Monday, January 13, 2014

Retirements Announced

There were 8 retirements at to put a close to the 2012 Season and mark the beginning of the 2014 Offseason. While Russell and Desmond were huge to their franchises, their retirements were expected, but two more faces of franchises shocked their fans and team with their news.

Jacoby and Sean entered the league in 2008-2 and both had immediate success. Their news comes as a shock as Sean and the Diamonds were poised to take it to another level next year and the Dragonfish were looking for a rock as they rebuilt their perennial powerhouse team.

Jacoby came in during the historic reformation of the Dragonfish where 4 players were rotated off the roster and in came Jacoby, 2 other players and the instant buddy Aleksandr. It didn't take long for the new team to gel as they went to the playoffs their 2nd season together and never looked back. Making it to 7 straight playoff appearances is a record that may not be broken anytime soon. They won a championship and as the elders left, Jacoby and Aleksandr still produced 3 more stellar seasons. But, this is a business and Aleksandr was dealt away to the Empire last season and he even went on to play in the Championship. Meanwhile, Jacoby had been through it all, there was nothing left, the era had shifted with the absence of a playoff run. It was a new team now, led primarily by Paolo. Dragonfish nation will forever remember this great center and the astonishing era of success had here in Florida.

Sean was much the prodigy as Jacoby. In his 2nd season he really made his mark in the legendary showdown in Florida in the Divisional round of the playoffs with the rain coming down, he beat all odds and led his team towards the conference finals. Sean, the Diamond, as they call him grew up on the rival island West Wing, but he always loved watching this team play. And that home grown chemistry led him to be the rock this franchise needed for a pretty good period of success throughout his career. Everybody felt the pressure, however, as the Diamonds would be eliminated year after year in the playoffs of how long Sean could keep playing well and have the opportunity of a Championship. They brought in the best player to ever come from the Combine, Sebastian, last season and they reached the Conference Finals, again falling short. Simeon and the rookie Kurtis added their stellar play this year to make the Diamonds the most hyped team going into the playoffs,  but again fell short in the Divisional round to a tough Skylarks team. With the Diamonds moving to Diamond Beach, changing their branding with new uniforms and logos, it was pretty clear the Sebastian era had begun. Sean, always the humble soldier could feel this and bowed out to make room for a team that will be tops next season and years to come.

Retirees-


Russell #4 Wing
College: Compass Rose Academy
Seasons: 10 SB/DD
All*Star Selections: 4

Jacoby #9 Center
College: Missouri Meteors
All*Star Selections: 4
Seasons: 9 DF
Championships: 1



Sean #7 Wing
College: West Wing University
Seasons: 9 DIA
All*Star Selections: 2




Bosley #17 Wing
College: Wheatfield
Seasons: 10 DF/MAR/DF/EMP



Nadashess #57 Wing
College: Missouri Blackfeet
Seasons: 10 SEA/EMP/SB/GOLD
All*Star Selections: 2



Desmond #11Wing
College: Wheatfield
Seasons: 10 TOR/GOLD
All*Star Selections: 3




Rob #4 Center
College: Florida University
Seasons: 8 DIA/PHA/GRE

Matt #44 Wing
College: Compass Rose Academy
Seasons: 10 PHA/TOR/PHA/SE
All*Star Selections: 1
Championships: 1









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