| The Shocker, Edition 2 (Posted by Drexel Skorzeka on Year 10 Day 337) | |
| CSL A SUCCESS ALREADY? Only two weeks into the first full season of the new Colonial Shockball League and some observers are pondering if CSL could already be deemed a “success.” A quick glance at the facts and figures released by the CSL’s governing body, The Galactic Sports League, will show any observer two quite remarkable facts. First, the number of active participants now involved in some capacity with Shockball surprised everyone, including CSL President Troon Kebris. “We knew what we were building here would be a very good product for both fans and participants, but to be able to boast well over 100 registered players of Shockball by only the second week of our first season is quite remarkable. New players wanting to enter the world of Shockball and potential new team owners for next season continue to apply each day!” It is hard to argue with this view. Nuvin Bamad a player with the Pelentar Flares, backed up the words of Kebris by stating, “Well obviously anything that would take people’s mind of the normal rigamarole[sic] of life is going to be met with great success. I think that despite a few minor problems initially, the CSL management was able to do a great job getting the sport organized and finding people willing to buy teams in a short time which lead to players being recruited in droves.” Why is it then that so many have been, and continually are, drawn to CSL? Bamad continued; “The team owners take a big part in making sure player needs are met, and this approach leads to a high morale among players. Word of mouth spread between the initial players and people they knew outside the league, and due to no race or gender requirements, everybody was willing to come try out their hand at being the next big sports icon.” Callisto Xaltir, owner of the Endor Supernovae offered an alternate theory, “I enjoy the competition. When things flow well on both sides of the ball, it’s a great game. If it happens to be a bad day, you can always hit someone to make it better.” GAMBLING FIGURES SEE STEADY RISE And it is not only the impressive player numbers that points towards success. With the opening of the Gambling Office this week, over twenty million credits have been wagered on the second week’s games. While this figure is not huge comparatively speaking in the current galactic economic climate, it is impressive for an event very much in its infancy. InterGalactic Banking Clan Chairman and Kal`Shebbol Echelon team owner, Ellias Aubec, explained it this way; “I would guess that there is a deep-seated desire for entertaining sports events throughout the galaxy. And only now are such desires becoming realized.” Certainly the CSL, if nothing else, is pointing in the right direction. Is it the action, the spectacle, the chance to win large amounts of credits or perhaps the opportunity to shine by becoming the next big sporting icon of the galaxy that is the winning ingredient? Is it a combination of all? Or is it the fact that Shockball gives all sentients in the galaxy the ability to escape the realities of life and transcend above galactic politics. Perhaps Nuvin Bamad summed it up best: “There is great camaraderie among the players. It doesn’t matter if you knew this person from a previous business venture or have never met the person. Most people are willing to put aside their differences and work together to get a win, like we Flares did over the Rangers in the last game.” ROUND 2 ALTERS THE CSL LANDSCAPE The second round of matches was kicked off this week by the Lothbo Rancors taking out the Endor Supernovae 33 - 22. You could not keep the smile from Locago the Hutt’s face as Rancor centre, Wuma Uxal-Lumir expressed, “Like I said before: Endor Supernovae equal Storm in a glass of water and nothing stronger then a fart in deep space.” Comments like this will surely fire up the Supernovae for their next match. Kabal Onslaught and Kal`Shebbol Echelon this week shared in some Shockball history. With both teams well outplayed in their first weeks matches, the Onslaught and Echelon this week managed to secure themselves the CSL’s first ever recorded drawn match. Echelon player, Sagoro Cloud hit the nail on the head earlier in the week when he was quoted in the Kal`Shebbol Chronicle “I think Kal`Shebbol Echelon will give the Kabal Onslaught a very difficult time. The team has taken its lessons from last match and attracted a few new talented players. I’m excited to be playing my first match for this team and think we have a pretty good chance.” Although the draw will give confidence to both teams, it must be obvious to them that they still are without a win in this competition, and conference leader, Lothbo Rancors are moving further out in the lead. There were no surprises in the next match, as the highly fancied Meerec Wildcats won their match against the Corulus Rangers. Despite not having as dominate a display as last week, Wildcats still were able to hold off a desperate Rangers outfit. This loss now sees the Rangers as the only team to have lost both their opening matches and have seen them seemingly drop out of the championship race. It would appear that the on field issues are not the only problems facing the Rangers. Team captain Dac Kain, unhappy with team owner Troon Kebris’ performance in the match, was heard to say publically “Troon you couldn’t pass a Hutt in a foot race.” With the successive losses and what appears to be a rift forming between owner and captain, it is no wonder then that the Rangers have dropped in the race for season champions, with bookmakers having them at a ridiculous 1.62 to win the competition. The final match of the week saw a remarkable turnaround for the Calivir Crushers as they defeated the Pelentar Flares 44 to 23. After being embarrassed last week against the Wildcats, the Crushers obviously put in plenty of extra work this week and it truly showed. During the week, both sides were very vocal in their feelings towards this game. Flares player Archon Romanus stated at the weekly press conference, “It is my belief that the Flares are unstoppable in the subject of Shockball, and that the Crushers have no chance of winning Week 2.” Teenek Ta`ash of the Crushers added fuel to the fire by adding “Let me tell you all some thing. Those who fear nothing, lose the most. We’re not called the crushers by accident and Romanus will feel our Crushing power soon enough.” Have truer words ever been spoken? With the competition heating up, each week brings with it new results that change the CSL landscape. New players, interested in playing this popular sport continue to register with the CSL, hoping that one of the existing teams or a new team entering in the next season will sign them to a lucrative contract. ========================================= Credits: Story written by Troon Kebris. Edited by Fenn Drayson for the State Wireless Network. Brought to you by Auvasa Corp., The Galactic Sports League, and The Labor Union. Corrections/Retractions/Comments: GSA management would like to apologize to Nuvin Bamad. We neglected to mention in the last edition that it was his suggestion for “The Shocker” title. Thanks, Nuvin. |
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Onboard the Bayonet-class Light Cruiser Eminence at galactic position (344, -89) on Year 10 Day 337 11:26.
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