[USML Announce] USML Trivia

[jhwinick at aol.com]

I've been flying alot lately and have idled away the time by perusing the USML archives.? At the risk of annoying those who don't ever seem terribly pleased with USML banter, I intend to send a number of messages that identify what are (at least to me) some very interesting facts about the USML during its 19 year history.

GREAT RIVALRIES
For starters, I was curious to see what the greatest USML rivalries are.? It seemed like?Rick had become a nemesis to me and, sure enough, in 3 of the last 5 years, Rick has finished second to me or vice-versa.? In 2003 - I beat Rick.? In 2005 - Rick beat me.? And in 2007 - I beat Rick again.? But that's not the best of the head to head matchups.

1989??????? Bombers over Berliners

1990??????? Berliners over Bombers

1991??????? Klein over Nukes*

1992??????? Berliners over Bombers 

1993??????? Bombers over Berliners


1994??????? Klein over Red Hots
1995??????? Red Hots over Berliners
1996??????? Winick over Klein
1997??????? Riptorns over Berliners

1998??????? Riptorns over Nukes
1999??????? Riptorns over Klein

2000??????? Riptorns over Klein

2003 ?????? Berliners beat Hoosiers

2004??????? Nukes beat Klein

2005??????? Hoosiers beat Berliners

2006??????? Nukes beat AYM (Klein in close 3rd)

2007??????? Berliners beat Hoosiers

?

#4.???? The Riptorns and Klein Nine have met head to head 2 times.? Its a clean sweep for the Riptorns.

#3.???? The Nukes and Klein Nine have met head to head 3 times (if you include Klein's 2006 3rd place finish).??Including the tiebreaking asterisk year, its Nukes 2/Klein 1.

#2.???? The Berliners lead the Hoosiers 2 to 1.? Next scheduled meeting in 2009.

#1.???? The best rivalry, is the Berliners and the Block's Bombers.? In 4 of the league's first 5 seasons, it was either the Berliners or the Bombers.? And as it should be with the two remaining founding members of the USML - its tied 2-2. 



FIRST PLACE FINISHES
The second stat for the first of the USML Trivia posts is first place finishes.? In its 19 seasons, only 7 teams have secured victories.? 

#6???? Hoosier Daddies (1)
#6???? Red Hots (1)
#4???? Block's Bombers (2)
#4???? Klein Nine (2) or (1) plus an asterisk
#3???? Nukes (3)
#1???? Win Ick Ben Ein Berliners (5)
#1???? Rip Torns (5)

ALL OR NOTHING?
The third stat addresses the Professor Klein theory that the Berliner/Riptorn approach is an all or nothing approach.? In fact, it turns out that only once in the history of the USML has a team gone from last in one year to first in the following year.? The Berliners pulled that off in 2002/2003.? There are a few other teams that have come close, however:

Last year, the Hoosier Daddies finished last.? They finished 2nd this year.

In 1996, the Riptorns finished 2nd to last and won the following year.

But the ultimate practioner of the all or nothing approach turns out to be no one other than the Professor himself:? 

In 1993, the K9 were 2nd to last and won the following year.? In 2003, the K9 finished last and finished 2nd the following year.

The conclusion to be drawn appears to be that this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Upcoming stats:

1.? Which are the categories that the winning teams regularly win?
2.? Which are the categories that the winning teams rarely win?
3.??What are the average finishes of USML franchises?
4.? Who has the most last place finishes?
5.? Who holds the records for best totals in each category?
6.? Who has the most total points in any season (normalized for size of the league)?

These and other interesting (at least to me) trivia to follow.

By the way, one item that I'm having trouble tracking down is the greatest comeback.? I've got to believe that 2007 is up there among the best, but I can't figure out how to research that one.? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Jeff Winick

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