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[B's vs. Monarchs] [Black Diamond vs. Bonecrushers]

During the regular season, Vince's B's were so dominant
that only three of their eleven wins came by a margin under 20 points.
Could the magic be fading? Although the B's have advanced to the All-
American Conference Finals, both playoff wins have come by only five
points. This week, Vince had to watch every minute of the Monday Night contest
to make sure kicker Mike Hollis and the Jacksonville defense could help
the B's rally from a 10-point deficit against John Thiem's Masons.
Szydlowski's Monarchs went into the Monday nighter leading by just
eleven but ran away with the semi-final matchup with Don Jones and
LTP when RB James Stewart exploded for 19 points. The bad news for
Szydlowski's bunch is that Stewart suffered a badly sprained ankle
in the process and is probably done for the season. The B's are now
13-1, having scored 1,345 points (96.07 per game) on the season. The
Monarchs are now 9-5, winners of four games in a row. Szydlowski's
club has scored 1,056 points on the season, an average of 75.42 a
contest. Big guns for the B's include: QB Kurt Warner (288 pts.),
RB Stephen Davis (239 pts.), and RB Eddie George (218 pts.).
Standouts to watch on the Monarchs include: QB Steve Beuerlein
(259 pts.), WR Germane Crowell (149 pts.), and WR Marcus Robinson
(136 pts.) -- all players acquired by Szydlowski either through trade
or the waiver wire. Vince's all-time record now stands at 41-31 (.569),
including a 6-3 mark over the course of four post-season appearances.
The Psychedelic B's were the 1996 Fantasy Bowl Champs. Szydlowski's
all-time record now stands at 18-13 (.581), including a 4-1 post-season
mark. The Monarchs finished in third place in the 1996 playoffs, their
only other year of existence. Vince's squad has now won seven consecutive
games. The all-time series is tied 1-1. They last met in the 1996 Fantasy
Bowl Tournament when the B's knocked off the Monarchs 85-55 in the
semi-final round.

Nunney's "other" team advanced to the Browns Conference
Finals with a resounding 91-57 spanking of Mike Kuratko's Hostile
Omish. The reason? Corey Dillon and his 39 point performance against
the hapless Cleveland Browns run defense. The bad news for Nunney is
that Dillon will be watching from home this week due to the Bengals
being idle. Bell's Bonecrushers knocked off another division-winner
this week by stunning Keith Kuratko and his Atomic Punks 93-86.
Bell's club trailed by 47 points heading into Monday Night but pulled
it out thanks to a combined 54 point performance by Brian Griese,
James Stewart, and Rod Smith. Black Diamond is now 8-6, having scored
1,079 points (77.07 ppg) on the season. Over the course of the last
three games, Nunney's club has averaged 103 per contest. The Bonecrushers
are now 8-6, winners of eight out of eleven. Bell's club has scored
1,054 points on the season, an average of 75.28 per contest. The team
has stepped it up in the playoffs, averaging 92 points in their upsets
of the Morticians and Atomic Punks. Both GM's will try to find a way
to replace one key running back and wide receiver -- Nunney due to
Dillon's and Darnay Scott's bye week and Bell because of the ankle injuries
to Jacksonville's James Stewart and Minnesota's Cris Carter. Players who
will have to step up in their absence for Black Diamond include: QB Jeff
George (161 points in seven games), RB Duce Staley (160 pts.), and WR
Germane Crowell (149 pts.). The Bonecrushers will rely on QB Brian
Griese, RB Charlie Garner (42 points over the last two weeks), and WR
Rod Smith (94 pts.). Nunney's all-time record now stands at 27-43 (.386),
including a 4-1 post-season mark. Bell's all-time record is now 81-69
(.540), including a 7-9 record over the course of eight playoff appearances.
Black Diamond enters the game having won three in a row while the
Bonecrushers have two consecutive victories. The Bonecrushers lead
the all-time series 4-2, including a 109-56 shellacking of Nunney's
club back in week eight. The two teams have never met in the Fantasy
Bowl Tournament, although Black Diamond did defeat the Bonecrushers
89-66 in the 1997 Consolation Tournament.

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