RFL'01 Year in Review

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RFL'01 YEAR IN REVIEW .............. January 23, 2002
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Steamroller Trophy: Brooding Unicorn Blithe Elephant, GM David Wang

Aglione Bowl XII Champion: Dude, GM Clark Goebel

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Final 01-02 Standings
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Team WLGBPFPASTKPre.
Brooding Unicorn Blithe Elephant 152-778582W212, 7
Mahatma's Minions 1342838518L13, 1
Having a Hard Time 1164686642W15, 2
Dude 1164717616W34, 8
Boobies! 986692679W113, 5
Uffdalators 986687646L110, 14
Cleveland Steamers 986695567W211, 4
Everyone Go Deep 897590642L22, 12
Jersey Juggernauts 897563593L29, 11
Invasive Species 897549686L114, 15
Fighting Poopy Diapers 897619607W36, 13
Short-Changed Bastards of Persia 7108558602L315, 9
Black Knight of the Charles 6119548714L37, 3
Blue Collar Workers 51210528623L116, 16
Pimps de la Nast 51210585712W11, 6
Rabbis Rappin' on 'Roids 41311517719W18, 10
* The "Pre" column is not a tribute to the Oregonian middle distance runner of yore. It is the Preseason Poll rankings (Foge, Cals), as requested, to compare how your team turned out with how the gurus thought it would prior to Week 1. Enjoy!

Tie at 11-6:
Having a Hard Time beat Dude head-to-head.

3-way tie at 9-8:
Boobies! beat Uffdalators and Cleveland Steamers.
Uffdalators beat Cleveland Steamers.

4-way tie at 8-9:
Fighting Poopy Diapers lost to the other 3 teams once each.
Everyone Go Deep, Jersey Juggernauts and Invasive Species went 1-1 against each other (EGD beat IS, IS beat JJ, JJ beat EGD).
Tie between EGD, JJ and IS broken by total pts scored.

Tie at 5-12:
Blue Collar Workers beat Pimps de la Nast head-to-head.


TEAM BY TEAM RECAP
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RFL COMMISHES' FIRESIDE CHAT: Patrick Callery and David Wang
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League Founder, Commish #1, 3-Time Steamroller Champion, 3-Time Aglione Bowl Champion and most revered and beloved Guru-of-the-People Patrick Callery: Last year's ''Fireside Chat'' turned out embarassingly similar to a one-way interview. Let's foster a little better effort at interactive dialogue this year... fill in your blanks with some mindless chit-chat please!

Commish #2, 1-Time Steamroller Champion and 1-Time Aglione bowl Champion David Wang: Easy, Cals! You don't want to alienate your followers by being so overtly aloof! Question #1: What is your assessment of your new QB bonus points rule?

#1: I'd say the points rule has worked out with stunning success. Look at the SPL, the top QBs are up there with the top RBs where they belong. The value of a top-flight QB can no longer be misunderstood. Surely you, originally a doubter (and a stifler and obstructor of democracy), can see the wisdom of implementing that rule.

#2: Hindsight being 20-20, I would have to admit that the lowered bar for QBs helped keep overall RFL scoring from totally crashing this season. But this Greenspanning cannot continue every offseason - I think we've gone about as low as we should. Philosophically speaking... once we began rewarding RBs with 3 pts for hitting 50 yds, I suppose there was no reason to withhold 3 pts from QBs who hit the 200 yd mark. But ''stifler'' and ''obstructor''?!? Perhaps the same could be said of a stern - but loving and caring - father fostering the properly fair and disciplined environment in which his 15 young'uns can thrive. Do you have any rule changes in mind for next year?

#1: Next mission in the pursuit of RFL equity: 1 point per yard for tight ends. That should put an end to your rotisserie tight end league. Pick a guy and stick with him!

#2: Quite the contrary... TE scoring was up at an all-time high this year. You should know this best by hitting the jackpot with Booba Franks. And the emergence of TE studs like MPollard, CLewis, DClark, EConwell and BChamberlain - to join the ranks of TGonzalez, WWalls, SSharpe, FJones and JRiemersma - has virtually put to rest the past gripes about phasing out TEs. What do you think of the option to start a 3rd WR instead of a 2nd RB?

#1: I know there's some gathering sentiment for a rule like that. Philosophically I'm not opposed, but it seems like it could add to the Commissioner's weekly headaches. I'd probably vote no, but would stage no formal protest if it passed.

#2: Yes, allowing the start of a 3rd WR over a 2nd RB would add complexities to our weekly depth charts, but perhaps this added complexity would further benefit the ''more clever'' and ''not-as-lazy'' GMs of RFL.

#1: One protest I would have raised, had I known your cruel intentions, was that little barb with the playoff tiebreakers. I believe my position on that rule was made clear on the email discussion forum. I'd like to launch a campaign to rescind that amendment.

#2: Having a 5-way tie at 7-7 for the last 2 playoff spots was quite quirky, but the tiebreaker implementation (mirroring the NFL's established algorithm and published in black-and-white prior to the actual ''blessed event'') seemed to provide the most appropriate result - even though BUBE would have beaten SCBoP (instead of losing to EGD) in their quarterfinal game had last year's tiebreaker rules still been in place. Head-to-head is so much more relevant than total pts scored. If we want to base RFL purely on scoring pts, we could go without head-to-head matchups each week. The top 8 scoring teams would get wins; the bottom 8 each week would get a loss. I remember Gary playing in a league where you got a head-to-head matchup each week AND another win or loss based upon whether you finished in the top or bottom half in each week's scoring.

#1: What other legislative trickery do you have up your sleeve for next year?

#2: It should go without saying that the Commish's Office would prefer not to ever project an image of being ''tricky,'' but controversies inevitably crop up on a yearly basis. The prime directive of the Commish's Office is clear: ''Rule with an iron fist - and a cuticle of fairness.'' How about a ''homefield advantage'' for higher seeds in the playoffs (i.e., 1 pt per difference in seed. e.g., #2 Minions would have had a 2-pt advantage over #4 Dude in the Ags Bowl)?

#1: All RFL games have historically been played at neutral sites. No need to throw in yet another wrench! I see such a rule may have allowed you to win your scrub semi game against Boobies! outright, instead of leaving that big ugly bench points asterisk.

#2: Now that the barn door is open, I foresee a long history of house dominance for Wang over Callery - ''homefield advantage'' or not; asterisk or not. How did you feel after losing to me for the first time ever?

#1: Dave, that was a pretty scrappy victory. If I played ''Wang-style'' offense and cut all my scrubs (and my roster is STACKED with scrubs) and replaced them with kickers, I would have obliterated you on the bench points. But I didn't, so that's life. Congratulations on your bittersweet consolation.

#2: Someone *else* sounds like the Mr. Bitterman here! And I take offense to the remark about filling my roster with PKs. I never had more than 2 PKs on my roster for any game this season. But if you want to keep DCulpepper (out for the season), TPinkston (*bad*), FSanders (worse) and Scotty Anderson (absolute zero) on your roster... I think the RFL Gods did you a favor in pointing out that this ''strategy'' cost you a game. Speaking of bad strategies... what happened to the Vikes this year?

#1: Two words: Re Building. Emphasis on ''Re.'' Do you know the Vikes were in the playoffs 8 of the last 9 years, and never had a losing record? Best damn team of the 90's. The reason they never won a title is because of that lousy defense. Denny Green is a good coach/overlord, but he never focused on defense. You can't win with Orlando Thomas taking nosedives in the general vicinity of open-field ball carriers. We need to bring back Tony Dungy.

#2: I thought the Team of the 90's was the Steamrollers of Aglione and Snehal. Then again... the DALLAS COWBOYS did win the most Super Bowls (3) in the 90's. All I know is... if I had Randy Moss on my team, his only complaint would be having too many balls thrown his way! Speaking of Mr. Moss (and I don't mean Santana)... plus or minus?

#1: Moss is a plus. Sure he's a baby, and a pouter, and a half-ass effort, and he's certainly no team leader. Just let him do his thing and don't allow the young, impressionable players to be distracted by his fussing. You just need a guy like Carter to keep the rest of the team focused. Enough about the Vikings. I'm not hearing anyone so eager to shout out the joys of Dallas Cowboy fandom these days, you know.

#2: Ahhh... my beloved 'Boys. Yes, Dallas is in the midst of reconstructing. Any sane person would have expected the Cowboys to have a legitimate shot at going winless this past season. For the Cowboys to win 5 (including wins over WA, NYG and SF) was a most pleasant surprise - and a testament to the effort they put out (on most weeks). We'll try to get Emmitt his rushing yardage record next season, we'll rebuild around QCarter and RLeaf (because you know you need 2 *quality* QBs to win in the NFL), and we'll win our record-setting 6th Super Bowl by the end of this decade. But enough about my 'Boys, Todd Pinkston... please explain.

#1: Hey, cut some slack on Pinkston. It's not too much different than having Keenan Ivory-McCardell or Ike Hilliard in the starting lineup every week. Honestly though, Dave, I fear I am becoming your nemesis in terms of roster management. I had a weakness at WR and couldn't seem to muster the effort to probe the ranks for an adequate replacement. Do you think RFL is losing truly dedicated GMs as we grow old and gray, or is it just me?

#2: Yes, I was quite disappointed in your inability to upgrade your non-THolt WRs. You could have picked up Plaxico Burress instead of FSanders. You could have picked up JJ Stokes to replace SAnderson. 9/11 was the day you replaced MHatchette with TPinkston... Kevin Johnson and Marty Booker were available right around that time. Why were you unable to pickup better WRs? Perhaps we could all look to Brad as an example... successful career, great wife and 3 kids, solid athlete, committed RFL GM. Perhaps we should all aim to lead such balanced lives. Aside from GMs with ADD, what is the biggest problem in RFL now?

#1: Dissention in the ranks! What's this about splitting the league? All these new ''Wang recruits'' of recent years.... Gary, JoePa, John P, Brad... at least we know Richard exists. But then again he may just be a pawn of your mental regime of terror. I think the rest of them are your family of schizophrenic alter-egos, vying to keep the whole league nice and tidy within your own imagination. The ultimate ''fantasy'' football. Come on, it's true, isn't it?!?!

#2: Wow! I didn't know you had that magnitude of deductive reasoning power in you, Cals! Yes... Gary, JoePa, John and Brad (and Tim, too) are all alter egos of mine. We essentially played this past season with 12 GMs. I was running EGD, BKotC, JJ and BCW - as well as BUBE.
Regarding EGD... I always wanted to try picking a QB in Round 1 (PManning). Picking JStewart in Round 2 must have given me away. And then when the Playoffs came around, I figured my chances were better with EGD... so I had BUBE take a dive.
Regarding BKotC... that was the Mississippi riverboat gambler in me - picking FTaylor, MBennett and Aaron Brooks in the 1st 3 rounds. The picks that must've given me away were MWestbrook, TBiakabutuka and JRiemersma. I was having flashbacks to that Buffs-Wolverines game we attended. If only Rashaan Salaam was still in the League!
The JJ... not my best Draft work. Picking 2 mediocre QBs (TGreen, 3rd and vINTy, 5th) in the 1st 5 rounds was admittedly ridiculous. And I couldn't resist nabbing my protege JThrash in Round 6.
Last, but certainly not least... the BCW. I always wanted to see if I could surpass Vesh's Draft leftover team from '97. And seeing as how no one will trade with me, I figured (correctly!) that people would trade with ''Brad.''
Regarding splitting the League in 2, quite frankly... the less-than-committed effort from a segment of GMs really bums me out at times. At a minimum, I would appreciate a d chart email each week from each GM (even if it's simply to confirm that the d chart is staying the same). Having each GM attach a witty and/or insightful comment to the weekly d chart (for all GMs to read and enjoy) would make me ecstatic. Obviously, we're not seeing anything even close to those low expectations. Maybe the new guys are intimidated by the established old school. Maybe the old guys are overly resentful towards the young guns. Whatever it is... the system is on the verge of breaking. And some have said it before, ''Wang is usually the 1st rat off a sinking ship.'' I see a gleaming new ship wrapping up construction in dry dock. I see myself helming that ship - with a crew dynamic more conducive to uninhibited communication. We'll see what happens this offseason. If our pool of GMs grows to 24+, perhaps we'll be able to split into 2 leagues. If we don't have enough GMs for 2 leagues, how many current GMs would I need to cut out - in the ''Spirit of RFL'' - to get us back down to 16?
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RFL'01 Weekly High Scorers

Week 1: Vesh (CS) - 68
Week 2: Joebob (MM) - 63
Week 3: Wang (BUBE) - 64
Week 4: Kevin (Uffda) - 55
Week 5: Cals (Boobs) - 71
Week 6: Stan (IS) - 54
Week 7: Kevin (Uffda) - 64
Week 8: Vesh (CS) - 56
Week 9: John (JJ) - 73
Week 10: Brad (BCW) - 58
Week 11: Adam (RRR) - 52
Week 12: Wang (BUBE) - 58
Week 13: Richard (HaHT) - 60
Week 14: Joebob (MM) - 65
Week 15: Brad (BCW) - 70
Week 16: Joebob (MM) - 74
Week 17: Vesh (CS) - 67

Who Scored What?

Below is one numerical representation of the scoring in the 01-02 RFL season - broken down by position (RFL2k, RFL'99 numbers in parentheses).

QBs: 34 guys, 1952 pts /16 /17 = 7.18 ppg per QB (5.85, 5.15)
RBs: 58 guys, 3171 pts /32 /17 = 5.83 ppg per RB slot (7.01, 3.84)
WRs: 58 guys, 2608 pts /32 /17 = 4.79 ppg per WR slot (4.99, 2.97)
TEs: 23 guys, 637 pts /16 /17 = 2.34 ppg per TE (1.85, 1.29)
PKs: 29 guys, 1782 pts /16 /17 = 6.55 ppg per PK (7.02, 7.02)

Clearly, QB pts made the expected jump following the last minute rule change rewarding them for hitting the 200-yd mark.
The dip in RB pts is kind of hard to understand. There was no sense that this year's GMs were any less attentive to their RB situations compared to the past, so there must've been a similar overall dropoff in the NFL.
If RMoss had performed as ''expected,'' there would not have been this minor dip in WR pts.
The TEs (other than TGonzalez) came on this year.
It was a bad year for PKs.

QB1 = 187 pts k warner (167, 121)
QB16 = 33 pts c batch (39, 33)
.........154 pt diff (128, 88)

warner outscored y2k leader (d culpepper) by 20 pts, and there was a steep dropoff between QB #14 (tgreen) and #15 (tbrady) - leading to the much wider gap between #1 and #16.

RB1 = 242 pts m faulk (265, 153)
RB16 = 75 pts l smith (111, 54)
.........167 pt diff (154, 99)

faulk was off 23 pts from last season, and there was a bigger dropoff (36 pts) between the #16 RBs from last season to this. it was a bad season regarding getting consistent production from the top RBs.

RB17 = 63 pts w dunn (111, 51)
RB32 = 36 pts t wheatley (33, 18)
..........27 78 pt diff (78, 33)

the 2nd tier of RBs were much more equally horrendous this season.

WR1 = 159 pts t owens rmoss (155, 110)
WR16 = 63 pts c carter keyjohnson (75, 36)
..........96 pt diff (80, 74)

TO breaks RMoss' 1-year-old record for WR pts.

WR17 = 63 pts b schroeder jhorn (72, 33)
WR32 = 27 pts m westbrook jgreen (24, 18)
..........36 pt diff (48, 15)

the 2nd tier of WRs was pretty equally subpar this season - and people would rather start a 3rd WR over a 2nd RB?!?

TE1 = 71 pts t gonzalez (99, 72)
TE16 = 18 pts d sloan (6, 6)
.........53 pt diff (93, 66)

TonyG scored 28 less than last year, but overall TE scoring was up - and more balanced.

PK1 = 127 pts j wilkins mstover (135, 145)
PK16 = 59 pts j hall dbrien (65, 73)
..........68 pt diff (70, 72)

PK production inexplicably dropped over 100 pts this year (from 1909, 1910 in RFL2k and RFL'99).

Below is the ranking of each franchise in terms of overall scoring by position.

QBRBWRTEPK
shiv 196joebob 344john 240brodz 71joebob 132
adam 172wang 303stan 207brad 63joepa 131
gary 164rich 290joebob 206cals 54cals 126
joepa 148kevin 285ali 198rich 48rich 125
cals 140clark 270kevin 195stan 48kevin 117
wang 136cals 237vesh 195joebob 42vesh 115
ali 132vesh 237clark 192clark 42brad 114
rich 130brodz 191wang 189shiv 42clark 114
joebob 114gary 174brodz 165kevin 39shiv 113
vesh 109john 144joepa 149vesh 39gary 113
brad 105brad 138cals 135wang 39wang 111
clark 99ali 131gary 121adam 33adam 104
brodz 90shiv 123shiv 111joepa 30brodz 102
stan 90stan 110brad 108john 20stan 94
john 76adam 104adam 104gary 18ali 88
kevin 51joepa 90rich 93ali 9john 83
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All-RFL Teams:

***** ****
FIRST TEAM
***** ****
QBKURT WARNER (Pimps de la Nast, GM Shivan Desai)187
RBMARSHALL FAULK (Mahatma's Minions, GM Joseph Pynadath)242
SHAUN ALEXANDER (Dude, GM Clark Goebel)171
WRTERRELL OWENS (Invasive Species, GM Stan Wilson)159
MARVIN HARRISON (Jersey Juggernauts, GM John Park)153
TETONY GONZALEZ (Fighting Poopy Diapers, GM Dave Brodkin - who else?)71
PKJEFF WILKINS (Black Knights of the Charles, GM Joe Parker)127

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SECOND TEAM
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QBJEFF GARCIA (Rabbis Rappin' on 'Roids, GM Adam Marlin)172
RBPRIEST HOLMES (Having a Hard Time, GM Richard Aguilera)162
AHMAN GREEN (Cleveland Steamers, GM Joshua Veshia)162
WRROD SMITH (Mahatma's Minions, GM Joseph Pynadath)128
DAVID BOSTON (Brooding Unicorn Blithe Elephant, GM David Wang)120
TEMARCUS POLLARD (Blue Collar Workers, GM Brad Nall)63
PKMIKE VANDERJAGT (Having a Hard Time, GM Richard Aguilera)125

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HONORABLE MENTION
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QBPEYTON MANNING (Everyone Go Deep, GM Gary Eigen)161
RBCOREY DILLON (Uffdalators, GM Kevin Archibald)150
RICKY WILLIAMS (Uffdalators, GM Kevin Archibald)123
WRRANDY MOSS (Short-Changed Bastards of Persia, GM Ali Eslambolchi)105
TIM BROWN (Uffdalators, GM Kevin Archibald)105
TEBUBBA FRANKS (Boobies!, GM Patrick Callery)54
PKJASON ELAM (Mahatma's Minions, GM Joseph Pynadath)124


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RFL AWARDS
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Panel of Voters: Adam, Ali, Brad, Brodz, Cals, Clark, Gary, Joebob, JoePa, John, Shivan, Stan.
The RFL'01 Awards Ballot

PLAYOFF MVP: (PLAYER, TEAM, 1st PLACE VOTES, TOTAL)

1. Marshall Faulk, Mahatma's Minions (8), 30
2. Shaun Alexander, Dude (4), 24
T-3. Todd Pinkston, Boobies! 1
T-3. Team, Brooding Unicorn Blithe Elephant 1

Comments:
Voter for BUBE: ''Unicorns-took it (quarterfinal loss) like a man''
#2: I would have voted for SAlexander. Yes, Faulk scored more... but Alexander led his team to Aglione Bowl glory.

RFL MVP:

1. Marshall Faulk, Mahatma's Minions (10), 32
2. Shaun Alexander, Dude (1), 14
3. Kurt Warner, Pimps de la Nast (1), 12
4. David Boston, BUBE 5
5. Kordell Stewart, Blue Collar Workers 2
6. Terrell Owens, Invasive Species 1

Comments:
#1: ''you are nuts. get outta here'' (regarding DBoston's presence on ballot)

STEAL OF THE DRAFT:

1. Shaun Alexander, Dude (8), 29
2. Antowain Smith, Boobies! (2), 18
3. Bill Schroeder, Black Knights of the Charles (1), 7
4. Troy Brown, Cleveland Steamers (1), 6.5
5. Marcus Pollard, Having a Hard Time 4.5
6. LaDainian Tomlinson, BUBE 1

BUST OF THE DRAFT:

1. Eddie George, Dude (8), 32
2. Randy Moss, Short-Changed Bastards of Persia (2), 12
3. Warrick Dunn, Jersey Juggernauts 8
4. Cris Carter, Pimps de la Nast (1), 7
5. Keyshawn Johnson, BUBE (1), 3
6. Michael Bennett, Black Knights of the Charles 2
T-7. Derrick Alexander, Invasive Species 1
T-7. Mike Alstott, Boobies! 1

Comments:
#2: I probably would've voted for Moss. Even though he still made Honorable Mention All-RFL, he's capable of so much more. And why Alstott?!? He scored 11 TDs!

PICK-UP OF THE YEAR:

1. Dominic Rhodes, Everyone Go Deep (7), 28
2. Tom Brady, Mahatma's Minions (4), 22
T-3. Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, Blue Collar Workers (1), 5
T-3. Kevin Johnson, Brooding Unicorn Blithe Elephant 5
5. Ernie Conwell, Cleveland Steamers 3
6. Todd Pinkston, Boobies! 2

Comments:
One of my alter egos: ''Didn't you draft (Kevin) Johnson? It can't count if you dropped him and then picked him back up''
#1: ''no way!'' (regarding EConwell's presence on ballot)
#2: I don't understand why so many voted for Brady. I guess people were confusing his NFL season with his (very moderate) RFL production.

GM OF THE YEAR:

1. David Wang, Brooding Unicorn Blithe Elephant (4), 21
2. Brad Nall, Blue Collar Workers (3), 18
3. Clark Goebel, Dude (3), 15
4. Joe Pynadath, Mahatma's Minions (1), 7
5. Gary Eigen, Everyone Go Deep (1), 3
6. Anti-Wang, Anti-BUBE 2

Comments:
#2: Yes, I would have voted for me, too. But I think Brad and Clark and Joebob all did great things GM-wise in their own right.
#1: ''Wang - too shrewd for this crowd. Nobody can match his crafty wheeling and dealing, and nobody has been able to exploit the Commissionership to such yearly success (since me).''
#1: ''Brad - took him several weeks, but he worked his way into a semi-mediocre team, starting with garbage. His shameless trading seemed, in the end, to have at least some method behind the madness. Shook up a stodgy league of old-timers afraid to trade.''
#1: ''Clark - the sentimental pick, has tried so hard these last few seasons and finally tastes victory.''

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

1. Priest Holmes, Having a Hard Time (5), 21
2. Garrison Hearst, Boobies! (4), 20
3. Kevin Johnson, Blue Collar Workers (1), 6
4. Curtis Conway, Dude 5
5. Doug Flutie, Invasive Species 4
6. Jerry Rice, Short-Changed Bastards of Persia 1

Comments:
#2: I would have voted for Hearst.

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Playoffs Bracket
QuartersSemisAglione Bowl XII
#1 BUBE 36
#8 EGD 43
EGD 35
#4 Dude 67Dude 50
#5 Boobs 48Dude 45
MM 31
#2 MM 53
#7 SCBoP 14MM 74
HaHT 23
#3 HaHT 32
#6 Uffda 24

I hope everyone enjoyed the 01-02 season, and I hope all of you are looking forward to getting Steamrolled AND Aglioned by a powerhouse from Camp Wang (or Camp Brodkin) in the 2002 season!
-#2


©1999-2002 RFL Inc.
All rights reserved.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
Email David S. Wang

Revised: January 23, 2002