Week 9 MVP Award Winner –
Hoosier Daddy (31 Points)
Hoosier Daddy has stepped up his game big time over the past few weeks and it all culminated this week with him scoring 31 Points to win the Week 9 MVP Award. Just a few weeks ago, Hoosier was in 9th Place for 3 consecutive weeks. But with a surge of momentum and some great picks, he climbed up to 8th Place last week and now he is into 5th Place, solidly in the Top Five. Hoosier Daddy now finds himself a mere 8 Points from catching up to 1st Place. Being that Hoosier Daddy has been one of the best players in the club over the past decade (he has won 2 of the past 6 Club Championships), he is looking to add yet another trophy to his collection. Among Hoosier’s Week 8 highlights was getting Triple Jeopardy, all 3 Point Spread games, both Games of the Week, and the Triple Crown correct. That is a very strong showing for a week when you can rack up that many Points. And with that, Hoosier became the 10th different player to win the MVP Award during the first 9 weeks of the season (no player has yet repeated as MVP). The Week 9 MVP Award Runner-Up went to The Sad Salmon, who scored 29 Points. The Sad Salmon is now sitting only 2 Points and 1 position behind Hoosier Daddy in the standings as he climbs into a share of 6th Place. I have to say, I continue to be impressed with how well The Sad Salmon is doing in the club as a rookie player. He is having a very strong season and even contending for the club title. Imagine the shock if he actually won it all. And he very well could if he continues to make good picks (and his Dolphins continue to do well). No rookie player has ever won the club title in their first season, unless you count Big Wiggle winning it in the very first year of the club’s existence. I also wanted to give a shout-out to Nighthawk in this column. Nighthawk has very quietly dominated the club during the first half of the season. He has logged 6 Weeks at #1 out of 9 total weeks. Granted, he has not yet been able to pull away from the competition and run away with the title (as some players have done in past seasons). But Nighthawk, we are all grateful for that, because you are keeping things interesting and giving the rest of us a chance. Can 2008 Club Champion Nighthawk maintain his momentum over the second half of the season and begin stretching his lead? We will have to wait and see. The Top Five currently consists of #1 Nighthawk, #2 Halibut J-Bird & Slick Chick (3 Points back), #4 Stinkerbell (7 Points back), and #5 Hoosier Daddy (8 Points back). Toward the bottom of the standings (where I’ve been most of the year), I wanted to mention that MJD Hogg has been picking really solidly lately and made a huge jump last week from 17th to 15th Place. Well done, MJD. For everyone, keep in mind there are only 2 weeks left in Head to Head Weekly and 4 weeks left in Pro Bowl Team Weekly before the tournaments start. So it is very important for both you and your team to win your upcoming matches.
On a more serious note, all club members who knew Rhapsody Ralph (Ralph Casale, Sr.) were deeply saddened with the news that he recently passed away. Rhapsody Ralph was our 2002 Club Champion and an important part of the club in the early 2000s. It was fun making picks week after week back then and trying our best to catch up to him, which we were unable to do as he ultimately won the title. Rhapsody Ralph will be greatly missed and we all look forward to welcoming him back soon in the new world. For now, our thoughts, prayers, and love are with his family members. We love you and miss you, Rhapsody Ralph. In his honor, from now on, the winner of the Club Championship will receive the Rhapsody Ralph Trophy (named in 2020 in honor of our beloved former club member and 2002 Club Champion Rhapsody Ralph).
