It took 5 games and 2 3rd set meltdown losses, but the Texas Toros have won their 1st Championship. They beat the Scarlet Ember promptly in the Championship Match in Nebraska. Blah, blah, blah, stats, stats, stats.
Storylines:
Semere, best rookie season to date?
Semrere of the Toros was pretty much the face of the 2010 Playoffs. He powered his team through the Silverbacks in an epic play-in game. He had stellar performances versus the Dragonfish and Gold to get his team through to the final round. But he did crumble under immense pressure twice versus the Scarlet Ember, showing his green-ness. But he still gained Championship MVP honors for his heroics and his unexpected leadership. He adds this title to Combine Champ, Rookie MVP, and of course DBL Champion.
Texas Toros owner Austin Johnston had this to say about Semere, "I knew from the time he showed out in the combine he was special. Look at Michael of the Margays. This combine is a real test of skills for this league. He had a strong start to the year, mostly under the radar, but heck, he sure fired out when we most need it, in the post-season. The man's got Texas-sized talent and we hope to have him around for a long long time."
Beginning of Toros Dynasty?
The Toros have found true Gold in Darren and Semere both becoming power players this year. They have a 3-year man, and a rookie playing really well right now. They lose Brandon to retirement, but they still have Matt, if they can work out a deal with him. That leaves 3 straight years with those 3. They should be at the top of the heap for those 3 years if the young-ins keep producing. After those 3 years, they should be able to find another man and have another 4 years with Darren and Semere if they can keep them. But thats looking way to far ahead, so much can happen. Looking at things right now, it should be the Toros, Dragonfish, Interceptors, in the forefront with the hot young players. No one can predict what the new class will bring, or what deals will go odwn, but the Toros are sitting pretty right now.
Still a Cinderella Season for the Scarlet Ember
Seeing as cinders come from fiery volcano blasts, the name Cinderella means more technically. But, they didn't win the big one. But hold the f up, the Nebraska fans would have been super geeked if the Scarlet Ember had only won that one (and first playoff victory ever!?!?!?) game versus the Empire. The Scarlet Ember impressed every step of the way, all the critics predicted against them as they beat the hottest teams in the game (Empire, Dizzy Devils). They played as a team unit, and Khris was on FIRE (I know that pun has been used wayyyyyy to much, but it's so easy) in the playoffs. In comparison, the Toros were expected to trade punches with the big boys. It was only their history of missing the playoffs that made their story Cinderella-esque (ignore the fact that the Toros had to play 2, count 'em 2, play-in games to get in the real playoffs only to play the #1 Dragonfish while being the lowest ranked team ever (#9) to win the Championship). Even though they relied on the Toros mistakes to make a 5 game series, the Scarlet Ember were an equal Cinderella inspiration and made the nation chosse-sides on who was more Cinderella-esque.
Honass, Unsung Hero
Honass was one of the Toros stars from their inception. The only original Toro to remain on the team all this time. He has gone downhill in recent years, but when the playoffs came around, he brought his game. It really started versus the Gold when he single-handedly ended the 3rd set to win game 2. He then had power player like stats throughout the Championship, pretty much catching anything that cam this way. Although Semere was the crybaby, Honass is the one who knows what this Championship really means to the organization and community.
