The Postseason Report
Gentlemen – The 2018 season had the usual ups and downs of any gambling year. However, it ended with a bang in Weeks 16 and 17, when the league surged to inflate year end totals, making the final playoff spot $1,600. Kimmy Gibbler tied the regular season record for highest total with $3,600, and Babe threatened the record for highest winning percentage.
Here’s a breakdown of how the league did as a whole each week:
Week 1: +$5,700
Week 2: -$6,500
Week 3: +$500
Week 4: $0
Week 5: -$4,100
Week 6: -$4,300
Week 7: -$400
Week 8: +$6,200
Week 9: +$9,500
Week 10: +300
Week 11: -$5,200
Week 12: +$600
Week 13: -$2,500
Week 14: +$3,200
Week 15: -$4,000
Week 16: +$3,700
Week 17: +$13,800
That’s an astounding cumulative total of +$16,500.
Disclaimer: The following is a completely biased report of the first nine weeks of the FMFL. The views, opinions, and observations that follow are those of the Executive Director and are completely subjective.
East Division
Bud Fox
Current Total: $900
Winning Percentage: 0.633
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 11 – Pittsburgh – Lost
Recap: Despite losing his wild card bet, Bud Fox was in it until the end. Not many franchises win 63% of their bets and miss the playoffs, so he can chalk up 2018 to being a season of missed opportunities and close calls.
Grade: B
Judge Smails
Current Total: $400
Winning Percentage: 0.487
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Week 8 – Philadelphia – Won
Recap: Smails made a strong move around mid-season but then had a few tough weeks which kept him out of the running for the division. He finished in the positive, so that’s something to build on for next year.
Grade: B-
Karl Farbman
Current Total: $400
Winning Percentage: 0.471
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 16 – Seattle – Won
Recap: After such a strong start, Karl eked over the line into positive money in the waning moments of the season, but was never a real threat for the division.
Grade: B-
Mr. Marbles
Current Total: -$1,600
Winning Percentage: 0.456
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Week 15 – LA Rams – Lost
Recap: Marbles lost $1,000 in Week 15 and $500 in Week 16, so the numbers don’t tell the story that he was still in the mix at the beginning of December. However, he closed poorly and will slide down the all-time standings as well.
Grade: D
Patrick Bateman
Current Total: $1,200
Winning Percentage: 0.526
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 17 – Atlanta – Won
Recap: Bateman was just shy of a Week 17 comeback to win the East, but needed some help. He ends this season disappointed, close but no cigar.
Grade: B+
Shecky
Current Total: -$1,500
Winning Percentage: 0.432
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Week 15 – New England – Lost
Recap: Shecky took a more aggressive path this year, and it was ultimately his downfall, including a lost wild card bet late in the year.
Grade: D
The Beard of Zeus
Current Total: -$800
Winning Percentage: 0.441
Fines: $200
Wild Card Bet: Week 14 – New Orleans – Won
Recap: Beard looked like he could have made a push after his Week 14 wild card win, but he had too many -$500 weeks this year to turn in a positive card.
Grade: C-
The People’s Champ
Current Total: $1,400
Winning Percentage: 0.564
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Week 16 – Washington – Won
Recap: In Week 16, The Champ barely won his wild card bet, then combed that with a backdoor cover on one of his other bets to rise to the top of the East. 2018 has been his year, with a lot of things going his way en route to the Division crown. He was +$2,200 over the last five weeks of the season.
Grade: A-
North Division
Blossom Russo
Current Total: $1,900
Winning Percentage: 0.621
Fines: $800
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Indianapolis – Won
Recap: Blossom made the playoffs, but her season could have been even better if you took away her $800 in fines.
Grade: A-
Chalky Studebaker
Current Total: -$800
Winning Percentage: 0.478
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 15 – LA Rams – Lost
Recap: Chalky was at $500 after Week 10, but it was all downhill after that, including a late season wild card bet loss.
Grade: C
Dr. Oge
Current Total: $0
Winning Percentage: 0.531
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 16 – Cleveland – Push
Recap: When your wild card bet is up 26-3 in the 4th quarter and it ends up being a push, you know it’s not your year. If it’s any consolation, Oge wouldn’t have made the playoffs anyways….
Grade: C+
Gordon Bombay
Current Total: $3,300
Winning Percentage: 0.627
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Week 15 – Indianapolis – Won
Recap: Bombay had a steady, consistent season and in most other years and in most divisions, he would have waltzed to the division title. But that wasn’t the case in the North (see below). He’s one of the favorites heading into the playoffs, for sure.
Grade: A
Kimmy Gibbler
Current Total: $3,600
Winning Percentage: 0.649
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 16 – Atlanta – Won
Recap: Gibbler turned it on midseason and never looked back, ending the season on a tear and pulling away in Week 17 to win the overall title. She was +$2,200 over the final six weeks of the season.
Grade: A+
Larisa Oleynik
Current Total: -$1,100
Winning Percentage: 0.438
Fines: $600
Wild Card Bet: Week 10 – New Orleans – Won
Recap: Where have you gone, 2010 Larisa? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Grade: D+
OJ
Current Total: $1,800
Winning Percentage: 0.558
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 16 – Atlanta – Won
Recap: OJ got into the postseason, overcoming a rough Week 15 to close strongly in the final fortnight.
Grade: A-
T-Ferg
Current Total: $1,600
Winning Percentage: 0.598
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 11 – Carolina – Lost
Recap: T-Ferg’s solid winning percentage came in handy, as it was his ticket to the postseason after ending the year deadlocked for the final playoff spot. This was despite him losing his wild card bet.
Grade: A-
South Division
Boss Hardigan
Current Total: $500
Winning Percentage: 0.486
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 14 – Detroit – Won
Recap: The Boss won $1,000 in Week 14 and looked like he was angling for a wild card berth. Then he lost $500 the following week and ultimately sunk his season.
Grade: B-
Donnie Jeffcoat
Current Total: -$1,700
Winning Percentage: 0.457
Fines: $200
Wild Card Bet: Week 14 – Kansas City – Lost
Recap: It was a challenging 2018 campaign for Donnie in the end, but he had a glimmer of hope rising up to $400 as late as Week 11 before folding it up.
Grade: D-
Face
Current Total: -$5,000
Winning Percentage: 0.356
Fines: $1,300
Wild Card Bet: Week 6 – Cleveland – Lost
Recap: Face did his best to set the record for worst season total and worst winning percentage, but he couldn’t even get that right, racking up some December wins to avoid both distinctions.
Grade: F
Neon Boudeaux
Current Total: -$200
Winning Percentage: 0.535
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – LA Chargers – Lost
Recap: Neon talks a big game, but couldn’t back it up this year. He won 53% of his bets, but poor money management held him back in 2018.
Grade: C+
Rick Moranis
Current Total: $1,500
Winning Percentage: 0.565
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 17 – Buffalo – Won
Recap: Rick seemed to go up or down $100 each week for most of the second half of the season, and a final spike in Week 17 was too little, too late.
Grade: A-
Thine
Current Total: $1,800
Winning Percentage: 0.525
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 8 – Washington – Won
Recap: No other South franchises really challenged Thine this year, and once he broke away from the division that was all she wrote.
Grade: A
Waldo Geraldo Faldo
Current Total: $300
Winning Percentage: 0.477
Fines: $200
Wild Card Bet: Week 9 – Houston – Won
Recap: Waldo never bottomed out this year, but never got on a roll either, so he hovered around even money for most of the year.
Grade: B-
Yaz
Current Total: -$300
Winning Percentage: 0.426
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 12 – Chicago – Won
Recap: With just winning 42% of the time, it’s amazing Yaz got this close to positive dollars this year.
Grade: C+
West Division
Babe
Current Total: $3,300
Winning Percentage: 0.691
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Did Not Use
Recap: Babe all-around terrific season is only marred by not winning the overall title. He took the lead post-Thanksgiving and had a nice cushion during the final weeks.
Grade: A+
Bayonnaise
Current Total: -$1,100
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $600
Wild Card Bet: Week 6 – Jacksonville – Lost
Recap: After an early wild card loss, Bayonnaise could never recapture any momentum, despite winning half of his bets.
Grade: D+
Chris B. Corey
Current Total: $2,300
Winning Percentage: 0.678
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Did Not Use
Recap: Chris slipped up and lost his chance at the division, but will enter the playoffs as a dangerous franchise that has yet to revel in FMFL postseason glory.
Grade: A
Don Mattingly
Current Total: -$300
Winning Percentage: 0.452
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 17 – Chicago – Won
Recap: The final total might look good, but Donnie spent most of the year in the basement of the West.
Grade: C+
Kenny Powers
Current Total: -$800
Winning Percentage: 0.475
Fines: $200
Wild Card Bet: Week 11 – Pittsburgh – Lost
Recap: It was an uncharacteristically poor season for Kenny, who will try to pick up the pieces in the offseason.
Grade: C-
Kiko Garcia
Current Total: $2,800
Winning Percentage: 0.639
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Indianapolis – Won
Recap: Kiko is another former champ that will be tough in the playoffs, as he’s on a roll, winning $500 each of the last two weeks.
Grade: A
The Big Hurt
Current Total: $1,600
Winning Percentage: 0.573
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 15 – Baltimore – Push
Recap: The Hurt was as low as -$1,100 this year and steadily climbed the ranks the entire second half of the year. But it wasn’t enough, as he was edged out via tiebreaker for the final playoff spot. A push on his wild card bet is was a retroactive nail in his coffin. But hey, great season.
Grade: A-
The Notorious ABT
Current Total: $1,100
Winning Percentage: 0.521
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 16 – Atlanta – Won
Recap: The ABT slumped midseason, and it proved to be too much to overcome in the end.
Grade: B+
Final Season Total Wagers
Final Season Winning Percentages
Playoff Race Updates
In lieu of Winners & Losers, we bring you an update on the playoff races:
East Division – After a +$1,000 week, The People’s Champ has surged into the lead. This is a three-man race with The Champ holding a big lead on Bud Fox and Patrick Bateman. However, Bateman still has his wild card bet and will surely use it.
North Division – Kimmy Gibbler has a $500 lead on Gordon Bombay, and all the wild card bets are gone in this division, leading to a simple race between Kimmy and Gordon: if Kimmy has a positive week, she can’t be caught. But if she doesn’t, the door is open for Gordon.
South Division – Thine holds a huge lead over the rest of the division, and Rick Moranis is the only one who could “technically” catch him, but Rick would need to parlay his wild card bet into a $1,000 week and have Thine lose all of his bets.
West Division – Babe has a $900 lead and his wild card bet still available. Kiko Garcia would need a lot of things to happen to catch him, and Chris B. Corey has a glimmer of hope, too, since he still has his wild card bet.
Overall Title – Only five have a shot at this, and it will likely come down to the top three – Kimmy Gibbler, Babe, and Gordon Bombay. Babe trails Kimmy by $100, and still has his wild card bet to fire.
Wild Card Race – Gordon Bombay and Kiko Garcia have clinched playoff spots, so there are four more berths available and nine franchises in the mix for them. As it standings, T-Ferg holds a winning percentage tiebreaker over The Big Hurt for the last spot, with The Notorious ABT right behind them. Something to keep an eye on: Rick Moranis and Patrick Bateman could both make a big leap with their wild card bets in Week 17.
Winning Percentages Through Week 16
The Midseason Report
Gentlemen – With nine weeks in the rearview mirror for the 2018 season, it’s time to take a look back. This season has been marked by huge swings positive or negative. In past years, one or two big ups and downs were common, but in the first nine weeks of 2018, six have had a league swing one way or the other of $4,000 or more. Weeks 8 and 9 have been particularly fruitful, a combined +$15,700 for the league.
Here’s a breakdown of how the league did as a whole each week:
Week 1: +$5,700
Week 2: -$6,500
Week 3: +$500
Week 4: $0
Week 5: -$4,100
Week 6: -$4,300
Week 7: -$400
Week 8: +$6,200
Week 9: +$9,500
That’s a cumulative total of +$6,600.
Disclaimer: The following is a completely biased report of the first nine weeks of the FMFL. The views, opinions, and observations that follow are those of the Executive Director and are completely subjective.
East Division
Bud Fox
Current Total: $500
Winning Percentage: 0.591
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Bud didn’t get out of the gate quickly, but is starting to gain momentum and make his move. He currently holds the East lead, but all of the franchises in this division are within striking distance, so there is a lot to be determined.
Grade: B
Judge Smails
Current Total: -$200
Winning Percentage: 0.391
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 8 – Philadelphia – Won
Recap: Smails looked like he was headed for another lost season before turning things around the last two weeks. Now he finds himself just $700 off the division lead.
Grade: C+
Karl Farbman
Current Total: -$300
Winning Percentage: 0.444
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Farbman was pretty much flawless in September, but then went winless in October to sink down the East standings. He’ll need a strong next few weeks to make a run at the division title.
Grade: C
Mr. Marbles
Current Total: -$100
Winning Percentage: 0.528
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Mr. Marbles has hung around like so many others in the East and is within shouting distance of the leaders. Timing of wild card bets will be big for him and others in the East down the stretch.
Grade: C+
Patrick Bateman
Current Total: $300
Winning Percentage: 0.526
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Bateman sports a solid winning percentage and has momentum going into the second half of the season. Given his pedigree, he could make a run at either the division or a wild card berth. However, one thing is clear – he chose the East Division and couldn’t be more accurate in grouping together a bunch of mediocre performers.
Grade: B-
Shecky
Current Total: $100
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Shecky is another franchises that treaded water and is now just $400 out of the lead. He’s been more aggressive this season, with less five teamers.
Grade: B-
The Beard of Zeus
Current Total: -$900
Winning Percentage: 0.417
Fines: $200
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: On one hand, The Beard is in last place in the East. But on the other, he’s one big week away from being right in the mix for the division crown. However, more fines in the second half will only snuff out his chances.
Grade: D+
The People’s Champ
Current Total: -$700
Winning Percentage: 0.438
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Does the Champ have another run in him for 2018? It doesn’t look like the Giants are going to be in contention, so trend data would say that neither will TPC.
Grade: C-
North Division
Blossom Russo
Current Total: $100
Winning Percentage: 0.529
Fines: $600
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Indianapolis – Won
Recap: Despite missing a week of bets, Blossom is on the positive side after winning her wild card bet and having few solid weeks after that. She’s way outside the race for the division, but if she gets hot could content for a wild card.
Grade: B-
Chalky Studebaker
Current Total: $500
Winning Percentage: 0.536
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Chalky has hovered around where he is now for most of the first half, and his wild card bet will be huge in determining his fate for the season.
Grade: B
Dr. Oge
Current Total: -$500
Winning Percentage: 0.481
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Oge hasn’t had the magic touch picking winners this season. He’s got some work to do if he wants to sneak into the postseason, and the time is probably now to make a move.
Grade: C-
Gordon Bombay
Current Total: $2,500
Winning Percentage: 0.720
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Bombay’s had a steady rise the entire first half of the year and is setting the pace for the rest of the league. A 72% winning rate can’t continue, can it?
Grade: A+
Kimmy Gibbler
Current Total: $1,300
Winning Percentage: 0.625
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Gibbler is +$1,000 over the last two weeks and she has a chance to challenge Bombay, or at the very least win a wild card berth.
Grade: A-
Larisa Oleynik
Current Total: -$1,100
Winning Percentage: 0.389
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: It was bad from the start for Larisa, who didn’t win a bet until Week 4. She has from now until Thanksgiving to try to get back into it. If not, she’s toast.
Grade: D
OJ
Current Total: $1,300
Winning Percentage: 0.606
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: OJ has risen with the rest of the league the last few weeks and is another franchise that could challenge for the North crown.
Grade: A-
T-Ferg
Current Total: $1,100
Winning Percentage: 0.583
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: T-Ferg shed his betting partner in the offseason, and so far looks better for it. He’s in solid playoff position with eight weeks to go.
Grade: A-
South Division
Boss Hardigan
Current Total: -$300
Winning Percentage: 0.447
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: The Boss hasn’t been able to get things going this season, though he’s never dropped too low. Time to pull the trigger on that wild card bet?
Grade: C+
Donnie Jeffcoat
Current Total: $300
Winning Percentage: 0.518
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Donnie has had an ho-hum 2018, with not much momentum pushing him either way. He’s in FMFL purgatory right now, pushing to get out of it.
Grade: B-
Face
Current Total: -$3,000
Winning Percentage: 0.250
Fines: $200
Wild Card Bet: Week 6 – Cleveland – Lost
Recap: Egad.
Grade: F
Neon Boudeaux
Current Total: -$200
Winning Percentage: 0.556
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – LA Chargers – Lost
Recap: It was fun for awhile, but there was no way of knowing that Neon’s wild card bet would go kaput and sink him into negative figures. If there’s more than this in the 2018 for him, he’ll have to get hot the old fashioned way in the second half.
Grade: C+
Rick Moranis
Current Total: $1,000
Winning Percentage: 0.578
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Rick was plugging along most of the first half but the division lead has gotten a little bit away from him the last two weeks. He still is in good position and has his big bet in his back pocket.
Grade: A-
Thine
Current Total: $2,000
Winning Percentage: 0.596
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 8 – Washington – Won
Recap: Thine has been +$1,800 over the last three weeks and has a comfortable lead in the South. He’s won his wild card bet, and now will see if others in the division can return the favor to challenge him.
Grade: A
Waldo Geraldo Faldo
Current Total: $600
Winning Percentage: 0.479
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Week 9 – Houston – Won
Recap: Waldo closed out the first half strong with a winning wild card bet in a nailbiter. With a strong November, he’ll be in contention for the playoffs.
Grade: B+
Yaz
Current Total: -$800
Winning Percentage: 0.361
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Yaz’s winning percentage tells the story. As the rest of the league flourished in the last few weeks, he’s gone the other direction.
Grade: D-
West Division
Babe
Current Total: $1,500
Winning Percentage: 0.667
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Babe has had a strong 2018 campaign, with consistent winning bets. He’s right in the mix in the crowded West.
Grade: A
Bayonnaise
Current Total: -$800
Winning Percentage: 0.450
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 6 – Jacksonville – Lost
Recap: A lost wild card bet seems to have sunk Bayonnaise for this season, as it will be tough for him to challenge for a postseason berth.
Grade: D-
Chris B. Corey
Current Total: $1,900
Winning Percentage: 0.708
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Chris is winning over 70% of the time, has the West lead (for now), and still can place his big bet. A great first half overall, and now the race to the finish begins.
Grade: A
Don Mattingly
Current Total: -$1,000
Winning Percentage: 0.404
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: It’s a different season, but same old story for the downtrodden Don Mattingly, who is currently last in the West.
Grade: D-
Kenny Powers
Current Total: -$500
Winning Percentage: 0.457
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: With Kenny’s strong performances the last few seasons, he’s gotten off to a strange start this year. He’s one that shouldn’t be counted out just yet because he’s shown he can get hot, but time is running out.
Grade: C-
Kiko Garcia
Current Total: $1,800
Winning Percentage: 0.650
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Indianapolis – Won
Recap: Kiko parlayed a wild card win to jump up the West standings, and is +$1,400 the last three weeks. He’s right behind Chris in the division race.
Grade: A
The Big Hurt
Current Total: -$100
Winning Percentage: 0.482
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Left for dead in Week 6, The Big Hurt has clawed his way back to nearly even money. Does he have a Cinderella run in the second half? (Spoiler: probably not)
Grade: C+
The Notorious ABT
Current Total: $300
Winning Percentage: 0.536
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: The ABT has gone against the current the last four weeks and unfortunately dropped back in the standings, while many others cashed in. There’s time to make a move for a playoff berth, but pushing for a division title is a long shot.
Grade: B
Total Wagers through Week 9
Winning Percentages through Week 9
Welcome to the 2018 FMFL Season from Kiko Garcia
(Editor’s note: The 2017 winner, Kiko Garcia, has penned some words of wisdom as we kick off the 2018 season. His message is below.)
A relationship formed on the streets in the shadows of Uptown Charlotte, these two Laurel Avenue boys spent their initial years of fandom supporting the average and often overlooked sports franchises. It’s only appropriate that their namesake was a journeyman utility player who turned very few heads throughout his career. But as they say, on any given day, virtually anything is possible in the world of sports and gambling As we are on the eve of another year and “Hope” runs rampant throughout our great country as gamblers feel that this is the year they will finally get their head above water and rise from the ashes like a mighty Phoenix it is only appropriate that this is the new face of a champion. Kiko Garcia!!!!
If this man can rise to the greatest of highest and capture the ultimate crown, than anything is truly possible in this great country we call the United States of America🇺🇸
May all of your wagers fall on the correct side of the hook and may your backdoor covers flow as smoothly and freely as the awe-inspiring curly locks of Kiko Garcia in the hopes that this will be the year that average and often-overlooked becomes the face of a champion.
2018 FMFL Divisions
Below are the 2018 FMFL divisions, as chosen by the 2017 division winners:
East Division
Bud Fox
Judge Smails
Karl Farbman
Mr. Marbles
Patrick Bateman*
Shecky
The Beard of Zeus
The People’s Champ
North Division
Blossom Russo
Chalky Studebaker
Dr. Oge
Gordon Bombay
Kimmy Gibbler*
Larisa Oleynik
OJ
T-Ferg
South Division
Boss Hardigan
Donnie Jeffcoat
Face
Neon Boudeaux*
Rick Moranis
Thine
Waldo Geraldo Faldo
Yaz
West Division
Babe
Bayonnaise
Chris B. Corey
Don Mattingly
Kenny Powers*
Kiko Garcia
The Big Hurt
The Notorious ABT
*Denotes defending champion of division
