Overdogs bite back; 4 snipers eliminated in opening weekend

Survivors divide into two classes; craziness still in effect

---------------------------------

After a season characterized by a plethora of upsets, the favorites reigned 

this weekend, and as a result, four longshotters were shown the door in the 

FMNFLP.  Kathy made her move with the Chiefs, Zack stayed loyal to his Jets, 

JLee also jumped on the Jet jalopy, and Sabbe just barely missed with the 

Giants.  All were eliminated.

     Meanwhile, Wego "took the week" by the driving the middle road, but

he 

only picked up a single point on the lead, and four other middle-roaders 

finished within 2 points of his pace.

     Overall, the true "moving game" was the Seahawk/Cowboy debacle, where

a 

flubbed snap possibly changed the entire face of the playoff head.  Diane 

and Robert Emerton used the game to (barely) catch Robert Hassanali and Bill 

Ellis atop the standings; Wego and BAMF were stung; and Scott Wyatt and Eric 

Emerton took Kathy's and Zack's spot in the next round.

    Entering the next round, Diane has the lead, but unless she's the Colts 

and plans on putting up a "Final Round Participant" banner, it doesn't

mean 

much.  Robert and Robert trail by 1 and 2 points, and Bill is only 5 points 

back in what is the closest Top 4 we'll ever see at this stage in the 

season.  Behind those 4 leaders lurk a group of 4 snipers, each of them just 

1 or 2 upset picks away from taking somebody's spot in the next round.

    And now let the mindgames begin.  If the four predators all make a 

different move, then with *each* upset, the slowest water buffalo might get 

caught.  So will the leaders just duck and hope to avoid 3rd or 4th place?  

Or will one of them make their own move?  And if a couple of them *do* make 

their own move, then can one of the snipers catch them with "middle of the 

road" picks?

     This much is sure -- unless the snipers all go conservative (which they 

won't), we're in for a historically crazy playoff weekend.  Good luck to

the 

Final Eight, and good times.





News and Notes:



- "Odd man out" Mike Godsey, whose playoff spot was lost when he picked

up 

Kathy's phone call at 4:58pm, got absolutely butchered in the "second 

chance" pool, thus curtailing any potential "13th Man Anguish."  

Money 

Retsek did not make 2nd chance picks.



- JLee's 12th place finish was his best in the past 5 years, after *eight* 

straight seasons of finishing better than that.



- Chris Sabbe's 11th place finish will qualify him for "Comeback Player

of 

the Year" after three straight child-ridden years of finishing 17th, 20th, 

and 23rd.  Had he submitted his picks just a few minutes earlier in Week 

Whatever, he would probably still be competing.



- Kathy Wyatt's 9th place finish was her best in 4 years, when she finished 

6th.



- Zack Schwartz tied Kathy in 9th place, in his first year in the pool on 

his own.  Teamed with KenDoggie, they finished 21st and 18th over the last 

two years.  This year, Ken finished 16th.  Clearly the Nation of Z-A-C-K is 

better off as an independent force.  That's kind of sad.



- Last year's Final Four (The Emertons and Bill) are now sitting in 1st, 

2nd, 4th, and 6th.  Only Wego and Patrick were not in last year's playoffs.





Next Week:



- Sully's Pats at Patrick's Chargers.

(Also, EEEEE Emerton is on record for claiming the Pats will "dismantle"

the 

Chargers.  It will be interesting to see if that manifests into an actual 

pick.  See "Trash Talk" for details.)

- Colts at Ravens

- Eagles at Saints

- Seahawks at Bears



Good times, everyone.