SEA HOGS NFFA'S BEST AT HALFWAY POINT
Hogs, Mojo Crash 200-point party
By R.E. Porter, Associated Web Press
Looking in the rearview mirror at the first half of the NFFA season while wondering whatever happened to Joe Biddle's brain.
Not surprising — The Fidalgo Island Sea Hogs lead the Linardo division with a league-best 6-1 record. The East Nashville Black Dogs (5-2) are in their customary spot atop the Jorge division.
Somewhat surprising — Nipping at the Sea Hogs heels (or whatever a Sea Hog has) are the Midtown Mojo. Rookie owner/coach Mojo D has brought the smackulation and backed it up with a 5-2 record at the halfway mark. In the Jorge division, West Nashville has been shut out of the postseason since the league switched to a playoff format in 2004, but the Beelzebubbas are one game back of the Black Dogs at 4-3. Plus, after edging the Dogs by one point last weekend, the 'Bubbas are 3-0 in the division and record within the division is one of the playoff tiebreakers. Black Dogs coach Jim McMahon believes West Nashville owner/coach Boyd X. Biggs has a Highlander thing going on where the more terrorists Biggs kills, the stronger the 'Bubbas get. The 4-3 Cambridge Animals are also one game back of the Black Dogs, which is slightly surprising when you consider head coach Joe Namath was in rehab for the first three games, all victories for the team. Since Namath's return, the Animals are 1-3.
Definitely surprising — The defending champions Atlanta Smack Daddies are mired in the cellar of the Linardo Division with a 1-6 record and a power ranking of 6 (the Sea Hogs lead the league with a power ranking of 23). There has been some speculation on Atlanta talk radio that owner/coach Lex Dominica has been spending too much time on his duties as chairman of the NFFA competition committee.
Beyond surprising — The 12th Avenue Bakers were darlings of the media in the preseason, even picked by Nashvegas oddsmakers to dethrone the Black Dogs as Jorge division champs. At the halfway point, the Bakers season is in shambles, a power ranking of 3, the first team ever to be winless after seven weeks. Owner GQ Denney has been roundly criticized by members of the Baker nation, who seem to no longer be willing to accept Denney's excuses and promises. Denney has $20 million riding on a bet with McMahon that the Bakers can win seven straight and finish with a .500 record.
Hit Submit — At 3-4, the Alamo Scouts are still positioned to make a second-half run to the playoffs. No telling what the team's record might be if owner/coach Thurman Murrman could remember to "submit" his lineup changes.
Club not so exclusive anymore — After predictions of 400-points in last weekend's Beelzebubbas-Black Dogs match-up, neither team broke 150, the Dogs and 'Bubbas had their exclusive party crashed. The Midtown and Fidalgo Island franchises earned membership in the so-called "200-Point Club" when the Mojo whacked the Scouts 218.5-152 and the Sea Hogs smacked the Daddies 205-105. The Mojo total was the third-highest score ever, while the Sea Hogs' mark was seventh-best ever. Meanwhile, the Scouts had 200-plus points put on them for the third time, as did the Smack Daddies — the Daddies for the third time this season. When asked for comment, Black Dogs GM Buddy Ryan said, "I bet the little monkey is so [expletive] high today, he can hardly stand it. And it's good to see Bobber finally graduate from the One-Short Club. Now we'll see if he has what it takes to join the 'Bubbas and us in the 220-Point Club."
The "200-Point Club"
1. Beelzebubbas, 233.5 points (2007, week 2 vs. Smack Daddies)
2. Black Dogs, 231 points (2006, week 10 vs. Scouts)
3. Mojo, 218.5 points (2007, week 7 vs. Scouts)
4. Black Dogs, 215 points (2005, week 3 vs. Scouts)
4. Black Dogs, 215 points (2007, week 6 vs. Animals)
6. Black Dogs, 207 points (2007, week 4 vs. Smack Daddies)
7. Sea Hogs, 205 points (2007, week 7 vs. Smack Daddies)
8. Black Dogs, 201 points (2005, week 6 vs. Bakers)
