I missed it also. I don't remember sending anything dirty to anyone who is still playing, so I think I'm safe.

I understand. for everyone else, I posted a message or letter that Derek wrote to me. I have no direct contact with the former manager of the Home Malones (also called Flaccid before they went all Cheese Mode and then rode off into the virtual Sunset). So it was really an invented thing to motivate our best writer Rufio to have a go at it. I know he has to take time out of his day which is now much more difficult than back in the pandemic days. But, for everyone who wasn't here in the late 30ies and early 40ies (seasons, not years), his writing is some of the best RZA ever had.

So was this PM. But without given consent, one cannot forward a PM to the Forum. I am sorry.

I'd love to, but I don't know much about this level due to no experience in the ELITE.

Who do you (as in "all of you") think will be the division winners this season?

As I see it the BobBoy Magpies in the AC West, the San Diego Blitz in the NC South and the Chelt Nam Bobbers in the NC West are pretty safe bets...


So it'll be one more team than last season, then... phew.

But I'd think we'll be one of them. I was already told that the HAMBURG SEA LIONS are not that well equipped for consecutive seasions in the ELITE, so it would be mildly wondrous if we are able to avoid relegation

Funny to see 3 teams that formerly played in the Admirals league (the Free Agent Mascots, the Glastonbury Grail Knights and us) now being part of the ELITE in addition to the 4 teams in the AC West

Just to start somewhere:

An overview of the AC Conference from the perspective of a newbie

East

Last season the Deflators won the Division (for the second time in a row), with the Air Force Falcons coming in second. They are joined by the Bradford Northern and the Fredericksburg Comanches, two teams with experience on RZAs highest level. They play the NC West and the AC North, so they all have at least 3 opponents that have never played in the ELITE before.

North

The Cardiac Jackets seek to repeat not only to win the Division this season, but maybe even regain the #1 seed of the Conference. The Fargo Knights barely managed to come in second place last season. The Glastonbury Grail Knights are in the Elite for the first time, and as fourth team the TigerCats come in after one season of absence. They play the AC East and the NC East this season, so they'll have to battle experienced competition.

South

This division provided the Superbowl-Winner of the last two seasons, The Peoples Republic of Yorkshire. They even won last season despite coming in second after the regular season, with the Sydney Sea Eagles winning the division. The Saker Falcons and the Diorite Lions complete the group, two teams with a lot of experience in the Elite. The have to play the AC West and the NC South, which will provide for a lot of tough match-ups throughout the season.

West

The West finally welcomes one of the managers with the longest tenure without playing in the Elite, as Melittlemenon thepitchhitchin joines last seasons #1 BobBoy Magpies and #2 ChosenOnes. Both teams even played (each other) in the Playoffs in S52, so it'll be a tough first season for the "new" kid. These three are joined by VenoM, another team with no experience on the highest level. They play the AC South and the NC North, and things could get ugly early on for both newbie-teams in this division.

And, of course, here comes the second part:

An overview of the NC Conference from the perspective of a newbie

East

The KMN Mandalorians are in the Elite for the 6th season in a row, with being a playoff contender every season. Their division rival Alpin Ducks have been in the Elite for 12 out of the last 16 seasons and are currently the best rated team in all of RZA. This division is completed by the mystics and the Social Distance Runners, two teams that each already had runs in the Elite. They play the NC North and the AC North. Geez

NC North

Here the Space Kraken and the Dublin Oilers reside, having a tight grasp of the division since S51. The Leverkusen Leopards returned to the Elite, being absent for two seasons. And the fourth team is the Free Agent Mascots, who were once the best team in RZA and rejoined the Elite, not from the Admirals, but the Monarchs. Funny enough they have to play the AC West (the Admirals-Divison) and the NC East. There are some great match-ups coming from this one.

NC South

The San Diego Blitz have been in the Elite forever and won this division for the last 4 seasons in a row. There has been some turnover behind them, though, and this season they are joined by the Zombaes for a second season in a row and the returning Dumbarajko Elephants and Raspberry Bush. Another division with A LOT of experience on this level. They play the NC West and the AC South, and I'm very curious if the Blitz manages to get to 15–1 again

NC West

Another team being a member of the Elite forever are the Chelt Nam Bobbers, and they won this division for the last 5 seasons in a row. The Paladins return for a second go in the Elite. They are joined by two totally new teams, being the Alaskan Fur Trappers and the HAMBURG SEA LIONS. They play the NC South and the AC East, and it will be a very hard ride for both newbie teams this season.

Here's a little taste of how infallible I am.

These predictions, nay guarantees, are the first ones I've made since season 50.


AC

AC East

Thunder has fallen on hard times, losing their 3 best teams in the last couple seasons in Heroes, Thangs, and of course the Bridges. They've had an influx of teams come in with the region transfer option and it's probably the last season for the current elite teams to win anything with ptdoc sure to rule Thunder for the foreseeable future. Somehow they pulled both Dragons and Fire to inflate their records a little bit.

Deflators 10-6
Air Force Falcons 8-8
Bradford Northern 5-11
Fredericksburg Comanches 4-12

AC North

The bonecrushingJackets made a surprise run to the conference championship after a historically bad Fire season only winning 29 games. Ticats are back to reclaim their crown after a shocking relegation in season 51. But hey, at least we get some sweet knight on knight action. They'll get a deep Sea Devils division as their unlucky draw.

TigerCats 12-4
CardiacBonejackets 10-6
Fargo Knights 6-10
Glastonbury Grail Knights 4-12

AC South

Claymore has emerged as the premier AC region, and it's not close. The duo of Yorkies/Seagles is only eclipsed by the Monarchs duo. This season they are rejoined by Elite animal vets, Falcons and Lions. I suspect Claymore will wrest the title of most wins from the Monarchs and the AC champ will hail from Claymore once again.

Sydney Sea Eagles 13-3
Peoples Republic of Yorkshire 13-3
Saker Falcons 8-8
Diorite Lions 7-9

AC West

Big shout out to Lions and his littlemen for finally making Elite. I was rooting for you and then there was the contact debacle. Glad to see a quick recovery!
Admirals used to have a lot of depth, but due to many retirements and a few defections, they find themselves a middling region. They'll still have a team fighting for a wildcard spot but I'm not sure it'll happen as they play the 2 toughest divisions and get a rematch with their old friends the Mascots.

BobBoy Magpies 11-5
ChosenOnes 8-8
Melittlemenon thepitchhitchin 4-12
VenoM 1-15

NC

NC East

The Sea Devils are the deepest region. Always bringing up teams that can compete to stay up. Losing the Retirement muskrats hurts though. Sea Devils are lucky enough to pull Monarchs for the 2nd season in a row. Is this the season the Hollilorians get over the hump? Will the Ducks continue the upset streak? Will Buzi have any body parts left after his gambling missteps?

KMN Mandalorians 13-3
The Alpin Ducks 11-5
mystics 8-8
Social Distance Runners 6-10

NC North

The Monarchs reclaimed their crown as best division last season, and now add the immortal Jack6 and the original Elite champion and Admiral defector Mascots. They don't get the bonus of playing Thunder again, instead they get a Sea Devils repeat (Monarchs are apparently not allowed to play Dragons. It hasn't happened since season ...I have no idea I stopped checking after I went back 15 seasons. So apparently it's just not allowed to happen.) The Kraken couldn't pull off another championship and it was their first season without a trophy in the last 4. The last time a Monarch team didn't collect a trophy in a season was season 44, so it was a good run.

Dublin Oilers 14-2
Space Kraken 13-3
Leverkusen Leopards 6-10
Free Agent Mascots 6-10

NC South

This is the first time Galaxy will be Peteless since season 47. But everyone's favorite Pachyderm grand marshal is back! The Bush is good for a couple upset wins each season as well. Could be a fun little Galaxy battle, especially since they face off against Claymore.

San Diego Blitz 12-4
Zombaes 9-7
Dumbarajko Elephants 6-10
Raspberry Bush 6-10

NC West

What can I say about the Dragons that isn't mean. If my cohort was still around I'd interview him for a quote. They are still looking for a title. Jonny is a really nice guy, so I understand no one wants to challenge him for the Dragon throne, but someone could just hang out with him for a bit. The last time Dragons won more than 30 games (which is still just average) was season 42 and only 2 30 win seasons in the last 15. They won't break the streak this season either.

Chelt Nam Bobbers 12-4
Paladins 5-11
hamburg krill (HSL) 4-12
Alaskan Fur Trappers 3-13


Playoffs

Now the part you've all been waiting for with bated breath. (Or baited breath for all you fishing aficionados.) This is also guaranteed to happen, I'd bet Ablefty's right testicle on it.

AC
1. Seagles
2. Ticats
3. Magpies over 6. CardiacKids
5. Yorkies over 4. Deflators

1. Seagles over 5.Yorkies
2. Ticats over 3. Magpies

1. Seagles over 2. Ticats

NC
1. Oilers
2. Mandos
6. Ducks over 3. Blitz
5. Kraken over 4. Bobbers

1. Oilers over 6. Ducks
2. Mandos over 5. Kraken

2. Mandos over 1. Oilers

In a grand matchup of successful managers returning with new teams, the Spacefarers with less than 8 legs zap some birds that like water.

Championship
2. Mandos over 1. Seagles

I hope some of you have fun this season!

Nice post!

Just one comment, my ducks are not the best rated team right now. I guess you looked at the Top 100 rated teams which shows the best rating that a team ever had. In my case, this rating is one or two years old.

But I reckon I have one of he best ones right now. Also let’s not forget that the rating is calculated based on the rating of each player from the last official game, no matter the number of snaps. My good rating hides my lack of depth on many key positions (OL, LB, TE, FB) explaining partially my lack of success in Q4.

I did bought several vets at the end of last season to try to improve that area. It came expensive, but I plan to maybe play one more year and one last World Cup and then stop annoying KMN.

Thanks for clearing this. I was led to believe that it's the rating right now when a fellow manager congratulated me for holding up with you and referencing this Top100-list when we met in the Supercup last season

@Rufio: Thanks for a very enlightening write-up