All Hail the Fungoes!

The Fungoes are NASOMA Champions! They defeated the FFTs 4 games to 2 to win the Higdon Award.

In their 19th year in the league, the Fungoes advanced to their second World Series (and first in over a decade) and (finally) claimed their first title. "It was a 19-year plan executed to perfection as far as I'm concerned," said Fungo manager Dr. Derek Townsend. "I could have won many times before, but I'm glad I didn't because it makes this time so much more specialer." "In fact," he continued, "I don't think I will allow myself to win another championship for a long time so I can continue to savor this one."

The Fungoes got to the Series by defeating the Mavs in the first round and the Warpigs in the second round thanks mainly to cheating. Ryan Zimmerman, stolen out from under a more deserving manager in the first round of last year's draft, led the way along with Willy Aybar (taken with pick 147 in last year's draft - but obviously playing with a doctored card). Roy Halladay and Tim Wakefield pitched well in all three series, and the bullpen was magnificent. Especially combined with all the freakin' luck in the world! But I digress...

The FFTs were led to the series by Mariano Rivera and some guy named Aaron Small, who single-handedly defeated the weary Sidewinders. The Snakeman self-jinxiated himself by publicly claiming victory before the first dice were rolled. FFT manager Dr. Terry Miller said, "I knew we had him where we wanted him when I saw him continually writing 'Sidewinders NASOMA Champions' over and over on little slips of paper during game 1." Even after the series ended with a game 7 FFT triumph, the Snakeman was preparing to play the World Series and had to be lured away from the table with the promise of more beer before the real finalists could get started. Sidewinder owner Dr. Vince Mullen's only discernable comment was, "Well, at least it wasn't like last year where I was just lucky to extend the Inmates to a sixth game."

That night, we (Pigs, Fungoes, Snakeman, FFTs, Oilers, Mavs, and Dr. and Mrs. Buckeye) had great fun at the Mavericks/Grizzlies basketball game. The view was impressive, although it distracted us from the game somewhat. I can't believe she left early - I wasn't finished.

On the train ride home, Fungoman got to slip into fireman mode and stop a wayward youth from setting the train on fire. All in all, it was a great day to be a Fungo, bringing to mind the Fungo anthem:

Now Harry Walker is the one who manages this crew
He doesn't like it when we drink and fight and smoke and screw
But when we win our game each day
What the fuck can Harry say?
It makes a fellow proud to be a Fungo.

Congratulations Fungoes on your first Higdon. Remember, this means you have to get it engraved to give to the 2007 Champion (and Warpigs is one word).