Bar Buzz Week 10 Stretch

Less than half the Buzz Champ titles are up for grabs. But where does your team really stand in the Bar Buzz rankings? This week we separate the social drinkers from the competitive drinkers as we take a look at everyone's overall ranking. Don't like where your team falls? Well get the crew together and head to Luckie's TONIGHT because you've got yet another chance this week to get a top seed and increase your average.

Emperor's Club: Average rank - 12
No surprise here. It seems that if you're gonna be at the top of the stats on the field, you can't be at the top at the bar.  Although the Commish tries to hold it down every week for his club, the VIPs constantly under perform in participation which makes mingling, dancing and drinking all tough categories to score high in (if at all).

Jimminy Kick-It: Average rank - 11.4
Of all the teams in the league, JKI might have taken the most severe beating from the Bar Buzz panel. Their jersey colors make them difficult to distinguish in the bar and ( little known fact) our professional photographer, Ashlee "I don't need Glitter" Gitkos, actually previously went by the surname Ashlee "I hate anything and everything to do with the texas Longhorns" Gitkos prior to her new naming (clearly the new title is easier to fit on the back of a jersey). SO all of these factors don't bode well for a high recognition factor for the Kick-Its. However, when they do show up to party, they party hard and well AND with a little more persistence, they might find themselves living the high life afterall.


Off in the Corner: Average rank - 10.5
This ranking is a bit surprising considering OitC's two time belt winning ways. However, they are probably the most inconsistent of the bunch - going all out one week (in fact, two weeks in a row) and then not showing up for weeks at a time.

Saved by the Balls: Average rank - 10.3
10th place is usually where SBB comes in with the rankings so one would expect a solid ten for their overall ranking. If we could grade on individual performance, the Balls might have a much higher ranking thanks to team player Brad Gault but for now the very top of the top ten will have to be where these Balls rest.

Vicious and Delicious: Average rank - 9
In recent weeks it appears that VD's priorities have shifted just slightly. There have been more white shirts at the bar than ever before (when the Jagernauts donned their throwback jerseys in Week 8 it was virtually impossible to tell all these party animals apart and it seems to have paid off since VD scored a spot in 2nd place that week).  This could be a turning point for the group and a recipe for success if they play their cards right.

Just for Kicks: Average rank - 9.5 
JFK has been consistently average this season. However, in recent weeks their participation has really picked up, as well as their mingling with teams other than their own. If they can continue to ride this recent wave, we may see them at the top sooner rather than later.

Moose Knuckles: Average rank - 8.2
The Knuckles came in hard at the beginning of the season but haven't been the same ever since. They have a few veterans that show up weekly, but overall their participation is severely lacking.

Chicken Tetrazzini: Average rank - 8.1
CT has had some good weeks and some bad weeks. When they are on, they are certainly on. However, if they want to make it alllll the way to the top (rather than coming in to the top 5 at the skin of their teeth) they'll need to work on their mingling without letting other factors slip.

Chubby Gangsters: Average rank - 6.6
The BDB's of the Chubby Gangsters have helped our Carolina Blue friends hang on to the top of the rankings over and over again. If they could get their whole team on the same level (and at the same time) they would be a huge force to be reckoned with.

Battlestar Ballsacktica: Average rank - 6.3
The key to Battlestar's Bar Buzz success this season has been persistence and research. Not once have they taken the information provided to them in our column lightly or haphazardly. (Come on people, if you read the Bar Buzz diligently - you'll get some good tips!). And all of this finally paid off when they were award the belt in our most recent ranking. However, some of us wonder if they will continue to work as diligently now that their coveted prize has been obtained.

Foul Balls: Average rank - 5.7

Not once have the Foulies been ranked higher than #10 in our polls. Their enthusiasm for our social scene (displayed on the field, off the field and off the clock in team parties, blogs, etc.) carries over into their scoring every week. AND they often have some of the most creative ploys to get points and they make their presence known (not many of us roll deep with celebrity like Zach Galifianakis in our midst....unless of course you count Jeff SmoothOperator White). If they keep up the pace, they have the potential to gain even more momentum in the overall rankings by the end of the season. However, they'll have to avoid momentary slip ups that seem to plague them every 3rd week or so.


Rumspringa: Average rank - 5.4
The 'Springas have been trying hard to make it to the top: forming alliances, staying late, badgering our panel... And quite frankly, of all of our teams, they may have the highest level of dedication and passion for the cause. When other teams start to wane, the 'Springas swoop in and make sure the party is still hopping. I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the season - once our final stats are in - if this overall ranking was a very score.





5 O'Clockers: Average rank - 4.8
The Clockers have consistently been in the top 5 for most of the season. And since they've gotten once their mingling  mojo in order, they've been tough to beat. Add in their unspoken tag team with NKOTB and this is one time device that becomes unstoppable.

New Kickheads on the Bock: Average rank - 4.4
NKOTB has been in the top three more times than any other team in the league (6 out of the 9 weeks running). However a low ranking in the beginning combined with a drop off in week 9 (they placed #14 and #8 respectively) has put them ever so slightly behind the league front runner. If they can keep it together (and continue to recruit the whole team to join rather than relying on Hassel, Efird & Co.) they might be able to overcome the Purple Monsters once and for all.


Jagernauts: Average rank - 3.6 
Although the Jagers have held the belt twice, their average still really comes as no surprise. Some naysayers may say this is because the Bar Buzz panel of experts (yes, we're experts) hail from the purple 'nauts. However, overall the Jagers truly are one of the most consistent teams - particularly when it comes to mingling and participation (some of our most heavily weighed scoring areas). Their consistency is hard to beat and that's made it difficult for most teams to overcome.





By the way... does anyone know what happened to those silly, meaningless group line dances? They may have finally gone by the wayside. It appears the only WAKA action those are getting these days are at recent wedding receptions. Will they make a comeback as we enter the final stretch?

Until Next time -- Bottoms Up!

Trici