The Wrath of Khan (Div A) – Week 14

What did I learn from the DA finals last weekend? This was an intense battle between two teams scratching, and clawing their way to the FPF pantheon.

Recap

Heading into this tilt between the two best teams in DA, many figured there would be a volcanic offensive explosion. Well, for those who were in attendance, the first half of the football game lacked any outburst and was comparable to a turtle crossing the street.

In fact, during the halftime break, I told one of the players, I was falling asleep. Essentially, to sum it up, it was a lack of execution. Maybe it was the bye week layoff that resulted in only two total touchdowns being scored. But clearly, both teams were a step too slow in executing their game plan.

But for the players who I penciled in my preview article as the key elements, were nowhere to be found. Carmine Pollice was surprisingly not on point, as Marc Champagne was able to get a beat on most of his throws in the first half.

Adi Sharma, overall, had a very tough game, as the football was too often going through his hands. It seemed like every time he had an opportunity to seize the moment, he didn’t.

Once the second half opened, it was a different story altogether. The Mercenaries got their act together quickly. It was as if the light switch went on, and they figured out how to play the game of football like they know they can.

Matt Norzil took this game in his hands with a key interception for a touchdown in which he had a nice hand gesture for his friendly-rival Jamaal Pierre. Norzil did not care he was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct, the satisfaction of scoring was euphoria for him, and his teammates.

To add insult to injury, late in the second half, Stephan Osman, made an acrobatic endzone interception on his winter teammate, Benny Goodfriend, that looked to have killed all hopes for the Goodfellas. This was not the best game by Goodfriend, as he simply never got in the groove of things.

The Goodfellas seemed to have received second life via a shocking end zone sack of Carmine Pollice by Jon Young, which resulted in two points for the Goodellfas and a change in possession with four plays left. Unfortunately for the Goodfellas, they were not able to take advantage of Young’s huge play, and came up just two points short of a championship.

Was It Benny Goodfriend’s Fault?

Benny Goodfriend seemed flustered from the get go. He certainly did not have his “A” game going for him. It was obvious from the first series, as Karl De Nie had a momentum changing sack to derail the Goodfellas opening drive.

Not to solely pin the loss on Goodfriend, but after that sack, it seemed the team was never in the flow of things. His usually routine completions were incompletions. After each unsuccessful attempt, the frustration started to grow on his face.

The team should have taken him aside, and calmed him down to be the quarterback who has been very successful in FPF for the last 8-months.

Finally, on the last play of the game, the decision to have a hobbling Nathan Taylor throw a Hail Mary pass that was well short of the end zone had many spectators looking quite surprised. I can understand the philosophy of stretching the defense, but Taylor did not have enough time to set, and throw. It should have been Goodfriend throwing the football, because you want your best player to have a say on the last page of the game.

Overall, speaking to some members of the FPF community, many are still not convinced that Goodfriend can dethrone the king (Pollice) from his throne.

This, of course, wasn’t completely Goodfriend’s fault, but he didn’t help the cause by having a bad game in the finals.

Did Anyone Call the FPF Police?

Where was Ricky Martin? Now, whether or not he would have made a difference, he at least would have brought another weapon at Goodfriend’s disposal. The offense was lacking its full artillery of weaponry it desperately needed.

Martin’s presence would have altered the game somewhat, because he was far healthier than Taylor was, and would have provided the team another body on very thin bench.

Now, the reason for involving the FPF police: Paul Lapierre told me that Martin was on his way. Did he get lost? (To be continued)

The Greatest of All Time?

Without a doubt, Carmine Pollice is the combination of Kobe Bryant, and Peyton Manning. He has cemented himself in his own stratosphere as the greatest FPF football player.

He can lose the next four FPF finals, but that will not alter his reign. To be undefeated in every finals he has participated, has shown his ability to adjust to any environment he is in.

At the start of the season, it seemed that the Mercenaries would have great difficulty playing with each other, given how the ever revolving roster was. I am sure they will not deny this, but they had a tough opening few weeks with no Matt Norzil (injured), their defense was atrocious, and last but not least a serious lack of depth.

But yet, the one constant, no matter how injured he was, Pollice was there guiding his troops with the help of Gino Di Fazio, and Don Shepherd to the DA title.

As hated as he is by some on the football field, Pollice is a winner. He has made sub average teams play like the ’07 New England Patriots. Not to say that this edition of the Mercenaries was below average. But he has learned how to adapt to any situation seamlessly.

Love him, or hate him, his inner-Kobe Bryant was unleashed in the second half of the FPF season. Pollice has now won six championships at the highest level of FPF. 

Future Considerations

What holds for the future of the FPF? Bigger, and greater things as the league will approach its twelfth season.

For one, there will be some wholesale changes to rosters galore across the entire league. Already, the recruiting has started for some, as rumors  abound on which player will play where in 2011?

The potential landscape for D2 winter?

One thing has been somewhat confirmed, Click Clack has disbanded, and will comeback as the G-Men. What does this mean for Danny Gentile? He is looking for a new team, as the team has decided to forge ahead with young Gianni Settino as their leader.

The rumor on the revival of the Young Guns is apparently in the works. Could a team that was the early trend setter be ascending from the ashes to form a brand new version?

These are the early questions that are being bounced around the D2 circles. The next four months should prove to be an intriguing battle for the free agency fictional championship title. 

Thank-You

I appreciate the support, kind words, and well wishers in doing these columns, and hosting the WEPL. It was a lot of fun to include newcomer and heir apparent to my hosting job J.P. Mancini. I am sure that next year, (in which we will approach our 100th episode sometime in the Spring season) will be better than years’ past. Take-care, and enjoy the offseason.