Saturday, February 19, 2005
Week 2 preview
First, the Big League Tour kicks it all off on Sunday in Intermediate Lounge 2. Theike (_Renegade_) will be running the regular tourney, while Sophie created the cam jump but any admin could end up running it. Now while BlackSilver leads the tour standings after week 1 with 36, they've recently lost crypt6uardian who has taken the bs_ off his name. Now they'll need to rely even more on people like Vickie, Lara, Cameron, Lisa, and Tooth, not just in the tour but in matches as well. Of course, PF doesn't care they're just 1 point behind, they'll most likely put up another 30+ performance this week, and I don't think they'll give it up. Remember Vickie's high score last week could've easily been cut substantially if Brandon didn't end up getting get dq'ed. He has certainly learned to get everything set up this time, he could easily go deep in the cam jump and score double digits if not win the whole thing. Last week's winner, Big One from PO, he's gonna need to keep going deep in these cam tourneys but he'll need some help as well if the Outlaws plan on challenging the Fighters this season. PF has won it 3 seasons running, they've been just cash money each week, and they're the most consistent when it comes to getting players in the tourneys, and getting those players to go far in the tourney. Don't be surprised this season to see an all-PF finals sometime.
As for Monday night, a lot of questions from week 1 have to be asked. Can the BeerBallers smarten up and beat Breakers Alley like they know they can, or will they make the same mistakes Absolute Finest made against BA and fail to close the door on the opponents. Will AF smarten up? Their early players are much better than what they displayed last week, not to discredit BA too much, they eventually made the shots that the Finest team couldn't. But performances like that can easily bring out the best or worst in a team. They're gonna need it to bring out the best this week when they face TourneyPool, a team that the Regul8ors couldn't close out with a 3-0 lead until game 7. RVD and derek will need to get big wins late in the match, but their early players (for AF that is) like I sad, need to do a lot better or by the time derek and RVDBlade play it'll be just for kicks.
XPool and 8ballrunners. 8BR was supposed to be a force in the AL, dazed apparently didn't like it. Scotter left, so now even more pressure on someone like Trouble4some to get clutch wins, something he shouldn't have any problem with.
CueKeepers and BritPool, it'll be a recurring theme this week, people playing against the leagues they left in the off-season. In this case it's BP's river_blake, he at one time played for CueKeepers, word I hear is the short-fused guys from last season are gone, or toned down, so this should be a good match to watch.
Tuesday, BlackSilver taking a heavy blow losing crypt like I said earlier, and they have to take on BNR after getting spanked by HotShotz, a match in which Eddie did play, but lost. Cameron did not play, but from what I hear he will be playing this week, he and Vickie are gonna need to get wins in this match, and they're gonna need to, as a team, not make mistakes, and not let Break and Run stay in the match. If you don't get 4 wins by game 5 or 6, you're looking in the face of redhot in game 7, and on a second's notice he can get just that, redhot. Now, badalnighter and patriciamalkin are also formidable threats on that Break and Run team. If you underestimate them you will lose to them. Or, you'll barely escape, roll the footage of BBM-BNR please thank you.
WildAngels and UnitedPool, UP has to be ready for someone named SongNeverEnds. Kudos to UnitedPool on taking on SS and pulling a 4-3, granted they lost it in 6. But if they had played ketan a bit earlier, we could be talking about how UnitedPool pulled off a big upset. Ketan and GodsAccess will have to play the two best from WildAngels, which obviously means whoever gets the short straw plays SongNeverEnds.
DreamPool and ElitePool, didn't quit against LPL, an impressive rally from 0-2 to win 4-3, but I can't talk so much about the Elites because I didn't see that match, nor did I see DreamPool's match. This match could easily go to 7 as well, DP will have to keep a close eye on ElitePool throughout this match, and realize who they have and haven't played. DreamPool chooses their players first, so the best they can do is guess who EP will play.
ChampionsPool and HotShotz, I didn't see either in action, again. Special thanks to someone saying they'd watch bs-hs for me and not do it. I wasn't around Thursday until the end of regs-tp, so best of luck to these 14 players.
Wednesday, HappyPool and LPL. Moe stuck with LPL, after switching to MZ, then back LPL, it's league-switching by Cybil here in season 5. Moe apparently has finally gotten comfortable with LPL, plans to stay there all season like he has a choice, so now the question is, how effective can he be? Also...this is great for LPL. They're coming off a small 4-3 loss while HP got knocked up large by Poolfiction. That doesn't mean LPL can expect a cakewalk and start looking ahead. They're gonna need to stay on their game, not get fooled by any lead they have, and just play on their A game until game 7 is finished. If they do that, HP stands little chance.
PoolFighters and PoolHustlers Haha now here's a match. You've got the best beyond doubt Tour team, against one of, despite their week 1 blackout, one of the better teams in the NL. I'd say the best team in the Mountain is still the PoolMasters, but there's 14 weeks before that's determined for sure. It's interesting to note that a PH admin has requested pakipoolking be removed from their team in MLP. Also, will they make the same mistakes they made against LuckyPool late in the game. The best thing you can do after any kind of loss is pretend it never happened. Just remember you made mistakes and in the time building up to that match, reflect and practice. Simple. If Theike shows up for this match, I know he likes to the same thing Mick does with Poolfiction, play himself in game 7, but with the season he had in Season 4, he has to understand when Mick did it, he won just about every time. Unless he has severely stepped up his game, it's likely he'll have to play Brandon game 7 if it's 3-3. I can tell you right now if that happens I'm chalking up the 4-3 PF win. But hey, it's 1 game apiece, anything can happen. If Theike's feeling hot before the match, he should play late but if not, he may consider passing that on to someone else. Obviously not having Don right now is like having a clamp on the uh...jewels. PF of course on a roll, rolling over the PoolPals with that sweep. So obviously, old man Mo' is with PF.
PoolFiction and MadSkillz Ohhh baby, BIG Wednesday. MadSkillz have been spot-on impressive. This will be a big-time clash of titans in the American League, and if MadSkillz comes away with the win, which by the way with their team you can't exactly call it an upset, they may run the table. Remember last week they knocked off the Outlaws 4-3 without king hustler. They did have Champ Chris and Pete. If all 3 show up for this match, they will beat PFN. They also have home advantage. Mick making his big return to being captain for the PFN team, this will be his biggest test all season. Meeting this scary, scary MadSkillz team, on the road, in their room. I'm gonna say now not to be surprised if I take MadSkillz in this match.
EZ8 vs. LuckyPool This will also be a good match in my estimation. I do however have to give the edge to LuckyPool. They played a much sharper team last week than EZ8 did, they won with the same score, we didn't see much of Jenn last week because of that quick little Tyson return-like game she had. But all that aside, I have to give LuckyPool the edge. I didn't see EZ8's match last week, but I do know what I saw with LuckyPool. They also have a good shooter named b_o_n_e_y_t_o_n_y I swear if I see anything negative about him in comments like I could argue I saw at the match last week you'll be banned, if he's playing well before the match, he can easily win his match against EZ8.
Thursday, oh the marquee matchup. Old Outlaws vs. New Outlaws. Don't be fooled by the names, it is NOT Quez vs. Outlaws. This is Outlaws vs. Outlaws. Most everybody on that Quez team, followed Kevin from PO. Paul possibly the biggest, even though...he did lose just won on a technicality last week. Kevin and company will be looking to bring everything they have to the Outlaws. PO has to be ready, and they can't hide behind their "stacked" status. Luis says it best all the time when he says "big names don't win big games". You're gonna see 7, big, big games. This isn't just an MLP match, this could, possibly, get ugly. Which is why it's my co-match of the night really :)) But, Dan said, and I hate to pick on people for their interviews but he said if he's on he feels unbeatable. Well, I guess on a personal note, Dan you better be on, along with everyone else on the PO team. They all have a bundle to prove after last week.
PoolPals and PoolPimps Now hopefully they won't have an ump that talks about...well, stuff an ump really has no reason to be talking about, especially when it starts to involve a league playing that match. Pals and Pimps both got banged up, roughed around, pounded, insert word here. This could be an ugly 4-3 match. I'm not too sure either team will put on much of a show, but if you like close matches at least, this may be for you. They were also both against the toughest league in their division, though in each you could raise an arguement.
SuperbPool vs. StraightShots SP another team that got slapped around last week, they're gonna have to look at how they handled that match, who they played and when, and possibly change the order up a little. Doesn't help them at all that they're in SS' room. I think StraightShots handled themselves real well after this shakey off-season, they lose some big players, but at least last week were able to fill that void. Shots will have i relatively easy until week 4, week 3 they have to go against WildAngels, should be a little bumpy but I think they can pull it off, but in week 4 I don't care who they have, they're getting smashed by MadSkillz if that team stays together. If I'm SS I send a few players over there to try and break 'em up or throw the match in week 4 lmao. But for now, worry about SuperbPool, leave Stick to game 7 like last week, let him rebound from his loss to ketan, especially if you have the match locked up.
Regul8ors and PoolMasters You could say THESE are the two best teams in their respective divisions. But the regs have this small poison in their team. it's like a curse. The past few seasons, they have not, been able, to put, teams, away. I say that while smacking my hands together like a real analyst. PoolMasters played very well last week, the regs have a great team in their own right. But again, there's this problem with picking up a 4th win. JJ has no problem with that unless he's against a Breakers Alley reserve and boy am I waiting for that match. I made myself laugh. Anyways, as far as finishing out their matches, I've gotta go with PoolMasters. They don't have a lot of big marquee names, and that helps them. You know which players are good, but you don't see them winning every interleague tourney out there. Regs do, and that's when you start to, in your mind as a player on that team think, OK if I lose JJ has my back. PM players rely on themselves to win, and they're almost always at full strength. That's why they are a huge threat, especially with the great division draw they got in the Mountain, with hardly any threats to their run for division champ.
All in all this is shaping up to be a great week in MLP, and oh thank Resident Evil 4 (aka God) that there's no school for me this week. *fist pump*
