Nemmers Scrum

The first two weeks of the season are always the worst. We learn the hard way that bad teams will actually be good this year and the favorites are sometimes the worst.

Last season, 3 people got strikes in week 1 and 20 in week 2 – including 2 eliminations. Two years ago, we had 8 strikes in week 1 and 8 more in week 2 – including 4 eliminations. Of course, this year we’re all smarter and wiser and we’ll all skate through the weekend, right? Sure.

This week there 7 games to watch. Carolina is the popular choice followed closely by Arizona and Baltimore.

Have you paid up yet? Hugs to the half of you that said “yes.” To the rest of you dead beats, get on it. If we don’t receive your ante this week, I’m sending the hired goons to shake it out of each you – with interest.

Most players survived the dangerous opening weekend. The majority played it extra safe burning good teams to make sure they move on cleanly. However, it was dicey as Kansas City, Seattle and Green Bay all survived close calls.

A few other players were more aggressive and took a risk. Unfortunately, one of our new contestants took a chance and took a strike. I think most of us have been in Molly’s shoes in previous seasons. It’s a disappointing way to start the pool season.

I will be standing in as commissioner for one more week as Emily catches up with all of her clients this week. If you are bold enough to pick a Thursday night team, send it in before kickoff. Otherwise, send me your week 2 picks before the weekend.

cheers!

The first round of picks are in. We have 23 enthusiastic players this season, including new recruits: Chad Carter and Molly Hergenrother. Welcome aboard, newbies!

We’re all excited about the first weekend of the NFL season, but I know most of you are more anxious to learn about the Dallas Chocolate Festival. You’ll be happy to learn the main event sold out and last night’s movie night was a lot of fun. In case you missed it, here’s Emily and her business partner on TV promoting the event last week:

We have seven games of interest to watch this weekend. Most people played it safe in week 1. In fact, ten people picked the Seahawks. To them I say… go Dolphins!

Greetings Scrummers!

Our fearless commissioner is buried under projects and left the ball wobbling on our back step. I scooped it up and will be running with it for a week or two until the Dallas Chocolate Festival is complete and the gift of time has returned to our leader.

We’re hoping for a full return of competitors this year and perhaps we can welcome in a few more.

The basic rules:

1. Send me or Emily $10. Your credit is no good here, so ante up!
2. Each week send Emily your pick. Send it only to her, not the whole group, so that everyone can make their own pick. Email her or send a text.
3. If you team wins, you advance. If your team does not win, you get a strike. On your second strike, you are eliminated. You can only pick any team once each season. This is self-policing. If you accidentally submit a team you’ve already used, catch the commissioner before kick-off to reconcile! Ties count as a loss.

The football season starts on Thursday September 8. If you want that game, then you need your pick in before kick off. Otherwise, end of day Friday. Here’s a link to week one’s line ups:

http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/REG1

And, here’s a link to the blog: where you can check out the rules and all. Bookmark this page so you can check each week’s announcements.

http://scrum.manteeth.com

Not fired up, yet? Does it bother you that the trophy hasn’t left Texas in four years? Here’s a picture of this year’s chief villain Jim Mantooth with his trophy. If that doesn’t rile you up, nothing will!

Game on!

The Pats and the Buffalopes survived a couple squeakers. Dallas, Green Bay and Baltimore rolled. Cleveland was once the laughing stock we picked against each week. This year they look respectable… or they did until they lost to the reigning laughing stock, Jacksonville. The Jaguars are looking to turn their season around. I’ve been trying to convince the Sherburnes this wave was coming for weeks now.

Adam got his first strike and Uncle Joel took one too many. He is now eliminated, but on the bright side he can root hard for his wife Gerri who stands alone on top of the standings. Through seven weeks, she is the lone player without a strike.

The latest fancy standings below are sorted by strikes. (I know – pretty intense, right?)

The Scrum Queen returns on Wednesday, so go ahead and fire your picks back to her for week 8. Feel free to take a crazy risk. Worst of luck to everyone!

Sincerely,

the Scrum Czar

Emily is off road tripping and completely neglecting her responsibilities as Scrum Queen. After minutes of plotting and scheming, I orchestrated a flawless coup and the hostile takeover was complete in just a few hours. Since she’s on the road, she may still be unaware she has been dethroned. However, once she’s sees her desk chair toppled, she’ll know the jig is up.

Upon taking control, I decided to earn the loyalty of my subjects by completely redesigning the pick sheet. It’s bolder and sleek. Information just pops off the screen. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before!! (i.e. it is sorted by pick)

It looks like the Cowboys are the popular pick this week. Being a local, we’re all too jaded and skeptical to ever bet for or against the Cowboys. Too unpredictable for my taste. There are 6 teams to follow. The Pats have already squeaked out their win. And some crazy loner actually took the Bills.

Good luck to everyone! (not really)

Picks are up.  I am now cheering for Charlie… although, it’s really hard to decypher the pick matrix to figure out which teams I really need to win or lose.   This change of heart is due purely to my ongoing devotion to my beloved father-in-law and has nothing to do with the beer he promised.  Sorry, Paul.

Everyone picked the Seahawks, so it looks like that game can be ignored.  Jets, Broncos and Lions are the teams to watch this week.  

Good luck everyone.  Especially Charlie.

OK – so is it my job to read all the sports news and realize that Cutler was out for the season?  The Bears were unstable enough with him… I would have never have been suckered into picking them had I known the starting QB was injured.  It looks like Dianne and Tyler share my ignorance of Chicago sports news and they also took the big fall.

Doh!!

Celia, Charlie N and Paul remain.  Emily says these blog posts should not show bias, but as an out-law, I’m pulling for Paul.  But for beer, I can be bribed to root for any of the final 3.

Here is the current field. As Emily stated in her week 12 post, the survivors now have to pick 3.  This should be ugly, but hopefully someone can rise to the challenge.  Good luck!

Kevin