The Bill Gates Challenge, Part VIII: Blaze Of Glory

[Kodos]

My plans went awry tonight, and now it's too late to get it done. Sorry folks! I promise our game with Altanta will go up tomorrow. For now, keep enjoyin' those Texas beauties!

[jerk3616]

Originally Posted by Godzilla Blitz

Apparently the earlier playoff game has gone into overtime, and ESPN has delayed the start of this one. That must be it.

Stomps feet to keep warm. Orders another beer. Watches cheerleaders. Damn, Texas has some fine women.

I've heard the Martian women were hotter...

[Kodos]

The 2017 NFL Playoffs

Divisional Round

#3 Atlanta (9-6-2) at #3 Gatesville (12-4)

Attendance: 47,600 bought tickets, and much to my surprise, they all showed up for the game. Jerk3616 in his assless chaps still had plenty of room to himself.

Injury Update:

Left guard Darren Cruise started despite the fact that his dislocated elbow hadn’t healed up completely.

Defensive linemen Dusty Szilter (pulled groin) and Jose Mason (broken jaw) both returned early from their wounds to help bolster our defensive line.

Safety Timothy Whalen was ready to go despite a bruised sternum.

Al Ingram was still too hurt to play, and our trainers were not at all optimistic that he would be able to return this season.

The Game:

We came into our opening game of the 2017 Playoffs with a couple of distinct advantages on our side. First, our team had enjoyed a two-week layoff that had allowed us to enter the contest with most of our key guys more or less healthy. Second, we came in with a great deal of confidence, since we had torn the Falcons to pieces just six weeks earlier. Still, some in the press wondered if we might be coming into the game a little too confident, while others suggested we might be looking past the Falcons to the Bucs in the NFC Championship. I, for one, wasn’t looking past anyone. With good reason.

It was a perfect day for football, with the temperature at a crisp 69 degrees and a cloudless blue sky above us. The Falcons won the coin toss and elected to receive. Broderick Hidalgo opened the game with a booming kick that sailed through the end zone for a touchback. Alright!

On came the Falcon offense. On first down, running back Leland Mangum got the call to take it up the middle, but before he even left his own backfield, linebacker Arnold Marshall unloaded on him with a crushing blow, and out came the ball. When the refs finally pulled everyone off of the pile, cornerback Ernest Rodgers emerged with the ball. First-and-10 Gatesville from the Falcon 18!

Berg came out looking for blood, and found flanker Artie Furman between two defenders in the back of the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown! Just ten seconds into the game, we were up 7-0! Oh my!

No doubt reeling from such a terrible start, the Falcon offense came back onto the field looking to regroup. Ty Ackerman completed a 6-yard pass to split end Marshall Curtis on first down, but the Falcons suffered another setback when flanker Tim O’Neill went down with a dislocated elbow on the play. Rookie wide receiver Jake Cash came in to replace O’Neill, but the Falcons kept it on the ground on second down, and Mangum picked up 2 yards to set up third-and-2. For the second time in his first three rushing attempts, Mangum was nailed in the backfield for a loss, although this time he at least managed to hold onto the ball.

A good punt set us up back at our own 21, and an illegal block below the waist on first down proved to be too much to overcome, forcing us to bring on Frankie Branch and the punting unit after 3 quick plays.

Starting from their own 25, the Falcons went to the air on first down, as Ackerman connected with tight end Howie Ritchey for an 8-yard pickup. From there, Mangum was given another chance to run it, and once again he got dropped in the backfield for a loss. On third-and-4, Ackerman hit running back Greg Martin in the flat for 10 yards and a first down. With a fresh set of downs, Ackerman kept the ball in the air, but he overthrew Curtis. Second down saw Mangum again get the call, but this time he danced around the left end and turned on the rocket boosters for a crowd-deflating 59-yard touchdown. Holy crap! Is anyone else thinking of Barry Sanders?

To start off our next possession, kickoff return specialist Scott Cooley weaved his way 41 yards to set us up on our own 40. First down saw Berg complete a 14-yarder over the middle to tight end Mitchell Horner to move us into Falcon territory, but we were soon back in our own territory after Berg was dragged down for a 6-yard sack by blitzing cornerback Karl Dockery. Unfazed, Berg dropped back on second down and sent a bullet to Artie Furman to pick up 13 yards. Third-and-3 saw Berg run a draw for 6 yards and a first down on the Atlanta 33. Furman then got us another 9 yards on our next play, and Chuck Farley made his presence known on after that with a 17-yard reception that took us down to the 7. On first and goal, Berg went for Farley in the end zone, but the pass was too high and flew out of bounds. Second down saw Berg underthrow Ralph Randle to set up third-and-goal from the 7. With the threat of a missed opportunity looming, Berg was able to find Randle on the third down, but only for 3 yards, bringing up fourth-and-goal from the 4. Perhaps spurred on by the home crowd’s chants of “GO! GO! GO!”, Coach McCormick decided to roll the dice facing fourth and goal, and Berg rewarded his gamble by hitting Farley in the end zone for an apparent touchdown. To the chagrin of the home crowd, an offensive holding call negated the touchdown. Now facing fourth-and-14, McCormick opted to go for it again, even though the crowd was no longer chanting. Again, Berg looked Farley’s way, but this time the pass was off target, and the ball went over to the Falcons on downs...


TO BE CONTINUED...

[Godzilla Blitz]

Sitting in the stands, Godzilla Blitz just shakes his head disgustedly.

Fourth-and-fourteen and McCormick goes for it? What is he thinking? I wish I had some of his drugs.

More beer! This is not feeling good.

(At least that call gets me of the hook with the whole jinx thing.)

[Kodos]

Or was it your jinx that led to the stupid decision to pass on the field goal instead of going for it on 4th-and-14?!?

[jerk3616]

jerk sits alone in his "personal section", picking shards of cheap-ass plywood out of his tender yet supple ass, thinking to himself...

If I rush the field at some key play this game, throwing Atlanta off their game thus winning it for Gatesville, and get my tender-yet-supple ass thrown in jail, and ask Bill Gates to bail me out for helping his team win...how much would that cost? Would the bail money added to the other costs of this season cost Kodos his job?

Making his decision, he slowly rises to his feet and makes his way down the stairs...






Stopping by the beer vendor and cotton candy salesmen first, of course...

[Kodos]

The 2017 NFL Playoffs

Divisional Round

#3 Atlanta (9-6-2) at #3 Gatesville (12-4)


Late in the first quarter, tied 7-7, we rejoin the action following a failed pass attempt by Devin Bergeron on 4th-and-goal from the 14...

Though the Falcons ensuing possession took us into the second quarter, it wasn't a long or successful drive. To make matters worse for our opponents, QB Ty Ackerman left the game after sustaining an injured shoulder. Nevertheless, we soon were faced with problems of our own, as Berg and the offense soon found themselves standing in our own end zone following a 56-yard Jared Hutchins punt that put the ball at our 4 yard line. In a conservative move, Berg handed Lonnie Ruiter the ball on first down and Ruiter fought his way out to the 10 to give us a little breathing room. A 9-yard pass to Ruiter on second down moved the ball out to our 19, and an 11-yard Ralph Randle reception got us to our 30. The fourth play of the drive saw Ruiter bust loose around the right side of the line and into the Falcon secondary. Fifty-one yards later, middle linebacker Bert Cruise was finally able to bring the runningback down, but the damage had been done. Now in the red zone, our first play was another Ruiter run, but this time he was stopped for a 1-yard loss. Ruiter got 2 yards back on second down, but Berg’s pass to Ralph Randle on third down was off target, bringing up fourth-and-9. One has to believe that Coach McCormick must have been overflowing with confidence in Berg and the offense on this day, as he once again opted to go for it on fourth down rather than settle for a field goal. I watched in frustrated confusion as Berg took the snap, but finally, a gamble paid off for us, as Berg nailed Furman for a 16-yard gain. Now with first-and-goal on the Falcon 2, Berg flipped a quick touchdown pass to Randle to put us on top 14-7 with 8:30 remaining in the half to cap off a 9-play, 96-yard drive.

An unsportsmanlike conduct call against the Falcons backed them up to their own 14, and we soon took over the ball on the Atlanta 45 following another Hutchins punt. Four plays later, we were in the end zone again on a 19-yard Randle touchdown reception. Late in the second quarter, we would tack on a 25-yard Hidalgo field goal with 8 seconds remaining to go into the half with a fairly comfortable 24-7 lead...


TO BE CONTINUED...

[Godzilla Blitz]

It always amazes me how NFL coaches are too conservative. Clearly McCormick is a man of conviction who is willing to make the gutsy, unconventional calls. An obvious visionary in the sport of football! He's our man!

More beer!

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Godzilla Blitz

Watch out for McCormick's playcalling! I've heard he gets a bit baffled, just like Leon!

An oddly prophetic comment from last July...

[Kodos]

The 2017 NFL Playoffs

Divisional Round

#3 Atlanta (9-6-2) at #3 Gatesville (12-4)

We rejoin the game after the halftime break, with Gatesville leading 24-7...


Neither offense did much for most of the third quarter, until Lewis Fricke kicked a 29 yarder with 3:17 left to cut our lead down to 2 touchdowns, 24-10. To the Falcons frustration, Berg hit Artie Furman for a 2-yard touchdown just 3 minutes later to give us our biggest lead of the game, 31-10, with just over fifteen minutes remaining. For all intents and purposes, the game appeared to be over.

Things started off looking grim for the Falcons on the first play of the fourth quarter, as nickel cornerback Ernest Rodgers made a great play on Jimmie Brady’s deep pass down the sideline, and came up with a nifty interception. However, Berg and the offense were unable to get anything going with the new opportunity, and we were quickly forced to punt the ball back to the Falcons less than a minute later.

The offensive woes continued for both teams on their next drives. After a pair of punts, the Falcons took control of the ball on their own 24 with nine-and-a-half minutes remaining. Following a couple of incompletions, Brady hit rookie receiver Jake Cash on third and 10 to move the chains. Next play, Brady hit Cash again, and this time Cash broke a couple of tackles and scampered 48 yards down the field before strong safety Alan Hines could finally take him down. Following a 3-yard completion to Martin coming out of the backfield, Brady hit split end Marshall Curtis, who found his way to the end zone, cutting our lead to 31-17 with just under eight minutes remaining.

Just looking to take time off of the clock, we kept the ball in the hands of running backs Lonnie Ruiter and Dominic Hernandez for the next 9 plays. The drive eventually stalled at the Atlanta 34, but we had taken the clock down to 2:40 when all-pro kicker Broderick Hidalgo came on to try a 51-yard attempt. Hidalgo’s kick was plenty long, but it sailed wide right, keeping the Falcons’ faint comeback hopes alive.

The Falcons took possession starting on their own 41 with 2:35 left. Jose Mason slammed Falcon QB Jimmie Brady down to the ground for a 5-yard sack on first down, but unflustered, Brady responded by hitting Jake Cash for a 48-yard gain on the next play as we reached the two minute warning. Painfully, a pair of backups was making this a much more interesting finish than we wanted.

With two minutes left and trailing by two touchdowns, Brady put the ball in the air from our 16 on first down, and this time running back Greg Martin came up with the catch for a 13-yard gain that moved the Falcons to our 3. Hurrying his team to the line, Brady zipped a 3-yard touchdown pass to Cash as he crossed the goal line with 1:40 left on the clock. Now trailing only 31-24, and having two timeouts left, the Falcons were still very much alive. I watched with a rather unpleasant mixture of dread and disbelief as our special teams unit took to the field not quite knowing whether to expect the Falcons to kick it deep... or perhaps try their luck with an onside kick...



TO BE CONTINUED...

[fantastic flying froggies]

You can't just stop here !!!

[Kodos]

The 2017 NFL Playoffs

Divisional Round

#3 Atlanta (9-6-2) at #2 Gatesville (12-4)


And now, the conclusion...



With two time outs still at their disposal, the Falcons decided to kick the ball deep and hope that their defense could get them the ball back. Scott Cooley’s return placed us on our own 23 with 1:25 remaining. Ruiter tried to go around the left end on first down, but he was met by defensive tackle Leon Hudson before he could turn the corner, and the Falcons quickly burned their second time out. Ruiter had better luck on second down, as he picked up 7 yards to set up third-and-5. The Falcons used their final time out to stop the clock once more. Looking to get the clock moving again, Ruiter was given the ball again on third down, but to my dismay, he was only able to pick up one yard when we needed five. With the clock ticking, we sent Frankie Branch and the punting unit out onto the field.

Branch’s punt flew 45 yards to the Atlanta 26, and from there Jake Cash returned it 3 yards before he was dragged down. The Falcons’ offense took to the field trailing by a touchdown and needing to move the ball 71 yards in 47 seconds with no time outs leftl. On first down, Brady immediately went to his hot receiver, and Cash was able to gain 13 yards before free safety Dave Sanders took him down in bounds. Precious seconds disappeared off the clock as the Falcons quickly lined up again in the no huddle. Tick-tick-tick-tick! Brady’s pass to Cash fell incomplete on the new first down, and defensive end Will Rison was able to hurry Brady into a bad throw on second down. With the clock stopped at 19 seconds, Brady set up the offense in the shotgun facing third-and-10. Once again, Brady threw the ball in Cash’s direction, this time for a 27-yard gain that put them on our 31. Tick-tick-tick-tick! The Falcon offense hurried to get another play off as the game clock marched toward zero, and Brady took the snap with just three seconds remaining. Looking left, Brady saw that Cash was blanketed, so he went to Marshall Curtis on the right instead. Curtis caught the ball on our 20, and tried to cut up field. For a moment, it looked like he was going to try to lateral it, but cornerback Ernest Rodgers leveled Curtis before he could get rid of the ball, and the game was over! In a way-too-wild finish, we had survived the Falcons’ gutsy comeback bid, 31-24! WHEW!

We trotted off of the field with jubilation in our hearts, and with the looming threat of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers already very much on our minds. For now, we had lived to see another day, and in the end, that was all we could ask for...


Key Performers:

Berg won the Game MVP award based on his completing 25 of 40 passing attempts for 308 yards, 4 TDs, and 1 interception.

Lonnie Ruiter had a great day on the ground, as he amassed 194 yards on 24 carries.

Ralph Randle caught 8 passes for 114 yards and 2 TDs.

Artie Furman pulled in 8 passes for 101 yards and 2 TDs.

New Injuries:

Injury-prone Earl Thornton, our all pro receiver, suffered yet another setback, as he sustained a hip pointer that will keep him out for the rest of the playoffs.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Just what I said: an easy win.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Godzilla Blitz

Just what I said: an easy win.

Piece o' cake.

Any predictions for the big Tampa game?

[Godzilla Blitz]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Piece o' cake.

Any predictions for the big Tampa game?

Need to see your preview first...

[MIJB#19]

And the story continues, for now...

[Alf]

WRs are still injury prone in that game....

[Fonzie]

Go Gatesville!

[SuburbanPimp]

AND ON THE 6,516,458,756,489TH DAY, THE LORD-AH SAID THAT THE PIRATES MUST SMOTE THE EVIL BUCCANEERS-AH, AND THEN PEACE WILL BE BROUGHT AROUND THE LAND-AH, AND CAN I GET AN AMEN-AH?! AND THEN THE LORD SAID THAT KODOS-AH AND MR. GATES-AH MUST SIT AT THE TABLE OF THE LORD-AH, WITH THE LOMBARDI TROPHY IN HAND, BASKING IN ANOTHER VICTORY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER SEASON OF VICTORY!!

TESTIFY MY BRETHRENS, CAN I GET A WITNESS UP IN THIS CONGREGATION-AH?!?!?!

[Kodos]

Irving Police Chief Leon Lett and his men came for me the night of our victory over the Falcons. Along with Coach McCormick and the rest of our coaching staff, I had stuck around at team headquarters to help lay the groundwork for our upcoming conference championship game in Tampa Bay. Just after midnight, Irving P.D. came calling.

Unfortunately, Lett and his men hadn’t come to congratulate us on a fine win; they had driven the hundred miles that separate Dallas from Gatesville with a warrant for my arrest. It seems that an eyewitness had reported seeing me lurking around Texas stadium earlier in the week. I assured them that I had not set foot in Irving in general or Texas Stadium in particular since our game against the Boys back in Week 14 of the season. That’s when they claimed that they had pictures…


-----------

Around noon the next day, I found myself in a police lineup at Irving P.D. headquarters. Being the only one present with one giant eye, green skin, and tentacles, it did not take long for Chief Lett’s “witness” to make a positive ID on me.


-----------

Despite the fact that no body had ever been recovered, nor had any concrete evidence of foul play ever been found, I was officially charged in the murder of Jebidiah McMurphy that night. At the arraignment, Judge Staubach deemed me a flight risk, and ordered that I was to be held without bail.


------------

As one might expect, in the days following my arrest, tabloid sweetheart Bibi Gunn undammed a river of bile-filled hatred towards me in The Weekly World News, while even the regular press corps had a field day condemning my very existence. The outpouring of hatred was sickening in its scope. The people proclaiming that I should be sent back to Rigel IV seemed downright friendly when compared to Bibi’s more colorful demand that I be drawn and quartered Braveheart-style on pay-per-view.


------------

Who knows if Bill Gates would have bailed me out, had that been an option. As it stood, he publicly adopted a neutral wait-and-see stance when asked if he thought that I had been involved in the disappearance/possible murder of McMurphy. Sadly, this was about the best endorsement I got in the matter. I'd like to believe that some of the guys from the team might have spoken out in my defense, had Coach McCormick not issued a gag order to the team on the topic of my arrest.


-----------

My lawyer hasn’t accomplished much to date as far as building my legal defense is concerned, but he did manage to secure a single cell for me (I think it came about more due to me being a “danger to others” than anything else). He also got me access to the computer in the library on which I have told you my story to date. Nobody else here reads (finally, something to thank George W. for!), so I have mostly been left alone in here. Of course, everything I write is probably being monitored, but I have nothing to hide. In addition to being able to use Word on the computer, I have been granted limited internet access, which I’m certain is also being monitored. Of course, the computer only has freakin’ dialup. Though my correspondence has been restricted, they did allow Kyle Diaz to send me the scouting report for our upcoming game, which I will attach below.

Over the past few days, I have managed to get my account of the events leading up to now typed up. On Sunday, my Pirates will face the Buccaneers, and for the first time in 18 seasons, I will not be in attendance when they take to the field. But have no fear: Chief Lett has arranged for there to be a TV in my cell for the big game. He says he wants me to be able to watch the Buccaneers kick the Pirates’ ass…

[Kodos]

From: Kyle Diaz
To: Bill Gates & Kodos
Subject: Advance Scouting Report of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Injury Report:
Eddie Carpenter, C - Out
Winfred Clark, G - Questionable
Brandon Cook, CB - Doubtful
Kerry Dixon, T - Out
Wesley Castleberry, CB - Questionable
Marty Card, DE - Questionable
Danny Carty, CB - Probable
Les Feeney, CB - Out
Lonnie Garrison, DT - Probable
Frank Brock, S - Probable
Anthony Burns, WR - Probable

Offensive Overview:

Starting Quarterback: Dwight Norris
284 for 452, 3205 yards, 25 TDs, 10 interceptions this season.
Excellent at throwing short passes.
Loves to run the football.

Starting Running Back: Jon Adams
118 carries for 480 yards, 4 touchdowns this season.
Excellent overall runner.

Starting Flanker: Andre Barker
83 receptions for 934 yards, 8 touchdowns this season.
Excellent go-to receiver.

Starting Split End: J.R. Dunlap
68 receptions for 834 yards, 5 touchdowns this season.
Fair third down receiver.

Defensive Overview:

Starting Left Defensive End: Marty Card
5 tackles, 0 assists, 0.5 sacks this season.
Good pass-rusher.

Starting Right Defensive End: Renaldo Apolonio
31 tackles, 14 assists, 12.0 sacks this season.
Very good defender against the run.

Starting Nose Tackle: Luther Monroe
37 tackles, 12 assists, 2.0 sacks this season.
Good defender against the run.

Starting Weak-Side Outside Linebacker: Mark Dixon
63 tackles, 30 assists, 2.0 sacks this season.
Excellent pass-rusher.

Starting Weak-Side Inside Linebacker: Winston Larose
87 tackles, 29 assists, 1.0 sacks this season.
Excellent zone pass defender.

Starting Strong-Side Inside Linebacker: Skip Young
17 tackles, 6 assists, 2.0 sacks this season.
No real strengths to speak of.

Starting Strong-Side Outside Linebacker: T.J. Izzo
51 tackles, 23 assists, 0.0 sacks this season.
Good defender against the run.

Starting Weak-Side Cornerback: Danny Carty
27 tackles, 9 assists, 2 interceptions this season.
Excellent man-to-man pass defender.

Starting Strong-Side Cornerback: Wesley Castleberry
37 tackles, 9 assists, 4 interceptions this season.
Very good pass intercepter.

Starting Free Safety: Adrian Strong
80 tackles, 22 assists, 2 interceptions this season.
Very good man-to-man pass defender.

Starting Strong Safety: Antonio Stephens
18 tackles, 0 assists, 3 interceptions this season.
Very good pass intercepter.

[Godzilla Blitz]

Eek! Arrested! This sounds bad. And with Bibi laying into you through the media, you could be in a heap o' trouble, as they say down in Texas (maybe).

But look at that scouting report. Tampa Bay has four CB's in various states of disrepair. You'd have to think that Berg will be able to take advantage of that. Tampa Bay, however, seems to have a dangerous passing attack: low interceptions, two good receivers, and a highly efficient QB.

This one's a toss up. If the weather is nice, I'd have to say this is going to be a wild one. The victory will rest on Berg's ability to control his passing, as it certainly doesn't seem like Tampa Bay is going to turn the ball over much. Prediction: big scoring game, but Gatesville squeaks one out for the Kodos.

[jerk3616]

If it's the Judge Staubach that I'm familiar with, you should have asked him to recuse himself from judging your case...I think Jerry has it in for you.

[Kodos]

The 2017 NFL Playoffs

AFC Championship Game

On a tiny black-and-white television with horrid reception, I watched the Cleveland Browns pull off another upset on their improbable march to the Super Bowl, as they defeated the Wichita Gamblers 22-16 to earn themselves the AFC Championship. In a few hours, I will know whether or not that Super Bowl will be played in Gatesville.

3. Cleveland  (13-5)  22

1. Wichita    (14-3)  16

[The Narrator]

On a highway overpass just outside of Dallas, Texas, a young graffiti artist hastily spray painted a controversial message in bold lettering for the local commuters to see, and then rode off on his mountain bike just as fast as he could pedal, no doubt fearing reprisals from an angry populace.

















SAVE KODOS!

[Kodos]

The 2017 NFL Playoffs

NFC Championship Game

#2 Gatesville (13-4) at #1 Tampa Bay (14-3)

The team traveled to Tampa Bay needing to avenge our 24-7 loss from Week 16 in order to save my job. For the most important game in my 18 seasons as GM, I was not in attendance. Instead, I sat in a jail cell hundreds of miles away, and watched the game on a small, fuzzy black-and-white TV.

Alone in my cell, I watched Scott Cooley, our ace kick returner, take the opening kickoff and race 102 yards to paydirt. Just eight seconds into the game, we had scored our first touchdown. As fate would have it, Cooley’s touchdown jaunt would wind up being our only score of the game. Devin Bergeron, our 4-time league MVP, had himself a miserable outing, as he threw 3 interceptions, but no touchdowns. As I think about it now, it seems to me that Berg never fully recovered from his knee injury earlier in the year. Sure, he’d had some good outings since coming back, but he'd also had several clunkers. To me, Berg had never quite gotten his swagger back since his return. Sometimes those nagging injuries can take something out of a player, even if you can’t put your finger on exactly what that "something" is.

Chuck Farley, our beloved tight end, tried to carry the team on his shoulders, and did end up leading all Gatesville receivers – with 4 catches for 37 yards.

As for the Buccaneers, it was Cary Murphy, not Jon Adams, who ran all over our defense. On his way to grabbing the Game MVP award, Murphy carried the ball 15 times for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns. On top of Murphy’s performance, all-pro QB Dwight Norris threw for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Already leading us 20-7 at the half, the Bucs finished us off in the third quarter with a 2-yard Murphy touchdown plunge. From there, the game became a simple exercise in torture as I watched the final minutes of my tenure in Gatesville slip away. As the final gun sounded, the Buccaneers’ fans poured onto the field in celebration of an easy 37-7 romp, their team’s Super Bowl dreams still very much intact.

When the broadcast had finally, mercifully, come to an end, I bent over, switched the TV off, and watched the screen shrink to a tiny dot before it disappeared entirely. I lay back on my cot and breathed in the defeat, letting it fill my lungs. Then I released the breath, allowing my chest to deflate, much like my dreams of seeing the Cowboys driven out of Texas during my tenure as GM of the Silicon Pirates. If nothing else, at least there would be no more wondering left.

My time as the GM in Gatesville was over. I had failed.

[duckman]

Originally Posted by Kodos

My time as the GM in Gatesville was over. I had failed.

All is right with the world after all.

It's actually very sad that this dynasty is coming to an end. I have enjoyed it immensely. Thanks for a great dynasty, Alien!

[sterlingice]

Oh sure, just as X-Com looks like they've lost, too. Copycat.

SI

[Alf]

Not all stories end with an Happy End these days.

[fantastic flying froggies]

It just cannot be that 2 of my favorites all-time FOF dynasties are coming to an end at the same time...

I will not accept the end of this dynasty.

[jerk3616]

Break out the red Kool-Aid...

Today sucks. It can't end like this. We need the Scooby-Doo ending!

[JeeberD]

Does this mean that Jerry wins?

Huzzah!!!!

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Does this mean that Jerry wins?

Huzzah!!!!

See, Kodos. Isn't this reason enough to keep going?

SI

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Alf

Not all stories end with an Happy End these days.

I hope my dynasty will have a happy end.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

See, Kodos. Isn't this reason enough to keep going?

SI

You do make a strong case, SI.

Results of the Super Bowl and a wrap-up to come.

[revrew]

Great Dynasty, Kodos. Looking forward to your next one...

Don't you think there's a way to take the Raiders down?

[Chuck U Farley]

As Chuck U. stands in the unemployment line, he thinks to himself "how did I lose two starting jobs in two days". He shakes his head, and continues reading the new copy of Alien Time magazine.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Chuck U Farley

As Chuck U. stands in the unemployment line, he thinks to himself "how did I lose two starting jobs in two days". He shakes his head, and continues reading the new copy of Alien Time magazine.

So, how's that slave-building-of-the-giant-Zoltharian-Death-Ray(tm) working for you?

SI

[Kodos]

The good news is I should have plenty of time to write dynasties while in jail. Until they fry me...

[cthomer5000]

oh man. this is truly a tragedy.

There is no joy in Gatesville, mighty Kodos has struck out.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Kodos

The good news is I should have plenty of time to write dynasties while in jail. Until they fry me... :o

See? Everybody wins.

SI

[Kodos]

Well... not everybody. Just my enemies, for the most part.

[sterlingice]

Would be just like you to get caught up in semantics.

SI

[Lokugh]

Originally Posted by Godzilla Blitz

Eek! Arrested! This sounds bad. And with Bibi laying into you through the media, you could be in a heap o' trouble, as they say down in Texas (maybe).

Yep, that does get said down here. Usually by a large, mean looking county sheriff, from East Texas, wearing chromed aviator sunglasses. Often to a car full of yankee troublemakers. And it usually goes like this:

"Boys (a three syllable word), you in a heap o' trouble. We don' need your kind around heah (two syllables this time). Y'all step outta that car, and do it real (at least three syllables) slow. Hope you boys are friendly, 'cause we only got one cell, and you boys gonna be sharin' it for a while."

Picture Buford T. Justice from Smokey and the Bandit, but competent.

Lokugh

[Kodos]

2017 Super Bowl

Cleveland (14-5) at Tampa Bay (15-3)


A week after sending me to the unemployment lines, Dwight Norris led the Buccaneers to their second championship in three years, as Tampa Bay edged a very game Browns squad 17-14. Norris won the Super Bowl MVP award by completing 23 of 35 attempts for 2 TDs.

[Kodos]

Just as a note, I haven't ended this dynasty on such a boring post as the one above. I will have some wrapup stuff on the way when I get a bit of free time. I still have some loose ends to tie up.

Thanks,
- Kodos

[Alf]

Maybe you could let the game run on a few more years until Berg retires to see how long Gatesville can maintain it's status.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Alf

Maybe you could let the game run on a few more years until Berg retires to see how long Gatesville can maintain it's status.

I will definitely post in some form how the team does through the rest of the main character's careers.

[Kodos]

A new poll!

[Kodos]

I present to you Part IX: The End Of The Road?