Is This A Two Man Race?

Don't tell that to Bote or Goldie, or Dread. Sandman was shut out by Bote 21-0 in a tournament earlier this season. The Realist was upended by Goldie at the Mega Bowl, and prior to, Dread topped the defending National Champion in the EA finals in Vegas. Nevertheless history tells us that the odds of having a repeat champion or being a heavy favorite early out win the title are slim.

Going back to Nationals II, Winky White was the hands down favorite to take the title. White was perhaps the most feared baller in the 50 baller field. He was hungry and determined after blowing a 28-7 in the Nationals I championship game, allowing the cREATOR to steal a come from behind win. White breezed through the field easily before meeting up with a relatively unknown Candyman.

After winning Nationals II, Candyman was soon placed upon the pedestal of the Madden Community. Candy and his ace labbing partner Trapjaw were dubbed the duo to beat as Nationals III approached in New Orleans. Then out of nowhere came a quiet soft spoken killa by the name of Lou Tillery.

Tillery dominated the Madden scene the following year. It took his own league member Ice Ellis, to knock him from atop the perch. Ellis did not share the same dominance on the circuit as White, Candyman or Tillery, thus coming into Nationals V, the field seemed to be wide However, it was early last year in Las Vegas when the community was introduced to The Realist. A relatively unknown, The Realist kicked up some dust in Vegas at Mega Bowl, and by the time Nationals V arrived he and the rest of the EBC has just wrapped up an unprecedented assault on Madden tournaments. The all star EBC crew that featured Realist, Champ and Sandman cleaned up where ever they went. And it seems as though in 2004 they have picked up where the left off last season.

Sandman has already claimed the EA challenge. And both the Sandman and The Realist met in the finals at Megabowl with Sandman being crowned the champ, although the title and purse is considered to be split. But history tells us that there is always someone new that unexpectedly puts together a tournament run at the right time and walks away with the crown. Will this year be the same? If so, who would it be?

Well that question won't be answered until July. However, The Realist and Sandman will enter this years tournament with the biggest bulls eye on their chest they have ever had to carry.