The Top Ten: Week 15
Commentary: Overall, Week 14 saw little jockeying for position, with most franchise totals going slightly up or down. No one took a chance with a wild card bet, so there were no big swings. The playoff bubble is right at $1,400, with two franchises in at $1,400 and two out at $1,300. Three franchises sit in waiting at $800, needing a big boost or some big losses to move up.
Since no wild card bets were made last week, we still have eleven franchises that have not used it yet with three weeks to go.
East: Karl Farbman; The People’s Champ
North: Mr. DeBlasis; The Beard of Zeus; Yaz
South: Bayonnaise; Boss Hardigan; Don Mattingly; Rick Moranis; Will Cover
West: Gordon Bombay
(current total; last week’s ranking)
1. Karl Farbman ($2,800; 1)
Farbman dropped $100 and had both his division and overall lead trimmed down. He’s now up $1,000 in the East and $400 for the overall crown. He still has his wild card bet left.
2. Larisa Oleynik ($2,400; 2)
Larisa squeaked out $100 and kept things going in the North, maintaining a $1,000 lead. However, the second and third place teams in the division both have their wild card bets on the shelf, meaning her lead needs to be more than $1,500 to be safe.
3. Bud Fox ($2,300; 3)
Bud won $100 and has a $600 lead on the rest of the West. The only franchise in the division that has his/her wild card bet remaining is Gordon Bombay, who is $900 behind and very much alive.
4. The People’s Champ ($1,800; 7)
A big week for the Champ as he won $300, but more importantly, got within a grand of the division and overall lead. He’s fourth overall and has his wild card bet remaining. But the playoff race is tight and he’s only $500 ahead of the last team out of the playoffs. He’ll need to keep it going this week and hope some others falter.
5. Ron Mexico ($1,700; 5)
Ron is hanging in there and is holding onto a ticket to the postseason. He’s $600 back in the division, and last season he started to peak right about now, so Bud Fox might want to be worried.
6. Will Cover ($1,600; 6)
Will is still ahead in the South and has a $800 lead on Don Mattingly. There’s a lot to be decided in this division, though. The top four franchises in the South all have their wild card bets left. Rick Moranis and Boss Hardigan ($1,500 and $1,800 behind Will, respectively) should probably pull the trigger this week or next week, because by Week 17 it could be too little, too late.
7. Blossom Russo ($1,600; 8 )
That temptress Blossom is also hanging around, and would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. One franchise in the West will surge in the last three weeks, and I wouldn’t count Blossom out, just $700 back of the leader.
8. The Beard of Zeus ($1,400; NR)
A huge week for The Beard, as he was one of only a few franchises to win $500. He leapfrogged Yaz in the North, and is now within shouting distance of the division leader. He is currently the owner of the final playoff berth.
9. Gordon Bombay ($1,400; 4)
Bombay has gone from playoff lock to bubble team after another losing week. He dropped $300, but still is in line for the postseason. It’s worth noting again that he is the only franchise out West with an available wild card bet.
10. Waldo Geraldo Faldo ($1,300; NR)
A big week for W.G.F. He was perfect and is now knocking on the door of the playoff party. He’ll need a strong finish, and Week 15 will be critical to determine his strategy as we head to the finish line.
Others receiving votes: The Notorious A.B.T.; Don Mattingly; Babe; Yaz
Dropped out: Yaz; The Notorious A.B.T.
