MWS President, The Swammi

NOMB Reigns Supreme
By The Swammi

Long ago, when the I dreamed of the concept of a national tournament, I really felt deep in my heart that there was no possible way that there could be any place on the planet that has as deep a league as the PFL. I mean after all, anyone we faced in the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area was simply no match for any of our top ballers. After Nationals I, we faced the reality that not only were there other ballers out there doing what we were doing, but they were doing it just as good, if not better. Nationals I was dominated by the host league the BFL. Although The PFL's Creator stole the title from Winky White, the BFL arrived as a league that would not only contend with the PFL as one of the tops in the nation, but one that was just as deep and talented.

By Nationals II, the BFL reigned supreme as the dominant league in the nation. After placing 3 ballers in Swammi's top 10 (Wink, DC, and Ace Hill) and with Ron Wilborn dropping the #4 seed in the tourney, the BFL showed its strength and depth at the second tourney. No other league could boast the number of ballers advancing deep into Nationals.

At Nationals III, the BFL returned again quoting their new trademark slogan, "The BFL: We play on Sunday's". Indicating that their ballers always make it to Survivor Sunday. The BFL's round robin's performance was solid once again advancing 9 ballers into Survivor Sunday.

The NOMB:L to R, Row 1- Unc (Promoter), Ice, LT, Blueprint/Row 2-big Smooth, Nick, Wallace Fisher, Hennessey, 504 Will, The Swammi

As we close the books on Nationals IV, there is a new league that now reigns supreme. The NOMB! (pronounced nomb) The BFL, BABC, and the NOMB all entered the first annual Battle For The Cup Sweepstakes contest to be awarded to the league that advances the deepest in the tourney.

The NOMB wrapped up the title after placing 3 ballers in the final 8. Not since the BFL placed 5 in the final 8 at Nationals I had the tourney seen such dominance. What makes the NOMB feat impressive is that while Nationals I had a field of 32, the Nationals IV saw a field of 144.

Although the BFL holds the record for 3 in a final four (Nationals I), the NOMB placed two in the final four for the second consecutive year. And the NOMB is the first league to hold the crown twice with two different ballers.

Last year, 504 Wil and Lou Tillery were just joining the NOMB at the time of Nationals III. Only a year later, they return with the Nationals III title (LT), the Nationals IV title (ICE), the 2 on 2 crown (Ice & Hennessey), and the Sweepstakes trophy.

With other ballers such as Lonnie and Shane back home rumored to be just as lethal as LT, Ice and Will, the NOMB may boast at least 5 ballers capable of winning a national title. This kind of dominance is unprecedented in the community.

The question for everyone else is how can these Cajun gunslingers be dethrone from their reign of dominance? Lou Tillery thinks it the NOMB will be even more dominant next year. "We plan to come down 10-15 deep to Miami, with the intentions of having at least 5 ballers that could win the title."

So the Madden Community has its hands full trying to prevent the boys from the dirty south from total domination in 2003. Who shall step up?

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