The Bulletin

Brookside Dogs - 2025 BDFL Champions

Brookside Celebrates Big Daddy Bowl Vict’ry:

Brookside is on fire! The parade started out peaceful, and has remained peaceful, that is, unless you are one of the many abandoned cars on the side of the road in Brookside. Well, then… you’re burning! But, going up in flames of celebration, exuberance, and pure joy. It’s a massive celebration that is still raging on the banks of the Five Mile Creek. The Brookside faithful are partying, frolicking, and dancing in the streets after their beloved Brookside Dogs upset the Southside Cheetahs in the Big Daddy Bowl to capture the 2025 BDFL Championship. “This is gonna last awhile,” said some revelers at the humongous shindig. The entire town is shut down. The people of Brookside, who have been beaten down, cast aside, forgotten about, abused, stereo-typed, discriminated against, ignored, shunned, arrested, incarcerated, and made fun of for decades have been elevated. The people of Brookside have been pulled to the top of the heap by their team – the Brookside Dogs. And, they are enjoying their lofty perch atop the fantasy football world. This team and this town are unlike any other in sports. Brookside is the Dogs, and the Dogs are Brookside. “We’re Number One!” chants can be heard echoing all across the hills and valleys that make up the town. Their favorite son, Mr. Mark Burr, has made them proud again with this latest BDFL championship. “I’m humbled to be the Champion of everyone,” said Mark Burr. “When can I get the Grand Daddy Trophy? Because, I want to restore it to Glory.”  

Dogs Win Defensive Gem in Title Game:

Prior to the Big Daddy Bowl, both the Brookside Dogs and the Southside Cheetahs had been living with offense, and scoring a ton of points. But, “defense win championships,” and “Mark’s Mutts” took that to heart in the final game of the BDFL’s 2025 season. The Sin Wagon had been rolling behind the rushing game of King Henry – Derrick Henry – who had 4-TDs in the semi-finals. Across the sidelines, the Dogs had been riding the coat tails of running back Bijan Robinson. It appeared to be two top-notch offenses going into the Big Daddy Bowl. But, in the championship game, it was defense that ruled the day. The Dogs – drew from their Brookside background – and clogged up the wheels of the Sin Wagon (and stole hub cabs in the process, selling them to help fund the parade celebration). The Dogs put sugar and various substances in the gas tank of the Sin Wagon, and messed with their engines, and managed to do the near-impossible – hold the Cheetahs to single digits. It was a masterful performance. “I was there for the Penn State goal line stand, and the 11-on-the-line Miami Sugar Bowl,” said Dog. “I know how to play some “D.” I even watched Indiana hold Bama to three.” All of this knowledge paid off, and the Brookside Dogs knocked off the Cheetahs, 15-9, to capture the championship in the Big Daddy Football League.  

Escape from Brookside only Temporary:

The improbable upset vict’ry for the Dogs gives the people of Brookside their second BDFL Championship. It is sweet as the nectar from the honeysuckles growing on the sides of Tiger Hill (and the moonshine from the still hidden stills). What a success story! What a rags-to-riches march it has been for Mark Burr and his loyal concierges of Terry Tarance, Dodie Gooch, Louis Dudchuk, David Foster, Booger Bass, Daryl Kittle, Dwight Slowees, and Jonathan Carroll. And, the Dogs also represent the Slovaks, the coal miners, the minority shop keepers, the VFW members, the school house arsons, the crooked politicians, and the street people, and the ones who reside under bridges. As mentioned before, this is Brookside’s team. The Bulletin reminds everyone, that Mark Burr was literally raised on the “other side of the tracks.” He was reared in a small house not just a little past centerfield home run distance at Brookside Ball Park – that’s right – the one with the light poles “inside” the outfield fence. Young Mr. Burr overcame a lot, he had shotguns pinned to his forehead, he had mischief all around, and he had to learn to use a glass Coke bottle as a weapon. He “temporarily” escaped Brookside. He made his way first to Gardendale and the careful tutelage of Uncle Ray. He moved onto Alabama, and then the business world, earning the titles of Super Banker and Rubber Tycoon along the way. But, Brookside never left his mind. Brookside is where he built his BDFL franchise. He had the full support of the town from Day One. His early teams struggled, but the fans stayed loyal, and it has now paid off in multiple championships. [Note: see list of Brookside Success Stories at bottom]  

Wildcats Nullify ‘Nauts:

Elsewhere in the BDFL in Week 18, the Big Daddy Championship Series and the Big Mullet Series continued with the other 14 teams in action. Most of the franchises were playing for pride, but their were some vict’ry tokens up for grabs. The Western Hills Wildcats laid claim to third place in the league with a 27-14 nullifying of the ‘Nauts. Allyson’s Jugtown Juggernauts were no match for the “James Gang,” in the last game of the season for both teams. It was a small, tiny, and minute consolation for the ‘Nauts following a rough trip to Pasadena, California, where it rained and A.E. could not get a good view of the Tournament of Roses Parade. “I guess I’ll catch the one in Brookside,” said Allyson, who has enjoyed some kayaking in the past along the Five Mile Creek, including some safety and military tips from Brookside’s Neighborhood Watch enthusiasts.  

Bellcows Gut Grenadiers:

Another defensive game took place outside of the Big Daddy Bowl in the final week of competition in the BDFL. In Mineral Springs, not far from Brookside, (EDITOR'S NOTE: Week 18 - BDFL Championship Week bowl games are all on the road, but we don't want the young writers to lose their enthusiasm) home standing Grenadiers were defeated by the Bellcows in a low-scoring affair. The Bell Heads defeated the Commissioner’s team by the final score of 14-8. It was a rough end to a once-promising season for the Mineral Springs Grenadiers. As for the Bellcows, they started the season out sluggish before rallying through the middle and latter stages of the season to actually make the big dance, and then claim a vict’ry in Week 18.  

Freebirds Slip Past Sloths:

In Week 18 in the BDFL, the Black Creek Freebirds captured a season-ending vict’ry with a 28-12 win over the Sloth Monsters. Both of these teams battled through their own versions of adversity in the 2025 BDFL season, before falling to the bottom of the BDCS. The F’birds come away with the last laugh against the Three Toed Tree Dwellers, but apparently both have VIP passes to Bucket’s Octagon to travel, and possibly even join the parade in Brookside. Either way they’ll have a pretty good view of the festivities.

Meanwhile, in the Mullet:

The Armadillos and Bullets saved the “best for last.” K.P.’s Duncanville Armadillos routed the entire Big Mullet Series, winning all three of their games in the BMS going away, and proving that they probably belonged in the Big Dance, but they lacked the requisite number of vict’ries to qualify (and were eliminated under the Bullet Rule). In Round Three of the BMS, the ‘Dillos dominated the Druid City Blitz, winning easily, 37-19. Meanwhile, still in the Mullet… the Benton Bullets stormed to a 37-29 vict’ry over the defending champs. It was a tough season for the “young, but naïve,” Vulcans. Nic Hand has already made arrangements to forfeit the Grand Daddy Trophy to Mark Burr. Under the bylaws of the BDFL and specifically the Helmet O’ Silver – Nic doesn’t formally have to give up the trophy until the Super Bowl Gala. However, The Bulletin has first-hand knowledge that the North Birmingham Vulcans have been “strong-armed” into giving up the trophy almost immediately. In fact, it is being delivered to The Preserve, as you are reading this document. Also, in Week 18, the Magic City Mayors won the last “Toilet Seat Team of the Weak,” award for a paltry performance against the Fairfield PowerSleds. The “Mean Machine” closed the season with a 23-8 win against the Cronies. And, finally… the nightmare season for the Altadena Bandits – the 16th seed – came to an end on Sunday. Old Barry’s tattered forces were defeated by the Gulf Coast Gamblers by the final score of 14-12. The Bulletin bids farewell for another season, and appreciates all the cards, and letters, and comments, and emails, and text messages which provide much-needed morsels of information to keep the rank-n-file members happy, provide public relations for the league office, and give those outside visitors to the BDFL website a lot of data that they can’t possibly comprehend. Long live the BDFL!  

Top Brookside Success Stories:

Here is the list of Brookside residents who have overcome adversity and thus become a “Brookside Success Story.”  

Son of Brookside - Success Story

Mark Burr - Synaflex Rubber

Ron Slovensky - Birmingham Vulcans  

D.K. Quote:

“There’s no way Mark Burr is a bigger success story than Ronnie Slovensky… or, your mother for that matter.” – Donald Hand to one of his sons, and anyone else who was listening. [Note: this was before Mark Burr’s second BDFL Championship.]  

Mr. Mark Burr – Official Bio:

“Dog” is the CEO and Chairman of Synaflex Rubber Products. He is a native of Brookside, Alabama and a graduate of The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse School of Business. Mr. Burr also has a Master’s Degree from Samford University’s Brocks School of Business. For 22 years, Mark worked in Corporate Banking for SouthTrust Bank and Regions Financial Corporation serving as SVP for National Corporate Banking. In 2006, he left the banking industry to serve as President of Synaflex Rubber Products Company. Throughout his career Mark has been involved in several different civic organizations. He has been a member of the Rotary Club for 25 years and has served in every office including President and a member of the Board of Directors. He has also served in a fund-raising role for the United Way and Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Burr has served on various Boards with the most recent being the U.S. Industrial Manufacturers Association. Mark has been a member of The University of Alabama Alumni Association since his graduation in 1987. He has served as President, Treasurer, Secretary and as a National Vice-President, and as the Board as Chair of its Scholarship Committee.