The Root of the Week VIII

Rohan Bendre would be so proud.

A week of peace and calm followed three tumultuous weeks of chaos and strife; we are still sitting in single digit weeks and yet a full two-thirds of participants have already met the Reaper a second time, and the second time means likewise you meet your Maker.

We still have Week Eight and Week Nine to pick teams that are re-usable in the NFL playoffs - not that any pool veteran actually thinks we will get there at this rate. 2017 has all the makings of an exciting regular season finish.

But who to choose in Week Eight? 

Not even the Swami Clan is immune to pick error - the Lady of Avalor was too prone to Texans and has been eliminated upon spreadsheet review, leaving but four remaining. We shall divide our efforts this week to conquer the Reaper for a Saintly Tiger combination.

The Swami and the Spawn will ride the Brees this week and sing with the heavenly angels and Saints. Darth Bennett and the Factor will stalk and stripe their way into next week on the backs of the Bengal Tigers. Two by two, and that's how we roll in cover formation.

That is all.

Friday Taunt VII

Phew.

At last a week with limited chaos, at last a brief respite from the craziness of this NFL season. In fact most damage this week was done by participant neglect - not getting picks in properly. The default pick system worked to no one's favor.

Week Seven Stats

159 participants

8 undefeated, including two Swami Clan members

46 with one loss

105 deceased

For those remaining, not a bad idea at this point to review your picks on the spreadsheet, for two reasons: (1) make sure what you sent me matches up with what is on the sheet, and (2) to remember correctly what picks you have made.

Reminder also that Week Nine is the last week of our playoff rules repick, not that this ridiculous season is likely to get to the playoffs. Good times.

That is all.

The Root of the Week VII - Turbo Edition

The Swami is on his way out of town so a super quick blog post this week, simply to say the Swami Clan is going all in on Tennessee this week.

Because Cleveland.

It should be its own rule: when in significant doubt, Cleveland.

That is all.

Thursday Taunt VI

Everyone needs a crystal ball - this crazy mixed up NFL season follows no discernible path or plan. There are no safe bets, none at all. Well, let me add a caveat to that statement.

Because Cleveland.

But aside from simply following the Browns around to pick against them, there is no safe harbor upon which to shuttle your anchor. Home teams? Not safe. Double digit favorites? Nope, not having it. The rules this season seem more like guide lines than rules, and many have been made to be broken.

Except "do not bet against the Beloveds", and shame on those who did.

Week Six Stats

159 participants

7 undefeated at 6-0, including Swami Clan members Spawn of Swami and the Factor

51 with one loss at 5-1, including the Swami himself plus Darth Bennett and Avery of Avalor

35 who rode the broncos to a mile-high defeat

21 who soared with the falcons

101 deceased

Good times a-comin in the Pool in Week the Eighth.

That is all.

The Root of the Week VI

It is worth reminding those who have forgotten - as well as those who have not yet heard - of the Swami Hex. To pick against the Swami's Beloved Dolphins incurs the wrath of the Swami, and brings down upon thee the dreaded Swami Hex.

No participant with the Hex in place has ever won the Swami Pool.

How do you get rid of the Hex if you have it on you? You must pick the Dolphins to win, and win. Otherwise, only getting knocked out of the pool entirely ends the Hex.

The Falcons are a popular pick despite this warning. We shall see just what fate and fortune brings this crazy mixed up NFL Week Six. Texans are another popular pick, as are the Broncos. Redskins bringing up the rear.

As for the Swami Clan, picks this week are as follows as we venture into different directions for the first time in several weeks: Swami himself rides the Broncos, the Factor factors in for the Texans, Avalor as well supports Houston, the Spawn scalps alongside the Redskins, and Darth joins his patriarch in Denver. Not all of us will get through unscathed.

That is all.

Friday Taunt V

The Reaper has landed. The Curse of Week Five strikes again. Like the ninth episode in a season of Game of Thrones, the Swami Pool has seen incredible consistency in the death and devastation that rains down upon participants in each year's fifth week.

Last season was the only season since 2010 that has not brought widespread loss in Week Five; 2017 shows us the exception proves the rule as we are right back to it.

The Steelers were the primary culprits -- Big Ben's ticking clock expired, taking 47 souls right along with him. Throw the Raiders, Cowboys, Lions, Giants, Texans, and Bears (oh my) in there and you have a waterloo ... er, watershed week.

Week Five Stats

159 participants

24 undefeated at 5-0, including yours truly

74 with one loss at 4-1

64 week five losers

61 deceased

This season is absolutely ridiculous. Two weeks with two "lock picks", essential coin flips for who to choose, and both weeks one side of the coin lost their game: Falcons last week, Steelers this week. The Steelers, as it happens, are responsible for more losses thus far this season than any other team.

Lucky for the Swami, both coin flips happened to work out just fine. Hence why I reside in the Land of 24, crystal ball in tow. Here's hoping I remain there along with my 23 fellows into the long future.

Onward to Week Six.

That is all.

The Root of the Week V

It's 9:52am as I cut it very close to the wire with my own particular pick. The masses are moving to Steel-Town and riding the arm of Big Ben, but coming in close second are the Mighty Birds of the City of Brotherly Love. A few Chiefs, a Giants, scattered others.

But the Steelers and Eagles are the big picks this week.

The Swami and clan with roll as one again with Philly.

That is all.

Friday Taunt IV

schizophrenia ... schiz·o·phre·ni·a [skitsəˈfrēnēə,ˌskitsəˈfrenēə]

noun // origin: from the Greek skhizein (to split) and phrēn (mind)

(1) long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, behavior, characterized by withdrawal from reality into fantasy and delusion, and mental fragmentation.

(2) in general use, a mentality or approach characterized by inconsistent or contradictory elements.

--

It is official, my friends: this season of the National Football League is schizophrenic. There is a saying a very old saying about any given Sunday any team can beat any team in the NFL, and for a good chunk of years that has not really been the true mantra. There have been safe haven teams, dominant squads who you know time and again will power you through to a win against specific types of opponents.

This is why we have rules.

But there is not even safety in rules this season, not when we see the Falcons drop a home game to the Bills, the Cowboys drop a home game to the Rams, and the Patriots have already lost two games in Foxboro and we're only at the quarter mark of the season.

I am reminded of Munch and his iconic image of despair. Yes, the Swami himself sits undefeated, but I have my crystal ball to guide me ... the masses must rely on their own intuition and intelligence, and the NFL season thus far had shredded both reason and logic on its merry way to Week Five.

Week Four Statistics

56 participants undefeated at 4-0, including yours truly

74 participants with one loss at 3-1

63 week four losers

29 deceased with two losses

The Reaper does love despair; I should remind all of you that, historically, Week Five has been a bloodbath. Scream if you must, but scrap and claw and fight your way through to Week Six. When the dust settles we shall see how many of us remain, and how many have passed to the other side of night.

That is all.