Thursday, September 21, 2006

THE BOSTON NPPL SUPER 7


Sacramento XSV's sweep of the NPPL series this year has come to an abrupt, if likely temporary, end: they didn't even make the quarterfinals on Sunday. Dynasty, the world champions from 2003 through 2005, have been solidly in second place against XSV all season-but in Boston, finished in 12th place out of the Pro teams. XSV finished in 9th place. With these two titans-who retain first (XSV) and second (Dynasty) series standings despite their foibles in Boston-knocked out during the prelims, teams traditionally relegated to third and lower had a shot at the top two positions. This opportunity shook the Pro division to its core, the possibilities fueling players' dreams and bodies like the Bawls caffeine drinks they slammed between rounds.

The quarterfinals ended with the Portland Naughty Dogs on top of Miami Rage by 91 points, their average score over seven games at 86 points. Miami Rage was second with a total of 513 and an average of 73 points a game, followed by Stockholm Joy Division, Chicago Evil, and St. Louis Avalanche. The top eight of eighteen teams moved on from the prelim games on Saturday, those not making the cut also including the Philadelphia Assassins, London Nexus, and the OC Bushwackers, the three teams in the greatest jeopardy of losing their Pro ranking at the end of the season and bumping down to the Semi-Pro division to make way for rising stars like the California Bushwackers, Miami Raiders, and Impact.

The weather proved as unpredictable as the results, with pouring rain washing the bunkers clean one minute and stray sunlight poking through to the fields the next. The parking lot ran orange with rainwater and paint, and the players sprayed great fantails of water as they slid into-and past-their bunkers. It was a fun time on the Action Turf for everyone.

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