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“Now maybe someone can do one of his patented tournament handicap updates (hint, hint).” -- ANON
Not wanting to disappoint our beloved Lord of the paiRings, here is one handicapper’s
assessment of the 2011 Sandbag (followed by Week 1 predictions):
Gandalf League
The Fellowship (Stringz and Wingz, Streetsboro OH), "formerly of Damon's Twinsburg, and former-ormerly of Damon's Stow, and former-ormer-ormerly of Bennigan's Cuyahoga Falls," was last week's top team by nearly 1,000 points, posting the first seven best individual scores. So why are they seeded first? Well, with them closing down bars left, right and sideways it's impossible to get an accurate ranking or average. Let's just say that they're hosting this year and their's was the first name that came to mind.
Mad River XTRAIN leads a team that has slipped from some of its glory, but watch out when they're on a roll. With three Showdown wins this year (tied for third-most), I suspect that they want the Sandbag trophy on their shelf. And they'll take the PINKPG trophy too, thank you. But can they defeat the Fellowship?
New Edinburgh Pub of Ottawa boasts a Showdown average ranking of #30, but is 14th best in Place Points, which means they show up on the board week after week. They are the best Canadian team in the Sandbag. They stunned Fletcher's in the 2011 McCarthy Cup and proved that they can play with the best anywhere. If that's true, then let me introduce them to The Fellowship and Mad River.
Scooter’s Pub This team seems to have become the go-to Showdown spot in Vegas, replacing BWW-Rhodes Ranch. They're Showdown record this year is up and down, which sounds all too familiar to me. While they deserve a sincere wish of "Good luck," they're playing Vegas odds against some of the best.
Frodo League
Danny K's Love 'em or hate 'em, these guys are soooo good. They currently own the PINKPG trophy for the best cumulative score in last year's Sandbag Round Robin, and took the McCarthy Cup this past Spring. Ranked #1 in Showdown Average and #2 in Place Points, Danny K's wants the Trifecta and perhaps only The Fellowship stands in their way.
Fletcher's Pub It's been a tough summer for the Kzoo Krew, with last week being one of its best in a while. Easily Michigan's best Showdown team, Fletcher's has a history of surprisingly strong showings when they were needed. They always come to win, and at full strength are always in the running. Can they get it up in Week 3 against Danny K's?
Old Chicago-Overland Park QUAGGA and EQUUS lead a solid team that used to play at Johnny's Tavern. Don Denton ranks them at #41 in Showdown Average. They'll need to be at their best to move on in this league.
Rembrandt's, Calgary The best Showdown average in Calgary, so folks stampede to play there. [Ahem] Showdown ranking is #62, according to Don Denton. PENGWN has migrated to Rembrandt's, but he and his flock are outmatched in this league. This year.
Samwise League
In The Zone Place Points = #1. Showdown Average = #2. That's damn fine playing. Perhaps due to The Fellowship's multiple moves, these rankings are inaccurate, but In The Zone IS the 3rd seed here and have the second highest number of Showdown wins this year. TIMUR leads a terrific group of folks who know how to win.
SRO OT This is where DINGO and AARDVK play. Mad River bumped them in last year's Round Robin in a close game. They want back into the Big Dance. None of this league's teams should be overlooked for an upset, especially SRO OT.
End Zone I'm guessing here, but if this is the former BWW-Ironton team at a new home, then this is the team that had everyone in the 2011 McCarthy Cup doing their best Paul Newman-as-Butch Cassidy impression, saying, "Who are these guys?" If I'm wrong, then never mind. As BWW-Ironton, they swept their league, beating Grand Slam and Blue Goose. These guys could be sleepers.
Hokie House VIKING leads a solid team that Don Denton ranks as 58th in Showdown Average and 33rd in Place Points. They lost to Fletcher's and Tailgate last year for a 1-2 record. This year's no picnic again with its three other league-mates. But this is the Old Dominion and they're fighters.
Galadriel League
Jilly's As Sullivan's or Jilly's, this is an elite team as evidenced by their 4th seed overall. Led by DAIMYO and PYRE, they'll be tough to beat, as they were last year when they went 3-0. A class team that lost its first Sweet Sixteen game last year to eventual Sandbag champions The Fellowship. I'll bet that they're still pissed about that.
Houlihan's-Brick Seeded 8th last year, the Garden Staters were stunned by West Park Station and finished 1-2 for the Round Robin. Again higher ranked than their Cleveland league-mates, I think that they're looking for redemption and will come out swinging.
Holiday Inn-Vancouver is the Sandbag's west-est and BC's bestest, ranked 35. But last year they went 0-3 against Grand Slam, Blue Goose and BWW-Muskegon. They're doing well this year in Showdown and want some redemption too. But it's a tough league.
West Park Station Nice folks and friends of fellow Buckeyes The Fellowship, these Clevelanders have steadily improved over the years. WONK and TRVGRL et al will be tested early by Jilly's, then Houlihan's-Brick. They won their league last year, so perhaps Iron Chef Michael Symon can spice up their game.
Aragorn League
Houlihan's-Westbury BEEL and MUTTS have led this team to heights undreamed of by New York’s mortal men -- they outrank Mad River! Seeded fifth overall this year, with a Showdown win under their belts, they're tough. But Tailgate and Stadium Cafe await, so a Houlihan's win will be well earned.
Tailgate Led by GOD himself, they're the best in the Gopher State and have two Showdown wins this year. They finished 5th last week. Ranked 19th in Showdown Average and Place Points this year, they won their 2010 Sandbag Round Robin league by beating some clowns from Kalamazoo and going 3-0. Look for them to do well again this year.
Stadium Café At the turn of the millennium, this team was the top wrangler at the rodeo, winning the 2000 McCarthy Cup. Though other posses have moved ahead of them since, this Addison, TX team should not be under-estimated. Can the once-king return in the Aragorn league?
Old Barn in Portland is representing Oregon this year rather than Gator's Pub. Old Barn seems to be fairly consistent in Showdown scoring, but these 61st-ranked Sandbag rookies face three veteran teams. We wish them luck.
Gimli League
Varsity Grill and Bar Just because you don't recognize the location, know that KENDO and crew have re-located to Varsity from BWW-Tallahassee, no doubt due to Blazin' Wings overload. But the team is hot enough without the sauce -- #1 in the Sunshine State. They’ll be hard to beat.
Teaser's If you want to play Showdown in Chicago and likely win, you play at Teaser's. CLIPPR and MERKIN (look it up) et al may not have Varsity's numbers, but they bring Da Bears and Da Bulls when they need to. It's a tough team and the best in the state.
Touch of Class There is nothing north of Edmonton except tundra, so these folks practice their trivia. They have a Showdown ranking of #39 and the best average in Alberta of teams with more than 10 games this year. If they bring an Alberta Clipper with them, they compete well.
PrimeTime It's gotta be tough in Tampa to compete against In The Zone, but PrimeTime does well. Seeded 4th in their league last year, they beat Heroes-Wichita and Adam's Mill and won their league. Their only loss then was to Teaser's, so the re-match will be one to watch.
Eowyn League
Concert Pub Don Denton lists 29 locations in Texas (the most of any state) worthy of his list. And Concert Pub is the best of 'em, posting an 11th best Showdown Average and 8th best Place Points ranking. BBBB and CLAVIN finished just behind crosstown rival SRO OT last week. I'll bet that's got their dander up for this first week. And maybe for the tournament.
Beef O'Brady's, Newburgh IN Never heard of them? Well, this is where CONDOR landed and finished 11th last week. As Old Chicago-Evansville last year, this team was just getting settled and went 0-3 in the Sandbag. But they ain't the second seed in the Eowyn League this year for nuthin'.
Adam's Mill There are only three Showdown spots in The Nutmeg State and Adam's Mill is the best of 'em. RICHTE, TIM and the rest can surprise ya -- last year, third seeded in their league, they beat Heroes-Wichita and Teaser's, ultimately losing their league title on the tie-breaker. They come to play.
Old Town Tavern is not the best team in the Sandbag, but they always show up ready to compete and can surprise anyone. Last year they went 1-2 last year in the Round Robin proving that they can win.
Legolas League
Grand Slam One of the grand ole teams and perennially among the best. Ranked 10th in Showdown average, they are always a team anyone loves to beat . . .and seldom does.
Henry Hudson's Seeded 11th in last year's Sandbag, these Sooners were upset by BWW-Tallahassee (now Varsity) in the Round Robin. They should do well in games one and two, but can they pull the upset trick against Grand Slam? It's truly possible.
Duke's of Scottsdale is a comer to watch. From 0 Top 100 finishes in 2006-09, last year they posted 17 Final Board appearances and they rank 30th in Place Points. Their work is cut out for them against Grand Slam and Henry Hudson's.
Alibis I don't know much about this Indianapolis team -- they're relatively new. Don Denton's stats are: #103 in Showdown average and #106 in Place Points. Playing against Grand Slam and Henry Hudson's will be lesson in elite play.
Elrond League
Coaches Albuquerque's best went to the Elite Eight last year and they want more. They're the fourth highest ranked team in Place Points and 12th in Showdown Average. BLZBUB and MENTAT will give their league and all of the rest all that they can handle this go-around.
Blue Goose ROOROO and the Gaggle are real gamers, ranked 31 in Showdown average and 22 in Place Points. They’re here every tournament and always win games, if not the title. Coaches better keep their eyes on the Gaggle in Week 3.
8th Street Grill Watch out for these guys -- you never know when they'll rear up and bite ya. In the Sandbag 2010, they lost to SRO OT, but bounced back to defeat Mad River (!!!) and Old Chicago-Evansville, losing their league on points. They can play.
Baxter's, Fairview Heights IL Another newcomer -- or maybe not. MITCHWOLF(of BWW-O'Fallon and GRIFF(of Laclede Street) are playing here, bringing Sandbag experience with them. Dueling with the top three seeds in this league is going to be a challenge.
PREDICTIONS:
I’m picking favorites in the first week, especially with the #1 seeds facing the #4s. For upset possibilities, I’d look to Holiday Inn-Vancouver and Stadium Café to surprise us all.
Good luck all.
_________________
"Do just once what others say you can't do, and you will never pay attention to their limitations again.”
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e pull off the Big upset
