The Root of the Week IV

In times of chaos it is good to reflect upon historical achievements to fuel one's successes in the moment. It was Week 10 of 2013 that featured one of the great Swami moments in the annals of this glorious pool: the selection of the winless (0-9) Jaguars to best a strong Titans squad of that time. Ninety-two participants, which represented most of the remaining field, selected the Titans to win.

The Swami went with the Jags.

It was a flying leap into an unknown abyss ... it just so happened the abyss was filled with the sounds of victory and happiness, and the Swami went on to finish Top Five in the pool that year while the 92 fell by the swipe the Reaper's titan-sized scythe.

In this time of chaos, when no one knows what will truly happen, when the Beloveds have a two-game lead in the AFC East and still celebrate with their '72 brethren, when the Reaper is so tired after all his work last weekend that he cannot possibly lift himself to work once more and perhaps has imposed a one-week hiatus, the Swami will return to historic achievement.

The Jags for the Clan, if you please.

That is all.

Friday Taunt III

For many years now I have been using this image, the scythe-wielding Grim Reaper. It comes out once per year after a week of dramatic destruction. The Reaper has most often made his appearance in Week Five; patterns developed over the first four weeks are ransacked in the fifth, and the Reaper reaps the benefit.

The Reaper has never before appeared in Week Three -- and has never before presided over a week with as much devastation as Week Three of 2018. Quite simply, the results were breathtaking.

First, the Vikings, also known as the biggest upset in NFL history. A "project" rookie QB surrounded by medium talent on the road against the roster considered by many to be the most complete in the entire league. Seventeen point favorites ... who were down by several more points than that by the end of the first quarter. The Vikings were BOAT-RACED. They took 92 participants with them -- by itself, this one loss would've been enough to enter the Top Three of Worst Weeks Ever.

But then came the Jaguars and Patriots. The Jaguars? An inexplicable loss. The Patriots? Not quite as inexplicable given they were playing a team with inside info, but still: the Lions? Really, Tom?

Grand total: 125 participant losses in one week. We have only 11 undefeated teams left and it's only Week Four. The Reaper has already swept 63 participants under the blade of his scythe, twice. It's a brutal, brutal year.

Week Three Stats
11 undefeated
86 with one loss
125 week three losers
63 deceased

That is all.

The Root of the Week III

The Swami Clan is in the market for Cousins and so to the Cousin's Market we shall go. After a moderate scare in the the Heavenly City -- you know, until Cleveland* -- we will turn our Week Three sights to the Twins.

The Bills are hapless and the iron-armed quarterback will do little to amend that point of fact. Therefore, still smarting off a tie to their fiercest division rival, the merry band of Cousin Men will ready their wooden ships and their horned helmets and search for their place in Valhalla on the field of glorious battle.

They will find it. Vikings across the board.

That is all.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Thursday Taunt II

Apparently, we love LA.

The Rams and the Chargers dominant victories accounted for the vast majority of pool participant success ... those who went elsewhere for their teams had significantly mixed results. The Saints eeked out a win, the 49ers scratched out a win, the Broncos found paydirt, and the Bears enjoyed Monday Night.

As for the Redskins, Steelers, Jets, Texans, Vikings, and Eagles? Not so much.

Week Two Statistics
160 participants
79 undefeated
75 with one loss
6 uno dos, adios

Only 19 Week Two losers but enough to send six souls packing, including a pair of former winners. The Era of NFL Parity makes for difficult Survivor slogging.

That is all. 

The Root of the Week II

Enter week two, which sees many veteran Swami Pool participants throwing caution to the wind and breaking rules left and right. For the newbies, we will review the Swami Rules for Survival in the text of this week's Taunt -- Swami has a brunch to run to.

The Swami Clan has its usual group working the Pool this season: Swami himself, The Factor, Darth Bennett, Avery of Avalor, and Spawn of Swami.

The first three will look for lightning to strike ever-so-sweetly on the road to singe the slew of Buffalo-based Ta-Tonka. The younger ladies of the latter two will sing with the heavens and hope the fallen bounce back from the previous weekend, and rise again to put the Browns back in their usual column.

Best of luck to those who already feel the shadow of the Reaper.

That is all.

Friday Taunt I

Good lord, you should see what comes up when one googles 'Fallen Saint'. I thought it fitting, of course, given the fallen Saints accounted for over 50 losses on this past first weekend of football. For those counting at home, with the Lions loss and the Steelers tie (loss), that's more than 1/3 of the pool felt the first swipe of the scythe.

The initial update is later than usual; lots of new names and faces to prep. We are holding at 159 entries, a solid number, and just enough to whet the appetite for the long season ahead -- at least, long for some of us. Some of us will certainly feel the uno dos, adios call on Sunday next.

Weekend Statistics
159 participants
97 undefeated at 1-0
67 with one loss
no deceased

The Ravens were popular, although why there were not MORESO is beyond me. Against Nathan Peterman. Still, the Swami and Clan move forth unscathed on the back of Poe's team - and the rocket arm of Flickety Flacco.

Onward we merrily roll to Week Two, when you would be best not to meet the Reaper this week.

That is all.

The Root of the Week I

Hello my lovelies, my beautieus, and welcome to another great and glorious year of the Swami Pool. For those who do not know, the Swami shall visit this space each and every week to post his own particular picks, so as to ensure honesty and transparency in a crazy mixed up world.

There will be witticisms and the occasional reference to this or to that, smiles and laughs encouraged if not required. This particular week, the first week for some, a week yet to come, a week long past, the Swami will roll into the beginning with the men of Poe, who will toil and labor greatly en route to sizable victory over the Ta-Tonka Men of Northern New York.

Normally, the Swami saves Baltimore for a later week and then inserts some fun little paragraph quoting the Raven -- "Nevermore" -- but this week sees the clock turning well into the morning hours, and the bed beckons.

Therefore, and for the newbies, a simple Swami Picks Baltimore for the Win will suffice, along with a comment that many different teams have been picked for this first week, although the Saints seem to be getting significant action, and onward we merrily roll -- those who survive -- into Week Two.

That is all.

Welcome to the Swami NFL Pool for 2018

I know, I know ... the hour is late and the time is dwindling, and yet and yet we make it in just under the wire.

Hello beautiful people, fellow football fans, and my apologies for making you sweat the return of our beloved Swami Pool into this sweltering September. The wait was long, but as Heinz once said, the best things come to those who wait, and so here we stand at the start of the journey. The Reaper is ready to ring the bell.

And so, as they say, to business.

Let this post serve as your official reference point for all things related to the Swami Pool. The Pool has a simple premise: you pick the winner of one single NFL game each week (straight up, no point spreads) and if the team you choose wins their game, you advance to the next week.

If your team loses, you take a loss, and in the Swami's Pool two losses eliminates you from competition. You may not pick the same team twice during the regular season (see below for special playoff rules). There are additional details, of course, but the above is the general gist of things.

That's it, although you are still highly encouraged to read the following in-depth breakdown in its entirety, even those who are experienced Swami Suicide Pool veterans.

(1) Entries - Each participant may enter a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of five (5) entries.

(2) Picks - You pick the winner of a single NFL game each week. No point spreads are involved, which means you pick the straight-up winner. Please note that ties count as losses. Kindly email your weekly picks to SwamiSuicidePool@gmail.com.

(3) Deadline -You must get your pick in by the start of your chosen team’s game (kick-off). If you neglect to send a pick in a given week, the default pick is the home team for the Monday night game. If you have already used that team, the Monday night visiting team is your selection. If you have already used both teams, you lose.

(4) Format - This is a double-elimination tournament; you are allowed one loss. Uno, dos, adios!

(5) Disputes - If rule clarifications or amendments are required mid-season (unlikely) or in the event of disputes (also unlikely), all decisions made by the Swami are final.

(6) Updates - An update email will be sent each week with the number of surviving players, the coming week's schedule of games, and pick selections from the previous weeks. The update will usually come Tuesday, although the Swami reserves the right to stretch it later into the week, if needed. You can also check this blog for the update. Additionally, the Swami will post his own weekly pick on Saturdays prior to Sunday play, lest he picks the Thursday game, in which case twill be posted on the Day of Wednes.

(7) Playoffs - The playoff structure for 2018 is identical to the format used the past eight seasons. Starting in Week Ten (10) of the regular season, any team chosen by a participant is NOT eligible to be selected in the playoffs, where the standard Swami Rules will apply (i.e. you select one team to win per weekend playoff round). Teams chosen in Weeks One thru Nine (1-9) will be available to be re-selected in the playoffs.

Kindly address questions to the Swami at SwamiSuicidePool@gmail.com.

And so I will leave you all for the time being as I retire to the sanctity of my inner sanctum; my robes and my crystal ball await, my all-seeing eye is twitching, and the Reaper waits beyond yonder door, at the ready should I stumble. I will return in short order with the first Root of the Week as the world waits eagerly on the eve of gridiron battle.

Let the Swami ride again.

That is all.