BEVERLY HILLS, MICHIGAN – The 2020 LEG season finally arrived, after a month-long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unlike the opener to 2019, there was no Josh the Uber driver stopping by for weed. There were no flying beer cans landing on anyone’s head, nor where there any fireworks with people shitting their pants.

Though no major moments of hilariousness stood out, the bond of brotherhood was on full display this evening. There was an aura of deeper appreciation for the friendly faces we had all been missing for months, and that gratitude for one night was greater than the accumulation of hilarity over the previous four seasons.

As is often the case in the early weeks of the season, rust and inconsistency reared their ugly heads. The closest match of the night was in Game 2, 21 – 15 (more on that later), while the remaining matches played out like this:

• Game 1: 21 – 9
• Game 2: 21 – 15
• Game 3: 21 – 7
• Game 4: 21 – 11
• Game 5: 21 – 3
• Game 6: 21 – 4
• Game 7: 21 – 11
• Game 8: 21 – 12

Of the eight games, six were decided by 10 points or more. Even though partners weren’t able to put it together at the same time, several individuals still had impressive performances.

Erik began the night on fire, leading his team to a Game 1 victory while shooting 67% and posting a career-best KPM of 12.2. He dominated JV in their head-to-head match-up, outscoring him 24-15 while sinking a game-high four cornholes. His 24 gross points were also a game high in just six rounds (4.0 gross points per round).

Going into the sixth frame, he and Galz held a 19 – 9 lead, and Erik landed his first two bags on the board to secure 21 points. Meanwhile, JV missed all four of his bags. Erik was last to throw, so the victory was wrapped up after JV missed his final toss. Erik had one final bag just for pride, and statistics, and he drained a cornhole!

Unfortunately for Erik, his hot start cooled off. Maybe it was fatigue from not playing, but he ended the night with a 7.6 KPM, though he did shoot a solid 53%.

GAME OF THE NIGHT

Game 2 featured Paul and KP battling Bushie and Galz. In the early going, KP and Galz exchanged body shots and were essentially even through four rounds, Galz holding a 19-18 edge.

But on the other end of the board, Paul was taking it to Bushie (not like that, though Bushie probably would’ve preferred it like that). Paul’s 12-4 domination through four rounds led to an 11-4 lead.

A round five explosion was the turning point in the match. Galz drained two cornholes in a 7-1 ass whipping, while Bushie dropped three more cornholes in the bottom of the fifth on his way to a 10-4 advantage over Paul.

In the blink of an eye, Galz and Bushie erased a seven point deficit and gave themselves a 16-11 lead.

Paul was excellent in the sixth round, weathering the 12-point storm and helping pull his team closer, down only 17-15. But Galz was too much for KP, closing with rounds of 7-4 and 4-1, the latter clinching the match for he and Bushie, 21-15.

Galz was B-A-N-A-N-A-S in the game, averaging 5.5 gross points per round and dropping 11 cornholes. He outscored KP during the match, 44-30.

Galz may have been really good in the Game of the Night, and for the entire evening – posted a 13.4 KPM, 5-1 record, 4.3 gross points per round, 0.88 cornholes per round, and 64% shooting – but, he receives several strikes against him because he arrived smiling and strutting like he was The Man, yet was carrying a six-pack of 7 oz. Coronas. Yes, you’re reading that properly, SEVEN OUNCES!

I don’t care if your KPM is 13-whatever, if you drink like a 13-year old girl. Step your game up, Galz!

AN EXCITING BLOWOUT?

It’s easy to look at the box score and assume a 21-3 game was boring. But Game 5 had plenty of fireworks, despite the blowout. JV and Erik faced Galz and Paul, and like the Game of the Night, Paul’s team raced out of the gate. They held an 8-3 lead early on, and Galz was primed to build on that lead in the third round.

After three bags each, JV held a 4-3 lead in the third round. On Galz’s final toss of the third round, he bullied two bags into the hole, flipping a 4-3 deficit to an 8-4 advantage. It was impressive and a demoralizing blow to JV.

But we all know JV has the heart of a two-time champion, and on his final toss he drew the bag right to left, curving it between bags that appeared to block the hole, and sank a big time cornhole to keep Galz from blowing the game open. A clutch shot from a clutch player.

Unfortunately for JV, his heroics were short-lived. In the next round Paul dropped his nuts on Erik’s face, tea-bagging three cornholes on Erik and narrowly missing a fourth three-pointer. His 10-2 round pushed their lead to 17-3 and drained all the air from JV and Erik’s balloon. One round later Paul and Galz closed the game, winning 21-3.

Paul’s 10-point round was easily this week’s Mushroom Stamp Moment (“MSM”). Congratulations to Paul for the first MSM of the 2020 season!

NEWS AND NOTES

• As mentioned earlier, Erik was phenomenal in a Game 1 victory. But, he proceeded to lose his remaining three games to finish 1-3 with a 7.6 KPM and 53% shooting.
• Bushie didn’t make enough cornholes to produce a high KPM (only 8.2 KPM in week 1), but he did shoot 49% despite drinking Oakland county out of beers. His 10-point round on Paul in the Game of the Night was a big-time performance, and key to his team’s comeback victory. He finished the night 2-4.
• Paul was only 1-3 on the night, but his MSM was unbelievable and he nearly crossed the 10.0 KPM threshold, posting 9.8 KPM. His accuracy was also excellent, shooting 60%.
• Individually, JV had a great night – shooting 67%, recording a 10.3 KPM, and was one of three players (Bushie and Paul were the others) to post a 10-point round. Unfortunately for him, his partners were inconsistent all night and he finished with just a 3-4 record.
• As good as Galz was, KP was better on this night. Galz did out-perform KP in the Game of the Night, but KP got revenge in a Game 7 victory while also outscoring Galz, 39-34. KP finished with a 15.2 KPM, 4-1 record, 76% shooting, and 0.94 cornholes per round. An excellent night for the reigning 2019 Postseason Champion.