Tiny Dreams

I love this more than life itself. Stop motion animation turns me on in and of itself, but mini-stop motion animation?? That stars a little tiny girl flying on a bumblebee??? Shut your mouth.

It reminds me of the Alice In Wonderland game I used to play for hours on the little Commodore 64 that my brother Eric gave me.

Why Is There Powdered Sugar On Your Passport...

In the car yesterday, I mentioned that maybe we could go somewhere cool on our next family vacation. I immediately heard this:

Ava: I want to go to Spain!

Cole: I want to go to Rome!

Zach: I want to go to Dunkin' Donuts!!!

Renaissance Wishes And Reformation Dreams

Colson and Ava are studying Ancient Greece/Rome/Middle Ages/Renaissance this year. I'm having loads of fun teaching these, as outside of American history they're my favorite time periods. All I can think about is using the immersion technique to teach them history by taking them to Greece and Rome. I would die to be able to do that. Simply die. Google Earth is great, but it's not cutting it for me.

Making American history alive for the kids isn't too hard to do, especially living so close to Philadelphia and DC; making Ancient Greek history alive for them would ROCK MY WORLD.

Monday Mornings With Zachary

Zach was sitting next to Brooke on the couch yesterday, watching the Eagles game. At one point, he looks up at her and says, "Brookey, are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"

She says, "I don't know, what are you thinkin'?". He says, "I'm thinkin' I should sit in your lap."

And guess where he ended up....

Ava's Fashions

Always a lady, even when wearing an Eagles tee shirt.

Zachy Style

This hairdo is what Colson calls "Zachy style". Zach walked into co-op last Thursday and some kid turned around and yelled, "Whoa! That kid has cool hair!". Now every time I fix Zach's hair to go out, Zach says, "Mom, I wonder if someone will say that my hair is cool again..."

Why Do I Get Migraines When He's Around?

Colson loves showing affection. Even before he was 1, he loved expressing his adoration for his sister . The forehead bump was an early "Colson patented" show of love. Ava never liked it much, but that never matters to an ENFP...

Week 2 Review From The Commish

Look out folks - here is comes ... the LFC 2010 Week 2 REVIEW!

================

LEWIS FAMILY CHALLENGE

GAME OF THE WEEK:

1-0 Smytherines @ 1-0 SpecialEd

The Vegas Oddsmakers were all over the Smytherines going into this hyped up matchup featuring two of last season's hottest teams. Both teams were also coming off stellar draft night performances and even more stellacular week one displays. Special Ed dispensed with the pre-season's #1 ranked Mosley Dolphins with PopWarner-like ease, 145.08-63.52. Meanwhile the Smytherines took care of business with the wannabe Pounders of DaDogg, 126.22-108.46. Nearly %80 of this week's revenue was riding on the outcome of this exhibition - with the over/under teasingly close to the 300 ceiling. The first quarter of the 1pm games came and went - this game had all the makings of a knockdown dragout - until Philly's Sean Jackson hauled in a 53yd TD pass and the berm gave way, spewing points all over greater Emmaus. Jackson put on a 27.50pt clinic for Special Ed, joined by SD WR Malcom Floyd's 20.50 showcase vs JAC, tapped off with HOU QB Matt Schaub's 36.08 explosion in the nation's capital ... sadly, the Smytherines would only see their QB, SD's Philip Rivers, notch a double-digit day. The Specialerios featured seven players in los dos digitos - including two more on their bench, just to keep their GM aware that his arsenal is fully stocked.

1-1 Smytherines 81.56 (up next -> wk3 1-1 Sauteed Mules)

2-0 Special Ed 146.38 (up next -> wk3 2-0 middletown all stars)

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1-0 Haulers @ 1-0 roop dogs

When the week's hyped-up affair got out of hand, most of the nation switched over to this duel in the orchard. The dogs were coming off an esteem building 113.88-95.32 win in brooklyn, roughing up the new kids on the block. While the Haulers heads were high, after their week one squeaker, 103.82-94.44 win over the Mules. Both teams were fearing a let down after opening the season with such fine displays of offense. The Haulers were rudderless at QB going into week two and they picked up PHI QB Michael Vick off of waivers, glued his hands to the playbook, and announced to the local press that he would be starting that Sunday. Good thing - his 25.06pt outing was the difference - as the dogs featured a 32.80pt firework show by SF RB Frank Gore against the Saints and a 23.38pt showing by CHI QB Jay Cutler in Dallas. The Haulers got this win by the hair of their chinny, chin, chin once again, said the little red hen. They're truly a house of cards - that relies on the other team to dismantle themselves. That's not the kind of game plan that will win championships in this league, my friend. Don't be surprised if the winless Dolphins deflate the Haulers tires next week.

2-0 Haulers 125.56 (up next -> wk3 @ 0-2 Mosley Dolphins)

1-1 roop dogs 107.48 (up next -> wk3 @ 1-1 Keeping Five Alive)

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1-0 All Stars @ 0-1 DaDogg Pound

Now this game was a nail-biter - the lead bounced back and forth all afternoon and evening on Sunday. The Pounders showed that their record isn't who they really are - and the All Stars proved that they're no newbie to this thing we call the Lewis Fantasy Challenge. The game featured rock-solid performances from nearly every starter from both franchises and it was looking like this affair was going to come down to a matter of decimals ... but when the gun went off at LP Field in Nashville Tennessee, ending the Steelers 19-11 manhandling of the Titans, the Steelers DEF gave the AllStars 29.00pts toward their efforts over the DaDogg Pound. Talk about a statement game. Old versus New. The Pounders were one of the LFC's founding franchises - a once feared roster that annually went deep into the post-season. Now they are struggling for an identity in this new era - and here come the middletown allstars, brash and cocky and ready to take on all comers. Ehem, don't look now allstars, but next week will be a reality check.

2-0 All Stars 136.16 (up next -> wk3 @ 2-0 SpecialEd)

0-2 DaDogg Pound 97.08 (up next -> wk3 0-2 team jacob)

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0-1 Sauteed Mules @ 0-1 Mosley Dolphins

Pillow Talk Bowl III - East Greenville's biggest event of the year, the stands filled with fans from both teams, friends, families, local businessmen, school children of all ages, except the home schoolers, they were at home. This matchup had everything riding on it as both franchises got off to tough starts last week, each suffering a loss to playoff contending teams. Neither wanted to start the 2010 season with an 0-2 record. You can bet the rivalry featured a wealth of unpublished trash talking during the week leading up to this engagement. The game saw four lead changes before the 4pm games even began. By the time the afternoon games were history, the Mules established a strong lead knowing that the Monday Night game would be the deciding factor - and oh, was it ever so. It came down to SF WR Michael Crabtree versus NO K Garrett Hartley - live across the nation on ESPN's Monday Night Football. Surely a wideout of Crabtree's ilk will easily light up a lillipudlian framed soccer-styled kicker like Hartley! Crabtree was projected to notch close to double-digits, with Hartley possibly getting past five points. As the game drew to a close, Crabtree's numbers amounted to a measly 3.20pts, and as the clock wound down to zero, Hartley booted a 37yd FG to win the game for the Niners, 25-22, contributing 10.00pts to the Dolphins' cause .. but alas the Dolphins fell just 1.23pts shy of getting their first win of the 2010 season. For the Mules, jubilation at defeating their cross-town rivals - for the Dolphins, bittersweet post-game gatorade knowing they had the game in their grasp and now, they can release all their pent up anger against next week's opponent.

1-1 Sauteed Mules 95.94 (up next -> wk3 @ 1-1 Emmaus Smytherines)

0-2 Mosley Dolphins 94.72 (up next -> wk3 2-0 Hamilton Haulers)

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1-0 No Punt Intended @ 0-1 Golden Knights

All the major outlets are tripping over themselves to get the best shot of the Special Ed - Special Ed are doing this, Special Ed plans to do that. Meanwhile, the No Punt Intended are quietly preparing themselves for a great playoff seed. The NoPunts ran up the score on team jacob last week and were primed to do just the same this week versus the Golden Knights. There was little the Knights could do to compete this week, as the NoPunts brought with them the silky smooth moves of Jahvid Best, yes, that Best, of the Detroit Lions. Best bested his opponents in a 32-35 loss versus the Eagles, notching 50.20pts for the NoPunts cause. That was more than half the production the Knights could generate on this balmy September afternoon. What kind of secret weapon is Best? Can the Intenders rely on this kind of output every week? Are we talking Madden 2011 cover shot here? Or are we talking TMZ where-are-they-now kind of shot in 2011? Whatever becomes of him, mercy, he sure had a career day this week.

2-0 No Punt Intended 153.20 (up next -> wk3 1-1 a team grows in brooklyn)

0-2 Golden Knights 86.26 (up next -> wk3 1-1 little rupple)

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1-0 Keeping Five Alive @ 0-1 a team grows in brooklyn

Lord help the mister who comes between these two teams. The FiveAlive were impressive in their 2010 debut last week versus the anemic Golden Knights and the brooklynites were pounded on by the seedless roopdogs, but put on quite a show for a new team. And they hit the ground running Sunday, thanks to ARI RB Tim Hightower's 27.40pt performance in Atlanta. Followed up with a 20.00pt feat by BUF RB CJ Spiller in Green Bay and this game was officially out of reach - it appears the brooklyn is blossoming into quite a roster and just might have something for the post-season. But first they have next week - and that hurdle will show what they're really made of.

1-1 Keeping Five Alive 66.46 (up next -> wk3 1-1 roop dogs)

1-1 a team grows in brooklyn 94.64 (up next -> wk3 2-0 No Punt Intended)

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0-1 littlerupp @ 0-1 team jacob

All kinds of weather, these two fledgling teams are the same in the rain or sun ... but alas my dear one, which will get to wear the dress, and which will stay home? The beauty of games that feature winless teams is that someone will finally get to win one. Funny thing about this little game, is that it was probably the best game of the weekend. Six lead changes on Sunday - and the two teams were never more than a dozen points away from one another. Littlerupp featured two monster performances by MIN RB Adrian Peterson (28.60pts) and PHI RB Sean McCoy (36.80pts) but team jacob featured seven players that put up double-digits (NE WR Wes Welker's 9.80pts were practically double' digite). The microscopic rupps came away with a 5.18 margin of victory, but team jacob learned that they've got some fairly decent talent on their squad - and with the right conditions, a win is not far away! Perhaps even next week, given it will be yet another soiree featuring two victorialess ballclubs!

1-1 littlerupp 112.08 (up next -> wk3 @ 0-2 Golden Knights)

0-2 team jacob 106.90 (up next -> wk3 @ 0-2 DaDogg Pound)

I Interrupt This Eulogy To Call China Taste

I picked up some Chinese food for the kids last night. I order from a place in East Greenville, and fairly often, so the people who work there know me. The owners are a young Asian couple, probably in their late twenties/early thirties. They're fairly modern in appearance, but neither of them speak English that well.

I had placed an order for Chinese food the night that Eric had his motorcycle accident. In fact, I had just gotten off the phone with the restaurant 5 minutes before Eric called at 8ish. Of course I rounded up the kids pronto and started driving to the hospital, not giving my Chinese food a second thought.

Later that night in the ER, around 11pm, I heard my cell phone ring. I looked down at it, and the caller ID showed "China Taste", the restaurant I order from. I had a moment's thought that it was strange that they'd be calling me, but I was obviously very preoccupied and just hit ignore. I may have commented on it quickly to Brooke, but then I put it out of my mind.

The next day, they called back. I picked up my phone, and the man owner said, "Why you not pick up you order last night??". I said, "Excuse me??!??". He says, "You order General Tso's chicken and you not pick it up".

I was SHOCKED. I realized immediately that that was what they were calling about the night before, at 11pm. I mean, REALLY????!! I said, "Are you kidding me? My husband was in a bad motorcycle accident last night right after I ordered from you, and I had to rush to the ER to see him."

He says, "Well, you should call when you not coming to pick up you order."

I said, "Are you serious right now?? When I'm thinking that my husband is possibly close to death, my cheap Chinese food order is not on my mind. I mean, maybe once I saw my husband's brains splattered all over the highway, I would have remembered, "Oh yeah, you need to call and cancel your Pork Lo Mein order...""


He was not understanding what I was saying, he just kept saying, "You always should call when you not coming for you order". I ended the call with, "Well, I can guarantee you that the next time someone close to me is in an accident and I've ordered food from you first, you won't be getting a call from me. I have ordered food from you at least 1300 times, and I've picked up every single one of those orders. I fail to pick up ONE order, and you call me at 11pm??? You're crazy".

About a week later, while Eric was home recuperating, I ordered Chinese food again. When I went to pick it up, the woman owner was at the register. When she saw me walk in, she immediately said, "Oh Susan....you not show up to pick up you order last week, why??"

I almost lost my mind. I looked at her with my patented "I think as highly of you as I do of a gnat" look, eyebrow raised, and said, "Really? My husband almost DIED last Friday night, and you're bitching at me about Chicken Lo Mein? Trust me, your stupid wonton soup is not my priority when someone in my family almost dies. Trust me."

Well, I guess seeing my face helped her to understand. She said something like, "Oh, my husband said something like that, but I didn't understand him". Yeah, no kidding. She must have felt badly, because now, every time I go in, she asks, "Oh, how you husband? He okay?"

She's Got Pimples On Her But She's Pretty

I received the nicest compliment the other day. Probably the nicest compliment I've ever received in my whole and tired life. It came from my beloved Heather Gemmen Wilson who, while only knowing me in 140 character bursts, has always known what the other million characters in my head were saying....

Actually, I thought of you on Saturday when I was at a Beth Moore simulcast. She talked about how she doesn't get nice girls. Nice girls are naive and sweet; kind people, on the other hand, have their eyes wide open, they see what's really going on, and they love anyway. You're not a nice girl, Shmoo, but you sure are kind! :)

Not only do I love the sentiment, because it's very true, but I love the fact that Heather knew I'd find the sentiment highly complimentary.

Not too much in life beats being understood, at least not to this non-nice girl....

Monday Mornings With Zachary

Zach's recap of our Diagonal Falls weekend, and also his ideas for escaping a kidnapper.

Even In A Blue Saran Wrap Poncho...

Above the falls (Ava's pose and hair make this picture)

And getting ready to ride under the falls.

4 Hours Of Sleep

We're off to Diagonal Falls

Changing Lives

My kids attend a homeschool co-op on Thursday mornings. The co-op is the World Changers Homeschool Association, we just call it World Changers. We went to our first session yesterday, and it was Colson's first time there.

Driving home, I asked Cole what his favorite part of the day was. He said, trying to be funny, "Changing the world!!".

Zach says to Cole, "We didn't really change the world, but we did change Dad's life, at least that's what he says...."

Week 1 Review From The Commish

SPECIAL ED DOMINATES

With a little help from a fifth round pick, who racked up a monstrous 47.8 points, Special Ed routed Mosley Dolphins by 82.28 points. With clinical precision, Arian Foster and Matt Forte declared the Dolphins beached by 1:30PM ET. "It was an ugly scene, children crying, mothers shielding their young from the carnage," declared one terribly shaken bystander. "I don't think we've ever seen something like this before. Why did this have to happen?" Why indeed.

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

GAME OF THE WEEK: review

"Dolphins @ SpecialEd": Eds win 145.08 - 63.52
* With the nation's eyes fastened to this highly touted matchup, you can well imagine the speed at which the channels were turned once SpecialEd's ground game was unveiled. The combination of Forte and Foster ended the Dolphins chances at a week one victory. Foster had a career day on the ground while Forte had a magnificent day catching passes out of the backfield. Smytherines, take note, the margin of victory could have been much larger - the Eds left some points on the bench, namely Carson Palmer.

UP NEXT?
Sauteed Mules @ Mosley Dolphins
Emmaus Smytherines @ Special Ed

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FOCUSED GAMES: review

"Haulers @ Sauteed Mules"
Haulers win 103.82 - 94.44
* The Mules almost pulled off some last minute heroics thanks to Legedu Naanee's late night exploits in Kansas City, including a sweet 3rd quarter 59yd TD haul in the last game of week one. The Haulers were up by a couple dozen with minutes to play before Naanee's efforts closed the gap. But it wasn't enough.

UP NEXT?
Sauteed Mules @ Mosley Dolphins
Hamilton Haulers @ roop dogs


"Smytherines @ DaDogg Pound"
Smytherines win 126.22 - 108.46
* This game had all the drama - the Pounders took an big lead during the early games and the 'Rines closed the gap during the 4pm games. It all came down to the Monday Night Double-Header to decide the outcome ... With his team down in the second half, QB Philip Rivers took to the air and brought his team back to within inches of victory - and his efforts got the Smytherineos their first win of this young 2010 LFC season.

UP NEXT?
Emmaus Smytherines @ Special Ed
Middletown AllStars @ DaDoggPound

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


BEST RESTERS: review

"roop dogs @ a team grows in brooklyn"
roop dogs win 113.88 - 95.32
* There was a lot of hype around the new BK franchise and they assembled a pretty decent showing in their first outing, as they didn't leave any points on the bench - a sign of some smart thinking in the front office. Now if they can just light a fire under Beanie Wells they just might have something this season. The roop dogs simply brought bigger muscle to this gun fight. Cutler, Boldin, & Washington kept this game out of reach, despite Gore's timid showing.

UP NEXT?
Hamilton Haulers @ roop dogs
Keeping Five Alive @ a team grows in brooklyn


"Keeping Five Alive @ Golden Knights"
Keeping Five Alive win 100.28 - 88.92
* Austin Collie almost cost the Five Alive a game - his albatross like 29.30 points pining away on the bench hung like a goiter on the Fivers' neck. Meanwhile Moss's earthworm like 5.90 points didn't help the situation any - but that's life in the LFC. Gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to use the plunger. The Knights' fan base expected alot more, especially after their team's draft position this season - their top three picks (Rice/Benson/Flacco) collected just 21 combined points this week. Good thing their fourth pick, Hakeem Nicks, showed up to play - his 25.50 point this week bested them with room to spare. Gotta do better than that. The First State's Five Alive showed why their boss is the reigning GM of the Year.

UP NEXT?
Keeping Five Alive @ a team grows in brooklyn
No Punt Intended @ Golden Knights

"No Punt Intended @ team jacob"
No Punt Intended win 129.32 - 85.92
* The Intenders proffered no mercy with one of the league's newest franchises. Manning, Ochocinco, Best, White ... the points were just piling up before the Jacobians could even figure out when to take a bathroom break. This No Punt roster is built for the post-season, be sure to write that down on your fridges, folks. I pity the teams that have them on their schedule come mid-November. The Jacobs showed some brilliance in Jamaal Charles, who picked up right where he left off last season, racing for the end zone with every carry. Wes Walker proved he's not thinking about retiring anytime soon - he'll demand a start every week from now on.

UP NEXT?
No Punt Intended @ Golden Knights
littlerupple @ team jacob

"All Stars @ littlerupp"
middletown allstars win 95.18 - 81.12
* Drew Brees and Miles Austin gave the newly assembled Middletown AllStars their first victory in the Lewis Family Challenge - albeit the equivalent of getting over a speed bump in a vacant Kohl's lot, but a victory none the less - which could prove priceless come playoff seeding time in a couple of months. But that's a lifetime away ... Both teams have quite an array of talent on their starting lineups - and both teams had to deal with some rough outings in week one. But that's to be expected. The great teams know how to weather those unforeseen moments.

UP NEXT?
Middletown AllStars @ DaDoggPound
littlerupple @ team jacob

Weapon Of Choice

Zach came into the living room yesterday morning to ask me if I'd fix him some cereal. I had been eating a Cinnamon Crack bagel with low fat cream cheese, so before I got up I grabbed my empty plate and my knife to take into the kitchen with me. When he saw me pick up the knife he yelled, "Don't cut me!!".

I pretended I was going to cut him with the knife, so he ran into the kitchen, opened the silverware drawer and got a spoon. He brandished his spoon in the air, did a Kung Fu move and yelled,

"I've got a spoon and I'm not afraid to use it!!!!!!"

How You Say....

For the longest time (and I mean, like, up until last year), I never knew whether the "Barre" in Wilkes-Barre was pronounced like berry or like bear or like bar. So I used to, when I had to say Wilkes-Barre, say "Wilkes-Buh" and then let my voice trail off, or cough and cover my mouth, or turn my head. That way no one would ever know if I had said Berry or Bear or Bar. I mean, once you hear Wilkes, you know what the other person is saying. So I was able to get away with my ignorance forever.

But now I know.

She's BAAAAAACK!

Well folks, after a long break, I've decided to come back to Being Suzanne Mosley. For my big return, you get the first installment of Andrew's Lewis Family Challenge newsletter. That's right, it's fantasy football time again, and this year's family league is bigger than ever. Before I give you the newsletter, here's a list of who each team belongs to. The newsletter won't make much sense if you don't know who The Commish is talking about.

Hamilton Haulers - Andrew (@HamiltonHaulers)
The middle Lewis son, my brother. 40-some years old. Generously hosts this extremely high-maintenance family's football league every year. Compassionate to a fault (or so says Ed).

Mosley Dolphins - Eric Mosley (@ericmoze)
My husband, who is also The Commish of his office's fantasy league. Excessively cute and wickedly smart. That's how he earned his way into this family to begin with.

Sauteed Mules - Suzanne (@shmoozanne74)
Me, dancer extraordinaire, Master of all I see.

RoopDogs - Amy (@lazymom05)
My sister, mother of Nathan, Victoria, Alex and Allyson (also Ashley, who isn't in the league), engaged to Ed. Supplies the amazing trailer park where we hold our draft every Labor Day. And by "supplies", I mean she lives there.

SpecialEd - Ed (@captmongo)
Engaged to my sister Amy, always engaged in lively heated but friendly football related spats with Andrew and EMo. Hater of compassion. This may be why I like him.

A Team Grown In Brooklyn - Bethany (@bethanyglewis)
My niece, ELew's 2nd daughter. Lives in NYC, works at Hearst Publishing, very hip, smart and sarcastic. This is her first year in the league. She joined specifically for the newsletters, so you know they must be good.

Keeping Five Alive - Bonnie (@bonita82)
Elew's oldest daughter, my oldest niece. Mother of 5 cute rugrats, surprisingly relaxed and funny. Turned out to be a major contender in last year's league! Who knew??

Golden Knights - Alex (? is he on twitter?)
Amy's younger son. Jack of all trades, master in his own mind. My son Zach's favorite cousin, "You know Mom, I like that one that works at Chili's..." Falsely accused of getting fired from his job for smelling bad. Sometimes flakes out on setting his lineup due to the pot liquor having way more important things to do. ALLEGEDLY!

Emmaus Smytherines - Jeff (@smythie86)
Brooke's husband. EMo's co-worker. Linux lover...if I were 5 I'd accuse him of wanting to marry Linux. Sounds like a wild animal when puking.

DaDogg Pound - Nathan (@NateRupp)
Amy's oldest son, following in her bartending footsteps in NYC. Provided the family with arguably the best story of all time. Wearer of natty outfits. Is looking up the meaning of the word "natty" right now.

No Punt Intended - Brooke (@schnookers715)
Bonnie and Bethany's younger sister. Married to Jeff. Has been called Mary Poppins on many occasions. Pretends to be nice to old men for pay. Could probably do more push ups than you.

Team Jacob - Victoria (@vrupple)
Amy's middle daughter. Has been known to hire male escorts for family functions. Is in the process of faking her way through college. Sings a mean version of Hallelujah. Is a self-taught hair braiding expert.

Middletown All Stars - Christopher (way too young for Twitter! ;)
Bonnie's oldest son, this is his first year in the league. As a baseball All-Star, he knows a bit about how to win games. We all need to look out for this underage GM.

Little Rupp - Allyson (way too high school for Twitter! ;)
Amy's youngest daughter, Victoria's sister. With her assets, you wonder why she doesn't do better in a fantasy league. Is trying to take over her brother's status as Zach's favorite Chili's cousin.

And there you have it. The list of the Lewis Family fantasy football teams. Now the newsletters might make a tad more sense. If you need clarification, just ask. Refer back to this post if needed for future newsletters.

Following is the first installment of the newsletter, the Week 1 Preview:
__________________________________________________________________


Thus ... we give you ... the brand spankin' new ... LFC 2010 Week 1 PREVIEW:

================

LEWIS FAMILY CHALLENGE
GAME OF THE WEEK:

"Dolphins @ SpecialEd"
* Both of these teams feature the game's smartest general managers, proven winners that keep their franchises in championship form year in and year out. Except for 2009. The Dolphins and Special Ed both suffered uncharacteristic losing streaks to close out last season. The memory of those losses will still be fresh in their minds as they take the field this weekend. The Dolphins feature some of the game's most exciting offensive players, in Brady, Owens, Sims-Walker, Driver, Clark - but they're nursing camp dings and bruises ... Meanwhile Special Ed's starting lineup is primed and ready for the season to kickoff - Jackson, Forte, Knox, and Schaub will all feature prominently in this team's scoring. PREDICTION: SpecialEd by 12pts

GAMES TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

Haulers @ Sauteed Mules
* These two teams were at the top of the standings all season long and there is no reason to think we won't see more of the same in 2010. This is definitely a statement game for these two franchises - who will start off this new season with a resounding victory over a playoff contender?

Smytherines @ DaDogg Pound
* The Pounders were the league's checkout counter for wins/points last season as teams cued up for a chance at a free win and an opportunity to run up the scoreboard. "Those days are over," says our source from the DaDogg offices. If that's true, they got heck of a game to prove it - as they line up against one of last season's toughest teams, the Smytherines - recently moved from the Virginia mountains to the Pennsylvania foothills of the Lehigh Valley. The Pounders have placed their 2010 hopes on RB Chris Johnson (the league's #1 overall pick). You can bet they're praying the injury plinko disk doesn't land on him.

BEST OF THE REST:

roop dogs @ a team grows in brooklyn
* The BK horticulturists are one of the league's new franchises - and their first match is a tough one, a perennial playoff contender in the roop dogs. This will be a great test for the tree-huggers.

Keeping Five Alive @ Golden Knights
* GM of the Year, Bonnie Johnson, has assembled an impressive starting roster and kicks off her 2010 season against one of last season's floormats, the Golden Knights. The vortex that was the 2009 season put down not only the Pounders, but also the once mighty Knights. Its a new season and with their high draft picks, the Knights have a chance to prove last season was a fluke.

No Punt Intended @ team jacob
* "Its a cat fight!" - The feline hairballs will be flying in this matchup - between the trans-formative jacobites and the newly declawed Intenders. The jacobians are another one of the league's new franchises for 2010 and they've been served a nice manageable portion for their first venture into this realm we call "The Challenge".

All Stars @ littlerupp
* The AllStars are the last of our newest teams and they get a cakewalk for their first game in the league. The littlerupp is a franchise in disarray, although their management insists they've spent the off-season in team-building exercises, sensitivity focus re-entrenchment contiguous disciplines, and creative macrame. All with the goal of doubling their win total from last season.