First off, I want to welcome and thank Jmarter for volunteering to share the load with me for Season 5. As much as I hope you enjoy reading our posts and as fun as they are to write they do tend to eat up the free time, and I'm very thankful for the help.
You can find Jmarter's fly on the wall super secret coverage of the Alpha Conf. Owners meeting here:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/forum_thread.pl?thread_id=1053697
All of the owners should have received a short questionnaire from us yesterday. Thanks to most of you for filling it out and returning it to us so quickly. We got lot of funny, juicy, tidbits as well as some good facts and we'll be putting them to good use in our weekly (2 day weeks is a brutal deadline btw
) updates and other projects.
Okay, enough with the preamble... Here is Zeta Conference as I see it, nitty-gritty style and no considerations for hurt feelings. There are basically 3 groups, the CONTENDERS, the BUBBLE BOYS, and the NOOBS:
THE CONTENDERS:
These are mean sonnava bitches. All these teams would be kicking ass and taking names in the leagues above us. AA#1 has earned a reputation for producing tough teams that can win at any level, and its because our best and brightest hone themselves by fighting it out in our South East Asian Valhalla. Blood sport, anyone? When two teams from this group meet, it's a toss-up every time.
#1 Bangkok Blue Demons - beat arguably the best team in Alpha in a scrimmage today. My team, the Garudas match up against them next so my opinion may change, likely not, this is a ferocious team. They were shocked by a heart breaking loss to now-defunct Xi'an Xplosivo in the first round of the playoffs last season, but I'm sure they will be better prepared this time around.
Asked to forecast the playoff picture for this season, Coach Jamest replied,
"I think that the Top Tier in Zeta is The Elephant Riders, San Fran, and Bangkok with Singapore and Sault Ste Marie as a very close second tier. Any of those 3 teams could win the conference. I think San Fran will go into the playoffs as the top seed but one of the other 2 ER or BBD will win the conference championship. And if I absolutely have to pick then I'll be the homer I've been accused of being and choose us... Bangkok Blue Demons to win Zeta!"
LOL, Don't be shy Homer!
#2 San Fran Gold Rush - A great team, more than capable of advancing this season, tremendous players including star DE Rawr Rawr who inspired the team name with his legendary exploits of "sacking" backsides while donning a Golden condom in his adopted home, the city by the bay. Said to be quite a Rush indeed, although I have not and will not partake.
Joking around aside, he Gold Rush is stacked with talent at all positions and when executing properly can destroy any team in the league. When I asked owner the Jerm his hopes for the season, he confirmed that they mean business this season.
"I expect us to stay strong and continue playing a great game and playing to win the game. There's ALOT of great teams out there in both divisions and I know they also give us credit and game plan a great deal against us and vice versa. I hope that we can catch momentum and run with it into playoffs but also FINISH in the playoffs, as in going all the way to the championship game and getting one under our team. I believe we deserve it from the hard work we've been at for 3 seasons now. Anything less of a championship is definitly a loss in my eyes, and I'd take full responsibility if we fall short of that."
#3 The Elephant Riders - Honestly, I probably would of rated these guys #1 until the Garudas beat them in the scrimmage today. I think we probably caught them off guard (Davao told us you set the wrong AI tactics)
and they will rebound and go back to their routine of dominating great teams.
#4 Sault Ste Marie Metalheads: These guys can play anybody tough, they fight hard and can hang with the best of them. They just seem to be a bit unlucky when it really counts, and have had some tough losses. Fully capable of causing havoc in the postseason.
They also brought in a level 32 and 30 LB as well as a level 32 Guard to muscle up on both sides of the ball. Should be a very interesting team to watch.
#5 Singapore Flames: Have been strong for a very long time and contended each season. JUst can't seem to get over the last hump. I wouldn't count them out this season either, as they have trimmed their roster of all mediocrity and brought in quality additions in G Lola Skullcrusher and OT Tom "Bull" Dozer to provide star QB Cannonshow with even more time to dissect opposing defenses.
#6 Thailand Cheap Toys: They played my team very tough in week#16 last season, and had me worried the whole sim. They have flirted with greatness for a while. Is this the year they finally take their places in the echelon of elite teams? I wouldn't bet against them. With Joel Mac and a top-notch LB platoon, this is a dangerous team to toy with.
THE BUBBLE BOYS:
These guys are better than the NOOBS, but not quite good enough yet to be taken seriously. Although the top few are very close to bridging the gap, and are capable of playing David to the conference's Goliaths. You will definitely see some of these guys in the playoffs. Still, with a glut of top-notch teams in Zeta, their chances of winning it all are very slim.
#7 Davao Destruction: These guys are always a hair below the top tier in Zeta. Let's see if they are able to close the margin in Season 5. An early loss to Alpha's Salford Storm doesn't look to promising though, although it's still just preseason.
#8 Garut Fire Horses: These guys missed the playoffs by one spot last season and are determined to get there in Season 5. Owner Tman2008 feels with a dream season they could get 12 wins and hopefully make some waves in the playoffs. With studs like QB Trevor Grant who was earned awards for both yards and touchdowns, Jason Spense whose appetite for pancakes is unheard of, and CB Ty King a solid defender, I wouldn't say 12 wins is impossible.
#9 SBI Waves: The Waves had a rough introduction to the league last season. Owner Herbdawg took over for a great team, but had some alcohol fueled "misunderstandings" with key personnel. Since then he has been filling holes and believes the team is capable of reaching the playoffs this season. When asked who would win the conference, Herbdawg replied in his legendary style of prose:
"The phat ass elephants so go ahead and make some fun of my word and spelling now aint too drink at the present time...GO Waves"
Good luck Waves, your owner may not have the best command of the written language, but he has personality in spades.
#10 Manila Envelopes: A middle of the pack team, they have made improvements and earned a #10 by defeating rivals, Thung Yai Tigers, in a close match today.
#11 Thung Yai Tigers: Improving but will have to accelerate progress to maintain pace with their betters and hold some of the newcomers off.
#12 Jakarta Jackhammers: This team used to be really good until it was abandoned halfway through last season. Coach Maximus77 has taken control, and is rebuilding from the ground up. It will probably take him at least a season to be competitive, but he seems fully capable of restoring the Jackhammers to glory.
THE NOOBS:
You either got relegated from a league our representatives traditionally dominate or advanced from a junior league to "earn" a place at the table. It's bad news either way, sons.. You ain't ready for this league. Don't count on winning too often, but keep your head up, fight hard, and keep practicing and you may have a shot next season. Welcome to the league (suckas)!
#13 Midway Maulers: Seems to have a good passing game, but needs to shore up weakness in other spots if they want to play with the big boys. A 16 game losing streak isn't a hallmark of quality either.
#14 The Pretenders: Mongolian Horde gave these guys a rough welcome to the league by trouncing on them 118 - 17. That the Pretenders were able to score multiple times on top-notch D is cause for pride though.
#15 Kapres Smoking Giants: Pounded hard by an Alpha Noob team in a scrimmage today.. doesn't inspire confidence fellas.
#16 Da Nang Yellow Jackets: Not a great start for brand new owner, Nlyons1, who was thrashed by Alpha great Padang Lightning 219 to 0 today. He'll be recruiting most of the season, as the team is almost entirely computer players at the moment. The Yellow Jackets at least have inherited a decent fan base and stadium.
You can find Jmarter's fly on the wall super secret coverage of the Alpha Conf. Owners meeting here:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/forum_thread.pl?thread_id=1053697
All of the owners should have received a short questionnaire from us yesterday. Thanks to most of you for filling it out and returning it to us so quickly. We got lot of funny, juicy, tidbits as well as some good facts and we'll be putting them to good use in our weekly (2 day weeks is a brutal deadline btw
) updates and other projects.Okay, enough with the preamble... Here is Zeta Conference as I see it, nitty-gritty style and no considerations for hurt feelings.
There are basically 3 groups, the CONTENDERS, the BUBBLE BOYS, and the NOOBS: THE CONTENDERS:
These are mean sonnava bitches. All these teams would be kicking ass and taking names in the leagues above us. AA#1 has earned a reputation for producing tough teams that can win at any level, and its because our best and brightest hone themselves by fighting it out in our South East Asian Valhalla. Blood sport, anyone? When two teams from this group meet, it's a toss-up every time.
#1 Bangkok Blue Demons - beat arguably the best team in Alpha in a scrimmage today. My team, the Garudas match up against them next so my opinion may change, likely not, this is a ferocious team. They were shocked by a heart breaking loss to now-defunct Xi'an Xplosivo in the first round of the playoffs last season, but I'm sure they will be better prepared this time around.
Asked to forecast the playoff picture for this season, Coach Jamest replied,
"I think that the Top Tier in Zeta is The Elephant Riders, San Fran, and Bangkok with Singapore and Sault Ste Marie as a very close second tier. Any of those 3 teams could win the conference. I think San Fran will go into the playoffs as the top seed but one of the other 2 ER or BBD will win the conference championship. And if I absolutely have to pick then I'll be the homer I've been accused of being and choose us... Bangkok Blue Demons to win Zeta!"
LOL, Don't be shy Homer!
#2 San Fran Gold Rush - A great team, more than capable of advancing this season, tremendous players including star DE Rawr Rawr who inspired the team name with his legendary exploits of "sacking" backsides while donning a Golden condom in his adopted home, the city by the bay. Said to be quite a Rush indeed, although I have not and will not partake.
Joking around aside, he Gold Rush is stacked with talent at all positions and when executing properly can destroy any team in the league. When I asked owner the Jerm his hopes for the season, he confirmed that they mean business this season.
"I expect us to stay strong and continue playing a great game and playing to win the game. There's ALOT of great teams out there in both divisions and I know they also give us credit and game plan a great deal against us and vice versa. I hope that we can catch momentum and run with it into playoffs but also FINISH in the playoffs, as in going all the way to the championship game and getting one under our team. I believe we deserve it from the hard work we've been at for 3 seasons now. Anything less of a championship is definitly a loss in my eyes, and I'd take full responsibility if we fall short of that."
#3 The Elephant Riders - Honestly, I probably would of rated these guys #1 until the Garudas beat them in the scrimmage today. I think we probably caught them off guard (Davao told us you set the wrong AI tactics)
and they will rebound and go back to their routine of dominating great teams. #4 Sault Ste Marie Metalheads: These guys can play anybody tough, they fight hard and can hang with the best of them. They just seem to be a bit unlucky when it really counts, and have had some tough losses. Fully capable of causing havoc in the postseason.
They also brought in a level 32 and 30 LB as well as a level 32 Guard to muscle up on both sides of the ball. Should be a very interesting team to watch.
#5 Singapore Flames: Have been strong for a very long time and contended each season. JUst can't seem to get over the last hump. I wouldn't count them out this season either, as they have trimmed their roster of all mediocrity and brought in quality additions in G Lola Skullcrusher and OT Tom "Bull" Dozer to provide star QB Cannonshow with even more time to dissect opposing defenses.
#6 Thailand Cheap Toys: They played my team very tough in week#16 last season, and had me worried the whole sim. They have flirted with greatness for a while. Is this the year they finally take their places in the echelon of elite teams? I wouldn't bet against them. With Joel Mac and a top-notch LB platoon, this is a dangerous team to toy with.
THE BUBBLE BOYS:
These guys are better than the NOOBS, but not quite good enough yet to be taken seriously. Although the top few are very close to bridging the gap, and are capable of playing David to the conference's Goliaths. You will definitely see some of these guys in the playoffs. Still, with a glut of top-notch teams in Zeta, their chances of winning it all are very slim.
#7 Davao Destruction: These guys are always a hair below the top tier in Zeta. Let's see if they are able to close the margin in Season 5. An early loss to Alpha's Salford Storm doesn't look to promising though, although it's still just preseason.
#8 Garut Fire Horses: These guys missed the playoffs by one spot last season and are determined to get there in Season 5. Owner Tman2008 feels with a dream season they could get 12 wins and hopefully make some waves in the playoffs. With studs like QB Trevor Grant who was earned awards for both yards and touchdowns, Jason Spense whose appetite for pancakes is unheard of, and CB Ty King a solid defender, I wouldn't say 12 wins is impossible.
#9 SBI Waves: The Waves had a rough introduction to the league last season. Owner Herbdawg took over for a great team, but had some alcohol fueled "misunderstandings" with key personnel. Since then he has been filling holes and believes the team is capable of reaching the playoffs this season. When asked who would win the conference, Herbdawg replied in his legendary style of prose:
"The phat ass elephants so go ahead and make some fun of my word and spelling now aint too drink at the present time...GO Waves"
Good luck Waves, your owner may not have the best command of the written language, but he has personality in spades.
#10 Manila Envelopes: A middle of the pack team, they have made improvements and earned a #10 by defeating rivals, Thung Yai Tigers, in a close match today.
#11 Thung Yai Tigers: Improving but will have to accelerate progress to maintain pace with their betters and hold some of the newcomers off.
#12 Jakarta Jackhammers: This team used to be really good until it was abandoned halfway through last season. Coach Maximus77 has taken control, and is rebuilding from the ground up. It will probably take him at least a season to be competitive, but he seems fully capable of restoring the Jackhammers to glory.
THE NOOBS:
You either got relegated from a league our representatives traditionally dominate or advanced from a junior league to "earn" a place at the table. It's bad news either way, sons.. You ain't ready for this league. Don't count on winning too often, but keep your head up, fight hard, and keep practicing and you may have a shot next season. Welcome to the league (suckas)!
#13 Midway Maulers: Seems to have a good passing game, but needs to shore up weakness in other spots if they want to play with the big boys. A 16 game losing streak isn't a hallmark of quality either.
#14 The Pretenders: Mongolian Horde gave these guys a rough welcome to the league by trouncing on them 118 - 17. That the Pretenders were able to score multiple times on top-notch D is cause for pride though.
#15 Kapres Smoking Giants: Pounded hard by an Alpha Noob team in a scrimmage today.. doesn't inspire confidence fellas.
#16 Da Nang Yellow Jackets: Not a great start for brand new owner, Nlyons1, who was thrashed by Alpha great Padang Lightning 219 to 0 today. He'll be recruiting most of the season, as the team is almost entirely computer players at the moment. The Yellow Jackets at least have inherited a decent fan base and stadium.
Last edited Sep 19, 2008 12:01:29
