[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: The living legends Bondy and Hitchcock
So, hoping these guy will determine that 2093 wasn't a farewell song but a reason to continue playing this game, let's take a look at where the living legends Theodore Bondy and Kirk Hitchcock sit now on the all-time lists.


This season, Theodore Bondy joined the 1,500-catches club (he's up to 1,558 now), becoming the 5th member in IHOF history to get there. He ranks 4th and if he sticks around for one more season, will need 26 catches to tie for 3rd place. The top2 are out of reach, unless Bondy plays for two more 100-catch seasons. Bondy jumped up to 7th in all-time receiving yards, reaching 19,473 yards. Another season for 527 yards would make him the 7th member of the league's 20K club.

Bondy ranks 3rd all-time in most targets (he has 2,758 so far). Playing in the era of several highly targeted players (the top 4 all played the majority of their career in the '80s), it's somewhat remarkable that Bondy has achieved this on an offense that hasn't been all-pass, unlike his competition. The all-time leader is also still active, Frederick Red Menace's Christian James is seasons ahead of second place with 3,169 targets. A big reason for Bondy's figures is that when we're passing, 43.5 percent of the time the ball has been thrown into Bondy's direction. A figure that has been unprecedented, aforementioned James is on pace with the current retired record holder at 37.9.percent.

All in all, Bondy is 34 years old. Of those guys ahead of him, all retired after their 34th birthday, in ancient times Kenny Delgado retired after 17 seasons at the age of 39. With 12 seasons under his belt, Surely he has more gas left in the tank, no?

For the franchise records, it's all Bondy now. His 10 touchdowns this season made him reach 133 (both receiving and total) and jump ahead of Terry Haskell's figures of 127 receiving and 128 total.


Kirk Hitchcock became the all-time Merchantmen leader in interceptions, making his 46th in week 16 at the Williamsburg Colonials, and also returning it for his 9th touchdown, which ties the class of '64 legend Peter Tucker's record. With 4 defended passes this season, he didn't have much to show for his action this season, but it improved his already legendary figures in Maassluis, improving to 50 ahead of the ancient record holder Taj Wayne. His 185 defended passes make him improve from 10th to 7th all-time, still a threesome behind Ben Greer.


The change of guard though, it's coming. Bondy knows Ed Schulz and George Stuckey are ready to be the new WR duo, with tight end Clarence Gore the leader of the gang. Rickey Lyle and tight end Clay Gaynor make this a talented group. Hitchcock's position was already questionable, but Adam Harmon realistically is a nickelback, one of the best in the game maybe, but he's no shutdown corner. And Jackie Richardson no longer is that either. Bondy has a future, Hitchcock though, he might be nothing more than a special teamer next season. If they stick around, because retirement is quite possible for the second and third oldest players.

The oldest guy? Moe Sheldon. Yes. The change of guard isn't far away.