On this evening before we all settle in for the Giving of Thanks, when all tables are set for the feast and a cornucopia of riches surrounds, reflective thoughts bring to mind another cornucopia that is an apt metaphor for this most destructive of Swami Pool seasons.
Of course, I refer to the Hunger Games cornucopia, where all participants gather . . . and most never leave alive. So it has seemed this season, as we all flock to safe harbors only to find no safety nor security whatsoever.
We are down to nine, nine brave souls who are the only participants left to give football thanks on Thursday's holiday. Like Katniss, they braved the cornucopia and left alive, if moderately scathed, and remain in the woods to fight another week. Nine, and nine only.
Three veterans dropped in Week 11, all three former medal-winners. A few veterans remain, along with some new blood, and we shall see whose blood stays within, and whose shall spill in the Week Before Marino Week.
Week 11 Stats
189 participants
9 with one loss
180 deceased
3 week 11 losers
Happy Thanksgiving to all participants, living and deceased, and may the weekend's non-football bring you much joy and merriment.
That is all.
In considering all the different ways to go about this Friday Taunt, which is truly a celebration of carnage on massive scale, both mind and crystal ball kept coming back repeatedly to the same general thought: who dares pick against the Beloveds.
Who, indeed? Previous undefeated KayTay, as well as the following now deceased ne'er-do-wells: Nuttman, daShrink, three Big Nasties, CoastieCouple, True Fact, Mission Impossible, Monkey2, and Chupacabra. There are some serious Swami Pool veterans in that bunch ... knowst thou nothing?
The Swami Hex returned in vicious force in Week Ten - Jobu was out for blood. The angry little Haitian man was so angry, in fact, he pulled 20 other poor souls down with the Eagle-riding, Beloved-failing twelve. It was a Dirty Dozen that caused the wrath of Swami and his Jobu friend . . .
. . . and thus, coincidentally, it is a Dirty Dozen that remains.
Only twelve souls still survive. There are no undefeateds. Apparently the only thing you can do to survive a really bad week of carnage is choose the Steelers, who are the only team to have pulled a significant number out of the ashes of the Week That Shall Not Be Named, and now this ugly Week Ten.
Week 10 Stats
189 participants
0 undefeated
12 with one loss
177 deceased
35 week ten losers
*I will post the picks of the remaining twelve on the blog on Sunday night, then follow with a full update during the week.
We are battered and bruised, but perhaps now we have learned our lesson. No more rooting against the Beloveds. No more chaos and devastation. Only twelve remain. So goes forth the Dozen.
That is all.
We bid adieu to Darth. There was no redemptive moment, no Emperor over the railing denouement (spoiler?). He has fallen, and for the final time. Is there a Ren in the audience to pick up the mantle? This remains to be seen.
Three undefeateds remain, only three as we hit the double-digit mark. There were 11 last year at this time, 30 the year before, and 10 the year before that. Strangely, despite the massive early devastation, we are clinging relatively close to the average. Not including 2013 -- which saw massive success and still had 93 participants at this point of the season -- there are usually around 50 souls still alive to see Week 10. This year there are 44, but only 3 with no losses (thanks primarily to the Week That Shall Not Be Named).
Week 09 Stats
189 participants
3 undefeated
41 with one loss
24 week nine losers
Reminder: any team selected henceforth is burned for the rest of the year, including playoffs. Any team previously selected cannot be used during the regular season, but may be reused in the playoffs.
And onward we merrily roll into Week 10.
That is all.
We enter the Ninth Week.
The Ninth Week is a big week in the Suicide Pool, not your average everyday run of the mill Week the Seventh or Week the Eighth. Like the legion itself, the Ninth has significant gravitas and meaning, significant weight.
First, it must be mentioned that this is the final week to select teams that can be reused in the playoffs, should we get there. What was once (post the Week That Shall Not Be Named) a far-afield dream now inches closer to reality, and so the playoffs look to rear their head again.
Second, given that not many will select playoff possible teams henceforth this regular season, we once again enter the chaos that is the early double-digit weeks ... Weeks 10-13 have historically been the Reaper's stomping grounds. He has been active early this year, so perhaps he is fat and lazy at this point and will not get up off the couch, and the survival rate will be higher. Perhaps.
Many have already ensured their advancement via the Stripes on Thursday night, but the number is not as high as would be expected. Darth Bennett has not yet found success this week, and like many others who whisper words of hope on the winds, the young sith lord pins his hopes on the resurgent Brees in the Superdome. Others seem to favor the Jets, Panthers, Broncos, Falcons, and Patriots. Heavy hitters all, except the lowercase jets.
Let us hope none of us end up like the Legio Hispana.
That is all.
And so it was that 65 remained.
After a pair of weeks with some casualties but not massive destruction, only five brave souls remain unbeaten to lead a pack that counts 60 others. We enter Week Nine, which means for those who know the rules that this is the last week you can pick a team -- and be able to reuse them in the playoffs.
Week 08 Stats
189 participants
134 deceased
5 undefeated at 8-0
60 with one loss
65 terrified week in
65 petrified week out
The availability of teams that have shown a consistent ability to win is, at this point, likely quite exhausted. Good luck to those who must begin choosing 3-4 teams to succeed. We just want to say good luck, we're all counting on you.
Onward we merrily roll.
That is all.
In looking at the emails this morning, it seems there was an issue with the Update Email this week. Apologies, apologies, I will send out an expedited update email this week so you all have information. If you did not receive this past week's email, let me know when you respond to this next one.
A season characterized by people moving in different directions sees another week of darts thrown on the football map. The Falcons, Rams, Cardinals, Texans, Chargers, and Panthers seem like the big plays of the week, with a small smattering of extras thrown in for good measure.
As for Darth Bennett, as he sits down to watch not football, but the latest episode of Rebels, he is feeling very jungle-ish, and seeks to ride the Bagheera wave into Week Nine. The black Panthers for the black Darth, and on we merrily roll.
That is all.
