By R.E. Porter
Associated Web Press
Owner of the hottest team in the NFFA and 2010 Coach of the Year, Dave the Animal begins his quest for his first championship ring Thursday night, and the question on everyone's mind is this: Can anyone stop the Cambridge Animals' awesome awesomeness?
Music City Sports Book is drinking the DTA Kool-Aid, installing the Animals as 3-2 favorites for the title, followed by the Fidalgo Island Sea Hogs (3-1), the West Nashville Beelzebubbas (5-1) and the Atlanta Smack Daddies (6-1).
According to MCSB spokesperson House Wynn, the Animals, who dethroned the East Nashville Black Dogs in the Jorge division, get the nod because "they have quarterback Tom Brady and the other teams don't."
When it comes to championships, DTA's three opponents all have been there and done that — both Lex Dominica (Smack Daddies) and Tarik Obobber (Sea Hogs) have two titles, and the ghost of Boyd X. Biggs (Beelzebubbas) has one.
But DTA, who is a self-proclaimed coaching genius, is not without playoff experience. The Animals were upset by the Southall Block Rockers in the 2004 championship game and also made the playoffs in 2006. DTA's coaching genius is widely recognized, having not only developed quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, but also pioneered the controversial 2Q system, which was struck down two years ago as illegal by Commissioner William D. Money. This season, he is credited with reviving the career of Brady, whom he shrewdly obtained in a trade with the Midtown Mojo.
In fact, after the Sea Hogs and the East Nashville Black Dogs, the Animals have been the third-most successful franchise in the seven-season, playoff era, as the table below shows.
One of DTA's rivals for the title admitted to this reporter that "it may be the Animals' year to get a championship."
If Animals fall short in their goal of a first title, the Daddies and Hogs will try to become the first team with three championships, while the 'Bubbas will attempt to become the fourth team with two rings. (In addition to the Smack Daddies and Sea Hogs, the Black Dogs have two titles.)
