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Torsion wins Ultimate Bowl I

Steve Payne's Great Lakes champ upends Erie League's Vigilantes

Torsion Connect defeated the Midnight Vigilantes 85-56 last night in the first ever Ultimate Bowl, a game that pitted the champion of the Erie League against the champion of the Great Lakes Too League.

Rams RB Marshall Faulk scored 27 points to win MVP honors in the first ever matchup of the champions of the two leagues. 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.

In addition to closing out a stellar campaign, owner Steve Payne (pictured right) also collects an additional $25 for winning the battle of the leagues. Payne, who will join the Browns Conference in time for the 2002 season, showed immediately that he can hold his own with the veteran talkers of the Erie League.

"Who the hell is Jody," asked Payne, in reference to the Jody Barth's comments last week that Torsion Connect is 'another Michigan bitch.' "You allow girls to play in the Erie League?? You're going to have to wait until next year to get your ass kicked by me. Maybe if you were a little better than 9-6 and won the Erie championship, I would be playing you in the Ultimate Bowl?? There are a lot of you that talk the talk, but certainly don't walk the walk. Next year you will understand what it means to back up your words. I will show you how it's done!"

Pavelich, whose club averaged over 93 points per contest in winning 12 out of 16, managed his lowest total since scoring 61 in a Week Six loss to the Donikers. QB Aaron Brooks, who averaged over 17 on the season, scored just five.

"My guys just flat out didn't care to show up for this contest," Pavelich said. "I am utterly disgusted at the effort. Aaron Brooks may have played himself out of being my team's franchise player."

With the season now officially over, the following 2001 franchise players are now eligible to be selected by any owner at the 2002 auction. In the All-American Conference, newly declared free agents include: RB Jamal Anderson, RB Jerome Bettis, WR Tim Brown, QB Daunte Culpepper, QB Brian Griese, WR Torry Holt, RB Edgerrin James, QB Donovan McNabb, WR Terrell Owens and WR Rod Smith. Browns Conference free agents include: RB Jamal Anderson, WR David Boston, QB Daunte Culpepper, RB Marshall Faulk, QB Brian Griese, WR Terrell Owens, RB Fred Taylor, and RB Ricky Williams.

All owners will have the option of designating one franchise player at a cost of $20, payable to the league’s general fund. By making such a designation, that player will be protected on that owner’s roster for one year. The deadline to make the payment necessary for designating a franchise player is July 31, 2002. The amount of units spent on the player during the 2001 auction will be that player’s designated cost for the 2002 season.

That concludes the 2001 Erie Fantasy Football League season. The next event will be the annual awards and rules banquet on Saturday, January 12, 2002. This year's event will take place at the Twin City Pub and Grille in Twinsburg, located at 10735 Ravenna Road in the Massarra's Shopping Plaza. It will start at 6:30 p.m. and league champion Pavelich has vowed to continue the six-year-old tradition of buying a round of drinks for all in attendance.

Please contact the commissioner as soon as possible if you cannot attend so that other arrangements can be made regarding the distribution of your prize money.

Ultimate Bowl I

Click here to read the feature story -- ERIE OWNERS FIRE PARTING SHOTS

Click here to read the owner profile story on KEITH KURATKO

Click here to read the feature story on THE EVOLUTION OF SMACK TALKING

Click here to read the owner profile story on STORM THOMAS

Click here to read the owner profile story on JODY BARTH

Click here to read the owner profile story on BRYAN VINCE

Click here to read the owner profile story on JASON GILLESPIE

Click here to read the owner profile story on JOHN THIEM

Click here to read the owner profile story on JOE NUNNEY

CLICK HERE FOR BACK ISSUES OF THE SPORTS PAGE:

• Erie League's Vigilantes, GLL Too's Torsion to play in Ultimate Bowl (January 3, 2002)

• Vigilantes win third league crown (December 31, 2001)

• Vigilantes, Donikers set to battle - Fantasy Bowl 12 Preview (December 29, 2001)

• Four teams remain in the hunt (December 18, 2001)

• Eight teams remain in the race for the 2001 Erie League title (December 11, 2001)

• Field of 16 will vie for Fantasy Bowl 12 berth; 3 rookies qualify (December 4, 2001)

• Little talking takes place as owners jockey for post-season position (November 27, 2001)

• Trash talking develops a rivalry (November 20, 2001)

• Trade deadline passes with several owners deciding to stand pat (November 13, 2001)

• GM's come out of the woodwork to answer Vince's trash talking (November 6, 2001)

• Start of second half not kind to Jones and LTP (October 29, 2001)

• Trade offers lead to trash talk (October 22, 2001)

• Browns Conference reigns supreme (October 15, 2001)

• Interleague Play - Round Three Preview (October 8, 2001)

• Veterans Vince and Kuratko fire first shots of the season (October 1, 2001)

• Atomic Punks, Black Diamond jump to All-American Conference (August 11, 2001)

• Erie League set to kick off 12th season (July 8, 2001)