Week 11 2018: The Bullet Rule and more...

Yer Out!

The teams that have officially been eliminated from the Big Daddy Championship Series are as follows and I quote, “Grenadiers and Gamblers,” under the auspices of the “Bullet Rule.” This rule has come to signify some of the top criteria in all of sports. Teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and college football are allowed to compete in playoffs with a record under .500 under various circumstances. However, in the BDFL, “yer out.” Teams that do not have a winning record, or at least .500 after Week 14, cannot qualify for the BDCS under the “Bullet Rule.” Originally, put in place as a planned punitive action against the Capital City Bullets (for running away with the Total Points standings, except having a fluke 8-9 record, and winning the BDFL Championship, circa 1997), the rule has come to un-fairly punish teams that may score a lot of points, but through scheduling quirks, not quite have a winning record. It just goes to show some of the un-intended effects of “too much litigation and legislation,” and knee-jerk reactions to once-in-a-while situations.

Bullets Move Above .500 by Bouncing Blitz:

The Benton Bullets – like Bear Bryant in College Football and the Oakland Raiders in AFL-NFL football – are responsible for a number of rule changes, both good and bad. This season, the Bullets started out 5-2, before losing 3-straight. However, in Week 11, the old Bullerino got back on the winning track, by upsetting the Druid City Blitz, 19-10. So, the Bentonites are now 6-5 on the season, and – get this – have a chance to make the BDCS in enough teams fall victim to the proverbial and aforementioned “Bullet Rule.” The Bullets have been in the lower quarter of the Total Points in the BDFL for the entire season, but have managed to stay alive by winning some close games. As for the Blitz, their pucker factor gets ratcheted up for the stretch run.

Heavy Duty Lifting Leads to Bishops Win Over Sleds:

The Mt. High Blue Deacons are pretty tough on their home field in the bowels of Blount County hard by some un-named tributary of Turkey Creek. And, as Turkey Day approaches, the Bishop Squad is buoyed by a surprising upset vict’ry over the Fairfield PowerSleds this past weekend. The Mean Machine had no answer for the body blows that the HDBS threw at them, not to mention the banning of Mad Jack’s percussion instruments and electric guitars for Week 11 action. The outcome drops the Sleds to 6-5 on the season, while boosting the Bishops to the same 6-5 mark. Both teams look to be in decent shape for the BDCS, except of course, for the possibility of falling short under the Bullet Rule.

Dogs Dump Dixie Mafia:

Also improving to 6-5 on the season is the never-say-die Brookside Dogs, who most know, have never-seen-a-title in their 23-year BDFL career. In Week 11, Mark’s Mutts didn’t score too many points, but they were able to dump the Dixie Mafia at any rate. The Brookside Boys narrowly defeated the Gulf Coast Gamblers at a smoky casino in Biloxi by the final score of 17-15. “It reminded me of Wayne’s Place,” said Dog, the famous billiards hall and beer joint on Main Street in Brookside. “We took care of business,” Dog said, “and, then we got the hell out of Dodge.” As mentioned at the top of the Bulletin… the Gamblers have been eliminated from the Big Dance do to clinching a losing record, and not qualifying under the Bullet Rule.

Wildcats Whip Commissioner’s Franchise, 40-35:

The Mineral Spring Grenadiers were eliminated from the BDCS last week, and are now just playing out the string, hoping for not too much embarrassment between now and the Big Mullet Series. The chances of that got a little less this past weekend as the Commissioner’s Franchise was whipped by the Western Hills Wildcats, 40-35. It was a tough loss for the Former Gut Grenades – who used to have some impact – and the ability to explode in people’s stomachs. As for the defending champion James Gang, they have a realistic shot at defending their title when post season play rolls around next month. Post-season, that is, in the BDFL, not in the actual NFL, where post-season playoffs don’t begin until next year, after the calendar rolls to 2019.

Dorians Prove to be Too Much for the Armadillos:

The Altadena Dorians were firing on all 8-cylinders in Week 11, and managed to “sickle” the Duncanville Armadillos in a game that was close for a while. Old Barry elected to play this “home” game at Harry’s Bar in T-Town, along with a number of other BDFL contests, and the games strung out until late in the night on Monday Night, making Harry’s – once again – the “late night place to be.” K.P. & Company and the Dorians became obsessed with nostalgia and didn’t really pay much attention to their fantasy football action, but both of these teams seem to be in decent shape for the BDCS. The Dorians – in fact – are locked in, in the “above” category of the Bullet Rule with an 8-3 record, while the ‘Dillos may have to sweat it out down the stretch after falling to 6-5.

Mammoth Monday Night Propels Cheetahs Past Freebirds:

Butch Neal relaxed in the mezzanine at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday afternoon with all his friends. Bama’s first half had given ‘ol Neal cause to worry. In fact, many heard ‘ol Neal “put ‘em down.” But, he was fine by the second half and metaphorically kicked back and smoking a cigarette by the time the action ended. Cheetah Man even strolled down to 16 Audubon to check in with the Commissioner and some of the BDFL Rank & File. The Sin Wagon stayed casual on Sunday and in neutral. Then… on Monday Night… in the highest scoring MNF game in NFL hist’ry… the Southside Cheetahs kicked it into high gear. The Sin Wagon rolled up 45-points on Monday Night, to turn a loss into a win, but not just any win, a 54-22, A.W. over the Black Creek Freebirds. The loss was devastating to the F’birds, dropping them to 4-7 on the season and in need of 3-straight wins to make the BDCS. After the loss, Hime headed to Harry’s to find some souls to commiserate with and possibly get a glass Tropicana 2-quart container filled with something other than citrus.

Mammoth Monday Night – Part 2 – Woo Rebounds:

The weekend was awful for the Smoke Rise Woosiers. However, just like the commercials and promos promise: there is always Monday Night. The Woosiers were being pushed to the brink on Sunday by the Jugtown Juggernauts. Then, there was Monday Night and the Woo Crew were the beneficiaries of 24-points in one game, and “turned a frown upside down.” Tommy T. turned a certain loss into a sweet vict’ry, defeating the ‘Nauts, 36-17. The Woosiers are still on the big Pucker Factor list (with a record of 5-6), but a loss to a bunch of girls would have been dreadful. As for the ‘Nauts, everyone knew this day was coming, A.E.’s elimination from the Big Dance. This loss dropped the Bra Burners to 3-8 and into the Big Mullet Series, which comes as no surprise to anyone.

Sloths Serve Up Beverages and Upset of the Mayors, 33-24:

It was like an “old timers game,” at venerable Harry’s Bar on Hargrove Road in T-Town this weekend. Mukes was serving drinks and it was like when Bullet would return from Dothan, “the gang’s all here,” mentality oozing thru the place. Or, even Arrington stopping by during the short time he lived in Lee County, and kept the local Krystal’s in business. And, most are sure to return this coming weekend, after Thanksgiving, for the Iron Bowl. Meanwhile, in Week 11 in the BDFL, the Silver Lakes Sloths beat the Magic City Mayors, and both teams ended up 6-5, at the end of it all.

WEEK 11 in the Jr BDFL - “It’s all about the kids.”

In the Junior League, the Selma Southpaws continue to hold onto the Number One seed (most total points) with the stretch run approaching, however, that didn’t keep Matthew Hand’s team from losing to the Winston County Walkers, who make a big move into the number two spot. The TOP FOUR teams get a BYE in Round One of the playoffs, and all of those spots are being hotly contested. Below are the Week 11 scores and the standings in the JrBDFL.