1. Lake Opeta Legionnaires - 200 (10) (+1)
2. Sierra Leone Stallions - 178 (+2)
3. Doinitin Djibouti - 162 (-2)
4. Dar es Salaam Warrior Kings - 130 (-1)
5. Seychelles Island Sea Wolves - 114 (-)
6. Somalia Pirates - 92 (New)
7. Windhoek White Rhinos - 80 (+3)
8. Angola Spider Monkeez - 48 (-2)
9. Sahara ShadowChasers - 46 (-2)
10. The Last Gunfighters of Texas - 40 (-2)
Teams Also Receiving Votes: Angola Dream - 8, Angola Blood Diamonds - 2
Teams Dropping out of Top 10: Ghana Buffalos
Game of the Week 1: #1 LOL vs. #2 SLS
Game of the Week 2: #8 ASM vs #9 SSC
Ten teams voted this week, Thanks!!
LOL: (12-0)
And then there was one. Three quarters of the season is over and LOL stands alone at the top of the heap. After defeating DD and following that up with two dominant performances over Cairo and a doormat, The Legos are the 1st team to receive every first place vote in a season 9 poll. But there is no rest for the weary, they may actually face their toughest test of the season this week against our #2 team.....
SLS: (11-1)
The Stallions extended their winning streak to 11 games this season by defeating DD in last week's Game of the Week. I warned you all last poll that Elephant was not a 2 horse race between DD and LOL. Everyone including myself was touting LOL vs DD as the game of the year, but we may all have jumped the gun. The Stallions did have a scare 3 weeks ago against MM, winning by only 1 point, but winners find ways to win. If SLS wins tomorrow they hold the reigns for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. This is also a huge game in that the loser could end up in DDs bracket and may have to face them again in the playoffs before getting to the Elephant championship game. Then again, the winner will most likely be in TLGoT's bracket. Regardless, tomorrow is huge for both SLS and LOL.
DD: (10-2)
Djibouti has had a rough couple of weeks since the last poll. They faced both LOL and SLS and came up short twice. As a result they went from the season long front runner in the polls to backseat driver, watching two other teams fight it out for the top seed. What's worse is that they still do not have a definite shot at the 3rd seed in Elephant. They have to face the red hot #6 Pirates in 3 weeks. If they lose that game it could set up a nightmare bracket in the playoffs with DD, TLGoT and the winner of the LOL/SLS game all seeded together. An almost impossible task for any team to overcome.
DeS: (10-2)
Another early favorite that has slipped a gear the last few games. The Warrior Kings lost back to back against The Dream and The Warthogs, two very good teams that have both been in the Top 10 this year, but neither are currently ranked. It gets worse, they still have to face two top ranked teams in #7 WWR and #9 SSC. The Warrior Kings currently hold the lead in Lion by the slightest of margins due to a 3 point win over #5 SISW. Lose any of their remaining games and Dar es risk watching another team pass them just as the Lion title was within reach. On the positive side, DeS hold their destiny in their own hands and their task is clear, win out and get that coveted #1 seed.
SISW: (10-2)
The Sea Wolves have succeeded where their rivals have failed. Unlike DeS, The Wolves defeated both The Dream and The Warthogs in the past 3 weeks and have put themselves in position to gain the Lion title. But if any team has a tougher finish than DeS, it's The Sea Wolves. They not only have to play #7 WWR and #9 SSC as well, but they have to face #8 ASM on top of that. Wow. The top spot in Lion may not be decided until the final whistle is blown in week 16.
SP: (10-2)
This week's biggest gainer are The Pirates who have reclaimed their position in the Top 10 at 6th place. Earlier in the season they lost a heartbreaker to SLS by 1 point and lost to a strong Ghana team by 6. Those two losses were enough to barely keep them off of the last poll by 2 votes. But they have come storming back with 3 impressive wins including a 2 point victory over TLGoT. But like so many other teams on this poll, Somalia will have to fight to stay here. They face DD and LOL their last two games of the season. They also face a MM squad who almost beat SLS three weeks ago. They are in the playoffs but their seed could be anywhere from 1st to 8th. It's up to them to decide where they end up.
WWR: (9-3)
Two down and two to go. Last poll I mentioned how difficult your defending Champs remaining schedule was as they had yet to face 4 teams ranked in the Top 10. Now here we sit 3 weeks later and The Rhinos' winning streak is still intact. They dispatched #9 SSC and #8 ASM in style, but now must look forward to facing #5 SISW and #4 DeS. I gotta take timeout here to give props to the schedule maker this season. On both sides of the league we have some incredibly exciting games to look forward to. Both conferences are up for grabs and so many teams are still in play for the top spots, you couldn't ask for a better finish. But back to the defending Champs. If they win out they could once again find themselves on top come week 16, in spite of their early hardships this season. A truly champion caliber feat. If any team is capable of doing it in Lion it's The Rhinos.
ASM: (9-3)
SSC: (9-3)
Both of these teams are at the crossroads of their season. This game tomorrow could make or break either squad. The winner is in The Show, the loser could find themselves on the outside looking in come the end of Week 16. Both teams are of the same mold, tough, gutsy, well run, both perhaps in the 2nd tier but both on the verge of taking that next step to the elite. SSC has the tougher road of the two with 3 games remaining against Top 10 teams as opposed to ASM's 2. Both teams need this win badly but SSC needs it more if they want their Cinderella season to continue to the postseason. The question basically comes down to, who wants it more. I expect a knock em down smash mouth bloodbath. Game of the Week material if I ever saw it. I can't wait to watch this battle.
TLGoT: (8-4)
Tap tap tap....tap tap tap....is this thing on? Hello...hello...Gunfghters..this is your 5 O'clock wake up call. We were right weren't we? You've been napping all year and are about to jump up and yell SURPRISE!!! Right? TLGoT has now lost to every ranked Elephant team that they've played so far. Four games to go and they find themselves on the verge of joining The Dream as the 2nd team who's been on this poll every week for 4 years straight, only to fall off of it this season. The Gunfighters have 4 very hungry teams right on their ass, teams that have been trying and clawing every minute of every game this season. There comes a tipping point where that team that has all the accolades and history falls to the hungry angry team. Ask Apollo Creed about Rocky, ask Rocky about Clubber Lang. Are you guys really going to give Mickey another heart attack? I can hear ABD, Ghana, Congo, and Cairo now....."He's a paper Champion!! He won't give me a shot because I'll whip his butt!! Hey woman...hey woman...I bet you lay awake all night dreaming of a real man. I tell you what, you bring your pretty little self to my apartment and I'll show you a real man." Yeah Rocky went 1-1 against Clubber, but you guys have to face him 3 times in the next 4 weeks. ABD, Ghana and Cairo. You better wake up now or my prediction for your future is.....Pain.
Ok another great turn out guys. Good luck everyone!!
Toad Out
2. Sierra Leone Stallions - 178 (+2)
3. Doinitin Djibouti - 162 (-2)
4. Dar es Salaam Warrior Kings - 130 (-1)
5. Seychelles Island Sea Wolves - 114 (-)
6. Somalia Pirates - 92 (New)
7. Windhoek White Rhinos - 80 (+3)
8. Angola Spider Monkeez - 48 (-2)
9. Sahara ShadowChasers - 46 (-2)
10. The Last Gunfighters of Texas - 40 (-2)
Teams Also Receiving Votes: Angola Dream - 8, Angola Blood Diamonds - 2
Teams Dropping out of Top 10: Ghana Buffalos
Game of the Week 1: #1 LOL vs. #2 SLS
Game of the Week 2: #8 ASM vs #9 SSC
Ten teams voted this week, Thanks!!
LOL: (12-0)
And then there was one. Three quarters of the season is over and LOL stands alone at the top of the heap. After defeating DD and following that up with two dominant performances over Cairo and a doormat, The Legos are the 1st team to receive every first place vote in a season 9 poll. But there is no rest for the weary, they may actually face their toughest test of the season this week against our #2 team.....
SLS: (11-1)
The Stallions extended their winning streak to 11 games this season by defeating DD in last week's Game of the Week. I warned you all last poll that Elephant was not a 2 horse race between DD and LOL. Everyone including myself was touting LOL vs DD as the game of the year, but we may all have jumped the gun. The Stallions did have a scare 3 weeks ago against MM, winning by only 1 point, but winners find ways to win. If SLS wins tomorrow they hold the reigns for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. This is also a huge game in that the loser could end up in DDs bracket and may have to face them again in the playoffs before getting to the Elephant championship game. Then again, the winner will most likely be in TLGoT's bracket. Regardless, tomorrow is huge for both SLS and LOL.
DD: (10-2)
Djibouti has had a rough couple of weeks since the last poll. They faced both LOL and SLS and came up short twice. As a result they went from the season long front runner in the polls to backseat driver, watching two other teams fight it out for the top seed. What's worse is that they still do not have a definite shot at the 3rd seed in Elephant. They have to face the red hot #6 Pirates in 3 weeks. If they lose that game it could set up a nightmare bracket in the playoffs with DD, TLGoT and the winner of the LOL/SLS game all seeded together. An almost impossible task for any team to overcome.
DeS: (10-2)
Another early favorite that has slipped a gear the last few games. The Warrior Kings lost back to back against The Dream and The Warthogs, two very good teams that have both been in the Top 10 this year, but neither are currently ranked. It gets worse, they still have to face two top ranked teams in #7 WWR and #9 SSC. The Warrior Kings currently hold the lead in Lion by the slightest of margins due to a 3 point win over #5 SISW. Lose any of their remaining games and Dar es risk watching another team pass them just as the Lion title was within reach. On the positive side, DeS hold their destiny in their own hands and their task is clear, win out and get that coveted #1 seed.
SISW: (10-2)
The Sea Wolves have succeeded where their rivals have failed. Unlike DeS, The Wolves defeated both The Dream and The Warthogs in the past 3 weeks and have put themselves in position to gain the Lion title. But if any team has a tougher finish than DeS, it's The Sea Wolves. They not only have to play #7 WWR and #9 SSC as well, but they have to face #8 ASM on top of that. Wow. The top spot in Lion may not be decided until the final whistle is blown in week 16.
SP: (10-2)
This week's biggest gainer are The Pirates who have reclaimed their position in the Top 10 at 6th place. Earlier in the season they lost a heartbreaker to SLS by 1 point and lost to a strong Ghana team by 6. Those two losses were enough to barely keep them off of the last poll by 2 votes. But they have come storming back with 3 impressive wins including a 2 point victory over TLGoT. But like so many other teams on this poll, Somalia will have to fight to stay here. They face DD and LOL their last two games of the season. They also face a MM squad who almost beat SLS three weeks ago. They are in the playoffs but their seed could be anywhere from 1st to 8th. It's up to them to decide where they end up.
WWR: (9-3)
Two down and two to go. Last poll I mentioned how difficult your defending Champs remaining schedule was as they had yet to face 4 teams ranked in the Top 10. Now here we sit 3 weeks later and The Rhinos' winning streak is still intact. They dispatched #9 SSC and #8 ASM in style, but now must look forward to facing #5 SISW and #4 DeS. I gotta take timeout here to give props to the schedule maker this season. On both sides of the league we have some incredibly exciting games to look forward to. Both conferences are up for grabs and so many teams are still in play for the top spots, you couldn't ask for a better finish. But back to the defending Champs. If they win out they could once again find themselves on top come week 16, in spite of their early hardships this season. A truly champion caliber feat. If any team is capable of doing it in Lion it's The Rhinos.
ASM: (9-3)
SSC: (9-3)
Both of these teams are at the crossroads of their season. This game tomorrow could make or break either squad. The winner is in The Show, the loser could find themselves on the outside looking in come the end of Week 16. Both teams are of the same mold, tough, gutsy, well run, both perhaps in the 2nd tier but both on the verge of taking that next step to the elite. SSC has the tougher road of the two with 3 games remaining against Top 10 teams as opposed to ASM's 2. Both teams need this win badly but SSC needs it more if they want their Cinderella season to continue to the postseason. The question basically comes down to, who wants it more. I expect a knock em down smash mouth bloodbath. Game of the Week material if I ever saw it. I can't wait to watch this battle.
TLGoT: (8-4)
Tap tap tap....tap tap tap....is this thing on? Hello...hello...Gunfghters..this is your 5 O'clock wake up call. We were right weren't we? You've been napping all year and are about to jump up and yell SURPRISE!!! Right? TLGoT has now lost to every ranked Elephant team that they've played so far. Four games to go and they find themselves on the verge of joining The Dream as the 2nd team who's been on this poll every week for 4 years straight, only to fall off of it this season. The Gunfighters have 4 very hungry teams right on their ass, teams that have been trying and clawing every minute of every game this season. There comes a tipping point where that team that has all the accolades and history falls to the hungry angry team. Ask Apollo Creed about Rocky, ask Rocky about Clubber Lang. Are you guys really going to give Mickey another heart attack? I can hear ABD, Ghana, Congo, and Cairo now....."He's a paper Champion!! He won't give me a shot because I'll whip his butt!! Hey woman...hey woman...I bet you lay awake all night dreaming of a real man. I tell you what, you bring your pretty little self to my apartment and I'll show you a real man." Yeah Rocky went 1-1 against Clubber, but you guys have to face him 3 times in the next 4 weeks. ABD, Ghana and Cairo. You better wake up now or my prediction for your future is.....Pain.
Ok another great turn out guys. Good luck everyone!!
Toad Out
Edited by killertoad on May 19, 2009 22:54:12
