The Root of the Week VIII

Put your Warpaint on, kids. The Swami Clan is breakin' rules. One of the strongly recommended Rules for Survival of the Swami Pool is:

# - Do Not Pick a Team Playing Against a Team in Their Division

Strange things happen in divisional games, talent be damned. Still, there are only two selections left before the Playoff Rules kick in, and if the Swami Clan does want to use them, they will need to do so this week ... and break the Swami's own divisional rule.

The Chiefs to Mahomes all over the Broncos at home on Sunday.

That is all.

Saturday Taunt VII

Well, that was close. Far too close. Like Bart says, the Swami will not do the Dirty Bird anymore this season, thank you kindly Atlanta. 

We move into the middle rounds of the season where our inexorable climb continues. A few people fall from the side of the cliff, the rest watch them fall and then look for the next hand-hold. After three crazy weeks to start the year, in which more honor, virtue, and life was lost than a Littlefinger establishment in Westeros, we have settled in and start to gravitate back towards the norms.

Weekend Stats
159 participants
10 undefeated at 7-0
64 with one loss at 6-1
87 deceased

The great game rolls merrily onward. Who will sit upon the Swami throne at season's end?

That is all.

The Root of the Week VII

Everyone loves a Dirty Bird, even if they don't admit it. The Swami Clan loves the Dirty Birds on Monday even more than on Sunday, and will ride Julio and the Ice to greatness and glory ... and into Week Eight.

That is all.

Saturday Taunt VI

The Reaper continues his vacationing ways as only three souls drop this weekend past -- and deservedly so, betting against the Beloveds. Woe be to those who would diminish the greatness and glory of the Beloved Fish.

Onward we merrily roll into Week Seven with 81 participants still in the fold.

That is all.

The Root of the Week VI

A double dose of teams for the Swami Clan on this fine Week Six, a double dose of teams and thus a double dose of images. There is no pick to feel good about, not ever, in this crazy 2018 season ... but I suppose if one was to feel good about anything, it would be (1) a backup quarterback for an otherwise extraordinarily medium team going into Rodgers-land (despite the gimp) and, therefore, highly unlikely to Lambeau Leap, and (2) a rookie-and-yes-plays-like-an-unseasoned-rookie-led team in the NFL going up against a highly competitive if somewhat up-and-down (are not they all) defensive-oriented squad from the great state of Texas.

Honestly, who knows. We just know it is unlikely -- not a given -- that both teams lose. The Reaper might scythe one or two, but the pack prevails.

Packers and Texans, FTMFW.

That is all.

Thursday Taunt V

He was so busy, so very busy those first three weeks, it seems the Reaper has gone on vacation. Seven losses total in Week Four and six losses total in Week Five; yes, our dear Reaper is no doubt sitting on a beach, sipping a Mai Tai, enjoying a little hard earned rest.

159 participants
11 players at 5-0
73 players at 4-1

6 players bearing the Swami Hex

76 deceased

It is clearly time to return, however -- the Swami Hex ensures there are several participants will meet the scythe coming very soon.

The Swami Hex, for those unfamiliar, falls upon the heads of those participants bold enough to pick against the Swami's Beloved team, the Miami Dolphins. For Week Five, there were several who picked against the Beloveds ... and now the Swami Hex has you, and off to Reaperland you will assuredly shortly go.

The beaches were lovely and the surf was divine, dear friend, but back to work you must now go. Beware, beware, and especially Bonanza, Festivus Monarchus, D-White, Ughhh Sand, and That Guy. The Swami Hex is yours.

That is all.

The Root of the Week V

When the going got tough, the tough got big cats to help protect from the Reaper's dangerous blade. To those who say two cats ain't better than one, or two cats in the hand are worth one scythe in the bush, or two cats out of three ain't bad, I say . . .

Two cats plus two wins equals safety through Week Five.

Much of the field has already found itself on safer shores, riding the red-hot Patriots and their 500 TD man to success on Thursday night, while the rest of us must toil and trouble on this particular given Sunday.

Panthers for the Swami Clan, if you please.

That is all.