The Fabled Quarterfinals are here, ladies and gentlemen. Currently, six GMs have hit a peak GMC depression state knowing they no longer have anything to play for (one still remaining that will fall even lower to ultra, super-duper, extreme level depression when they earn the bag). The other six GMs probably feel a variety of emotions, including relief, stress, excitement, confidence, nervousness, etc. These proud and deserved six face the following storyline questions:
#1 Seed: Can Harnish quickly erase the memory of last season’s bag by claiming his second championship? Even with the bag thrown in there, Championship-Championship-Bag-Championship would be one heck of a four-year stretch.
#2 Seed: Will Chessa suffer a similar fate as last year when he earned a first round bye as the top seed in the Fabled, but finished in 3rd? Back to back South crowns is nice, but not ultimate glory.
#3 Seed: Will Corrigan finally break the streak and compete for MP? While he has very impressively established himself as the perennial Fabled participant with appearances in every season, he has not finished higher than 5th since Season 3.
#4 Seed: Will Miscoe fare better in his second consecutive Fabled appearance and earn his first Fabled victory? After being on the outside looking in for the first five seasons, he made the dance last year only to finish 0-2 and a disappointing 4th.
#5 Seed: Can Young become the first back-to-back Champ? He has followed an eerily similar path as last season when he won 4 of the last 5 in the regular season by one-upping himself this year by winning 5 straight going into the Fabled.
#6 Seed: Will Bennear’s leading-scoring squad score when it matters most? Although the highest scoring team in the club in the regular season, he barely squeaked in, but it doesn’t matter how you get into the Fabled.
As a new DYK feature for the Fabled, the Archine Man will conduct interviews with the contenders remaining in action. These interviews and articles should help the rest of the league stay tuned to the Fabled action and gain insights into each GM’s psyche, confidence level, etc. The depth and detail of the interviews will expand as the weeks go on. This week, the Archive Man conducted a very short, to-the-point Q&A with each of the four competing this weekend by asking the same five questions to each GM.
(3) Corrigan
Q: On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you in your team right now heading into the Fabled?
A: 10
Q: What player on your opponent’s team scares you the most?
A: I fear no man.
Q: What player on your team do you expect to have the biggest performance this week?
A: The #1.
Q: How many beers will you drink between Thursday 8:00 PM and Tuesday 12:00 AM?
A: 57, at least.
Q: What is your final prediction for your matchup?
A: Pain
(4) Miscoe
Q: On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you in your team right now heading into the Fabled?
A: 1.75. The Ducks have zero momentum right now.
Q: What player on your opponent’s team scares you the most?
A: Aaron Rodgers. I’m frightened of all anti-vaxxers.
Q: What player on your team do you expect to have the biggest performance this week?
A: Buffalo’s Defense. And I really hope they produce another late-week stat correction to my benefit!
Q: How many beers will you drink between Thursday 8:00 PM and Tuesday 12:00 AM?
A: Tough to say. If I start losing, I’m switching to the vodka. So let’s conservatively say 50.
Q: What is your final prediction for your matchup?
A: Tune into First & Goal, bitches!
(5) Young
Q: On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you in your team right now heading into the Fabled?
A: 10
Q: What player on your opponent’s team scares you the most?
A: Godwin
Q: What player on your team do you expect to have the biggest performance this week?
A: A Rod
Q: How many beers will you drink between Thursday 8:00 PM and Tuesday 12:00 AM?
A: 50
Q: What is your final prediction for your matchup?
A: 118.44 – 110.77 PC win
(6) Bennear
Q: On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you in your team right now heading into the Fabled?
A: 9.98
Q: What player on your opponent’s team scares you the most?
A: TB12. That’s a funny joke, Stiv.
Q: What player on your team do you expect to have the biggest performance this week?
A: Matt Stafford
Q: How many beers will you drink between Thursday 8:00 PM and Tuesday 12:00 AM?
A: 39. Would be more but no MNM action.
Q: What is your final prediction for your matchup?
A: PAIN
To summarize, these four plan on drinking 196 beers, at a minimum, to survive Fabled Round 1. There is no denying the GMC enhances alcohol sales. Also, three guys are pretty damn confident; one is pretty damn uncertain.
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