The Muse's Corner
By the Philosopher of Arena Football
June 21, 2007
Saying Goodbye to the Studs of Week 16, and the Fantasy
Season
Week 16, the next to last week of the regular season, is a kind of
netherworld. Odd things happen. Teams that have clinched playoff berths
will sit stud players, and upstart teams with poor regular season
records can sometimes play the spoiler. And teams will even let the backup
QB start (as Arizona and Nashville did, for example) with an eye already
towards building for next year. Of course there were still great games
and even greater fantasy matchups - like the Bobby Sippio vs. Damien
Harrell grudge match to see beyond mere stats and find out head-to-head
who is the best wide receiver in the league.
Thus, because it is so unpredictable, the next to last week 16 of
the regular season is usually the final week of most fantasy seasons.
And thus we have come to the saddest time of the fantasy season. And in
this dark time, I of course asked the muse for a song to celebrate the
studs of week 16, and of the future:
DB Lin-J Shell grabs another eight tackles
And makes Georgia receivers feel they wear shackles.
While rookie QB Bellisari works his VooDoo
Despite tossing two INT Boo Boos.
111 fantastical TDs in a season
Is the record Forced by QB Griessen.
And Soul's last second Tony Graziani
Hooks up in time to playoff Pauley.
Five TDs throws resurging Philyaw
Straight into the Nashville maw.
While Kats QB Smoker is sat down
To give a chance to upstart Matt Kohn.
Rush's Sippio fights his way
With three TDs to win the Day.
Yet "Highlight Reel" Harrell pushes further
And takes down four on tape-delay.
Alas, the Fantasy season is ending
And the year's studs limp home
Or foster playoff hopes still pending.
From deep beneath rusted snowflakes
Sifted down at the core of the mountain of years--
Barry Wagner, one last time, Awakes!
So to translate the Muse's song: Even as the fantasy season is
ending, there are still pockets of joy left in the Arena. And don't
forget to get your playoff fantasy leagues going...
Paul Celmer, aka The Philosopher of Arena Football, is a member of the Arena Football League Writers Association and a founding member of Arena Football Online. Contact Paul at pcelmer@arenafootballonline.com
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