The Top Ten: Week 7
Commentary: Another rough week for the league, as only two favorites covered in Week 6. Much like earlier in the season, most dropped back, but those who won money benefitted greatly. Usually the league doesn’t hinge on the Monday Night Football game, but Denver’s big comeback transformed how the league currently looks. For some franchises, the season was saved by Peyton’s arm and the Denver defense.
(current total; last week’s rank)
1. Will Cover ($1,400; 1)
Will dropped $100 but still maintains a comfortable lead in the South. The top two overall franchises are in his division, while the rest of the Southern gentlemen have fallen off the pace.
2. Don Mattingly ($900; 9)
Don surges up the ranks and gets within $500 of Will Cover with a perfect week. If the playoffs started today, the Donald would easily be in. However some are skeptical as to whether Donnie is, how you say, equipped for a run at a division title.
3. Yaz ($800; 4)
The only problem with Yaz, one of the senior Funny Money members, in 2012 has been that he falls asleep before making his bets on Saturday nights. He had a perfect Week 6, but suffered the late fine. Still, he has quickly risen to the top of the North, and is $600 ahead of the rest of the contenders.
4. Blossom Russo ($400; 3)
Blossom benefitted from the Denver comeback, and stays in the lead in the West. He lost $100 on the week, but it could have been much, much worse. He has Kenny and Face nipping at his heels.
5. Karl Farbman ($300; 7)
Karl eked out $100 last week and is still leading the East by $300. His mediocre results have gotten him this far, but some say Farbman should quit gambling and go back to designing furniture.
6. Larisa Oleynik ($200; 6)
Still hanging around, Larisa lost $100 and is now $600 behind the North leader. This is about the time of year Larisa bets her wild card…..
7. Bayonnaise ($200; NR)
The ‘Naise got off to a hot start this season, then dropped back, and is now treading water in the North. Historically, he has performed better in the second half of the year, and if that holds true this season, he’ll be in prime position to make the playoffs.
8. Kenny Powers ($100; 10)
Now in second place in the West, Kenny only trails his sister Blossom for the division lead. Though we’ve had family battles before in the FMFL, if they continue to be #1 and #2, Thanksgiving might be a little “awkward.”
9. Face ($0; NR)
Face, another senior member of the league, and the other half of the Funny Money’s version of Statler and Waldorf, mimicked his buddy Yaz in Week 6. Perfect week, but late bets. Yet, he’s back in the thick of things in the West division and shook off a slow start to the season.
10. Gordon Bombay ($0; NR)
Without Peyton Manning’s comeback on Monday, Gordon would have had a catastrophic week, but instead, he’s just behind Karl in the East.
Others receiving votes: Ron Mexico; Waldo Geraldo Faldo; Kiko Garcia
Dropped out: Ron Mexico; Waldo Geraldo Faldo; Kiko Garcia
The Top Ten: Week 6
Commentary: Another wild card bet was won in Week 5 by Kenny Powers, and he made it count by having a perfect week. A few franchises have plummeted in the last two weeks. The top overall franchise and lowest overall franchise are $3,000 apart, which is normal for this point in the season. However, take out a few outliers and most franchises are within the -$100 and $500 range. This all adds up to mean that in the next three weeks, the playoff contenders will separate themselves from the phonies.
(current total; last week’s rank)
1. Will Cover ($1,500; 1)
No one’s hotter that the W.C. Will won a three-teamer last week and extends his lead in the South. He’s $1,100 ahead of the second place team and an astounding $1,900 ahead of the third place team. Cover also has a very comfortable lead for the overall title after five weeks.
2. Ron Mexico ($500; 3)
Ronnie dropped $100 last week, but now has sole possession of first place in the North. The division is by far the best in the Funny Money this year, with all seven franchises within $1,100 of the lead. Only $400 separates the top five in the North.
3. Blossom Russo ($500; 7)
Blossom has some staying power, as she picks up $300 in Week 5 and maintains the lead in the West. It’s relatively tight at the top of the division right now, but Blossom is the most experienced of the current contenders.
4. Yaz ($400; NR)
Yaz’s tried-and-true “bet on the team after the illness announcement” proved to be effective as ever as he rode the Colts to a perfect week. He went from the middle of the pack in the North to right on the heels of Ron Mexico.
5. Kiko Garcia ($300; NR)
Kiko is hanging around in the West, just $200 behind Blossom. He won $300 on the week and is in playoff position right now.
6. Larisa Oleynik ($300; 6)
Larisa dropped $100, but is in the mix in the suddenly crowded North division. If history is any guide, Larisa will be the franchise to beat come season’s end.
7. Karl Farbman ($200; 4)
Karl also lost $100, but increased his lead in the East due to most of the rest of the division dropping back. Farbman is $300 ahead of three other franchises, a lead that is certainly not safe this early in the year.
8. Waldo Geraldo Faldo ($200; 6)
WGF’s hat is in the ring in the North as well, and he’ll need a big Week 6 to stay in it. Of all the franchises in this pack, perhaps the one who wins his/her wild card bet first can break away.
9. Don Mattingly ($400; 10)
The Donald has another solid week, but the divisional crown is slipping away as he can’t keep up with Will Cover. Many thought Don Mattingly would be a well-oiled machine this season, but the results have been underwhelming so far.
10. Kenny Powers ($0; NR)
Oh, brother. Here comes Kenny! A $1,000 week has catapulted Powers from the basement of the West into third place. He’s now only $500 off the lead for the division and will look to keep his momentum going in Week 6.
Others receiving votes: Gordon Bombay; The Beard of Zeus
Dropped out: Bayonnaise; Gordon Bombay; The 21th Precinct; The Beard of Zeus
The Top Ten: Week 5
Commentary: It was a return to normalcy in the Funny Money in Week 4. The first-string referees returned, and the FMFL franchises were more consistent, falling back into line with how a week usually goes. Some won $500, some lost $500, and some continued to tread water. There wasn’t a ton of movement at the top, but there still has yet to be a franchise that completely breaks away from the rest of the pack.
Babe was successful with his wild card bet in Week 4, but lost his other wager, netting $600 on the week. He didn’t crack the Top Ten this week, but we have a long way to go.
(current total; last week’s rank)
1. Will Cover ($1,000; 2)
Will has stretched out his lead in the South with a huge $500 week. He’s $900 ahead of the rest of the division, and with another perfect week could be tough to catch.
2. Bayonnaise ($600; 1)
The ‘Naise dropped $100 but remained in a tie for the lead in the North. More surprising than his fast start in the 2012 season is the fact that he still eludes late fines week in and week out, which always plagued him early in his FMFL career.
3. Ron Mexico ($600; 4)
Ronnie bounced back from a -$500 week with a $500 week and is back atop the North with Bayonnaise. So far, the North Division is shaping up as the best race in the league.
4. Karl Farbman ($300; 6)
Farbman pushed a game and won a game, and maintained a slim lead in the East. He’s $100 clear of the second place franchise.
5. Larisa Oleynik ($400; 9)
Much like Ron Mexico, Larisa predictably bounced back and won $500, getting back into the race in the North. Week 5 could separate the top four in the division.
6. Waldo Geraldo Faldo ($300; 7)
Waldo is holding strong, and won another $300 in Week 4. While many other have struggled, Waldo has excelled the last two weeks.
7. Blossom Russo ($200; NR)
Whoa! A perfect week vaults Blossom to the top of the West. It took four weeks, but in my opinionation the sun is gonna surely shine.
8. Gordon Bombay ($200; NR)
Gordon won $500 and jumped up to second place in the East. He only trails division-leader Karl by $100.
9. The Beard of Zeus ($0; NR)
The Beard of Zeus won’t go away in the North either. He is hanging around and is only $300 out of the lead.
10. Don Mattingly ($100; NR)
The Donald cracks The Top Ten this week, but at just a miniscule $100, he is $900 behind Will Cover in the South. However, to this point, Don looks like Will’s only competition in the division.
Others receiving votes: Kiko Garcia; Yaz
Dropped out: Art Schlichter; Yaz; Teddy KGB; The 21th Precinct
The Top Ten: Week 4
Commentary: There’s usually a week each season that makes us reflect on the fact that there’s a reason Vegas casinos and sports books keep getting bigger and bigger instead of closing down. Week 3 wiped out the FMFL. Only six franchises won money this week: five won $100, and one notched a big $200. That was it. 22 franchises lost cash, with 15 franchises losing all of their bets. Replacement refs be damned, franchises just didn’t take underdogs last week. Dogs went 11-4 on Sunday/Monday, so very few had the foresight to weather the storm.
Week 4 is a transition week for the league. As we head toward the quarter pole, all 28 wild card bets still remain, and with several franchises hovering around -$1,000, it could be time to pull the trigger.
(current total; last week’s rank)
1. Bayonnaise ($700; 2)
The ‘Naise takes complete control of the North by winning $100 and letting everyone else fall back. He’s $600 in the lead of the rest of the division. A $500 week this week could help him move away even further from the pack.
2. Will Cover ($500; 6)
Much like Bayonnaise, Will won a meager $100, yet now has a $600 lead on the rest of the South. Will has been here before and is quite skilled at leading the way, but needs to keep trending in the right direction.
3. Art Schlichter ($200; 10)
Art is up $500 on the rest of the West, as he split his two bets to win $100. He’ll look to keep it going in Week 4.
4. Ron Mexico ($100; 1)
Ron fell out of the lead, losing $500 for the week and trailing Bayonnaise in the North.
5. Yaz ($100; 9)
Yaz split his bets and was one botched Green Bay interception call from a $500 week. He’s tied for second in the division and is someone to keep an eye on as long as he’s within striking distance.
6. Karl Farbman ($100; NR)
Farbman only won $100, but went from fourth to first in the East. There are three other franchises within $200 of Karl, but somehow he’s in the lead after a lackluster start.
7. Waldo Geraldo Faldo ($0; NR)
The big winner of Week 3 was Waldo Geraldo who pushed one game and won another, and gained $200 on the week, which was the best performance of any FMFL franchise. He’s still trailing in the North, but avoided the pitfalls last week.
8. Teddy KGB ($0; 3)
Teddy dropped $500 and fell out of first place in the East. Did he spoil his time at the top of the division after only one week?
9. Larisa Oleynik (-$100; 4)
An uncharacteristic week as Larisa lost $500 and dropped to fifth in the North. Is this the week she pulls out the wild card bet? Reel in that big fish…..
10. The 21th Precinct (-$100; 5)
The 21th was on top of the world after Week 2, but a brutal Week 3 has brought him back down to earth. He’s still only $200 off the lead, but he needs to bounce back this weekend.
Others receiving votes: The Beard of Zeus; Don Mattingly
Dropped out: The Beard of Zeus; Mr. Marbles
The Top Ten: Week 3
Commentary: Week 2 was similar to the first week of the season, with only a few franchises benefitting from winning $500, and only a few others losing $500. Most were in between, which is why only $1,200 separates the overall leader from the last place franchises. For those currently in the cellar, a -$500 week could be digging a hole too deep to get out of even though there is a lot of football left to be played. Two weeks down, and all 28 franchises have their wild card bets. Historically one or two brave franchises take the plunge this week or next week.
(current total; last week’s rank)
1. Ron Mexico ($600; 2)
Ron stays tied atop the North by winning $100 on the week, splitting his two bets. He currently has the tiebreaker, but then again, it’s early.
2. Bayonnaise ($600; NR)
Pundits around the country, from Mansfield, Massachusetts to sunny San Diego, California were shocked with Bayonnaise’s Week 2 performance! A $500 week has him right in the running for the overall lead.
3. Teddy KGB ($500; 5)
Teddy pushed on one bet, but won the other, and now he’s the leader in the East. Can he handle the pressure of having a target on his back in Week 3? The rest of the East will be gunning for him.
4. Larisa Oleynik ($400; 3)
Larisa stays in the mix in the North, hanging around as usual. An early-season wild card bet could be a bold statement to make in Week 3, eh Larisa?
5. The 21th Precinct ($400; NR)
Another FMFL Cinderella story, the Precinct wins $500 and is just $100 out of the lead in the East. Is 2012 the year that this long-time franchise breaks through for good?
6. Will Cover ($400; 4)
Will squeaked out $100 and still leads in the South, but Week 2 was a great chance for him to distance himself from the field in the putrid South.
7. The Beard of Zeus ($200; 8)
The Beard hasn’t made the highlight reel yet this season, but hasn’t fallen back from the pack either. Two $100 weeks. Slow and steady does win the race.
8. Mr. Marbles ($200; 6)
Marbles holds firm behind Will Cover in the South, and if the season ended today, he’d be in the playoffs. Now he just needs to stand his ground for 15 more weeks.
9. Yaz ($200; 7)
Yaz joins the 21th Precinct as another elder in the Top Ten this week. Is it only a matter of time before Yaz falls asleep on a Saturday night while watching Matlock before he places his bets?
10. Art Schlichter ($100; NR)
Art is the only franchise above $0 in the West, so he ekes his way into the rankings this week. But all of the other six West squads are within $500 of the lead, so this is definitely a spot where a winning wild card bet by one of them could change the tone of the race quickly.
Others receiving votes: Karl Farbman; Kiko Garcia; Face; Don Mattingly
Dropped out: Karl Farbman; Kiko Garcia; The Phoenix
The Top Ten: Week 2
Commentary: Here we are for another season of football, and already many of the FMFL franchises were tripped up by two major suck bet culprits in Week 1: New Orleans and Carolina. Both were favored and both lost outright, leaving many franchises playing catch-up to get back around even for the week. Only two franchises had perfect weeks, and five were -$500. The other 21 are somewhere in between.
(current total; last week’s rank)
1. Karl Farbman ($500; –)
Last year’s regular season runner-up started off the season perfectly, cashing in on Houston on Sunday and Baltimore on Monday night.
2. Ron Mexico ($500; –)
In the bare-knuckle brawl that is the North Division, Ronnie lands the first blow, taking the lead with a perfect week.
3. Larisa Oleynik ($300; –)
Larisa won two out of three on the week, but she won her biggest bet, staying close to the top in the North.
4. Will Cover ($300; –)
The defending South Division champion remains on top of the heap. Speaking of heaps, the South looks comparable to a pile of manure at this point. Only two franchises won money in Week 1, with four losing all of their bets.
5. Teddy KGB ($300; –)
Teddy, inspired by the shame of being the second pick in the divisional draft back in August, is on the positive side of $0 and is nipping at Karl’s heels in the East.
6. Mr. Marbles ($100; –)
Marbles is usually a force to be reckoned with, and is once again chasing Will Cover in the South. This could be a back-and-forth battle for first all season long.
7. Yaz ($100; –)
A modest $100 for Yaz in Week 1, but he was the most feared franchise in the league during the divisional draft, and looks to hang around in the North in 2012.
8. The Beard of Zeus ($100; –)
The Beard was the only franchise bold enough to jump on board with Peyton Manning in Week 1, which saved his week and now he’s in third in the East.
9. Kiko Garcia ($100; –)
Kiko is on top in the West via tiebreaker, but everything could change in one week, as all seven franchises are within $400 of each other.
10. The Phoenix ($100; –)
The Phoenix is in The Top Ten. The Phoenix is in The Top Ten!
Others receiving votes: Face; Kenny Powers; Bayonnaise
Dropped out: None
