The Top Ten: Week 1
Commentary: Well, here we are. The 2010 season kicks off this weekend. The slate is clean and everyone is back to zero. Judging by the divisional draft alone, it looks as though the South Division is the strongest. Every team in the South except for Will Cover (an expansion team) has playoff experience. The North and West fall somewhere in the middle talent-wise, and the East looks comparatively weaker in terms of betting experience and proven winning. The division winners from 2009 all have targets on their backs. Here are the rankings heading into 2k10.
(current total; last week’s ranking)
1. Mr. DeBlasis ($0, –)
DeBlasis has made a natural progression the last few years in Funny Money. He was within a whisker of a division championship last season, and though he fizzled out in the ’09 playoffs, he’s earned top billing headed into this season.
2. Larisa Oleynik ($0, –)
The two-headed monster had a huge lead midseason and cruised to a division championship. Larisa grabbed second place in the playoffs but definitely had her regrets in hindsight. She looks like a franchise to beat this fall.
3. Yaz ($0, –)
The 2009 champ came on late in the regular season and never looked back. He weathered the storm during a rough playoffs and squeaked out a victory in the Super Bowl. A rookie last year, Yaz is now attempting to build a new Funny Money dynasty.
4. The People’s Champ ($0, –)
The Champ was a chump last year, with his worst finish, accumulating a ton of fines, and making uncharacteristic mistakes. History tells us that you can’t count him out when naming the handful of contenders in the FMFL.
5. T-Ferg ($0, –)
T-Ferg impressed in his rookie campaign, but his success was lost amid Rick Moranis’ big year. He should like his draw in the North division, but rumors of a potential sophomore slump are surfacing….
6. Blossom Russo ($0, –)
Blossom hovered around mediocre last year and knows that won’t cut the mustard for another season. He’ll either fade fast or be among the league leaders for the duration of the year.
7. Mr. Marbles ($0, –)
An up-and-down second half of the season left Marbles on the outside looking in when it came to the postseason. His experience and track record say that he should be a contender, but he’ll have to prove it in 2010.
8. Art Schlichter ($0, –)
Art surprised many in his first year in 2009, but will have to keep up the pace this fall if he wants to keep climbing the all-time standings.
9. Gordon Bombay ($0, –)
Much like The People’s Champ, Bombay just didn’t bring his “A” game last year, surprising just about everybody. Look for him to bounce back.
10. Waldo Geraldo Faldo ($0, –)
After Week 15 last year, Waldo led Yaz by $1,800. In a monumental collapse the last two weeks, his lead disintegrated and he surrendered the division crown. Then in the playoffs, he bet the Colts and went from having the title in his grasp to end the season with nothing. 2010 is either a chance for redemption, or a continuation of the downward spiral.
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Karl Farbman, Face, Kimmy Gibbler
DROPPED OUT: none
