1.) Gold Coast Michelin Men
I couldn't be any happier with the way our team came together this season and has been playing up to this point. Our staff has really done a great job and the agents are all active and motivated to be the best we can be. These few games have been what GLB is all about. The rest of the season is going to continue to be a challenge and we certainly welcome it. Thanks to all of you, especially Mad Cow and his awesome team for making this a fun place to play in Season 14.
2.) Eastern European Alliance
EEA is on fire and those of us who played them last season and kept an eye on their roster in the off season knew this was going to be a great team in Season 14. They have beaten some very good teams on their way to 4-0 but like the rest of us don't see any respite on the horizon. I expect them to lose a game or two but since no team is in a league of their own this season I think we should all expect to deal with the agony of defeat.
3.) Springville Renagades
Springville is the top newcomer to OPL. These guys are as familiar to me as a plate full of BBQ and that is something I know a bit about. The Renagades are an A+ team, evidenced by the extra A in their name. That extra A seems to be working wonders for them in Season 14 and while I don't see these guys running the table this season they are capable of beating any team in the conference and league.
4.) Christchurch Fighting Maori
It was apparent that this was a different Maori team from last season's and the early loss to a good team solidified that notion but make no mistakes about it, Christchurch is an elite team and with the influx of youth in the off season have given themselves quite a bit of room to grow from here to the playoffs. This is another team that I feel can beat anybody on the schedule but will also take a ding or two more from here on out.
5.) Gold Coast Vipers
Another team that I feel like I know all too much about. I don't mean to freak you guys out but I probably look at your rosters as much as my own, more if you combine you all together. The Vipers made some personnel changes too this off season and like the Maori, I don't think they grew quite as much as they could have but I think they may be better prepared for down the road than some. They too have lots of room to grow and are already a very formidable team.
6.) Death Dealers
They have a veteran roster with some youth and what appear to be top shelf builds. The game planning is sound and while they aren't overly vocal they carry a big stick when they take to the dotball field. I expect them to beat some of the top second and third season teams but could also drop one or two to some of the other great teams nipping at their heels.
7.) Indianapolis Gurupies
Here's another very good upstart that not only wants to be in the elite team conversation, they deserve to be at this point. I wouldn't want to be them when looking at their schedule for the rest of the season as I know what that stretch looks like to a first season team and I can tell you it is brutal. Indi can beat the best but there are too many pitfalls ahead for them to remain at one loss.
8.) Taylor Bulldogs
I can't say enough good things about this team. They have come to every game ready to compete and while they took a bit of a beating to my boys last week they are resilient and smart enough to know that our game could have been a lot different. I don't see Taylor running the table but I do see them being in the second group come playoff time and if they can get a favorable seed could make a run at it.
9.) Three Mile Island Meltdowns
More great new blood here folks. TMI has reason to be a bit cocky and if they can get a break or two may emerge as the premier upstart in Season 14. Like the rest of us I see too much competition for TMI to win out but these guys are going to be in the postseason and like many of their caliber can make a go at the title if the pieces fall into place just so.
10.) Telstar Rebels
In most cases I would be surprised to see such a good team from Season 13 coming in at 10th but considering the hyper-competitive nature of OPLA this season I am far from surprised nor worried. This is a great spot to make a move midway through the season. All a couple of teams need to do is not lose and they are going to find teams around them falling by the wayside left and right. I hope GCMM isn't one of them but I am here to tell you that no team is even close to being immune to the snakebite potential this conference holds in Season 14.
11.) Freedom Town Band of Brothers
FTBB could very easily be one of the 4-0 or 3-1 newcomers but as fate would have it they have run into more potholes than some. I know the ability of their staff and it is high. I can see this team making a move into the top 8 but I am afraid that there are just too few spots and too many teams that are as good or better than FTBB right now.
12.) (N.M.I) Pagan Fire Eaters
Here is another team that if they can string a few good wins together will reap the benefits of several teams ahead of them getting knocked off by almost any team they are forced to play. The Fire Eaters are a team with room to grow so expect them to keep getting better while others start to level of more noticeably.
13.) Melbourne Marvels
Due to OPLA's almost total domination of OPLZ in week one we are just now getting to the teams who already find themselves behind the 8 ball. The Marvels are no doormat but instead are probably just a victim of misfortune as much as anything else. They have been right there in all of their losses and had some impressive preseason games against some very tough OPLZ teams. I expect this team to either continue to fade or to take advantage of others lapses. What will determine those things is your guess but I could just as easily see it going one way as the other for Melbourne. If they are going to turn it around it has to start now. There is no room in this conference or league for that matter for those who allow themselves to be dug into a hole and that's where the 1-4 teams are going to be tomorrow night.
14.) Micronesia Megalodons
This is a team I have watched succed for some time now and yet with the 16 teams we have in OPLA I am not the least surprised to see them at #14 just as I wouldn't be surprised to see GCMM here. This is the week we need to see improvement from Micronesia and a win against Telstar will tell everyone the Megalodons are for real.
15.) Fiji Ventures
Fiji has had a slightly rougher time of things and I am afraid they are not quite ready to play with the bigs this season. They are a great team and will be better down the road if they keep their eyes on the prize.
16.) Guam Chamoros Rising Sun Devils
Guam may have taken the biggest hit during the off season from the turnover. I'm not sure if it is a Chemistry thing, a youth thing or a failure to upgrade thing but something is for certain, this team is not performing up to standards or outside expectations. I know how well run this team is and how capable the staff is so expect to Guam get better between Season 14 and 15.
I couldn't be any happier with the way our team came together this season and has been playing up to this point. Our staff has really done a great job and the agents are all active and motivated to be the best we can be. These few games have been what GLB is all about. The rest of the season is going to continue to be a challenge and we certainly welcome it. Thanks to all of you, especially Mad Cow and his awesome team for making this a fun place to play in Season 14.
2.) Eastern European Alliance
EEA is on fire and those of us who played them last season and kept an eye on their roster in the off season knew this was going to be a great team in Season 14. They have beaten some very good teams on their way to 4-0 but like the rest of us don't see any respite on the horizon. I expect them to lose a game or two but since no team is in a league of their own this season I think we should all expect to deal with the agony of defeat.
3.) Springville Renagades
Springville is the top newcomer to OPL. These guys are as familiar to me as a plate full of BBQ and that is something I know a bit about. The Renagades are an A+ team, evidenced by the extra A in their name. That extra A seems to be working wonders for them in Season 14 and while I don't see these guys running the table this season they are capable of beating any team in the conference and league.
4.) Christchurch Fighting Maori
It was apparent that this was a different Maori team from last season's and the early loss to a good team solidified that notion but make no mistakes about it, Christchurch is an elite team and with the influx of youth in the off season have given themselves quite a bit of room to grow from here to the playoffs. This is another team that I feel can beat anybody on the schedule but will also take a ding or two more from here on out.
5.) Gold Coast Vipers
Another team that I feel like I know all too much about. I don't mean to freak you guys out but I probably look at your rosters as much as my own, more if you combine you all together. The Vipers made some personnel changes too this off season and like the Maori, I don't think they grew quite as much as they could have but I think they may be better prepared for down the road than some. They too have lots of room to grow and are already a very formidable team.
6.) Death Dealers
They have a veteran roster with some youth and what appear to be top shelf builds. The game planning is sound and while they aren't overly vocal they carry a big stick when they take to the dotball field. I expect them to beat some of the top second and third season teams but could also drop one or two to some of the other great teams nipping at their heels.
7.) Indianapolis Gurupies
Here's another very good upstart that not only wants to be in the elite team conversation, they deserve to be at this point. I wouldn't want to be them when looking at their schedule for the rest of the season as I know what that stretch looks like to a first season team and I can tell you it is brutal. Indi can beat the best but there are too many pitfalls ahead for them to remain at one loss.
8.) Taylor Bulldogs
I can't say enough good things about this team. They have come to every game ready to compete and while they took a bit of a beating to my boys last week they are resilient and smart enough to know that our game could have been a lot different. I don't see Taylor running the table but I do see them being in the second group come playoff time and if they can get a favorable seed could make a run at it.
9.) Three Mile Island Meltdowns
More great new blood here folks. TMI has reason to be a bit cocky and if they can get a break or two may emerge as the premier upstart in Season 14. Like the rest of us I see too much competition for TMI to win out but these guys are going to be in the postseason and like many of their caliber can make a go at the title if the pieces fall into place just so.
10.) Telstar Rebels
In most cases I would be surprised to see such a good team from Season 13 coming in at 10th but considering the hyper-competitive nature of OPLA this season I am far from surprised nor worried. This is a great spot to make a move midway through the season. All a couple of teams need to do is not lose and they are going to find teams around them falling by the wayside left and right. I hope GCMM isn't one of them but I am here to tell you that no team is even close to being immune to the snakebite potential this conference holds in Season 14.
11.) Freedom Town Band of Brothers
FTBB could very easily be one of the 4-0 or 3-1 newcomers but as fate would have it they have run into more potholes than some. I know the ability of their staff and it is high. I can see this team making a move into the top 8 but I am afraid that there are just too few spots and too many teams that are as good or better than FTBB right now.
12.) (N.M.I) Pagan Fire Eaters
Here is another team that if they can string a few good wins together will reap the benefits of several teams ahead of them getting knocked off by almost any team they are forced to play. The Fire Eaters are a team with room to grow so expect them to keep getting better while others start to level of more noticeably.
13.) Melbourne Marvels
Due to OPLA's almost total domination of OPLZ in week one we are just now getting to the teams who already find themselves behind the 8 ball. The Marvels are no doormat but instead are probably just a victim of misfortune as much as anything else. They have been right there in all of their losses and had some impressive preseason games against some very tough OPLZ teams. I expect this team to either continue to fade or to take advantage of others lapses. What will determine those things is your guess but I could just as easily see it going one way as the other for Melbourne. If they are going to turn it around it has to start now. There is no room in this conference or league for that matter for those who allow themselves to be dug into a hole and that's where the 1-4 teams are going to be tomorrow night.
14.) Micronesia Megalodons
This is a team I have watched succed for some time now and yet with the 16 teams we have in OPLA I am not the least surprised to see them at #14 just as I wouldn't be surprised to see GCMM here. This is the week we need to see improvement from Micronesia and a win against Telstar will tell everyone the Megalodons are for real.
15.) Fiji Ventures
Fiji has had a slightly rougher time of things and I am afraid they are not quite ready to play with the bigs this season. They are a great team and will be better down the road if they keep their eyes on the prize.
16.) Guam Chamoros Rising Sun Devils
Guam may have taken the biggest hit during the off season from the turnover. I'm not sure if it is a Chemistry thing, a youth thing or a failure to upgrade thing but something is for certain, this team is not performing up to standards or outside expectations. I know how well run this team is and how capable the staff is so expect to Guam get better between Season 14 and 15.
Edited by Wolfpack Justice on Feb 16, 2010 17:59:05
Edited by Wolfpack Justice on Feb 16, 2010 16:14:38
Edited by Wolfpack Justice on Feb 16, 2010 16:09:10
Edited by Wolfpack Justice on Feb 16, 2010 16:06:57
Edited by Wolfpack Justice on Feb 16, 2010 16:06:05
Harder SoS so far. But it would be great to see GCMM and EEA 15-0 going into the final game of the season.
