guy smothered in animal blood. At least, we hope that's animal blood.

Nick Stow
22, 6’2”: Fastest of the LBs, he’s good in the open field. He’s incredibly focused when in the game, and a trouble maker off it. He's liable to cause the most injuries in the match. Strongest and meanest of the defensive guys.


Defensive End
Daniel Comach
23, 5’10”: Good at stopping pass and running plays coming from the outer edge. Dodge him if possible, regret him if not.

Sim Telek
23, 6’1”: Has a habit of hurting the other team’s running back. We like that.

Defensive Linemen
Owen Powis
28, 6’1”: Probably the heaviest on the team, he’s built like a bull combined with a pick-up truck combined with a brick shithouse. He can probably pull the other team into a geocentric orbit. We don't know what that means, but it's a big fancy word.

Lewis Buxton
22, 6’0”: New kid on the block, he’s very cold and calculating when it comes to playing on the grid. Probably the smartest of the defence, he also manages the teams accounts. Which stands at three Golden Crowns. Or $12.42.


Center Backs:
David McKay
28, 6’7”: Tall and slim, he has good hands and can pick the ball from the air easily if the QB underestimates his ability.

Graham Goldie
23, 6’5”: Brilliant speed. Can easily follow any WR on their route, and often shouts of 'yo momma'' jokes whilst he's doing it for added insult.


Strong Safety
Mosef Cracke
22, 6’3”: When he hits, he hits hard.


Free Safety
Dan Cooper
21, 5’5”: Fast as hell. Don’t blink.


That Guy That Kicks The Ball:
Clive
??, about six foot?: We didn't bother learning anything about Clive because, let's face it, he's just the kicker.

This is the former GWC world championship Taeshani Roster

1 Martin Gramatica K 25 1
2 Sean Landetta P 27 1
4 Gabe Martin QB/DB 23 1/5
5 Alec Dega QB/K/P 31 2/2/2
7 Marhito Dega QB/DB 19 3/6
8 Jack Cito WR/DB 30 1/4
11 Ernie Smith TE/LB 21 1/5
14 Ricky Zellefrow WR/DB 17 2/3
17 Alais Patrick WR/DB 35 3/2
28 Rudi Williams RB/DB 29 1/1
31 Jeremy Johnson RB/LB 22 2/4
50 Odell Thurman LB 23 3
51 Jesse Lapp LB 22 2
52 Dianer Marte LB 24 1
54 Jack Riosa DE/LG 25 1/2
55 Minsi Zathura DE/RG 25 2/2
60 Alan Zito NT/C 32 1/1
62 Shawn Plank DT/LT 32 1/1
63 J.J. Meoda DT/RT 28 2/1
65 Clyde Diez LG 29 1
71 Will Anders RG 23 1
85 Ocho Cinco WR 21 4
99 Trevor Karker Te 21 2



Coaching Staff
Head Coach Ken Wissenhaunt
Offensive Cordinator Michiel Ditka
Defensive Cordinator Oreilly Finnigan
Special Teams Devin Hester

The Candrian Knights submit their (very familiar) roster (I'm lazy.)
E - Modifier of -1/logically.



QB -3
8 Andre Haralde: 6'4" 229 Lbs 26 y/o(R) Starter - Well balanced passer with quick-enough feet to evade pressure; will stand and take the hit but isn't particularly durable.

11 Lucas Grinalda 6'2" 231 Lbs 24 y/o(R) - Happy feet, but can make plays on the ground. Throws well on the run with just enough touch - when he wants to.

19 Eddie Vickers 6'5" 235 lbs 29 y/o(L) - Prototype pocket passer coming from a league that doesn't particularly favor pocket passers. Durable, but doesn't quite fit the offensive scheme, which favors mobile quarterbacks.

RB - 3
21 Frances Valencia 5'10" 205 lbs 25 y/o Starter - Small, shifty back in the Backfield-by-Committee of the Knights. Quick acceleration, great hands, can stop, cut, and go on a dime, and doesn't outrun his blockers until he's in the clear. Can't block worth a damn.

30 Mikail Cervantes 6'2" 241 lbs 27 y/o Starter - Power back with deceptively quick feet and a nasty mean streak as a blocker. Tends to force things that aren't there... which with his frame isn't necessarily an issue. Stone hands.

25 Jei Sherai 5'11" 211 lbs 30 y/o - Excellent awareness to make up for lacking quickness. Injury issues early on typically means he's been relegated to a change-of-pace back, but still considered a playmaker.

FB - 2
42 Jordan Volante 6'3" 234 lbs 28 y/o Starter - Absolutely nasty blocker, with a great killer instinct. Clean routes and soft hands, but slow out of the backfield.

39 Jesse Cromer 6'1" 221 lbs 23 y/o - Undersized, but high motor, with quick feet.

OT - 4
71 Steven Brodie 6'6" 315 lbs 29 y/o Leftside Starter - Prototype Left Tackle from the CGL - quick feet, long wingspan, great awarness, and fast to the second level. Said to be relatively tame but will drive opponents 30 yards deep.

65 Joe Herman 6'4" 309 lbs 31 y/o Rightside Starter - Extremely good pass blocker with excellent leverage and form, but tends to get out of position on the run.

64 Ian Rojenbach 6'5" 311 lbs 33 y/o - Quick feet and excellent technique. Mauler on the run. Struggles against power ends.

73 Joseph Henrey 6'4" 317 lbs 26 y/o - Guard in Tackle's numbers. May not be able to handle an outside rush.

OG - 3
79 Christian Locklear 6'4" 321 lbs 27 y/o Leftside Starter - Punishing blocker with a bad mean streak; will dominate opponents the moment they slip. Young star entering his prime locks up a very strong, very young left side.

75 Shawn Ellis 6'7" 326 lbs 32 y/o Rightside Starter - Very quick feet for a guard, excellent technique but is sometimes too light on his feet when going to the second level.

70 Donald Morris 6'3" 331 lbs 34 y/o - Good mover, and plays hard when engaged, but questionable drive.

C -2
53 Fredrerick Roman 6'3" 332 lbs 29 y/o Starter - Highly mobile, intelligent center. Good form and an excellent application of leverage, but won't automatically dominate at the point of attack.

60 Patrick Hemm 6'2" 328 lbs 23 y/o - Young, inexperienced. Tries to overpower opponents, but sometimes blocks high. Very, very good when he sticks with technique, and can dominate at the point of attack, but often tries to 'out-athlete' his opponent.

TE/HB - 2
82 Leo Jordan 6'5" 245 lbs 26 y/o Starter - Great hands, good endzone target. Runs great routes with good quickness. Light on his feet as a blocker, and may get pushed around in close yardage situations.

89 Travis Favors 6'7" 262 lbs 25 y/o - Adequate receiver, more a tackle with a bigger number. Would be a perfect endzone target, but can't create adequate separation.

WR - 5
80 Torrence Gonzalez 6'3" 201 lbs 28 y/o Starter - Quick, with excellent, crisp routes. Can create separation at will. Very soft hands. High jumps, and unafraid to go over the middle for the play. Won't outrun most defenders, but will definitely have the opportunity to break a play.

82 Jaime La'donez 6'5" 211 lbs 26 y/o #2 - Big endzone target with soft hands. Almost always able to catch over coverage, and quick enough to create separation when he needs to. Somewhat loose routes, and often hampered by injury problems. Despite that, will go over the top if the play demands it.

15 James Berkely 6' 191 lbs 22 y/o Slot/#3 - Field-stretching speedster. Good routes and hands, but poor instincts and situational awareness.

11 Orien Poston 6'2 189 lbs 25 y/o - Another speedster. Good routes and hands, and better instincts and field awareness, but doesn't have the same game-changing speed of Berkely, and is more injury prone.

84 Andre Pryce 6'3" 192 lbs 23 y/o - Soft hands, and a big target, but too light and fragile. Wouldn't risk going over the middle.

DE - 4
92 Harold Norris 6'7" 263 lbs 29 y/o Strongside Starter - Quick, strong end who can split the middle and stop the run as well as he can stop the pass. Has a habit of taking the occasional play off, however.

72 Aaron Fitz 6'5" 255 lbs 26 y/o Weakside Starter - Quick pressure end that can draw attention; weaker against the run. High motor.

94 Stephen Barker 6'6" 267 lbs 34 y/o - Strong and large, but at this point, questionable motor. Good against the run, but can't stay in a whole series.

78 Orien Pershing 6'3" 274 lbs 27 y/o - Extremely strong and deceptively fast, and very good against the run, but unrefined in pass-rushing technique. Will try to out-athlete linemen to the point of attack.

DT - 4
99 Ollie Eaton 6'5" 315 lbs 29 y/o Strongside Noseguard Starter - Stout and strong at the point of attack. Excellent two-gap tackle who can suck up the double team.

95 Travis Mackey 6'3" 299 lbs 26 y/o Weakside DT Starter - Strong at the point of attack, with good leverage. Tendency to over-penetrate. Will rotate out on passing downs.

77 Renaldo Neivenz 6'4" 321 lbs 31 y/o - Experienced, strong two-gap tackle who can take on the double team. Older and worn motor, but still a gamer.

79 Percevien Cartier 6'5" 301 lbs 22 y/o - Young, and too light at the point of attack, but good technique. Can be overpowered by heavier linemen, but for the most part can hold his own if called in.

LB - 6
56 Carlos Mavis 6'4" 241 lbs 26 y/o Strongside Starter - Strong against the run, excellent with shedding blockers, and good short and mid coverage instincts, but too large to shift directions quick enough in deep coverage. Good passrusher and good with the blitz, but can be overutilized for it.

58 Lewis Kelley 6'3" 249 lbs 28 y/o Weakside Starter - Good coverage linebacker with a low center of gravity. Smooth in the backfield and pretty good hands for a linebacker. Technique and angles on short tackles is more questionable.

59 Aaron McKay 6'4" 251 lbs 28 y/o Mike Starter - Film junkie with excellent instincts. Loud signal caller on the defense. Excellent tackling technique and good motion within his gaps up front. Decent hands, but better coverage skills and can keep up with a deep route in a Tampa-II scheme.

51 Guy Willis 6'2" 244 lbs 25 y/o

52 Lou Corgey 6'3" 252 lbs 28 y/o

54 Herman Moats 6'1" 254 lbs 28 y/o

57 Ian Teller 6'4" 257 lbs 24 y/o

CB -5
28 Larry Young 6'1" 199 lbs 27 y/o Right Starter - Great tall physical corner with great hips and good in transition. Excellent in man coverage as employed under Hartwell but can be caught out of position when left on an island.

26 Orlando Romain 5'11" 196 lbs 25 y/o Left Starter - Excellent compliment to Young, with slightly better hands and better open-field tackling technique. Very good against the run.

37 Marcus Marion 6'2" 201 lbs 28 y/o Nickle - Tall corner with punishing hits, but can be lost in space sometimes. Better in man coverage but can't manage quicker receivers.

31 Fabian Worthington 5'10" 188 lbs 22 y/o Dime - Young corner with quick feet and great speed. Inexperienced and unlikely to see regular field time.

24 Jesse Arnold 6' 199 lbs 25 y/o -

DB - 4
33 Maurice Grenaldo 6'2" 215 lbs 25 y/o Strong Safety Starter - Extremely physical safety, punishing over the middle. Hard to get out of position, a ballhawk.

22 Warren Lawrence 6'1" 219 lbs 28 y/o Free Safety Starter - Quick for a safety and good in deep coverage. Great at the open field tackle, and often brought in to blitz. Poor hands, even for a defender.

21 Jerry Warwich 5'11" 205 lbs 31 y/o

29 Geoff Wilkins 6'3" 213 lbs 23 y/o

P - 1
1 Fabian Lomero 6'1 209 lbs 33 y/o Starter - Excellent directional punter. Very accurate. Middle-of-the-road range.

K - 1
12 Arnold Luna 5'9" 182 lbs 27 y/o Starter - Good placement as a PK, icey as a kicker on field goals. Accurate and good range.


STAFF

HC
Sam Morrison

OC
Jason Fellows

QBC
Mariano Volante

LC
Roland Pravit

BC
Jamall Hollis

WRC
Regis Tulley

DC
Greg Hartwell

LBC
Kendrick McKagen

LC
Oswalt Paris

DBC
Corey Essen

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/Gizeh/football-uni.png

Rennidan: I'm using +5 to -5, so "as defensive as possible is going to mean -5
Taeshan: Modifier?

After 2 straight flame-outs by the Pheonix, the head coach was fired, the team dissmissed and a new strategy regime is in place, using the best the QAG has to offer.

INTRODUCING the New PHEONIX:

Head Coach: Lonnie DeVant Head Coach of Fromburg (Age 46)
Offensive Style: Spread Offense (+3 modifier)
Defensive Style: 3-4

OFFENSIVE STARTERS (QAG team):

QB: Greg Dannen (SaxerVilla)
RB: Frank Vallens (Fromburg)
FB: Jason DeHavel (Bruxen)
WR: Tony Aster (SaxerVilla)
WR: Mathew Cottrill (Fromburg) Rookie
WR: Ivan Harvey (Qazox City)
LT: John Green (SaxerVilla)
LG: Mike Franks (Rockport)
C: John Talbot (Rockport)
RG: Greg Danniel (Qazox City)
RT: Paul Inden (Fromburg)

DEFENSIVE STARTERS (QAG team):
DE: Jasyon D'Angelo (Bruxen)
DT: David Reshks (Bruxen)
DE: Richie Sola (Qazox City)
LOLB: Vic Alworth (Fromburg)
LILB: David Reed (Lake Porter City)
RILB: Jason Middleton (Rockport)
ROLB: Eric Fan'tu'mala (Bruxen)
LCB: Mark Johns (Bruxen)
RCB: Greg Olsen (Fromburg)
SS: Adam Politt (SaxerVilla)
FS: Jamal Henderson (Bruxen)

SPECIAL TEAMS:
K: Tryone Chase (Lake Porter City)
P: Oliver Toppens (Fromburg)
KR: Adam Politt

BENCH:
QB: Charles Hanneford QB (Qazox City)
RB: Greg Ferrigamo (Fromburg)
FB: Mark Birch (Bruxen)
WR: Adam Langehorn (SaxerVilla)
TE: Nate Sacimoni (SaxerVilla)
OL: Paul Ma'Fanta'ulu (Rockport)
OL: Oliver Toppen (SaxerVilla)
DL: Hank Fralee (Rockport)
DL: David Gregory (Lorax City)
OLB: Nathan Johansen (San Guano)
ILB: Erik Akana (Lorax City) also a DL
LB: Javier Leveque (San Guano)
DB: Naveen Al' Karesh (Rockport)
S: Eric Hall (Lake Porter City)
CB: Daniel Severin (Fromburg)

negative 4/logically and sometimes out of the blue

This morning, Coach Garaert Slues posted a list of the players who have made the cut, although there was such a fervor among those who did not see their name on the list that he added a special note: “There most likely will be additional tryouts occurring during the season. Those who did not make it this time may make it then. Everything all depends on how the season goes.”

The Current Eagles Roster (with starters in bold):

Offense:

#5 Antoon Kerkrade QB
The best way to describe Kerkrade is a running back that passes occasionally. He is a mediocre passer but is as formidable on the ground as any of the backs. He is truly the greatest athlete on the team and is renown throughout the entire dominion for his athletic achievements. He is also an indispensable leader and the team’s play is greatly influenced by his presence.

#29 Boudewijn Geul HB, KR, PR, Backup QB
Small and fast, Geul can make good sweeps and catches in the backfield, but is not able to run up the field as well as Kerkrade or Zeist.
#36 Lambert Zeist FB
Zeist’s role on this team is a runner first and a blocker second. He should be considered as an extra halfback in many of the Eagle’s formations.
#35 Willem Urkster HB
Urkster does not stand out in any area of the game, but he is a credible enough threat that the defense must consider him when he is on the field.

#18 Robrecht Wageningen WR
Wageningen is shorter than the ideal receiver, but he is second only to Kerkrade in speed. His greatest attribute, however, is his quick mind that is always aware of the positions of players and of the ball. His ability to read defensive backs makes him able to make plays when they would otherwise not be there.
#82 Tileman Waalwijk WR
Waalwijk is not as mentally keen as Wageningen, but he possesses just as formidable speed and is excellent with his hands.
#80 Eduard Vorden WR
While slower than the two starting receivers, Vorden’s height and hands make him difficult to defend against in the slot position.
#19 Henrick Laren WR
#84 Magnus Rinchem WR

#86 Theodor Hoorn TE
Hoorn is most useful to the team as a blocker. He has good hands for when catches need to be made, but he is slow even for a tight end.
#81 Huughe Schede TE

#70 Arnulf Woerden LT
The entire Eagle’s OL is quite fast and athletic (or at least as far as OL players go). Their speed and strength are good for quickly getting up blocks on outside runs. The relative lack of size is sometimes a problem on inside runs.
#64 Michael Zierikzee LG
#52 Wolf Zutfen C
#50 Raynaerd Harlingen RG
#67 Frans Zwolle RT
#61 Jan Bolsward G
#72 Dirk Groenlo T
#68 Jaecop Mueller C, LS

Defense:

#62 Daevit Carwer LDE
Like the OL, the DL is somewhat smaller and more athletic than average. This has advantages, such as a deadlier pass rush, but powerful runners and OL can be problematic.
#95 Karel Franeker LDT
#77 Godfried Stavoren RDT
#79 Maertyn Drachten RDE
#98 Pieter Wesp DT
#90 Dirk Muiden DE
#75 Filips Zaltbommel DT
#99 Robrecht Zilmijk DE

#97 Kristof Vlissingeln SLB
Vlissingeln’s main duty is stopping runners that get past the defensive line. He is also good against outside runs and is skillful at shedding blocks. The downside is that he is rather useless in pass coverage.
#54 Brunulf Delfzijl MLB
Delfzijl mainly covers the middle of the field against passes and often is paired with the tight end. He will also stop runs that come through the middle.
#91 Coenraad Buren WLB
Like most of the team, Buren is small but fast. He is good in both pass coverage and pass rushing, but is lacking in tackling ability.
#96 Gerrit Hoogeveen OLB
#58 Simon Leuven OLB
#92 Berthold Tienen ILB

#46 Ysbrecht Roeselare CB
Roeselare is infamous for his ability to bump receivers and disrupt their routes.
#39 Otto Kortrijk CB
Kortrijk is a very well rounded corner who is competent at a variety of coverage schemes.
#48 Detner Menken CB
Menken may not be as fast as Kortrijk or Roeselare, but his ability to quickly change directions makes him proficient in man coverage. He is known for his ability to deflect passes with his quick hands.
#25 Jan Morgener CB
#31 Jacob Godaat CB
#21 Floris Oosterhout SS
Oosterhout provides extra help in pass coverage and his speed enables him to keep up with receivers on downfield routes.
#30 Emich Genk SS
#45 Bruno Seraing FS
Seraing orginally tried out for the defensive end position, but Coach Slues felt he was better suited as a safety. His big hits jar the ball loose with alarming consistency, and he frequently prevents receptions just by slamming into receivers before they can secure the ball.
#37 Baldewin Diest FS

Special Teams:
#3 Lodewijk Tonger K
#11 Guij Haageo P


Team Helmet: http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/2707/helmetle2.png
Team Uniform: http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6179/uniformlq4.png
Location of Taale-Voren: http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/1/taalevorenkr0.png

Modifiers: +2/logically

The Valerian Gatecrashers

Offensive Team

QB: Ivan Dragonov (#1, Isangrad Dvor)
FB: Dimitrios Pankopoulos (# 17, Deliyannes Mountaineers)
HB: Yuliiy Aefelrykoyov (#3, Alexandria Dolphins)
WR: Bernhard Berg (#92, Baden Landsknechts)
WR: Narseh Yazdgerdi (#88, Tabriz Cataphracts)
LT: Ioannis Shenjimoto (#31, Ryuusame Shoguns)
RT: Laszlo Jak (#2, Belagrad Brigands)
LG: Archimediy Tulansky (#3, Aetheleria Phalanx)
RG: Jacques Lamont (#4, Saint-Etienne Cavaliers)
TE: Mikhail Ledasky (#5, Trentino Orcas)
C: Nikephoros Panagitias (#6, Trikoupes Hoplites)

Defensive Team

DE: Antonius Aurelius (#8, Victoriania Legionnaires)
DE: Manouel Yakovaris (#7, Metashas Scalawags)
DT: Johann Wilhelm Falkenburg (#25, Zellburg Halberdiers)
DT: Alexander Lomonosov (#9, Isangrad Dvor)
LB: Vasily Kim (#94, Isangrad Dvor)
LB: Nestor Dvornikov (#28, Kydonia Beserkers)
LB: Gaston d'Eu (#37, Saint-Etienne Cavaliers)
LCB: Alfred Goethe (#56, Baden Landsknechts)
RCB: Oleg Alexandrovich (#77, Sankt Valerian Crusaders)
FS: Danilo Viktorov (#81, Isangrad Dvor)
SS: Piroz Narseheradhi (#62, Tabriz Cataphracts)

Special Teams

K: Llanwylln Sithirilyov (#0, Messewlln Druids)
P: Jean-Hercule Saint-Jean (#59, Saint-Etienne Cavaliers)
KR: Bernhard Berg

Bench

QB: Feofan Nyemskov (#16, Aetheleria Phalanx)
RB: Vasily Andronikov (#33, Trentino Orcas)
FB: Theophylaktos Pappas (#10, Alexandria Dolphins)
WR: Ruslan Ershchinsky (#11, Aetheleria Phalanx)
TE: Maximilian Ritter (#22, Zellburg Halberdiers)
OL: Yaroslav Yuzhnisky (#29, Isangrad Dvor)
OL: Flavius Querinius (#71, Victoriania Legionnaires)
DL: Bela Andrasyi (#24, Belagrad Brigands)
DL: Francois Transeau (#40, Saint-Etienne Cavaliers)
LB: Konstantinos Branas (#41, Trikoupes Hoplites)
LB: Theophanos Dionysiopoulos (#42, Methashas Scalawags)
LB: Vasilko Konyev (#53, Sankt Valerian Crusaders)
DB: Brian MacEoghann (#32, Arnach Clansmen)
S: Gustav Adolf Zimmerman (#48, Zellburg Halberdiers)
CB: Pavil Hakalainenyev (#80, Sankt Valerian Crusaders)

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Leon Yakovich
Offensive Cordinator: Furanusisuko Morimoto
Defensive Cordinator: Platon Daemonidis
Special Teams Coach: Jean Roche

Modifiers: +3/logically

Style: -2 (Stillers!!!)
PAT: Logical

Head Coach Will Moohim gives you your Dancougar American Football Black Wings. There is no professional American football in Dancougar, only amateur... as a result the team is drawn mainly from those teams, as well as from the few colleges that play the game competitively, chiefly those in the states of Sullivan and Keats Island. Home games are played at the 30,000-seat Jared Koeppel Memorial Stadium at the University of Sullivan. The Wings were considered one of the teams to beat in World Bowl II, and so someone ran out and beat them - the Rennidan Brutes took the title, and took down the Wings twice, once during group play and then again in the semifinals. The Wings settled for third and now face a changing landscape with an aging team...

Quaterback
11 - Todd Appelgate (28)
9 - Dusty Haynesworth (30)
13 - Michael Hussey (23)

Runningback
27 - Kirk Hatchitt (29)
36 - Oliver Tangermann (28)
26 - Allan Shinabery (30)
32 - Harrison Vanord (24)
39 - Gary Hutchins (20)

Fullback
32 - Vincent Bozwell (31)
30 - Sidney Etheredge (21)

Tight End
81 - Joseph Coerver (29)
45 - Ed Mendenhall (24)
87 - George Laventure (25)
46 - Ken Whyman (21)

Wide Receiver
80 - Jermaine Divalerio (30)
83 - Russel Seelbinder (29)
89 - Jay Milon (24)
82 - Simon Whitham (31)
87 - Fred Uselton (19)
81 - Jordon Surgeon (25)
84 - Al Venturini (22)

Center
70 - Timothy Shackleford (30)
66 - Ray Chartier (24)
67 - Frank Wheadon (22)

Guard
63 - Brent Stonebreaker (30)
68 - Thomas Mickell (32)
60 - Hershel Seyfried (20)

Offensive Tackle
73 - William Keeser (32)
64 - Donny Cullivan (23)
75 - Vaughn Claybrooks (31)
61 - Brooks Wolpe (21)
65 - Kurt Yeunger (21)

Featured back Kirk Hatchitt is going to wear out pretty soon, especially if he takes another brutal pounding like the one the Brutes gave him in the last tournament. The guy is determined to break through every time and will run hard, but with the offensive line getting old and rotating in fresh blood, things only appear to be getting harder. Nevertheless, the Wings have no abandoned their style of "three yards and a cloud of dust." Tangermann and Bozwell will often join Hatchitt in the backfield and get a few carries, but coach Moohim seems to be mixing in some more passing. In the last tournament, the Wings had to play catch-up a lot. Given their style of play, it was tough. Dusty Haynesworth was just not that kind of quarterback. Todd Appelgate, who backed him up in the last two tournaments, now gets the nod. He's got a better arm and will test secondaries, but the question is whether or not his receivers can. Jermaine Divalerio is a bit slower than he used to be. Russel Seelbinder is making his debut as the number two, while relative newcomer Jay Milon is the third option.

Nose Tackle
95 - David Kucera (31)
78 - Cesar Tramonti (28)
94 - Nick Pasley (30)

Defensive End
90 - Joe Arnone (30)
99 - Grant Martella (32)
93 - Blake McKnight (32)
91 - Leonard Cristelli (25)
95 - Lance Basilio (25)

Linebacker
52 - Kirk Manly (22)
57 - William Tolston (29)
97 - Butch Easley (33)
53 - Travis Abramovitz (30)
51 - Neil Samples (23)
99 - Mitchell Furlough (24)
50 - Billy Aveline (19)
92 - Kerry Tierno (20)

Cornerback
23 - Anthony Corona (29)
35 - Tony Rorick (23)
31 - Zane Meriweather (30)
25 - Scott Maxam (21)
42 - Thomas Ostlund (29)

Safety
20 - Daniel Morgenstein (30)
22 - Paul Dady (24)
33 - Michael Somerville (32)
24 - Alex Isabella (23)
46 - Jack Enright (29)
22 - Stuart Waltjen (22)

The Black Wing defense in World Bowl II was not nearly as dominant was it was in World Bowl I. By the halfway point of qualifying, they'd given up as many point as they had in all of World Bowl I quals. That's bad. Their identity was also broken when the Brutes came to town and showed the Wings what real smashmouth football was like. This hurt the unit's pride and it never showed the same swagger. That's their motivation this time around. The Wings will remain in the 3-4 and have left the depth chart for the line mostly untouched. Their experience will be a key to running the team's multiple blitz schemes. The linebacking corps has started to turnover with the introduction of Kirk Manly and William Tolston as starters, while former standbys Daryl Yearling and Troy Claridge have retired from international play. The secondary also picks up some speed with the debut of Tony Rorick at cornerback and Paul Dady at safety. The nickel package adds former starter Zane Meriweather, and the dime brings on Michael Somerville.

Punter
2 - Brandon Shelpman (30)

Kicker
5 - Corey Stottlemyer (32)

No changes here, the kickers remain as they were. As with most special teams, the other ten that line up with them at a motley assortment of second and third string players of all shapes, sizes, and positions. The kick returners are Tony Rorick and Jay Milon.

The team's popularity remains spotty at best, as American football is a niche sport played principally in the southern regions of Dancougar. Its popularity pales in comparison with the national association football team, but easily beats out the basketball team since they actually win games. To try and stir up general interest in the sport, the American Football Association of Dancougar commissioned a weekly manga to be published in Shounen Leap that brought together a quirky team of high schoolers led by a charismatic female quarterback. The manga, Pretty Sportsman Erika, earned quite a following, but failed to achieve the Association's stated objectives of increased ticket and merchandise sales for the national team proper. Nevertheless, an anime adaptation is ongoing, and they still have hope that the show will stir the passion for American football in the blood of youngsters nationwide.

Roster to follow sometime today... tried to post it a day ago but accidentally deleted it right before posting

Since no one else is going to get in, I'm going to accellerate the schedule as mentioned in the sign-up thread.

Group Draws: Today
Group Stage starts: Monday
Scorination/Cut-off: Every Day after school (2000-2100 American Central Time.)

Other:

Qazox, I'm going to assume your pat's are logical.
Taeshan: Logical and sometimes out of the blue? Why, man, why?

Since no one else is going to get in, I'm going to accellerate the schedule

The Secristan Department of Sports is pondering a lawsuit as they now must suddenly close bidding earlier then expected for the roster spots, which will likely cut into revenue. :p

The Secristan Department of Sports is pondering a lawsuit as they now must suddenly close bidding earlier then expected for the roster spots, which will likely cut into revenue. :p

Note to the Secristani Department of Sport.

We are just closing registration of participating countries. You still hav alloted time in which to extort...accept bids for positions. :p

MYEDVEDEYAN ROSTER

Myedvedeya Today releases the roster of the Kamchatka Grizzly Bears American Football squad.

PLAY STYLE: -5
PAT: Logically

Uniform: Brown Jerseys, with black trim, helmets are black with the top in red and gold, like a cossack hat. On the side of the helmet, and the front of the uniform, is a bear, with a cossack hat, holding an AK-47.

Team Stadium: The 95,000 capacity Krakovsky Stadion is being borrowed from the soccer team to hold the rampaging Myedvedeyan fans.

Coach: Tima Zhuravlev

STARTERS IN BOLD

Quarterbacks:
Boris Shcherbatsky
Vladik Belyakov
Grisha Sorokin

Running Backs:
Vladimir Karpov
Pasha Arkhipov
Pyotr Ilin

Fullbacks:
Ivan Mikhailov
Vassily Loginov

Offensive Tackles:
Vadim Fedorov
Vassily Vassilev
Grigory Ivanov
Vladimir Lukanov

Offensive Guards:
Misha Chernyshev
Pascha Anasimov
Yura Sorokin

Centers:
Nikolai Vorobev
Timosha Petrov

Tight Ends:
Konstantin Evdokimov
Pavel Kuzmin

Wide Receivers:
Grigory Kovalenko
Valentin Aleksandrov
Ivan Volkov
Konstantin Melnikov
Eduard Timofeev

DEFENSE:

Defensive Ends:
Sergei Solokov
Vladimir Ivanev
Alek Vorobev
Eduard Kiselev

Defensive Tackles:
Boris Filimonov
Roman Gerasimov
Timo Bogdanov
Gosha Dimitrev

Linebackers:
Grigory Volkov
Leonid Titov
Leonid Kuzmin
Oleg Seminov
Tima Polyakov
Yuri Ilyin

Cornerbacks:
Vladimir Dolohov
Kesha Gromov
Zhenya Belov
Aleksei Akimov
Ivan Petrenko

Defensive Backs:
Georgiy Zhuravlev Strong Safety
Ivan Nikitin Free Safety
Slava Morozov
Dimitri Kiselev

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Punter:
Roman Belovitch

Kicker:
Aleksander Ermakov

Kick/Punt Returner:

Misha Shcherbakov

Well its so much fun to watch and see how youll do that, and i would do it. Watch this.

Well there up now bty a score 0f 34-0, and holy cow there keeping the QB in what...

OFFICIAL NEWMANISTAN ROCKETS WORLD BOWL III ROSTER

For the first time, the Rockets can not fall back on home field advantage for the knockouts (not that it mattered). With the competition now being hosted elsewhere, there seems to be new life and energy with the team. While the majority of the previous rosters return, there are differences, with new people getting the chance, and starters that are now backups and vice versa.

Modifier: +3
Conversions: Aggressive
Starters in standard offensive & defensive formations in bold, although we will change things up quite a bit.

RP Permissions: If you RP first, keep starters as starters. I don’t want to see a RP where my 3rd string played out of nowhere. Bios of players are provided, so try to stick with their strength/weakness. Do not injure anyone more then saying so and so was hurt. Nothing crazy without my approval (though TG me, I may be up for it). Other then that, you’re good!

OFFENSE:

QB: #5 John Pivonka (27, Tundra Falls Mariners): An outstanding passer, reads coverage extremely well, and hits his receivers with pinpoint accuracy. Mobile enough for defenses to respect it, but not a scrambler. Throws the long ball extremely well. There is still no question that he is the best QB in the Empire, and will start for the third year in a row.

QB: #14 Kenny O’Hara (24, South Tier Seagulls): Making his first appearance on the national team, O’Hara had a breakout season this past year as the Seagulls begin to be more of a national force. Kenny is a scrambler, so the defense will need to be ready to cover his arm and legs. Don’t be fooled by the scrambler moniker though, he has quite an arm.

QB: #4 Michael Chatman (23, Putnam Lake Eagles): A young QB making his first appearance on the World Bowl scene. He has a terrific arm, and is like Pivonka when it comes to mobility, he can do just enough.

HB: #29 Corey Parisi (27, Tundra Falls Mariners): Parisi and Pivonka have played together their entire career, and their familiarity will certainly help here. Reads his blocks well, sees holes as they develop. Able to take it outside and up the middle, and also must be respected as a receiver.

HB: #33 Chris Padgett (28, Loudon Leopards): Never afraid to get dirty, Padgett will be used to spell Parisi, but is a dangerous as a third-down back. Will give defensive coordinators a headache when in a two-back set with Parisi.

HB: #39 Darian Westcott (21, Fairfield City Admirals): The only new face among the running backs on the national team, Westcott is an up and coming player, and will gain valuable experience here. He prefers to take it up the middle.

FB: #44 Tiberius Gillepsie (34, Loudon Leopards): A pure, blocking fullback. Occasionally he might get a handoff to throw the defense off, but blocking is his game. Could see several more carries this time around.

WR: #83 Alex Foster (27, Southport Tigers): Foster is the Empire’s primary deep threat. His speed allows him to get open deep, but that’s not all he’s about. He can catch the short passes, and is not afraid to go over the middle. This is his 3rd World Bowl.

WR: #80 Christian Gagnon (27, Southport Tigers): When Southport drafted Gagnon in the 2nd round immediately after picking Foster in the 1st, some thought it was strange. But it has worked out extremely well, as this combination has been death to opposing secondaries. Gagnon has been the third receiver previously, so he moves up the ladder a bit here.

WR: #82 Jordan Lyons (28, Tundra Falls Mariners): A possession receiver, who’s getting better with age. He saw very little action in the first two world bowls, but is now promoted to the team’s third wideout. As Pivonka’s security blanket with the Mariners, look for him to pick up quite a few receptions per game.

WR: #81 Corey Brooks (26, Loudon Leopards): Brooks will be the teams primary kick/punt returner for the third straight year. His elusiveness makes him ideal for that, but from time to time, he’ll be used as a receiver.

WR: #86 Jeremy LeBarron (23, Olympia Gladiators): LeBarron was a late bloomer. Playing for a small college, he didn’t get drafted until the seventh round, and didn’t see much action. Due to injuries to others in Olympia, he got playing time last year and completely stunned everyone with his ability. Quickly becoming a star.

WR: #84 Tony Dempster (22, Hampton Bulldogs): A pure speedster with outstanding leaping ability. If he becomes a more rounded receiver, he could start in the future.

WR: #85 Jimmie Massey (22, Pocono City Capitals): Much like Dempster, but not quite as good of a leaper. His separation skills at the line of scrimmage are a little better though.

TE: #89 Shane Seymour (24, Centralia Cougars): A receiving TE. Will come in mainly in two tight end sets, which will be often. The TE’s are the same as the first two World Bowl’s, just their role as starter or backup has been swapped.

TE: #87 Jim Crosby (26, South Tier Seagulls): More of a blocking TE, but he is versatile enough for Pivonka to look his way when needed. Generally makes the catch, his problem is getting open.

LT: #77 Benny Halvorsen (35, Centralia Cougars): Perhaps, the all around best player on the entire team. He is strong and quick off the ball, and will very rarely get beat, protecting his QB’s blindside exceptionally well.

LG: #68 Nick Russo (31, North Charlotte Wildcats): Russo isn’t the biggest offensive lineman, but he makes up for it with athleticism and intelligence.

C: #69 Shawn Whitney (34, Tundra Falls Mariners): After being accepted into Newmanistan’s most prestigious university, Shawn signed up for the football team just to “have something to get his mind off of studying”. Safe to say it worked out well. He is also a certified lawyer in the off season.

RG: #70 Brent Pemberton (29, Dover City Mountaineers): A 6'7" 360 pound mass of humanity that is just as intelligent as he is big.

RT: #71 Anthony Colanno (31, South Charlotte Condors): Unusually agile for a tackle, this allows him to be an outstanding run blocker, in particular.

C: #64 Kevin Whitney (33, Hampton Bulldogs): Kevin followed in brother Shawn’s footsteps his whole life, and in college, played guard beside him for three years. Yes, he too, is also a lawyer. He is also the long snapper on punts/field goals.

G: #55 Sal Morris (24, Fairfield City Admirals): Sound in all aspects, best as a pass blocker.

G: #63 Archie Hawkins (31, South Charlotte Condors): Another huge guard, very good at creating holes.

T: #62 Matt Campbell (21, Pocono City Capitals): One of two newcomers to the group of lineman being brought to the World Bowl, Matt is responsible and learning, and may be starting in the future.

T: #67 Andre Barton (29, Loudon Leopards): The other newcomer, Barton has been around for quite some time, but once he entered his prime, his career really took off.

Utility OL: #59 Jacob Beasley (30, North Charlotte Wildcats): Versatile, can play all offensive line positions, and is mainly on the squad in case of injuries, but he can hold his own when needed.


DEFENSE:

DT: #73 Andrew McClure (34, Loudon Leopards): Difficult to move out of the way, and is a very good team player. Not going to wow you, but he does what is asked of him. Starts for the first time.

DT: #95 Mario Martuzzo (30, Tundra Falls Mariners): A big man. Nearly impossible to move off the line. Like McClure, also starting for the first time after being a backup in the first two.

LE: #92 Tyrone Booker (28, Southport Tigers) Quick off the snap of the ball, loves to blitz, and isn’t intimidated by any offensive lineman. Will likely lead the team in sacks. 3rd year starter.

RE: #99 Jason Hutchins (29, Olympia Gladiators): Similar to Booker, the biggest difference is he is not quite as strong. But if you focus too much on Booker, Hutchins will sneak up on you. Also a third year starter.

OLB: #76 Kalvin Thorson (31, Putmam Lake Eagles): Agile, very good in coverage. Is often assigned to the opposition’s tight end. 3rd year starter.

MLB #72 Kirk Comforth (28, North Charlotte Wildcats): Signed with North Charlotte as an undrafted free agent out of college, and through nothing more then hard work has made himself an outstanding, all-around linebacker. Getting his first opportunity to start.

ILB: #53 Jesse Savage (23, Dover City Moutaineers): Still young, Savage knows he has a cool last name for a linebacker, and does his best to live up to it. Getting better with age, this shows as he know has won a starting job after being a backup for the first two world bowls.

DL: #94 Brock Kahnberg (27, Fairfield City Admirals): Consistent run stopper. Generally gets good penetration off the ball. Not flashy.

DL: #97 Brodie Colliton (22, Centralia Cougars): Fresh out of college, Colliton is expected to be a future star. This is his first national team appearance.

DL: #96 Larry Washington (25, Hastings Crusaders): A big man with a nasty streak. If only he could be more agile, then he’d start.

LB: #93 Julius Conte (33, Pocono City Capitals): Conte is an aggressive linebacker. Physical and not afraid to rough up the opponent, especially QB’s. He can go overboard sometimes, though, being prone to personal fouls. That’s what’s going to keep him from starting this time.

LB: #52 Jaquan Hatcher (27, Tundra Falls Mariners): Will see time when the Rockets mix it up with 3-4 base as opposed to the 4-3. His best asset is his quickness. Prone to “illegal contact” penalties with receivers when in coverage.

LB: # 90 Marcellus Hanlon (33, Fairfield City Admirals): Very intelligent run stopper. Physically imposing and deceptively quick for someone his size. Another former starter.

CB: #36 Dan Strasser (29, Portsmouth Whalers): Decent speed to stay with most receivers, but won’t blow you away. Good height but won’t outleap all receivers. He makes up for all this with his intelligence, and intimidating hitting. It’s his 3rd year as a starter.

CB: #46 Stanley Bressler (22, Dover City Mountaineers): The young kid has rapidly ascended in Newmanistanian football, and after being a backup the last two world bowls, his number is being called upon to start now.

FS: #26 Michael Ahearn (25, Pocono City Capitals) Very popular with female groupies, Ahearn’s physical nature makes him popular to true fans as well. And not as much to receivers.

SS: #38 Davisen Manzella (29, Dover City Mountaineers): Outstanding in coverage, is very wise to the tricks and moves that receivers will attempt to put on him. Should benefit from Mountaineer teammate Bressler now a starter as well.

DB: #30 Danny Giles (30, Springfield Throroughbreds): After being traded four times in his first three years, Giles has played with a bigtime chip on his shoulder. It’s made him a much better player. Very speedy DB, though not ideally physical. Should still see plenty of playing time.

DB: #43 Chris Johnson (25, Loudon Leopards): Has blazing speed, but sometimes that works against him as he can tend to overpursue, and get beat on cutback routes. Still learning. Will be alongside Brooks on kickoff returns.

DB: #44 Chris Stilwell (33, Olympia Gladiators): A physical DB. Greatly inconsistent, if he didn’t have his poor stretches, he would be an obvious starter. He’ll only play at safety.

DB: #22 Alex Sedlacek (23, Hampton Bulldogs): After a couple of injury shortened campaigns, the young DB has finally remained healthy and has thus been able to show what he is truly capable of. This is his first time on the national team.

KICKING

K: #3 Ashton Colfer (33, South Tier Seagulls): Very accurate, and composed. His career long is 61 yards, though it was wind assisted.

P: #1 Steve Meadows (40, Springfield Thoroughbreds): Gets solid hang time and distance on his punts, but his best attirbute is pinning opponents inside the 10 without the ball going back for a touchback. Also is the holder on FG attempts.

K/P: #4 Terry Kallay (29, Pocono City Capitals): A punter by trade, Kallay is on the squad in case of an injury to either Colfer or Meadows. He has a powerful leg, so he can make the distances needed for FG attempts.

COACHING STAFF:

Head Coach: Brett Nicholson, Springfield
Offensive Coordinator: Jarred Scott, Southport
Defensive Coordinator: Craig Sanders, South Charlotte
ST Coach: Dennis Hartman, Loudon

In other words you're trying to make it harder on the host, eh, Taeshan? :P

Group draws and schedules have been...drawn. Yeah. Everyone not in Group 2 should not be happy with the luck of the draw. All info will be linked from the first post.

And now for Group 1!

Group 1

Arroza (4)
Dancougar (1)
Kenavt (25)
Newmanistan (7)
Swilatia (17)
The Candrian Empire (30)

Schedule for Group 1: Home teams are listed first.
Matchday 1 Arroza v Candrian Empire; Dancougar v Swilatia; Kenavt v Newmanistan

Matchday 2 Swilatia v Newmanistan; Kenavt v Arroza; Candrian Empire v Dancougar

Matchday 3 Newmanistan v Dancougar; Candrian Empire v Kenavt; Arroza v Swilatia

Matchday 4 Newmanistan v Candrian Empire; Swilatia v Kenavt; Dancougar v Arroza

Matchday 5 Kenavt v Dancougar; Candrian Empire v Swilatia; Arroza v Newmanistan

Break Day

Matchday 6 Candrian Empire v Arroza; Swilatia v Dancougar; Newmanistan v Kenavt

Matchday 7 Newmanistan v Swilatia; Arroza v Kenavt; Dancougar v Candrian Empire

Matchday 8 Dancougar v Newmanistan; Kenavt v Candrian Empire; Swilatia v Arroza

Matchday 9 Candrian Empire v Newmanistan; Kenavt v Swilatia; Arroza v Dancougar

Matchday 10 Dancougar v Kenavt; Swilatia v Candrian Empire; Newmanistan v Arroza

Group 2

Bluth Corporation (8)
Cotenshire (30)
Kura-Pelland (3)
Lovisa (23)
Miroxia (30)
Qazox (5)

Schedule for Group 2 Teams.

MD1: Bluth Corp. v Qazox; Cotenshire v Miroxia; Kura-Pelland v Lovisa

MD2: Miroxia v Lovisa; Kura-Pelland v Bluth Corp.; Qazox v Cotenshire

MD3: Lovisa v Cotenshire; Qazox v Kura-Pelland; Bluth Corp. v Miroxia

MD4: Lovisa v Qazox; Miroxia v Kura-Pelland; Cotenshire v Bluth Corp.

MD5: Kura-Pelland v Cotenshire; Qazox v Miroxia; Bluth Corp. v Lovisa

Break Day

MD6: Qazox v Bluth Corp.; Miroxia v Cotenshire; Lovisa v Kura-Pelland

MD7: Lovisa v Miroxia; Bluth Corp. v Kura-Pelland; Cotenshire v Qazox

MD8: Cotenshire v Lovisa; Kura-Pelland v Qazox; Miroxia v Bluth Corp.

MD9: Qazox v Lovisa; Kura-Pelland v Miroxia; Bluth Corp. v Cotenshire

MD10: Cotenshire v Kura-Pelland; Miroxia v Qazox; Lovisa v Bluth Corp.

Group 3: Ouch. Not because of the top seeds, but because you got the probably active spoilers.

Milchama (10)
Myedvedeva (30)
Rennidan (2)
Secristan (13)
Taeshan (6)
The Valerian Empire (30)

Schedule For Group 3:

MD1: Milchama v Valerian Empire; Myedvedeva v Taeshan; Rennidan v Secristan

MD2: Taeshan v Secristan; Rennidan v Milchama; Valerian Empire v Myedvedeva

MD3: Secristan v Myedvedeva; Valerian Empire v Rennidan; Milchama v Taeshan

MD4: Secristan v Valerian Empire; Taeshan v Rennidan; Myedvedeva v Milchama

MD5: Rennidan v Myedvedeva; Valerian Empire v Taeshan; Milchama v Secristan

Break Day

MD6: Valerian Empire v Milchama; Taeshan v Myedvedeva; Secristan v Rennidan

MD7: Secristan v Taeshan; Milchama v Rennidan; Myedvedeva v Valerian Empire

MD8: Myedvedeva v Secristan; Rennidan v Valerian Empire; Taeshan v Milchama

MD9: Valerian Empire v Secristan; Rennidan v Taeshan; Milchama v Myedvedeva

MD10: Myedvedeva v Rennidan; Taeshan v Valerian Empire; Secristan v Milchama

MYEDVEDEYAN GROUP DRAW RELEASED

The group draw for Myedvedeya in the Third Edition of the World Bowl has been released today. Myedvedeya has received a tough draw, and will have to face defending champions Rennidan in group play, in what should be an incredibly physical and defensive battle, knowing the playing styles of the two nations.

The group draw is as follows:

Milchama (10)
Myedvedeya (30)
Rennidan (2)
Secristan (13)
Taeshan (6)
The Valerian Empire (30)

Milchama, Rennidan, and Taeshan are all top 10 teams, and Secristan and the Valerian Empire are respected sports nations, but it is my firm belief that Myedvedeya can make themselves a presence at this prestigious tournament. The defensive style worked for Rennidan last year, and it can work again.

Another important factor to consider is the crowd. The Myedvedeyan supporters have made an impact already at the IBC2, and that is with 8,000 fans in a foreign country. Imagine what 90,000 of them can do in their own homeland. Expect to be able to hear the singing from within a good 15 miles of the Krakovsky Stadion. National team gear sales have risen sharply in the few weeks before WB3 and IBC2, and national flags are displayed all over Myedvedeya. Be prepared for fights, on the scale of the Rennidan Brutes' supporters fights. Be prepared for the government to turn a blind eye, or even encourage these displays of nationalism by giving the combatants a "little something" to turn the tide. All in all, be prepared for anything and everything, and for full-blown, countrywide nationalism the likes of which have never been seen.

Myedvedeya's full schedule is as follows:

Myedvedeya vs Taeshan @ Krakovsky Stadion
Myedvedeya @ Valerian Empire
Myedvedeya @ Secristan
Myedvedeya vs Milchama @ Krakovsky Stadion
Myedvedeya @ Rennidan
BREAK
Myedvedeya @ Taeshan
Myedvedeya vs Valerian Empire @ Krakovsky Stadion
Myedvedeya vs Secristan @ Krakovsky Stadion
Myedvedeya @ Milchama
Myedvedeya vs Rennidan @ Krakovsky Stadion

For more sports news, visit www.novymoskva.mye/sports

Group Draw Announced. Secristan and Milchama Again coming to Taeshan

Well doesn't that put a danker in your kercheif. Yes the knights will again be facing off with the Monopolists, and those dudes from somewhere near Newmanistan, Secristan. Yep another one bites the mother f***ing dust. And guess what we play Milchama in the first game again anybody remember how that happened i do, a loss.

Thoguh some good news does come out of this mess. Milchama may have beaten us in the last World Bowl, but they still are 4 rankings behind us, and we swept the Millionares who are ranked 1th in the world, but isn't thirteen unluky. But then again for whom us or them. That couple with newcomers The Velrian Empire, and Myedvedayan a time the basketball team will face soon makes the fact that the Rennidians, Ranked # two in the world being are group almost bearable. Almost.

So come out to the park on for the games listed below to see your Fitin' Falcons football team of Taeshan face the best in the world. Yep its gonna be a wild year.


Schedule
Taeshan VS Myedvedeyan@ Krakovsky Stadion
Taeshan VS Secristan@ Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park
Taeshan VS Milchama@ Somewher in Milchama
Taeshan VS Rennidan@ Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park
Taeshan VS Valerian Empire@ There Place
Break
Taeshan VS Myedvedeyan@ Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park
Taeshan VS Secristan@ There House
Taeshan VS Milchama@ Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park
Taeshan VS Rennidan@ There Mamas house
Taeshan VS Valerian Empire@ Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park

... Qazox, I'm going to assume your pat's are logical.
...

Your are quite Correct, Sir.

What is the playoffs arrangement? Is it like WB2?

Pretty Sportsfan Catherine
Blogging football in the context of anime

Although most sports fans are currently occupied with the other football tournament going on right now, chances are good that if you're here, you're as pumped about the upcoming World Bowl as I am. The third edition is going to be held in Arroza, and the group draw hasn't exactly been kind to the Black Wings. The bigger questions on my mind are on the defensive line and what kind of offense we can expect now that Todd Appelgate has been given the nod at quarterback.

It's no secret to anyone that the defense was humbled in the previous tournament, and normally it's good to hear that a defense is returning most of its starters. But in an international context, it's a cause for concern, because the age discrepancy becomes noticeable. A glance at the roster shows that five of the eight lineman are in their thirties, including all three starters. There are a lot of new faces in the secondary and linebacker corps, but is that enough compensation? Blitzes can involve anyone on the field, but really, the main pressure absolutely must come from the line. The ability to rush three and threaten the quarterback makes it so much easier to control a game. If they're unable to do that, things open up. Guys get older and it's harder to bring full power rush every time. Then again, the early thirties aren't that old, so maybe I'm overreacting.

They should have time to warm up before they run into meaty opponents. No, you can't take anyone lightly - remember the Orange Star/Rancho Valley matchup from volume six! - but Swilatia and the Candrian Empire should be wins. Should be. They might not blow out the Swilatians like they did in World Bowl I group play (71-3 on aggregate) but they'll need to make sure they're running at full steam when they hit Arroza and Newmanistan back to back. We've never lost to either, but all of those games have been close. Just look at our three victories over Newmanistan; they've come by a combined seven points. I bet they get us this time.

As a Wing fan, obviously I'd like to see us roll through everyone, but as a football fan, a good rivalry is definitely something I look forward to. That's why I think having Arroza and Newmanistan in the group is both a curse and a blessing. In the last tournament, we had Rennidan emerge as a force and we had the privilege of playing them three times in addition to two with the Rockets. They took the Wings' smash-mouth model and took it to the extreme, which made those games as satisfying to watch as the ones with Kura-Pelland back in World Bowl I. It'll be really interesting, then, to see how the Hornets and Rockets force the Wings to adapt.

One thing's for sure, they'll happily take to the air if needed this time around. According to coach, the strategy hasn't changed at all, but a look at the personnel indicates otherwise, at least to me. Appelgate has a stronger arm and will want to test himself, and they brought in Jay Milon to be a third receiver. He's a speedster who played for Luna U in college and plays semipro ball for Old Lunarians in the state league. He'll probably be able to create mismatches when he comes on, which might be more often than the Wings would like. Hatchitt and Tangermann are pushing thirty, and Bozwell's already passed it. We all know what happens to runningbacks at thirty, although maybe these guys are exceptions. They don't get worked too hard playing semipro ball in Dancougar!

This switch looks like how Orange Star started the manga, with Erika taking the reigns from Kent before the first exhibition. Sure, Haynesworth wasn't completely hopeless at quarterback, but he never did look comfortable throwing long balls. Erika got them away from a pure running attack and was able to mix it up, which ultimately is what the Black Wings will need to do to get back into the championship. Whether or not they want to do that is another story. And I'm sure the last thing Appelgate wants to be told is that he throws like a girl.

Ladies and Gentlemen of Rennidan.

Today, the Rennidan Brutes, our premier gridiron gang, were given a sheet of paper.

Upon this paper, in tidily printed ink, were the group draws.

We have good news and bad news about these draws.

The Bad News.

This year, in the one competition Rennidan has officially won, in the third installment of the wonderous World Bowl, we are, needless to say, slightly disappointed with the group draw our lads have ended up with.

It's not because our group is, as many would believe it to be, the 'harder' of the groups, oh no.

We came here to play hard. We came here to overcome the odds.

The thing we're disappointed about, the 'bad news', if you will, is that we're not playing the Danny's this time round.

As many of you know, Dancougar's Black Wings have something of a rivalry with our lads, The Brutes. This rivalry works both on and off the pitch, and usually means we get some truely memorable moments in their games. But this time round, we're not meeting the loveable Black Wings in our group stage.

This is, obviously, a bit of a downer, as both the players and the hooligans were hoping for some rematches.

So, we just have one thing to say to the Black Wings at this stage of the competition:

We better see you bastards in the final, alright?


The Good News.

The 'good news' comes in the form of who we've actually drawn into our group. I'm not calling this 'good news' because it's an easy group, bear in mind, I'm calling it 'good news' because it means we're gonna' get to see some pretty tough matches, and these, really, are the only kind of matches we at the Rennidan Sports Network are interested in.

Our schedule lays out something like this:



MD1: Rennidan v Secristan @ WAREHOUSE 17
MD2: Rennidan v Milchama @ WAREHOUSE 17
MD3: Valerian Empire v Rennidan
MD4: Taeshan v Rennidan
MD5: Rennidan v Myedvedeva @ WAREHOUSE 17
Break Day
MD6: Secristan v Rennidan
MD7: Milchama v Rennidan
MD8: Rennidan v Valerian Empire @ WAREHOUSE 17
MD9: Rennidan v Taeshan @ WAREHOUSE 17
MD10: Myedvedeva v Rennidan


As you can see, it's not a bad little schedule. The two home games kicking things off will, no doubt, greatly boost the Brute confidence, and get the Brute Force hooligans aching for some blood.

We'll be following this report up with some quick look-overs at the teams we're gonna' be facing.

Stay tuned to RSN, and, until next time, 'MON THE BRUTES!

What is the playoffs arrangement? Is it like WB2?

Actually, we've made an executive decision, and the playoffs will be slightly different/larger. Post 1 has been updated for all.

GROUP 3
As seen through a Rennidanian's eyes.

Milchama

They're ranked tenth in the world and are known for being over-biased on the offensive side. Yet to release their current roster, we'll be going by their one from the last World Bowl. Hopefully they shouldn't be up to causing the Brute's too much of a problem, but in gridiron, you never know what's gonna' happen.

We want to see: Running back Barrett Guertin break through the Rennidan defence... and get bulldozed by Powis for a five yard loss.


Myedvedeya

A team that seems to be out for the Brute's heart, Mydevedeya is not only a bugger to type quickly, but the nation also play a mean smashmouth defence game. Their government is also more than happy to turn a blind eye to the hooliganism side of things, which we think is pretty awesome. Expect fights, broken bones and a fierce rivalry to grow between the Bears and the Brutes.

We want to see: Leonid Titov versus Jason Yeilds on a death-defying run.


Secristan

We've heard little from these guys about the World Bowl, not even a roster has been published yet. Knowing how they pick up new players through bidding, we're not even going to look at their old roster for comparison, just in case. They're thirteenth in the World, so they could have an outsider's chance of pulling something off.

We want to see: Rennidan force a fumble every other Secristan drive.


Taeshan

Aaah, the Purple Knights of Taeshan. Not only are they feminine enough to get away with the colour purple, but they're also Rennidan's biggest threat to qualifying. Sixth in the world, the Knights and the Brutes have yet to actually play each other, so their matches could be, for all we know, history in the making.

We want to see: Gabe Martin, Alec Dega and Marhito Dega all having to leave the pitch on a stretcher after finding out why no one wants to be sacked by Owen Powis.


The Valerian Empire

Valerian's? We've heard about these guys. They're a new face to the World Bowl, and the Brutes are, no doubt, going to be more than willing to show them the ropes.

We want to see: Bernhard Berg being forced to go the entire game without making a reception.

Presenting the highest bidders to represent Secristan at World Bowl III:
(Nevermind the fact that these are the same people as World Bowl II, I didn't feel like making so many new names. Football rosters are huge!)

Modifier: -4
Conversions: Logical
Stadium: Monopoly Stadium (Capacity: 73,226)

Offensive Starters

QB: #5- Tom Mitchell - Pocket Passer
HB: #33- Adam Pritchard - Sprinter, good cut back moves
FB: #44- Jake Pemberton - Outstanding blocker. Rarely gets carries
WR: #81- Paul Zambito- Possession Receiver
WR: #80- Johnnie Baker- Deep threat; speed burner
TE: #88- Brian Hammond- More of a third WR then a blocker.
LT: #62- Matt Cross- Extremely intelligent. Great pass protector.
LG: #66- Charles Burdick- Versatile in creating holes for the ground game.
C: #60- Scott Haines- Tons of experience. Great at getting the team calm and focused.
RG: #69- “Bubba” Jones- A very big man, as evidenced by his nickname.
RT: #68- Rick Geisser- Good blocker, but will lead the team in holding calls.

Defensive Starters (Using a 4-3 base)

LE: #92- Ahmad Dillon- Mean, very mean. Will get his sacks and likes to hit hard.
DT: #99- Kenneth Lincoln- Versatile for a DT, gets great penetration more often then not.
DT: #98- Mack Delmore- Very strong, can bench over 500lbs.
RE: #56- Shawn Rodgers- Gets off the block well. Solid all-around player.
ILB: #58- Ryan McGrout- Solid pass rusher and run stopper.
MLB: #94- Aaron Baxter- Very tempermental. VERY, will lead team in personal fouls.
OLB: #38- Kurt Bannister- Excels in pass protection, especially on the tight end.
LCB: #36- Curtis Henry- Tall and speedy, will be assigned to the opponent’s top WR.
RCB: #30- Dave Sinclair- Not as fast as Henry, but anticipates a receivers moves quite well.
FS: #21- Kellen Venter- Never gets caught out of position.
SS: #27- Larry Passaro- Nasty hitter. He’ll make you pay if you catch it in his area.

Special teams

K: #3- Kevin Rodney- An accurate kicker. Generally hits everything from 40 yards in. His career high is 54.
P: #10- Matt Fonti- Powerful leg, but an even better directional punter.


Offensive Backups:
QB: #11- Jerry Eiseman
QB: #7- George Wurth
RB: #32- Matt Garven
RB: #29- Ryan MacEwan
RB: #34- Shawn Lidestri
TE: # 89- Adam Noble
WR: #85- Tony Proctor
WR: #84- Kevin Robertson- KICK/PUNT RETURNER
WR: #86- Carl South
WR: #83- Pete Harris
WR: #82- Eric Chartwell
OL: #63- Theo Sidwell
OL: #64- Fred Garrison
OL: #61- Michael Oxford
OL: #65- Trent Zabrinsky
OL: #67- Edward Wofford

Defensive Backups:
DL: #93- Vince Tillery
DL: #97- Jeff Wilson
DL: #78- Andrew Jones
DL: #72- Otis Redmund
DL: #76- Quincy Merritt
LB: #75- Matt Kandlar
LB: #74- Scott Lawson
LB: #77- Dale Fredericks
LB: #73- Milton Karris
CB: #24- Oliver Pullara
CB: #25- Nate Dudley
CB: #35- Nick Hempstead
CB: #37- Phil Collier
CB: #48- Mario Izarrio

Backup Kickers:
K: #4- Brian Ford
P: #1- Chris Stephenson

“This is the most disgusting place I’ve ever seen, why can’t they play in a real stadium?” asked DL Mack Delmore as the team arrived in the Industrial District of Rennidan.

“That must be it, no wait, that’s number 16. Must be the next one. Looks to be in a little better shape,” replied LB Aaron Baxter.

“They play here? Didn’t they just win a championship? What the hell is wrong with their government to not give them proper funding especially after they did so good in the last World Bowl. We know they have a good team but why do they subject their great athletes to such disgusting filth.” wondered Delmore.

And so too, did the rest of the Millionaires as they walked along the Industrial District and being disgusted with the conditions that they would have to play the first game of World Bowl III in. An obvious culture shock. They’ve heard of places in Secristan where the scum of the nation lives, in slums and ghettos, places they would never see themselves going. At times, they’d been approached by charitable organizations, wishing for them to donate rusas, and they would write out a check. Not because they cared, but because they claim it as a tax deduction. Every now and then, they were asked to go into those communities, to perhaps speak to a young kid who might have talent but lived a very hard life. The players would always refuse those requests. There was no way they would lower themselves to be in such an area. Then it happened,

“Alright this is it! We’re not going to play here, this is a disgrace to the World Bowl!” That was QB Tom Mitchell’s reaction when a rat ran out from a garbage pail, right in front of his feet. Until now, he had only seen a rat on television. He hoped he would never see one again.

“Nah, man, we’ll just get in and get out. Taeshan is a more civilized country.” responded WR Kevin Robertson.

Maybe so. Now came a group of people approaching the team, dressed horribly, and smelling worse. Were these the Brutes, or just a bunch of punks looking to cause trouble towards the well dressed professionals in suits. Were they Hooligans? That Brute Force that we had heard about?

“A little overdressed aren’t you?” said one of them.

Mack Delmore, the Owen Powis of the team, walked in front of his teammates and looked at the man that was about a foot smaller, “No. This is how we always dress. Is that how you always dress?”

“Yes it is. And we’ll take it easy on you because you guys will be nothing for the Brutes so you don’t scare me. Just wanted to welcome you all to the real world.” the man leaves.

The players enter Warehouse 17 to scope out the building. It would work for their game, but still they were stunned that a nation after a championship would continue to force their team and players to have to play in these conditions. They wondered if they could help in some way. Get some Secristan corporate sponsors in here, tidy up the place, and perhaps fund a new stadium for the Brutes to play in. Surely, a sponsor would step up and spend the money like most corporations do when they help out the community. It’s not to help the people as they say, but its so they can include in their advertising that their corporation cares about the people and try to sell their brand as being for the real people. As players, maybe they could all chip in some of their wealth and make this community great. Not because they cared about it, but because they could use it to change the world view of Secristan athletes from being a bunch of arrogant snobs to being nice guys who happen to have a lot of money. If such an offer was made, they honestly would not expect the Brutes to accept it, because deep down they know this is the identity of the Rennidan Brutes, and they would never want anything less, or in this case, anything more. So it would be a safe offer, one they could make and know it would be refused. Then they could turn around and say look at the gesture we made. In the true spirit of Secristan.

They continued to talk amongst themselves. Were the going to be intimidated by these conditions? Not at all. Bring it on!

Um Rennidan the Purple Knights dont Play football. This is for everyone There called (football Only) the {COLOR=Red]The Fitin Falcons[COLOR]

The Third World Bowl would be a truly different experience for the Taale-Voren Eagles. None of them had ever been outside the dominion. None of them (except Coach Slues) spoke English. Most of them have never been more than fifty miles away from home, and almost half of them were illiterate. Most of the players came from (relatively) well-off peasant families or were the sons of village laborers. Kerkrade was himself the son of a poor beadle.

Before looking at the schedule, they had never heard of “Miroxia” or “Qazox,” but they were now to represent their city against these foreigners. “Do the people of Miroxia have their own king?” asked Carwer to Drachten.

“No. The nation of the Ajaels have not a king of their own, and there are more such nations like them under Willem V.”

“Is Miroxia under the dominion of the great King Willem V?”

“Yes.”

“But Coach Slues said we were the sole representatives of the great King.”

“Willem V has chosen us, seeing our courage, to be his champions in this international competition. Others may compete, but not in his name.”



The first home game worried Coach Slues. Violence at sporting events was ubiquitous in the Dominion. He had told Kerkrade, “I recall the infamous football [used here to mean soccer] game in Rangerhus, in which tens of thousands died as a result of fan violence. I do not expect such a catastrophe here. The fans, however, will bring firearms and I lack the resources to be able to confiscate such weapons.”

“They will not shoot us, will they?” asked Kerkrade. “ And they surely will not shoot at any fans from Taale-Voren.”

“I am more worried about the other teams, and other fans that venture into our borders. It is sad that a sporting event is considered a success today if there are only ten fatalities in the stands.”

(OOC: Does anyone mind my fans murdering their fans and/or players? I will not have them kill players without your consent, but it would be highly dangerous for opposing fans to come to Taale-Voren.)

Taeshan: They don't? I just assumed so because the title of your roster post is "The Purple Knights". My bad.

_________

"So, they're the Millionaires, eh?"

The Rennidan Industrial District. It is, to put things lightly, a bloody great mess. For the teams that travel there this World Bowl, it must be kept in mind that the ID is, perhaps, the only district in Rennidan which has such poor living conditions. Every nation has their slum, and this is Rennidan’s.

That said, it's also the heart and soul of the nation. The Industrial District is where the underdogs are born and bred, and trained to be the best of the next generation. Aye, crime is rampant there, but it has to be for the lower echelon to learn how to fend for themselves. There's something in the air of the ID which makes its inhabitants tougher than your average Rennidanian, something which causes them to fight and steal, or, as some would put it, know what they need to do to survive. And, much to the amusement of the waiting Brutes, it would seem that the air is also enough to cause the richer noses to wrinkle in disgust.

Pat McGraw, the young, restless quarterback, who shot to fame after winning the World Bowl with his arm in a cast, rests his weight upon a toppled bin by placing a foot atop it. Behind him, stretching down one of the many infamous alleyways of the ID, stands his team, the Brutes, one of whom seems to be blocking the majority of said alleyway with his bulk. Ladies and gents, meet Owen Powis, the brick shithouse of a DL who you really would not want to meet anywhere, let alone in a dark alley or on the gridiron.

The team watched silently as a small amount of Brute Force members waded over to the Millionaire's to extend a welcome. A grunt echoed from Powis as Delmore strode out to meet them head on.

"He that Delmore fella'?"
"Ayup'."
"He ain't lookin' so big, like."
"Rumour has it he can bench 500pounds."
"Pfft. So what? I can eat that in one sittin'."

A chorus of quiet laughter and, not before long, the Brutes' attention turned back towards the out-of-place Millionaires.

"We gonna' go say hello?"

McGraw shook his head and left his perch from atop the bin.

"No. We got plenty of time to acquaint ourselves when we play."

And with that, the Brutes turned, they crept back down the alleyway they had been using as a lookout post, and headed off to engage in perhaps one of their biggest pub crawls yet.

The Millionaires may not be scared of the Brutes' home. Hell, they may not even be scared of the Brutes themselves, but one thing was for sure, they were gonna' learn to respect the Brutes’ lifestyle by the time qualifying was over.

Sorry for that i must have confused my self for a few seconds too.

NOVY MOSKVA PREGAME


MYEDVEDEYA vs TAESHAN @ KRAKOVSKY STADION

The Myedvedeyan international squads will take on Taeshan in two different sports tonight. Myedvedeya vs Taeshan, in the IBCII, in Dancougar, and Myedvedeya vs Taeshan, right here in Myedvedeya, in international football.
The Myedvedeyans are looking to give the world the kind of shock they gave when they beat Kose and the Turkomans by 29 in basketball, by earning a win against the highly ranked Fitin' Falcons.

We went in to the player's room tonight, to hear what coach Tima Zhuravlev has to say to his boys before the game.

"Expect the the stadium to be completely full of screaming fans and roaring bears tonight. Expect more flags than people. Expect to be seeing black, blue, and red waving in your mind for days afterwards, and expect not to hear for weeks.

Expect bones snapping and blood gushing. Expect pain. Expect excitement. Expect an all-out war on the field. We are going to assert ourselves on the world stage, and we're going to do it about as subtly as the Russian invasion of Georgia...

We may lose, we may go down in flames, but we will make them fight harder for every point than they have ever fought before. Now, onto the field, for glory, for battle, and for Myedvedeya. FOR THE TSAR!"

PLAYERS: FOR THE TSAR!!! (charge onto field)

That is the sight we see, right before kickoff of the Myedvedeya-Taeshan match. Now, we go live to the field, for coverage of the game itself.

for more sports news, log onto www.novymoskva.mye/sports

The Third World Bowl would be a truly different experience for the Taale-Voren Eagles. None of them had ever been outside the dominion. None of them (except Coach Slues) spoke English. Most of them have never been more than fifty miles away from home, and almost half of them were illiterate. Most of the players came from (relatively) well-off peasant families or were the sons of village laborers. Kerkrade was himself the son of a poor beadle.

Before looking at the schedule, they had never heard of “Miroxia” or “Qazox,” but they were now to represent their city against these foreigners. “Do the people of Miroxia have their own king?” asked Carwer to Drachten.

“No. The nation of the Ajaels have not a king of their own, and there are more such nations like them under Willem V.”

“Is Miroxia under the dominion of the great King Willem V?”

“Yes.”

“But Coach Slues said we were the sole representatives of the great King.”

“Willem V has chosen us, seeing our courage, to be his champions in this international competition. Others may compete, but not in his name.”



The first home game worried Coach Slues. Violence at sporting events was ubiquitous in the Dominion. He had told Kerkrade, “I recall the infamous football [used here to mean soccer] game in Rangerhus, in which tens of thousands died as a result of fan violence. I do not expect such a catastrophe here. The fans, however, will bring firearms and I lack the resources to be able to confiscate such weapons.”

“They will not shoot us, will they?” asked Kerkrade. “ And they surely will not shoot at any fans from Taale-Voren.”

“I am more worried about the other teams, and other fans that venture into our borders. It is sad that a sporting event is considered a success today if there are only ten fatalities in the stands.”

(OOC: Does anyone mind my fans murdering their fans and/or players? I will not have them kill players without your consent, but it would be highly dangerous for opposing fans to come to Taale-Voren.)

OCC- FYI, my nation is under the ruler of High Councilman Hartford Benson and King Andrew Williams III. Please get your facts straight.

The Isangrad Times
Valerians to Take Part of Amerikanskiy Futbol World Bowl in Group 3

Well it has been announced today, citizens, that the Valerian Empire will be participating in the World Bowl in Group 3. What has to be of note in this group is that we were drafted with fellow Slavic nation, Myedvedeya. This nation, which seems to translate as "Land of Bears" into Valerian, has the same reputation in the International Basketball Championship as The Valerian Empire does: we are both spoilers in the event. Today, the Valerians won their 3rd straight game in the row and are destined for the second round and hopefully the finals. It remains to be seen, but it is likely.

Now, for actual Amerikanskiy Futbol, the Valerian team is perhaps not the best, but they remain to be proven internationally after all. Amerikanskiy Futbol is lacking in popularity and support in The Valerian Empire, and this is their chance to prove that it should be a recognized and popular sport in The Empire. However, if they fall into mediocrity, the sport may be jeopardized in The Empire. Unlike the International Football National Team, the Boyars, which also fell into mediocrity but still remains highly popular, Amerikanskiy futbol may lose its foothold in The Empire if it gives a lacklustre performance. "That is why we have to succeed!" says receiver Bernhard Berg, sweating profusely from the tough training regimen that all Valerian players on the A.F. National Team is going through to prep them and shape them for the international scene. "We have to live up to our team name: We are the Valerian Gatecrashers, after all."

Let us take a closer look at Group 3:

Milchama (10)
Myedvedeva (30)
Rennidan (2)
Secristan (13)
Taeshan (6)
The Valerian Empire (30)

Milchama: Ah, yes, the Abrahamic followers. This nation of Judaeans will likely be a tough competitor in this group, and we believe they will rank 1st of this Group when all is said and done.

Myedvedeya: Our fellow Slavs! They are going to definitely compete with us to see who spoils the higher seeds.

Rennidan: Renna-who? The Valerians do not know much about this nation, having never really seen them in International Football (although if they were in a World Cup, we didn't notice them).

Secristan: As reported in the Isangrad Evening News, Secristan was the whipping boy of our national basketball team. But can the same truly be said in Amerikanskiy Futbol?

Taeshan: A worthy and honorable opponent. We will definitely have to try hard to beat Taeshan's all-around excellent team.

Schedule For Group 3:

MD1: Milchama v Valerian Empire
MD2: Valerian Empire v Myedvedeva
MD3: Valerian Empire v Rennidan
MD4: Secristan v Valerian Empire
MD5: Valerian Empire v Taeshan

Break Day

MD6: Valerian Empire v Milchama
MD7: Myedvedeva v Valerian Empire
MD8: Rennidan v Valerian Empire
MD9: Valerian Empire v Secristan
MD10: Taeshan v Valerian Empire

As we see here, Milchama will be hosting the Valerian Gatecrashers on Day 1 of this competition. We wish the team the best of luck!

THE ROCKET REPORT

DANCOUGAR AND ARROZA?

Pocono City, Newmanistan- The first official World Bowl Group draw not held by Empress Jessica too place yesterday in Arroza, and it was announced that the Rockets will be in Group 1. Showing how much work the Empire needs to do in the sport that they brought to the World, they are only the third best team in the group, but things are expected to be different this year for the Rockets. Group 1 is an interesting group, in that it not only has us, but also the first two World Bowl participants, Dancougar and Arroza. It will be the second consecutive year in which we will be paired with the Black Wings, and the first time we will actually go head to head against the Tar Hornets. The rest of the group appears easier, and we use that word with much caution. Swilatia won a couple good games in the last World Bowl and showed themselves to be a much improved team then they were in the first one. Not much is known about The Candrian Empire. Are they the next Arroza, or the next Am3ricans? Then there’s Kenavt, who had a miserable performance in their World Bowl II debut last year. There’s your group, and like last year, it appears as though the Rockets will be involved in a three horse race, with the Candrians your pick if you want a possible longshot.

As has been well documented, this is the first time in which the World Bowl will be decided outside of Newmanistan, but other then that much of it will look pretty similar. Each nation will play those in its group once at home and once on the road, with the top 12 teams advancing to Atalanta in Arroza for the straight knockout competition. Getting to the knockouts has not been a problem for the Rockets. In group play, they have performed well though have not officially won a group to date, only to be knocked out early. Last time it was by Milchama, and the time prior to that, it was Qazox that sent us packing. The top three teams, and the second place team from Group 2 will receive a first round bye. Ok, well not officially. The best second place team gets the bye, but with the way Group 2 looks, it’s likely Qazox, Kura-Pelland, then everyone else, so expect both of their records to be strong. After that, the next eight teams will be sent to a preliminary round where the winners will head to the quarterfinals. So, it appears as though the Rockets will pretty safe in terms of getting to the knockouts, though they appear destined to be in that “next eight teams” group unless they can win this group.

Winning the group is not something the team is ready to concede to Dancougar and Arroza. Historically, even last year, the Rockets have played Dancougar tough, and the time may be right for them to turn the tables a little bit on that opponent. Certainly that will not be an easy task as they have finished no worse then third overall, combined. Then there’s the hosts, Arroza, who will learn about playing under the pressure of being the host nation this year. When we have interviewed several of our Rockets players, there were several that pointed out that they expect Newmanistan to be stronger now that they can relax and not have to worry about the pressures of playing the knockout stages on your homefield, with a crowd who doesn’t just want you to win, they expect you to win. Don’t be surprised if the Tar Hornets, who also have done no worse then 4th in the previous two World Bowls, feel some of that pressure to where they make mistakes they normally wouldn’t make against the top teams. Due to all this, the Rockets certainly feel as though the group is in there reach. The Candrian Empire, Swilatia, and Kenavt would all be underdogs and each of them have a tough road ahead of them. As we alluded too, we have seen Swilatia and Kenavt’s team’s and the results were not necessarily pretty for them. The Candrians are a fresh face and a potential spoiler, though they will certainly be aware that the nations above them know that a slip up in the game against them could cost them the group.

We’ll see how it all plays out. In the meantime, here is the Rockets schedule. As is the case with World Cup qualifying, the Empress decided to spread the games out to different locations.

MD1: @ Kenavt
MD2: @ Swilatia
MD3: vs Dancougar @ Loudon Stadium
MD4: vs Candrian Empire @ Southport Stadium
MD5: @ Arroza
MD6: vs Kenavt @ Pocono City Stadium
MD7: vs Swilatia @ Centralia Stadium (the first time Centralia Stadium will host any interregional event)
MD8: @ Dancougar @ Jared Koeppel Memorial Stadium
MD9: @ Candrian Empire
Md10 vs Arroza @ Tundra Falls Proving Grounds

OCC- FYI, my nation is under the ruler of High Councilman Hartford Benson and King Andrew Williams III. Please get your facts straight.

(OOC: No, they think that Miroxia is ruled by William V (king of Cotenshire). They are too ignorant to know otherwise.)

After practice, the Millionaires leave the Warehouse, and begin to walk back to the bus when TE Brian Hammond notices something strange. “What is that thing?” he asked his teammates. Scott Haines, the team Center replies, “It’s alive, it looks like it might be some kind of human, but it’s awfully filthy, so it’s gotta be something else.” They stare, and try to decipher what exactly this is. Tackle Rick Geisser decides to get brave and pokes it, where the object suddenly moves and hits him, fellow Tackle Matt Cross looks at his teammate and has it all figured out. This is something that they had heard about, and knew existed in the less fortunate areas of Secristan, but they had never seen one before. It was an actual homeless person.

“So you don’t have a house and this filth is your house, huh?” taunted QB Tom Mitchell as the man takes drops his bottle of whiskey and takes a swing at Mitchell only to miss and fall. He then takes the empty bottle of whiskey and tosses it at Mitchell, only to again, have poor aim and miss his target. The team laughed at his expense as Mitchell got our a stack of 100 Rusa bills and counted them in front of the bum. More players laughed, but a few were beginning to feel rather sympathetic. CB Dave Sinclair pulled out a stack of 100 Rusa Bills and counted them. He had 40 on his possession and looked at the man, eye to eye. “Here man, you can have this. Go get something better for yourself.” Others looked at Sinclair as if he was from another planet and just before the man could take the money from Sinclair, Mitchell got in his way. “Nah, I’ll give you 40 of my own too, but you have to crawl on all fours to the team bus while barking like a dog to get it.” Other players decided they would chip in, and before you knew it, there was 500,000 Rusas at stake for this man as long as he did as Mitchell wanted. They would take pictures of the man walking like a dog for their amusement, but the bigger plan was to take pictures of them handing money over to the man to try to paint an image of them being nice, generous men. They explained to the man that 500,000R would be more then enough to purchase a house, and maybe even live in a better area. This was not a “Ruscent” trick. This became a legitmate offer. But before the man could accept they began to request more caveats. The big one being he would pledge his allegiance to the Millionaires in the upcoming game against Rennidan.

So after moments of discussing the matter, the players got what they wanted and the man walked on all fours, barking like a dog, to the team bus. At this point, they knew they could very easily back out of it, and board the team bus and leave the man stranded, but they would not do that. They handed the money over, and took pictures and the man could not believe that this was really happening. Tom Mitchell then asked the man how long he lived here. He mentioned that he had been here for years and the Rennidan Brutes would simply walk by him and others as if they didn’t exist. Mitchell would seize the opportunity, “I want you to remember who it was that helped you out. Not the Brutes, but Secristan! When they won the World Bowl, did they try to give back to the community in which their roots were founded? No!” The man nodded as Mitchell asked, “So how much do you know about the Brutes?” “Just about everything,” replied the man, “they walk by me every day almost and I hear so much.” To which Mitchell answered back, “We just did you a favor and gave you all that money, how about you give a little back and tell us all the little secrets about the Brutes that can help us out.” “My pleasure,” said the man while smiling wider then he had in perhaps his whole life as he boarded the bus with the team.

The Millionaires have, perhaps, just made their first mistake of the World Bowl.

Into their midst they have just recruited the despicable Potbelly Pete, a well known local hobo who is well disliked for his betrayal of his Rennidanian comrades in the last Viltek-Rennidan war. His greed and willingness to betray his friends and cohorts is well known to those in the area, but, obviously, the news has failed to reach the ears of the holier-than-thou Millionaires.

They had forced the man to crawl on all fours and bark like a dog, before befriending him through forceful bribes. Pete, of course, was more than happy to oblige his services to the deep-pocketed Millionaires, who had realized that if they had some pictures of them handing money over to a poor hobo, maybe they could end up looking like the good guys of the World Bowl.

Unfortunately, the Millionaires have forgotten where they are. This is Rennidan, this is the Industrial District, and the Brute Force has their eyes everywhere. Within an alleyway, Daniel Giddonal, a young, bright eyed member of the Brute Force hooligans, had been keeping an eye on the Millionaires, under McDavies order.

He had a video camera, he had an internet connection and he had a YouTube account.

Basically, he had a chance to show the true colours of the Millionaires.

_________

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/hobo.png

_________

Outrage Over Millionaires

Today, chaos erupted on the internet, yet again, due to unfolding events in the current World Bowl. This time, however, it is not over brewing hooliganism, but instead the audacious acts of Secristan's gridiron team, the Millionares.

In the video, members of the Secristan team, who are visiting Rennidan's Industrial District in order to get to grips with how the reigning Champions, the Rennidan Brutes, play the game, decided to take a short amount of time out of their schedule in order to mock a homeless man. The mocking soon took a turn towards a shameful act of bribery as Secristan quarterback, Tom Mitchell, learned that the homeless man knew of the Brute's tactics. Offering Secristanian currency in return for secrets on the Brutes, the quarterback forced the homeless man to crawl and bark like a dog, before inviting him aboard the Millionaire's team bus.

The video was captured in secret by a fan of the Rennidanian team, and was uploaded to YouTube only a few hours after the events transpired. What will be done about the Secristanian's attempting to purchase secrets on the Brutes is unknown, but what is apparent is that the Brutes will have to try and mix things up a bit come match day one to stay a step ahead of the deceitful Millionaires.

A Delvge into the lives of the greatest Taeshani Players

Gabe Martin -Gabe is the starting quaterback for the Fitin' Falcons, and like all other team members has been in all four of the teams international tournaments. Gabe is from Docktown on Algaer Island and has led the team to many victories. He plays for the Wiechester Wonders football franchise, and would like to thank his family for there belief in him.

Martin Gramatica -Martin is the team captain, and a leader of the team. He plays fro the Wonders also. Martin is the best field goal kicker in the history of mankind, and is one of the most powerful. He is known for his archful kickss, his game winners, and his to die for looks. Martin would like to thank god for this oppurtunity, and his insurance company for insuring his masterful leg.

Ricky Zellefrow -Ricky was the rookie of the Gridiron World Championships, and led the team to the championship game were he helped win the game. Ricky plays for the college champion Air Force Hawks football team. He is one of the 3 suns of former president, and cabinet member David Zellefrow. He would like to thank his dad, his mom fauna, his brother Brady, and his twin sisters Kately, and Nicole. Finally he would like to thank his fiance Laurin.

Arroza Tar Hornets

Coach: Andreas Waulequah
Home Stadium: Fletcher Field (The Hive, Conqueror Park)

Play Style: +1
PAT: Logical
Colors: Black, Tan, Crimson

Offense: Based on a strong line that pushes off the ball and looks to open up holes every play for the multitude of backs that come through Arroza. The “Thunder & Lightning” pairing of Chadwick and Chavez are going to get a lot of carries and rack up the yards. Laraque comes off the bench to provide power, and Maximiano and Malone have enough speed to keep defenses honest.

First Team:
#14 QB: Erik Smythe (30, Huracan Tropicals)
With the retirement of option star Chris Chamesi, Smythe’s been given the reigns after a particularly tumultuous year at the Casino Royale. Smythe’s got to be looking to salvage a horrible domestic season with a good international performance
#11 QB: Afif Bassem (25, F.C. Atalanta)
He’s started to come into his own over the last 2 years, and can now be one of the best domestic quarterbacks in Arroza.
#5 QB: Selmon Baliss (21, Big Thicket Cavalry)
Running QB, Baliss is the most physically gifted QB in Arroza.

#21 HB: Abraham Chadwick (25, Pine Forest United)
Fastest runner on the team, combined with great up field vision, and a killer first step. Lead the league in rushing, averaging 150 yards a game.
#23 HB: Donovan Hailey (21, Big Thicket Cavalry)
The other half of the reason why Big Thicket had an unstoppable offense last year. This is his first chance to start for the Hornets, but he played a lot in garbage time in the last world bowl.
#31 RB: Lake Major (23, Black Tide F.C.)
After World Bowl I, Major really stepped up his game becoming one of Arroza’s best running backs. He does it with heart and grit more that any divine amount of talent, and that makes him a fan favorite, too.
#28 RB: Kenyon Laraque (30, Nova Lyon Panthers)
Doesn’t see a lot of first team time with the national team due to his lack of the speed necessary to get around the corner. But if you need 2 yards and a cloud of dust, he’s the man.
#25 RB: Randolph Crown (28, Resurgens Flames)
He’s as fast as a fiberglass Corvette. If his vision, and hole finding matched his sped, he’d be unstoppable. Can play slot receiver as well, and comes in on a lot of Flex sets.

#49 FB: Vaughan Harley (27, Atalanta Senators)
Lead blocker. Monster. Destroyer of Linebackers.

#46 FB: Percy Marquis (34, Northland Cannons)
Good hands for a fullback and is very proficient in catching passes out of the backfield. Retiring from international football after this cup.

#48 TE: Tawfiq Rudolph (29, Way Path Pioneers)
Very versatile, great hands, good check down receiver for when the option’s in danger.
#84 TE: Vincent Paloma (27, Lake St. Anthony Blues)
If he’s in the game for Rudolph, you know they’re running. Better blocker than some OL’s
#88 TE: Salomon Arraza (22, Biloxoulaport Seabees)
Blocking TE, used on goal-line situations.

#82 WR: Ikraam Maximiano (27, Northland Cannons)
Runs a 4.43 40. Decent hands, but wishes he could get the ball more. Known for his exuberant “Spiderman” celebration.
#89 WR: Taesean Malone (20, Huracan Tropicals)
Malone has been impressive in his first year in the league, rapidly become the favorite target of NT quarterback Smythe. He’s more of a possession receiver than a speed guy.
#83 WR: Chauncey Hopton (32, Resurgens Flames)
A good WR, but is just too out-classed to get onto the field in this run-heavy offense much.
#81 WR: Luke Hollam (24, Huracan Tropicals)
Speed wideout, normally sees the field on 4 WR or Flexbone sets.

#66 T: Philemon Placido (28, Black Tide F.C.)
#67 T: Timon Gonzales (32, F.C. Atalanta)
Half of the “Great Wall” of F.C. Atalanta, along with Kwaku. Recorded 48 pancake blocks last year.
#65 T: Donald Haskill (22, Big Thicket Cavalry)
#64 G: Garrett Phillips (24, Aransas County Sea Stars)
#60 G: Faragi Kwaku (29, F.C. Atalanta)
#68 G: Luther Sithimbile (33, Port Wentworth Pilots)
#63 C: Harun Marasseh (22, Port Lange Archers)
#69 C: Robert Rook (24, Lincolnton Suns)

Defense: 4-4.
Not the biggest in the world, the Arrozan defenses pride themselves on their tactical knowledge and their speed. These two ideas, when combined in the Arrozan D, normally mean opponents get to see a varying array of zone, man, and option coverages, with blitzes coming in from all angles, and interceptions going the other way for 6 points.


#91 NT: Tony Jackson (26, Pine Forest United)
His playing style has earned him the nickname, “Big Nasty”. He wears than name like a badge of honor.
#94 NT: Randy Miles (27, Evangeline Seraphs)
#96 DL: Alex Batanian (31, Aransas County Sea Stars)
Here more for his versatility than for his ability Batanian can play any line position.

#99 DE: Joseph Reed (24, Biloxoulaport Seabees)
Commands a double team on almost every passing down. The bookend of him and Charles may become the best tandem in Arrozan history.
#92 DE: Roland Harling (34, Nova Lyon Panthers)
#98 DL: Raibonne Charles (24, Biloxoulaport Seabees)
Recorded 14 sacks last year, benefiting from the double teams Reed got on the other end.

#54 OLB: Fred Davis (33, Port Lange Archers)
Covers like a strong safety. Hits like a Mack truck.
#59 OLB: Nathan Fitzgerald (30, Port Wentworth Pilots)
Can do it all with professionalism, if not the best of skill.
#52 OLB: Karon Robinson (29, Atalanta F.C.)
#53 MLB: Trey Douglas (30, Evangeline Seraphs)
Leads the domestic league in tackles with 12.7 per game.
#56 MLB: Marcus Aurelin (23, Resurgens Flames)
Leads linebackers in sacks domestically with 10. Great on the blitz.
#58 MLB: Denzel Person (22, Evangeline Seraphs)
#55 LB: Fremont Cannon (21, Port Lange Archers)

#24 CB: Orkeys Aurienne (26, Biloxoulaport Seabees)
Fastest man on the team. Can cover anyone man-to-man.
#33 CB: Calvin Brandon (23, F.C. Atalanta)
Good at anticipating plays, and leads the domestic league in interceptions.
#39 CB: Matthew Barber (30, Pine Forest United)
Brought in on nickel situations, Barber’s known to have hands of stone.
#33 CB: Jared Turcotte (28, Lincolnton Suns)

#30 S: Caron Saint-Marais (22, Resurgens Flames)
Division II MVP, Saint-Marais led the minor league with 18 interceptions, and has been sold to Resurgens for 10,000,000 baht.
#7 S: Linus Lincecum (21, Farragut Torpedoes)

#4 K: Drew Albrect (33, F.C. Atalanta)
Can kick anywhere, in winds that would blow other kickers off the field.
#13 P: Tyler Edmiston (28, Way Path Pioneers)
#24 KR: Orkeys Aurienne (26, Biloxoulaport Seabees)

Cutoff in 5 hours.
Taeshan: you know that yellow and cyan on a white background are almost impossible to read, right?

(OOC: No, they think that Miroxia is ruled by William V (king of Cotenshire). They are too ignorant to know otherwise.)

ooc- oops! :) sorry!

Answer:Yes it is incredible hard to read. I've done this many times, mostlry to confuse my friends in Daehanjieguk, and i have now updated and expanded it into the WB World. And mostly i have fun confusing people with it.

I wouldn't call it confusing as much as it is eye-gougingly bloody annoying. :P

Answer:Yes it is incredible hard to read. I've done this many times, mostlry to confuse my friends in Daehanjieguk, and i have now updated and expanded it into the WB World. And mostly i have fun confusing people with it.

I'm going to be fair and neutral to you, because I'm hosting the tournament, and it is my duty to be responsible and fair to everyone.

But if I wasn't, I'd never read your posts of that color no matter how good they were because you are being obtuse and difficult on purpose, just like with the XP request.

Not hatin', just statin'.

(ooc: QOX is Qazox' version of Fox, which is like the RL US version of MyNetwork TV.. completely unwatchable crap and YES it is pronounced Cocks... and every spelling mistake is intentional and is for humourous effect, hopefully)


QOX World Bowl Coverage

We here at QOX, there's only one QOX, are pleased the announce we have paid for the rights to broadcast the 3rd World Bowl from Arossa. We are here to dispell the rumor that the so-called legitimate networks of QSPN and QBC paid us $500,000 to broadcast this competiton, we in fact were paid nothing and in fact this is costing us $500,000 to do. Here the schedule for broadcasts:

Dulth Carp v Qazox
Qazox v Coatshire
Qazox v Kevin Pellans
Lisa v Qazox
Qazox v My Oxen
Qazox v Dulth Carp
Coatshire v Qazox
Kevin Pellans v Qazox
Qazox v Lisa
My Oxen v Qazox

Some interesting country names there, especailly Dulth Carp. What is that a Jedi Fish? and what about Coatshire? A country populated by trench coats? Kevin Pellans, isn't he one of our interns? and Lisa... LISA! Should win that one easily, as girls can't play gridiron. and My Oxen.. we need to sue them for copy right infringement!

So other than the games against our Intern, we should do well.
Just remember there's only one QOX, and you're on it!

Pretty Sportsfan Catherine
Blogging football in the context of anime

Wow. If you've been following along, you know that the Erika anime has been diverging from the manga for the past few weeks. But last night's episode was a clean break in more ways than one. This is almost certainly a setup for filler, which we all knew was coming. But this is a real gamble given her character's popularity. It was such a normal episode. Nothing unique or spectacular about it. Then, after twenty minutes, it all changed, like that... she goes down and doesn't come up.

I was watching, and remember thinking to myself that it was a really awkward hit. And that's when everything went silent, and all I could hear was a snap. The initial crackle shot through and then echoed as she fell in slow motion. Beautiful in its simplicity. I think my mouth fell open as I watched her face. It didn't twist or really show any emotion other than shock. Her eyes looked so pretty, glimmering as she fell. But then I realized they were tears. She hit the turf and just lay there, with the tears running down her face without her even noticing.

"It hurts..."

Episode ends. And I think it was my turn to cry after that.

Because she's only a character in a children's cartoon, I know that nothing really happened. The people behind her are all fine, and after a few weeks of filler, she'll be back. But it really makes you think. American football can be a brutal sport. I'm often asked how there are so many serious injuries when players train so hard and wear all that padding. It's hard to pin it down, but American football is all about intensity. You crash into each other at full power time and time again, constantly stop and start, and your joins are still mostly free because, well, you have to move. When all that power hits at a point, you realize how fragile a body can be.

Well, maybe not if you're a Rennidan Brute.

It got me thinking as to what would happen if anyone on our team went down during a game. A look at the depth chart gives us a mixed picture. Haynesworth is a capable backup quarterback who has given the Wings two trophies in two tournaments, and Oliver Tangermann sees a lot of action already at runningback. Shinaberry, though, has hardly seen any time in the previous two World Bowls, plus he's getting up there. The Wings are also light at center and... heck, the entire offensive line has started to turn over. The defense is a little like that, too, especially at linebacker. Only two of the eight guys on that chart have seen tangible playing time. At least the secondary looks pretty solid. The number three guys at corner and safety are both former starters.

Injuries are something you never want to think about as a fan, and surely are something you hate to plan for as a coach. As the World Bowl begins, we'll be keeping a close eye on our heroes just as we root for Erika and Orange Star every Friday night.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_HJrGkCIwYOg/SCNu2FMml8I/AAAAAAAADFY/xRoQocIlrAI/s400/Cut+Off.jpg

Group 1
Arroza 30, The Candrian Empire 9
Dancougar 32, Swilatia 10
Kenavt 13, Newmanistan 55

Group 2
Bluth Corporation 3, Qazox 28
Cotenshire 27, Miroxia 0
Lovisa 13, Kura-Pelland 26

Group 3
Milchama 23, The Valerian Empire 14
Myedvedeva 3, Taeshan 15
Rennidan 3, Secristan 0 (OT)

Fitin' Falcons win opener over Bears

What did you excpect, after a horrible outcome in the 2nd World Bowl the Falcons had to bounce back in the third right...Definetly. It was another of those patented low scoring Taeshani type football game. The defense was great, and the offense did awesome. It was a proud achievement for the proud footballers from Taeshan.

Well it was an exciting game by and by, but the Knights got off on the wrong foot, literally. Running back Rudi Williams started the game by rolling his foot on a simple cutback run, and he lost his hold of the ball witch led to a Myedvedeyan field goal. At least is was only a field goal though, but the Knights couldn't do anything in the first half.

But in the second they showed why they were the former Gridiron World Champions. The Falcons led by the cheers of the fans came flying back. It started with a Gabe Martin bootleg to Ricky Zellefrow for a touchdown, and a lead they would never surrender, and then suprising everyone a fake EP with and Alec Dega conversion to make it a suprising 8-3 lead. Then the Falcon D turned it on. Shawn Plank, and Trevior Karker ganged up on two different occasions to sack the quaterback in the Endzone for safeties, and a 12-3 lead. Finally Martin Gramatica would show off his leg from 46 to make it a final score of 15-3.

NOVY MOSKVA NEWS

Because I don't feel like talking about football, this is a Myedvedeyan history lesson instead.

The nation of Myedvedeya is formed when the former Slavic Empire collapses, and young lawyer and politician Aydan Krakovsky sees a chance to truly become one of history's greats. Seizing the reins of power through two famous assassinations, and a two-month long citywide conflict that nearly becomes civil war, he proceeds to strengthen the central government, and go on a rampage of conquest, seeking to expand the empire beyond what it ever was under the Slavic Emperors. The "Unified Tsardom" as the new government is officially called, is extremely efficient in creating a breeding ground for super-nationalistic soldiers. Krakovsky institutes a high-level nationwide public education system, in which children are fed stories of Myedvedeyan superiority and conquest from an early age. Military service becomes compulsory, and most are all too happy to serve. Myedvedeyans as a whole feel that they have a god-given right to conquer and destroy, and this "Might makes right" Morality is spread through the education system, and through government television and propaganda. The national anthem is played before and after television and radio programming, and at every function. Children sing their love to Myedvedeya before they can string sentences together. The main opponent to Myedvedeya, through all of this, is southeastern superpower Gouyue. Myedvedeya's superior armed forces subjugate most of the countries around the massive Asian power, and finally, 9 years after Krakovsky took power, they prepare for war, on the scale the world has never seen. This speech, given directly before the invasion, is an example of both Krakovsky's oratorical ability ,and the mindset of the Myedvedeyan people, actively encouraged by the Myedvedeyan government.


AYDAN KRAKOVSKY:
People of Myedvedeya. I come here before you today humbled by the presence of two hundred thousand soldiers. These two hundred thousand brave men stand before me today, notable in that they have made the choice to put their lives on the line for their country. There is a saying, my friends, that dates back to the Orangine wars. "To a soldier of Orangine, you must explain the esoterics of the battle. To an Ossetanian, you must explain the logic. To a Myedvedeyan, you simply point him in the right direction." This is the spirit that makes our nation what it is. The fire within, that emanates from every Myedvedeyan, is a central part of our culture and our national identity. The red stripe in our flag, for instance, symbolizes this. Our flag, our identity, our people all have this passion in common, this burning need to excel and overcome.

Today, we stand on the brink of a new age. We have spread across the land, until we grace both oceans with our borders. We have spread so far that a man can stand on one side of the country, and be half a day ahead of the man on the other. Nation after nation have seen our banner crest their flagpoles, and nation after nation have been admitted to our union of might. You may think that all of this is enough. You may feel that conquest is not justified, or that we are slavers, bending all we encounter to our will. We are not slavers. We are not murderers. We are not strongarmed thugs looking to make a name, we are the greatest Empire the world will ever see. Future generations will look upon this square, and say: There walked the greatest force of conquerers who have ever set foot on this planet's soil. There walk the undefeatable, the unconquerable. They are greater than Caesar's armies, they are greater than Genghis' hordes. There walk men so strong, fighting against them is as futile as holding back the tide. We have marched through countries large and small. We have marched through Monarchies, Democracies, Anarchies, and everything in between. None of them have been equal to our strength.

In our jeans and our shirts, in the leather shoes that carry us through our daily lives, we are ordinary, unremarkable. With rifle in hand, hats on our heads, and the black, blue, and red over our hearts, we are invincible. We are the stuff of nightmares. The sound of our boots as they hit the ground is enough to make any man of any nation shake like a leaf in the wind.

Today, you will return to your families. Today you will eat a well-cooked meal, and drink vodka. Today, you will say your goodbyes. Some will weep for parents, some for children, and some for brothers. For at this place in time, this one hilltop, from which we view the plains of the past, and the mist-filled valleys of the future, we have but one enemy that yet stands strong, against the full force of our storm. Tomorrow, we will carve out a new meaning of might. Tomorrow, we will raise the most glorious hellfire the world has ever seen, and dance in its' shadow on the graves of our enemies. We are an avalanche, flowing from the north to crush the last stain on our glory. Tomorrow, we will ride to battle. We will ride hard, and we will ride fast. We will outrun our misgivings. We will outrun our fear of death. We will ride to the darkest hours of a civilization, and we will ride to the dawn of a new age for all mankind.

Soldiers: FOR MYEDVEDEYA! FOR THE TSAR!

(ooc- this has nothing whatsoever to do with the tournament, but it might give some insight into Myedvedeya in general, as we are a new country to the international community, and may give some insight to the intensity all the players and coaches show throughout every sporting event. It was fun to write, and I hope it wasnt' too much of a waste of time for all of you to read.)

QOX World Bowl Coverage

I'm Mad Johnnen and BOOM! We defeated Dulth Carp 28-3, after, BOOM! 3 TD passes from Greg Dannen and a 76 yd TD BOOM! run from BOOM! Frank Vallens.

Up next is Coatshire and BOOM! we should win. BOOM! Use tough acting acttinniin and shop at Case Hardware and buy Mad Johnnen 08! BOOM!

To the Most Benign and Pious Villagers of Gulwer,

Your generous prayers and the holiness of our beloved parson have given this my team favour in the eyes of God. This I know because we were lead to victory today against the formidable Miroxians in this first game of World Bowl qualification. The blessed Mary gave lightness to my feet, and having such levity enabled me to run past those Miroxians on several occasions.

It was a most glorious contest that took place in Taale-Voren, eight and thirty miles from the north-most tree of Gulwer. Both teams met in the venerable St. Alfons Hippodrome, which enabled an enormous crowd to bear witness to our valour. I have already mentioned my own fleetness of foot on the field, but our victory, much like the survival of our village, was due completely to our communal strength.

Two of our players, Carwer and Vlissingeln, were especially effective against our opponents, having brought down the quarterback seven times between them. I must also mention the exploits of my friend Geul. You surely know him as the son of a humble miller in that village north of Gulwer. He threw for a score to another one of our players, Waalwijk. This is noteworthy, because normally the ball is not thrown after it is handed off, and it is therefore surprising to the other team when such a manoeuvre is executed.

In all, we scored seven and twenty points, while our opponents failed to score at all. This means that the Eagles of Taale-Voren have not been scored upon in the past ten months, although this is the first game in that many months that we have not scored over one hundred points.

I will actually be receiving £6 from Mr Slues for my participation in this competition. I was much bewildered when I was told of this, but the most benevolent Mr Slues said that it was common for the players of other nations to be paid for their services on the field. I owe my earning of this great fortune all to the dear people of Gulwer, who have raised me and taught me. I shall only use this money to the benefit of the village.

My first act will be to hire several poachers to hunt that heinous lion that has stolen four children from our village. I will do so as soon as I am relieved from my sporting duties, which may be in as little as a few weeks. I shall also hire a team of constables to apprehend that loathsome vagrant that wanders our fields at night to the terror of the village.

May I prosper through the blessings of the holy Mary ever virgin, and shall you prosper as well, and I shall pass my fortunes to you, my family and neighbours. I wish upon you a bountiful harvest.

Signed,
Mr Antoon Kerkrade, son of Jan

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS MAKE LOUD STATEMENT

Kenavt- After two World Bowls of being looked at by the World as a good team, but not a championship caliber team, Newmanistan made a statement this morning. Sure, Kenavt is regarded as a weak team after their poor performance in World Bowl II qualifying, but the made them the perfect opponent for the Rockets to go out and try to dominate. World Bowl III is going to be different, they insist. This time the Rockets will be a legitimate threat at the title as the whole atmosphere around the team seems entirely different this time around. They made quick work of Kenavt, and perhaps at a certain point could have called off the dogs. But not this time. A message was to be delivered, and your end result would have the Rockets laying the smack down on Connor da Vincho (OOC: they don’t have a roster officially, but we’re sure Connor was among them somewhere) and company by the score of 55-13.

The game got off to a very quick start for Newmanistan. On the games opening kickoff, Corey Brooks, with some terrific blocking split the wedge, then sprinted down the right sideline for a touchdown. 99 yards, and just like that the Rockets were up. Extra point? Nope! They’ve already just caught Kenavt off guard, so why not go for two. Corey Parisi, offtackle right, score! Rockets up 8-0! The best thing for Kenavt to have done after this score would have been to slow down the pace of the game, perhaps with a nice ball control drive, and just run time off the clock. A field goal, or simply a punt to pin the Rockets inside the 10 could work. But not this. Third place from scrimmage, the QB drops back and it’s intercepted Dan Strasser. Strasser returns the ball down to the Kenavt 12, where after a 3-year pick up by Parisi, the Rockets would strike again. Pivonka, to Jordan Lyons, wide open in the center of the field for the score. They kick and extra point this time, and with less the three minutes off the clock in the first quarter, the Rockets have a 15-0 lead! Following the possession, kenavt did a much better job, marching down the field somewhat before the drive stalled at the Newmanistan 22. They kicked a 40-yard FG though to get on the board 15-3. For a little while, it looked as though the teams had settled in. The teams exchanged drives that ended in punts and this would be your score at the end of the 1st quarter.

The Rockets had possession of the ball at the beginning of the second quarter, and made a play that at the time seemed huge. On 3rd and 25 (due to a penalty) from their own 6. Pivonka avoided the grasp of a kenavt linebacker that would have been a sack at the 2, and fired the ball up for Alex Foster. Foster made a diving catch for a 27 yard pickup. Gradually the Rockets moved the ball down field, and Pivonka would find Foster again, this a 15-yard TD reception. Another 2-point conversion was attempted, but unsuccessful. It was 21-3. After exchanging punts, and a second kenavt punt, the Rockets milked the remaining time in the 2nd with handoff after handoff, getting both Parisi and Chris Padgett involved, and moving the chains. It would end with Pivonka’s 3rd TD pass of the game, finding Gagnon this time for 11 yards, to put the Rockets up 28-3 with 21 seconds left in the half, and this would eventually be the halftime score.

Whatever was said in the Kenavt locker room at halftime seemed to pick up the team quite a bit. They seemed to have new life, and admittedly the Rockets may have fallen into a false sense of security that they could do whatever they pleased against the opponent. With moderate urgency, they pressed the ball upfield, going no huddle on several occasions, before their QB hit their TE for a 22-yard TD to make it 28-10. For the moment, the home crowd wasn’t buying it, and it only got moderate applause. But they would hold the Rockets to a 3-and-out, and then march upfield again, getting the ball into the redzone. On 3rd and goal from the 7, what should have been a sure TD pass was dropped in the end zone and they had to settle for a field goal. Again the Rockets went three and out, and again Kenavt starting moving the ball upfield. Until it happened. The QB’s pass hit a wide open player directly in the numbers for an easy catch. However, this wide open player was not a Kenavt player, it was Newmanistan’s Stanley Bressler. Bressler took one of the easier interceptions of his career and took it back 62 yards for the TD. A huge momentum swing, and just to make matters worse, they Rockets tried another two point conversion. This not successful, but it was still 34-13, and it would remain as such until the end of the quarter.

The interception returned for the touchdown by Bressler took all the life out of the home crowd, and gradually had its effects on the Kenavt players themselves. On the next Newmanistan possession they seemed to want to run some time off the clock, but the plan was spoiled not because of the Kenavt defense but because Corey Parisi broke several holes en route to a 71-yard TD run to make it 41-13. With the team up comfortably, coach Nicholson would rest his offensive starters for the rest of the game. Pivonka finished the day going 17-for-26 for 227 yards and 3 TD’s, Parisi had 133 yards on the ground. But the backups wanted to make a name for themselves as well. Some of them to show that they could be a starter, while others who were starters at one time, to show that they should get another chance. Such was the case when Julius Conte, a starter in World Bowl I and II but now riding the bench drilled a Kenavt RB and forced a fumble, which was recovered at the Kenavt 38. Kenny O’Hara, getting his first appearance, didn’t want to just run off clock, he wanted to show he belonged. And he would, albeit against defense that just wanted to get the game over with. O’Hara would connect with young Jeremy LeBarron in the endzone for a 24-yard reception to make it 48-13. After forcing Kenavt to punt with six minutes remaining, O’Hara again did not want to show mercy, spreading the ball around again, and moving the team downfield. With 2:33 left, the drive ended with a 16-yard TD pass from O’Hara to Corey Brooks to make it 55-13. Brooks’ second TD of the game, and he would score the first and last TD of this game.

The Rockets know that they won’t all be this easy. But for one day, everything was clicking. It was about as big of a rout as you could have imagined, and whether or not Dancougar or Arroza do this to kenavt too will remain to be seen. Tonight, the Rockets looked like a team that can win the championship. But there’s a lot of football left to be played.

Pretty Sportsfan Catherine
Blogging about football in the context of anime

It's hard not to be pumped up after the opening day of the gridiron championships! Yours truly made the trip to the Jay Kay at the University of Sullivan, which provides a pretty friendly atmosphere for most games considering we can't get a capacity crowd. It's unfortunate on one hand, but on the other, it helps you feel that much closer to the action. A beer in one hand, a dog in the other. And on the field, the Wings delivered a superb opening day performance against Swilatia - a 32-10 victory that was never in doubt.

My sincerest apologies to the offensive line. So many questions going into the tournament. Will young Donny Cullivan be the weak link? He looked good from where I stood and had a crushing block in the first quarter that sprung Hatchitt for a big run. Right away, it was Black Wing football. Football as it was meant to be played. I was also impressed that Appelgate didn't get too impatient to leave his mark on the game. He was happy to let Hatchitt and Boz pound away. But the man can throw, although we didn't have a good view from the south endzone when he put it over the top to Seelbinder for a 20-yard score. Other end of the field. But we could tell that this had the potential to be a very different offense. Appelgate sat in the pocket and had all the time in the world, stepped into the throw, and he put juice on this one. A well-run timing pattern across the middle, Seelbinder in stride, and he jogs in. That's not the kind of throw that Haynesworth makes.

But even though he showed those kinds of flashes, Appelgate stuck to the plan, and that's the kind of offense I like to see. Pass occasionally, but only after being set up by the run. It reminds me of the game Orange Star played against Kyouhei Bulls in volume four. Erika was coming off of what turned out to be a breakout game, since they were introducing Orange Star's receivers in that one. But then the Bulls come out and show the best defense in the game is a slow offense. Kura-Pelland does it, we do it, and it's really true. When you're able to burn six or seven minutes at a time and put points up on the board, it crushes a team's spirit and keeps your defense that much fresher. It's like you can play defense all the time.

Hatchitt was getting it done. He broke runs of 18 and 25 in the second quarter and finished off two Black Wing drives to make it 21-0 midway through. Kirk Manly - what a name for a linebacker! - picked up two sacks. The blitz was effective with five, forcing Swilatia into the air right away. If only the Wings didn't sit back into zone, we might have held them scoreless longer. But the safety Morgenstein bit on a fake and yielded the pass over the top, 22-yard score to make it 21-7.

In the third quarter we were treated to one of the most bizarre plays I can remember seeing in a game. It falls in the same vein as the contrived infinite lateral play, although this was completely accidental. It started with a turnover that gave the Wings excellent field position. Butch Easley picked up an interception while spying in midfield. The ball was going to a man cutting behind him, but Butch just reached up and plucked it out of the air. Appelgate marched them downfield with a few short passes. Fifteen for nineteen, not bad! Hatchitt picked up his hat trick with a right-side sweep.

The extra point, though, was a disaster. Appelgate bobbled the snap and was forced to swing out. I think we all collectively gasped when we saw a wall of Swilatia defenders closing in. I, at least, thought there was no way out. Then he threw, across his body, all the way across the field to the kicker, Stottlemyer, who tried to reach the endzone but was wrapped up. The tight end Mendenhall was nearby trying to throw a block and ended up on the receiving end of a handoff. I think he was as surprised as the defense, and he managed to dive forward for the score. Two points made it 29-7, and that really seemed to suck the wind out Swilatia. A pair of field goals, one to each team, capped the scoring. We got to see Tangermann come in and pound the line after Kirk Hatchitt ran for a buck forty and three scores.

So the Wings get the win, and the rest of the group games proceeded as expected. Big wins for Arroza and Newmanistan, with Newmanistan looking especially scary. They've fallen early at the two tournaments they hosted, but I think they're somehow looking forward to playing AWAY from home. New surroundings, new fans to win, and maybe less pressure of trying to perform at a high level at the sacred Tundra Falls Proving Grounds. The Wings will start a two-game road trip, now, to the Candrian Empire and Newmanistan. The defense will be agonizing over game tape for that Rocket offense.

One peculiar piece of news I stumbled across was with relation to the Rennidan and Secristan game. I watched the highlights of this one, and it was an absolutely brutal slugfest. Naturally, I thought it was the best game I'd seen in a long time. But there's a Youtube video up of a Rennidan hobo being forced to act like a dog for some Secristan rusas. And then, at the game itself, I spotted one or two fans in dog masks and doing their best to intimidate the visitors. I think they might be able to adopt it as a badge of courage, of pride. The Brutes are a wild bunch, and the last thing I think anyone wants to have to deal with are a crowd of psyched-up, drunk, howling mad football fans. Although I don't know how the Wings fans would adapt if we met them again. Our Horrible Hand-Towels versus their... dog pound?

Suck It, Secristan

They tormented our hobos, mocked our Industrial District and generally acted like the lofty toffs we all thought they were. Rumours had it that rogue fans were planning their own revenge on the Millionaires, but, in the end, such thoughts were culled by a sweeping statement from the Brute Force leader, McDavies.

"Lads and gents of the Brute Force. Blokes who are fans of the Brutes. The Millionaires are not to be touched. It is not our job as fans to be the ones who humiliate the Secristan side, but that of the Brutes themselves. If I hear news of any fan out there sabotaging or hurting a Millionaire player, I'll declare hunting season on them. Give them peace off the gridiron, give them hell on it."

So, instead of the physical tormention we all know the Brutes fans can give, it all fell back onto the psychological. For starters, legions of fans were hooting and hollering in dog masks, no doubt a nudge towards the now infamous YouTube video. The canine persona seems to be something the Brutes are more than willing to pick up to scare the opposition.


But that's not the biggest psychological attack Rennidan launched in their game. In what is perhaps the most bizzare way at freaking out your opponent, the Brutes actually refused to play their offensive side. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, Rennidan kept their offence on the bench and let the defence play non-stop on both ends of the game. No doubt, Owen Powis makes a pretty mean tailback, and Daniel Cuddeford wasn't a half bad quarterback, but you could just seen the likes of Pat McGraw and Jason Yeilds itching to get onto the concrete turf to give the Millionaires hell.

Needless to say, the match went on to be 0-0 by full time, with neither the Secristan offence managing to break the Rennidan's thuggish defence, nor the Rennidan 'offence' managing more than thirty yards a drive.

Rennidan had the first drive of overtime and it was now that they decided to give the offence a chance. McGraw practically roared with delight and Yeilds was on the pitch in a flash. After the kick return, Rennidan sat at their twenty. First play of the drive, the offence made a single run which ended at the opponent's fifteen. Instead of going for the glory of a six point throw, the Brutes had a rare moment of brain usage and, instead, brought Clive on to kick it for 3.

Bing badda boom, job done, Rennidan win. And no doubt they've sent a message through to the Millionaires after their bizarre display of tactics.

QUITE A BATTLE

Before the game, the Millionaire players took as many pictures as they could with the man, with great big smiles, and they were prepared to distribute them to not just the SDOS, but anyone wanting to see just how nice they were. But then, came the unsuspected youtube video. Not only did whoever took the video capture the crawling and barking, but apparently they were able to get the other things they made Potbelly Pete do, such as the pathetic dance moves and the drinking out of the garbage. That humilation was supposed to just be for their eyes, but a guy we now know as Daniel Giddonal taped it and displayed to the world. Now there would be no point in saving the nice pictures, until WR Paul Zambito had a plan:

“I know it sucks that the video is now showing all over the internet but if it wasn’t for Giddonal that man would still have his dignity. Giddonal took the act to humilate him to the world. Yes, we had some fun, but we also gave him 500,000 Rusas.” Mitchell agreed, the plan would be to make the Brute Force look bad, even though there are probably many other countries who already feel that way about them, “They are a bunch of hooligans. They gave this guy nothing, and now they upload this humiliating video to the World. They saw him every day. We gave him 500,000 Rusas for the little video that he uploaded, and if you watch it you can tell that he is making the most of it.”

So the intention of the gift would fail, but they still got information out of Potbelly Pete. Peter told them several secrets about their offense, including some referring to QB Pat McGraw, making them very excited to take them on when they got a huge surprise. McGraw would not take the field. Nor Jason Yields, or any other offensive player. They played their defensive players both ways, which forced them to have to make some defensive adjustments, especially when Owen Powis lined up at tailback. He was tough to bring down, very tough, but because of his lack of speed, several players were able to get to him and actually make a tackle. Or gang push him out of bounds. It was a funny scene. In the stands, the fans that made it to the game seemed to enjoy poking fun at Potbelly Pete’s dog crawl. The Millionaires shut down the inexperienced at running an offense, defense of Rennidan, but they could not get on the board at all themselves. Rennidan players made sure to hit extra hard, especially when Zambito caught a 12 yard pass over the middle only to be drilled by Powis. Though Powis was a little stunned when Zambito jumped right to his feet and signaled, first down! That may have been a bad idea, because it seemed to piss off Rennidan, and the Millionaires only got one first down after that. It went to overtime, and the Brutes put their offensive players in, and as they were obviously fresh, they moved the ball, and kicked a game winning field goal. The final score, 3-0 in OT. But one of the most entertaining 3-0 in OT games you’ll ever see.

It is rumored the members of the Brute Force may come to Monopoly Stadium in Secristan. We remind them, and any one else wishing to travel here, that tickets for any sporting event in Secristan are available by auction only. Auction date is three days before game time, with the highest bidders getting their preferred seats. Parking spaces are also auction-only for preferred spots.

(OOC: man this has sucked moving out and not having regular Internet access at this time. Must edit my old roster; style modifier remains 0 and PAT will be logical, at least I still beat Lovisa!)

Kura-Pelland Arrows are trying to go one better than last time where they lost the World Bowl to a bunch of thugs from Rennidan, and they thrived against Lovisa with an alarmingly easy 30-13 win.

Dick Vernasse was preferred as quarterback to Michael Bernard, and the change-up seemed to surprise Lovisa as they focused on the Arrows' typical short-pass offense. Their tight zone coverage - a sensible strategy against a Bernard-led offense - was useless here, as Vernasse threw three touchdowns in the first twenty minutes, all of them converted. Lovisa struck back with a couple of field goals, Tim Pogley adding one of his own late in the second to make the score 24-6 at half-time, and while Lovisa scored a touchdown against a second-string defence in the third, two more field goals from Pogley underlined the Arrows' dominance.

Notes from day 1: (Since as the host, i'm not rp-ing)

Taeshan: Thank You. You have no idea how much it helps my bad eyes not to deal with cyan and yellow on white.

Rennidan v. Secristan: I now know what you get when you put a -5 against a -4. Not much in the way of points.

Kura-Pelland: Highest ranked team not to throw in a roster post. Signs of disaster on the horizon?
lol, and they post as I'm wondering about them.

Still hope for losers. Remember 12 teams come to Atalanta, so if you got blown off the field, just keep rp-ing and do it again.

Although, having Brute Force, the Black Wing Brigade, a bunch of Millionaires, and Cotenshire's fans all in one city might have been a odd idea in retrospect...

Style: +3
PAT: Logical

Quarterbacks:
* Cain Wells #18
* Henry Weber #12


Running backs:

* Richard Anthis #29
* Sean Blakley #32
* William Williams #28


Fullback:

* George Canaan #25


Tight ends:

* Kyler Hayes #44
* John Burgess #80
* Kyle Wildt #89
* Cliff Rodgers #47


Wide receivers:

* Erwin Winters #88
* Norman Shade #87
* Thaddeus Wilkinson #10
* Jared Meadows #83
* Kurt Wessley #81


Left tackles:

* Joseph Houser #65
* Steven Pleiss #74


Right tackles:

* Jason Hunter #62
* Timothy Bull #60


Left guards:

* Michael White #69
* Chad Rainey #77


Right guards:

* Matthew Simpson #75
* Benjamin Schafer #71


Centers:

* Robert Winkler #63
* Terry Hobbs #76


Right defensive ends:

* Jared Sensmeier #93
* Scott Hyneman #64


Left defensive ends:

* Matthew West #97
* Michael LeClerc #90


Right defensive tackles:

* Chase Allen #99
* Stephen Conner #94


Left defensive tackles:

* Trey Reidford #68
* Kyle Smith #95


Right outer linebackers:

* Braiden Rainey #58
* Kyle Davenport #53


Middle linebackers:

* Charles Woodruff #57
* James Mason #96


Left outer linebackers:

* Jordan Pinkston #98
* Walther Horrall #51


Cornerbacks:

* Sean Slade #45
* Lamar Walden #23
* Kenneth Lauley #36
* Ian Wiggins #49
* Christopher Hobbs #41


Strong safeties:

* Brian Alldredge #21
* Jarrod Bartlett #24
* Wesley Ice #20


Free safeties:

* Chaz Livermore #35
* Randall Ridgway #42


Kicker:

* Devin Shipley #4


Punter:

* Lamar White #17


Kickoff specialist:

* Christopher Taylor #13


Kick returner:

* Donald Deputy #82


Long snapper:

* Terry Hobbs #19

Next Up:

Rennidan v Milchama

From what this aging reporter remembers of the Milchama side, they were an offensively heavy all-or-nothing side. I'm not sure whether that has stayed the same for this World Bowl, or whether they've tempered themselves down into a more even side

What is for sure is that they won't be much of a pushover for the Brutes, but then again, the Brutes will hardly be a pushover for Milchama. It's one of those matches that could, really, swing either way, as we've never seen either team play one another.

After the close call match against Secristan, I think it's more than obvious that the Brutes defence has gotten even more serious about the way they play, turning into a nigh-solid wall of smashmouth tactics and fatal hits.

I'm predicting yet another small score game, preferably a 7-0 or a 14-7. The whole 3-0 in overtime was a bit too much for my old ticker.

_________

McDavies sat, solemn and silent, within Terminal 8 of the Emperor’s National Airport. The large complex lies within the Newtown District, a modern, sterile area of Rennidan famed for it's remarkably non-existent crime rate and high quality produce. It's a far cry from the dirt of Rennidan's Industrial District, and McDavies is obviously out of place in his tatty denim vest, grubby black shirt, torn work jeans and muddy work boots. He sits, legs crossed, with the Rennidan Observer on his lap, and a steaming cup of dark coffee by his side. Gotta' act a bit more civilized when you're outside the I.D.

His eyes lay upon the departing Secristan Millionaire's, who seem a lot more comfortable in the clean atmosphere of Newtown. Really, McDavies is only there to make sure the bastards get outta' the country as soon as physically possible. Their kind, the kind that flaunt their wealth and want people to know how much dosh they have in their pocket, aren't welcome too much in Rennidan as a whole, let alone the I.D.

Coincidently, as the last Secristan scummer walked aboard Flight 903, the first Milchama player stepped off Flight 782. This was the Milchama side's first experience of Rennidan, and McDavies didn't particularly want to ruin it. Yet. Besides, he could feel the coffee breath of the airport security on the back of his neck, which was usually a good enough signal that he should be taking his leave. Outside his banged up, somewhat rusty pick-up truck (a Windizi Meshe Roamer, if you feel like paying attention to Rennidanian automobile history), was running idle, whilst the young Daniel Giddonal kept an eye on it. Giddonal was a good kid. Talked too much, but a good kid none the less.

"Hey, man, hey, you, uh, you see what the, uh, Secristan guys tried, like, saying about me? They were totally, uh, trying t', like, pin the blame on me, yeah? Well, not just, like, me, but, uh, the Brutes on a whole, yeah? Saying how we, uh, never, like, cared for that, uh, Potbelly Pete, right? But Pete he's, like, uh, a traitor to the, like, nation, right? And he shouldn't, uh, be, like, treated right, should he? I mean, that's why he's, uh, out on the, like, streets. And, I mean, like, I gave him, uh, half my burger once, because, like, I was just, uh, y'know, feeling a bit, uh, like, ill and, yeah, y'know?"

McDavies blinked.

The kid could really talk.

"This story got a point, kid?"

Now it was Giddonals turn to look a bit dumbfounded.

"Uh, I, uh, guess not."

And with that, McDavies put the car into first and rumbled off back to the Industrial District. He had had enough talk about the Secristan scummers. It was time to turn the attention of the Brutes and the Brute Force towards Milchama. They could save the trials and tribulations of the Millionaire's for Match Day Six.

Just gotta' keep looking at it one game at a time, man.

One game at a time.

On to the Millionares

Yep its finally that time fo the year the 3rd meeting of the Fitin' Falcons and the Secristan Millionares in Wiechester. In the first two meetings during World Bowl 2 the Falcons pulled of two deceptive wins against the young Millionares, but that may prove harder this time. The bettings getting higher for team spots, aqnd the players are getting better.

The game will be played next friday the 18th at of course Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park, and the forecast is as usual snow, Snow, and more snow. So make sure to bring your sweaters. The Falcons will look to hold of the yound Secristanis, and take the group lead. So go Knights.

The Isangrad Times
Milchama 23, The Valerian Empire 14

Today, the Valerian International Amerikanskiy Futbol Team, the Gatecrashers, lost a rather close game today against Milchama. The Milchamans, however, managed to pull away from the tied, contested game in the 4th with a field goal and a touchdown. They attempted to force a higher point margin, but they could not convert after the touchdown. Berhard Berg, who made a touchdown today in the 3rd that kept it tied up until the end has a lot to say about this game.

"Well, it shows that we are a green team internationally. Milchama, I have to admit, is very good. They're nothing like the teams we have in our nation." Considering that Amerikanskiy Futbol is not too popular in The Valerian Empire, it is a true statement. "However, this game was quite a close one, and Milchama does deserve a victory. They have more experience and are in fact a pretty good team."

Milchama is the team predicted to be the cream de la creme of our group, according to the Valerian sports analysts.

Tomorrow, the Valerians will be hosting the hosting the Myedvedeyan team at Isangrad in the Tsar's Dome, which has been modified for Amerikanskiy Futbol. It is unknown whether or not the stadium will sell out, since many Isangraders will more likely be watching the local soccer matches instead, or just pretending Amerikanskiy Futbol does not exist altogether.

MATCH PREVIEW: MYEDVEDEYA VS MAGNUS VALERIUS

Myedvedeya will face fellow Slavs Magnus Valerius today, after an embarrassing 15-3 defeat at home against Taeshan. The Myedvedeyans have been given a cold shock as to the true level of international competition, and will have to step it up on the road against the Valerians if they hope to improve to .500

Some areas of improvement for Myedvedeya, if they want to start winning:

OFFENSE

Boris Shcherbatsky, Quarterback. Shcherbatsky must work on accuracy and field sense. Last game, he clearly telegraphed his intentions to his opponents the whole game, and the Taeshani defense destroyed him.

Receiving: Both receivers failed to run routes properly, and failed to lose coverage.

DEFENSE:

The defense was pretty solid, all around.

PUNTS:
Roman Belovitch was absolutely atrocious... punts did not have hangtime, and did not have accuracy.

In general, Myedvedeya must step up every part of their offensive game if they hope to advance in this tournament.

http://www.thearma.org/Youth/RapierQandA/Itrpr91.jpg It's used to cut things off.

Group 1
Swilatia 10, Newmanistan 13
Kenavt 6, Arroza 7
The Candrian Empire 13, Dancougar 43

Team GP W L PF PA Pt. Diff.
Dancougar 2 2 0 75 23 52
Newmanistan 2 2 0 68 23 45
Arroza 2 2 0 37 15 22
Swilatia 2 0 2 20 45 -25
Kenavt 2 0 2 21 62 -41
Candrian Empire 2 0 2 22 73 -51


Group 2
Miroxia 17, Lovisa 0
Kura-Pelland 10, Bluth Corporation 13
Qazox 17, Cotenshire 0

Team GP W L PF PA Pt. Diff.
Qazox 2 2 0 45 3 42
Cotenshire 2 1 1 27 17 10
Kura-Pelland 2 1 1 36 26 10
Miroxia 2 1 1 17 27 -10
Bluth Corp. 2 1 1 16 38 -22
Lovisa 2 0 2 13 43 -30


Group 3
Taeshan 10, Secristan 0
Rennidan 30, Milchama 7
The Valerian Empire 9, Myedvedeva 6 (OT)

Team GP W L PF PA Pt. Diff.
Rennidan 2 2 0 33 7 26
Taeshan 2 2 0 25 3 22
Valerian Empire 2 1 1 23 29 -6
Milchama 2 1 1 30 44 -14
Secristan 2 0 2 0 13 -13
Myedvedeva 2 0 2 9 24 -15

Fitin' Faclons Azeroate Millionares

It was a fun day in Taeshan last week at Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park, as the Falcons took on the Millionares of Secristan for the third time in the past two World Bowls. The Falcons kept the Millionares from scoring all game on route to a 10-0 victory, and a current second spot in group two.

In last nights game Martin Gramatica would start the scoring with a 57 yrd field goal through the posts to make it 3-0 and give them the lead they wouldn't ever give away. But they added to it later with a Gabe Martin rushing touchdown on the Play Action QB slide and glide taking there final lead 0f 10-0. Go Knights.

The following was from a local Taale-Voren newspaper:



WRETCHED VILLAINY MEETS KERKRADE IN THE LAND OF QAZOX

That most treacherous race of arachnids that inhabit the barren land known as Qazox have committed upon our champions deeds most foul. Yesterday, the Eagles, led by the gold-hearted Kerkrade, bravely marched into that maw of putrescence known as the City of Arossa (although it is not as much a city as it is a festering nest of warrens and pits).

Ignoring all elements of a civilized society, the Qazoxians play sports in the same manner that they live: ruthless, insidious, and barbaric. Of course, they could not hope to win against our Mercury incarnate. So, like any species of Jew, they had to feed Kerkrade and his men undiluted poison and gave them a bed of worms on which to sleep.

Once our Eagles were bloodied, fatigued, and near-death, it would be easy enough for any of us to win against them in a game of football, let alone such inept rogues as the Qazoxians. These tactics those ruffians employed violate our Christian sensibilities, and it is quite obvious that this is no legitimate victory.

Therefore, when on that day the Qazoxian fiends invade our city for the rematch, there shall be revenge and blood shall be spilled. The order for any such imp that appears in our city is to be such:

The entire body shall be drenched in gasoline. Then fifty pounds of manure shall be forced down their throats with the aid of a broomstick, after which shall the body be set ablaze. Then the head shall be severed and placed on a pike, which will be mounted in the upper deck of the St. Alfons Hippodrome, while the bodies shall be hung from the goal posts in the south end zone and along the fence behind it if there is not enough room.

Such is the prescription that shall appease both our blessed Mary with its extreme justice, and the infernal one with some newly acquired souls.

Cotenshire Citizenry: Dude, your visas are going to get denied so hard. :p

Myedvedeya defeated again.

The so-far unfortunate Myedvedeyan international football team lost today to the Valerian Empire, albeit in overtime. The game ended with a score of 6-6, and the Valerians won the overtime coin toss, received the extremely badly taken kickoff, and proceeded to run two plays for an overall gain of 7 yards before aiming at a 35 yard field goal, which went straight through the uprights to win them the game. Myedvedeya will have to improve if they want to be competitive at all through the rest of the tournament.

MYEDVEDEYAN ROSTER NEWS.

Myedvedeyan placekicker Aleksander Ermakov was shot today by a desolate fan, and is currently in the hospital, listed in stable condition. His replacement will be Slava Karolsky, an ex-soccer player we found hanging around the stadium drinking his sorrows away. Good luck to him...

Pretty Sportsfan Catherine
Blogging football in the context of anime.

My goodness, where have all these points coming from? Ah, who am I to question it, though. I should enjoy it now - we travel to Newmanistan next. A thirty point victory over the newcomers from the Candrian Empire may draw accusations of running it up, but that's because Hatchitt kept running it through. The defense was absolutely porous and the Wings were moving the ball at will. It's important, I think, for the team to be able to go out and get huge wins in the first two games to really build up their confidence and swagger.

They're going to need all that and an extra tank of gas against the Rockets, who won a close game against Swilatia, specifically because the styles of play are so different. The Rockets will let John Pivonka sit back and fire away, and they essentially have a sixth lineman in the fullback Gillepsie to form up the pocket. The secondary got their reps tonight against the Candrian Empire, hoping to send a message to their next opponent. On their first drive of the game, Rorick welcomed himself to the team by jumping a crossing route for an interception. Hatchitt continued where his previous highlight reel left off by picking up 40 of the 50 yards on the ensuing scoring drive for the Wings, capping it off with a seven yard run right up the middle.

Points off turnovers. That will kill you. Ask anyone. Heck, watch Erika! One of the filler games against Nerima Waterworks really hammered this one home when the team came out with an absolutely anemic offense. Orange Star couldn't believe how easy it was to force the early three-and-out. But when Erika marched onto the field, they discovered the true strength of Nerima... the defense. They baited Erika into bad passes with blitzes from all directions, a suffocating zone, and perfect awareness. Orange Star found themselves falling farther and farther behind even though they had almost all of the possession. This is the kind of game the Wings were able to play against the Candrians. A safety on the next drive, which I consider a turnover. A touchdown after the free kick, and you're already looking at 16-0 before the end of the first quarter.

They got a field goal on the next drive to make it 16-3, but it was hard to shake the feeling that the game was too far gone. Well, that's a dangerous thought. Only a two score game with plenty of time to go. It was up to the Wings, really, to determine how close it would get. Appelgate took care of any nagging doubts with a 43-yard spiral to Divalerio. The Candrians try to respond, but like I said, turnovers. Butch Easley forces the fumble, Grant Martella recovers, and it's already over. Hatchitt continues to march, though, bleeding the first half clock. Appelgate mixes in the odd pass here and there, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Hatchitt gets two touchdowns in the first half on 120 yards, and the Wings lead 30-3 at the break.

The unfortunate thing about road games is that it's so hard to get decent coverage over here. As usual, I had to grab a streaming feed off foreign TV. The old standby from Rennidan had it, same as that 3-0 thriller. The Secristan feed was much better, of course, but I arrived late at the bidding, and anyway, I prefer play-by-play men who actually call the game rather than read advertisements between plays. I think some channel I don't get broadcasts the games here. You'd think DSPN would jump all over these, but they were too busy showing the soccer guys draw ping pong balls out of a hat.

The second half was much closer once the backups started to get some playing time, which reminds me, now that Erika herself is out with an injury, the show is taking a kind of interesting turn, because now we have to see Orange Star try to play and win without her. Unfortunately, our anime heroes don't have the a quality backup like Haynesworth who can manage the clock, execute the short passes well, and knows exactly when to feed the beast. In this case, the beast was Ollie Tangermann, who worked most of the second half. Haynesworth got them a couple field goals in the third quarter, and the Empire finally reached the endzone after newcomer Alex Isabella got burned on an out 'n' up.

One more field goal made it 36-13, which anyone will say is a great result on the road. We did have the better fans. There weren't many of them, sure, but they were making noise the entire time, waving their towels. You're stronger than me, Black Wing Nation! And they were rewarded, because even with the new guys on the field, the Wings looked like they were in complete control. How about Fred Uselton snagging a five-yard score from Haynesworth late in the game? The kid's only 19, youngest on the team by three months over linebacker Billy Aveline. But when he came in, it was all business. Ran his route, had the timing and the position. You can see the hard work they all put in to try and get back to the finals after getting woken up by the Brutes in the last tournament. Coach Moohim must be grilling everyone so they're ready.

All right, so a great win, 43-13 to stay unbeaten with all the other guys you'd expect to be unbeaten in this stage. But now we enter a two-game strength at Newmanistan and against Arroza. Something has to give, and hopefully it gives in our favor! I was trying to think who we could really call rivals, and any number of teams could claim it. Newmanistan has played some pretty epic games against us in both codes of football. Arroza has met us in both World Bowl trophy games. And we can't forget Rennidan and Kura-Pelland from tournaments past. Who is the Furinkan to our Orange Star? Maybe after a few more games, we'll know.

SORE MILLIONAIRES STRUGGLE MORE

After a grueling battle in Warehouse 17 in Rennidan, the attention of the Millionaires needed to focus immediately on Taeshan, a team that beat them twice in group play last year. There could have been a desire for redemption and all that fun stuff. But really, the team couldn't stop thinking about Rennidan. If they wanted to stop thinking about them, they were reminded by their bodies through pain and general soreness of just how difficult that game was. Not only was it emotionally draining to come so close to defeating the defending champion on their turf, but it wore them out physically as well. Taeshan is not nearly as physical as Rennidan, and that's not an insult to Taeshan as soon they will find out about Rennidan themselves. The Millionaires minds seemed to be elsewhere, and again they struggled to score. Again, they couldn't score. Two games, no points.

Despite the poor record, the SDOS is pleased with World Bowl III thus far. It appears as though the Brute Force did a great thing for ratings and pay-per-view purchases for the first game. After watching the antics of Potbelly Pete on the Secristan version of You Tube (we have our own version, one you have to pay to watch a video, of course), and just seen the general deplorable conditions of the Industrial District and the stories about Warehouse 17, curiousity was at a peak. The game drew the most revenue of any football telecast. Numbers remained good for the game against Taeshan. They were down slightly, but still exceeded expectations. Perhaps also contributing to the higher ratings is the teams sudden quick exit in the International Basketball Championships, as now there isn't a competition for the ratings rusa.

The Millionaires will finally return home for a game at the beautiful atmosphere of Monopoly Stadium where they will meet with fellow 0-2 team Myedvedeya. A win here obviously is very important. The SDOS reports that early bids for tickets to this game are already exceeding expectations. Do we really have Potbelly Pete and the Brute Force to thank for this, indirectly? Potbelly Pete will be on the Secristan sideline, and rumors are that he will serve as the team mascot for all home games.

QOX World Bowl Coverage

I'm Craig Burrman and WHHOP! and we got the Match 2 update. 17-0 over Coatshire! Frank Vallens, WHHOP! 45 yards for a TD. and then WHHOP! Vic Alworth forces a fumble and HE-COULD-GO-ALL-THE-WHHOP! he fumbles and Eric Fan'tu'mala (shut your mouth!) but i'm talking about Fan'tu'mala! (all-right) takes it and scores for the 14-0 lead. A late FG by Tryone Chase Manhattan Bank ended the scoring.

A last-gasp Devin Shipley field goal secured a 13-10 victory for Bluth Corporation as they maintain their Indian sign over the Kura-Pelland Arrows.

Both teams exchanged touchdowns in the second quarter after a scoreless opening period, Richard Anthis's 25-yard run giving Bluth Corp the lead with 12:11 left in the half before the Arrows struck back with the next drive, 12 plays and 78 yards ending with a play action from the 4 that confused the defence leaving tight end Bryan Torse completely open. It was about the only defensive mistake of the entire game, as both teams produced a superb display. Each team only made the endzone twice in the entire second half, such was the defensive dominance, but neither led to points for Kura-Pelland, although Graham Brightman's 49-yard field goal gave the Arrows a 10-7 lead going into the fourth. It was wiped out with 8:04 on the clock with a 43-yard kick from Shipley, and in the dying moments an efficient two-minute drill gave Shipley another chance from 41 yards, which he duly took.

Kura-Pelland Arrows? Playing well defensively, less well offensively, and being beaten at the death? Surely some mistake?

THE ROCKET REPORT

SWILATIA PROVES TOUGHER THEN KENAVT

Swilatia- While Swilatia doesn't have the greatest overall record, they had some big wins in World Bowl II, in their group, and when they weren’t winning they showed to be a respectable opponent. One of those teams you know that aren’t going to win, but at the same time you know you will be in for a battle. On most days, anyway. The Rockets were able to prevail in a game where they weren’t at their best, by the score of 13-10.

But perhaps this was also the perfect result for Newmanistan. After destroying kenavt on matchday 1, they were given a quick reality check in this one. No guys, you really aren’t that good. Yes guys, you still need to work hard if you want to compete with the likes of Dancougar or Arroza, or else you will do what the previous two versions did. Make the knockouts, then exit early. While the offense struggled to move the ball with a lot of consistency, the defense picked them up. Especially the secondary, as after getting 3 interceptions in the game against kenavt, they picked up another three last night, including two more by Stanley Bressler. The big difference was they didn’t do much with them, except for the first Bressler INT in the first quarter. Fortunately, the ball was picked off at the Swilatia 15, so when the Rockets were unable to pick up a first down, they were in field goal range to take an early 3-0 lead. Later in the quarter, they would hit another, but Colfer’s leg had to be stronger on this attempt as unlike the previous 33 yarder, this was from 52 yards out. At the end of the first quarter, it was a rather boring 6-0, and at the half, it was 6-3 after a Swilatia FG.

Newmanistan still seemed to struggle on offense as John Pivonka and company could not get any key 3rd down conversions. Thanks to the defense, they were still in control of the game, until late in the 3rd quarter when the Swilatia halfback broke a couple tackles and ran for 55 yard TD to put his team in front. Those that had attended the game were going crazy as now they were up in front, and on the verge of picking up one of those stunning wins that they managed in the past World Bowl. The offense continued to struggle, and the 3rd quarter moved into the 4th. When they were able, the home team ran as much clock as they could, and we got all the way down to three minutes left with score still 10-6. But then John Pivonka came to live, proving that great players aren’t always great, they’re just great when they have to be. The Rockets were moving the ball and Pivonka was completing passes, putting the team into position to score the eventually game winning touchdown. From the Swilatia 14, Pivonka tossed it up for Alex Foster, who outleaped the defender for the huge touchdown with 38 seconds left. Those seconds would be killed off, and while the Rockets were not at their offensive best tonight, they may have sent a message that they can beat you with defense as well. The “D” is the reason we won tonight. 13-10, in favor of the Rockets, who now sit at 2-0.

Up next for the Rockets is a true test, against Dancougar in the Jungle, aka Loudon Stadium. A sold out crowd will be on hand, and if any of the Black Wing Brigade are going to make the trip, we ask them to please be respectful of Newmanistanian law. Support your team, but do it for the love of the game.

Rennidan 30 - 7 Milchama

Well, I think I really should learn to stop pretending I have the powers of prediction. Last week I declared that the upcoming match between Rennidan and Milchama should be 'another small score game'.

As you can see by the large bold numbers up above, it wasn't exactly an accurate prediction.

This time around, the Rennidan Brutes played with their serious face on, believing Milchama to be the first real threat of their qualifying chances in this early stage of the World Bowl. A quiet side, Milchama doesn't need to big themselves up to prove they can play gridiron. Their ranking as 10th in the world pretty much does that for them.

After the flip of a Golden Crown, Milchama won the toss, and elected to receive. This would, perhaps, go down as one of the biggest mistakes someone has ever made in the history of ever. Why, you ask?

Not only did the kick returner fumble when he was hit by Powis, but he had to be carried off on a stretcher, as did three of the lads that were supposed to be protecting him. Twelve seconds in and, already, four players are having emergency treatment by the sideline. For those of you that don't realize the true meaning of smashmouth defence, you will no doubt be directed at this opening play of Rennidan's second World Bowl III match.


And, as I said, the rest of the match was very much the same. It's always a delight to see another team play their first match against the Brutes, and it's even better when it's happening in the delectable Warehouse 17. I think the main thing is the look of shock that seems to be permanently grafted to the other player's face from the moment they enter the warehouse to the moment they leave. The first bout comes when they think "holy shit, this is what they play in?". The second kicks in when they see the Brutes themselves and realize "aw man, they play without any pads?" and then, the main bit of surprise that will last them a good few months is, the now classic, "those mothertruckers hit hard".

So, it's pretty obvious that I had a small girlish giggle as the Milchama players came off at halftime, bruised and battered, but still displaying that very look upon their faces. Nevertheless though, the score only sat at 7-7, and it did look as though the Brutes were faltering.

I saw the owner/coach/manager/general everything of the team, Larry, having a quick chat with the Brutes between halves, and, I have to say, for some greasy old geezer who spends his spare time working as a mechanic, he's got a charisma about him. He riled the Brutes up to a level between homicide and nuclear destruction, before sending them out to play the Milchama side again.

Ten minutes in to the third quarter, and we were sitting pretty at 21-7.

End of the fourth quarter? A comfortable 30-7.

It was, overall, a wondrous affair. I don't think I could ever grow tired of any match played within the walls of Warehouse 17.

_________

Next Up:

Rennidan v The Valerian Empire

Aaaah, the Valerian Empire! They're not a bad bunch of chaps, when you think about it-- Actually.

Wait a second.




Hmm.



Just realized, actually... I haven't the foggiest what these guys are like.

They call themselves the Gatecrashers, and they currently sit at the middle of Group C with a 1-1 history. They're more offensive than defensive, but can still stop a drive when push comes to shove (which, no doubt, it will do when you play the Brutes). One of the things I published earlier declares of my want to see the Brutes force Bernhard Berg to go the entire game without making a reception.

This will also be Rennidan's first away game of the World Bowl, and we're expecting a large number of Brute Force hooligans along with the more casual fans to make the trek across the waterways to make it to the Empire's home ground.

Here's to a good game, a close game, and a win for the Brutes, eh?

Fitin' Falcons Face Milchama

And finally for the second straighg World Bowl the Fitin' Falcons will be taking on the Milchama Monopolists in a game next week in Milchama. the team is known in Taeshan as the one that knocked them down a peg after the first game in World Bowl 2 by beating them. The Knights have a long history with the Monopolists, and it should be a good game in Milchama.

The Knights who have already flown to Milchama to get ready in there warmer conditions thinl they have the upper hand after winning the last game in WB2. But it should be close as you never know in professiona football. Unless like the Wiechester Wonders you have the awesome speed, and throwing power of the Gabe Martin who should lead the team to victory. Go Falcons.

Dancougar News!!
Popping up in whatever mood we feel like, just because we can.

The Newmanistan Rockets will be apprehensive when the Black Wings come to play what looks to be the first real test for both teams, but not necessarily because they feel inferior. Oh, not by a long shot. The Rockets lost twice to Dancougar in the last World Bowl, sure, but each of those games was a two-pointer. You figure, the Rockets could've easily swung the momentum their way with a deep deep shot from beyond the four-point line as... oh no, wait, that's something completely different. The problem is fans. There were riots at World Bowl I when Black Wing and Tar Hornet fans duked in out in Pocono City. And in the last tournament, Tundra Falls became a battlefield for the Black Wing Brigade and the Brute Force of Rennidan. Does Dancougar go for the trifecta tonight in Loudon, in the "Rumble in the Jungle"? I don't think so... after all, who are Wing fans going to fight? Joe Moore seems to have vanished, anyway. For now.

With that fear on the backburner, the Rockets should be able to focus on defeating the Wings on the gridiron for the first time. At stake is a 3-0 start in group play, although pride and rivalry are probably more important to the teams this early in qualifiers. According to coach Will Moohim, there is much to take away from Newmanistan's game against Swilatia, where the Rockets managed to grind out a 13-10 win after putting up 55 on Kenavt. To our surprise, his concern after watching the tape wasn't technical at all... it was the effect on the team's morale. "Whenever you're perceived as a top team, the pressure to perform can sometimes get in the way of actually going out and executing," he said. "And to me, that's what looked like the Rockets were up against in the last game. But they were able to get the win. The mentality of a team that can find ways to win against any opponent is a scary one, because they don't give up. In our two games, we haven't played someone that pushed us hard all the way to the end, so this game is going to be as much a test of ability as it is of commitment."

The Wings have started with an offensive explosion but have yet to face a defense of Newmanistan's caliber. Guys like Tyrone Booker and Jesse Savage are almost certain to be a thorn in the side of runningback Kirk Hatchitt, who is rebounding nicely from a less productive World Bowl II. But perhaps the Wings should be more worried about the Rocket secondary, which has six interceptions in two games. They've got speed and awareness to spare, although one wonders what good it will do against Moohim's short-pass-and-run offense. Moohim does have some deep plays in case they cheat up, and Todd Appelgate says he's been lobbying for more chances to throw the ball. "I just want to help the team win," said Appelgate, "and I think we can use some of the things we've been testing in practice to open up the field a bit more."

Elsewhere in Group 1
* Candrian Empire vs. Kenavt: Kenavt is coming off of a one-point loss to Arroza and look in much better shape than the Empire, which is smarting from big losses against Arroza and Dancougar. Kenavt to win by seven.
* Arroza vs. Swilatia: The Tar Hornets, like Newmanistan, proved their mettle in the last game and found a way to win even when not playing their best. They should be fine against Swilatia... win by ten.

Five Questions for Inquisitive Minds
* Bluth Corporation defeat Kura-Pelland with the last score of the game? Wait... this is Kura-Pelland with Michael Bernard still, right?
* Rennidan proved during the last World Bowl that it has the toughest fans. Is Cotenshire gearing up to take that crown?
* Secristan are shut out again after suffering a mauling at the hands of the Brutes. You'll recall the Wings, too, took the field with sore bodies and a bruised ego following their opener in the last tournament. Is this the birth of the 'Rennidan Hangover?'
* Has DSPN's Craig Boomer gone insane and moved to Qazox, or are they multiplying?
* Am I the only one who would bid muchas rusas to see Owen Powis wrestle one of Myedvedeya's bears?

Matchday 3 Results, hot off the presses.

Group 1
Newmanistan 3, Dancougar 10
The Candrian Empire 26, Kenavt 17
Arroza 35, Swilatia 3

Team GP W L PF PA Pt. Diff.
Dancougar 3 3 0 85 26 59
Arroza 3 3 0 72 18 54
Newmanistan 3 2 1 71 33 38
Candrian Empire 3 1 2 48 90 -42
Kenavt 3 0 3 38 88 -50
Swilatia 3 0 3 23 80 -57


Group 2
Lovisa 10, Cotenshire 16
Qazox 6, Kura-Pelland 9 (OT)
Bluth Corporation 37, Miroxia 3

Team GP W L PF PA Pt. Diff.
Qazox 3 2 1 51 12 39
Cotenshire 3 2 1 43 27 16
Kura-Pelland 3 2 1 45 32 13
Bluth Corp. 3 2 1 53 41 12
Miroxia 3 1 2 20 64 -44
Lovisa 3 0 3 23 59 -36


Group 3
Secristan 0, Myedvedeva 3
The Valerian Empire 3, Rennidan 13
Milchama 14, Taeshan 0

Team GP W L PF PA Pt. Diff.
Rennidan 3 3 0 46 10 36
Taeshan 3 2 1 25 17 8
Milchama 3 2 1 44 44 0
Myedvedeva 3 1 2 12 24 -12
Valerian Empire 3 1 2 26 42 -16
Secristan 3 0 3 0 16 -16

Um okay yeah ill be doing my rp later, and stuff my moms suspended me from use of the vcomputer for school stuff 3 weeks in to school. yeah its stupid ill be on after school tomorrow so thats why my thing will be off.

And i guess margaret decided it was time to strike down a Taeshani team again 14-0 loss to a team that hasnt even posted hmm. That i remeber anways they may have though put there roster in bad mem, anyways if they have disrega=rd this post.

(ooc: This RP would be funnier if i knew how to upload audio files, and I had a computer mic. Just imagine Keith Jackson, those who know who he is, reading it, and it is 1000% funnier!)

QOX World Bowl Coverage

I'm Jack Keithson and WHOOOA NELLLY! we had a barnburner of a spitfight today! We see KP attempt a Pat and just like a brickwall popping up in front of a horse, it was blaocked, making it 6-0 KP. But Qazox fought back like a rabid badger cornered by a rattlesanke in the desert. 2 FG by Tryone Chase tied it up tighter than Aunt Millie's old corset just before she wnet to the debutante ball. But in Overtime, KP blocked Qazox' Fg attempt and made theirs, dropping the team to twooo and one on the season.

To the Most Glorious Hero Mr Kerkrade,

First, I must congratulate you on your amazing victory over those Lovisans. It is amazing that sports allow you to conquer foreign foes like the greatest Caesar without ever having taken up a sword. Your prestige has brought the village of Gulwer prestige, and for this I cannot thank you enough.

But even more dear to me is simply the news that came with your victory, that is, that you are alive and well. We have heard boundless rumours concerning your captivity in Qazox. Some say you were poisoned, others blame jet lag. But whatever the case is, their underhanded ways have brought a fury to the region that knows no moderation.

Yesterday a mob, which had begun gathering at the southern bridge of Voren, made its way through our town. They burnt Qazoxians in effigy and began gathering sacks of manure as advocated by that inflammatory quarto. I too joined them, but was then horrified, as two men were picked out by the mob and were thought to have been a Qazoxian.

I, being the burgomaster of this my village, knew them to be beggars, but the mob would not hear sense. The first beggar was decapitated with a pocketknife and the second was drowned in the river near the mill. I fled to my brother’s house, and the mob soon cleared.

Their bloodlust simply could not be contained, as the next day many surely innocent men were discovered lynched along the highway. Please, most benign Mr Kerkrade, do not lose another game, no matter what they do to you, for such news will surely renew the rabble’s wrath.

Signed,
Mr Ruprecht van Oorthov, Burgomaster of Gulwer

Matchday 3 Results, hot off the presses.

Group 1
Newmanistan 3, Dancougar 10
The Candrian Empire 26, Kenavt 17
Arroza 35, Swilatia 3

Team W-L PF PA PD
Dancougar 3-0 85 26 59
Arroza 3-0 72 18 54
Newmanistan 2-1 71 33 38
Candrian Empire 1-2 48 90 -42
Kenavt 0-3 38 88 -50
Swilatia 0-3 23 80 -57


Group 2
Lovisa 10, Cotenshire 16
Qazox 6, Kura-Pelland 9 (OT)
Bluth Corporation 37, Miroxia 3

Team W-L PF PA PD
Qazox 2-1 51 12 39
Cotenshire 2-1 43 27 16
Kura-Pelland 2-1 45 32 13
Bluth Corp. 2-1 53 41 12
Miroxia 1-2 20 64 -44
Lovisa 0-3 23 59 -36


Group 3
Secristan 0, Myedvedeva 3
The Valerian Empire 3, Rennidan 13
Milchama 14, Taeshan 0

Team W-L PF PA PD
Rennidan 3-0 46 10 36
Taeshan 2-1 25 17 8
Milchama 2-1 44 44 0
Myedvedeva 1-2 12 24 -12
Valerian Empire 1-2 26 42 -16
Secristan 0-3 0 16 -16


Fixed them for ya. YQW. (HINT: Don't use the Format you're copying it from, as the TABs don't line up correctly. and the GAMES PLAYED doesn't need to be in there, its superflorous. Just use the space bar and Preview buttons to make sure everything is lined up.)

Pretty Sportsfan Catherine
Blogging football in the context of anime.

Wow. You could look at that and say, "Hey, Dancougar just doubled its largest ever margin of victory over Newmanistan." What you do to those people is pull them aside and slap them across the face 1093 times. Why that number? It just feels right. Those people don't appreciate that game. All night it really felt like the classic battles between Furinkan and Orange Star, of Saji versus Erika. And the defenses definitely lived up to their billing. Sure, you always know that Erika is going to find the one hole in the Furinkan defense that leads to the winner. She and Saji will shake after the game and promise to meet again as champions. John Pivonka came mighty close to doing it for the Rockets, but it was sheer guts on the part of Kirk Hatchitt - and a monster block from Vincent Bozwell - which carried the day.

Both teams went three and out on their first two drives. That's how insane the defenses were. And it wasn't expected of Newmanistan, since they're more likely to go into a shootout than a standoff. But that secondary was indeed frightening. Just look at that opening drive! It was 3rd and 7, and Appelgate just launched a simple sideline pass not ten yards downfield. Stan Bressler cut inside and nearly had a pick. But the Wings answered when linebacker Will Tolston introduced himself to Pivonka's face. Right away, I knew I was going to enjoy this game. As the two continued to struggle for field position, I realized how right I was. It wasn't that the offenses were lethargic, but the two defenses were just too good. They knew each other too well.

It really felt like the first game Erika played. Right after coming on the team, still not accepted by some of her teammates, they play a scrimmage against Furinkan, a team that is all-around good but prides itself on its 'Iron Curtain' defense. Saji Kowamori is the linebacker who leads the unit, and in succession, he stops every one of Orange Star's attacks. Erika is sacked. Kent is crushed for a loss. It's as if nothing works. Flash forward to this game. Hatchitt would try the right side and get blown up by Hutchins; try the left, and there's Tyrone Booker. Appelgate didn't bother checking tight end Coerver because the middle was instant death for any ball. Either a pick or the guy was getting destroyed.

"How do you like it, Orange Star? Our 'Iron Curtain?'"

The Rockets got on the board first with a 48-yard field goal, and it turned out to be the only score of the first half. The Wings barely broke 80 yards of total offense; most of Newmanistan's yardage came on the scoring drive. They weren't kidding when they said Loudon was a jungle. All of the noise, the colors, swirling together into a mishmash of fandom that only drove the Rockets to survive and win. People wondered if we were in for a repeat of that gloriously tough Rennidan/Secristan game from the opening day. That almost went away at the start of the half when Pivonka almost blew the game open with a deep strike Christian Gagnon. On 1st and 10, the Rockets caught the Wings off guard and took a shot. Gagnon hauled it in and was bumped out of bounds way down in the red zone, but there was a flag... offensive holding! Kirk Manly would've gotten around Colanno otherwise.

For a moment, then, it looked like the game would open up. The Wings forced a punt and then made a play of their own. This one wasn't coming back, though. Jay Milon received the punt at his own 33 and started upfield. He broke one tackle. Then another. Suddenly, I was on my feet. I could sense that something was about to give, and it did when Mitch Furlough threw a huge block that opened up the right side of the field. Milon hugged the sideline into Newmanistan territory, cut back inside when he faced a wall of guys, and brought down at the 28. Field goal range already. Good thing, too, because Hatchitt was stuffed on two straight inside draws and then Appelgate failed to find Divalerio on a crossing route. That made it 3-3 with plenty of time on the clock.

Newmanistan almost had the answer, with Pivonka as the provider. A 22-yard pass on 3rd and 15 got the fans all riled up, and then Parisi had a 12-yard scamper which turned out to be the game's longest run. But when Manly broke up a short pass later in the drive, it forced the field goal unit to give it a go from 38. Colfer lined it up... wide left! In a game were chances came at a premium, it seemed, at the time, like it would be catastrophic. But the Rocket defense bailed him out once the Wings took over. Remember Bressler almost jump the short pass way back in the first quarter? Well, with the Wings just over midfield, this time he did it. Seelbinder had him wrapped up immediately, but the damage was done.

Pivonka was unable to make the Wings pay, and it came down to some fourth quarter magic. The Wings, after getting good field position from a punt, started the trek downfield still on the back of Kirk Hatchitt. Hatchitt, to this point, was sitting on something like 40 yards on 20 carries, give or take. But the team didn't lose faith. It's not that the receivers couldn't get the job done, but the Wings wanted to win their way. Black Wing football. All of a sudden, Hatchitt had space to move. He threw off an arm tackle from Booker on one play, cut past Thorston on another. I thought back to that Orange Star/Furinkan scrimmage, where none of their runs worked all game. Erika came up with the crazy idea that if she pitched in on blocks, too, they'd be able to break through. A quarterback, throwing lead blocks! She was only able to delay Saji for a second, but that was all Kent needed to scoot past. Now, enter our lead-blocker: Vincent Bozwell.

Boz is nothing like a teenage girl with a cannon for an arm and a heart the size of a Secristan checkbook. This guy is a thirtysomething fullback who's pushing 250 pounds. None of it appreciates getting stopped for a short gain. As the game wore on, Boz seemed to be getting stronger. By the time this drive rolled around, he'd figured out where he could punch holes for Hatchitt. The two of them drive steadily downfield. Appelgate was finally able to throw with some effect, too. The crowd was getting anxious, and that signaled the time had come for the final push.

"You're truly great, Saji. But if we all work together, even you won't stop our offense! Kent's getting in on this play. Look forward to it."

Second and goal from the three. Newmanistan in the goal line defense, nine guys in the box. Appelgate gets the ball. Pitch right. Hatchitt and Bozwell sweep out as the offensive line pushes in the opposite direction. Savage and Kahnberg break free and chase Hatchitt down, but neither gets there. Bozwell leans into Kahnberg and halts his progress, and both of them are suddenly between Savage and the ball. Score. 10-3. And in a situation like this, you can count on the Black Wing defense to close it out. They did it in style, with Morgenstein getting a jump ball interception on a desperation deep bomb.

This game has only whetted my appetite for the return leg, but before that, a home date with the hosts, Arroza! You bet I'll be there!

I have to admit, the Valerian Empire's stadium isn't too shabby. Bear in mind, my favourite stadium is a Warehouse, and most things compared to that aren't too shabby, but at least I managed to get a seat as near to the pitch as possible for a fifty-something, tubby reporter with bad breath.

This would be the Brutes first match away from the 'comfort' of Warehouse 17, so this game always had a slight edge to it. The Valerian's needed to win so they could show that the Brutes falter away from their bloodied concrete walls, whereas the Brutes needed to win to show the World, yet again, that it doesn't matter where they play, they're gonna' be playing to win.

Firstly, to give you, my lovely readers, a slight idea of how this match played out, here are some numbers:

11: First downs gained by Yeilds.
12: Sacks by Powis.
17: Third down conversions failed by the Valerian Empire.
50: Number of crowns I've put on Powis Versus a Bear.
13 - 7: The final score.

Needless to say, Rennidan went from strength to strength throughout the game, only letting the Empire get within field goal distance once. It seems that, since last year, the Brutes have started to perfect their supersmashmouth defence.

_________

Next Up:

Rennidan v Taeshan

Rennidan are back on the road again, and this time, they're gunning it down for the Fitin' Falcons of Taeshan.

The Falcons have got to be the biggest threat to Rennidan's qualifying chances this World Bowl, sitting steady at sixth in the world. However, as it must be pointed out, the Falcons were recently beaten down hard by Milchama, a team who Rennidan obliterated in the game before taking on the Empire.

The Falcons chances look to be wavering, but, as we all here know, the underdogs have a way of biting out and taking off someone's ankles in the process.

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS FLOUNDER IN LOUDON

Loudon, Newmanistan- Dancougar’s Black Wings got a taste of why Loudon Stadium is called the Jungle, and that it’s not just because it’s the home of the Leopards. But in the end, it would be the Rockets getting the taste of the revived Dancougar defense, which looks to be playing at the level it did when they rose to the title in the first World Bowl. The teams have had some good games, and while it’s not quite at the level of Newmanistan’s always beating Taeshan, the Rockets are still unable to beat Dancougar in this great game. Yet again it was close, but in this sport it’s the opponent pulling out the close battles. Dancougar won the contest, 10-3, to improve to 3-0 while the Rockets fall to 2-1 and prepare for The Candrian Empire at Southport Stadium, who are next on the docket.

While the Rockets have tried to be known for their offense, and made that statement in the first game against Kenavt, the team has suddenly struggled to score points and get the ball in the end zone with any frequency. Against Swilatia, they got the last second drive, but things would be tougher against a formidable defense such as Dancougar’s. Newmanistan’s defense might start getting a strong reputation themselves though as they did an excellent job tonight frustrating Dancougar and didn’t seem to mind that the game would come down to field position. They wanted to win the game for the offense, true, but also to show the country and the world that we can play a little defense ourselves. Eventually, we would have a scoring drive, and it would be by the Rockets as Ashton Colfer connected with a 48 yard field goal to make it 3-0. Little did we know then that the kick right there would be the only time the Rockets would score. That would also be your score at the end of the first half.

At the break, your opinion of the game varied greatly depending on what side of the ball you played on. The offense was lethargic and while most if not all of that was because of the great play of the Black Wings, there was no way the team could be happy with that. There was too much star power, too much offensive capability to be held to just 97 yards of total offense in the first half. Though that was 17 more yards then Dancougar was able to produce, and that’s why the defense was very pleased with their effort. Anytime time you can hold an opponent like this scoreless for the first half, you must be proud of what you accomplished. There were some glares from defensive players to the offense, saying without saying, can you please score some more points. They didn’t needed to use words to get across their point, the message was delivered. The offense would try to pick up the defense and they had another potential scoring drive halted later when one of John Pivonka’s better passes of the night, a beautiful strike Christian Gagnon was called back for holding. It was the opening drive of the half, and what looked promising turned into a punt. Thanks to a great special teams play on that punt by Jay Milon on the return, the Black Wings were in immediate field goal range. They didn’t move the ball, but they didn’t need to in order to the tie game. Newmanistan answered pretty well and set up Ashton Colfer for a 38 yard field goal on the ensuing possession. If anything, it looked like our game was finally beginning to see more excitement for those who like scoring. But Colfer missed it. Wide left and the Jungle became just about as quiet as you’ll ever hear it. The defense got an interception by Stanley Bressler, his third of the World Bowl to keep the team hanging in there, but again it would end with a punt. The Rockets were outstanding on defense all night. But they needed to be perfect. In the end, the Black Wings dug down and found something a little more late in the fourth quarter. A methodical, time consuming drive ended in a touchdown, and there was not enough time for an answer. John Pivonka’s prayer was intercepted and the Black Wings would secure a 10-3 victory.

Another great game against a good opponent, but in the end, not enough. Dancougar’s next game should be a good one against Arroza, and then we will take on the hosts as well. But there is no looking past the Candrian Empire in Southport, first.

Fitin Falcons lose. Shutout

I beleive that last weeks game between the Monopolists of Milchama, and the Fitin' Falcons of Taeshan in Milchama, whitch ended in the Fitin' Falcons losing 14-0 is the first time ever the Falcons have been shutout. It was a horible game for the Falcons as they didn't even score, obviously, and Ricky Zellefrow the star wideout was carted of the field on a stretcher. The team has sated that the he should be able to play again in the future.

Up Next Rennidan

Yep its time to face the World Bowl winners, the Brutes of Rennidan. The game will be at homeso at least that might help us. The Falcons with a loss will drop to 2-2, and fall outside of the top two most likely. They need wins, and they need them now. We don't want another World Bowl two. So come to the game.

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/010703/cut-cut-cut-cut-cut-cut-cut.gif

Group 1

Newmanistan 48, The Candrian Empire 33
Swilatia 31, Kenavt 0
Dancougar 37, Arroza 7

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Dancougar 4-0 124 33 91
Newmanistan 3-1 119 66 53
Arroza 3-1 79 55 24
Swilatia 1-3 54 80 -26
The Candrian Empire 1-3 81 138 -57
Kenavt 0-4 38 119 -81


Group 2

Lovisa 3, Qazox 23
Miroxia 10, Kura-Pelland 40
Cotenshire 13, Bluth Corporation 10

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Qazox 3-1 74 15 59
Kura-Pelland 3-1 85 42 43
Cotenshire 3-1 56 37 19
Bluth Corporation 2-2 63 54 9
Miroxia 1-3 30 104 -74
Lovisa 0-4 26 82 -56


Group 3

Secristan 16, The Valerian Empire 0
Taeshan 20, Rennidan 7
Myedvedeva 13, Milchama 7

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Rennidan 3-1 53 30 23
Taeshan 3-1 45 24 21
Milchama 2-2 51 57 -6
Myedvedeva 2-2 25 31 -6
Secristan 1-3 16 16 0
The Valerian Empire 1-3 26 58 -35

Fitin' Falcons defeat Rennidan

Its hot of the presses this morning the Fitin' Falcons won last night over the Brutes of Rennidan, and have now technically taken the lead in group 3. The Falcons beat the Brutes behind the strong kicking power of the kicker Martin Gramatica, and the solid d we hold so precious. It was a game that led to draw drops all over the footballing world.

It sarted in Myedvedeyan its now #1, thet're bound to entertain yeak, yeah everybody has the mania, of the Fitin' Falcons of Taeshan. Its all over the streets everyone is excited as the Falcons have taken control of group 3 in World Bowl 3 with there suprise win over Rennidan. It was a shocking game that led to a whole groupof critical changes for the teams for next game. Heres the highlights.

It started with Gabe Martin's beautiful pass to Alais Patrick near the sidelines for a 20 yard pickup, and a rum rum rumbling 26 yrd. gain by the illustrious running back Rudi Williams witch led to the first of 6 count em 6 field goals by Martin Gramatica on the game. Yes its said that the o cant score, but who cares we one. His kicks were from as fllows 35, 54, 50, 49, 57, and 32 yrds. It was a career day. And finally the FalconD suceeded in getting a safety, but the brutes did try a comeback, but a running touchdown was all they got. Taeshan 20-7 Rennidan.

MYEDVEDEYANS WIN 2nd STRAIGHT

After painful losses to Taeshan and The Valerian Empire, Myedvedeya's Kamchatka Grizzly Bears International American Football Squad (KGB for short) has defeated both the Secristan Millionaires and the Milchaman squad to rise to 2-2, and the middle of the group. The defeats at home against 6th ranked Taeshan, and away at the Valerian Empire were painful, but Myedvedeya seems to have learned from their mistakes, and are beginning to play the game at the level needed to win on an international stage. Continuing to play in the classic Myedvedeyan style, a run-based offense with a fantastic defense behind it, they have pulled out tough wins away at #13 Secristan, (3-0, a game won by a single field goal...) and at home against #10 Milchama (13-7)

The heroes of the match against Milchama were, as usual, the entire defense, along with surprising star Slava Karolsky, the ex-soccer player turned new kicker we picked up in a Myedvedeyan pub after some guy shot our old one in the street because he fu**ed up our game against the Valerian Empire. "Steel-Nerve Slava" as the fans have started to call him, made two field goals today, from 35 and 41 yards, and converted an extra point, for a total of 7 points, one more than the entire rest of the team combined. The other touchdown was scored by fullback Ivan Mikhailov, as he trampled a defender to reach the end zone on a 6-yard run. The play was set up by the 68-yard kick return of Misha Shcherbakov, and tw0 5-yard completions from Boris Shcherbatsky to tight end Konstantin Evdokimov. On the defensive end, Leonid Titov removed a Milchaman player from the rest of this game by hitting him hard enough to smash his helmet in two. The player was treated for bruises and cuts from the helmet shards, and is expected to return for tomorrow's game.

Myedvedeya's next challenge, both for players and fans, will be Rennidan, the defending champion, and current group leader. The players will be studying endless hours of tape before their trip to the Warehouse, but to some fans, the outcome of the game isn't really what matters... These fans are the KGB Murder Squad, a group of diehards who follow Myedvedeya's many sports teams around, instigating fights and unleashing live bears on people. Rennidan's Brute Force Squad is famous for many similar things, so expect to see a fair amount of conflict before, during, and after the match.

for more sports news, log on to www.novymoskva.mye/sports

THE ROCKET REPORT

OFFENSE GETS GOING AGAIN IN WIN

Southport, Newmanistan- In many nations, this may have been a “trouble” game. Sandwiched between “vs Dancougar” and “at Arroza” on the schedule was this one against the Candrian Empire, a new nation to the World Bowl scene. The Knights (and not Purple ones, thankfully, like Taeshan’s non-football teams) had started 1-2, so this game was pivotal for them. A win, and they’d be back in the hunt. A loss, and they’d seem destined to join the likes of Swilatia and Kenavt in the group. For Newmanistan, there would be no looking past this opponent, and they would celebrate in Southport with a 48-33 victory.

There was some pressure on John Pivonka to have a big day as his two top receivers, Alex Foster and Christian Gagnon play for the Southport Tigers domestically. They wouldn’t admit it, but they wanted to have a big game in front of their home fans. They would have to wait, though, as the Knights won the coin toss and engineered an effective scoring drive. Andre Haralde looked sharp, complete 7 of his 8 passes, but the scoring play would be a run from one yard out Mikhail Cervantes, their version of Tiberius Gillespie, to take a 7-0 lead. Pivonka, in seeing the Knights move so well, wanted to do the same thing, and quickly the Rockets countered, and Alex Foster would get his chance to find the end zone at his home stadium once again. It was an innocent slant route that Foster ran, catching the ball at the Candrian 33, and then outrunning the defense all the way to the end zone to tie the game up at 7. Quick, catch your breath, because the Knights had an answer. Nope, this wasn’t going to be the defensive struggle that we saw in Loudon against Dancougar. Haralde remained on top of his game, completing another 5-of-6 on this drive, the final one being a TD reception by Torrence Gonzalez. Stanley Bressler went for the interception instead of for the man, and when he missed the pick, Gonzalez had one of the easier scores he will pick up in his career. But wait, we’re not done yet! Corey Brooks gives the Rockets outstanding field position on the ensuing kickoff, taking it all the way down to the Candrian 27. (He was tripped up by the kicker, though I’m sure he didn’t want us to mention that part). It would only take Pivonka one play to find the end zone, and it would be Foster again, right over the middle and we were tied once again. But we’re still done with 1st quarter action here, folks. This time, the Knights would make a mistake as Haralde threw a pick to Kalvin Thorson, who read the intended pass to the TE very well. The linebacker took it to the Candrian 18. The offense sputtered, and had to settle for a FG. Now, your first quarter scoring is over. After one, the Rockets were up 17-14.

In the second quarter, the pace of the game slowed down slightly, mainly because of the Knights. This was not their style of game and they needed to slow the momentum down, they would go a clock draining, ball control drive but it would stall thanks to a holding penalty on what would have been a first down run on 3rd and 3. In field goal range, they were happy to try to tie up the game, and they would. Newmanistan still could not be stopped, but they tried to establish the run more on this drive. 10 of the 12 plays called from scrimmage were runs, six by Corey Parisi and the other four by Chris Padgett. It would be Padgett getting the TD run, from four yards out, but Parisi would get his name on this box score line as well. The team lined up for two, catching the Knights off guard, and were successful thanks to a Parisi run, to make it 25-17. After a second Candrian Empire field goal made it 25-20, the Rockets and Pivonka were in the 2-minute drill, which was executed very well. This time, Christian Gagnon would get his chance to celebrate a TD catch at his Southport Stadium, hauling in a 18 yard pass from Pivonka, and here comes the conversion attempt again. Again, it was good and the Rockets were up 33-20 at the half. It didn’t seem like they outplayed the Knights by that much, but they will surely take it.

Newmanistan did receive to begin the second half as well, and coach Nicholson saw this as a chance to seal the game. The Rockets would not try to score quickly but would instead take a nice, time consuming, ball control drive. Unlike the previous game, this time the offense again executed perfectly, running 8:49 off the clock on a drive that would end on a 5-yard run by Parisi. To stick another dagger in the hearts of the Knights, Newmanistan again lined up for a 2-point conversion. Once again, it was successful as apparently the Candrian Empire showed a weakness that Nicholson could exploit on short yardage plays. The Knights though, tried to fight back, and in a no huddle offense they responded in just 3 plays. Haralde showed the strong form that he had in the first quarter, and eventually found Jaime La’donez in the end zone. But the extra point? Oh boy, maybe they should have just tried conversions too. The snap was botched, leaving Arnold Luna helpless. He tried to run it in, but was brought down immediately. At 41-26, that was going to be costly.

The Rockets went on another ball control drive on their next possession that began in the third quarter and finished in the fourth. This one would eat up 7:51 of the clock, and on four occasions the Rockets converted a 3rd down of seven or more yards. The scoring play would be the third touchdown of the game for Corey Parisi, running a sweeping to the left for 9 yards for the score. There was no reason for a two here, and Colfer nailed the extra point, and the victory was inevitable with just 3:11 remaining. The Knights would score a TD with 1:22 left and attempted an onside kick, but once it was recovered by the Rockets, the game was over. Newmanistan wins it by the score of 48-33.

Next up for Newmanistan will be a trip to Arroza to play the Tar Hornets. Arroza will be eager to avenge their stunning 37-7 loss to Dancougar tonight as I guess both of our offenses were due for a breakout today. Their may be some basketball references in the crowd as the nations are locked in a battle in the quarterfinals of the International Basketball Championships, a series that is all tied up at one.

QOX World Bowl Coverage

I'm Mad Johnnen and BOOM! We defeated Lovisa 23-3, after, BOOM! a 56 yd TD BOOM! run from BOOM! Frank Vallens, and a 89 yd BOOM! bomb from Greg Dannen BOOOM! to aaaaaaaaa Mathew Cottrill! Then BOOOM! 3 FG's by Tryone Chase aaaaaaaand Qazox is 3andandand 1 andand Brett Favre! and Favre!

Pretty Sportsfan Catherine
Blogging football in the context of anime.

That's getting it done, boys. That's getting it done! The Wings won their second straight battle of the unbeatens in style, a 37-7 romp over the Tar Hornets here at the Jay Kay. Of course, coach Moohim was pretty low key at the press conference after the game and will be just as calm tomorrow when questioned about the next match. You never want to give the other team bulletin board material, so we get the usual coach sound bites: "We did all the right things," or "We were able to go out and execute," or "They're a good team and we went out there to prove something." But as a fan of the Black Wings, I don't care if they print out a copy of my blog for everyone on that Tar Hornet team. I'll tell it how I see it. We rolled today. And if we beat Kenavt on the road next Sunday, we're in great position for a top seed.

Arroza were coming off a huge win against Swilatia while we squeaked by the Rockets. You had to figure Arroza had more momentum, but maybe the closeness of the previous game was what fed the Wings. I like to think the home crowd had something to do with it, too. We were loud. And we were happy to stay loud. And my friend who went to Carnegie Tech was happy to bring along some of her favorite Kiltie Band cheers, which at least made our section the most colorful in attendance. The first quarter was as close as we'd expect it to be. We went up 6-0 on two straight field goals, but were denied a touchdown when Appelgate threw into double coverage and had it picked off by Calvin Brandon. It's his thing. Time to cheer on the defense.

REPEL THEM! REPEL THEM! MAKE THEM RELINQUISH THE PROLATE SPHEROID!

Arroza leans more towards the offensive side of the ball, but they do so with a two-headed monster in the backfield. Nice. But what else is nice is the 3-4 of the Black Wings, which held the Hornets to two first downs on their first three drives. Chadwick had something like ten yards rushing in the first quarter since the Wings were getting penetration with the D-line. Arnone hits him for a loss. So Chadwick bounces outside, and there's linebacker Travis Abramovitz tracking him down and making the open field tackle. Trav was possessed in the first half; he was Saji Kowamori, and this was the Iron Curtain of Furinkan High. After getting the ball back, the Wings needed to put some distance between themselves and the Hornets. Time to cheer on the offense.

ICE COLD BEER, IT MAKES YOU WANNA CHEER! ICE COLD GIN, IT MAKES YOU WANNA WIN! ICE COLD DUCK, IT MAKES YOU WANNA... *stomp stomp* SCORE MORE!

Give it to Kirk Hatchitt. Up the middle, around the end, whatever you want. He'll go. The Wings put together a slow drive at the start of the second quarter: sixteen plays, seven and a half minutes, and it ended with Hatchitt around the end for a three-yard score. That made it 13-0 with a few minutes left before halftime. But then came the point where we all thought the game went out of reach. Smythe bootlegged off of play action and went down the sideline for Taesean "Fitin' Falcon" Malone... picked off by Anthony Corona! And Corona had room to run, and he took every last inch. He got a few downfield blocks from his line, and all of a sudden, it's a 55-yard return to make it 20-0 before halftime.

This is where coach Moohim talks about fighting spirit. Even with a big lead like that, you never belittle the opposing team. In coaching parlance, a big lead like that turns into something like this: "They played us pretty hard. They showed a lot of energy and focus, and we were able to make a few big plays early." But us in the grandstand? We're bloodthirsty!

INTERCEPTION, CONTRACEPTION, DON'T LET THEM SCORE! INTERCEPTION, CONTRACEPTION, DON'T LET THEM SCORE!

But you know, there's something to be said about spirit. That was basically all that Orange Star was running on in that first match with Furinkan. After seeing Erika throwing blocks for Kent, the big guard, Hayate, was really stunned. He didn't want to accept her, and all of a sudden, here she was showing more guts than everyone in a game whose meaning she didn't entirely comprehend. All she knew was that they wanted to win, and when she declared her intentions, any nagging doubts about her commitment were wiped clean. Fueled by that passion, Orange Star fought back with one big play after another. Arroza is not some lesser team that will sit back and watch someone run it up on them. They came out firing on all cylinders.

Smythe got the ball to start the second half and took command of what was a floundering vessel. Short bullets across the middle set up the run, and then he broke out the halfback option. The Wings haven't seen that before, and were slow to adapt. Sweep right with Chadwick and Hailey both following... who do you cover? Either one of them could end up with it! And while they worried about which back was getting it on this play, the receiver Maximiano had single coverage deep in the secondary. A throw on the run, 31-yards, touchdown. That made it 20-7, and all of a sudden, it looked like Arroza was a defensive stop from getting back into this game.

WE ARE GREAT, WE ARE THE BOMB. WE'LL SCORE SIX POINTS LIKE WE SCORED WITH YOUR... *stomp stomp* TENNIS TEAM!

Appelgate knew that he had to steal the momentum away on the next drive, and he stepped up and got it done. Hatchitt ran three times for thirteen yards to start the drive, and then Appelgate mixed it up with passes to Divalerio and Bozwell. The big fullback took a screen and rumbled fifteen yards, bowling over Brandon before getting dragged down. Hatchitt again to run, but he was stuffed. Appelgate to Hatchitt... pitched back! The trickeration! Now it was the Arroza secondary's turn to get burned - Appelgate to Divalerio, 38-yards, 27-7!

Now the question - do you give the backups some reps? Going into the fourth quarter, you might expect Moohim to flip the switch with the game safely in hand. But he opted to respect the Arrozans and leave in the first team. The defense forced another stop to set up a field goal, and then late in the game, Appelgate put the finishing touches on the win with another long scoring drive. This one burned six and a half minutes of the fourth, and we shouted through all of it. No, Kirk, run left, left! Like I said, we're bloodthirsty. Appelgate to Divalerio for 18-yards finished the 37-7 victory, and it's starting to feel like we've gotten back the swagger and the skill we displayed in that first World Bowl.

Part of me wants to check my glee and remember that it only takes one bad play, one bad call, and we could be staring down the barrel of a terrible game. But I, and my fellow fans, will be celebrating this one to the fullest.

GIVE ME A SILENT!
SILENT!
GIVE ME A CHEER!
CHEER!
GIVE ME A SILENT!
SILENT!
GIVE ME A CHEER!
CHEER!
GIVE ME A SILENT CHEER!
*flails wildly*
LOUDER!
*flails more wildly*

Its hot of the presses this morning the Fitin' Falcons won last night over the Brutes of Rennidan, and have now technically taken the lead in group 3.

Ooc: Technically, Rennidan are still in the lead of Group 3 by PD. :P

Yes, if thats what Arroza is going by, but im thinking head to head.

We lost?

So what?

Forget the past, live the future.

We'll get those Falconfucks next time.

In true Brute fashion, Rennidan's premier gridiron gang has already left their crushing defeat to Taeshan in the recesses of their addled memories. Instead, they've locked their eyes firmly ahead, and, in doing so, have stared straight into the beastly eyes of the Myedvedeyan.

Myedvedeyan, or, as they are better known, the Bears, will be coming to Warehouse 17 to take on the Brutes in what will no doubt be the most violent game of the Bowl. In essence, the Myedvedeyan side is much like the Brute's little brother, following their example of smashmouth defence and hooligan fan clubs. The question here though is whether the fight off the pitch will steal the limelight from that happening within Warehouse 17.

A group of diehard Myedvedeyan supporters, the KGB Murder Squad, will be flying in to take advantage of the Industrial District's slack law enforcement. The KGB Murder Squad is notorious for their violence and their tactic of releasing wild bears upon their rivals.

One thing is for certain though, all emergency crews will no doubt be at Defcon 1 for the bloody event.

_________

These boots, they feel heavier than the last time I put them on. The laces seem tougher, the soles harder and the leather seems to have become quasi-concrete.

I like the feel.

The last time I wore these boots, I kicked Moore square in the face as he lay dazed on the floor. World Bowl II. Dancougar versus Rennidan at Warehouse 17.

Good memory.

I wear them now, because, in but a few hours, I will face an onslaught of skinheaded Ruskie-wannabes who call themselves the 'KGB Murder Squad'. They are, supposedly, according to the papers, a bunch of diehards, willing to give and take all in order to show their love for their team.

Now where have I heard that before?

These men, these boys, they're new to the World Bowl. They're trying to make an impression, trying to stand out and up as the hardnuts of the game. Their team, it's impressive. Whilst they may beat us on the pitch, they're not getting near us off it. I've been doing this too long to see some new kids on the block think they can have it all.

They bring bears with them to fight us? No problem. We'll fight the bears on our terms. They bring weapons with then? We'll bring the weapons Mother Nature felt fit to bestow upon us. We don't need blades or bats to prove our passion to these twerps, we just need our fists.

These boots, I can still make out the speckles of blood from Moore's jaw. Rumour has it the blighter's gone missing, which is a shame. I wanted to see him again. Keep in mind, I don't hate the bugger, I just have a certain respect for him. He's a good man and a good hooligan. He knows what all this shit is about, and he knows how to rally his troops.

These Murder Squad lads, they're green. Fresh faced. They haven't met true hooligans yet.

And, by Nature, are we gonna' give 'em hell.

Knights fall in shootout, drop to 1-3

The Knights feel to 1-3 after walking into a shootout in Newmanistan. Quarterback Andre Haralde threw for 2 touchdown and 257 yards on 20 completions with a 69% completion percentage (less one interception), achieving most of it during the frantic first and fourth quarters. On the other side, John Pivonka scored on 2 passes as well, completing a hair bit more attempts with 22, gaining 318 yards without any interceptions, although attempting more passes with 30 -albeit another high completion percentage, with both quarterbacks completing 20 or more passes.

Running back Mikhail Cervantes scored first on the opening offensive drive, a slightly out of character quick-scoring drive where Haralde was nearly perfect and marched the Knights 77 yards down the field in 4:34 in 10 plays, opening the game with a rapid no-huddle assault. The Rockets were quick to answer, though. Corey Brooks got the ensuing kickoff at the 3, returning it 44 yards and setting up Pivonka and the Rockets up just outside the Knights doorstep. With a short field, the Rockets were quick to answer, and in 5 plays scored on an inside slant to wideout Alex Foster, who broke through and outran Larry Young and Maurice Grenaldo for the score. Another quick succession of scores, more failure to contain on both special teams and on the deep pass. On what seems to be another quick scoring drive, Haralde instead ends up throwing an interception, giving Newmanistan the momentum, and eventually a three-point lead, and soon closing out the first quarter.

By the second quarter, Newmanistan eventually picked up a new tactic, and attempted a string of 2 point conversions during the second and third quarters. A botched extra point after a score by Jaime La'donez left the score at 41-26 by the closing minutes of the 3rd quarter. Another cardiac ball-possession drive by the Rockets would cap the fourth quarter, with the Newmanistan defense giving up on a reverse by James Berkely with 1:22 - far too little, far too late.

"We just couldn't keep up with them, defensively. We couldn't keep tight over them." Coach Sam Morrison's post-game conference was mostly defensive. "They have a talented wideout corps, and a great system. They were just the better team longer today." "I did what I could," Haralde said in post game comments, "but this is a team sport. I don't think we've gelled enough to hang on with Newmanistan for four quarters."

When asked about the possibility of a post season berth, Morrison seemed rather confident. "A lot of teams are going to be given a chance. We have to play smart, and there's still 6 games left. I'm not saying we have to run the table, but we gotta give it our best effort. We are still alive."

Granted, the Knights are more or less alive only mathematically. Despite what Morrison believes, Candiria more or less has to run the table to have a chance to make it in. The next game is a knife fight to stay out of the cellar of Group 1 against Swilatia, then they play at home versus event hosts Arroza before going to undefeated Dancouger. The season ends with a rematch against Newmanistan and another match against Swilatia.

With the current playoff bracket, Candiria has a chance to make it into the very last playoff spot, as it would go to one of the 1-3 teams, Candiria, Swilatia, Miroxia, Secristan, or The Valerian Empire - it is assumed that the last spot will be won with tie-breakers, strength of schdual, or in the event of one of the teams splitting, a coin flip - Mathematically alive, indeed.

Coroner’s notes on the night of the Taale-Voren vs. Bluth Corporation game:

Being the presiding coroner over this district of Voren, I have had the exhausting task tonight of coordinating the evacuation of the reaper’s victims from the streets. His cold scythe danced wanton to-night, and chaos came awashed in its wake.

It would be dishonest for me to say that these deaths would have occurred even if this sporting event was not held here this evening, however it otherwise behaved in a most indiscriminate and haphazard manner. This I know for the crowds were decrying Qazox, even though those invaders that here to-night perished were from some geographic entity known as Bluth Corporation. The mobs had apparently not even known against whom their team was playing.

I find these bouts of homicidal xenophobia to be frustrating, as in this most cosmopolitan of the Dominion’s cities, the itinerant peoples of many nations maintain a constant presence here. I have never before known someone from “Bluth Corporation,” if at all such a “place” exists. I therefore could not identify a corpse as “Bluth” even if one with such a designation lay before me.

If even such a literate individual as I could not identify them, then certainly these brigands who roam the streets in packs, armed with knives and shotguns and murdering all who do not speak their tongue, could do no better. If anyone from “Bluth Corporation” has entered this city, he rests now mixed in a necropolis of nations. Indeed, among those bodies that are identified, I have some that are in good enough condition so as I can tell they are Ajaels, Normans, or Slavs. But I digress.

It cannot be said that what transpired tonight is a result of a superfluity of “team spirit,” but instead, as I have noted earlier, disdain and disregard for foreigners. If a Lotharn strikes another Lortharn, then the offender shall be tried in court, but if an Ajael, Slav, or Qazoxian strikes a Lotharn, it is justification enough for the slaughter of him and anyone he calls kin.

This brand of justice may be good for the maintenance of our culture against such nemeses as Catholicks and Jews, but its inherent flaws become evident when even a simple ball game becomes a frenzied bloodbath.

The events tonight shall bear witness to my claims. I would not fall under any scrutiny if I failed to investigate the deaths of these foreigners, but as these duties constitute my profession, I still possess in me the will to fix my gaze upon the dead and seek answers.

Hitherto I have discovered 119 heads, 145 torsos, 120 hands, 229 legs (most with feet attached), 38 of various internal organs, and 47 specimens of the human anatomy that I have been unable to identify.

These corpses and parts have all been simply lying in the streets, impaled on fence posts, or floating in the river. A majority of these corpses have been severely burned and are stuffed to the brim with manure, but there are many that have simply been slashed, torn, shot, or blown asunder.

I have yet to explore the St. Alfons Hippodrome itself, for the Silverhelms have claimed jurisdiction over it, but I have heard that the scene is just as grisly there. The spectators have engaged in their usual drunken brawls, but have also brought several weapons to the game, and with them have murdered other fans, commentators, and officials. Several arrests were made when, after the game, several fans attempted to bury some of the dead in the field of play itself.

But alas, I cannot bring myself to write further, as I am on my fourth gallon of ale and shall rest my eyes.

Got throwed, forgot to sim. That will be rectified immediately. (Cut Off)

Group 1
Kenavt 0, Dancougar 65
The Candrian Empire 20, Swilatia 14 (OT)
Arroza 18, Newmanistan 12 (Double OT)

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Dancougar 5-0 189 33 156
Arroza 4-1 97 67 30
Newmanistan 3-2 131 84 47
The Candrian Empire 2-3 101 152 -51
Swilatia 1-4 68 100 -32
Kenavt 0-5 38 184 -146


Group 2
Kura-Pelland 17, Cotenshire 14
Qazox 30, Miroxia 3
Bluth Corporation 3, Lovisa 0

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Qazox 4-1 104 18 86
Kura-Pelland 4-1 102 56 46
Cotenshire 3-2 70 54 16
Bluth Corporation 3-2 66 54 12
Miroxia 1-4 33 134 -101
Lovisa 0-5 26 85 -59


Group 3
Rennidan 3, Myedvedeva 7
The Valerian Empire 3, Taeshan 20
Milchama 10, Secristan 6

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Taeshan 4-1 65 27 38
Rennidan 3-2 56 37 19
Milchama 3-2 61 63 -2
Myedvedeva 3-2 32 34 -2
Secristan 1-4 22 26 -4
The Valerian Empire 1-4 29 88 -59

Yeah, yeah, Myedvedeva won on the pitch. The Brutes are now on a two-win losing streak. Unheard of, I know, but shit happens, right?

However, it wasn't the battle on the pitch we were interested in, it was the war being waged on the streets that grasped our attention. Whilst the Brutes may have lost in Warehouse 17, the Brute Force lads more than made up for it on the streets of the Industrial District.

The KGB Murder Squad came into Rennidan looking for a fight, and, unfortunately for them, they found one with the Brute Force lads. These Ruskie-wannabes, they brought bears. Ourselves? We brought the Brutes. Whilst the offence played, the defence fought, and whilst the defence played, the offence attacked. You realize what that does for morale? Fighting alongside the guys you practically worship? I've never seen my Brute Force lads fight with such passion. I don't think those KGB Murderers knew what hit them.

The alleyways turned into choke points, parked cars turned into pyrotechnics and the walls were turned red by the blood of the away team hooligans. Unconscious bodies lay prone on the streets as Myedvedevian gore ran through the already clogged drains. At first, it was straight forward. Two waves of opposing forces stood at opposite ends of 8th street. On one end, you had the KGB Murder Squad, with their hollers to the Tsar and their bears roaring within their cages. At the other end, the Brute Force lads, with their barbarian clothing and their dog masks donned with pride. The cheers and jeers, the cries and shouts flooded the wide road, and with a sudden vigour, the two sides charged one another. Those at the forefront of it all were knocked into oblivion within moments, and those behind them, seeing their comrades fall, it riled them even more. I saw McGraw tackle two Murderers into a car, I saw Yeilds dropkick a three hundred pound Myedvedevian into a wall, I saw Supes snap a guy’s leg at the knee.

I saw Powis wrestle a bear.
(He won, by the way).

And then came the moment when the Brute's tactical prowess became apparent. From the alleyways, more Brute Force lads appeared. The Murderers were now fighting on three sides when the killing blow came. McDavies appeared at the end of 8th street. The end the KGB lads had come through. He was in a Mack truck painted orange and bronze by rust. The trailer on the back was nearly falling apart, the words 'Brute Force' haphazardly painted on the side. And when the trailer door opened and a hundred more Brute Force lads came pouring out? The look on the Murderers face said it all. They were enclosed and trapped, and, faster than they would have liked, were losing numbers. This, kiddies, is why we call them 'Brute Force'. Overwhelm and crush through sheer power.

The Murder Squad was now down to but twenty conscious men, trapped within a circle of Brute Force lads. They had no way out, they had no way to win. But they fought on.

So, as it's been said before, a lot of respect to these Murder Squad boys.

Maybe they'll have better luck next time when most of them are out of hospital?

17-14 against WHO?!?

That was the universal question being asked. Cotenshire are looking a bit dangerous at present but the Arrows move to 4-1 after yet another stereotypical clutch play, this time a 43-yard Graham Brightman field goal with 43 seconds remaining, into the wind after three third-down conversions on the drive, followed by an interception of a Hail Mary pass that seemed destined for the endzone by Kevin O'Toole.

It could have been a lot worse - and was for a while as Cotenshire took a 14-6 lead going into halftime, responding to two Tim Pogley field goals with two touchdowns that left the Arrows secondary looking pretty rubbish. However, the Arrows kept with their gameplan, controlled the football, and a nine-minute, 15-play, 77-yard drive ended with a Graham Illingworth touchdown and then a two-point conversion. The defence then started clicking again, forcing several punts, but the offence struggled. This war of attrition went on, and on... but it was the minnows who cracked in the end, and the Arrows have another fortuitous win.

KGB defeat Rennidan at Warehouse 17

Myedvedeya's football team traveled to the depths of the Industrial sector today full of fight, full of desire to win, and full of vodka. After a hard fought game, a victory party, along with more vodka, were in order.

The game started off slow, with both teams attempting to beat the living shit out of each other instead of advance the ball. Once Leonid Titov reminded his defense that trying to sack the quarterback was probably a better idea than repeatedly punching an offensive linesman, the game really began. Unfortunately, most of the quarter had elapsed by this point, and the 1st ended 0-0.

The second quarter began with an amusing incident. Rennidan Center Nathan Yecks, famed for bringing brass knuckles to his games, began a full-on fistfight with Grigory Volkov of the Myedvedeyan line. As the fight continued, a team of referees attempted to break them up. Big mistake. Yecks and Volkov, with yells of joy in their native languages, leapt into the group of referees, and started swinging. Needless to say, there was soon a long delay in the game, as an entire new refereeing squad had to be brought in. Once the game continued, the first points were soon scored, with Rennidan managing a 20-yard run, followed by a field goal by Clive. 3-0, Rennidan.

After the half, the Brute's fortunes began to decrease, however. The Myedvedeyan defense was completely shutting down Rennidan's offense. Unfortunately, the same could be said of the Rennidan defense, until late in the Third quarter. With approximately 2 minutes left in the Third, punt returner Misha Shcherbatsky returned a Rennidan punt 66 yards, putting Myedvedeya 3 yards from the goal line. The Bears faked the handoff to halfback Vladimir Karpov, faked again to Ivan Mikhailov, before finally flicking a short pass to tight end Konstantin Evdokimov, who was wide open in the corner. Slava Karolsky stumbled onto the field, drink in hand, and proceeded to smack the extra point through, then smack his vodka bottle on the head of a Rennidan defender, earning him a much-deserved ass-kicking from the bleeding defenseman. He will be able to play in our next game, although he might be a little off-balance (not that that's any different than his usual drunk playing style.)

The fourth quarter consisted of the Myedvedeyan defense shutting down the Rennidan offense, and the Myedvedeyan offense wasting copious amounts of time. Finally, the whistle blew, and Myedvedeya had cemented a 3-game winning streak, and had defeated the defending champions at their house.

The fan situation, however, was another story. Rennidan's Brute Force Squad proved too much for the KGB Murder Squad to handle on the unfamiliar streets of Rennidan. We'll see how it works out in the freezing cold of Moskva. In the stadium, on the other hand, Myedvedeyan fans won themselves a victory. Disguised by dog masks, they managed to find themselves directly in the middle of Rennidan's supporters. Ripping the masks off, they launched themselves into the crowd. Soon, bodies from both sides were flying over the decks onto the field, and the sounds of a brawl could be heard from everywhere. The Government has issued a red star to Valery Bashkir, for riding into the stadium on a bear, cutting through a swathe of Rennidan supporters, and leading the victorious Myedvedeyans on a charge into the street. He was also one of the "20 left conscious" after the street brawl, and will become famous for charging McDavies himself, which was unresolved when the tides of battle carried the two leaders their separate ways.

"I have nothing but respect for the Brute Force Squad men, and we look forward to another fight in the future." Bashkir commented when presented his medal. "This time on our home turf."

Somehow, I have a feeling the Brute Force Squad would be more than happy to take him up on his offer. Looks like it should be an interesting day in Moskva.

for more sports news, log on to www.novymoskva.mye/sports

(OOC)- the bears aren't in cages, they're intelligent and trained enough to know what side they're on.

QOX World Bowl Coverage

I'm Craig Burrman and no one circles the wagons like the Pheonix. Lead by 175 yards rushing by Frank Vallens "of Good and Evil" and 300 yards passing by Greg Dannen "Yogurt" From: (SaxerVilla), the Pheonix rumbled, stumbled and ran over Miroxia 30-3. Greg "I'm not Ashley or Mary-Kate" Olsen, started the scoring with a blocked punt, which squirted into the endzone for a safety. On the ensuning kickoff, Adam "and Eve" Politt returned it "WHOOOOP" to the Miroxia 4, leading to Vallen's first TD run of the day to put them up 9-0. The Pheonix defense all day swarmed the undermanned Miroxian line and sacked their Mystery Man QB, 8 times! So halfway through the group schedulle, only a OT loss to Kura-Pelland keeps the Pheonix from being unbeaten. The big story of the day was Dancougar's 65-0 obliteration of kenavt.

Fitin' Falcons Beat Magnus Valeria

Yeah they won 20-3 over the valerian Empire or Magnus Valeria 20-3 led by Gabe Martin. He threw a touhdown to Ricky Zellefrow on a flare patter, and later he ran one in. Martin Gramatica also made two field goals beyond 40.(righting in a rush, maybe more after bye tom.)

THE ROCKET REPORT

FIELD GOALS THE ORDER OF THE DAY

Arroza- Kory Klassen and Laquinta Carter have done a fantastic job nailing down the threes in the International Basketball Championships. They have been on target more often then not, and have tried to match the other, shot for shot. But they are not the only one converting on three pointers. Ashton Colfer and Drew Albrect decided they could put on a show as well, and hit from deep distances. In the end, and an end that took some time to come, it would not be one of them deciding the eventual outcome, but their contributions were the reason we got to this point.

The first field goal was kicked by Albrect, from 30 yards out with four minutes left in the first quarter, and from there the kicking competition was on. The offense would move the ball, but hit roadblocks when reaching the opposing 30. Albrect’s kicks came from 30, 43, 45, and 49 while Colfer connected from 37, 44, 46, and 53. We’re not quite sure if this is what the fans wanted to see. While we wanted to see production from John Pivonka, Corey Parisi, and the receiving corps, Arroza was just as disappointed in the performances of Erik Smythe, Abraham Chadwick and their own receivers. But the home fans would get something to cheer eventually. After a very boring overtime period filled with punts and a combined 3 first downs between the teams, the Tar Hornets would get the game winning touchdown. But it would not be by the offense. With the Rockets having the ball at their own 22, Raibonne Charles sacked Pivonka, and forced him to fumble. An alert Fred Davis picked up the ball and ran it in for the score, and giving Arroza the victory.

With the loss, Newmanistan falls to 3-2 in the Group, and are in third place overall. One game behind Arroza, and two behind Dancougar. And if you thought we were going to hand Kenavt their worst loss of the competition after we won 55-13, well, the Black Wings laid 65 on them last night. I’m sure that was fun for them! At 5-0, Dancougar is the lone unbeaten in what is shaping to be a very competitive World Bowl.

Group 1
The Candrian Empire 3, Arroza 36
Swilatia 0, Dancougar 20
Kenavt 6, Newmanistan 31

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Dancougar 6-0 209 33 176
Arroza 5-1 133 70 63
Newmanistan 4-2 162 90 72
The Candrian Empire 2-4 104 188 -84
Swilatia 1-5 68 120 -52
Kenavt 0-6 44 215 -171


Group 2
Qazox 19, Bluth Corporation 10
Miroxia 10, Cotenshire 16
Kura-Pelland 20, Lovisa 6

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Qazox 5-1 123 28 95
Kura-Pelland 5-1 122 62 60
Cotenshire 4-2 86 64 22
Bluth Corporation 3-3 79 73 6
Miroxia 1-5 43 150 -107
Lovisa 0-6 32 105 -73


Group 3
The Valerian Empire 19, Milchama 14
Taeshan 0, Myedvedeva 10
Secristan 7, Rennidan 6

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Taeshan 4-2 65 37 28
Myedvedeva 4-2 42 34 8
Rennidan 3-3 62 44 18
Milchama 3-3 75 82 -7
Secristan 2-4 29 32 -3
The Valerian Empire 2-4 48 102 -54

Just out of the cellar
Candiria escapes dead last, but essentially out of playoff race

Now, it's just playing for pride.

The Knights are 2-4, and for the most part, out of playoff contention. Coach Sam Morrison, after dropping another game to Arroza, could potentially have his name on the chopping block. With 4 games left to go, the possibility of a playoff berth slips ever so much, with the Knights likely behind Secristan and the Valerian Empire for that last playoff spot, which, at this point, would be going to one of the 2-4 teams, and based on PF/PA, most likely Secristan. With games like this week's pounding under host Arroza, the likelyhood of running the table seems slim, with games against undefeated Dancougar and Newmanistan before another patsy game against cellarmate Swilatia, a team they beat two games ago in a sloppy overtime match pocked with penalties and dead drives ultimately ending in an overtime run by Frances Valencia on a broken play from the Switalian 44. The last games' only points by the Candrian offense were on the feet of Arnold Luna, in a game where the Knights were simply outplayed and outhustled, giving up 36 points.

"We're a better team than the record shows. We have the talent. We have the skill. We just haven't put in together." Another loss, another bad postgame press conference. Morrison again was on the defensive. "We have to recommit, refocus. Dancougar is an interesting team. They're over the hill, they're amateurs. They win because they play as a team, not because of pure talent. They play the way the game's meant to be played. That is something we have to do. If we do that, then we have the best team in the league - we're one of about maybe 4-5 teams in the tournament with professional leagues, and of the ones that play, we have the most highest-pace and fastest of the teams on the field. We just have to put it all together."

Practice today was focused primarily on knocking off Dancougar. The emphasis is on pressure and containment; with every running back on the Black Wings roster showing a lot of mileage on their treads, the focus is on containing Todd Applegate, who's flourished under Moohim's reemphasis on the pass. With plays like the option nullified (every modern defense is too fast to make the option a workable play in the modern game) and a defensive front athletic enough to stop the committee ground game of the Black Wings, the Knights are going to have to force Applegate to throw; hopefully, with a dedicated week, the athletic defensive backs of the Knights can hopefully shut down Applegate's receiver corps.

With a chance - just a chance - the Knights can pull off the upset.

But just a chance.

QOX World Bowl Coverage

I'm Jack Keithson and WHOOOA NELLLY! the Pheonix had to rally from a 10-0 deficit to edge Bluth Corp. 19-10. The opening kickoff was run back quicker than a kackrabbit being chased by a fox, and it was 7-0, BC. After 5 3-and outs, and a blocked punt that set up the FG. The Pheonix used trickeration on its first play using the ol' Statue of Liberty play, as Tony Aster took the handoff 73 yards for the TD, and momentum changed. BC fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Erik Akana rumbled like an elephant 13 yards for the TD, maiking it 14-10. After a FG by Tryone Chase, BC's punt with 4 minutes left was blocked by David Reshks and that provided the final tally. 5-1 with 4 games left, and Qazox is almost assured a playoff berth.

MYEDVEDEYA EXTEND WIN STREAK

After losing their first two contests, Myedvedeya have won their last 4 straight, and are now battling Taeshan for the lead in group 3. Myedvedeya today defeated the Fitin' Falcons by the score of 10-0, with the help of a dominant defensive performance.

Myedvedeya's defense was lights out the entire game, with Taeshan barely receiving a single first down, let alone a point. Myedvedeyan points were scored on a 25-yard touchdown run from Ivan Mikhailov, and on an extra point and a field goal from Slava Karolsky, who was both drunk and concussed, and passed out briefly after each kick. The game ended with the Myedvedeyans comfortably ahead by the score of 10-0. Leonid Titov again caused injury, and the league is considering a suspension, or at least was, until the Organitskaya gave them a peace of their mind. All in all, this continues to be a successful campaign for the Myedvedeyans.

for more sports news, log on to www.novymoskva.mye/sports

In what is perhaps the most absurd of excuses, Rennidan are now on a three-game losing streak due to their entire team, except their kicker, Clive, not turning up in Secristan for their game.

Instead, the team could be found in Warehouse 17, practicing for the game against Secristan which they believed to be later on in the week. Due to a miscommunication between event organizers and the less-than-organized Brutes, only Clive the kicker managed to arrive in Secristan on time, and, in true Brute fashion, he probably gave everyone the game of their life.

_________


"Ladies and gentlemen, let me assure you, this is truely unheard of!"

The announcer in Secristan was fluttered, flustered and, generally, pretty damn fucked. He had been a sports commentator for quite some time in his life, having bought his way up from a lowly journalist, but what he was seeing down on the expensive Secristan turf was an unbelievable affair. The Secristan side had turned out in full, and their fans that had big enough wallets to afford the bidding war on seats filled the station. They were truly representing their country.

And what does Rennidan do?

They bring their kicker.

Clive, surname unknown, stood quietly at his side of the pitch, dressed in mechanic's overalls and with a lit cigarette resting gently between his lips. The smoke invoked a sort of halo around the character, emphasised by the harsh lighting within the stadium. Jeers and laughter erupted from the Secristan side. Rennidan, who are supposedly 'the best' in the world, a team who are currently on a two-win losing streak for reasons unknown, a team which really, really needs a win right now, have failed to turn up to their second match against the Secristan richboys. And the one Brute who does manage to arrive on time is the scrawniest 30-something, brown haired, blued eyed male you have ever seen. He's the kind of man you imagine could have been a great Artful Dodger if he had ever been in Oliver Twist as a child.

So, imagine the surprise of the fans when Clive actually admitted he would play. It was against the rules, sure, but these Secristan folks, they love to see something as amusing as an easy, crushing defeat against the thugs from Rennidan. The local currency was flooding the turf as a bribe to the referees to allow the game to go ahead, and, funnily enough, it did. Clive strolled up to the toss, the Secristan captains suppressing their laughter, and he elected to kick off.

Surely this would be a magnificent kick return touchdown for Secristan?

WRONG.

Kevin Robertson caught the ball easily enough, and begun to weave through his teammates towards the endzone. He had ten men protecting him from the scrawniest runt of the Brutes litter, he had as much confidence as he did money, and he was about to get his first KRTD of the Bowl.

So then, imagine the look of surprise when he was blindside at his own thirty yard line by Clive?

Watching the replay, the kicker had gone full throttle down the pitch, weaved between the large blockers with lightning speed, and brought Robertson down with what will be seen as perhaps one of the hardest tackles to date.

One sentence was uttered by Clive after the tackle.

"It's on."

For the rest of the game, he stayed stoic and kept his lips firmly shut, as to keep the seemingly never-ending cigarette locked firmly in his mouth.

Before today, I had never quite realized just how fast Clive could be.

Have you ever seen a man snap the ball to himself, before pitching it to himself to the right for a fifteen yard gain? If you are a fan of the laws of physics, I suggest steering clear of the replays in this match, as I reckon Clive probably broke most of them.

And it wasn't just the offence where Clive showed himself to be a weaver of the impossible, but on defence as well. If Secristan were going to throw, their quarterback was going to get sacked. If they were going to run, the runner was going to be tackled for a loss.

The rowdy rich Secristan fans had been stunned and shunned into silence, and who can blame them? At half time, it was 0-0.

Then, in the third quarter, the points finally appeared on the board.

But it wasn't the Millionaires getting them.

Clive got within field goal distance for the first time, and, snapping the ball to himself, kicked it from the thirty yard line to make it 3-0 to the Brutes.

This, undoubtedly, riled the Millionaires. Nearing the end of the third quarter, they struck back, and scored a touchdown and a PAT, bringing it round to a shameful 7-3.

The game continued along its earlier routine of the first half, until Clive got another fieldgoal seconds before the fourth quarter finished, leaving the game at 7-6, the fans stunned and the Millionaires feeling more than a little foolish.

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS TAKE BREAK AND WIN

Pocono City, Newmanistan- We’re surprised that the Kenavt fans aren’t insulted by this. First, they get rocked 55-13 by us on their home turf, then the Black Wings of Dancougar, a team with more of a defensive reputation, put 65 on the board against them, a 65-0 margin of victory that became a new World Bowl record. But because they were 0-5, and came into the game with a -146 point differential, it really was adding insult to their injury when the scheduled listed our game at Pocono City Stadium as a “break day”. Some of the Rockets thought this meant that they would have a day off, and therefore enjoyed an extra night with their families, out on the town, or watching the big basketball game, though others realized that it simply meant that it would be a break day just on the premise that they were going to play this lowly team. The stands ended up being full, but there were many late arrivals, as some fans were a little mixed up themselves on when the game day would be played, but made last second plans and all got there in time when they heard on the news that kickoff had taken place.

Had they all been on the same page and realized that they were playing at Pocono City Stadium tonight, perhaps they could have had a bigger margin of victory then their 31-7 result, not that there is anything wrong with that. Newmanistan was sluggish early in the game, and stuggled to move the ball, especially in the air. Parisi and Padgett gave them some yardage on the ground, but their first four possessions ended in punts. Kenavt was held in check too, with the exception of one play. On 3rd and 19 from their own 23, a botched coverage assignment in the secondary led to receiver #81 being wide open. Even though this would go for a touchdown, even this was nearly botched by Kenavt. The ball hit him squarely in the middle of the “8" and “1" but nearly dropped the ball, juggling it, before keeping possession. Then as he was sprinting toward the end zone and no Rockets within 15 yards of him, he tripped over the 20 yard line. Perhaps if the Rockets gave a 100% effort at catching up to him, they could have took advantage of his stumble, but he regained his feet and scored. When he spiked the ball, though, it hit him in the right foot, knocking him off his feet, and apparently injuring himself as he needed to be helped off the field. He did not return. Late in the second quarter, the Rockets began to play better, and got a 48 yard field goal from Colfer to make it 7-3 at halftime.

Despite being down by four points, the mood in the Newmanistan locker room at halftime was extremely upbeat to the point where you probably would have thought that they were up by a couple touchdowns. They knew that Kenavt caught a fortuitous break and seemed unlikely of repeating the same type of play again, and that their own execution was coming to life. It didn’t take long in the third quarter either, as on the third play from scrimmage, John Pivonka hit Christian Gagnon down the right sideline for a 74 yard touchdown reception, putting the Rockets on top, 10-7. After forcing a Kenavt punt, Newmanistan again looked sharp, but this time the drive consumed more time. On 3rd and goal from the 6, the Kenavt defense seemed to forget about tight end Shane Seymour, and Pivonka spotted him for the easy touchdown. At this point, the game seemed in hand, even though 17-7 normally would never been seen as a comfortable. On their next possession, the crossed from the third into the fourth quarters, Newmanistan found the endzone on a bit of a trick play. Pivonka pitched the ball to Corey Parisi and while it looked like a run, it was actually a halfback pass, and Corey found a wide open Jordan Lyons in the slot, for a 33 yard TD reception. Lyons may have been just have wide open if not for the trickery, as the defense didn’t seem to assign a man to him properly. After yet another Kenavt punt, this time the Rockets went into a ball control drive to finish off the game, and it worked extremely well, taking up 8:08 of the clock. The scoring play would be a 2-yard run by Chris Padgett to give the Rockets a 31-7 lead, and their eventual win by this score.

With the win, Newmanistan improves to 4-2, and are in third place in Group A. They sit a game behind Arroza and two behind Dancougar, who at 6-0 simply looks dominant thus far. Even though they only won by 20 this time, it appears as thought the Black Wings are clearly the team to beat. The Rockets have a 2-game cushion over the fourth place Candrian Empire. In the other group, Group B sees Qazox and Kura-Pelland sharing the lead at 5-1 with Cotenshire proving to be a deadly threat in third at 4-2. As is their custom, the Bluth Corporation is hanging tough with a 3-3 mark. In Group C, are teams finally being able to discover a way to beat the Rennidan Brutes? They have fallen to 3-3 in what is becoming a very tight-look group. As they are in the International Basketball Championships semifinal, Taeshan and Myedvedeya are all tied up. Here, they each have a share of the lead at 4-2, with Milchama and Rennidan only a game back at 3-3. Next for the Rockets is a game against Swilatia at Centralia Stadium, in what is a historic game for the stadium. It is the first time that the facility has been used in any international or interregional competition.

Important Announcement:

I screwed up and ran matchday 6 when it should have been a break day.

Now people have already RP'ed matchday 6, so it's not really fair to undo the results of the matchday, that would be unfair to those who are paying attention and rolled with the punches.

So, therefore the mid-table break will be moved to between games 6 and 7 (TODAY). Normal simulation/scoring will resume Monday 2000 CDT. (GMT-6)

Thank you. Please forgive me.

Pretty Sportsfan Catherine
Blogging football in the context of anime.

After a killer roadtrip, the Wings stand at 6-0 and should be among the top twelve when all is said and done, barring an epic collapse over the last few games. They just returned from a two-game road trip that resulted in the biggest blowout of the tournament so far, a 65-0 thrashing of Kenavt, followed up with a 20-0 win over Swilatia. The team has been on a rampage modulo a close one against Newmanistan in Loudon - they've done everything right. Their skill has been confirmed; now, their stamina and focus will be tested. It does them no good to peak now when sweeping the playoffs is the ultimate goal.

We start in Kenavt, which has had some problems on the gridiron so far, but this seemed like a bit much. They kept it on the ground for awhile, but with the defense scoring points and the secondary leaving Appelgate with plenty of places to throw, the Wings put it away by halftime. You could see the frustration on the Kenavtian faces, both the players and the fans, as the Wings ran up and down the field. It's hard to stomach a loss like that, but even harder at home. It's a game like that which makes comments on low-scoring games involving the champs seem like biting mockery rather than sarcastic fun.

Touchdown runs of 11 and 18 yards by Kirk Hatchitt to go with 104 yards. Touchdown passes of 48 and 22 by Appelgate. A fumble returned 42 yards by Will Tolston. A 27-yard field goal from Stottlemyer. And this was only in the first half! The numbers are impressive but hide the drives which set them up. Hatchitt was happy to run at the Kenavt line, which wasn't able to generate any pressure. Even with eight men in the box, Hatchitt was able to bounce outside and keep the clock running. The lack of pressure also made it easy for Appelgate to sit in the pocket and pick people out. The Wings ran a few four-wide sets, one of which resulted in the long score to Jermaine Divalerio. He just ran deep, got his man to bite on an outside cut, and then crossed the middle of the field for an open catch. And this was all in the first half.

Almost all starters sat out in the second half against Kenavt, and it's a performance like that which makes me wonder if we're the bad guys in this tournament. Erika and Orange Star never have blowout games like this. Sure, you can't have a dramatic manga if she's just chucking it downfield at will and scoring points, but Orange Star have always been fighting opponents and themselves in order to become stronger. But the Wings started strong and have kept it up. They're the evil team that wins huge offscreen to make Orange Star look even better in the next issue. Maybe we're Furinkan, and Kirk Manly is the anchor of the Iron Curtain. He did have two sacks and an interception.

The second half was more of the same. Kenavt had been thoroughly demoralized and continued to play sluggish football. Punter Brandon Shelpman continued to sit on the bench; he would not be called. Haynesworth hooked up with Fred Uselton on a 19-yard strike to make it 45-0. The Wings picked up field goals on the next two drives behind the clock-draining running of Oliver Tangermann. Kenavt still came out throwing, trying to salvage something from the game. But a deep ball was picked off by Alex Isabella, who ran it back 72 yards for a score. Moohim kept the ball on the ground, and Tangermann concluded the scoring with a 25-yard scamper. Afterward, Moohim did his best to diffuse charges of running up the score. If he ultimately fails, I think I can see why.

The box score against Swilatia was much less insane - only two touchdowns instead of eight, as the Swilatian team had seen the beating the Wings put in Kenavt and were resolved not the be disrespected in their house the same way. They also wanted to avoid a repeat of the 22-point defeat from the first meeting. I can imagine they had the same determination as the Valleyside team that Orange Star met in the first round of the city league playoffs. Valleyside were a team that had barely qualified and had suffered mightily against Orange Star in previous seasons. They stepped onto the field willing to swallow their pride and admit the battle was uphill, but that nothing was impossible. With just that, they were stronger. The Rockets had managed to stop the Wings by containing the run. Too many third and long situations are a recipe for disaster, after all. Appelgate is not that good.

And right from the start, Swilatia had the answers. Hatchitt up the middle... stuffed. A lead block from Bozwell, but a great ankle tackle by the linebacker. Then Appelgate looked for Seelbinder down the left sideline and had the ball broken up. From offense at will to three-and-out. The fans were pumped, as was the defense. Shelpman trudged onto the field for his first punt in awhile, and right away, the Wings knew this game would be tougher. The defense responded with their own three-and-out stop. The first points of the game were a field goal by Stottlemyer late in the first quarter. A fumble by Swilatia on the ensuing drive was converted into a touchdown when Appelgate, set up by Hatchitt, connected with Divalerio from nine yards away. Quickly the game had turned and the Wings led 10-0.

The Black Wing defense was not invulnerable. No defense is. The Swilatians put together a 72-yard drive that swallowed eight minutes of the second quarter, but stopped on third down inside the ten, they were forced to end the half with a field goal attempt. Get to within a score and wait for the third quarter. You could sense the energy just waiting to explode during the halftime talk. But the tone changed instantly when Leo Cristelli got his big chubby arms up in the air and got a chunk of the ball, which careened sideways and out of bounds. It would be the Wings who entered the locker room with the momentum - bend but don't break, and the defense waited until the absolute limit.

Hatchitt would get his touchdown and his hundred-plus yards in the second half, and two more takeaways by the defense would ensure the result was the same as the first game, more or less. Attentions now turn to a home date with the Candrian Empire, who are sitting at 2-4 but have learned the right lessons from studying the Newmanistan game. They looked a bit unprepared the first time the teams met, a 43-13 road win for the Wings, but now they've seen what all of the Black Wing runningbacks can do. Gameplans will be drawn up, lineman and linebackers will be drilled hard, and the Candrians will try to force Todd Appelgate to win this game. He's played well in the last two games, but all of his passing lanes were open because of the running attacks. Cakes are to defense as lies are to honesty.

The Candrians should not be brushed aside. Home game? Dominating track record? Opponents with wounded pride? None of that means anything on game day. They're professionals, so they know what they're doing.

BRUTES (WELL, BRUTE) LOSE TO CHEERLEADERS

With the day listed as a bye day for the Millionaires, the players were no where near in game shape for their game against the Rennidan Brutes. Fortunately, it would not be the Brutes that they would play, but their kicker, and only their kicker. Known as Clive, the team laughed and mocked his appearance and his desire to actually attempt to play. The Millionaires looked at each other and couldn’t believe it, but at the same time they weren’t in any shape to play this game either. Most of them were out partying, many drunk, and Tom Mitchell had to be interrupted while in the middle of getting it on with a groupie as the coin toss was to take place. They were stumbling and lethargic, but they were only playing a kicker. So, why not? They attempted one possession, but after three errant passes from Mitchell to wide open receivers this just wasn’t going to work. There had to be a plan B. And there was! Bring on the cheerleaders!

They thought about putting on all the padding but why bother. They were only playing a single kicker, and wasn’t in uniform either, so they would stay in their cheerleading uniforms, much to the delight of the crowd. The girls had never done this before, and really had no idea what they were doing, but they would try anyway. The captain, Meghan would be the quarterback and she would line up her friends Emily and Stacie, the red head fan favorite, at wide receiver. Courtney would be at running back since she was the most muscular of the girls, if you can call her that. Amanda would be the tight end, and it would take the girls a couple possession to be able to realize what that position really was since they always heard all those lame “tight end” jokes in high school. The lineman would be Nicole, Melissa, Brittany at center, Lauren and Ashley. They really didn’t know what they needed to do since their would be no pass rush from an opponent, only by Clive, but World Bowl rules required five people at the line of scrimmage, so those five mainly socialized for the whole game.

The first few possessions were really difficult, not really because of Clive, but because they didn’t know what they were doing. For example, it took Meghan a while to learn that she had to snap the ball before the play clock reached zero. False starts also were a problem as the girls had a hard time getting used to the fact that they all had to get set and they had to remain completely still before the ball was snapped. Most of their possessions suffered from 4 or 5 penalties per drive, so when they were able to actually convert a couple plays, they had a long way to go from scrimmage. They would try, first, to get Courtney some yards on the ground but she had a tough time with the handoffs from Meghan. They would then attempt some passing plays, and while they would get the occasional completion, these were in the minority, and more often the not they found themselves needing to punt. But they really didn’t have a good kicker. They would have Katie try, but her first punt only went 6 yards. Emily did a little better on hers, getting one to go 14 yards. It was fun though, the crowd was enjoying it and so were the Millionaire players on the sideline. Though the game went to halftime scoreless, everyone had a good time. In the second half when the girls tried more passes that would lead to incompletions, they decided they would go for a 4th and 10 from their own 17. Meghan completed the pass to Stacie but Stacie forget that she was a wide receiver and spiked the ball and went into a cheer. The ball rolled out of bounds for only a eight yard pickup. Clive had great field position and after the girls stopped him on 3 plays (the gang tackles were always fun to watch), the girls didn’t quite understand what he was doing when he was snapping the ball to himself and kicking it. Later they realized that he had kicked a field goal and gave Rennidan a 3-0 lead.

They were keeping score in this? The girls just thought they were doing this for fun, so late in the third quarter, they began to get a little more serious. For once they began to get a drive together without false starts or delay of game penalties. With a minute left to play in the quarter, Meghan delivered a perfect strike to Stacie down the right sideline that made Tom Mitchell proud and Stacie caught the ball!! It went for 26 yards. The girls went crazy cheering then as they finally did what they saw their players do! Then came the extra point. Emily would kick it. The snap was perfect and the kick just barely had enough on it to clear the crossbar to make it 7-3. It was a critical kick, for sure! With the lead they began to screw around again. If you tried to explain to them that it would have been good if they tried to score more points and help out the team’s point differential, it would have been a lost cause. They spent most of the fourth quarter motioning to the crowd as they usually do, and didn’t seem bothered by Clive’s field goal to end the game and finish it off at 7-6. They won!! They won!!

The celebration at midfield got a little crazy. They won a football game and they defeated the defending champions in the process. The fans may have appeared stunned but this was more because they were hoping some tops might fly off in the celebration. They would get their wish when Meghan and Stacie gave in to the urge. They weren’t feeling foolish. That will be Rennidan, who have now lost three in a row.

But even more, the mighty Brutes with all their manly attributes have a loss on their record to a bunch of cheerleaders. That’s gotta sting.

In other news, the SDOS is not sure now if the regular team will be back or if the cheerleaders will have another chance to play again against Taeshan. After all, it might not bring a win, but it should bring many pay-per-view purchases, and that's what really matters.

Fitin' Falcons Freak Lose to Bears

Yes its freaky the Falcons were shut out for only the second time in history, and for the second time this world bowl. The falcons fell to the Myedvedeyans 10-0. The Falcons are on top of group c right know. Next they face Secristan.

CHEERLEADERS TO PLAY VERSUS TAESHAN

After their defeat of Rennidan's Brute by the score of 7-6, the Secristan Department of Sports has announced that the cheerleaders will get another chance to play, and will start. They will also once again wear only cheerleading uniforms, not a football uniform. In a rare case of responding to public demand, the SDOS has made the move because fans were non-stop in their asking for them to play. Pay-per-view orders for the game are at a record high for football already for this. The girls are expected to do a little better as they have had a little more practice. The men will receive a 1-game refund of their bid to play for the team in compensation, and since they are 0-3 lifetime against Taeshan it's not like we are giving this game away. For now, this will just apply to the Taeshan game but if they do well don't be surprised to see them more.

OOC: Taeshan, if you RP first use the girl's names as in post 120.

"Shit man, he's startin' to creep me out now."

Ever since Clive returned from Secristan, the lads in the Brutes realized that all he did was stand in a corner of Warehouse 17 with a smirk on his face and a cigarette in his mouth.

"Seriously, can someone move him? He's been their for like five hours."

Really though, who could blame him? He may have returned from a loss of a game, but, hell, did you see what happened to him in that match? He got gangtackle by an entire team of cheerleaders. Surely any man who has eleven lovley cheerleaders leaping upon him all day long would enter some kind of booby-inspired coma. Actually, many people were suprised Clive didn't lose by a larger margin, all things considered. I know most blokes out their wouldn't exactly have their head in the game, but Clive, well, he more than happily put himself into that game one-hundred and ten percent.

Next up, Rennidan replay Milchama, two top ten teams colliding yet again to decide who makes the third place cut of Group 3. We can only hope this game will be the one to break the unheard of 3-game losing streak the Brutes have racked up.

One thing is for certain though...

Don't expect any field goals anytime soon.

A CALL TO ARMS FOR ALL NOBLE-HEARTED MEN

The eve of our heroic stand has come. Soon those egregious brigands from Qazox will besiege our mighty city. May their assault crash like waves against the hull of our indomitable galleon, the HMS Revenge.

Yesterday, my brother Robrecht and his fellows raided an armoury twenty miles south of here, and will now distribute guns and other weapons to those who pledge to defend Taale-Voren by engaging these invaders. These weapons will be distributed at every tavern and beer hall within a mile radius of the St. Alfons Hippodrome.

As I have written earlier, Qazoxian men ought not be slain by just any mundane method of execution. Vileness and insolence such as theirs only demands a most brutal procedure for justice to be truly delivered. The fiend must be thoroughly soaked in gasoline, stuffed with fifty pounds of manure, and then ignited.

As Christians, however, we must not be like them and instead exercise temperance and moderation. The women shall only be beheaded by a bladed weapon, whereas the children and infants shall simply have their brains dashed out with a pickaxe.

As to that malignant gang of trolls that are supposed to be a football team, they shall not be physically harmed until after they have been devastated at the hands of the courageous Kerkrade and his men. Once the deed is done, the profligates should be seized, have their arms and legs bound, and hung individually in iron cages overlooking the harbour. There shall they remain, without food or water, until death. From this position shall their pathetic howls serve as warnings to other villains that we will not tolerate their crimes.

Light in your hearts a fiery courage, my fellow citizens of this righteous town, for your bravery will be tested on this day of reckoning. A fierce legion of beasts yet unknown to this land will soon crawl among us, thirsty for Christian blood.




(OOC: SIC to Qazox: )

To Whomever it may concern on the Qazoxian Football Team:

We, the society of the Silverhelms, shall provide you protection from the mobs, who can and will kill you if left unprotected. We do not want an incident, so we will provide your team and staff safe passage out of the country for a payment of £10,000. If you accept our offer, meet our representatives after the game under the south stands in the stadium. Do not ask who we are, and do not speak of this offer to anyone else.

(OOC: You can RP this or not. If not I will just assume you have accepted the offer and no one on your team came to any harm.)

MYEDVEDEYA GO FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN

Myedvedeya will face off today with fellow Slavs Magnus Valerius for the second time in this tournament. If they win this match, Myedvedeya will be at 5-2, assured of a .500 record, and quite likely of qualification for the knockout stages. A loss, however, will put Myedvedeya at 4-3, not a good place to be in a group this tightly packed. The current Group leaders are Myedvedeya and Taeshan at 4-2, followed by Rennidan and Milchama at 3-3, and then finally Secristan and Magnus Valerius at 2-4. In their first meeting, Magnus Valerius defeated Myedvedeya by the score of 9-6, in overtime. Myedvedeya's kicker made a horrible mistake on the opening kickoff of OT, and was promptly shot by an angry fan after the game. (He is listed in stable condition, and is expected to be released from the hospital in a couple of weeks)

"Last time, we had just lost to Taeshan, and we hadn't really stepped our game up to the international level. Now, we have a new kicker, we're on a four-game winning streak, and Magnus Valerius has fallen on some hard times in this tournament. I think we can pull it out." Said Myedvedeyan Linebacker Leonid Titov, cossack hat on his head and a cigarette dangling from his lips in a cigarette holder. "We beat the defending champions, we beat Taeshan (#6) we should be able to beat just about anyone."

The game will be broadcast at 7:00 AM, Moskva Time. (10:00 PM US Eastern)

for more sports news, log on to www.novymoskva.mye/sports

Group 1
Newmanistan 16, Swilatia 0
Arroza 17, Kenavt 10
Dancougar 23, The Candrian Empire 0

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Dancougar 7-0 232 33 199
Arroza 6-1 150 80 70
Newmanistan 5-2 180 90 90
The Candrian Empire 2-5 104 211 -107
Swilatia 1-6 68 136 -68
Kenavt 0-7 54 231 -177


Group 2
Lovisa 9, Miroxia 27
Bluth Corporation 17, Kura Pelland 19
Cotenshire 3, Qazox 21

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Qazox 6-1 144 31 113
Kura-Pelland 6-1 141 79 62
Cotenshire 4-3 89 85 4
Bluth Corporation 3-4 96 92 4
Miroxia 2-5 70 159 -89
Lovisa 0-7 41 132 -91


Group 3
Secristan 0, Taeshan 3
Milchama 3, Rennidan 6
Myedvedeva 3, The Valerian Empire 6

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Taeshan 5-2 68 37 31
Rennidan 4-3 68 47 21
Myedvedeva 4-3 45 40 5
Milchama 3-4 78 88 -10
The Valerian Empire 3-4 54 105 -51
Secristan 2-5 29 35 -6

Pretty Sportsfan Catherine
Blogging football in the context of anime.

Bring on the Rockets! Dancougar opened up a two-game homestand with their third-straight shutout, a 23-0 win over the Candrian Empire, whose defensive strategy proved harder and harder to execute as the game went on. But coach Will Moohim can look at that and smile, because the Wings did exactly what they had to do in that kind of situation. Rather than abandon the ground game, just keep punching holes into the line. Granted, they had the luxury of a defense that gave up less than 200 yards of total offense. None of the Black Wing quarterbacks who saw action were in any hurry.

It brings to mind the first Orange Star/Furinkan game. At the start of the second half, Furinkan was sitting on a fourteen point lead, but Erika had given the team hope at the end of the first half by leading them on a long scoring drive punctuated by Kent running right through Saji. With Furinkan getting the ball first one of the Orange Star linebackers came over to Erika and stood over her, and simply asked, "You we give you the ball, can you score again?" She nodded, and he smiled. Putting on his helmet, he declared, "Then the Orange Star defense will hold them here!" It was when you started to see Erika's energy and boundless belief in the team's abilities begin to charge up the team's spirit. Sure enough, they got the stop and Erika pulled them within seven.

And that's how the Candrian Empire came out at the start of this game. They sent in a lot of different blitz packages and showed off the versatility of the linebacking corps. Short passes over the middle were taken away by the roving Aaron McKay. The Wings didn't advance past midfield on their first two drives, but the Empire's offense was not able to reward their defense with a lead. The second drive ended in an Anthony Corona interception, and that's what sparked the Wings to their first scoring drive. Appelgate's pocket was a little shaky and resulted in a sack, but a big third down conversion set up Kirk Hatchitt. It took him two tries to get the final yard, but he squeezed through a hole to make it 7-0.

Still in the first half, Hatchitt was not about to let the packed Candrian defense get the better of him. He kept running. He was average less than three yards a carry, but the Wings were gobbling up clock and keeping their offense on the field. And that's where the real strength of a running offense becomes apparent. After getting pounded over and over, the holes got a little bigger. The closing speed of the Candrian linebackers fell off ever so slightly, but once Hatchitt started getting to the outside, the Wings started putting points on the board. A field goal and another touchdown made it 17-0 at halftime. The score was a beauty, with Appelgate faking the handoff and bootlegging right. Mavis tried to run him down, but the tight end, Coerver, hadn't given up on the play and was coming across the middle. Across his body, Appelgate, 5-yard score!

On a night when the Black Wing soccer team once again choked in a must-win game, the Black Wing American football team continued its so-far futile bid to get noticed by the country at large. With punishing defense. Grant Martella is no Owen Powis, but he still blew up play after play. The Empire, like the Black Wings, have a lot of halfbacks in the stable, and they weren't afraid to run at one of the tournament's best defenses so far. Mikail Cervantes did his best Kent Newsome by running through Kirk Manly, eliciting a loud cheer from the Empire fans who traveled to the Jay Kay. Three plays later, though, Martella was in the backfield and Haralde failed to protect the ball. Fumble, Black Wing recovery, and the Candrian momentum was halted again.

Moohim gave a lot of guys on the depth chart some playing time. Appelgate and Hatchitt came out in the first half yet again, but today, we even saw third-string quarterback Michael Hussey. I find myself questioning that decision. With Newmanistan coming up, a team which has never given the Black Wings an easy game, is it really a good idea to give the starters so much rest? You want them to be fresh, but they need to be in full game mode. Moohim is showing a lot of confidence in his guys by bringing starters out so soon. But disrespect is another way to look at it. Especially when Hussey picked up a third down near midfield on an option play, which the Empire had declared dead during the pregame media day. Hussey ran left and faked the end-around, then pitched it back to Tangermann after Mavis had overrun the play. We loved it; can't say the same about coach Morrison.

Hussey only took a few shots, and in the end, the Wings only picked up two more field goals while continuing to grind it out. The team's average didn't get over three yards per run and no single run went for more than eleven yards. But that's fine. The Wings dominated the clock, and the way the defense was playing, the Candrians had no way back. So make it seven wins for the Wings, but now they get Newmanistan and Arroza again. All three figure to be on their way to the next round, and the Jay Kay will be sold out for the Rockets. As much as I enjoy seeing the Wings continue to roll through these games, I actually want the Rockets to come in here and scare the hell out of this team. I want to see them respond to a challenge. They did in the first game, and that was a real treat to watch...

QOX World Bowl Coverage

I'm Mad Johnnen and BOOM! We defeated Cotenshire 21-3, and BOOM! after 2 100-yd kickoff returns from Adam Politt BOOM! in the 1st quarter, and a Bret Favre, I mean, Brett Favre, NO!!! Greg Dannen-Favre 1 yd TD plunge, BOOM! we're ready for the show-down with theeaaaaa Kura BOOM! Pelland team for the title! BOOM!

CHEERLEADERS LOSE; WIN

In front of a capacity crowd at Monopoly Stadium, the Cheerleaders were defeated by Taeshan by the score of 3-0. That would be it for Taeshan, just three points, which is three less then Clive singlehandedly put on the board against them in the previous game. Despite the loss, the Cheerleaders were extremely upbeat after the game (would you expect anything less?). The field goal that they surrendered came early in the fourth quarter and they were really happy in the way that they contained Taeshan’s offense. This was the first time that the girls had to play an actual team, and not just one person, they were still wearing their cheerleading uniforms. They made some big plays too. With Taeshan driving in the first quarter into the red zone, Hilary sacked QB Gabe Martin, and caused him to fumble. She knew exactly what to do too as she picked up the ball. If it had occurred to her that she should have run as fast as she could towards the other end zone immediately, she may just have gone the distance. Then in the second quarter with Taeshan again in the red zone, Brittany intercepted a pass. Unfortuantely, not knowing she would be better downing the ball, she tried to run out and was brought down at the 2. The offense still suffered from mental lapses. At times they made some plays, but they could never sustain a drive long enough to get into field goal range.

Where it mattered, the Cheerleaders were an amazing success. The game broke the record for most pay-per-view purchases for a football game, and even topped games of the inaugural International Basketball Championships. Sponsors are now reportedly trying to get a piece of the action with many deals on the table ranging from Computer Software products to adult entertainment. Due to this, the SDOS is going to continue to have the girls play, even though they will be on the road in Medvedeya. The teams record of 2-5 isn’t the important thing right now. Revenue generation is.

THE ROCKET REPORT

CENTRALIA FANS TREATED TO VICTORY

Centralia, Newmanistan- It was the first time that Centralia Stadium would host a major international or interregional competition, and the city was excited, treating the game as if it were for a major championship. Centralia’s economy has improved greatly over the past few decades, and after being an afterthought for a long time, they finally got their chance. The stadium renovation helped a lot too, thanks to the money generated by Centralia’s other football team, the one that kicks a ball around all day. Swilatia may have been a little surprised at the amount of Newmanistanian hype for their game. As a 1-5 team heading into the game, there would be this high amount of media coverage? Well, as they eventually found out, it was more for Centralia then for them. Eventually after all the ceremonial stuff came to a close, we had a football game to play. Newmanistan would win the game with defense. Which in Centralia, is very fitting. The final score, 16-0.

Swilatia received the ball to begin the game and wanted to get the crowd out of the game as quickly as they could, and they would accomplish this somewhat with a terrific opening drive of 15 plays in 75 yards, lasting 9:13. There was just one problem, they came away without a score. On 3rd and goal from the 1, their running back fumbled when hit by Kirk Comforth, and it would be recovered by Dan Strasser. The crowd that had been silenced has they had still not seen an offensive play in the game immediately came back to life. The visitors had nothing to show for their lengthy drive, and now the Rockets hoped to take over. Newmanistan would convert a couple first downs, but could not advance the ball past the Swilatia 46. A beautiful punt by Steve Meadows was downed at the 1, and the Rockets were in business. After an incomplete pass, Newmanistan appeared to pick up a safety when their QB was sacked in the end zone by Tyrone Booker, however a defensive holding penalty negated the play, and got the crowd quite upset. As was coach Nicholson, though we couldn’t figure out if he was upset at the referee or at Mario Martuzzo, the man that was flagged. The Swilatia possession would move into the second quarter a bit before it ended up in a punt. With good field position, Newmanistan only needed to convert a couple first downs to set up a 38-yard FG by Ashton Colfer to give the team the lead. After forcing another punt, the Rockets got in field goal range again, and Colfer connected from 42 to make it 6-0. This is where the half would end.

While the home crowd was happy to have the lead, and Swilatia appeared very frustrated by the way the game had gone, there wasn’t a lot of joy in the Newmanistan locker room. They felt that they should have had a bigger lead at this point, even though Swilatia had a time of possession edge, thanks to their long drive. They were not thrilled that their two scoring drives would only end up as field goals knowing that this would not be good enough to win in Dancougar next matchday. To beat Swilatia, probably. But unlike the World Cup, in the World Bowl, Newmanistan’s difficulty is not in beating the teams they are supposed to beat. It’s showing that they can beat the top teams. They’ve been close with Dancougar, and were with Arroza. Enough to the point where those teams will consider Newmanistan a decent threat to them, but at the same time make us a team they feel they should beat. That is the difference. If Newmanistan wants to get to the next level, they had to be better converting 3rd downs.

This was still an issue for the second half. After receiving on the opening kickoff of the half, Newmanistan was able to move the ball downfield. John Pivonka was efficient, completing his first 6 passes of the drive until it stalled at the Swilatia 12. They got to a 4th & inches situation, and with the crowd chanting “Go! Go!”, coach Nicholson did the smart and wise thing, though not the preferred thing. He brought out Colfer again since another three points would mean Swilatia would need two scores to take the lead, something not apparently processing in the heads of the fans booing when Colfer ran out on the field. He drilled the 30-yarder, and put Newmanistan up 9-0. After the teams exchanged punts back and forth on two separate occasions, Newmanistan would finally find the end zone early in the 4th quarter. On this drive, they did what they needed to do all game, and convert 3rd downs. On three occasions, they executed a 3rd and more the 8 on the 11 play, 81 yard drive that took 4:53 off the clock. The scoring play would be a 7 yard run by Corey Parisi to make it 16-0. The Rockets appeared to score later in the quarter as well when John Pivonka completed an apparent 75 yard TD pass to Alex Foster that was called back because of offensive pass interference. In the eyes of the referee, it was a push off. Foster didn’t agree, slamming his helmet to the ground and getting an additional 15 yard penalty called on him. It didn’t matter as the Rockets would hold on to the 16-0 lead and win by that score.

Newmanistan, with the victory, improves to 5-2 and appears to be in good shape to pick up one of those first round playoff spots barring a collapse of Mets-ian proportions. Next up for the team is a matchup against undefeated Dancougar, who are just rolling all over everyone at this point. That said, the Rockets have always played them tough.

buuuu Lovisa lost all 7 matches, its so poor

ER Win' Falcons Undefeated VS Secristan After Win

Yes the Falcons have just won there fourth out of four straight matchesa over the Secristan Mil;lionares. It was never even up for grabs. The Falcons knew they would win, the Millionares knew they would lose. By the time the Falcons kicker sealed the deal with his 54 yarder in the beginning of the fourth the stands were empty. Nobody likes a 3-0 game.

BORING.

Secristan 0-3 Taeshan
Milchama 3-6 Rennidan
Myedvedeva 3-6 The Valerian Empire


Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to look at the numbers above. Obviously, what you see are a few threes, a couple sixes and a zero.

What do I see?

Proof that Group C is, as my title yells from the rooftops, boring.

No doubt, people will argue that these close run games are what make the sport interesting, but I absolutely disagree. When I go watch a game, I do not want to see a game one or lost by a kick. I want to see breath taking plays, aerial battles, running attacks which leave you with the need to urinate your undergarments. I want to see a runner get knocked senseless. I want to see a wide receiver get decimated by a mid-air gang tackle.

The group Rennidan has been drawn into is suffocating. It is boring, it is dull, and it needs a bout of life. We have cheerleaders playing, sure, and as much as I love watching that, this isn't what I want from the game of my life. I'm not complaining that the Brutes have finally broken their ugly losing streak, but I am, however, complaining about how well they played. They've grown complacent. They've gotten into a routine. Powis busts down the offensive line. Yeilds breaks through the defensive line. It's all the goddamned same. Too much defence, not enough offence.

And I'm getting sick of it.

So c'mon Brutes, pull your finger out. Get your offence running like it did back in World Bowl II. If you guys get around to playing Dancougar again, I'd be ashamed to watch, because you lot just aren't up to your old standards.

Get your heads back in the game, lads.

_________

"Yo', uh, Larry, man, you seen this?"

The owner of the Brutes is a funny ol' lad. Rumour has it, he and McDavies used to be tight. I'm talking proper blood brothers style tight. They're still acquaintances and stuff, but something happened to them. Larry himself is a charmer, the kind of man that can woo a lady by using his weak side as the bait. He seems pathetic, the kind of guy most girls would want to take home and cuddle with, and he knows how to use this to his advantage. But get him with the lads, and he becomes the alpha male. Cigar smoke, empty shot glasses, slick hair. He's a shout back to the late fifties gangsters of Rennidan's Gold City. So, imagine his reaction when a newspaper is slammed down upon his desk, the headline screaming of blandness and the story itself a complaint against how his team is playing.

It's hurtful.

You'd expect him to yell, or to cry. To scream or cower. He's like a compass above an iron deposit, a bisexual in a car park after hours. He's liable to swing either way at the story.

Luckily, he chooses the side of reason. No reporter will be getting their knees busted tonight.

However, it looks like the Brutes are about to get a rollicking.

OOC: (Uh, well, this is a formal request for the Brute's play modifier to be changed to a rather less nasty -2. I can't help but feel a bit dismayed at the ridiculously low-number games, and I feel like the lack of high scores is limiting the RP ability/fun of it all. I won't mind if you reject the request, Arroza, but I just wanted to ask in case it's possible to change it at this late stage, because -5 doesn't seem to be as fun to RP as it was in the last World Bowl).

Dancougar News!!
No, Donovan, the "Annexation of Puerto Rico" doesn't work in real life.
Frickin' Cowboys.

World Bowl roundup: With the playoffs fast approaching, we see the tops of the tables occupied by the usual suspects. The Black Wings, 7-0 going into tonight's slugfest with the Rockets, are definitely going to be in. The question is whether or not they can secure a top four record, which carries with it a coveted first-round bye. It's not like the Rockets really need any additional motivation for a game in Dancougar, but at 5-2, they can consider themselves still in the running for one of those spots. A win tonight and some help from the Wings against Arroza could make it happen, although we're also closely keeping an eye on resurgant Taeshan as well as the heavyweights in group two.


Myedvedeya will try for win number five against Magnus Valerius, a battle of first-timers that may also repeat itself in the upcoming World Basketball Championships depending on how things go. They're doing it without their starting kicker, who is recovering from a gunshot wound after a mistake that cost them in the first meeting. Apparently the fan was so agitated that a bear mauling would've been too good for him.
Cotenshire have played some solid football, but of deep concern are their roving bands of fans armed for a Renaissance fair and disposed to a footballing crusade. Suddenly, the mean streets of the Rennidan Industrial Sector seem like a pleasant stroll.
They may not be blanking people 65-0, but has anyone BOOM else noticed that IT~SA~FAHM~BULL Qazox is playing some dominant WHOOOOP football these days? They've got BOOM the tournament's best defense, AND THEY COULD. GO. ALL. THE. WAY.
It's a good day when your team sucks but is still better than Cleveland.
Whoa, Lovisa! We almost forgot about Poland.
Rennidan were without Clive last night... you know, the guy who kicks the ball? He was apparently out of commission during their 6-3 win over Milchama, which has them second in a very muddled group three. Clive played a game for the ages against Secristan, which fielded a team of cheerleaders. Clive was at first overwhelmed by the situation, one versus eleven, but he was able to settle down and formulate his own version of Fun 'n' Gun. Completely ignoring the lack of teammates, Clive executed a spread offense with his two minute drill. Although one thinks he might've gotten close enough to attempt more field goals he'd accepted all those "immoral use of the hands" calls.
Speaking of Secristan, their new team of cheerleaders has been allowed to continue playing despite not bidding for their slots as is customary. This is the second breach from protocol, the first being their disastrous defense of the IBC. Or maybe they didn't bid with money?

Christ. Notes from the Abyss.

1. Group 3: You brought it on yourself. Let's look at the modifiers... 0, -5, -5, -4, -4, 3.

2. I see now that maybe I overvalued the rankings a bit much. This will be slightly rectified in the playoffs.

3. There will be an IC note for this, but basically, if you think you're bringing live bears, guns, medieval armor and weaponry, or other implements of destruction into Arroza, you're mistaken. With everyone in one city, you'll have enough chances for destruction without making it look like the fourth crusade.

4. I should start RPing again after Matchday 8, for the hell of it, but I still will NOT receive any RP bonus.

5. Playoffs structure for the confused.

5a. The group winners AND the best second place team will get a bye.

5b. Teams 5-12 will be selected from the top 4 teams of every group. Teams that qualify will then be ranked via their record and then their point differential. H2H will be used only to determine group winners.

6. Qazox: No Van Smack (Jim Rome)?

7. If you really want to change your modifier, you can do so once per tournament, and must write a RP detailing why you want your modifier changed. Rennidan change accepted, you cannot change your style anymore this tournament.

Hey, we didn't choose to be in this group, man! :P
And thanks for accepting the change. The -5 was seriously killing me. I swear to Lord Almight it wasn't as bad last year. I guess -5 works a feck load better with a lower rank.


_________

In Warehouse 17, there's this lovely small section off to the side, behind a pair of bolted doors marked 'Freezer' but spray painted 'Fucking Cold'. Warehouse 17 used to be a meatpacking factory, but thanks to a few thousand instances of pretty bad food poisoning, the place shut down until, low and behold, the Brutes came along and converted the place into what will surely be a national monument a few decades from now.

But for now, it's a shit hole with a fucking cold freezer which doubles as a weight room. Now, within this freezer, for reasons unbeknownst to everyone, including the lads that built the place, there is a solid concrete pillar. Presumably, it is the one thing holding the entire joint together somehow. One thing is for certain however; wrap the pillar in some day old meat products, and you've got a tackling post which feels somewhat like a Dancougar Blackwing halfback. Now, most tackling posts, y'know, actually move, but this one's pretty solid. It's why Larry has asked the lads to take on a new training regime. From now on, they won't be concentrating on their smashmouth style as much. Instead, they'll be trying to move the ball as well. So, first up to give the pillar a whirl is the lightning halfback, Jason Yeilds. He needs to learn how to take a hit and still be standing, so, what better way to do it than tackle a concrete pillar, right?

Well, actually, I can think of hundreds of different ways...

The Brutes have gotten a bit soft, to tell the truth. But that's all gonna' change now. Larry's ears have been perked and he'll be paying close attention on the lads. If any of them begin to even think about thinking about being complacent, they'll be gone faster than a Black Wing punk facing down McDavies.

'Mon the Brutes. Let's try and get back in buisness, eh?

Christ. Notes from the Abyss.

1. Group 3: You brought it on yourself. Let's look at the modifiers... 0, -5, -5, -4, -4, 3.

2. I see now that maybe I overvalued the rankings a bit much. This will be slightly rectified in the playoffs.

3. There will be an IC note for this, but basically, if you think you're bringing live bears, guns, medieval armor and weaponry, or other implements of destruction into Arroza, you're mistaken. With everyone in one city, you'll have enough chances for destruction without making it look like the fourth crusade.

4. I should start RPing again after Matchday 8, for the hell of it, but I still will NOT receive any RP bonus.

5. Playoffs structure for the confused.

5a. The group winners AND the best second place team will get a bye.

5b. Teams 5-12 will be selected from the top 4 teams of every group. Teams that qualify will then be ranked via their record and then their point differential. H2H will be used only to determine group winners.

6. Qazox: No Van Smack (Jim Rome)?

7. If you really want to change your modifier, you can do so once per tournament, and must write a RP detailing why you want your modifier changed. Rennidan change accepted, you cannot change your style anymore this tournament.

(OOC: answers to these questions/statements:

1. Yes they did.
2. No changing of the scorinator or tweaking of the scorinator during a tourney, as that leads to charges of a FIXED TOURNEY!!!
3. What about small-pox encrusted blankets?
4. And?
5a&b. Not confusing me.
6. I HATE JIM ROME.
7. Personally, if you picked it, you should stick with it.

There may have been “concern” abroad over the activities pursued by the people of Taale-Voren, but residents of the city saw the previous night’s bloodbath as a heroic stand. Maimed corpses littered the streets throughout the city. Some were thrown down wells, others impaled on pikes, and others burned in mass piles. The unfortunate victims may have been Qazoxians, or they may have been someone visiting the city from thirty miles away who spoke a different language. The average Taale-Vorener had no way of discerning between the two.

There were some, however, who were aesthetically offended by the gruesome sight in their city. One such man was Lord Antoon van Stijck, Taale-Voren’s serving Burgrave.

“Gentlemen,” said he in a meeting with the councilmen of the city, “when I did awake this morning, I saw out my window four disgusting figures who were dangling from their nooses in the most vulgar manner.”

“How rude of them!” exclaimed one of the councilmen.

“My wife swooned at the sight, and I sent for the governess to lock the children in the kitchen.”

“This mob behavior has gone too far, m’lord.”

“Yes, I must agree. I am as offended by their intrusion as the rest of us, but we must find some way to control our people’s anger. Normally those sporting events that the commoners enjoy, such as football or hockey, are held outside the town. We ought not be exposed to the rabble’s violent and uncivilized impulses.”

“Then what do you propose we do, m’lord?”

“The St. Alfons Hippodrome is located in the center of the city. It is the only such field in the city that can accommodate these events, and since I do appreciate the prestige brought to us by the World Bowl, I do not want the home field to be relocated.”

“Then they will always be coming here to the city, m’lord.”

“But if the crowds cannot reach the foreigners, then they cannot make a bloody mess of them in our streets. So I propose that we jail any foreigner that enters the city.”

“That is a brilliant proposition, m’lord. Absolutely brilliant! Lock them up, and throw away the key.”

“No, I do not want to have to support them indefinitely.”

“Well how about thirty years, m’lord? Those troglodytes at least deserve thirty years.”

“Twenty years. They shall be imprisoned for twenty years, and then deported.”

“I concur, m’lord. You have an astounding logical capacity. The only opponents we have left that are designated as ‘home games’ are Lovisa and Kura-Pelland.”

“Good. We should have enough room in our jails. If not, I can coerce some surrounding city into giving us use of theirs. Give me my pen, so I shall notify the Silverhelms of our decision.”

Lord Antoon van Stijck thus wrote the following proclamation:


Anyone from the despotisms of Lovisa or Kura-Pelland that are found within the city shall be seized and jailed. They shall remain in their cells for a period of twenty years, after which they will be deported back to their borders.

(OOC: answers to these questions/statements:

1. Yes they did.
2. No changing of the scorinator or tweaking of the scorinator during a tourney, as that leads to charges of a FIXED TOURNEY!!!
3. What about small-pox encrusted blankets?
4. And?
5a&b. Not confusing me.
6. I HATE JIM ROME.
7. Personally, if you picked it, you should stick with it.

2. At this point, I just want to be done with it.
3. If they can get through customs.
4. Good point, to hell with it, I'll spend that extra time playing City of Heroes.
6. Err!
7. See point #2. Also if you come in the thread every day and pay attention you should be treated better than those who don't RP.

Group 1
Dancougar 15, Newmanistan 10
Kenavt 3, The Candrian Empire 23
Swilatia 3. Arroza 36

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Dancougar 8-0 247 43 204
Arroza 7-1 186 83 103
Newmanistan 5-3 190 105 85
The Candrian Empire 3-5 127 214 -87
Swilatia 1-7 71 172 -101
Kenavt 0-8 57 254 -197


Group 2
Cotenshire 30, Lovisa 10
Kura-Pelland 14, Qazox 20
Miroxia 7, Bluth Corporation 30

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Qazox 7-1 164 45 119
Kura-Pelland 6-2 155 99 56
Cotenshire 5-3 119 95 24
Bluth Corporation 4-4 126 99 27
Miroxia 2-6 77 189 -112
Lovisa 0-8 51 162 -111


Group 3
Myedvedeva 10, Secristan 13 (OT)
Rennidan 25, The Valerian Empire 0
Taeshan 22, Milchama 3

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Taeshan 6-2 90 40 50
Rennidan 5-3 93 47 56
Myedvedeva 4-4 55 53 2
Secristan 3-5 42 45 -3
Milchama 3-5 81 110 -29
The Valerian Empire 3-5 54 130 -76


As usual, green means you're in the play-offs, red means you're eliminated.

QOX World Bowl Coverage

I'm Craig Burrman and Kura-Pelland came to town to take on the Pheonix at the not-so-frozen-tundra of Fromburg Field, but intead of a frozen filed, they played in a quagmire as 4" of rain fell in the game. Opening kickoff, the sun is shining, and K-P returner has at the 20, the 30, the 40, he could-go-all-the-WHAT! He fumbled at the 2!, as he started celebrating a bit early and then he kicked the ball into the endzone for a touchback. The ensuing possession, Greg Dannen 'Yogurt' to Tony Aster-'oid' for 56 yards, setting up a FG. K-P's ball and the RB rumbling stumbling bumbling 45 yards to the Qazox 24, and that set up a FG 3-3. Just after the tying FG, the heavens opened and the rain came a-tumbling down. Jason DeHavel for 10, then Greg Ferrigamo for 10, the Phoenix just ground it out, taking 8 minutes on a 73 yard drive, capped by a Frank Vallens 2 yd plunge 10-3 Qazox. K-P answered back just before halftime with a 40 yd FG 10-6 at the half. But with the rain, Qazox's ground control just dominated the second half, as they had the ball for 21 minutes to 9, and at 8:13 another 2-yd TD plunge by Frank Vallens made it 17-6. But K-P answered back with a 7 minute drive of their own, capped with a QB scramble for 5 yds and a 2-pt conversion to cut it down to 17-14. But with the rain coming down and a K-P fumble on a punt, Qazox just ran down the clock and kicked a FG with 4 seconds left to seal the deal and Qazox clinches a playoff berth.

Pretty Sportsfan Catherine
Blogging football in the context of anime.

A 15-10 win over the Rockets in a game filled with hard-nosed running, big defensive plays, and the knowledge that a single touchdown for either team would change the game completely. "Wait," you say, "you mean the Wings needed field goals to win this?" You bet, son, five for five by Stottlemyer in a kicker's dream day. "Well, that's because they were playing second string guys, right, because..." No, banish the thought. Right now. You think we're that good that we can disrespect the Rockets? No. That was the first team getting choked up in the red zone. The Rockets kept the game close and showed that they're much better than their three losses indicate. They've had tough breaks against Dancougar and Arroza, but remember what I said... a single touchdown changes everything...

It wasn't coming from the Wings, at least not today! When you look at the scoring drives in terms of yardage, they look pretty good: 57, 63, 49, 43, 52. They were all at least eight plays. Add that to their other drives, and the Wings have the clear edge in time of possession. There's 83 yards rushing for Kirk Hatchitt, and Appelgate was punching quick passes through the Newmanistan secondary. He avoided throwing any interceptions today, although he and Hatchitt did each cough it up. Looks good, but then again, look more closely at the numbers. Either Newmanistan was giving us great field position or we were getting stuck short or goal. A lot. If you guessed the latter, you win a cookie!

The Rockets had some good drives, too, but were also not immune to the turnover bug. Pivonka threw a pick to go with his touchdown, and Corey Parisi put one on the turf when Kirk Manly blasted him midway through the second quarter. At that point, it was only 3-0, and the teams still looked like they were feeling each other out. I know, right, why would they need to bother with all that? They've seen each other three times in the last two World Bowls, after all, and every game has been close. The Wings like to run and the Rockets like to pass. And yet neither offense could find much rhythm, and it was 6-3 at halftime. We saw lineman getting penetration, cornerbacks breaking late and batting balls, and sparks of offensive brilliance - watch Pivonka thread the needle to the tight end Seymour. Down the middle. Between two Black Wings!

It reminds me of the conversation between Erika and Kent during the second Furinkan game a few weeks ago. They had been feeling each other out throughout the entire first quarter, and Erika was expressing frustration that they couldn't just go out and exploit the weaknesses they knew the Furinkan defense to possess. Kent just laughed at her: "It's precisely because we know each other that we have to reintroduce ourselves! Think about it... we know what their strengths and weaknesses are, but they know ours. And we both know the other team has tried to address them. You've noticed that Saji's moves are different, haven't you? He's testing you. He wants to see if you learned anything since the last game."

So the Wings had to go to work. How was Hatchitt going to get more room to run this time? Send Bozwell out out in front more, or line up with two tight ends? Plenty of things to try. And if you lure more Rockets into the box, you get man coverage on the rest of the field, opening up Appelgate to throw it a bit. Ah, but this goes both ways. The Rockets learned where the Black Wings have all their speed. And the tight end, Seymour, got more work. Pivonka knew exactly what matchup he wanted - a tight end on a linebacker, any one of them would do. It turned into a third quarter touchdown when Butch Easley was outpaced. Seymour put a quick move on the safety, Morgenstein, for a 22-yard score. That made it 10-6, and the Wings responded with - wait for it - a field goal from Stottlemyer, so make it 10-9.

The Wings adjusted by jamming Seymour at the line of scrimmage, and that took them back to where they were in the first game. Pivonka tried to hit Foster, but Paul Dady got the interception and ran it back to near midfield. The Wings started to drive for the go-ahead score. Hatchitt picked up some blocks, Appelgate mixed in some short passes, and the Wings got their third downs. Everything right up until the five yard line, and then the Rockets got nasty. Hatchitt stuffed on first. Divalerio jump ball on second... knocked away. On third down, the Wings pass again? The offense was broken, and the Rockets took advantage. Ty Booker introduced Appelgate to the turf, and Stottlemyer chipped it in to make it 12-10.

Enter the fourth quarter, and make it 15-10. Another painfully long drive ended just inside the twenty, and although it left Newmanistan with little time to get that winning touchdown, you could sense Appelgate's frustration as he came off the field. Well, good defenses will do that to you. This team has gotten so used to blowing people away that they were taking ball movement for granted. The defense, though, took pride in their work. With the game on the line, Pivonka began the two-minute drill. Pass to Foster, sideline, caught. Foster again. Incomplete to Seymour, and then a sack to bring up third down. The Rockets burned a timeout and threw to Lyons... broken up by Anthony Corona! On 4th and 17, Pivonka came out with five wide receivers. The Wings rushed four and dropped seven into coverage. He had time, he had space, and he had Gagnon... for a moment! Dady got his mitts in the way and that was that.

The Black Wings are now 8-0 and can clinch the group title and a first round bye with a win at Arroza next Sunday. I doubt that we'll see a repeat of the beating they put on the Hornets last time. Playing in front of their fans, and hoping to give them a preview of what to expect in the final tournament, I expect the Hornets to come out with more fire than last time.

It’s time for another edition of the Pocono City Sports Report. Here now is your host, Meghan Traynor. Kevin Collins is on assignment in Candelaria And Marquez, so she is joined by Jenn Murphy this morning!

Traynor: Murph!!!

Murphy: Meghan!! (Hug follows)

Traynor: Kevin Collins should just stay in Candelaria And Marquez, it’s better with you!

Murphy: Yeah I know. Who needs him.

Traynor: Well we will for our Cup of Harmony segment later, as he’ll have a report for us. Plenty to talk about, including the 2nd World Lacrosse Championships. Sign ups for that have recently begun, haven’t they?

Murphy: Yes they have, and a great plug! We love lacrosse. There’s also the World Cup of Hockey that announced its group draw, but first, how about World Bowl III?

Traynor: No better place for it, where once again the Rockets played Dancougar. Once again they played them tough. Once again, they lost.

Murphy: 15-10 the final. Five field goals for the Dannys.

Traynor: We can sit here and talk about how close they were, how good it was to contain them to fifteen points, and about our late drive there that ended thanks to big defensive stops by Anthony Corona and Paul Dady, but what’s the use? We lost to them, again.

Murphy: I agree that right about no one really wants to hear, “Hey we almost beat Dancougar!” We’ve had four of those since the second World Bowl.

Traynor: This is what continues to keep Newmanistan from going to the next level of the World Bowl competition. They can win the games they are supposed to, make the knockouts and perhaps win a round. But in the end, there are these other squads that just do it a little better.

Murphy: How would you improve things to take that next step?

Traynor: I really don’t know. More of a question for Kevin Collins. (Laughs)

Murphy: Oh, give it a stab!

Traynor: It’s just the simple things really. Execution for the duration of the game. That’s where great teams usually separate themselves from good teams, in doing the little things. Timely stops on third down, things like that.

Murphy: The Rockets made the stops on third down several times, but after the Black Wings had driven down the field into field goal range.

Traynor: On five separate occasions. I’m glad we kept them from getting into the end zone or this could have been real ugly. But they need to come up with the stops sooner.

Murphy: Dancougar is now 8-0. What do you think, 18 wins and one GIANT loss?

Traynor: Well it wouldn’t be 18 wins, but I get the point! They’ve wrapped up the undefeated group because I think they will take care of Arroza.

Murphy: I wouldn’t count Arroza out entirely, but I do think that Dancougar is the better team right now.

Traynor: There is absolutely no one playing at their level right now. Not Arroza. Not Qazox. No one!

Murphy: Well that’s all the time for this segment. Next up, some Cup of Harmony talk.

I have to admit, it's a nice feeling to see your words acknowledged. A few editions back, I may have whined slightly about the low score, boring games that Group C had been plagued with. Usually, complaining doesn't work, but it seems my words not only got through to the Brutes, but the entirety of Group C itself.

Myedvedeva 10-13 Secristan (OT)
Rennidan 25-0 The Valerian Empire
Taeshan 22-3 Milchama

The above scores are a far cry from last weeks boring 'n' bland 0-3s or 6-3s which left me feeling more than a little sleepy. As much as I like close games, I prefer them when they're like this weeks Myedvedeva v Secristan game, where you actually get to see a touchdown or two.

This week, however, Rennidan met the Valerian Empire again, this time in the overcrowded Warehouse 17. The moveable rafters were packed as Brute Force members crammed their bodies into the building to see how the supposidly 'new' Brutes style would work.

The answer?

Rather well.

Whereas before the Brutes were nothing but a defence, now it seems they've actually spent time and effort and possible a few dimes on improving their offence. Yeilds, for instance, seems to have gotten faster and harder to hit. McGraw's arm is now not unlike a cannon with a sniper attachment, and Supes is making catches left, right and centre, all the time with a brewsky at hand.

The dominating 25-0 win over the Valerian Empire will hopefully kickstart our fine Brutes into a better final stretch as the playoffs loom on the horizon. With Taeshan and Myedvedeva left on the board, two wins here would truly leave the Brutes on a roll, and, right now, they need all the momentum they can get.

Knights Beatdown Milchama

It was an old fashioned beatdown last night at Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park, as the Purple Knights defeated Milchama. The only Milchama score came in the fifth minute, and the Knights took the lead they would never cease to have five minutes later with a Alais Patrick touchdown reception of 40 yrds. Coach Wissenhaunt thinking it would be a close game went for two, and made it with a Gabe Martin run. The Knights would add another touchdown late in the second on a Rudi Williams touchdown scamper. The final score was late during the third quater when Martin thre deep to Ocho Cinco for the touchdown.

To the Most Magnanimous Mr Kerkrade,

I am always enthralled to hear of your great victories and excellence on the field of play. It is a testament to your leadership that your team is able to impose its will so forcibly upon those foreigners. I must also thank you for your generous monetary gifts. They have been delivered to me with not a pence missing.

I did not hire a poacher, as you had asked, since hiring a poacher to kill a lion is illegal by the King’s law in our village’s afforested land. Instead, I hired one of the King’s sheriffs to do the deed, and thus he did. He brought the beast (which he had shot dead with a shotgun) to our square last night. We discovered that it weighed over eight hundred pounds. Thankfully, it shall not steal the children of our village anymore. Its head is now mounted above the door to our church, with its tail and genitals protruding from its mouth.

The mobs have been as vicious as ever. I attempted to stop them from molesting our town by closing the bridge, but this proved to be a grievous mistake. Instead of passing through on our streets, they waded through the river on foot and then proceeded to trample over our fields and burn our orchards. When I refused them food, they slaughtered several of our cattle and sheep to eat. Fortunately, they did not ask for beer. Even when you bring us victory, their blood boils over the trespasses of the foreigners.

As a final note, I must warn you of the impending blizzard to strike this land. As I write this, its frenzied clouds churn out hot columns of lightning and mountains of suffocating snow. It has already destroyed several villages to the east with its winds and snows, and I fear the tempest shall soon besiege Taale-Voren. You shall prepare your men for it, and hope that your opponents have not foreseen it as I have.

Signed,
Mr Ruprecht van Oorthov, Burgomaster of Gulwer

(OOC: As Mr van Oorthov suggests, there will indeed be a strong blizzard that will strike Taale-Voren during the Cotenshire v. Kura-Pelland game. It would be a good idea to work it into an RP (and possibly scorinating as well?))

Group 1
The Candrian Empire 17, Newmanistan 28
Kenavt 20, Swilatia 29
Arroza 13, Dancougar 10

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Dancougar 8-1 257 56 201
Arroza 8-1 199 93 106
Newmanistan 6-3 218 122 96
The Candrian Empire 3-6 144 242 -98
Swilatia 2-7 100 192 -92
Kenavt 0-9 77 283 -206


Group 2
Qazox 68, Lovisa 0
Kura-Pelland 30, Miroxia 0
Bluth Corporation 3, Cotenshire 13

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Qazox 8-1 232 45 187
Kura-Pelland 7-2 185 99 86
Cotenshire 6-3 123 98 34
Bluth Corporation 4-5 129 112 17
Miroxia 2-7 77 219 -142
Lovisa 0-9 51 230 -179


Group 3
The Valerian Empire 6, Secristan 17
Rennidan 17, Taeshan 15
Milchama 10, Myedvedeva 7

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Rennidan 6-3 110 62 48
Taeshan 6-3 105 57 48
Secristan 4-5 59 51 8
Myedvedeva 4-5 62 63 -1
Milchama 4-5 91 117 -26
The Valerian Empire 3-6 60 147 -87


Notes:
Group 1:
Dancougar wins group with a win vs. Kenavt.
Arroza wins group with a win vs. Newmanistan + Dancougar losing to Kenavt.
Newmanistan is assured 3rd place.
Candrian Empire gets 4th place/playoff spot with a win vs. Swilatia.
Swilatia wins 4th place/playoff spot with a win vs. The Candrian Empire.
Kenavt is emiminated.

Group 2:
Qazox is all but assured first place, having split the series with Kura-Pelland and having an +101 pt. differential.
Cotenshire has to beat Kura Pelland by 27 points or more to move into second place in group 2.
Bluth Corporation has clinched 4th place in group.
Miroxia and Lovisa are eliminated.

Group 3:
Rennidan and Taeshan split H2H, AND have equal point differentials. The team that wins by more in MD10 wins the group, and gets a bye.
Myedvedeva/Secristan/Milchama: Clinch playoff spot with win.
Loser of Secristan/Milchama game: Qualify as 4th place IF Myedvedeva loses AND Myedvedeva's margin of loss is 25 points worse (or worse than that) than Milchama's loss. or 9 points better (or worse than that) than Secristan's loss.
Valerian Empire: Mathmatically in it, but would require Myedvedeva to lose (they beat them in H2H) AND the Secristan/Milchama game to be a blowout, AND to blow out Taeshan.

Playoff bracket, if the group stage had ended today. Official one tomorrow!
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5740/bracketspecuz5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/bracketspecuz5.jpg/1/w900.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img227/bracketspecuz5.jpg/1/)

CHEERLEADERS NOW 3-1

Talk about taking advantage of an opportunity. In their first game, they played only a kicker and were victorious by a single point. They were sloppy but they tried to learn. The process continued against Taeshan, where they for the first time played against an actual team and held them to a lone field goal. Unfortunately, the girls could not score anything themselves. Then the breakthrough came against Myedvedeya, with a 13-10 win in overtime. Down 10-3 late, the girls did something they saw the men do many times that they would cheer for, work a two minute drill. QB Meghan said, “We like remembered that like many times late in these game that we would like have to cheer a lot because our team would try to make a like crazily awesome comeback! So we just wanted to do the best we could and we did it! Yay!!” Then in overtime, Emily, who has proven the strongest leg on the team, kicked a 28 yard field goal, a career long for the win.

Then, today against the Valerian Empire the cheerleaders did not need any late heroics. This time they like totally smashed their opponents, making big defensive stops. The Valerians really seemed humilated with the way that things were going. Courtney had her first career 100 yard rushing game, and Meghan was 12-for-23 for 255 yards on the day, her highest completion percentage so far. Secristan was credited with only four dropped passes, a low for them. They are getting better with every game and want to yell out and let everyone know how hard they are trying.

As far as the Secristan Department of Sports is concerned, this is all catching them by surprise. This was just supposed to be a ratings gimmick for a few games to increase pay-per-view revenue, but now the unthinkable is happening. The cheerleaders are getting better results then the players were on the field, and some of the men are starting to get frustrated by the fact that they are no longer being allowed to play. SDOS Rep Cassie Doran addressed this, “They have been reimbursed. If they are still upset they could always attempt legal action even though a governmental agency has never lost a lawsuit in Secristan when it could prove it was in the best interest of the agency’s finances, which we can easily prove by the pay-per-view purchases, which have skyrocketed. They are also playing well, and will finish out the rest of World Bowl III games. They are the Anti-Brutes, and we believe in them!”

Pretty Sportsfan Catherine
Blogging football in the context of anime.

And now, my friends, it gets interesting.

The Tar Hornets kept alive the tradition that no team has made it through World Bowl qualification unbeaten, and they did it in full view of their home fans. Embarrassed in the previous meeting 37-7, the Hornets kept the Black Wing offense in check for the 13-0 victory. A few games ago, I mentioned that the Wings were on hot form but might be peaking at the wrong time. After this game, it's looking like I was right. After rolling over Arroza, they outscored their next three opponents 108-0. It was an incredible display, now they've only scored one touchdown in two games. And look at Qazox, who lit up hapless Lovisa 68-0 to beat our recent record win over Kenavt. Talk about a statement of intentions!

Turnovers really hurt the Wings. Two Todd Appelgate interceptions killed off drives on the Arrozan side of the field, and Vincent Bozwell added a fumble. The defense got some of it back - another interception for Anthony Corona was paired with a big fourth down stop that gave the Wings a shot at the win. But all of a sudden, the offensive juggernaut has ground to a halt. Against toughening defenses which are starting to adapt to the subtle change in Will Moohim's philosophy, the Wings are having a harder time picking up conversions and scoring points.

And it's hard to neglect the psychological factors. With the Wings picking up wins almost at will, teams in the group starting circling their name on the calendar and training harder. Newmanistan lost the game, but made a statement - by holding the Wings to only five field goals, the aura of invincibility was shattered. Now Arroza has gotten the win, which has other teams licking their chops. Kenavt will round out the Wings' schedule, and even though they've yet to win a game, something tells me they're not losing by 65 this time. Heck, this is Kenavt's Final. I'm not sure if Moohim will play the starters or rest them. I don't think it makes sense to rest them when they're starting to show some rust and wear, but do you want to risk them when Kenavt is going to be bringing the house with nothing to lose?

The teams exchanged field goals in the first quarter, and the Arrozans made it 6-3 right before halftime. Energized by the home crowd, their unique 4-4 defense was more effective this time. Miles and Reed were getting penetration, and Appelgate was quickly forced to throw quickly off a three-step drop. It was working for awhile, but a miscommunication just inside the red zone resulted in the first interception, by the speedy Orkeys Aurienne. He blasted downfield and threatened to reach the house, but Jermaine Divalerio dragged him down from behind after a 64-yard return. It led to the go-ahead field goal. The resurgent Arrozan rush also spelled trouble for Kirk Hatchitt, who was held to 26 yards on 11 carries in the first half. Trey Douglas made two tackles in the backfield, with one of them coming on a 3rd and 2, which sent the crowd into a frenzy.

The Wings started the third quarter with a bang, and for a moment, we thought the team we were used to was back... well, maybe it's more accurate to say "the team we took for granted." The defense swarmed over the Arrozan line, and a big rush by Kirk Manly forced Erik Smythe to throw before he was set. The ball sailed over his receivers and into the hands of safety Dan Morgenstein, who was just playing center field. He got the ball to the Arroza 42 and turned things over to Appelgate, who directed an eight-play drive that was capped by Hatchitt diving over the line to make it 10-6. They forced a three and out and looked poised to extend the lead. But with 1st and 10 from the Arroza 18, Moohim decided not to call a run! We knew what was coming... Appelgate tried to force on, and it was snagged by Saint-Marais.

Questions will be asked of the coach for abandoning Hatchitt. Arroza did precisely what the Candrian Empire tried to do, and Appelgate showed that he was only a minor upgrade over Dusty Haynesworth. The same thing happened when Erika's Orange Star took on Valhalla, a team that, like the Black Wings, loved to run the ball. And actually, their huge running back was nicknamed "Thunder" after Thor, now that I think about it, in keeping with their Norse theme. Coincidentally, Arrozan running back Abe Chadwick has the same nickname, but was wasn't nearly as threatening to the Dancougar defense as this guy was in the manga. But when Erika got them a 14-point lead and the defense started toughening up, Valhalla started to throw the ball. Thunder sat on the bench and attempted to hide his tears, but it was then that Erika recognized, for the first time, the emotional power of football... He wants to cry, but more than anything, he wants to be on the field with his team. He knows that he has the ability, but to feel useless at a time like this... I think I see, now, the kind of determination you need to win this game! Without Thunder, Orange Star decimated Valhalla in the fourth quarter.

Arroza didn't decimate Dancougar, but they capitalized on another mistake by the offense. Near midfield, Vincent Bozwell tried to punch it through on a 2nd and 1, but he never got a handle on the ball. It fell between the legs of the center, Shackleford, and Randy Miles recovered. Nine plays later, Arroza had the 13-10 lead after Chadwick made his biggest play of the game. Smythe faked the handoff to him and dropped back. All his receivers came left. Chadwick ran right and got a favorable matchup against linebacker William Tolston, and Smythe threw it up over his shoulder. Easy pitch and catch, touchdown!

The Wings were given two more drives to try and at least tie the game. The first halted near midfield when Appelgate missed Russell Seelbinder on a sideline hook, and the resulting punt pinned Arroza deep. They slowly worked their way upfield behind Chadwick and Hailey's running, which started to finally come alive when it mattered. The clock ticked away, and the Arrozan fans got on their feet. Moohim started burning his timeouts. Then came 4th and 1 on the Dancougar 39 just before the two minute warning. Arroza opted to go for it. If they made it, the game would be all but over, since they could run it down under a minute. The Black Wing offense is not the kind to score quickly.

But Chadwick ran into a brick wall and was unable to pick up the distance, with Grant Martella breaking into the backfield to stop him before any second effort. Dancougar now had a full two minutes to work with. What followed was a replay of the Newmanistan game, except the Black Wing offense was moving too slowly. Hatchitt ran it twice; Appelgate tried a few passes. They got as far as the Arroza 40 before hitting 4th and 10 with a little over a minute left. Appelgate's pass for Divalerio was broken up by Aurienne, and that was that.

The Wings battle Kenavt in the final game and will need to pick up a good win heading into the knockout round. The team needs to get its offense chugging again. They should be assured of a bye even if they lose, given their commanding point differential over Kura-Pelland. Qazox has closed that gap, though, and joins Arroza in the race for the #1 seed with our "Dannys." The last day promises to be quite entertaining! We will learn a lot about which teams are on the way up and which are on the way down...

QOX World Bowl Coverage

I'm Jack Keithson and WHOOOA NELLLY! The Pheonix whupped Lovisa like a redheaded-stepchild who killed the family dog. 68-0. I'm so speechless, my colleague, Mike Als is going to take over.

Mike Als: DO YOU BELIEVE IN ASS-KICKINGS?!?! YES! (Passes out from yelling)

Mad Johnnen: I,I,I,I,I BOOM! I,I,I,I,I what an asskicking. Burrman?

Craig Burrman: No one whoops the ass of Lovisa like the Pheonix.

<the broadcast suddenly cuts off... and then comeback, with a new announcer>

"I'm Scott Stewart, and Qazox beat lovisa 68-0... BOOOYA!!!!"

CONTROLLING OUR DESTINY

It all comes down to one game. Swilatia stands between Sam Morrison and redemption. A playoff berth and some noise in the post-season and the Knights could at least end the season with a glimmer of hope - if not make some waves.

After a drubbing by Dancougar, for a moment it seemed like the season was over... but after host Arroza released preliminary playoff seedings, hope was restored - Candiria is seeded at the 12th spot, with a win against Swilatia meaning they officially squeek into the playoffs. Granted, they'd still have a tough path through the bracket, but getting in is enough, at this point.

A win against Swilatia is all that's left, but it isn't a game that should be looked passed. In the previous meeting, Andre Haralde had to drive the Candrian offense 83 yards in OT get in position to even score (a 2 yard run by Jordan Volante, his only touchdown of the season). One team joins Kenavt in the cellar of Group I, the other gets to at least make a splash in the playoffs. Hopefully... the Knights get to make waves.

THE ROCKET REPORT

SPOILER? NOT REALLY

Tundra Falls, Newmanistan- Before the world heads to Arroza for the knockout stages, it is only fitting that the Arrozan national team’s final away game will be at the Tundra Falls Proving Grounds, the site of World Bowl I & II. They are coming off a big win over Dancougar, and have the chance to win the group if they can beat us and Kenavt beats Dancougar! However the Dover City Casino has made Dancougar a 50 point favorite in that game, and the Black Wings have plenty of inspiration to want to beat them worse then they did in their 65-0 victory earlier. Because after last night, the World Bowl’s largest point total and margin of victory is a distinction owned by Qazox. Dancougar will want to get that back. So, Arroza looks to be finishing 2nd in the group while the Rockets are nice and snug in 3rd place. It makes there really be nothing for Newmanistan to potentially “spoil”.

So what’s in it for the Rockets, besides the generic desire to win a football game? Don’t worry, there’s plenty going for the sky blue and white to be up for this game. A win and the Rockets could head into the knockouts finally showing that they could beat one of the best teams in the world, something that they have continued to be unable to do. We’re sure that there are several players on the team that have friends on the basketball team that was eliminated by the Arrozans in that championship, so a little payback would be nice here. For Arroza though, this game really doesn’t matter unless you think there is a chance for kenavt to beat Dancougar. Perhaps then, the Rockets can take advantage of them looking ahead or maybe they’ll have celebrated their big win over Dancougar a little too much.

Whatever happens, it will take place at the Proving Grounds, and the spirits will then hand the ball off to Arroza when they leave for their own games on Arrozan turf for the World Bowl III knockout stages.

Fitin' Falcons lose

since qualifying for the second round last week the Falcons have pretty much given up going into the last two games as it showed in Rennidan losing to the Brutes in the famed warehouse. But who cares were already in so are they, and all we have to do is win our game by more then they did to get the coveted bye. Whatever.

I think it's worthwhile to take a moment here to take a step back, take a deep breath, and shed a thought for the caretakers of Warehouse 17. It has to be, perhaps, the worst job in Rennidan, a point which was truely proven in the Brute's latest home game against Taeshan.

Want proof? Have some numbers.

16: Number of trips the medical crew made onto the pitch in the first half alone.
4: Number of players leaving the Warehouse with concussion.
2: Times play was stopped due to excessive blood on 'pitch'
1: Number of fingers found on the floor once the match was over.

With their win over Taeshan, it means Rennidan currently hold the top of Group C and keep their fingers grasped on the coverted Bye. Now it all comes down to who scores the most in their next game. So, really, we need the Rennidan offence to push themselves into overdrive here.

'Mon the Brutes, let's show them how it's done.

jesus christ lost 68-0!!! its desperate, I have no questions now.

The blizzard drew closer, and while buildings all over the Taale-Voren were being boarded up, it did nothing to keep the violent mobs off the streets. After all, to them the invading foreigners were the greater danger. More sacks of manure were made, more guns handed out, and more Kura-Pellanders were burned in effigy. Over 400 prostitutes were slain as the mobs raided brothels, fearful that the foreigners would spread deadly venereal diseases.

Another issue of great contention was the debate over who should travel to Arroza for the knockout stage. The average labourer in Arroza earned £18 over the course of a year, but the cheapest boat trip to Arroza cost over £80. A fund had then been created, to which the community pooled money, and a raffle would have been held to determine who was to travel to Arroza.

This plan was interrupted, however, when the local bishop of the Church of Cotenshire confiscated the money. The rationale behind this move was that no tithe had come to the church from the fund. A fierce mob gathered and attempted to raid the bishop’s church and kill him, but the Silverhelms intervened and gunned down the mob with machine guns. This incident caused bloody riots across the city between Catholics and Protestants.

Meanwhile, the blizzard continues to surge southwest towards Taale-Voren. It has so far devastated hundreds of villages and killed over 20,000 peasants, and hundreds of thousands more are expected to die of starvation as a result of the damage to fields and livestock. The blizzard’s winds and the extreme volume of snow have caused structural failures throughout its path, which is the cause of most of the deaths so far. The blizzard should weaken somewhat by the time it reaches Taale-Voren, although it will still be quite strong.

Group 1
Dancougar 29, Kenavt 3
Swilatia 3, The Candrian Empire 17
Newmanistan 16, Arroza 23

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Dancougar 9-1 286 59 227
Arroza 9-1 222 109 113
Newmanistan 6-4 234 145 89
The Candrian Empire 4-6 161 245 -84
Swilatia 2-8 103 209 -106
Kenavt 0-10 80 312 -232


Group 2
Cotenshire 10, Kura-Pelland 35
Miroxia 0, Qazox 23
Lovisa 13, Bluth Corporation 27

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Qazox 9-1 255 45 210
Kura-Pelland 8-2 185 99 86
Cotenshire 6-4 142 133 9
Bluth Corporation 5-5 156 125 31
Miroxia 2-8 77 242 -165
Lovisa 0-10 64 257 -193


Group 3
Myedvedeva 3, Rennidan 24
Taeshan 19, The Valerian Empire 0
Secristan 3, Milchama 6 (OT)

Team: W-L PF PA +/-
Rennidan 7-3 134 65 69
Taeshan 7-3 124 57 67
Milchama 5-5 91 117 -26
Secristan 4-6 59 51 8
Myedvedeva 4-6 62 63 -1
The Valerian Empire 3-7 60 166 -106

Brackets are up. You all have a free day to get your teams to Arroza.
All weapons will be confiscated at cistoms, but I'm sure people can find some in some of the seedier neighborhoods.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/6879/bracketsc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/bracketsc1.jpg/1/w900.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img227/bracketsc1.jpg/1/)

Group 3: It's not on purpose, but you guys really like to play each other, don't you?

CHEERLEADERS MOVE ON!!

They lost to Milchama, but who cares about that. Also who cares that when 12 out of 16 teams advance to the next stage and that we are just barely squeaking into the 11th seed. Let's look at where the team was with professional football players. They had a record of 1-4 and were going no where. Then came the short skirts and pom poms and look at us now! We're going to Arroza! With our team of cheerleaders, we closed the tournament with a 3-2 record, and while that's not going to frighten Dancougar or Qazox, it was a neat comeback. They will meet Taeshan, again.

The girls will do a ton of offensive practice during the week to prepare. It will be the main thing they train to the point where we are told to pass on that our style modifier will now become a +4.

GIMMIE AN S! GIMMIE A E!! (ok we'll stop here, fill in the rest if you want)

QOX World Bowl Coverage
<The Set shows a well-dressed man, unlike the usual broadcasters, sitting at the desk>

Hello NSUniverse. I'm the owner of QOX, Murdoch Rupert and it has come to our attention that international viewers of this channel have not been watching World Bowl III but something else entirely.

We here at QOX would like to apologize to all of our international viewers for this error. Appearently, our satellite signal was hijacked by a rogue nation, which has currently ceased to exist, and they were broadcasting a MyTube video in which they were parodying QOX broadcasters, very horribly in fact. Those of you who were either offended by our supposed coverage, we apologize, once again, for the problem.

We have upgraded our signal security and will provide the previous 10 games all this week in primetime. We hope that this error does not sour you to QOX' other fine programs, such as: Qazox' Most Wanted, Home, The Thompsons, Angry TV, Tendons, Pruxian Pop or Queen of the Hill. Thanks and remember, there's only one QOX.

<Rupert stands up, and leaves the set assuming the cameras are turned off, but his mike is still live...>

"That ought to hold those stupid sunabitches. Damn foriegners can't take a damn joke. I though it was hilarious. Man we whupped the shet outta Miroxia 23-0. Damn faggets can't play gridiron, stick to pass the pickle, if you flamers know what I mean, and I think you do."

<Camera is turned off.>

(OOC to Miroxia, and others, The above IS an IC post, you realize, right?)
(OOC2: 3 Happy points to any who can figure out the parodies listed above)

QOX World Bowl Coverage
<The Set shows a well-dressed man, unlike the usual broadcasters, sitting at the desk>

Hello NSUniverse. I'm the owner of QOX, Murdoch Rupert and it has come to our attention that international viewers of this channel have not been watching World Bowl III but something else entirely.

We here at QOX would like to apologize to all of our international viewers for this error. Appearently, our satellite signal was hijacked by a rogue nation, which has currently ceased to exist, and they were broadcasting a MyTube video in which they were parodying QOX broadcasters, very horribly in fact. Those of you who were either offended by our supposed coverage, we apologize, once again, for the problem.

We have upgraded our signal security and will provide the previous 10 games all this week in primetime. We hope that this error does not sour you to QOX' other fine programs, such as: Qazox' Most Wanted, Home, The Thompsons, Angry TV, Tendons, Pruxian Pop or Queen of the Hill. Thanks and remember, there's only one QOX.
(OOC2: 3 Happy points to any who can figure out the parodies listed above)

America's Most Wanted; House; The Simpsons; Mad TV; Bones; American Idol; King of the Hill.

Harder Difficulty QX shows: 5 Happy points.
It's Always Cloudy in Atalanta; Extricate Myself; The Aegis; Heirs of Lawlessness; Sever/Pleat.

America's Most Wanted; House; The Simpsons; Mad TV; Bones; American Idol; King of the Hill.

Harder Difficulty QX shows: 5 Happy points.
It's Always Cloudy in Atalanta; Extricate Myself; The Aegis; Heirs of Lawlessness; Sever/Pleat.

(Ooc: You got one wrong, NO HAPPY POINTS FOR YOU! as for yours:
It's always Sunny in Philadelphia, Rescue Me, The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, Nip/Tuck. (too easy) You were very close with American Idol, though.

(OOC challenge 2 for 20 happy points: Old QOX TV shows: Bioluminescent Beetle, Seized Growth, Existing Sololy, Spoused Addtionally Offspring, Lew Parks is Unbeatable, Fete of Cinq, and Skidders)

Dancougar News!!
If ye be expectin' Catherine, ye be in search of the wrong booty, arrrrr.

Knockout bracket shivers our timbers: After closing out qualifying with a 29-3 win over Kenavt, the Black Wings find themselves with a number one seed yet again. They'll face the winner of Cotenshire v. Bluth Corporation, and a win there sets them up for a potential rivalry game against Kura-Pelland or Arroza. Trends from the previous two tournaments suggest that Dancougar will face Arroza for the third time.

Because we in Dancougar have some bizarre appreciation for bracketology, a course in probabilistic analysis that is generally only offered in March, we're going to roll through our picks for the tournament.

Round 1
COTENSHIRE def Bluth Corporation: A pretty even match of Group 2 teams, although we think Cotenshire's ravenous fan section will give them a little more energy and incentive to play hard.
KURA-PELLAND def Candrian Empire: The Empire was playing for pride and managed to squeak in as the 12 seed. They'll have to overachieve to beat the Arrows. They picked up an uncharacteristic end-of-game loss early in the tournament, but have rebounded nicely.
NEWMANISTAN def Milchama: Come on. This is a four-loss team that hangs with the one-loss teams. Pivonka is going to roll his team into the quarterfinals.
SECRISTAN def Taeshan: The upset special! Taeshan is another team that went on a run after a slow start, but Secristan's cheerleaders have been the story of the tournament. The news that they're planning some offensive fireworks is welcome, since there's nothing better than aggressive blondes in tiny skirts.

Quarterfinals
DANCOUGAR def Cotenshire: This game is probably going to be closer than most people think, and things could get ugly if Joe Moore makes an appearance. The Wings will need to re-establish the run in this one.
ARROZA def Kura-Pelland: Arroza looks to be peaking at the right time. They're coming off big wins against chief group rivals Dancougar and Newmanistan and will have home field advantage. The Arrows, meanwhile, have struggled against elite opposition in Qazox.
NEWMANISTAN def Qazox: The upset special! The Phoenix have looked absolutely dominant as of late, eclipsing the Black Wings in the category of "teams to fear." Newmanistan want to get that big win monkey off their backs and should be able to draw upon lessons learned from their tough group phase losses.
RENNIDAN def Secristan: Clive has been there, done them... err, that. Done that.

Semifinals
ARROZA def Dancougar: There is a boatload of glorious intangibles to consider, but the main one is this: Arroza lost to Dancougar in the World Bowl I final and World Bowl II third-place game and will want to exact the kind of revenge that a group-stage game just won't cover. Dancougar appears to have peaked far too early in the competition and is a far cry from the team that rolled 37-7 over the Hornets in the Jay Kay.
RENNIDAN def Newmanistan: The Brutes play a style very similar to the Black Wings, but one must bear in mind that the team is absolutely insane. The Rockets can knock down Kirk Hatchitt or Todd Appelgate and they might stay down. No such luck with Jason Yeilds or Pat McGraw. Rennidan is another team which was caught fire as of late, with their offense starting to click at just the right time.

Third Place
NEWMANISTAN def Dancougar: The winning streak is going to eventually end, but not because of the law of averages or some other nonsense. The Rockets are a quality team that is sick of losing to our guys.

Championship
ARROZA def Rennidan: This was a matchup we wanted to see in the IBC, but street ball will give way to the gridiron. Arroza has an edge on offense, while Rennidan has the advantage on defense. What happens when an immovable object meets an unstoppable force? A damn awesome football game, that's what.

Fans set sail for Arroza; likely to be tossed in brig: Authorities in Arroza are bracing for a possible matchup between Dancougar and Cotenshire, which are both known for having boisterous contingents of fans. The Black Wing Brigade, which was only just spotted during the World Cup, has announced plans to travel to Arroza with smallpox-infested blankets or something.

"Of course, that'll never get through customs," said Moore. "In fact, we wouldn't as long as that Ilita is standing guard. So we figure we'll try something like... I don't know... chloroform blankets? That'll knock him out and we can get aboard the plane."

Ilita was not convinced that the Brigade should be let on a plane, even with something harmless as a blanket. "They could totally strangle someone with one of those," said Ilita. Moore was shocked that Ilita thought so badly of his gentlemanly club or athletic supporters, although he acknowledged that was a good idea in case things got nasty.

Airline officials finally reached a compromise where they would let the Brigade fly to Arroza and then take the plane's blankets with them, pointing out to Ilita that doing so would be a quick, easy way to get the Brigade out of the country and into a position where their return visas could be denied.

I hoisted your mom's sails. Last night.: Oh, by the way, it's Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Television coverage walks the plank: Murdoch Rupert attempted to belay fears that QOX coverage of the World Bowl had been tainted by random people jacking the feed and inserting their own parodies of various sportscasting personalities. Although there are some skeptics who believe that's what sportscasters actually sound like, there were statements of support from various studios around Dancougar who cite the breach as a serious problem.

"I would be disturbed by the knowledge that somebody out there does a better me," said Dee Torso of DSPN's College Gameday, neither of which are a parody or homage of any kind. "Me and [Dirk] Spiceroad banter all the time, but it's what we do. People tend to exaggerate that."

"I am the king of the gridiron!" declared DSPN anchor Kenneth Prime. "Let there be a grand locker room feast. Bring me the finest meats and cheeses in ALL the land!"

"Mmmm-ah," mumbled Byron Mope, esteemed radio personality and also himself and not some lame knock-off of a legend. We're not sure if that statement is in support of QOX or merely a non-committal assertion of his existence somewhere in this universe.

QOX is a television network in Qazox well known for programming that is definitely not parodizing fine programs like Firefly, Sliders, Arrested Development, and Married With Children. You know, just like Dancougar is known for producing highly original anime series like Pretty Sportsman Erika that aren't blatantly ripping off Eyeshield 21, and how the upcoming lacrosse championships are not being used as a setup for another massive anime parody.

Also, Parker Lewis Can't Lose, and Party of Five.

Existing Sololy is a mystery though. You win this round, Gadget! :p

Fitin' Falcons Shutout Valerians

19-0, 19-0, 19-0. You could here the screaming all over the country the Fitin' Falcons made it two the knockouts after an upsetting World Bowl two. They defeated the Magnus Valerians A.K.A the Valerian Empire 19-0 in Quarant Xa'virt to make it to the second round. But it wasn't good enough as Rennidan won there game by two more points then the Falcons, and will get the bye.

But there is some good news out of this...The Falcons will again face those hot cheerleaders from Secristan for some roughhousing football(if you know what i meen) Since the Secristan team has switched to using cheerleaders instead of football players all players and menfolk have been tunning in to the Secristani stations to watch there games. The Falcons will look to defeat the Millionares for the fifth time in two World Bowls. This would not be the time to lose.

(ooc: Dan you got 4/7...and Arroza got 2 of the last 3... here's the answers you speak, young Padawans:

Existing Sololy::Living Single (A early-mid 90's TV show about 4 black women, that had Queen Latifah on it. I was going to put Existing in Shades::In Living Color, but I thought that would have been too easy.)
Pruxian Pop::American DAD, not IDOL.

And here I thought Pruxian Pop would have been an easy one, American Idol was too easy)

And here I thought Pruxian Pop would have been an easy one, American Idol was too easy)

((Heh, I thought it was American Idol, too... it appears that we assigned the wrong context to the word "Pop."))

THE ROCKET REPORT

KNOCKOUT TIME

Atalanta, Arroza- We’ve reached that point in the World Bowl once again where the knockouts will start. Over the last two years we’ve had the joy of watching the best in the world come to Newmanistan and battle it out to determine to one great winner. Now, the Arrozans will get to experience the excitement of having the best in the world duke it out on their turf. They will see terrific football played on the field, which is what they want to see. But what they will also get, are the battles in the stands. Many nations that are descending on Arroza have colorful groups of fans that they will need to contend with. You got Rennidan’s Brute Force, who when they were here, seemed to at least, respect the Empire’s laws. Then you have the Black Wing Brigade of Dancougar. They were a little better the second time out, but it will be interesting to see if there are any fireworks between them and the Arrozans. Myedvedeya’s fans will not be here, as their team has not advanced. But then there is this group from Cotenshire. Who will try to make the Black Wing Brigade and the Brute Force look like Cheerleaders. We wish them luck with this aspect of it!

Knockout have not been kind to Newmanistan. For the second consecutive World Bowl, the Rockets have finished in 3rd place with a 6-4 record, going 6-0 against the teams that finished below them, and 0-4 against the teams that finished above them. Again, Newmanistan played the top teams, Dancougar and Arroza very tough, but no matter what something seems to happen to prevent us from winning these games. Either it’s the opponent making a last second drive, or one of our such drive attempts being thwarted thanks to a great defensive play. It is, and we do feel like a broken record in saying this, but it is exactly why Newmanistan is looked at as a good team, and a team that the top teams will respect, but keeps them from being one of those top teams themselves. The bracket for World Bowl III has the potential to allow Newmanistan to get payback on the two teams that eliminated them from the previous two World Bowls. Last year, in the play in game between the 8 and 9 seeds, the Rockets were defeated by Milchama. The Warriors have played well enough to earn their 10 seed, and the Rockets should be the favorite to beat a nation that has been a nemesis for them in sporting competitions. Should they win, then Newmanistan would then meet Qazox. Qazox had an outstanding group stage, and even though they have yet to appear in a World Bowl, they have been close both times, and we are sure that they think this is their year. And they should be confident. For Newmanistan though, if the meeting were to happen, it could erase some bad World Bowl I memories. The teams were in the same group, and Qazox beat Newmanistan twice (the only group stage games lost by Newmanistan). After Newmanistan won their first round game in the knockouts, they met Qazox again in the quarterfinal, and were eliminated by them. So the opportunity is there for Newmanistan to show that they can beat these teams, but first they need to get by Milchama at IslandAire Stadium. Maybe with the team playing at a neutral site for these games will be of benefit to them. We shall see, and hope.

Other matchups in the World Bowl’s first round will see Kura-Pelland meet up with the Candrian Empire. We’ve seen the Candrians twice and feel that Kura-Pelland should be able to take care of business against them. Cotenshire will meet the Bluth Corporation, a team who’s history is somewhat similar to ours. The Bluth Corporation seems to do well against the teams that should beat, but have not quite shown themselves to be with the elite yet. This Cotenshire squad is tough and their fan base certainly will be of an intimidating presence to the Corporation. We’ll pick Cotenshire. Then there’s Taeshan vs Secristan. We like cheerleaders, so we’ll pick Secristan just for that even though Taeshan is probably the better team. Sitting back and relaxing while all the first round action goes on are Dancougar, Qazox, Arroza, and Rennidan.

"So, lads, what are you doing now?"

A brief moment of silence. Glances are exchanged, hushed whispers uttered, and silent twitches of the head as confirmation.

These oafs, these thugs, these Brutes, they turned back to the tiny timid reporter, and bellowed.

"WE'RE GOING TO ARROZA!"

_________


You sir, yes you, lemme' guess. You're one of those people that thinks they've seen it all, correct, sir? Seen an eclipse, eh? Seen the sunrise from atop a mountain, huh? Saw the Fires of the Rennida City Riot back in '73, really? A midget wrestle a naked Amazonian, you say?

Well, well, well then. You certainly are... cultured.

But, in all honesty, and look at me, I'm the most honest of the honest, even I've never seen something like this.

The nastiest nasties Rennidan has to offer, the guys who can make bears scream like wee lasses and take a truck of a hit and still stand, reclining on the sunshine side of a luxury boat as they cruise their way across the seven seas to the almighty land of Arroza?

Can't be right, surely?

They're supposed to be training, and fighting, and drinking, and fighting, aren't they? They're supposed to be... well... Brutes.

Then again... I guess everyone needs some R&R now and then.

(ooc: Dan you got 4/7...and Arroza got 2 of the last 3... here's the answers you speak, young Padawans:

Existing Sololy::Living Single (A early-mid 90's TV show about 4 black women, that had Queen Latifah on it.

I should be embarrassed.

CHEERLEADERS READY

Listening to Meghan talk about the shotgun package was a thing of beauty. The Cheerleaders truly are excited to be in Arroza, and they have gotten plenty of attention while they have been here. They love that, after all what cheerleader doesn’t thrive on attention and having everyone looking at her. But the offensive line is sync, as they are beginning to learn that its not social hour, and they made it through 50 consecutive snaps without a single false start in yesterdays practice.. “We have learned that we have to be still and not be hyper until the ball is snapped. We are doing good,” said Nicole, the left tackle. Wide Receiver Emily said that she didn’t realize things were so complicated when it came to running routes, “I just always thought that like the receivers just ran wherever they wanted all the time to try and get away from the other team.” Now, she has learned that is not the case, and has shown amazing improvement at learning the plays and specific routes, “It’s kinda fun. It works pretty nice because when I run this pass route and Meghan knows I am going to run it and the defense doesn’t know, then Meghan knows right where I am supposed to be instead of having to guess. It’s cool how it works!” she said. The running back, Courtney, has learned that once she gets the ball she should not immediately try to run to the end zone, but actually look for holes that her offensive line might create for her. And the offensive line has begun to understand that they should try their best to make holes for Courtney. “Like when they make a good hole like that I can get in there real quick and pick up some yards faster and then try to beat the other people. It makes sense I think.” And so, the offense is developing. They expect to do well against Taeshan this time around. Hopefully this practice will pay off. Even the kicker, Katie, has been getting better. She kicked a 45 yarder in practice. She told us that she worked on her approach. Whatever Katie, just keep looking hot when you do it.

The guys who started the season before the cheerleaders took over have also made the trip to Arroza and have tried to help out the girls. Tom Mitchell, the QB before has helped Meghan with her mechanics a little bit. They all seem to be getting along pretty well and everyone wants what is best for this team. Maybe it can start with a victory over Taeshan!

Gonna do this a few minutes early so I can go get drunk.

Cotenshire 18, Bluth Corporation 17
Cotenshire vs. Dancougar @ Bridgeview Park

Kura-Pelland 34, The Candrian Empire 14
Kura-Pelland vs. Arroza @ National Stadium (The Hive)

Newmanistan 17, Milchama 7
Newmanistan vs. Qazox @ IslandAire Stadium

Taeshan 16, Secristan 3
Taeshan vs. Rennidan @ Government Park

Fitin' Falcons advance to Quaters

For the 5th time in history, and the third time this tournament the Fitin' Falcons of Taeshan defeated the Secristan Millionares, but it was only the second time they had beaten there cheerleaders. The Falcons scored on two Gabe Martin touchdown scampers, and a Shawn Plank sack in the endzone. Next they will again face Rennidan for the true championship of Group C.

QOX WORLD BOWL III Coverage

I'm the new host of the WB on QOX, Brad Terryshaw. Wooo-dogies, We get to take on dem old' Newmanistano peoples again. I can't wait for the butt-whupping they so richly deserve.

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS SURVIVE INJURY SCARE AND ADVANCE

Atalanta, Arroza- With 10:24 remaining in the first quarter, the Newmanistan players and supporters who made the trip were silent. As were all Newmanistanians watching the game back at home. QB John Pivonka was down and not getting up. He had been sacked, with one Milchaman at his ankles while the other drilled him from behind. The trainers huddled around him as Pivonka began to reach behind his knee. Uh oh, this looked bad. Was it a knee? An ACL? A torn quad? South Tier’s Kenny O’Hara quickly got ready on the sidelines. He had gotten plenty of playing time for a backup QB in this tournament, seeing much time late in the opening week rout of Kenavt. But here, it looked like he would have to be the man, and for how long. Pivonka was carted off the field and thoughts of “here we go again” sunk in the heads of the Newmanistanian supporters.

It took the team a while to get comfortable with O’Hara, as Pivonka got about 90% of the reps in practice. Coach Nicholson went with a conservative approach early with him, thinking that would be the best way to get him settled in. Not a bad idea, but also painfully obvious to the Milchama defense, who sniffed out Corey Parisi and Chris Padgett nearly every time. The Rockets managed only 26 yards of offense in the first quarter, and 16 of that game before Pivonka got hurt. Defensively, the Rockets were stepping it up. They were determined to win the game on their own. The team had played well on defense this World Bowl, albeit, not as good as the Group C teams. Milchama came out of that group, and their offense this world bowl has not been anywhere near as explosive as it was last year (OOC: they were a +5 modifier last World Bowl), so they have obviously been frustrated by the great defenses they ran into within their group, and got frustrated by this. They had to punt on their first four possessions, but late in the second quarter, they had one breakthrough. On 3rd & 29, from their own 10, the QB heaved up a prayer that was caught by a receiver. Stanley Bressler brought him down at the Newmanistan 14, but on the next play from scrimmage, they went ahead 7-0, and this is where we were at halftime.

During halftime, the concern of the team was on Pivonka, and they got their wake up call when he wasn’t in the locker room. No, John wasn’t there to greet them and to tell everyone that he was going to make a heroic return in the second half. They were told he was still receiving medical attention. When coach Nicholson was asked about whether or not he would return to the game, they did not get an answer. He did this to deliver the message that this game was up to them, and that they had to work with Kenny O’Hara and get this job done. Nicholson, deep down, was aware of Pivonka’s condition. He had slightly twisted his ankle and was having it taped up in the trainer’s room. Pivonka would be able to return if needed, and he knew that he would be ready should the Rockets advance to play Qazox, but he wasn’t about to tell the team that. It was his preference not to have to use him and his ankle to be rested. The players huddled together and spoke about doing it for John, and not allowing Milchama to knock out the Rockets at the stage of the tournament again. They had two demons to exorcize in the knockouts. First Milchama, and then Qazox. Both conveniently located for them in this bracket to beat.

Newmanistan did not score on the opening possession of the second half, but they were better, getting the ball to midfield before the drive stalled and they had to punt. A strong punt by Meadows pinned them within the 10, and after getting them to go 3-and-out the Rockets only had to go 48 yards to the end zone. Well, they would get 22 of them. Again, the drive stalled, but they would settle for the 44 yard field goal to make it 7-3. On their next possession, the Rockets came to live. The offensive line, which admittedly stunk tonight and probably had a lot to do with the offensive inefficiency early, suddenly began to win the battles in the trenches. The Rockets marched up field on a 13-play, 80-yard drive taking the final 6:11 off the clock in the 3rd quarter and first 20 seconds of the fourth. The drive culminated in a 9 yard TD pass from O’Hara to Gagnon to give the Rockets a 10-7 lead. Milchama though, would bounce right back, going on a long 12 play drive themselves getting it inside the Newmanistan 5. On second and goal, their RB fumbled on a big hit by Jesse Savage, and it was recovered by Kirk Comforth, who got 12 yards with it before being brought down. With 8:37 remaining on the clock, John Pivonka returned to the sideline, walking under his own power. The Rockets fans, and many neutral supporters gave him a standing ovation. He could play. But this was going to be O’Hara’s game to finish out. The team was inspired and the Rockets went on a 15 play drive, that took all but 42 seconds of the games remaining time. 10 plays would be runs, making the scoring play, a 4 yard scamper by Corey Parisi a fitting way to end the drive. Newmanistan was up 17-7. After containing the Milchamans for the remaining time, the win was secured. Newmanistan had gotten their revenge on the Warriors and now advance to the quarterfinal where they are set to meet Qazox. Now, it’s time for payback for World Bowl I.

It’s great to have the win over Milchama, but let’s face it, this is one of those teams that Newmanistan was supposed to beat. Much of the world likely considers Newmanistan to be a level above them. Now it’s time for them to get one of those wins that continue to elude them in World Bowl competition, beating one of the world’s elite. Qazox has shown themselves to be a legitimate contender and it would be a huge win for the Rockets if they can get it. John Pivonka is expected to play, and the team is ready to go to war for him.

Taeshan, eh? Yeah, we've seen these guys. They're, for lack of better wording... tough. Fitin' Falcons, I think. It's what they call themselves.

Fitin', eh?

I think that's pronounced like 'Fightin''.

But don't quote me on that.

We've beat them, they've beat us, this here match we've got coming up, it's the decider. Who's better than whom? Real pissing competition, really, but, hell, who cares? As long as there's violence and blood, I'm happy to watch.

I'm happy to play.

But, really, we've got more to play for than these Falcon lads. And, at the end of the day, whoever's fighting for more is gonna' be the ones coming out onto.

_________


Hello, my favourable fans, and welcome as I bisect, dissect and generally pull my wracked brain apart as I analyze what the hell the Brutes are actually doing. I have half a high school education backing me up, along with years of hardcore gridiron love, and so, here's what I've figured out.

The Brutes, right?

They're all about...
Irony.

Think about it. Hardnut, hardcore lads from pubs and clubs taking on the iron might of gridiron with nothing but blood and guts? No money, no kit, no real stadium. Down and outters, right? But surely, and here's the possibility of irony, eventually, they'll need some cash, right? So they fall to corporate sponsors and stuff, they get cash, they become those very iron giants they were fighting.

We get a six kabillion attendance stadium, kit designed by Gucci, and enough money to solve third world poverty five times over.

So, it hasn't happened yet, but surely, man's greed will eventually outweigh man's love of gridiron, yeah?

Another slick stick of irony is the stadium the Brutes are playing in next.

Brutes. Hooligans who have complete disregard for the law and all justice stands for. They live and thrive within a self-made dystopia.

So where do they start their knock-out run?

Government Park.

Seriously, gimme' a break guys.

I mean... come on!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh106/newtypezaku/ballad.jpg

Near the 'Drome in the land known as Cotenshire
Is a town of people only Brutes admire
With their swords and spears
A torch and rope
They go to the stadium and everybody knows them

Violence (violence) in Taale-Voren
Their fans make ours look tame
Violence (violence) in Taale-Voren
Run for your life, forget the game

Now they won't tolerate any foreign folk
But if they get their hands on you they'll take things slow
You'll be drenched in gas and set alight
Or maybe drawn and quartered on a snowy night
But one day citizens were told, "Hey ya,
Pack your bags and weapons, off to Arroza!
To help our athletes make a stand
To bring fame and glory to our unknown land."

Violence (violence) in Taale-Voren
Their fans make ours look tame
Violence (violence) in Taale-Voren
Run for your life, forget the game

Well, they fought the Phoenix!
Battled with Bluth!
They riddled the Arrows!
And Lovisa, too!
They were fierce like wolves
All through the forest
They chased the Miroxians to their great hall

Violence (violence) in Taale-Voren
Run for your life, forget the game

Will we send them home to Cotenshire
Or will we lose and only draw their ire?
As their fans sit high on a pile of bones
And tell of their victories in ancient tomes

Violence (violence) in Taale-Voren
Their fans make ours look tame
Violence (violence) in Taale-Voren
Run for your life, forget the game

Lol. Fail. Quarterfinal Games have been played.

Cotenshire 0, Dancougar 19
Kura-Pelland 7, Arroza 0

Semifinal:
Dancougar v. Kura-Pelland @ National Stadium

Newmanistan 10, Qazox 19
Taeshan 11, Rennidan 6

Semifinal:
Taeshan vs. Qazox @ IslandAire Field.

(ooc to Dancougar, WTG on the Youtube pic. But Johnnen 09 is copyrighted, so expect a lawsuit from Mad Johnnen!! lol)

QOX WORLD BOWL III Coverage

I'm the new host of the WB on QOX, Brad Terryshaw. Wooo-dogies, Dem Pheonix folks whipped dem Newmanistanos 19-10, thanks to a 76-yd blocked FG return for a TD by Greg Olsen, when the others tried to tie the game up at 13-13 with 7 seconds left. Making the Qazox winners. Now once again them Taeshani sheep-shaggers are in the way. We beat them last couple of times out, and we'll whup dem again, like a red-headed mule.

THE ROCKET REPORT

MORE OF THE SAME

Atalanta, Arroza- World Bowl III has come to an end for Newmanistan, and it does so in a similar way that the first two did. The Rockets showed that they could beat most, but they are still not ready to be the elite teams of the world. It's a broken record, we know. We play them tough, then they always come up with that one big play that does us in. Case in point, last night against Qazox. Playing a team that dominated their group, the Rockets shut down their powerful offense and were in position to tie up the game late and force overtime. Down 13-10, the Rockets set up for the potential game-tying field goal. But the snap was ever so slightly bobbled by the holder, making him half a second late to get the ball down. Just enough to throw Colfer out of his rhythm, and enough for Greg Olsen to get his hand up and block the kick. Furthermore, he recovered the ball, and took it to the house. That just epitomizes Newmanistan's performances against the elite teams.

For those still interested in World Bowl III, the semifinals see a classic Dancougar vs Kura-Pelland matchup as well as Qazox playing Taeshan. (Taeshan may actually be glad to be playing Qazox instead of us.)We have the feeling it's Qazox's turn to get to the World Bowl, but those Black Wings.... they just look real strong.

Fitin' Falcons in Semis

11-6 Falcons. Whats with these baseball scores? anyways were going to a semi after defeating Rennidan for the 2nd time out of 3 games this tournament. Gramatica made 3 field goals from beyond 40 yrds, and Plank got another safety sack. The Falcons will play the Qazox Phoenix next so the Contnuum will have a finalist. Q Continuum is supreme in miost sports. Yeah.

Pretty Sportsfan Catherine
Blogging football in the context of anime.

The Wings are back in the final four after yesterday's 19-0 win over Cotenshire, on a day when all quarterfinalists got roughed up a bit. There were several high-profile casualties. The Rockets are out. As are the hosts. And the defending champs. The way the brackets have it set up, it will be a battle for regional pride no matter who wins in the semis. Atlantian Oceania against the Q Continuum. There are plenty of intangibles to be had. Taeshan want to make the final and continue their success from the old World Gridiron Championships. Qazox is looking to ride a dominant group performance to their first finals. And Kura-Pelland were runners up in World Bowl II.

Coach Moohim said what you expected him to say before the game, that he and his guys were completely focused on Cotenshire. But come now, it's silly to think that none of them were keeping an eye on the rest of the bracket. There were a lot of even matchups to be had. But the Wings will get Kura-Pelland, a team which they played three times during World Bowl I. All of those games went down to the wire. The Arrows won 17-13 at home, then the Wings won 20-13 at the Jay Kay. Finally, off to Newmanistan for a quarterfinal matchup, and the Wings won 30-27 in overtime after barely surviving a Michael Bernard comeback. They survived the hosts 7-0 while the Wings were bringing the defensive heat.

I should talk about the Cotenshire game, and that would put me in a minority. Everyone who had something to say before the game said something about the fans and the war that was basically expected to break out in the stands. Yes, we have our ultras in the Black Wing Brigade, although they've been fairly quiet so far. And I'd expect them to remain quiet now that the Brutes are done. But there were scuffles. Punches thrown, bottles broken, but no boiling oil poured from the rafters. I had to stream the game to see it, and from what I could tell, the energy of the Black Wing fans helped the team shoot out to an early lead which they never relinquished.

It's far too easy to overlook the impact of fans on the teams. That's why it's so tough to win on the road, or even on a neutral field. It's not just the noise or the jet lag. It's the atmosphere. My friend from Tech has a lot of good cheers, and one of them sums it up perfectly - Hit 'em, hit 'em, buck 'em, buck 'em, knock 'em down and really FIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!! Okay, maybe I was just looking for an excuse to use that one. But it does get the point across, right? The open hostility, channeled rage, combative nature... a visiting team has a hard enough time with the game itself, let alone beating the crowd. As long as they keep shouting and cheering, the home team is always in it. It's a factor you never see covered, and it's one I've never seen worked into Pretty Sportsman Erika. But it's there.

And it was last night. The towels were out and the Dancougar section watched the team roll to an early 10-0 lead. Anthony Corona picked up a first quarter interception that led to a field goal, and the Wings bled seven and a half minutes of clock on a 78-yard drive that took them into the second. Kirk Hatchitt had to establish the run. Had to. He looked a little shaky early with only six yards from his first four carries, but then he broke one for thirteen and set up Appelgate for some short passes. Hatchitt finished things off with a six-yard score. Cotenshire, though, were no Kenavt. Kerkrade marched his team downfield but was sacked by Butch Easley on a big third down stop. That backed them up to a 47-yard field goal, which Tonger drove wide right.

Still only ten points down, the Eagles had plenty of time to get back into the game. And it showed when their defense came out with renewed spirit, holding the Wings to only ten plays on offense in the third quarter. In situations like that, you expect the defense to make a play. With about five minutes to go in the third, a long punt by Shelpman pinned Cotenshire at their own two. The Wings brought the house and dropped Kerkrade before he could get the ball away, with Martella and Tolston combining for the stop. Although Cotenshire got the ball back quickly, their offense looked shaky for the rest of the game and were unable to get into field goal range. Appelgate put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter after converting a fumble recovery into a 52-yard touchdown drive. He hit the tight end, Joe Coerver, from three yards out to cap the scoring.

Next up, the semifinals! The Black Wings and Arrows are even on paper, even on form, although history gives the Wings the slightest edge. Elsewhere, the aerial assault of Qazox meets the punishing defense of Taeshan!

As was expected, the residents of Taale-Voren became berserk at the news of their loss in Arroza. Fortunately, perhaps, for the Arrozans, the fallout in fundraising meant few Eagles fans were present for the game. Those that could go numbered so few that their antics were mostly limited to relatively mild drunken brawls and property damage (and even these incidents were somewhat tempered due to the Taale-Vorener’s distaste for Arroza’s beers and ales).

The situation within the city itself had not changed all that much. Since the qualifying round was over, most Taale-Voreners thought that no more foreigners remained in the city. Just to be safe, however, anyone who did not speak Lotharn was flayed and decapitated by the roaming mobs. Burgrave Antoon van Stijck was glad that the mob violence would settle down for a week or two, but there was an upcoming hockey game between Taale-Voren and Hargaanden, a city forty-five miles upriver, that would surely stir up the mobs. Six wars had occurred over the past five hundred years between Taale-Voren and Hargaanden. This rivalry match would surely renew the violence.

As for the Eagles themselves, they were disappointed by their elimination, but glad to finally be able to return home. As Kerkrade wrote: The people of Arroza are more vulgar and uncivilized than any race of men I have yet seen. I cannot return to my gloriously pastoral village of Gulwer soon enough.

Semifinals over.

Dancougar 19, Kura-Pelland 10

Qazox 30, Taeshan 10

Final: Dancougar vs. Qazox @ National Stadium
3rd Place: Kura-Pelland vs. Taeshan @ IslandAire Stadium

Both games will be played tomorrow.

(ooc: DSPN v QSPN.. the battle of the ESPN clones...lol)

QOX WORLD BOWL III Coverage

I'm the 6th new host of the WB on QOX, John Jimmyson. Qazox was dominant, as usual as they crushed our Taeshani neighbors 30-10. The offense, lead by Greg Dannen amassed 468 yds, 379 through the air, as Dannen threw for 4 TD's, and only a missed EP by Tryone Chase and a last minute TD by Taeshan's Rudi Williams kept the score from being worse than it really was.

So Qazox finally reaches a final, and they run into Dancougar, the only other team with as many points and yards as the Pheonix and the defense is just as good. I see a classic shoot-out, with the last team to get the ball scoring. 45-42 or something close will be the score.

ANNOUNCER: What makes them similar makes them lame... this is Ike and Ike in the Evening!

ICEBERG: Welcome to the show, I'm Ike Iceberg, and tonight, we're talking World Bowl III. Black Wings back in the final after topping Kura-Pelland...

GARLIC: ... And I'm Ike Garlic. The other finalist will be Qazox, a team which, quite frankly, looks like the best in the tournament right now. They rolled the Falcons of Taeshan in the other semi.

ICEBERG: Lots more to come, including the IBC final, game three, up in Yuki City, and we'll have Rick Libide in to talk about that. But we start with football, Garlic, and the Wings got the win last night, 19-10 over the Arrows. We were promised a tight game, and we got a tight game. But I have to tell you, this team's offense has just given up the ship down the stretch here. We were beating guys, what, 40-10 and 65-zip, and now we're lucky to see the endzone once or twice a game. Four field goals by Stottlemyer last night, five against Newmanistan, four in the last qualifier against Kenavt... just what kind of funk is this team in right now?

GARLIC: So, we've been talking about that after almost every game.

ICEBERG: We have.

GARLIC: But we're talking about a team that's still only lost one game. I mean, you're right, this team has been terrible in the red zone lately. Todd Appelgate is forcing balls when you should be running on first and second down. But they're still winning games, and they're doing it with defense the way we expected. Seriously, did you think that we'd be routintely scoring twenty five, thirty, thirty five points a game at any point during this thing?

ICEBERG: I think those early games created that expectation, you know, when you beat someone as good as Arroza the way they did, or completely dominate Kenavt on the road, you start to wonder why can't they keep up that pace the entire way?

GARLIC: They came out with a lot of energy and ran at people, and that was great. But this game is as much about endurance as it is about explosiveness. Teams started coming at them harder and wearing them down. You're not going to put up thirty or forty points against a team that's running hard every down. So now, you look at what they've done against the good teams. They're not winning by much, but they're moving the ball. You don't get a shot at four or five field goals a game otherwise. And then you have Corona jumping routes, you have Manly and Easley blowing up quarterbacks. They had three takeaways against Michael Bernard last night, including two in the second half. And that doesn't happen to the Arrows. That basically killed off any comeback.

ICEBERG: I think you've got a point, there, in that the way the Wings were tearing through qualifying, we thought they were going to coast through this thing. But you know, teams adjust, and suddenly when we got back to the usual Black Wing football, with these trench battles and ugly wins, we thought something was wrong. But don't tell me you're not concerned by the lack of touchdowns.

GARLIC: So, it's a concern now that we're playing Qazox, because here's a team that will light it up. If they hit thirty points, it's over. Because the Black Wings right now cannot win in a shootout. They have to control the clock in this one, have to, if they want to win back the title.

ICEBERG: And they looked very good against Taeshan last night. It was a rout until Taeshan got a late score, and even then, you can't say anything except that the Phoenix dominated a very good Taeshan team... a team that plays pretty tight defense, too, which makes you wonder how effective the Wings are going to be!

GARLIC: It's going to be down to the wire, low-scoring game, or the Phoenix are going to come out and just blow past us. Big lead early and then sit back and force Appelgate to win the game.

ICEBERG: Okay, quick break, but much more American football coming up. You're listening to Ike and Ike in the Evening.

GARLIC: DSPN Radio.

Finale:
Dancougar 9, Qazox 10

Third Place Game:
Taeshan 20, Kura-Pelland 10

WIDE RIGHT! WIDE RIGHT! THE HURRIC... ERR, PHOENIX WIN!!

Congrats to the champs, and thanks to the hosts.
I've completed the gold-silver-bronze trifecta :-D

QOX WORLD BOWL III Coverage

WIDE RIGHT! WIDE RIGHT! THE PHEONIX WIN!!


I'm the 7th new host of the WB on QOX, Ike Cokta, and that is the headlines around the world as Dancougar's Corey Stottlemyer missed from 37 yards on the final play of the game, as Qazox wins its first World Bowl Championship 10-9, in a game which saw both teams combine for only 13 first downs, 275 yards of offense (143 for Qazox, 132 for Dancougar) and 18 punts (9 from each team) the only TD of the game came on a 47-yd bomb from Charles Hanneford, who came in after Dannen was injured in the 1st quarter, to Ivan Harvey, in the 3rd quarter after a 35-yd punt return by Adam Politt. That made the score 7-6, Qazox. Both of the teams exchanged FG's early in the 4th quarter the score was 10-9, until Stottlemyer, who had been perfect in the playoffs missed the 37yd Fg attempt with 4 seconds to play, sending Dancougar into a wail of anguish.

Congratulations to Qazox on the title.