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The
Swammi's Diary From The Madden Games
What
An Incredible Weekend
It
was another great year for the Madden Games, held in the nations
capital, Washington, DC this past weekend. Going into the weekend,
one had to wonder if this years encore would bring the kind
of experiences that we all enjoyed last year. After reflecting
on the 1999 tournament, it seemed virtually impossible to eclipse
the competition, the camaraderie, or the atmosphere captured
last year. But this years tourney surpassed anything that anyone
could have expected, including the ballers that returned from
last year. We were treated to great games, and great experiences,
and the camaraderie was unreal.
Arriving
In D. C.
I touched down in DC early Thursday evening
and arrived at The Hilton around 8:00 PM. I immediately wanted
to get to the website and update the page with some new information
that I had worked on during the flight. To my dismay, I began
to experience problems with Geocities (fired after this weekend)
who host the . As I was working the phones to speak
with someone in technical support, I was contacted by the front
desk and notified that I had a guest downstairs. I figured it
was someone from the DCFL or Pasadena Soldier, who had informed
me he was arriving Thursday also. Sure enough it was the Soldier
relaxing in the hotel lobby. We went up to the room, as he need
a place to store his luggage until his roommate Player-Coach
arrived. I could tell he was eager to get it on with The Swammi,
anxious to show the media mogul of the Madden Community that
he deserved to be in the The Swammi's top 10 ballers in the
nation. We talked for about 5 minutes before deciding to get
it on. We hooked up the console, set our profiles and it was
on.
The
Emergence Of "The Kid"
The game started with my Cowboys taking the kickoff and playing
methodical Swammi football. I figured that Pasadena Soldier
was an offensive juggernaut, and I would frustrate him early
by playing my style football. Id with a strong drive starting
at my own 20, keeping possession for nearly the entire first
quarter. It was a beautiful drive that was capped by an Emmitt
Smith touchdown and I took the lead 7-0 early. On his next drive,
Pasadena Soldier took the ball 72 yards in four plays to score.
I thought to myself he made this way too easy. He then went
for two and converted to lead 8-7. I then took my second drive,
in the same fashion controlling the clock and frustrating Pasadena.
Inside his 10 yard I made the mistake that changed the entire
night. Pasadena picked off my pass at his own 3 yard line, and
took the ball 97 yards in five plays.....touchdown!!!
That was just the beginning. The Soldier then proceeded to give
me an offensive stick control clinic, going deep and taking
control of his receiver and making plays in double and sometimes
triple coverage. No matter the defensive call, the Soldier seemed
to make all the plays. With the score 16-7 at the half, Pasadena
took the first possession of the second half, and scored again
easily, to go up 24-7, and the onslaught begin. Behind by two
touchdowns, I began to try to exchange blows with the Soldier.....bad
move. He tightened up on defense, and forced me into several
three and outs. I thought I can go into the flats or across
the middle on some 10 yard in routes vs. his man defense out
of the 4-3. Wasn't happening. Then I figured I would go 5 wide
and get the matchups on his linebackers......nope! This guy
was straight upng up a can on me. After the 46-10 lambasting,
he showed he was here to play. Not getting enough of that spanking....I
said, "lets run it back." Although the second game
I was able to score more (52 - 28), his offense was too potent.
We slapped hands,and he proceeded to tell me what he was going
to do once he won the trophy.....FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT!!!
(arrrrghhhhh!!!!!!) Although he did talk a lot of smack, I realized
that he was a cool brother and we would have a nice time this
weekend.
MAD
GURU ARRIVES
After playing, Pasadena and I sat around and talked strategies
and plays before getting a phone call from Mad Guru. Since he
knew I was in town he thought he would come by early Friday,
but once I told him Pasadena Soldier was in town, he decided
he was coming by tonight! He arrived near 11:00 PM, and
he and Pasadena wasted no time hooking up the sticks. It was
on! The two exchanged blows for most of the first half. Guru
was doing a much better job WITH MY COWBOYS than I was, giving
Pasadena everything he could handle. Midway through the game,
Magnetron called and said he and his crew was coming over as
well. Early in the fourth quarter, Magnetron, Steve Posey, Blaze,
and Joe Ellis arrived at room 329 at the Hilton. When they walked
in they were surprise to see their top boy Guru in a shoot-out
with the "young kid" as Magnetron called him. Then
the exchange of words began, with the DCFL crew showing their
support for Guru. Pasadena was definitely out numbered and feeling
the DCFL home field advantage. It wouldn't be the last time
that happened.
The
matchup was a precursor as to what the entire weekend would
be like. As the game rolled into the closing moments, the intensity
heightened, the noise level in the room increased. I thought
security was on the way as these two exchanged leads throughout.
With less that a minute to go and Mad Guru clinging to a 4 point
lead (56-52), Pasadena was moving the ball effectively and looking
to score and go ahead. With the ball on Guru's two yard line,
Pasadena Soldier threw a crucial interception in the endzone
with less than 10 seconds to play. The room exploded, I was
yelling shhhhhh, hold it down. The DCFL was high fiving, and
going off. They were glad to know that the brash young trash
talker didn't defeat their top baller. Afterwards, Blaze (DCFL)
decided he wanted a piece of the action. It was a barrage of
scoring in their matchup as well, as Blaze held on to win 57-50
win vs. an uninspired Pasadena Soldier. Although he lost two
games to the DCFL, Pasadena Soldier was not even concerned about
what he was going to do in the tournament. He knew they hadn't
seen his A game. And I have a feeling that the DCFL came
away with some respect for this young baller.
Closing
Out Thursday
After the game, Magnetron and the crew left, and Pasadena and
I decided to get a bite to eat. Guru decided to join us. We
went over to the IHOP across the street, where the DCFL hooked
up a special discount for all the ballers, and enjoyed breakfast.
After sitting in the restaurant for about two hours, we walked
out into the parking lot and continued to rap for another hour.
Holy %$^& its 4:30 AM. We were talking about last years
nationals, and these guys (Guru & Pasadena) knew so much
about last year, you would think they were at the games themselves.
We decided to say goodnight (good morning), and call it a day.
I
was wasted.... exhausted. ready for the bed. Once we got to
the room, Pasadena went straight to the sticks, I said man I'm
crashing....but after watching him set up the game, I decide,
what the hell, lets go one quarter. Well you know how that goes,
we played the entire the game, and concluded with seeing the
sun rise. Unfortunately for me, the results were the same.....a
third L.
Friday
- The Night Before Nationals
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