The War Room (DB) – Week 9

So with one week left until the playoffs, most of this article should be dedicated to what certain teams need to do to improve and peak at the right time. Well, you know what? I’m sick of all the old clichés: “Peak too soon, slumping late in the season, shake up the depth chart, fine tune to get ready etc…” In fact I’ll honestly try and stay away from any garbage clichés in this week’s article. What I will do for all of you, is give you a very politically incorrect version of what I think of the state of Division B as of Week 10.  For starters, last week’s most important win was not that of Redemption beating the Qb’less Kings or the Falcons regaining their stride against the Motley Crew, it was of two people (and their respective teams) battling it out for the last few moments of divisional relevance before they get eliminated and we forget they even exist. I am talking about the much hyped and obviously controversial bout between RHC and DIP. The battle of the acronyms was anything but pretty, it consisted of one decent team (RHC) inflicting its will on a poor, hapless and surprisingly pathetic DIP squad. While I will not mention which DIP individual talked a huge game prior to this match, I’m sure he realizes his mistake on under estimating the talent of Tony Tabet and Ara Ekmekdjian. While Ara loves to talk a big game (often comparing himself to Ocho Cinco), he most certainly backed it up this week with an impressive 50 yards, 2 tds and 1 sack. It is sad to think that had RHC pulled it together earlier in the year, they might be a darkhorse to surprise a lot of upper echelon teams in the conference. This week will decide if they are playoff bound as they face that poor excuse for a football team “Thundering Herd”.   As for DIP, Bon Voyage! Next up on the docket, I will sum up each team (to date) with one Youtube Reference…

 

Power Rankings:

 

1. Alkoholics: So far this season, they have played liked they were http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMbtzalS3u8

 

2. G-MEN:  When Kevin Solarik looks at Nareg Yessayn downfield he gets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI4fzajz3Ok

 

3. Mercenaries: Gino has his team thinking the world is out to get them and is pondering remaking the video to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCqQ2JcQWGs

 

4. Choppers: Sean Avraam continues to reassure me that http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PP1HEFlkdY&feature=related

 

5. Redemption: Andre Knights must be thinking that if they are to win in the playoffs, he is going to have to do it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaCU4w2HTco

 

6. Kings: Losing to Redemption, Rehan was wondering what happened to his QB and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LFXLE8R5mg

 

 

7. Falcons: When asked if they ever thought about missing the playoffs, they replied with http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j4CGta0j9Y

 

8. Motley Crew: Their season feels like a http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9sraruD8ho

 

9. Dirty Birds: They just made it into the playoffs and are now trying to assure everyone that http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxZInIyOBXk&feature=fvst

 

10. Predators:  Well, nobody really talks about them much and they are playoff bound so I can assume they are all yelling http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSQDqNFvYD4

 

11. North Shore: When he you actually figure out why you are slipping each game, please http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8OipmKFDeM&feature=related

 

12. RHC: With one game to go and a playoff potential, they need to tell themselves to  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CTkCnad2BE

 

13. DIP: With their impending elimination if RHC wins this weekend, they can all be prepared to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DArtWpCU-IE

 

14. CCI Eagles: They got to be looking forward to next season and hoping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbDlU2jSWsw&feature=PlayList&p=3C94A2C13CB653F7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2

 

15. Primetime Panthers: Losing to the Dirty Birds all that’s left to say is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JoJqID-wJY

 

16. Thundering Herd:  With one week left, and nothing much to play for we are asking you to just http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOL5cpwTkes

 

 

Castleton’s Random Thoughts of the Week:

 

1. Redemption: Huge win for the franchise over the Kings, you definitely exposed their weakness on defence. I told you guys that I didn’t think you could do it, and you proved me wrong!

 

2. Alkoholics: I’d be very scared of this team if I was in Conference B. With all the emphasis on Conference A, they have become the team to beat.  Lapierre is a great all around player in this league.  

 

3. Ara and Tony: It was a true pleasure watching the performance you put on last week, all eyes were on the RHC and you didn’t disappoint.

 

4. Ryan Kastner: Good to hear you are recovering from your ailment and I wish you the best of luck in returning to the gridiron battle in 2010.

 

5. Touch for a Cure: Still time to register, please do so (visit website for more details). Take your shot at the WEPL team!

 

6. Thundering Herd:  You built yourself a nice reputation last season and now you have managed to squander all of it. I wonder if you guys will even bother in Winter 2010.

 

7. Wyeth: Kevin’s wife is expecting to deliver this week and we wish his new addition and the rest of his family all the best!

 

 

Castleton Connection (League Edition):

 

1. Best game you have witnessed this season?
2. If you could see any final this season, which teams would you match up?
3. Weirdest thing you have seen on a football field in FPF?
4. Best/ Favorite player to watch in FPF and why?
5. Two teams you would hate to ref a game between?

 

 

Robert Campana, President:

 

1. I’ve scorekept some pretty tight games this season. I can’t think of any in particular, but if this question included the last Winter season, the Division One Championship Game would be right at the top. It was probably the best FPF game I’ve seen.

2. No chance you’re getting an answer from me here, Ross! I just hope for good, clean, uncontroversial games.

3. A player trying to get on the field with his iPod on, guys asking if they can play with sunglasses on, teams desperately trying to recruit scorekeepers to play before a forfeiting game…

4. There are so many great players in FPF it’s hard to single any player out. However, the players I do enjoy watching the most are the hidden gems no one talks about that play with class and respect for their opponents and the officials. A few players that come to mind are David Faucher, Michael Dwyer, Gary Bloomfield, Chris Santini, Maxime Lemieux, Edward Shoshan and the list goes on. As far as raw talent goes, the best player I’ve ever seen play in FPF Moe Khan 😉

5. Teams who constantly complain must not be a thrill to officiate, but I think I’ll plead the fifth on this fifth question!

 

Leo Gervais, Referee:

 

1. Shockers and Ruff Ryders of Happiness. I was lucky enough to be the head ref on the DIV 1 winter final which was a phenomenal game all around and a real pleasure to referee. I think most referees hope that nobody remembers they were on the game.

2. Shockers vs Ruff Ryders of Happiness OR Titans

3. Guys who are surprised when they are asked to leave field when they have jewellery on, even after years of the rule being in effect. Read the rule book!

4. So many great players, very hard to choose one. But I’d say Nathan Taylor (athleticism), Adi Sharma (smarts, rule knowledge and leadership) and Kevin Wyeth (arm, accuracy and clutch player) are three of the best I have seen. Karim Binette and Andre Knights are probably the best two-way players in the league in my view. In addition, most of these players know how to work the refs respectfully and forcefully lol!

5. Any two teams who forget that in the end, it is a game. Play hard, but respect the game and all that means. Arguing with the refs continuously is like yelling at the ocean when you are in a ship during a storm. When the storm passes, the ocean will still be there, so you need to learn how to work with it.

 

Victor Coppola, Scorekeeper:

 

1.Ruff Ryders of Happiness vs Rainmakers Week 5

2.Ruff Ryders of Happiness vs Shockers

3.Player talking on his cell phone at the line of scrimmage

4.Marc Champangne, all play no talk!

5.Dip Vs Texas All-Stars

 

 

Moe Khan, Bench Warmer/ WEPL Host:

 

1. None!!!

2. Whoever makes it to the finals.

3. See Victor Coppola’s response.

4. If it isn’t Moe Khan, then it has to be Stephen Primeau, because he has a man crush/bromance for Moe Khan. A close second is Jamil Springer. I love watching him play in Florida!!! 😉 A distant tie for third, Andre Knights, and Kishon Thompson, because they wish they had a chest like me!!! lol lol lol Finishing outside of the medals, Nathan Taylor, because I make him look good as if he is running 4.2 than his normal 4.7 speed of his!!! lol lol lol Finally Rey Starwar, because of his huge D3/DC male groupie following that he has!!! lol lol lol

5. Football teams who have low football IQs, and don’t respect the refs!!!

 

 

Quote of the week:

 

 

“Man i wish i was playing. All this shit talking and i can’t do anything. Wait til’ winter DIP. And you’re not even close to getting under my skin.”

 

                        – Rick Cummins, from the peanut gallery, trying to stay relevant on