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| I Pledge My Allegiance | |||||||||
| It's no secret that when I face an opponent they can expect to see the black and gold, but such consistency isn't the norm in league, tournament or nationals play. Who can blame the ballers? In this day and age of free agency and slender salary caps franchises must stay true to their style of play, so of course ballers would do the same and choose a squad that fits there style of play. | |||||||||
| If there is something I've noticed in viewing a myriad of madden competitions in my lifetime it's that ballers pick the squad that makes winning easy. Now is that different from choosing a squad that fits their personal style of play? That depends on if the baller enjoys an easy style of play filled with offensive and defensive techniques and plays that focus on the football game and not the game of football. | |||||||||
| Many ballers found success in the 2001 version of Madden with the qb sneak, quick TE pass, ...etc. So many ballers find a squad that will take advantage of those things. That gives the Madden community two types of ballers: | |||||||||
| Type-1. Those who ball to take advantage of the football game. | |||||||||
| Type-2. Those who ball to take advantage of the game of football. | |||||||||
| Ballers who fall in the 1st group choose the squad that makes life and winning easier, So picking a squad has nothing to do with a city, a team, and its players. Simply the personnel that a team possesses make the decision of what squad to pick. | |||||||||
| Those ballers in the latter group choose their squads because they play a specific style of football, smash mouth, ball control, west coast? | |||||||||
| Most of the time, ballers will choose a squad to carry out their personal style of play. But a few ballers run with their favorite squad, hell or high water, because that team and their style is what makes the game more enjoyable. | |||||||||
| This was apparent at the 2001 Nationals where both Ray Green and I balled with the Steelers. We both had specific styles of playing the game of football, not just playing John Madden football. | |||||||||
| Ray chose the Steelers because, they have a 6'4 safety...I wanted a team with a fast qb. Obviously, Ray Green had a plan and it showed. He was the runner up because of his style of play. He took advantage of the game of football and made many wonder if ?ya squad is important at all?. | |||||||||
| Oh, but it is important very important, indeed. To those of us who only care about one city, one team, and one record, the squad is the lone reason we enjoy football and Madden so much. That alone determines our style of play, our choice of team, and our sheer enthusiasm during competition. | |||||||||
| If you truly love a team, they are yours and you are theirs. From 69 to 99 overall you play with the team you love! | |||||||||
| X from the BFL is a TB fan, P.C. loves dem Broncos, and I? Well since 1991 I've been in a rapture of Black & Gold. | |||||||||
| At the 2000 Nationals, I confidently brought the Black & Gold to D.C. I remember the questions that I fielded; most were jokes or filled with doubt. But, I knew my squad and their faults. They lacked and still lack speed at corner; they lacked and still lack big names with the big overall ratings and of course Kordell and his love to throw the pick. | |||||||||
| All were apparent, but why let that stop me? I'd do what the Steelers do best and then some. I just give into the Steelers' strategy of football and let the chips fall where they may. The trick is to know your squad and trust in the strategy that makes your squad successful. | |||||||||
| Some may know that Candyman from the HMFL and 2000 Nationals Champion, is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, so much so his father told me at the 2001 Nationals he thought his son would move to Pittsburgh after he finished school. Leading up to the Nationals I thought I'd have to share my squad with another, but he would not do it. Rather, I should say as he said, "I can't do it". He doubted the effectiveness of their offensive line. He said he'd played with them but he wasn't confident in their ability to win. | |||||||||
| He ran with the Jets and found himself out in the second round, now that the Steelers have found success this season and will undoubtedly be given their long awaited props in 2003 What will he do then? Suddenly find faith in his favorite team? Probably, Yes. I think Candyman is a Type-1 baller. | |||||||||
| As for our current undisputed champ, Lou "The Terror" Tillery AKA Sweet Lou, he is a Type-2 baller. | |||||||||
| Lou doesn't pledge his allegiance to a particular squad, but he does play his own particular style of football. Lou leaned on passes in one on one-coverage situations and running the ball with Eddie. He played football with a hint of the QB sneak, I should add. | |||||||||
| My point is this, there are only a few ballers that easily sacrificed winning for winning and representing everything they love. They work to master their team regardless of their assumed performance level and overall rating. | |||||||||
| There are more ballers that bring their own personal style of football and it is reflected in the team they so choose. | |||||||||
| Finally, there is the majority. Those who pick the powerhouses and live like a farmer in the 1890?s moving to the Midwest (on the bandwagon). Subscribing to nothing but easy success, their style of play changes yearly like the game. | |||||||||
| LA will host the 2002 Nationals and what will you bring to the community's largest event? Your pride and joy (even if she ain't the prettiest thing) or that freak you wouldn't take home to momma? Personally, I will do what your supposed to do and that is take ya pride and joy, then turn her on and out. | |||||||||
| The Director | |||||||||
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