|
|
|
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
© 2000, PFL Enterprises, LP PFL
and the PFL shield design are registered trademarks of the Playstation
Football League. The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered
trademarks of the teams indicated.
|
|