The Postseason Report
Gentlemen – Another regular season in the books. It was an interesting year with most of the league suffering huge losses early, then crawling back up the charts. The overall winner and playoff teams were about the same as they have been in past years, and for the most part there was very little drama in the final week. Two of the division winners didn’t even need to use their wild card bet. Speaking of wild card bets, most teams who used it in the last four weeks failed to win, sinking comebacks, hopes, and dreams. Here’s a breakdown of each franchise.
Disclaimer: The following is a completely biased report of the 2010 regular season of the FMFL. The views, opinions, and observations that follow are those of the Executive Director and are completely subjective.
East Division
Bayonnaise
Amount: $1,800
Winning %: 0.570
Fines: $0
Wild Card: Week 7 – Seattle – Won
Comment: The ‘Naise had a solid second half of the season and was just one right pick away from winning the division. He’ll go into the playoffs for the first time after building a strong percentage.
Midseason Grade: B+
Final Grade: A-
Karl Farbman
Amount: $1,900
Winning %: 0.556
Fines: $0
Wild Card: Did Not Use
Comment: Farbman and Bayonnaise went back and forth this season, with Farbman pulling slightly ahead in the final weeks. He didn’t use his wild card bet and will go into the playoffs for the second time in four years, winning in 2008.
Midseason Grade: A-
Final Grade: A-
Kenny Powers
Amount: -$2,200
Winning %: 0.414
Fines: $600
Wild Card: Week 12 – Pittsburgh – Lost
Comment: Powers looked solid in the beginning of the year, but faded as the season wore on. After he lost his wild card bet, there was no coming back. He showed some promise of being dangerous next year.
Midseason Grade: B
Final Grade: C-
Larisa Oleynik
Amount: $1,000
Winning %: 0.594
Fines: $700
Wild Card: Week 3 – Tennessee – Won
Comment: After a tough first half of the year, Larisa is back in the playoffs for the second year, sneaking in as the last wild card team. Week 17 was the cherry on top, winning $500 and surging into the postseason.
Midseason Grade: C
Final Grade: B+
Mr. DeBlasis
Amount: -$100
Winning %: 0.521
Fines: $700
Wild Card: Week 11 – Baltimore – Won
Comment: As Farbman and Bayonnaise battled for the division, DeBlasis tried to make it a three-man fight for as long as he could. After a couple brutal weeks in December, he didn’t bet in Week 16, sinking his season. There’s always next year.
Midseason Grade: B-
Final Grade: C
The Phoenix
Amount: -$3,100
Winning %: 0.353
Fines: $200
Wild Card: Week 13 – Indianapolis – Lost
Comment: “The PHOENIX IS WHO WE THOUGHT HE WAS!!!! HE IS WHO WE THOUGHT HE WAS!!!” – Dennis Green
Midseason Grade: C-
Final Grade: D+
The 21th Precinct
Amount: -$1,400
Winning %: 0.433
Fines: $100
Wild Card: Week 17 – Indianapolis – Lost
Comment: The Precinct got behind early and could never gain the momentum to make a late season run. In those weeks in which the entire league suffered, he always seemed to lose $500.
Midseason Grade: D+
Final Grade: C
North Division
Babe
Amount: $1,300
Winning %: 0.529
Fines: $100
Wild Card: Week 11 – Baltimore – Won
Comment: Babe closed strong, winning $500 in the final week and clinching a playoff spot for the second straight year. He had some chances at the division title, but couldn’t hang with the Beard of Zeus.
Midseason Grade: C+
Final Grade: B+
Face
Amount: -$3,300
Winning %: 0.378
Fines: $400
Wild Card: Week 12 – Tennessee – Lost
Comment: Face kept losing…..and losing……and losing. If not for a late season run, he was approaching a few of the single-season records for futility (more on that later). Face disappointed in the second half, and has little momentum going into 2011.
Midseason Grade: D+
Final Grade: F
Kiko Garcia
Amount: $1,900
Winning %: 0.551
Fines: $100
Wild Card: Week 6 – Pittsburgh – Won
Comment: Kiko – what happened? A sub-.500 team at the break, Kiko was as hot as a pistol in the second half, making a run at the division and finishing strong to end the year. The rookie will make it’s playoff debut this weekend.
Midseason Grade: C+
Final Grade: A-
Kimmy Gibbler
Amount: -$1,000
Winning %: 0.447
Fines: $600
Wild Card: Week 5 – Indianapolis – Won
Comment: It was a tough season for Kimmy. A lot of one-win, one-loss weeks prevented her from making up any ground after falling behind early in the season.
Midseason Grade: C-
Final Grade: C
T-Ferg
Amount: $900
Winning %: 0.514
Fines: $0
Wild Card: Week 16 – Tampa Bay – Won
Comment: What a roller coaster. T-Ferg won $1,000 in Week 16 and was sitting pretty for the playoffs. Then he lost three of his four bets in the final week, and missed the playoffs by a mere $100. Good season – but definitely one of those “what could have been” years.
Midseason Grade: D+
Final Grade: B
The Beard of Zeus
Amount: $2,700
Winning %: 0.633
Fines: $0
Wild Card: Did Not Use
Comment: The Beard couldn’t lose in the second half and took home the overall crown and division title. He didn’t even need to take his wild card bet off the shelf. He’ll make his postseason debut and is the hottest team in the league right now.
Midseason Grade: A-
Final Grade: A
Waldo Geraldo Faldo
Amount: -$1,100
Winning %: 0.514
Fines: $1,200
Wild Card: Week 7 – Denver – Lost
Comment: Waldo got over the 0.500 mark by the end of the year, but alas, it wasn’t enough to come back from the huge fines he accumulated over the course of the year.
Midseason Grade: D-
Final Grade: C-
South Division
Art Schlichter
Amount: -$1,600
Winning %: 0.500
Fines: $700
Wild Card: Week 7 – Baltimore – Lost
Comment: Staying consistent with the first half of the year, Art always seemed to lose his bigger bet, inching his way further and further into debt as the season wore one. Yet, there’s something to be said about being right 50% of the time. Better luck in 2011.
Midseason Grade: D+
Final Grade: C+
Blossom Russo
Amount: -$4,900
Winning %: 0.297
Fines: $1,300
Wild Card: Week 4 – Indianapolis – Lost
Comment: Blossom tied the record for lowest total in league history (with the more-handsome and funnier Chris B. Corey), and set the record for lowest winning percentage of all-time. What’s pathetic is that he did have some fine money, but for the most part he bet each week. He won nine games this season. Nine. Pathetic.
Midseason Grade: F
Final Grade: I (incomplete)
Mr. Marbles
Amount: $1,700
Winning %: 0.625
Fines: $0
Wild Card: Week 17 – NY Giants – Lost
Comment: Marbles was one point from winning his wild card bet and winning the overall title. He enjoyed such a large lead that he clinched the title with a few weeks to go, and will make his second postseason appearance. Only the Beard of Zeus had a higher winning percentage. A solid season.
Midseason Grade: A-
Final Grade: A-
Teddy KGB
Amount: -$500
Winning %: 0.500
Fines: $200
Wild Card: Week 11 – Pittsburgh – Won
Comment: Teddy got a boost from his wild card bet in Week 11, but was sunk with the rest of the league by some brutal weeks later in the year. He still had a shot with a few weeks to go, but couldn’t put together two correct picks.
Midseason Grade: C+
Final Grade: B-
The People’s Champ
Amount: -$2,700
Winning %: 0.453
Fines: $700
Wild Card: Week 17 – NY Giants – Lost
Comment: After being among the league leaders at the midpoint of the season, the Champ couldn’t pick a winner once October came. He lost his wild card, and $1,000 total, in the last week of the season. A fitting end for a year he’ll like to forget.
Midseason Grade: A-
Final Grade: D
Will Cover
Amount: -$200
Winning %: 0.450
Fines: $0
Wild Card: Week 15 – New England – Lost
Comment: Losing his wild card late in the year ended a promising run for Will. He should be proud of his rookie campaign, but couldn’t hang with the big boys late into December. He’ll use this as a learning experience when prepping for 2011.
Midseason Grade: B+
Final Grade: C+
Yaz
Amount: $200
Winning %: 0.515
Fines: $200
Wild Card: Week 9 – New Orleans – Won
Comment: Yaz never got close enough to scare division champ Mr. Marbles, despite Yaz’s heckling of Marbles throughout the year. His contrarian philosophies failed him late in the year, and he barely got onto the positive side of $0 in the final week of the season.
Midseason Grade: C-
Final Grade: B-
West Division
Boss Hardigan
Amount: $1,100
Winning %: 0.522
Fines: $0
Wild Card: Week 11 – Baltimore – Won
Comment: A very strong second half has Boss Hardigan into the playoffs for the first time. If he could have had one or two more breaks go his way, he would’ve won the division crown. He’s trending upwards heading into the postseason.
Midseason Grade: C+
Final Grade: B+
Don Mattingly
Amount: -$2,800
Winning %: 0.409
Fines: $1,300
Wild Card: Did Not Use
Comment: Once again, Don Mattingly, your donation to the FMFL is not tax-deductible.
Midseason Grade: D+
Final Grade: F
Gordon Bombay
Amount: -$300
Winning %: 0.438
Fines: $0
Wild Card: Week 7 – Kansas City – Won
Comment: Bombay struggled in the second half, mainly distracted by the close quarters he kept with division champ Ron Mexico. Usually one of the FMFL’s most consistent franchises, his percentage slipped this season.
Midseason Grade: A-
Final Grade: C
Rick Moranis
Amount: $500
Winning %: 0.500
Fines: $0
Wild Card: Week 15 – Philadelphia – Won
Comment: Moranis was the feel-good story of the second half of the season. The traditional doormat of the league made a huge run late in the year, barely missing the playoffs. Who knows which Rick was making the picks in Weeks 1-8.
Midseason Grade: D-
Final Grade: B
Ron Mexico
Amount: $1,300
Winning %: 0.550
Fines: $100
Wild Card: Week 5 – Philadelphia – Won
Comment: Another rookie with a strong showing, Ron took down the division crown by consistently winning the majority of his games each week. Can he keep it going into the postseason?
Midseason Grade: A-
Final Grade: A-
Slovy Maximus
Amount: $0
Winning %: 0.481
Fines: $0
Wild Card: Week 6 – Pittsburgh – Won
Comment: Slovy was so close, yet so far from getting into the playoffs this year. Collapsing late in the season was his ultimate doom. Perhaps, he’ll save his wild card for later in the year in 2011.
Midseason Grade: B-
Final Grade: C
The Notorious A.B.T.
Amount: $0
Winning %: 0.535
Fines: $200
Wild Card: Week 15 – New England – Lost
Comment: The A.B.T. made a huge run in November and December, then lost his wild card bet and couldn’t recover. Had that bet gone the other way, he’d be dancing in the postseason right now.
Midseason Grade: C-
Final Grade: C
Final Regular Season Standings
East
| Karl Farbman | $1,900 |
| Bayonnaise | $1,800 |
| Larisa Oleynik | $1,000 |
| Mr. DeBlasis | -$100 |
| The 21th Precinct | -$1,600 |
| Kenny Powers | -$2,200 |
| The Phoenix | -$3,100 |
North
| The Beard of Zeus | $2,700 |
| Kiko Garcia | $1,900 |
| Babe | $1,300 |
| T-Ferg | $900 |
| Kimmy Gibbler | -$1,000 |
| Waldo Geraldo Faldo | -$1,100 |
| Face | -$3,300 |
South
| Mr. Marbles | $1,700 |
| Yaz | $200 |
| Will Cover | -$200 |
| Teddy KGB | -$500 |
| Art Schlichter | -$1,600 |
| The People’s Champ | -$2,700 |
| Blossom Russo | -$4,900 |
West
| Ron Mexico | $1,300 |
| Boss Hardigan | $1,100 |
| Rick Moranis | $500 |
| Slovy Maximus | $0 |
| The Notorious A.B.T. | $0 |
| Gordon Bombay | -$300 |
| Don Mattingly | -$2,800 |
Overall Leader
| The Beard of Zeus | $2,700 |
| Karl Farbman | $1,900 |
| Kiko Garcia | $1,900 |
| Bayonnaise | $1,800 |
| Mr. Marbles | $1,700 |
Wild Card Standings
| Kiko Garcia | $1,900 |
| Bayonnaise | $1,800 |
| Babe | $1,300 |
| Boss Hardigan | $1,100 |
| Larisa Oleynik | $1,000 |
| ————– | ——- |
| T-Ferg | $900 |
| Rick Moranis | $500 |
Week 17 Picks
Week 17 Lines
Reminder: Bets have to be made by Saturday night at midnight in order to be considered on time.
The Top Ten: Week 17
First, let’s talk turkey. A reminder of what’s at stake as we head to the playoffs:
Regular Season Payouts
Overall Champion: $560
Division Winner: $280
Division Winner: $280
Division Winner: $280
Playoff Prizes
First Place: $980
Second Place: $280
Third Place: $140
Note: Ties are broken by the franchise with the higher winning percentage. In the event of a tie, the wins/losses of the franchises in question will be recounted for ALL games in the 2010 season to make sure that the percentage number is accurate.
Note #2: The four division winners will make the playoffs, along with five wild card teams.
Note #3: A reminder that wild card bets cannot be carried over to the playoffs.
Now, on to the rankings…..
Commentary: T-Ferg knew he had to make his move – and boy did he ever make it. He won his big bet and went from having his season end to being in prime playoff position. The division leaders remained the same, and each has a different challenge heading into Week 17. There are still a handful of franchises alive for the overall title, as well as many in the mix for the playoffs. Anything can happen with one week to go.
(current total; last week’s ranking)
1. The Beard of Zeus ($2,400; 1)
The Beard eked out $100 and maintains the overall lead. He leads the rest of his division by $1,000, so it will be tough for him to lose the division, but anything is possible. He still has his wild card bet left if he wants to use it.
2. Mr. Marbles ($2,300; 2)
A big week for Mr. Marbles. He dispatched of Yaz and the other South wannabes, clinching the division with a perfect week. He could be the only representative from the division. Marbles also has his wild card bet on the shelf. He has nothing to lose since he has wrapped up the divisional crown, but now it’s just a strategic chess match for the overall title. Gold, Jerry, Gold!
3. Karl Farbman ($1,600; 3)
The tightest race is in the East, where Farbman won another $100 and kept his $300 lead on the rest of the division. He’s $800 off the pace for the overall lead, but in comfortable playoff position. He also still has his wild card bet. This could get interesting.
4. Ron Mexico ($1,400; 4)
Mexico is up $600 in the West, so he is in the catbird’s seat heading into the finale. As long as he can pick a few winners, the division is his. If he puts up a goose-egg, it will open the door for the rest of the division.
5. Kiko Garcia ($1,400; 6)
Kiko was one bad Eagles game from being third in the overall chase. Instead he’s in the number one wild card spot. He’s $1,000 off the division lead, so he’ll need a miracle to win that one. Starting with Kiko, none of the teams 5-10 have clinched a spot. Each could be on the outside looking in one week from now.
6. Bayonnaise ($1,300; 7)
Bayonnaise held serve and is still just $300 off the pace in the East. He’s holding the second wild card berth but can’t rest on his laurels in Week 17.
7. T-Ferg ($1,200; NR)
The hottest team in Funny Money, T-Ferg had a perfect wild card week. He won $1,000 and now sits in the third wild card spot. He’ll need another solid week to make the postseason, but he’s got momentum on his side.
8. Boss Hardigan ($800; 8 )
Hardigan can’t seem to put together a good week. He’s $600 off the pace in the division and holds the fourth playoff berth by virtue of a tiebreaker. He has some ground to make up if he wants cash for the regular season.
9. Babe ($800; 5)
Awful week from Babe. It looked as if he was going to coast into the playoffs. Instead, he loses $500 and is clinging to the final postseason spot. Could this be a repeat of the 2009 Week 17 debacle in which his picks were late? Time will tell.
10. Larisa Oleynik ($500; 9)
Larisa is $300 out of the playoffs right now, but the good news is that there are two franchises $300 ahead of her. Surpass one, and she’ll be dancing into January.
THE OTHERS – (BONUS COMMENTARY!): Those below the Top Ten but still with a fighting chance: Rick Moranis, who has come on strong the last few weeks and is at $400; Slovy Maximus, at $200 but still in it; The Notorious A.B.T., at $100, who was brutalized by having late bets last week; Teddy KGB at $0 who needs everyone to fall down in front of him, but still isn’t out of it; and The 21th Precinct, who needs a miracle, but still has his wild card bet so he can mathematically get in with everything going his way.
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Rick Moranis; Slovy Maximus; The Notorious A.B.T.
DROPPED OUT: Slovy Maximus
Wild Card Bet Update
The following franchises still have their wild card bet available with one week left:
East
Karl Farbman
The 21th Precinct
North
The Beard of Zeus
South
Mr. Marbles
The People’s Champ
West
Don Mattingly
Week 17 Standings
East
| Karl Farbman | $1,600 |
| Bayonnaise | $1,300 |
| Larisa Oleynik | $500 |
| Mr. DeBlasis | -$400 |
| The 21th Precinct | -$600 |
| Kenny Powers | -$2,300 |
| The Phoenix | -$3,200 |
North
| The Beard of Zeus | $2,400 |
| Kiko Garcia | $1,400 |
| T-Ferg | $1,200 |
| Babe | $800 |
| Waldo Geraldo Faldo | -$500 |
| Kimmy Gibbler | -$1,500 |
| Face | -$2,800 |
South
| Mr. Marbles | $2,300 |
| Teddy KGB | $0 |
| Yaz | -$300 |
| Will Cover | -$300 |
| The People’s Champ | -$1,700 |
| Art Schlichter | -$2,100 |
| Blossom Russo | -$4,300 |
West
| Ron Mexico | $1,400 |
| Boss Hardigan | $800 |
| Rick Moranis | $400 |
| Slovy Maximus | $200 |
| The Notorious A.B.T. | $100 |
| Gordon Bombay | -$800 |
| Don Mattingly | -$2,200 |
Overall Leader
| The Beard of Zeus | $2,400 |
| Mr. Marbles | $2,300 |
| Karl Farbman | $1,600 |
| Ron Mexico | $1,400 |
| Kiko Garcia | $1,400 |
Wild Card Standings
| Kiko Garcia | $1,400 |
| Bayonnaise | $1,300 |
| T-Ferg | $1,200 |
| Boss Hardigan | $800 |
| Babe | $800 |
| ————– | ——- |
| Larisa Oleynik | $500 |
| Rick Moranis | $400 |
| Slovy Maximus | $200 |
| The Notorious A.B.T. | $100 |
| Teddy KGB | $0 |
Week 16 Picks
Week 16 Lines
Reminder: Bets must be in by Friday night at midnight in order to be considered on time.
The Top Ten: Week 16
Commentary: Whew. New England and Dallas sunk most of the league. Two franchises lost their wild card bets. The overall lead grew in the Beard of Zeus’ favor, while most of the division races stayed the same. Of all the teams in the wild card chase (aside from the division leaders sans Ron Mexico), only T-Ferg has his big bet remaining, so he could make a huge leap. Quietly, Rick Moranis won his Philadelphia wild card bet in thrilling fashion, but still needs two great weeks to make the playoffs.
(current total; last week’s ranking)
1. The Beard of Zeus ($2,300; 2)
Wow. The Beard won a meager $100 last week but survived the bloodbath and now has a $500 lead on the rest of the field. However – he has two division foes that are within striking distance. He still has his wild card bet.
2. Mr. Marbles ($1,800; 1)
Marbles dropped $500 but has a stranglehold on the South. His $1,700 is almost unbeatable and all he needs is one or two correct picks this week to clinch. If he does, Week 17 could get interesting in terms of the overall title – Marbles still has his wild card bet as well.
3. Karl Farbman ($1,500; 3)
Farbman lost five hundo too, but stayed atop the East because everyone else did just as poorly. He’s $800 behind the overall leader and only has a $300 lead with two weeks to go, so anything can happen. Farbman also has his wild card bet left.
4. Ron Mexico ($1,300; 4)
The West continues to be a roller coaster ride. Mexico loses $500 and his big lead. He’s now up $400 on the rest of the division.
5. Babe ($1,300; 6)
Babe also weathered the storm and is hanging around within earshot of the division title. He’s got a small percentage edge on Kiko Garcia, so as of now, he holds the first wild card spot.
6. Kiko Garcia ($1,300; 7)
One of the few franchises to do relatively well in Week 15, Kiko is surging at the right time. He’s just a fraction behind Babe and now has the second wild card spot in a very tight race for the postseason.
7. Bayonnaise ($1,200; 5)
Bayonnaise suffered the most from losing $500 of all the top franchises last week. He’s now in the third wild card spot, but only $300 out of the lead in the East.
8. Boss Hardigan ($900; 8 )
Hardigan held his own and is fourth in line for the playoffs. Even better, he’s one big week from taking the lead in the West. He’s also one bad week from being on the outside looking in.
9. Larisa Oleynik ($600; 9)
Larisa is now only $900 off the pace for the division lead in the East and is clinging to the last postseason berth.
10. Slovy Maximus ($500; NR)
Slovy needs a $500 week to get into playoff position. However, he could do another of his signature four-teamer bets and hope that the rest of the Funny Money suffers once again.
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: T-Ferg; Teddy KGB; Rick Moranis
DROPPED OUT: Mr. DeBlasis
