Mutanatia Baseball League Coach Draft, Slate #6: Skirts

Lady Portia took the stage again:

"For the 6th slate of the 2053 Coach draft, the Skirts select:

Ahab Marner as Head coach..." Cheers went up.

"...Pat Halver as Level VI Minors Coach..." Boos.

"...Mike Bass as Level V Minors Coach..." Boos.

"...Tamara Washington as Level IV Minors Coach.." No reaction.

"...Matt Black as Level III Minors Coach..." Boos.

"...Pamela Kerouac as Level II Minors Coach..." More boos.

"...and Paddy Hamegg as Level I Minors Coach." Cheers went up!

Mutanatian Baseball League Coach Draft, Slate #5: Bottlenoses

Lady Portia again took the podium.

"For the 5th slate of the 2053 draft, the Bottlenoses Select:

Alex Sanchez as head coach." The crowd went wild! In fact, the rafters shook!

"Kevin Mensch as Level VI Minors Coach." The crowd was not happy.

"Kyle Fogel as Level V Minors Coach." The crowd applauded.

"Aaron Fernandez as Level IV Minors Coach." That was a strong negative reaction from the crowd.

"Glenn Teller as Level III Minors Coach." Again, a strong negative reaction.

"Pam Heller as Level II Minors Coach." The Crowd Applauded.

"And Jack Kvetch, Level I Minors Coach." More applause.

"The Ownership has agreed, I have approved, that offers for hitting, pitching, etc. etc. coach will not be disclosed any longer. The Skirts are on the clock."

Professional Football League, Play-In Bracket, SemiFinals: Professors vs. Cattle

It was time for the semifinals. The winner of this game would be guaranteed to be in the featured teams for the next PFL season. This game featured the Cattle and the Professors. This was it, both teams’ coaches told theirs, win big or go home. The air conditioned, heated stadium was where they would play in District C. The Cattle were the home team as they got ready to play.

The coin toss belonged to the Professors, who elected to receive. The first quarter was underway! The Professors punted on their drive, letting the Cattle take over. The Cattle punted on their drive, going 3 and out. On the next drive, the Professors went 3 and out as well. The media was going crazy with how close this game was! The Cattle got the ball back after the punt. Their drive would continue into the next quarter.

The Cattle tried a field goal to end their drive. Shayne would kick a 50-yard field goal to give the Cattle the first score of the game! They were now up 3-0. The Cattle intercepted the Professors and got the ball back on the next drive! The Cattle could not do anything with it, though, and eventually punted. The Professors, on their drive, kicked a 32-yard field goal, making it 3-3.

The media was going crazy again! Fans of both teams were riveted to their TV sets, hoping that theirs would pull through. Could anyone win? Would it go to overtime? There was so much excitement in the air!

The Cattle punted the ball for the first possession of the half in the third quarter. The Professors’ drive continued into the 4th quarter of play.

The 4th quarter began with a bang thanks to a 5-yard touchdown run by Ray! After a drive that took 4:04 total off the clock, the Professors had finally scored, giving them a 10-3 lead after the extra point. The Cattle’s coach was furious! How could they allow this to happen? What happened next? The Cattle turned the ball over on downs, that’s what! The Cattle would get one last attempt with less than 2 minutes left to go. The Cattle did not convert on their attempts and the game was over! Final score: 10-3 Professors!

Interview with Jantis Bond, Head Coach of the Aircraft

Host: Hello and welcome to he January 14th, 2053 edition of Mutanatia Talks Sports. Joining me now is Jantis Bond, coach of the Aircraft!

JB: Hi!

Host: Let's get down to it: you lost in the first round of the playoffs after going 16-0 in the regular season. Did we see your best time out there in that round?

JB: Absolutely not. We have never turned the ball over like that. Ever.

Host: Are you looking at players for the blame?

JB: I'm looking at Personnel. In the offseason, you may see a lot of changes.

Host: Do you feel you owe an apology to your fans?

JB: Yes; I am sorry we let you down.

Host: Thank you for your time.

JB: You are quite welcome!

Mixed Combat, Wave 1 of 3, Frank

It was time for Frank to take the stage for Mixed Combat. Frank was a perennial loser. Cursed with making bad decisions for the last 3 years, Frank had a following as “the lovable loser.” Horatio and George were there with the intermissions as always.

George: Let’s do this! Highlight roll please!

Horatio: Let’s go Round-by-Round!

-Round 1-

George: This round featured Linus.

Horatio: Frank dispatched him easily and caused the fall. 

George: But he didn’t do so much damage!

Horatio: However, he didn’t get any damage done to him, never took a hit!

George: So far, so good for Frank!

--Round 2--

Horatio: This was a tag team with Frank and Tsoyyoshi against Dirk and Degas.

George: Frank fell for the first time.

Horatio: Not a surprise.

George: Still, better damage than before.

Horatio: Yes, a higher score indeed!

---Round 3---

Horatio: This was Frank against Pierre.

George: And Frank got a ton of damage and dispatched him.

Horatio: No fall on that quick move of his that he did. I am pleasantly surprised!

George: 7 more rounds to go yet.

Horatio: Yes, it will be interesting to see if Frank can make it through without taking the 50% penalty, won’t it?

George: Indeed!

----Round 4----

Horatio: This round featured a tag team of Frank and Ivan on Luke and Nick. 

George: Surprise, surprise, Frank fell off the stage again.

Horatio: Not a surprise at all!

George: But he did deal a lot of damage to Luke and Nick!

Horatio: Yes, but he took too long!

=Obstacle Course=

Horatio: All targets were hit in the obstacle course. 

George: Very easy for Frank!

Horatio: At this point, he has 151,100 points.

George: It’s a moderate score, but nowhere near enough yet to be in good standing for the playoffs.

Horatio: Let’s see how the rest of the game turns out, shall we?

-----Round 5-----

George: Roll the highlights!

Horatio: Let’s go round-by-round!

George: This was a barrage round.

Horatio: Sure was!

George: And Frank did awesomely! Great on Damage! Great on Speed! Everything he did was right!

Horatio: This really was an example of excellence! Let’s see if he can keep it going!

------Round 6------

George: This featured Samuelle with light armor.

Horatio: Oh, man, did he knock it out of the park or what?!

George: Strong on damage, strong on speed, who could ask for anything better?!

-------Round 7-------

Horatio: This was a barrage round again.

George: Oh baby! Frank was on a hot streak at this point! Three strong rounds in speed and in damage!

Horatio: This is an awesome display of skill to be sure!

--------Round 8--------

George: This was with Paulina wearing heavy armor.

Horatio: Strong round yet again!

George: Oh my goodness! Yet again, this was a strong round! Four in a row!

Horatio: What an awesome display of elegance and power this has been!

George: Not to mention skill!

--------Round 9---------

George: This was Moray with light armor.

Horatio: And Frank fell again.

George: Well, besides that, even though he has two falls left: What an awesome round! Strong on speed and damage!

Horatio: That’s now 5 in a row! Will the streak end?

George: We’ll find out!

----------Round 10----------

Horatio: This was against Warren.

George: Another great job by Frank!

Horatio: Strong on speed and on damage! 6 rounds in a row! After the obstacle course, can he make it 7?

George: I don’t know, but I hope so!

==Obstacle Course==

Horatio: Cleared them all and with flying colors!

George: No technical errors that cost him time at all!

Horatio: His score is now a whopping 411,300 points!

George: If he can avoid the penalty, Frank is going to crash the 500,000 point mark for the first time in his career most likely!

Horatio: Let’s watch and find out!

-----------Round 11-----------

George: Roll the highlights!

Horatio: Let’s go round by round!

George: This featured Frank against Weasel, Brad, and Mike.

Horatio: Frank fell again, and nearly had to take the penalty.

George: It’s a good thing that Weasel missed when he tried to land that knockout punch.

Horatio: With one fall left, Frank pulled off awesome damage and awesome speed yet again! 7 rounds in a row!

George: The question is: With one fall and one round left, can Frank beat Max?

Horatio: This is the question that’s on everybody’s mind!

------------Round 12: Taken to the Max!------------

George: And Frank did it!

Horatio: WOW! I could have sworn he was going to fall several times this battle!

George: It’s amazing! Simply amazing! He defeated Max, but only just!

Horatio: Could this be Frank’s year? Do we have a cinderella story in the making?!

George: Final score: 508,300!

Horatio: He is only one of 10 contestants this far to make it!

George: WOW!

Horatio: From the Mixed Combat Arena, good night!

Mutanatian Baseball League, Coach Slate #4: Terns

Lady Portia took the podium for the last time for the day.

"For the fourth slate of the 2053 draft, the Terns select:

Wilfred Bronzer for Head Coach." MANY boos. Fans clearly thought this was a blown pick.

"Mark Walker for Level VI Minors Coach." MANY boos yet again.

"Donna Tretzle for Level V Minors Coach." Still many boos.

"Miriam Denzle for Level IV Minors Coach." Many boos again.

"Patrick Harrington for Level III Minors Coach." Polite applause. It was a decent pick.

"Joey Wolf for Level II Minors Coach." Back to boos again.

"And Jessica Dameler for Level I Minors coach." MANY boos.

"For the fourth offer of the 2053 draft, the Terns offer Orv Franchuck a 3-year, $200,000 contract for hitting coach." General applause.

"For the fourth offer of the 2053 draft, the Terns offer Ken Rowe a 4-year, $250,000 contract for pitching coach." Murmurs. It was odd that the team wanted a contract of that length.

"Thank you: that is it for today. Tomorrow will feature the Bottlenoses and the Skirts."

Mutanatia Baseball League, Coach Draft Slate #3: Oysters

Lady Portia, commissioner of the Mutanatia Baseball League, took the podium again.

“For the third slate of the 2053 draft, the Oysters selection:

Max Wellington for Head Coach...” Applause erupted.

“Shane Portman for Level VI Minors Coach.” More applause.

“Jessica Fox for Level V minors coach.” Still more applause.

“Nancy Suleman for Level IV Minors coach.” Still more applause.

“Marge Whitmore for Level III Minors coach.” Boos erupted.

“Vince Drakemore for Level II Minors Coach.” Applause.

“Yarnelle Mitschka for Level I Minor coach.” Boos.

For offers for contracts, the Oysters offer:

Todd Stacks, as 3rd year offer, for Pitching coach, 2 years, $150,000!

 Alonzo Powell, as 3rd year offer, for Hitting Coach, 1 year, $100,000!

Next on the clock will be the Terns."

Amateur Football League, Tournament, Shotguns vs. Pigeons

It was time for the next game of the tournament. The Shotguns were playing the Pigeons this time around. The Shotguns were slowly becoming the team to watch as the tournament neared its end before the playoffs.

The Pigeons, thus far, had landed themselves in a tie for last place in the round robin portion of the seeding. They had a 1-3 record out of a possible 7 games played, whereas the Shotguns had a 4-1 record. The coin toss was won by the Shotguns.

The first quarter started out with the Pigeons being unable to convert, going 3 and out, and punting to the Shotguns. Their drive took 2:58 off the clock and ended with a 26-yard TD pass from Patton to Austen, making it 7-0 after the extra point. The Pigeons’ drive went into the second quarter.

The second quarter’s drive ended with the Pigeons and their kicker, Steven, getting a 19-yard field goal, making it 7-3 Shotguns. The Shotguns responded in kind, converting a 39-yarder and making it 10-3. The Pigeons would get the ball next. Their drive ended in a punt, or would have had the Shotguns not roughed the kicker. Time was automatically called to make sure the kickers was okay, while the Shotguns’ coach argued the call. Play was eventually reset and away they went once more. The Pigeons took full advantage of their situation and scored a touchdown, tying it at 10.

At half, the two gave their chats in the same locker room, divided by a thin wall.

The Shotguns’ coach was first, admonishing one player in particular:

“Think before you act! You could have torn his achilles tendon, causing him to not only be out of the game, out also be out from work! You do NOT hurt the kicker or passer after the time has passed! Enjoy the break and think about what you did and what you got lucky and DIDN’T DO!”

The Pigeons’ coach was last:

“When someone comes into our house and tries to hurt our kicker, take revenge on them! Beat them! Destroy the other team, but don’t actually injure anyone!”

The third quarter began with the Shotguns receiving the ball. hey went 4 and out giving the Pigeons a chance to take the lead. They could not and the Shotguns got the ball back. Their drive would go into the final quarter.

The Shotguns’ drive ended with a punt in the final quarter of play. The Pigeons followed that by a punt of their own. The next drive for the Shotguns was met with much the same result. The Pigeons’ next drive starting promisingly, but then ended with a punt. With less than a minute left to go, this would most likely be the last drive of the game. The drive ended with nothing much, and the game went to overtime.

The Pigeons won the toss and elected to receive. Their drive would end in a punt. The crowd cheered as the Shotguns’ offense came on the field. They could not score, either, and the Pigeons got the ball back. They would kick a field goal and win! Final score, 13-10, Pigeons!

Interview with Lady Ives, Commissioner of the K'vin Sports League

Host: Hello and welcome to the January 13th, 2053, edition of Mutanatia Talks Sports. Joining me is Lady Ives, commissioner of the K’vin Sports League.

Lady Ives: Hi.

Host: To remind our audience, your league plays in District B for the time being.

Lady Ives: Correct.

Host: And you are returning after hiatus...when exactly?

Lady Ives: Well, as you know, we share time with the Hockey League. THat being said, look for us on the 16th. 

Host: The sport you are playing now is soccer, right?

Lady Ives: Correct.

Host: Last question: What makes your sport different from any other sport played in Mutanatia?

Lady Ives: We have everything! Checking, sabotage, long passes, live obstacles! We have it all!

Host: Thank you very much!

Lady Ives: You are quite welcome.

Mantis Quintinilad, Week 7, Day 3 of 3

Audra: Hello again! It’s time for the final results to be revealed.

Jenifer: Indeed it is! 

Audra: Today’s challenges were of the physical challenge variety.

Jenifer: Right! And Albert definitely made the most of it, tacking on 2 medals to his original 2 he had going on to today.

Audra: And looks like they’re going to announce the medals!

Jenifer: The first medal is the Event Medal. The Event Medal is for whomever won the points in the events. And the winner is...Nicholai!

Audra: The second medal is the Helping Medal. This goes to whomever purchased the most Helping Items along the way. And the winner is...Albert! Albert with a fine performance in these 3 days, I might add.

Jenifer: The final medal is the Minus Medal. It goes to whomever lost the points in Events. And the winner is Albert!

Audra: And here are the final scores:

Albert had  6 medals and 8 points.

Nicholai had 1 medal and 26 points.

Isaac had 1 medal and 7 points.

And poor Trent had 0 medals and 53 points!

Jenifer: Wow, what a game!

Audra: Until next week, see ya!

(This Mantis Quintinlad was drawing from Mario Party 7)

Mutant Hockey League, Fish, Game #47

It was the first game since the biggest trade in Fish history. The crowd was set as the team played at home. The new goalies and players came on the rink, and the crowd erupted in applause. Harry Bond, the coach, remarked before the game that he was incredibly happy and that his team had worked hard to practice with each other before the game started. The puck dropped and they were on their way.

In the first period, the Egrets scored first, with a goal at 2:59 by Nik, his 11th. At 4:13, Frederik scored, his 8th, making it 2-0 Egrets. At 10:20 though, Kyle scored, his 68th, bringing the difference to 2-1. At 11:50, Jussi got called for hooking, by the Fish were not able to convert. At 17:12, Blake scored, his 32nd, tying the game up at 2! Tuomo and Brad got into a fight shortly afterward. Brooks scored, his 7th, at 18:13 and the Fish had the lead at 3-2! John scored next, his 6th, making it 4-2 Fish! The Fish took 20 shots and converted 4 times, while the Egrets shot 14 times, scoring twice. Harry Bond told his team that he was “very proud” of the way they had been performing thus far at the intermission.

In the second period, at 3:03, Frederick scored his second goal of the game, his 9th, making the score 4-3. Then, at 6:00, Ray scored, his 14th, making it tied at 4! Mark responded quickly though with a goal at 6:37, his 20th, and gave the Fish back their lead. At 8:40, Jere of the Egrets got called for hooking. At 15:32, however, Martin scored, his 19th, tying the game again, this time at 5! At the end, the Egrets scored 3 goals and the Fish scored 1 goal. The Fish took 20 shots, matching last period’s shots. The Egrets also matched their previous period, shooting 14 times. The following is an excerpt from a rare Harry Bond speech:

“Guys, we can play better than this. You do NOT give up a 2-goal lead in the course of a period. It just does not happen! This is playing like poop. This is really damn stupid! I made all these moves, and the defense makes me look like a laughingstock. We need to play our game. We’ve been playing THEIR game the last 3 games. We play our game, we win. It’s that simple.”

The third period started quickly. T.J. Scored at 3:29, his 4th, giving the Fish a 6-5 lead! At 7:09, Jean scored, hist 1st of the season, tying the game up at 6! At 8:21, Slava scored, his 41st, giving the Fish a 7-6 lead! At 18:18, the Egrets tied the game up, thanks to a goal by Jere’s 12th goal on the season! he period ended tied, so it was off to overtime! The Egrets took 12 shots and scored twice, and the Fish took 19 shots and scored twice. The coach admonished his team, wishing they played better in OT.

Overtime began with the puck drop. Not even 1 minute into the period, Brad of the Egrets scored, and the game was over! Final score was 8-7, Egrets. Harry Bond was grilled by the press in the aftermath. “We’ll play better.” He said. “I know we can.”

Mutanatia Baseball League Coach Draft, Slate #2: Pearls

The commissioner of the league, Lady Portia, approached the podium again.

"For the second slate of the 2053 season, the Pearls select:

Pam Greely, Head Coach." Many boos. Pam was not known as being a very good coach.

"Horace Johnson, Level VI Coach." Applause erupted. Horace was known for preparing talent to go to the big leagues.

"Jasper Johnson, Level V Coach." Applause erupted. They had taken Horace's brother, so of course this would work well!

"Michael Kelly, Level IV Coach." No reaction. A relative unknown.

"Boris Michaelson, Level III Coach." Again, no reaction.

"Boehling Grasper, Level II Coach." Boos erupted. Boehling was not known for anything other than holding talent up, or so it seemed.

"And finally, Dwayne Gregory Level I Coach." No reaction.

Lady Portia paused, then said,
"The following offers are made for the main District C league team:

For the second offer of hitting coach, the Pearls offer Alan Z. a one-year, $100,000 contract." The crowd gasped. This was an overpayment to be sure.

"For the second offer of pitching coach, the Pearls offer Zeke Z. a two-year, $200,000 contact." Again, more gasps.

"This concludes tonight's draft. Join us tomorrow for the Oysters and the Terns. Good night."

The crowd murmured as they left.

Mutanatian Baseball League, Coach Draft, Slate 1: Martinis

Fans gathered in the Baseball Hall in District B of Mutanatia. It was time for the teams to retire all their old coaches and name new ones going forward. It was a complete league reset as their commissioner, Dame Portia, had termed it. After this draft, the league would be reorganized into female and male teams and the games would start again. Trades would be allowed, just as normal play would be, but spotlit teams were always to be a mystery until the day of the games. 

Unlike other drafts where one team would pick, and then the next, because there were 5 levels of their teams, each team would get to pick a “slate” as well as make offers to existing base coaches, etc. 

Dame Portia approached the podium.

“For the first slate of the 2053 baseball season, the Martinis select:

Ron Theisman as the Head coach.”

Wild applause erupted. Ron Theisman was supposed to be the best coach around, so it was a no-brainer!

“Mark Damascus as their Minor League Level VI coach.”

Again, wild applause. Mark Damascus was thought to be the best in cultivating talent!

“Chris Hemington as their Minor League level V Coach.”

No Reaction. Hemington was a relative unknown.

“Rob Cordoroy as Minor League Level IV Coach.”

Boos erupted. Cordoroy was good at developing talent, yes, but not at managing a team.

“Marcia Whittington as Minor League Level III Coach.”

No reaction. Whittington was a relative unknown.

“Bill Willsworth as Minor League Level II Coach.”

Again, no reaction. Another unknown coach.

“Will Christian as their Minor League Level I coach.”

Gasps ensued. Will Christian was rumored to be the #2 coach in the league, but he was taken to the minor league system? At the very bottom? Time would tell if that was a good decision or not. 

---

“For the first offer of Pitching Coach, The Martinis offer Zeke a half-million, 5-year contract.” Mild clapping. Most in the audience thought he was over offered. 

“For the first offer of Hitting Coach, the Martinis offer Richie a 3 year, $90,000 contract.” Gasps. Most in the audience thought he was under offered.

“For the first offer of Scout, the Martinis offer Bob W. a 5 year, $125,000 contract.” Applause. Most felt that this was the right way to go.

This concludes the first draft slate. The Pearls are on the clock and then that will be it for today’s picks.”

The crowd murmured as they awaited the Pearls’s picks. 

MGN Flash: Slugger of the Year

Awarded to the best hitter of the year, the Slugger of the Year award goes to:

District C1: Miguel of the Canines, with his .358 batting average.

District C2: Jessie of the Ottomans, with her .318 batting average.

MGN Newsflash: Mutanatia Baseball League, Tactician of the Year Award

Awarded every year to the best pitcher of the year, this year's winners are:

District C1: James of the Belugas, with his 3.11 ERA

District C2: Brandon of the Apes, with his 2.29 ERA

MGN Flash: Mutanatia Baseball League Awards, Newcomer of the Year

The following players will get the Newcomer of the Year Award for District C1:

Jesus of the Sparrows, with his .284 batting average.

The following players will get the Newcomer of the Year Award for District C2:

Matt of the Shakers, with his .287 batting average. 

MGN Flash: Mutanatia Baseball League Awards, Glove of glue

The following awards have been given to the players based on their great on-the-field performance. The Glove Of Glue goes to the best fielders:

The following District C1 subleague players will get this award:

Pitcher: Ricky
Catcher: Matt
First Baseman: Mark
Second Baseman: Ian
Third Baseman: Evan
Shortstop: J.J.
Left Fielder: Brett
Center Fielder: Franklin
Right Fielder: Nelson

The District C2 Subleague players that will get the award are:
Pitcher: Josh
Catcher: Geovany
First Baseman: Joey
Second Baseman: Brandon
Third Baseman: Scott
Shortstop: Zack
Left Fielder: Carlos
Center Fielder: Dexter
Right Fielder: Brian

AFL Playoffs, Aircraft, Round 1

It was time for the 1st game of the playoffs for The Aircraft. Both teams, it should be noted, played in separate AFL leagues, so there was necessary chance of them meeting up with each other. At the end of the playoffs, one team would be crowned as the best in the league, but again, they would not necessarily play each other, mainly because the Aircraft predominantly played their games in District D: with the budget they had, they would be lucky to get one game between the two of them, even if both were in the playoffs. The Aircraft were the best of the 2 teams in the regular season, going 16-0. The were 3 away from making history with the best record in the league.

They were playing the Iron Smelters, who had a 12-5 record (counting one playoff win). It would be a battle of strong defense vs. high scoring offense. This would also be the first time that the two teams faced off against each other. 

The media had been predicting a blowout for weeks as the game began. The Aircraft kicked off, and away they went! In a drive that took 3:21 off the clock, the Iron Smelters scored first, with a 44-yd field goal by Shaun. The score was now 3-0, Iron Smelters. This was the score at the end of the 1st quarter.

The 2nd Quarter began with the Aircraft having the ball. In a drive that ultimately took 3:01 off the clock, the Aircraft scored with a 7-yard run by Sean, making it 7-3, Aircraft. The Iron Smelters could not score on their next possession, punting the ball back to the Aircraft. The Aircraft could not score either. The punt returner was hit hard after the reception as he was running it, so gameplay was immediately stopped to check him out. The returner was not hurt, and the game resumed. Those that worked at the smelting factory breathed a sigh of relief. To add insult to that embarrassment, the Iron Smeltsrs could not score, instead punting it off to the Aircraft. However, the Iron Smelters would get the ball right back after a fumble on the return--and in Aircraft territory to boot! 6 seconds later, the Iron Smelters scored on a 25 yard pass and one play on a pass from the Quarterback, Ben, to the wide receiver, Heath. After the extra point, it was now 10-7 in favor of the Iron Smelters. The crowd at the Aircrafts’ stadium grew tense. As time expired in the half, Nick kicked a 23-yard field goal to tie the game at 10.

The halftime break was tense. The media was agitated: the Aircraft were their hometown team! Jantis Bond, the coach of the Aircrafts, was furious. Her speech at halftime went as such:

“The hell was that, guys?! What was the one thing...THE ONE THING I said 2 years ago, when I took the helm of this team? I think it was that we could ‘count on fundamentals.’ I thought that was right for these whole two years, and then you go and fumble the ball on A PUNT RETURN! What is this, amateur hour? When this game is over, if we lose, the entire offseason will be spent on fielding punt returns! I mean, come on! We’re not the #1 ranked Offense, Defense, and Special Teams for nothing! And then you go and you fumble the ball. During the break, I want all of you to think about where we can improve and, if you have to, we can run a basic punt-catch drill. The ball comes first when returning, not where the defenders are! I thought I taught you better! Enjoy the break!” 

The Iron Smelters’ coach, on the other hand, was jubilant:

“They have a few nuts and bolts loose, and we’re going to take advantage of that! We are the mountain. Aircrafts always lose against mountains! We’re going to go out there after break and give them a what-for! This is our time and place! We are going to take out the #1 team, and nothing will keep us from that destiny! ENJOY YOUR BREAK!”

The media, as mentioned before, was panicked. Where was that team they had known for all these years? Would they ever resurface? Was this all a waste? There were so many questions to be answered! 

At the break, fans were treated to the lights being dimmed in the main concourse and also to a news quiz on the field. The Aircraft had it in their budget to do such a thing, and so they would!

The second half began with the Aircraft receiving. In a drive that took 3:48 off the clock, went for 9 plays and 82 yards, the Aircraft scored on a 6-yard pass from Alex to Sean, making it 17-10 Aircraft after the extra point. The next drive belonged to the Iron Smelters. Their drive would continue into the next quarter.

The Iron Smelters would score a touchdown to begin the final quarter of play. In a drive that lasted 1:59, went for 7 plays and 72 yards, a 5-yard pass from the Quarterback, Ben to the Wide Receiver, Mike, and after the extra point, the game was tied at 17. Fans were on the edge of their seats as the Aircraft got the ball back. On one running play, Lawrence of the Iron Smelters got injured. Time was taken to determine the extent of his injury, and it looked like his arm got injured. On another running play, the Aircraft fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Iron Smelters with 3:45 left to go in the game! It was later discovered that Lawrence had a broken collarbone and would be out for the remainder of the season. The team immediately applied for injury insurance for Lawrence. At the end of the game, they would know whether any of the rich people in District C would pick it up. Lawrence would also not be paid by his job until he recovered (it was against the law to fire someone due to injury, but they didn’t have to be paid until they recovered). But now, the Iron Smelters were playing for the opportunity to win one for Lawrence. 

With 1:51 taken off the clock, Shaun kicked a 29-yard field goal, giving the Iron Smelters a 20-17 lead! The crowd was tense! This drive would be the Aircraft’s last. With 0:58 left and on 4th down, they had a wide receiver wide open, but they dropped the pass! Now, the Iron Smelters would win, provided they didn’t do anything stupid. 

The media was shocked that the Aircraft lost. This would almost certainly mean that the Cowbells would, for the first time ever, be named the best team in the League. Lawrence would get his job insurance, and he could rest easy. The Iron Smelters advanced. Next week, we will be covering the Iron Smelters. 

Interview with Harry Bond, Coach of the Fish

Host: Hello and welcome to Mutanatia Talks Sports! Joining me on January 12, 2053, is the coach of the Fish, Harry Bond.

Harry: Hello.

Host: Let’s start off with that three-player trade. How did it feel to make the biggest move in franchise history?

Harry: It’s not about what moves I make; it’s about making sure I have the best team possible.

Host: Why trade the 2 goalies?

Harry: We needed better defense and better goalies, it’s that simple.

Host: Are you glad to keep T.J. on your team?

Harry: Absolutely. T.J. can do everything: pass, shot, check, and score. What else can you ask for?

Host: What was your reaction when Trent got hurt?

Harry: Oh man! Well, I knew that Trent was an integral part of the team. Fortunately, during his absence, everyone was able to pick up the pace and limit the damage done by his absence.

Host: Final question: Do you think you have the possible right now?

Harry: Yes, I do. There may be one or two minor moves. But I am incredibly happy with the team right now.

Host: Thanks for joining us.

Harry: No problem!

Mantis Quintinilad, Week 7, Day 2 of 3

Audra: Hello, it’s time for our break!

Jenifer: Yes, it is. Let’s recap what happened in today’s part of the Mantis Quintinilad!

Audra: Well, today was mainly a coordination challenge day. 

Jenifer: Yes, it was. 

Audra: And, well, some fared better than others.

Jenifer: Yes...geez, you’re horrible at this. Basically, what it’s going to boil down to in the final 5 turns is going to be who gets the last medal. They are so close to each other in the standings that they can almost taste each other. Standings please?

Audra: Oh! Right! Standings. Isaac is in last with 0 medals and 17 points.

Jenifer: Poor guy! He bottomed during these 5 turns, but he’s coming back in points and he could, in theory at least, surge to the lead! We’ve seen in happen before.

Audra: Trent is in 3rd with 1 medal and 42 points.

Jenifer: Getting his first medal onight was a great start for him; but, going into tomorrow, can he keep it?

Audra: 2nd place belongs to Nicholai, with 1 medal and 72 points.

Jenifer: He got his first medal tonight, in second place; what more can he ask for after such a slow start?!

Audra: And finally, there is Albert: 2 medals, 45 points.

Jenifer: Ah, Albert. Picked up another medal and could potentially get 3 medals. This could be his week!

Audra: And that’s all for now! We’ll discuss the final 5 events and the results when we come back tomorrow! Good night everyone!

Jenfier: Good night!

Mixed Combat, Wave I, Weasel

It was time for the debut of Weasel, the last competitor to join Mixed Combat. Unveiled last year, Weasel was ready and raring to go. He spoke to reporters about his debut, telling them, “I promise that this debut will be a night to remember.” As the crowds chanted his name, he got into the ring. Horace and George were commentating, as always.

Horace: What a great night it is! Weasel’s debut! Roll the highlights, and let’s go round-by-round!

--Round 1--

George: Round 1 featured Linus!

Horace: First time in a while Linus was around.

George: Weasel dispatched him with ease!

Horace: Yes, indeed. However, he needs to score more damage.

George: Agreed!

--Round 2--

Horace: Round 2 featured Tsoyyoshi!

George: Indeed. He really didn’t deal a lot of damage, but the time made up for it in this instance.

Horace: Agreed!

--Round 3--

George: This featured a double team of Peter and Lemayo!

Horace: Indeed it did. But Weasel was strong, knocking out both Peter and Lamayo in a short time.

George: AND with a lot of damage to boot!

Horace: Well-played!

--Round 4--

George: This featured Luke with the armor!

Horace: Complete and total annihilation by Weasel!

George: A little bit slow, but the damage he gave definitely offset that!

--Obstacle Course and Break Point--

Horace: Weasel destroyed all targets on the obstacle course and made good time in doing so!

George: His score is now 149,100. He has not yet fallen! Could his debut be a perfect game?

Horace: Quite possibly!

--Round 5--

George: Roll the highlight reel! And let’s go round by round!

Horace: Round 5 featured Kyle.

George: And Weasel dispatched with ease, just like he was supposed to.

Horace: But let’s not forget: the damage done was minimal.

George: Yes, and that will hurt him on the grand scale of things.

--Round 6--

Horace: Round 6 was a barrage round.

George: Plenty of damage to deal, yet Weasel did not deal a lot.

Horace: Yet the time was pretty good.

George: That is true. 

--Round 7--

Horace: Next was Chris with heavy armor.

George: Yes, and this time, Weasel dealt an amazing amount of damage AND was quick!

Horace: And that’s exactly what he wants to do. Well-played!

--Round 8--

George: This was a tag-team match with Mike and Brad.

Horace: Very quick on the dispatch, but not enough damage.

George: This was a horrible round for damage.

Horace: Agreed!

--Round 9--

George: This featured Moray.

Horace: First time in a while for Moray, who got cut down quickly.

George: Not a lot of damage to show for it in Weasel’s case though.

Horace: He’s doing much better than some of the others were doing at this point, though.

George: Absolutely agree!

--Round 10--

Horace: Round 10 was a barrage round!

George: And Weasel fell for his first time in this round!

Horace: No bonus for Mr. Weasel!

George: Nope, not at all.

Horace: He was quick though, and dealt out a lot of damage!

George: I think that this is a win for Weasel, even though he fell.

--Obstacle Course and Break Point--

Horace: Weasel smashed all obstacles in the course this round!

George: Absolutely. 

Horace: This brings his total to 389,300.

George: We COULD see him break 500,000!

Horace: For his debut, that would be awesome!

George: Weill it happen?

Horace: Only time will tell. 

--Round 11--

George: Highlights...please! Round-by-round!

Horace: This featured Weasel going up against Robert, Kristobal, and Samuel.

George: Weasel clobbered them, both in time and in speed!

Horace: But he feel again! If he falls 3 more times, his score will be cut in half!

George: I don’t see that happening.

Horace: Neither do I.

--Round 12: Take it to the Max--

George: And finally, we arrived at the last stage for today. 

Horace: Weasel fell once, but still dispatched Max.

George: Final score: 483,200.

Horace: I think this will put him on the bubble if not in the top 16