CLAWSON, MICHIGAN – It ain’t easy being right. I’ve often put my neck on the line, making predictions about winners of upcoming tournaments or breakout performances by various members of the league. A few examples of my work are as follows:

• Prior to the 2018 Preseason Kick-Off I predicted Barker would breakthrough and win a tournament title. Days later he partnered with JV and indeed won The Cup in that tournament. (evidenced here: https://legcornhole.com/2018-preseason-kick-off-tournament-preview/)
• Days before the 2019 Preseason Kick-Off I wrote about Galz building upon his stellar 2018 rookie campaign and expected he’d win the 2019 Preseason Kick-Off title. Once again, my forecast was accurate and Galz hoisted The Cup. (evidenced here: https://legcornhole.com/2019-preseason-kick-off-tournament-preview-the-road-to-the-cup-starts-here/)
• In 2019 I wrote several times about the potential I saw in Erik, and that it was only a matter of time before he broke through to become one of the better players in the league. This year he’s climbed to a 10.5 KPM, up from 7.5 and 7.3 in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Granted, I did lay an egg with my 2019 Singles Tournament prediction where I expected JV to take home the title, instead Dibble won (evidenced here: https://legcornhole.com/2019-singles-tournament-preview-aint-nothin-but-a-white-trash-party/). But my track record is so good I’m tempted to call myself Nostradamus, though all of you would argue “Nostradumbass” is better.

Call me what you want, my point in all of this is that I’ve struck gold yet again. Last week I wrote this about Jimmy in the “News and Notes” section (pay special attention to the bolded, italicized, and underlined text):

“All rookies struggle, but most rookies don’t look to overhaul their throwing mechanics in the middle of their first season like Jimmy is doing. Keep chopping wood, Jimmy. It will pay off and the tree will eventually fall. You don’t have to look any further than Erik for proof of that. In his rookie campaign (2018) he had a cumulative KPM of 7.3, accuracy of 43%, and a 14-35 record (or 29% winning percentage). A lot of those numbers are like you looking in the mirror – 6.6 KPM, 41% accuracy, and 27% winning percentage.”

One week later, there’s Jimmy posting a 10.5 KPM and using his new pancake toss to shoot 61% for the night and drop 0.52 cornholes per round (coming into this week he had a 6.6 KPM, 41% accuracy and 0.29 cornholes per round). He also finished the night 2-2 and was directly responsible for his team’s Game 9 victory – he partnered with Erik to battle Turley and Galz.

Jimmy and Erik won the game, 21-10. When I give credit to Jimmy for being “directly responsible” for the victory, it’s because he won his head-to-head match-up with Turley, 41-29 (including a 6-3 edge in cornholes), while Erik and Galz battled to a draw, 41-41 (by the way, there’s Erik again, playing the #3 ranked player to a draw).

With the score 17-10, Jimmy drained two cornholes and added two more bags on the board, good for an 8-3 advantage and clinched the game, 21-10.

In Jimmy’s three other games, he held firm in his head-to-head matches against Paul (lost 35-30, but averaged 3.75 gross points per round) and JV (lost 30-28 and 20-16).

I’ll reiterate, watch out for Jimmy.

A NEW #1?

Dibble burst onto the LEG scene in week 5 of 2019, posted a 14.6 KPM, and has been #1 in the Power Rankings every week since.

For the first time in more than one year, we have a new #1 player. This week Nick overthrew Dibble for #1, jumping to 15.6 and narrowly topping Dibble, who resides at 15.5. Dibble lost his top spot partly due to not playing this week. But let’s give credit where credit is due – Nick has been on a tear lately, using a three-week run from weeks 8 – 10 to elevate his KPM from 14.6 to 15.6. During that three-week stretch he’s posted mind-boggling KPMs of 19.1, 17.9, and 17.8.

He’s earned the #1 ranking because of how exceptional he’s played lately. The question is, can he hold on to that ranking?

WHAT ABOUT BOB?

JV is a lot to handle. Being his friend is easy because there is always an escape. Being married to him is probably a chore, and he’d admit that. Being his neighbor probably makes one want to hide their kids, hide their wife, lock all doors and windows, and soundproof the house.

Life was peaceful and quiet on Bob’s lovely Clawson street. Then JV arrived in July. Poor Bob didn’t have a choice. He’s had to shield his family from many things, including our dipshittery on Thursday nights when JV decides to host. Until this week…

For some reason Bob felt compelled to join LEG. He was giddy and smiling as he hopped the fence and entered the lion’s den. Many of us actually felt bad for him, like he was the slowest gazelle in the herd just waiting to get pounced by the king of the jungle.

But then we realized Bob *NEEDED* this! Occasionally he escapes to his garage for beers, puzzles, and serenity. He loves his family, but every man needs his haven.

Bob wasn’t the prey. He was the predator. You see, he’s been hunting us for weeks; watching out his window, salivating at the opportunity to join us.  And finally, he did.

Bob performed like almost all rookies not named Dibble – he was inconsistent, struggling to find his accuracy for much of the evening. His individual numbers won’t blow you away – 6.0 KPM, 30% accuracy, 0.38 cornholes per round, and 2.0 gross points per round. However, he was wise enough to identify some of the better players and make sure he partnered with them when he played. For that reason he finished the night with a 2-2 record.

Listen, there is no doubt Bob will get better. We can use countless examples as proof of that, one of which we covered in the opening of this recap. More importantly, LEG added a hell of a guy and we’re happy to have him in the league.

Welcome to LEG, Bob!

GAME OF THE NIGHT

Game 5 featured JV and Nick against Barker and KP. JV wasted no time taking the action to his former championship partner, Barker, dropping a 10-point teabag on his forehead in the second inning (10-5 inning win), giving his squad an early 6-3 lead.

Barker thought their bond was thicker than that, but quickly realized JV takes no prisoners. So in the third inning, Barker was ready for vengeance.

JV threw first and sank a cornhole. Barker answered with a cornhole on his first throw.

JV’s second bag also found the bottom of the hole for three points. Barker was dialed in, refusing to get embarrassed by his former partner. He used his second toss to score three points, evening things at 6-6 after two bags.

JV’s third toss looked like a rocket launching, but landed softly upon return to earth, nestling in front of the hole.

Barker fired his third bag, a high floater that carried JV’s blocker and swished through the hole for his third consecutive cornhole!

Down to his final bag of the inning and trailing 9-7, JV decided to play aggressively and aim for an airmail. He threw high, attempting to carry his blocker. The toss was on line, but flew too long as it missed the board long.

Barker’s fourth toss was his patented Joe Dumars rainbow, and like Joe D., Barker hit for three points with a second consecutive airmail! Barker capped an incredible 12-point inning with two beautiful airmails, closing his team’s deficit to just 9-8.

Barker’s four-bag inning initiated a 17-3 run that saw his team go from down 9-3 to up 20-12. Barker scored 16 of his team’s 17 points during the run, and the cherry on top was another near 12-point inning in the bottom of the sixth. He settled for a 10-point round, and won the inning 10-3 over JV.

JV and Nick scored two points in the seventh inning to keep hope alive, down 20-14. JV caused his opponents’ buttholes to pucker when he closed the score to 20-19 with an 8-3 advantage in the bottom of the eighth inning.

In the top of the ninth Nick applied immediate pressure by making a cornhole with his first toss. KP responded with a cornhole.

Nick’s next three bags peppered the hole, but none of them fell in for three points. Meanwhile, KP’s second toss was also a cornhole, yet he missed his third throw wide of the board.

KP was down to his final bag. The inning score was tied 6-6, so he needed just one point to clinch the game. It seemed easy, but Nick had three bags on the board so KP had to be careful not to carry his toss too far, risking a bad bounce or ricochet off any of Nick’s blockers.

KP’s final bag was at the heart of the board, landing gently before sliding into one of Nick’s bags. It was safe, and accomplished it’s mission – score one point to win the game!

What a seesaw battle. Each player scored a 10-point round in this game, and Barker added a 12. The game totaled 49 cornholes and 210 gross points:

• JV scored 44 points and 9 cornholes, averaging 5.5 gross points per round on 81% shooting
• Nick scored 60 points and 15 cornholes, averaging 6.7 gross points per round on 83% shooting
• Barker scored 51 points and 12 cornholes, averaging 6.4 gross points per round on 84% shooting
• KP scored 55 points and 13 cornholes, averaging 6.1 gross points per round on 81% shooting

MUSHROOM STAMP MOMENT

The week 10 Mushroom Stamp Moment (“MSM”) occurred in Game 8. Barker and JV kissed and made up, partnering again against Nick and Bob. After six innings Barker and JV held a slight lead, 14-13.

In the top of the seventh, it happened. JV blew the doors off with three straight cornholes. His fourth toss didn’t find the mark. Though he was disappointed by not scoring a 12-point round, his 9-1 seventh inning was enough to win the game, 21-13, and earn this week’s MSM.

Bob was the recipient of JV’s 9-pointer. Rumor is Bob had a hard time explaining the mushroom imprint on his forehead when his wife questioned him Friday morning.

NEWS AND NOTES

• Barker was incredible with a 12-point round and three more 10-point rounds. He added a third airmail of the night in the seventh inning of Game 11 – he was down to his final bag and held a 4-3 advantage over Nick in the inning, but his team was down 20-7. He calculated the math in his head and said, “So I can’t lose this round, right?” before firing an airmail on his final toss. It was yet another display of his ridiculous skills. Unfortunately his team lost that game, 21-11. Barker still finished with a 3-2 record and he posted a 14.8 KPM on 68% shooting. The most impressive stat this week was his 1.0 cornholes per round. It is clear Barker is surging as championship season fast approaches.
• As mentioned, Nick’s 17.8 KPM this week helped him jump to #1 in the Power Rankings. He was 2-2 overall and shot 78% while scoring 1.26 cornholes per round.
• Big Guuuuuuurl (Turley) had a loud sixth inning in Game 1 when he scored a 10-point round thanks to an airmail on his final toss. That big inning gave his team a 19-13 lead (game was previously tied 13-13), and Turley closed the game, 21-13, in the very next inning. He dominated Erik in that game, outscoring him 32-20. Unfortunately that was Mike’s only win of the night, finishing 1-3. He did have a solid individual evening, recording a 9.8 KPM and shooting 58%. He stayed at #8 in the Power Rankings with a 10.7 KPM for the season.
• Erik dropped from #9 in the Power Rankings to #11. He didn’t play bad, it’s just that Paul played a bit better and Bushie moved up by not playing this week. Life is hard in the middle of the Power Rankings, where #8 – #11 are separated by just 0.2 KPM points (Turley is #8 with 10.7, while Erik is #11 at 10.5). Erik’s 3-3 record this week is good, as is his 57% accuracy. He just didn’t make enough cornholes (only 0.48 per round).
• Paul is one of the four players clustered between #8 – #11, coming in at #10 this week. He had a great performance this week with a 12.2 KPM, 3-2 record, 60% shooting, and 0.78 cornholes per round. He was also the reason Barker’s third airmail was all for naught in Game 11 – Paul had a Freddie Couples-like rhythm in the second inning when he drained four straight cornholes for a 12-point round. He beat Bob 12-1, and that 11-point advantage in the second inning was essentially the difference in the game since Paul and Nick won, 21-11.
• JV had a great performance with a 12.4 KPM, and supplemented it with a handful of his usual killer-instinct moments (refer to his 10-point round over Barker and MSM on Bob). He knocked in 0.77 cornholes per round while shooting 62%, both of which helped him go 2-2 for the night. He’s firmly at #7 in the Power Rankings, leading #8 by 1.1 KPM points and trailing #6 by 0.8 KPM points.
• Galz had a stunningly bad night, going 0-4 and posting an 11.0 KPM, which is low for his standards. His accuracy was good (64%), but the main driver of his “low” KPM was 0.54 cornholes per round, which was almost half his season average of 1.0 cornholes per round. Despite the off night, he’s still at #4 in the Power Rankings.
• KP was in the midst of a several-week slump. He seemed to begin climbing out of that this week, going 4-0 and scoring a 16.7 KPM. His 77% accuracy and 1.13 cornholes per round are positive signs, but he needs to string together several good weeks before we can claim he’s conquered the slump.