2001 Season

More ways to win money

With the franchise player proposal having already passed, owners at the Jan. 13, 2001 awards banquet in Twinsburg developed a list of additional ways to win money during the upcoming season. The new budget included a $20 playoff qualification bonus, $50 for the best record during the first six games, and $50 for the best record during the final six games. In addition, the monetary bonus for the regular seasons points scored champion was raised from $75 to $100.

Comings and Goings

In the All-American Conference, the Kodiak franchise folded when owner Brent Holsclaw accepted the offensive coordinator position at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois.

In the Browns Conference, Keith Kuratko (Atomic Punks) stepped down as commissioner after a two-year reign, claiming he was retiring from fantasy football. Several owners dropped out of the conference after Kuratko's announcement, including Rob Pesicka (Dudley Boyz), Dave Mortland (Morticians), Jim White (Screaming Eagles), and Jeff Sweitzer (Mad Zippers). Pavelich hired Joe Nunney to handle Browns Conference transaction night and then proceeded to award expansion franchises to Brett Harney/J.P. Dougherty (Titlebound Two), Bill Long (Long Shots), Will Van Bibber (Lardass), Jamie Roush (Stonehenge) and John Blust (Dirty Pigs).

The Erie League renewed their statistical partnership with FanStar, a company that now specialized in fantasy football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and Nascar.

Click here to read the season preview Sports Page.

The 2001 Auction

The All-American Conference's auction was set for Friday August 10, 2001 while the Browns Conference planned to get together to select players on Saturday Sept. 8, 2001.

Gargoyles GM Storm Thomas hired Bonecrushers GM Dave Bell to select his players, thus ensuring that his All-American Conference franchise would return for an eighth season.

All hell broke loose on auction night when Keith Kuratko (pictured left) shocked the fantasy football world and announced he would be bringing his Atomic Punks to the conference. Then, with Psychedelic B's GM Bryan Vince failing to show for the draft, auctioneer Joe Nunney stepped in and moved his Black Diamond club to the All-American Conference. Several owners were visibly upset with the circumstances of the switch, most notably when Commissioner Kirk Pavelich allowed the Punks to protect WR Terrell Owens and Black Diamond to lock up QB Jeff Garcia. Vince's Psychedelic B's later landed the final spot in the Browns Conference, without the opportunity to protect Garcia. Click here to read the rest of the details in Sports Page (Vol. 9, Issue 2).

Franchise players in the All-American Conference included: RB Jamal Anderson, 22 units (P.P. Brains); RB Jerome Bettis, 6 units (Gargoyles); WR Tim Brown, 16 units (LTP); QB Daunte Culpepper, 6 units (Masons); QB Brian Griese, 1 unit (Cosmic Monsters); WR Torry Holt, 10 units (Midnight Vigilantes); RB Edgerrin James, 42 units (Polish Monarchs); QB Donovan McNabb, 7 units (Captain Tripps); WR Terrell Owens, 4 units (Atomic Punks); and WR Rod Smith, 6 units (Blockheads). The most expensive player selected was RB Marshall Faulk (Masons) for 58 units -- a new record for the All-American Conference.

Franchise players in the Browns Conference included: RB Jamal Anderson, 14 units (Stonehenge); WR David Boston, 1 unit (Bonecrushers); QB Daunte Culpepper, 30 units (Shadow Bandits); RB Marshall Faulk, 49 units (Donikers-DTL); QB Brian Griese, 2 units (Gibby's); WR Terrell Owens, 4 units (Titlebound Two); RB Fred Taylor, 23 units (Hostile Omish) and RB Ricky Williams, 23 units (Lardass). The most expensive player selected was RB Eddie George (Dirty Pigs), who went for 42 units.

Overall, 19 out of 24 owners declared a franchise player, netting an additional $380 for the overall league fund.

The Sports Page makes a triumphant return

For the first time since the 1999 season, The Sports Page featured a new issue each week. Thanks in large part to Commissioner Kirk Pavelich's attempts to create new rivalries, the smack talk contained in the weekly newspaper was the most biting in years.

"Every week when I would call for transactions I felt like I was talking to Kirk 'Don King' Pavelich," said LTP GM Don Jones. "There was not one week that went by that he was not trying to stir some words up between a few of us."

Owner profiles returned for the first time since the 1997 season. Among the Erie Leaguers profiled: KEITH KURATKO, STORM THOMAS, JODY BARTH, BRYAN VINCE, JASON GILLESPIE, JOHN THIEM, JOE NUNNEY

Click here to read: Veterans Vince and Kuratko fire first shots of the season (October 1, 2001)

Psychedelic B's GM Bryan Vince (pictured right) was clearly deserving of this year's King of Smack Award, thanks in large part to his feature story where he took shots at every other owner in the league. Here are some more of Vince's memorable quotes of 2001:

• "First, let me preface my statement by saying that I have the utmost respect for Mr. Damicone, both as a person and a business man. Listen old man, I don't believe that Toiletbound II would appreciate it too much if they knew you were trying to trade me somebody from their squad. I know that each year your birthday cake gets a little brighter and things begin to happen: you start eating dinner at 1:30 p.m., you go to bed at 4 p.m. only to lay there and watch re-runs of Gilligan's Island. Now you're forgetting who's on your fantasy team! At least if you were going to try and pull this, you could have offered me Terrell Owens!!  Pav, I think it is final. You can now change our name from the Browns Conference to the Geriatric Ward." Vince, responding to Jim Damicone's offer to trade RB Lamar Smith -- even though Smith was still a member of Titlebound Two.

• I thought it was bad enough reading you and Deuce's pathetic prelude to your fantasy matchup. You know, the infamous 'Hide the Sausage' game? [Click here to read the Preview for the "Hide the Sausage Game"] Now you're coming with this, 'I'm only an injury away' shit. Do me and everyone else a favor -- let Tyler write your quotes, they gotta have a little more bite. I've been noticing the weight loss but I didn't know you had your nuts whacked to lose it." Vince, stating his belief that LTP GM Don Jones was once again being "too nice" with his Sports Page comments.

• "Going through life with my mentality is sort of tough, but I feel bad for you. It must be very disheartening going through your life with some other dude's penis in your hand. I gotta say one thing though. At least me and my '3rd' grade mentality can run my own fantasy team and I even won a title and a lot of money doing it. Vince, responding to last week's comments from Titlebound Two co-owner Brett Harney that Vince has been "going through life with a third grade mentality."

• "We should all model ourselves after Double K's success story. Tell me something DJ, after you made that 'feel good comment of the year,' did you wine and dine him or just take him to the front seat of your Cherry Red Fiero and let him tea bag you?? Vince, paraphrasing the comment by LTP owner Don Jones in last week's Keith Kuratko feature story.

Click here to read the rest of the Smack Talking Highlights of 2001.

Click here to read Interleague Play - Round Three Preview (October 8, 2001)

Interleague Play

For the first time in the history of Interleague Play, the Browns Conference came out on top, winning eight of the twelve matchups this year. After three years of using the one week crossover format, the two conferences are tied with 18 wins a piece. Click here to read the rest of the details in Sports Page (Vol. 9, Issue 5).

"So they got lucky and won a few games against us this year," said Kirk Pavelich, whose Midnight Vigilantes reside in the All-American Conference. "The real question will be whether they can win the big game at the end. How long has it been since anyone from the Browns Conference won the title?"

Both Bryan Vince's Psychedelic B's and Sam Profio's Donikers-DTL came away with victories for the Browns Conference, as the B's held off Joe Nunney's Black Diamond 89-86 while the Donikers bested the defending champion Midnight Vigilantes 88-61. Vince was particularly pleased with his victory over Nunney, the man who put together the 13-2 Psychedelic B's back in 1999.

"Better luck next time Pink Diamond," Vince said. "You get my quarterback (Jeff Garcia) through fraudulent activity and I still waxed your ass. GIVE ME BACK MY GM OF THE YEAR AWARD!!"

Click here to read: Trade offers lead to trash talk (October 22, 2001)

Start of Second Half not Kind to Jones, LTP

Don Jones found out quickly that the second half of the season was going to be a dogfight as the Gargoyles handed LTP their first loss, 100-52. LTP had become the first team to start the year 6-0 since Bryan Vince's Psychedelic B's, a club that finished 13-2. As expected, it didn't take Gargoyles GM Storm Thomas long to comment on the game. 

"I am not trying to fool anyone, I don't have a good team," said Thomas. "This weekend, we came up with a big victory against an average club of overachievers that had everyone fooled by the hype. Too bad a season that started as a fairy tale will end in dire straits. Actually, the story of his season would make a great movie. I can see the title now, 'When luck turns the other cheek: The fall of DJ and LTP'"

Click here to read: Start of second half not kind to Jones (October 29, 2001)

Click here to read: GM's come out to answer Vince (November 6, 2001)

Trade deadline passes with several owners deciding to stand pat

Atomic Punks GM Keith Kuratko, who thought he had a deal for Marshall Faulk and a deal for Daunte Culpepper, said this was his most frustrating year when it came to trading.

"All you guys are scoundrels," Kuratko said. "I thought I was a scoundrel. Now I find out I'm the one bringing integrity back to this league."

The only trade that took place in the All-American Conference involved Kuratko's Punks and Pavelich's Vigilantes. Kuratko dealt RB Eddie George, WR Troy Brown, and cash to Pavelich for RB Fred Taylor. The move backfired for the Punks when Taylor's injured groin prevented him from playing another game.

Click here to read: Trade deadline passes, several owners stand pat (Nov. 13, 2001)

A new rivalry forms

The two hottest teams through 10 games were the Blockheads and Lardass, both of whom were 4-0 in the second half. Better yet was the fact that Blockheads GM Jody Barth and Lardass owner Will Van Bibber developed quite a feud with their recent war of words.

Police officer Barth (on left in picture) helped ignite the rivalry with the following comments: "Looking at your mug shot, I see that you are a multi-state offender for having sex with farm animals you freakin' REDNECK. I know that you own a pickup truck with a gun rack in the back window. I know that your dog licks the peanut butter off your balls and that when you go hunting you're not hunting you're looking to pump Bambi in the ass!"

Van Bibber (on right in picture) responded with: "You cops are all alike -- full of shit. All you are trying to do is draw attention away from your shitty team and put all the lime light on my team. Thank you for noticing that my team is just that good. We are both 4-0 after the midway point, and both of our teams will make the playoffs. The difference between my team and yours is that mine will make the real playoffs and yours will go right back to the old porcelain throne playoffs."

Click here to read: Trash talking develops a rivalry (November 20, 2001)

Click here to read: Owners jockey for post-season position (November 27, 2001)

Click here to read: Field of 16 will vie for Fantasy Bowl 12 berth (Dec. 4, 2001)

Click here for a complete list of transactions made during the 2001 season

The LTP-Black Diamond grudge match

Amid rumors that top seeded LTP was looking to dump final games in order to avoid a first round matchup with Joe Nunney's Black Diamond squad, Nunney issued the following challenge to Don Jones: "I WANT JONES . . . in a fictitious first round matchup had I made the playoffs. Can we make it happen?"

Jones immediately responded: "So it be written, so it be done! It is nice that everyone wants a shot at the big time! Joe should have a nice team, he wasn't under the pressure of drafting his own team, he was drafting for Vince. Everyone would have dealt with him differently if they thought he was drafting his own team."

On the strength of 15 Monday night points from wide receiver Chris Chambers, Black Diamond knocked off LTP in the could-of, should-of Bowl, 87-78.

Click here to read : ERIE OWNERS FIRE PARTING SHOTS

Click here to read: Eight teams remain in the race for the title (December 11, 2001)

Division Champs

In the All-American Conference, LTP (11-1) won the Blue Division, the Blockheads (7-5) captured the Red Division and the Midnight Vigilantes (8-4) won the White Division title. In the Browns Conference, the Psychedelic B's (8-4) took home the Brown Division title, Titlebound Two (10-2) won the Graham Division, and Lardass (8-4) clinched in the Groza. Click here to see the rest of the 2001 standings. Click here to see the final rosters from the 2001 season.

Playoffs - Round One

All-American top-seed LTP advanced to the conference semi-finals by virtue of their 78-59 victory over the Cosmic Monsters. However, another example of the commissioner's jinx did in the conference's top seed one week later. "Sometimes the whole key to winning this thing is how much luck you have on your side," said Commissioner Kirk Pavelich, also the GM of the Midnight Vigilantes. "LTP has had a great year but now you see they have the luck factor as well. Not only do they win despite the running backs scoring just eight points, but they advance to round two because they never had to play Black Diamond. Congrats to D.J. on bringing home another title."

One of the greatest upsets of all time took place in the Browns Conference, as the eighth seeded Shadow Bandits knocked off top seed Titlebound Two, 85-83. Paul Labonte, who jumped out in front thanks to a monster day from RB Priest Holmes (38 points), was able to hold a 15 point Monday night lead when WR Marvin Harrison and PK Olindo Mare combined for just 13 points for Titlebound.

LTP 78, Cosmic Monsters 59; Midnight Vigilantes 92, Captain Tripps 91; Blockheads 67, Polish Monarchs 59; Masons 117, Atomic Punks 88; Shadow Bandits 85, Titlebound Two 83; Stonehenge 78, Lardass 56; King Salmons 73, Psychedelic B's 69; Donikers-DTL 91, Gibby's 73.

Conference Semi-Finals

Despite winning 12 of their first 13 games, LTP dropped a 106-67 decision to John Thiem and his high flying Masons. The big blow to LTP came mid-week when Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren benched RB Shaun Alexander -- despite his 188 point output this season -- in favor of Ricky Watters. The move left Jones' squad without a running back to compliment star rookie LaDainian Tomlinson. Said Jones: "Starting Watters over Alexander? Holmgren is supposed to be a genius... He can bite my ass."

The defending champion Midnight Vigilantes rallied from a 37 point Monday night deficit to shock Jody Barth and the Blockheads, 73-70. The Vigilantes pulled out the victory thanks to solid prime time performances from QB Aaron Brooks (22 points), WR Joe Horn (9 points), and the Rams defense (10 points). RB Ricky Williams let the Blockheads down by adding just six points on Monday night. Barth's decision to pull RB Charlie Garner (10 points) in favor of Mike Alstott (3 points) ultimately cost the team the chance to play in the conference finals.

The surprising run for the eighth seeded Shadow Bandits and their owner Paul Labonte came to an end as Sam Profio and the Donikers prevailed with a 92-67 victory. Thanks to another solid performance by RB Priest Holmes (18 points), the Bandits went into the Monday night contest, tied 67-67 with Profio's club. However, all the Donikers needed was a single point from either RB Marshall Faulk, PK John Carney or the Saints defense. Those three combined for 25 points and propelled Profio to the conference title game for second consecutive year.

Click here to read: Four teams remain in the hunt (December 18, 2001)

Masons 106, LTP 67; Midnight Vigilantes 73, Blockheads 70; Donikers-DTL 92, Shadow Bandits 67; Stonehenge 56, King Salmons 51.

Conference Finals

Kirk Pavelich and the Midnight Vigilantes advanced to the Fantasy Bowl for the second consecutive year and the third time in franchise history by virtue of their 91-55 victory over the Masons. The Vigilantes were set to face Sam Profio and the Donikers, a club they defeated 103-80 in Fantasy Bowl 6.

Midnight Vigilantes 91, Masons 55; Donikers-DTL 108, Stonehenge 63.

Click here for the Fantasy Bowl 12 Preview.

Fantasy Bowl 12

The Midnight Vigilantes became the first team in the history of the Erie League to repeat as champion, handing the Donikers-DTL a 122-95 loss in Fantasy Bowl 12. The victory enabled Kirk Pavelich (right) to become the first owner in league history to win a third title. The Vigilantes franchise player for 2001 at 10 units, WR Torry Holt won the MVP award on the strength of a 7 catch, 203 yard receiving, two touchdown performance. Pavelich collected $653 for winning the league, the All-American Conference, his division and the overall points championship.

Click here for the details in the Fantasy Bowl 12 Recap and the Fantasy Bowl 12 Box Score. 

The Blockheads won the All-American Conference's third place game 79-74 over LTP while the Shadow Bandits took the honors in the Browns Conference with a 72-63 victory over the King Salmons.

The Consolation Bowl

In the Consolation Bowl, Dave Bell came away with a victory -- sort of. "It's ironic that both teams in the toilet bowl are mine," said Bell, referring to the fact that his Bonecrushers took on Storm Thomas and the Gargoyles, a team that Bell set in for on draft day. "It doesn't say much for my ability this year!" The Gargoyles won the game, and the $75 bonus, with a 65-60 Toilet Bowl victory. Click here for a recap.

Click here for the complete list of scores from the 2001 season.

Jim Damicone won the post-season playoff league, scoring 246.15 points.

Great Lakes Too Recap

Steve Payne and Torsion Connect left no doubt that last year's championship was not a fluke as he hammered the Ryan Express 130.55 to 52.55 in GLL Fantasy Bowl Six.

Ultimate Bowl I

For the past six years, the Erie League and the Great Lakes Too League have co-existed. Many owners have participated in each league, including Kirk Pavelich, commissioner of the Erie League, Dave Bell, commissioner of the Great Lakes League, Keith Kuratko, Sam Profio, Jamie Roush, Bill Long, J.P. Dougherty and Brett Harney. Individual champions have been crowned in each league over the past six seasons. That all changed this year. Much like when the NFL's Green Bay Packers took on the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 15, 1967 in the first ever Super Bowl, this year's respective fantasy league champions squared off in Ultimate Bowl I. Click here for the Ultimate Bowl 1 Preview.

Steve Payne and Torsion Connect defeated Kirk Pavelich and the Midnight Vigilantes 85-56. Rams RB Marshall Faulk scored 27 points to win MVP honors in the first ever matchup of the champions of the two leagues. Click here for the details in the Ultimate Bowl 1 Recap and the Ultimate Bowl 1 Box Score. For the season, Torsion Connect won 14 out of 17 games, including the last five in a row. Click here to see the Ultimate Bowl Gallery of Champions.

Awards Banquet

Eighteen owners, a wife and a girlfriend attended the sixth annual Erie League Awards Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002 at Twin City Pub and Grille in Twinsburg. Jones won GM and Coach of the Year honors in the All-American Conference, as did Brett Harney and J.P. Dougherty in the Browns Conference. Marshall Faulk (Black Diamond/Donikers-DTL) was named MVP in both conferences and QB Aaron Brooks was named post-season MVP for leading the Midnight Vigilantes to the title. LaDainian Tomlinson (LTP/Long Shots) won Rookie of the Year honors in both conferences. Click here to read: Record turnout celebrates fantasy season at annual awards dinner (Jan. 19, 2002)

Click here for the Top 30 scorers for the 2001 season.