It's no secret. There's one thing the Pacemaker loves; Flag football. More specifically Mercer County flag football. I eat, sleep and touch myself to the thought of this stuff. My obsession with this league is so great and my excitement for this upcoming season so extreme that I purchased a "Freshly Cut Grass" candle from my local Target, fired her up in a dimly lit room and watched old Asfit/Warrior highlight videos. If you have an opportunity to do so, I highly recommend it. You really get to appreciate how Hector Soler draws out the emotion of a flag football game with a video camera. All-star quality some would say.
Right about now you're probably wondering what the point of all this rambling is. Well, the point is that since I'm such an MCFFL addict I spend a lot of my time thinking about this league and sometimes I feel the need to express my thoughts in the form of the written word. With only a couple days remaining until the beginning of the season, I think some sort of rankings/predictions are in order. However, one thing I have learned over the past couple years is that these season long predictions are pretty much meaningless, primarily because it should only have to be one sentence... the Chargers will win the championship. So, instead of making predictions for each team, I will put teams in groups based on their chances to win this years belt.
The Double-Down Group (Chances to win championship: 63%)
This group is made up of teams that have championship pedigree and you could bet on in any game against anyone.
The CHARGERS are the obvious choice here because they are championship pedigree...
But, you can never forget about the WILDCATS because Pat is always reloading his team with talent and athletes and they are one of the few teams that can say that they have beaten the Charlie's...
It's been a struggle the past couple years for an aging RAIDERS team, but they too look to be reloaded and hungry for another championship run.
The Just-the-tip Group (Chances to win championship: 28%)
This group is made up of teams that have only been able to put just-the-tip in Victories' sweet lady garden. Their trips to the championship have left them blue-balled and chomping at the bit to get another chance.
If Bruce is one thing, it's a master recruiter. He obviously has a large pool to chose from having a monopoly over the LBC talent pool, but he's as good as any at keeping the WARRIORS lineup loaded with weapons...
The fusion of Bengals/Nittany Lions has a brought these two franchises back from the verge of collapse. Now, the TITANS are back and will be knocking on the doors of the group above...
There are a few things you can count on each season. One of those things is that the SAINTS and their fearless leader, The Flying Yarmulke, will go 8-2 or 7-3 and then fizzle out in the playoffs against the stiffest competition. I'm a sucker for these guys though. Saints 4 Lyf!...
Double cheeseburgers. That's what's standing between the OVERACHEIVERS and another championship appearance. Keep to the greens, Tony. They need you out there...
It's been the same old story for the LIONS since their championship loss what seems like ages ago. Lack of consistency will not get it done but you can't count them completely out...
Ok. So, the BLEND can't really be part of this group because they have not actually been to the championship. However, this team can compete with anyone in this league. How they do that without Anthony "the GOAT" Stanley is a whole other story...
The Red-Headed Step Child Group (Chances to win championship: 7%)
This group is made up of teams that have shown flashes of brilliance in the past. Whether it be a good regular season or a surprise playoff run these teams have shown us they can play but in the end the odds will always be stacked against them.
This league has a funny way of dishing out doses of the bitch we know as Karma. The SEAHAWKS started off last season like wild fire and promptly got full of themselves. They asked for the champs and got them to the tune of a good old fashioned playoff ass-whooping. It could be a good thing for them though...
The GIANTS ascent to the top of the rankings last year was a surprise to most but not to the Giants themselves. They have the pieces. Do they have the QB? This is one team I would keep an eye on...
We've seen it before. A team has a great regular season, gets ousted early in the playoffs and then falls victim to a much tougher schedule the following season. This is potentially what the CRIMSON TIDE is in store for...
QUICKSET took a step back last year. It all started by not showing up the very first week of the season and snowballed from there. What will we get this season? Only time will tell.
How far IVY INN goes depends wholly on how far the unassuming shoulders of Stu Lopez are willing to take them? Who doesn't root for that guy? Seriously, point em out so I can sock'em a good one.
The Club Sandwich Group (Chances to win championship: 1%)
This group is made up of teams that are comparable to that middle slice of bread in a club sandwich. They are not the most important or delicious part of the sandwich but it's necessary because with no middle slice of bread it's just not a club sandwich.
The Hurricanes have had a tough go of it over the past couple years. Trips to the B Playoffs was not the future Billy Bob and Socks envisioned for this team when they split from the PA Warriors. Now they have combined with an up and coming Raw Talent to form KGB. I think we will be seeing this team making a move upward in the rankings this season...
I think it would be a good guess to say that Coach Jelin has spent the cold, snowy winter cuddled up next to the fire trying to figure out how to bring this MCM team to the next level. Unfortunately he knows there aren't enough pieces here to contend just yet...
The obvious punch line from last season was slimytron and he only graced us with his presence for the first few weeks. God that guy leaves a lasting impression! Once he was gone though SWAVEY CUSTOMS hit a groove and piled up some wins. I think that will continue...
Has there been a more disappointing team in the league than the FALCONS over the past couple seasons. Seems like just yesterday they were at the top of these rankings with a 9-1 regular season. They need a drastic change to get back to the level of the team...
The Old Timers Day Group (Chances to win hearts: 100%)
Two teams that truly embody what recreational competition is all about. They do it because they love it. Plain and simple.
All jokes and weird obsessions aside, Steve Phillips could go down as my favorite football player of all time. What he's been able to do with this OLD DOGS team is quite extraordinary. To think how good he would be if he was the QB of, say, the Warriors?...
One would hope that one of these years, the SILVERBACKS will make an age-defying run and make the A Playoffs. I think they are owed that much with how much dedication and heart they have shown since they came into this league. Do it for Larry!
The May God Have Mercy on Your Souls Group (Chances to win championship: .3%)
Since as long as I can remember, this league has taken new teams, chewed them up and spit them out faster than you can say "Bruce in a Speedo."
The DYNASTY, SPARTANS and PANTHERS (Gridiron Gang) combined for a record of 6-24 in their first years in the league. Not the best start but that's to be expected, especially from what we've seen in recent years. What I do like about them is that they are back with a year under their belt and it seems a little more confidence. Good luck this season guys, you're probably going to need it...
The Don't Do As the Romans Do Group (Chances to win championship: .7%)
The group above are not trendsetters. They come from a long line of new teams to falter in their first season in a very competitive league. So expectations are always low for the new guys. Can one of them surprise us?
STATION BAR & GRILL, JAGUARS, TEAM USA, EAGLES, DREAM TEAM, NJ BULLDOGS, BEEFCAKE, ROCK NATION and BENCHWARMERS are all new teams to the league. That's nine new teams! Word is really getting out! I know there are probably a few familiar faces mixed in here and there but unless two teams combine there really hasn't been much success the first year for any new team. But, hey, one or two out of nine ain't bad!