III.16 is best characterized as a league of second bests. Of course, there has been a winner each year, but there has been a definite history of good teams repeatedly coming up just short. Since their arrival in the league in Season 15, Murfs Blue Devils have posted three second best seasons in a row, though perhaps this season is their opportunity to promote. Before Murfs Blue Devil's Reign of Almost, the North York Shockers posted two seasons of second place finishes before finally promoting on. What is more amazing is that several teams in the league have been there since season 12; these “left behind” teams are toronto matrix, Hoosiers09, and spiders ball. Seasons 13 and 14 saw the initiation of another group of league faithfuls, including the explosions, the Dunnville Mudcats, and the Vancouver Giants. Of those teams, several are vying to be the next second best, after the Blue Devils move on this season.
In its years, III.16 has only produced one Naismith team, the Mighty Ballers, although III.16 currently boasts Molson Export, which spent the first four seasons in the top league before beginning their slow descent to the 62 player monstrosity they are currently. Some other notable teams to emerge from III.16 are Slamma Jamma who spent two brief seasons in a division two league, Soul Crushers, tsa-aq, and the Weather Makers.
Season 18 is largely coloured by the fact that in Season 17's MVP voting race, the Murfs Blue Devils held the top four vote getters and all of these players still play for the team. In other words, the searing pain of defeat must still live large in the Blue Devils consciousness and if they don't win it all this year, it would be an upset to say the least. [s]piders ball, the team with the best record in the Big 8, seems to be following Molson Export's lead and has comprised a team featuring 40 players, most of whom are useless washouts aged 30 and above. They have two players with any discernible skills and their youngest player is a 19 year old with starter potential. In others words, not much is going on there in terms of competing with the MVP heavy Blue Devils and in terms of being relevant into the future. More likely to be standing at the end of the season are explosions and the Yukon Golddiggers especially who boast three key prospects (Massimiliano Giangeli, Oles Ruben, and Barrett Sale) and look set to compete in the near future. On the other hand, explosions hold the salary of Cai Xiangning ($57,498) and seem more prepared to be the team that emerges from the Big 8 in this season's playoff race.
The Great 8, set to be dominated from pole to pole by Murfs Blue Devils, features Hoosiers09 and the Dunnville Mudcats. Both teams seem to exemplify the attitude of this league, waiting patiently, or perhaps impatiently, for their opportunity to shine. Although these teams do not feature the big salaried or highly skilled players of the Blue Devils, they are well built with substance and depth at every position. The Vancouver Giants are a team in the wings, slowly building their team and biding their time.
The league is filled out by the 2014 Olympians, who seem to have packed it in after falling from II.2; Tim Hortons, who hold the rights to 18 year old Jerry Beer; Supreme featuring rookie sensation Gordon Zavard; star wars geek who took over from the long standing second placer Montreal Matrix last season and managed not to be relegated; the long lasting and well travelled Moldon Export; toronto matrix who have been around for a long time; a brand new franchise RNC Dream Team; Bask3ballpwn and me, Perfervid Iron-Mills, both of which are sitting at 0 and 5 in the basement of the league.
Last edited by Witherspoon at 11/21/2011 8:44:58 PM