Junior 'Jacks Strike Back

Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin" perfectly describes the consistent and rapid advances in modern culture, sports, politics....you get the idea. The powerful tune was slithering through this Kronum fan's head one Sunday afternoon on the field at a K-Rec High School game, as the new guard  played out a tight match. The revolutionary changes from Kronum's conception, inception, reception, and probably a lot of other "ceptions", were becoming regular occurrences each and every Sunday.

Kronum's times are definitely "a-changin". 

Except for the Champions of course.

NimbleJacks captain Mike Gulla did his best Scott Kennedy impersonation and rallyed the Baby Bunnies in the final minutes to dethrone the defending champion DyNastys in the overtime shootout format. Ryan Sheplock's upper 90 laser and Dan Lemongelli's huge save on the DyNasty's best shooter were the vital ingredients for the pile-on celebration that ensued. The 2012 Spring Champs victory was hardly an upset, however. The Junior 'Jacks game-management, shot selection, and overall athleticism was visible from Week 1 and improved throughout the season. Gulla, Chase "Foot Ninja" Fullen, and Bobby the Dishman, Sheplock, Lemongelli, and a plethora of other 'Jacks regularly hopped over opposing defenders and stone-walled some of the league's premier scorers. 

The vengeance win more than made up for the loss incurred at the hands of the DyNastys earlier in the season. The Jacks undefeated regular season bid was roundly rejected by the Nastys in dramatic comeback fashion and the Rivalry was born. 

One thing is certain, all any team really has to do is name themselves the NimbleJacks to garner a title.

Congrats to the 2012 NimbeJacks. Good Show.

PC

High School Kronum - The Next Revolution

It may be very irresponsible that I'm writing this article in a subjective format while breaking all kinds of grammatical standards that have been in place for centuries, but hell, I guess it just falls in line with what we do every time we step out onto the Round. I like to think of it as insubordinate innovation.

Moving on....

These High School kids are fearless. They will step onto the Kronum Round and take you to school. Literally. They have branded their style of play based upon their scholastic athleticism and each of these Philadelphia based schools have revealed unique and effective gameplay strategies. From Bucks to Berks, Montco to Delco, these Millenials are the newest wave to hit the Kronum Round, pioneering the latest version of the most influential sport around the globe: Kronum 56. Aptly named after the most recent alteration implemented to the Kronum playing surface, the Newtown Square, Pennsylvania circular field at the Gable Complex now boasts a 56 yard diameter. Born from of the mind of Kronum League Founder and President Bill Gibson of Villanova, PA, the "56" is a near halfway creation of the original 70-yard and newer 50-yard diameter rounds. So far, it has proved to be the perfect fit for the speedy, agile youngsters.

Don't call 'em youngsters though. Rough, tough, and full of ambition, the 11 High School K-REC squads are becoming men in the making in the Kronum world. Ferocity, precision, and pre-existing tight-knit bonds have enabled the players to effectively bring their skill sets from various backgrounds to quickly adjust on the fly to become fiery forces on the field. Chase Fullen of the Nimble Jacks will bust your ankles with crafty footwork, Pat Maguire and Tim Leonard of the Throwbacks will rip throw shots by you before you can react, Matt Branca and Dylan Hertel of the Evergreens will brick and mortar your shots on goal, and Nelson Blickman of the Night Owls and Charlie Platt of the Loose Cannons will cross you up. leaving you to pick up any piece of equipment you may have lost in pursuit. Wait, we can't leave out Matt Falkenstein of the Urban Legends. The 2012 Kronum league Crown Ring Award recipient will lock you up on "D" and your team will be playing on only 3 goals all day. Under the guidance of League managers Scott Kennedy and Kyle McGrath along with a Who's Who of Kronum League vets, the teams have taken their games to a high level in only a few weeks. Needless to say, the support is here and these student-athletes are generating more hype in the Kronum circles every single Sunday. Setting up suffocating defensive rotations and instructing on the ideal offensive attack are the basic staples that have enabled the newcomers to adapt to Kronum. We have talent that will continue to grow and become incredibly influential in the sports world today.

Radnor, Neshaminy, Penncrest, Salesianum, Pope John Paul II, LaSalle, Haverford, Marple-Newtown, Episcopal, Malvern Prep, and Chichester have all joined the party and represent their respective institutions in a manner that is more than admirable. We've seen 8-point Ring shots that would make Kevin Clark of the Kronum League Urban Legends green with envy, acrobatic laid-out and sprawling saves that the the Throwbacks' James Thomas is taking notes on, and fancy footwork that has led the Jet Sets' Nick DeLuca to sign up for lessons before the 2012 season.

The New Revolt is led by the Radnor High Hooligans, led by captain Tommy Hemcher. The Haverford High Throwbacks (Pat Maguire) and the Neshaminy High Nimble Jacks (Mike Gulla) are posing legitimate threats halfway through the regular season and the rest of the teams are hungrier than 6th period lunch to knock off the frontrunners heading into the playoffs.

Think you can put together a squad of athletes to compete this summer?

We bet you can.

Join the Revolution.

www.kronum.com

PC

Kronum League 2011-2012 Championship – Urban Legends vs. Nimble Jacks

According to Indian medicine in it’s traditional form, Chakra “is a concept depicting wheel-like 'force-centers' of energy in humans that rotate throughout subtle matter.” Pssh….Who doesn’t know that?

Apparently, the Urban Legends.

Amidst the VERY necessary championship game-day hoopla and fanfare, where a less stable team could get lost in the hype, the Nimble Jacks stood firm and fully harnessed their inner Chakra (or all seven Chakras as popularized in the Western version) to collectively remain focused on the task at hand. All of the pre-game tailgating and ladder golfers in the world could not distract the Nimble Jacks. The two-time defending champions had been here before and knew what was at stake. They were locked in on their target hours before the initial Prime Rush. They were poised, punctual, and prepared. On the other side the Urban Legends were equally as focused and possibly a bit brash, as they rode the crest of a wave that included 6 victories in their last 7 games, with their only defeat in that stretch coming at the hands of that day’s adversary, the Nimble Jacks. But is was evident that the Purples had erased their previous losses from memory. Kronum is a game of forgetting. You must forget sub-par performances, your off-target shot attempts, your errant passes, and forge ahead. But not before burning every tendency of your opponent into the back of your mind for the next showdown. With this in mind, the Legends would have to properly hone their Crown Chakra, which is described as “engaging physical action with meditation and mental action with universal consciousness with unity.” (In no way did I research this on Wikipedia for 90 minutes. All information have been taken from journalized entries recorded during my travels to New Delhi in search of rare spices and expensive rugs.)

Everything else aside, the key strategy for both teams was to limit shot attempts from the Cross Zone. The mark for the Jacks was Kevin Clark. The Legends’ crosser has scorched the Kronum League with high-flying, acrobatic athleticism that would suffice for a Cirque du Soliel show. On the other side of the sphere, Jacks’ captain crosser Scott Kennedy uses patience and his other viable scorers as decoys to gain open shooting lanes from the 17-yard point. The game-changing Cross Zone has been aptly re-named the “Clark Zone” due to Clark’s pension for drilling 4-point chamber shots and more recently 8-point “Kronum” Crown Ring scores. A tall task lay ahead for both defenses as each team’s supporting cast has shown an uncanny ability to pick up the offensive slack when needed.

Contenders ready! Gladiators ready! Right off the Prime Rush the Jacks and Legends came out fast and loose, moving the ball with pinpoint passing and outstanding field vision. Legends’ ranger Brian Sperling (team-high 28 points) was lights out, connecting on shot after shot from the Flex at what seemed a one-hundred percent clip to tally 12 points in the period while wedgeback Kevin Glover (12 points, 12 saves) baited Jacks shooters into read-able shots and made 7 saves. Clark (16 points, game-high 15 assists) tried endlessly to find an opening from the Cross for the big score but Kennedy and the Jacks literally stood at the point to take away any open look. Clark went another route, dishing to open teammates instead of forcing and dished out 6 assists early on. When the Jacks needed a jolt,  Joe Petrino had the bolt. A ranger and ROY candidate, Petrino (game-high 34 points) drilled multiple 2′s, a 4-point Ring, and a devastating 8-point “Kronum” to account for 20 of the Jacks 44 points in the opening frame. On the defensive end, rookie wedgeback Pete Weiss (6 points, team-high 10 saves) was the only Jacks netminder to figure out the Legends offense, making 4 saves. Offensive and defensive highlights were plenty on both sides but the 8-pointer from Petrino proved to be the exact difference as the Jacks went into the first intermission leading 44-36.

Flip-flop the first period and you have the second. The Legends controlled the pace throughout hitting 23 of their 39 total shots from the field, and all of but one were of the 2-point variety. Todd Wampler‘s booming penalty kick for 3-points was the lone "non-deuce" scoring effort for the Legends. Not exactly a bad plan at all, as shot efficiency from the Flex and Wedge zones has guided many Kronum League teams to victory throughout the season. Sperling added another 12 as wedgeback Cory Robertson (12 points, 11 saves), hero of the semi-final shootout win over the Night Owls and Mike Ragan (20 points, 5 assists) chipped in 8 apiece. Robertson was big in goal as well, making 7 huge stops off the arms and feet of the Jacks. Scott Kennedy (20 points, team-high 12 assists) and Ryan Coyne (28 points, 4 assists) got in gear after a slow start as both drilled home 10 points keep the Jacks damage control effort in check against the hot-shooting Legends. Jason Shegda and Nick Caton continued to step to Clark at the point and Dustin Gebhard made 5 of his 9 saves in the frame but the crisp ball movement and 56% shot success rate of the Legends was too much. The gap was closed as the Jacks clung to a single-point lead, 84-83, after two with plenty of fireworks to come.

Our favorite Philadelphia NBC 10 chief meteorologist Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz could have made a correct prediction, for once, at this point. Not for snow, sleet, or a heat wave but for a Jacks’ “endurance mode” effort in the third. A one-point lead is trouble for every other Kronum League squad, but not the Jacks. They instinctively dangle the bait of placing pressure on their opposition in close games and the opposition routinely bites. The Legends turned to desperation mode when it was unnecessary. Maybe it was the fact that they were held to zero Cross Zone points in the first two periods or maybe they wanted to go for the jugular of the Hares and make a statement. Whatever the case, the Jacks smelled a 3-peat and played with the same poise that earned them the opportunity to do so. Coyne stayed hot, nailing a 4-pointer and multiple 2′s to register 14 points in the final 20 minutes. Petrino took the 2nd period off to collect himself after a mind-bending 1st, hitting two 3-point penalty shots to help build a late lead. The Legends only bright spots in the 3rd came from 4-point Rings from Glover and Ragan but the deficit was too much. The Jacks saves their best for last. Again. They outscored their opponent considerably in the final period again. Again. They earned a championship. Again. It’s funny how all their tactics can be deciphered, studied, and manipulated throughout a Kronum match. But all the Jacks need is a third period. Place them in an NHL game down two on the road and without any professional ice hockey experience, or any at all for that matter, they’ll probably win.

3rd period. 3rd title. They go hand in hand. Fortunately for the rest of the teams in the Kronum League there is no 4th period if the two are somehow related.

Congratulations on the 3-peat, Nimble Jacks. You have harnessed your inner Chakra. That’s enough.

Join the Celebration at www.kronum.com.

Kronum League Championship Preview – Nimble Jacks vs. Urban Legends

In only 4 years, the Kronum League has listened to more stories filled with boastful athletic achievements and self-promoting on-field prowess in every sport under the sun. Since 2008, Kronum has drawn the attention of champions on the professional, NCAA, scholastic, and intramural levels from all over the region. We’ve got College World Series players, we’ve got national title Arena League talent, we’ve got the best from D1, 2, and 3 in soccer, basketball, lacrosse, track and field, and rugby. All of the major sports have contributed champions to the Kronum League.

But there are only two teams in Kronum League history that can claim champion status and they’ve earned another opportunity get the hardware. Think about it, millions upon millions of athletes in traditional sports can claim a league championship. Heck, there are probably thousands of champs in something as obscure as Jai Lai. Yet, only 45 athletes in the entire world can say they’ve taken the crown in Kronum and have played or are currently rostered on this year’s contending clubs, the Urban Legends and the Nimble Jacks. The Legends won the initial league title in 2008 while the Jacks are the two-time defending champs looking for the three-peat. Either way it pans out, no newcomer will have a shot this year. The Kronum league is changing, but staying the same. At least for now.

The Urban Legends are coming in red hot and there is the “Team of Destiny” chatter floating around the Kronum circles. It actually works if you can look inside the theatrical reference. The Legends play tenacious “D”, they’re being called a team of destiny…get it? Just don’t expect Jack Black or Kyle Gass to fill in at Wedgeback. The Legends have rightfully earned the respect of the league over the second half of the season. They come in blazing hot, winning 6 of their last 7 including a dramatic semi-final shootout victory over the Night Owls after pounding the Work Horses in the quarter-finals earlier that same day. Their resiliency is undeniable. Captain and stud wedgeback Cory Robertson attributes the teams recent surge to the championship to playing as a single functioning unit. “We have the same defense that we started with 3 years ago, but with the changes to the field and rules we had to take a step back and adjust our defense a little.” he claims. “Our defense is our team, we all defend as a unit.”  Robertson practices what he preaches, finishing with 63 saves in the regular season despite missing 4 games and tallying a Kronum League playoff record 18 saves in the semi-finals versus the Night Owls.

As many teams have learned the hard way, the whole unit thing is true to form. The Legends give up the least amount of uncontested shot from any of the zones. If you plan on getting open looks from the Cross, Flex, or Wedge, please think again. The Legends have the luxurious privilege of a roster filled with combination foot and hand skill players. Wedgeback Kevin Glover is the most notable of the multi-talented lineup, averaging 14 points and 6 saves per contest. His fear-striking “hook throw” has had wedgebacks in fits all year and his jump-roll in fake is almost undefendable. When Glover isn’t being Glover, another Kevin is working hard at being the thorn in his opponents’ sides. Kevin Clark has been nothing short of spectacular since coming over from the now  defunct Limelights. His highlight reel resume is topped off with an uncanny ability to score from the renamed “Clark” Zone resulting in a league leading 176 points from the cross and in his last three games, he has connected for six, yes six, 8-point Kronum Crown Rings. He also dropped 45 points on the Night Owls in the semi-final round. no big deal. While Robertson knows that defenses must account for Clark, he knows that all 10 of his players can make an impact, stating “We don’t have one player that gets all the praise, Clark fires our offense up but we attack as a unit, which really motivates everyone.” Players like Greg Ermold (15 PPG in last 5 games) and Brian Sperling (10 PPG) have expanded their roles since 2010 and are a big part of the Legends’ spike in shooting accuracy with almost 70% of shots taken being on goal. A strong supporting cast consisting of  newcomer Mike Ragan (11 ppg, 3 apg), Kyle Miller (44 kick score points), Todd Wampler (30 kick score points), and Dess Leeper (6 ppg) balance the offense while wedgebacks Jordan Welles (7 saves per game) and Scott Anderson (8 saves per game) compliment Robertson and Glover in goal. Robertson knows that the intensity and experience is there but is well aware that the Legends must bring a full 60-minute effort to be successful against the Jacks, who have a reputation for simply outlasting their opponent over the course of a full match.

The Urban Legends literally have the championship in their hands…..and at their feet.

8 seconds in Bull-riding. 3 minutes in boxing. 60 seconds in the bobsled. Every sport has it’s crunch time that makes the difference between victory and defeat.

9 minutes. That’s all the Nimble Jacks need. A total of 9 minutes out of a 60-minute contest doesn’t sound like a recipe for success or strategy to live by every game. Unless your the Jacks. They OWN the final 3 minutes of every period. It seems as if they are guided by an instinctual force during this time, and a period played evenly through 17 minutes can quickly become a double-digit deficit in the blink of an eye. The Jacks can almost be accused of toying with teams for the majority of a period while they bide their time and plan their furious attack when the clock reaches 3:00. An onslaught of 2′s, 4′s, and the occasional 8-point Kronum ensues faster than a strategic in-and-out, bull rush bank robbery in Charlestown, Mass.

Aside from their go-switch flipping at 3 minutes, Captain Scott Kennedy demands near perfect execution of the game plan on both sides of the ball every single minute of each game. No matter the opponent, the score (lead), or the situation, every Jack on the field and on the bench is expected to contribute a specific skill set that serves as an integral piece to the entire squad. “Our bench has also stepped up. We have a deep bench, and that’s one of the biggest differences in us and most teams in the league. I have confidence in all 15 players on our roster.” Kennedy says. Egos are checked at the door and a selfless style of play is the result.  ”Everyone knows our game plan, and everyone has the ‘Team First’ mentality.” This approach has proved itself more than effective over the past three seasons. Two Kronum League titles and two Captains’ Cup victories proves it. Since 2009, the Jacks have suffered only a single loss which puts their overall record since then at 32-1. It is not a perfect record by percentage, but it is perfectly remarkable. The 104-98 loss to the Throwbacks in Round 6 was a monumental event in Kronum League history. It proved that the Jacks were human and not the collection of pre-programmed bionic cyborgs that many thought they were. A loss is never desired, but the Throwbacks loss put a fire into the Jacks and the team is playing arguably the best Kronum in their history.

Aside from their leader Kennedy, who leads the Kronum League with over 6 assists per contest to go along with 16 points per game, the Jacks bring a rabbit-sized family to the garden to feast on the farmer’s vegetable patch every Sunday. Jared O’Donnell brings a league-leading 62 percent shot success rate, a 21 point/3 assist average, and a fancy haircut to the party. A master of trickery, it is no secret that O’Donnell is one of the most dynamic talents in the League and possesses the ability to control a defender with effortless ball, body, and head fakes that would make puppeteers worldwide green with envy. Although missing 4 games throughout the regular season, Ryan Coyne is an important part of the Jacks success, particularly on the offensive attack. The crafty southpaw crosser/ranger displays versatility with throw, kick, drop-kick, and dunk scores and plays well in every zone on the round. In the 6 games he has played in 2011, Coyne makes up for time missed, averaging a team-high 24 shots and 22 points per game. He also shares the love with fellow shooters and accounts for 5 assists per game. On the defensive side, wedgebacks Ben Hutchison and Sean Kennedy have been the Nimble Jacks’ steadfast barriers in net since the teams 2009 championship season. They are certainly not old, well, no one actually knows Hutchison’s true age and the rumors are plenty, but they are the “Old Faithfuls” on the Jacks defense. Kennedy leads the Kronum League for the second year in a row, averaging 11 saves a game, most of which are of the routine variety with some flair sprinkled in, while Hutchison is fearless in his attempts to keep a shot from tickling twine. Up, down, left, right, over, and under, his movements resemble the cheat code commands performed by Nintendo-era Contra masters. While different in their respective wedgebacking styles, they share a knack for catching and holding the ball on shot attempts. This skill disallows any second-chance scoring attempts by the shooting team and gives the Jacks many extra possessions throughout a match which will prove very important versus the Legends. Rookie of the Year candidate Joe Petrino has been the Jacks’ most clutch player all season long. He picks and chooses the right times to turn up the aggressiveness and make a play. He is the Jacks most important “3-minuteman”. Petrino can shoot chamber and rings, 2′s and 4′s, and is becoming the go-to shooter on 3/6 point penalty opportunities from the point and his 20 points per game lead all rookies in 2011-12. On defense, he shows a nose for the ball by stepping into of passing lanes for 8 steals on the year, most of which are in transition and result in quick scores from the cross. Plenty of other Nimble Jacks have enjoyed a solid season in their respective roles. Look for crosser and defender extraordinaire Jay Shegda, rangers Cody Antonini, Nick Caton, and Shaun Stevens to utilize foot skills to counter the Legends strong ground game.

Many similarities and differences exist between the Legends and the Jacks. Both squads surpassed 1,000 point team scoring totals in the regular season and are aggressive on offense, with the Legends attempting 1,176 shots to the Jacks 1,159. The Jacks have a higher success rate on those shots, connecting on 46% while the legends netted 37% of their attempts on net and their assist total of 303 far outnumbers the legends 186. Both are very close in wedgeback numbers, as only 5 saves separate the two on the season, with the Jacks coming in ahead at 356-351, but the Legends lead in both blocks (50 to 45) and steals (45 to 33).

The 2011-12 Kronum League Championship has all the makings of an epic clash. The Nimble Jacks are out to prove their dominance with an opportunity for a dynasty-confirming 3-peat and the Urban Legends are out to even the score at 2 titles a piece. As in any competition that is structured throughout a long and testing regular season and playoff format, it comes down to who is the hottest team at the moment and the fans will not be cheated in this one. You will be getting the two best teams in the league in a showdown. Both squads possess the spark to make their mark. In Kronum League history.

Who knows what will happen? With all of the athletes in other sports that have set foot on the Round in hopes of garnering the status of Kronum League Champion, we may be adding one more to the list.

A Step Dancer.

Sunday, January 22 at 5:00pm EDT

Live at the ING Direct Fieldhouse at Maple Zone in Boothwyn, PA

Livestream action at www.kronum.com

Join the Revolution.

Kronum League Round 9 - Throwback vs. Jet Sets

Revenge is a dish best served cold and the Jets Sets offered the T-Backs an in-flight meal right from their G5's First Class freezer. The second go-round between the Kronum League rivals was dominated in every aspect by the re-fueled Sky Blues and they left no questions un-answered about their status as an elite power with title-winning potential.

The bad blood between the two squads is no secret around the league. An off-season K-Rec League match ignited the hatred as a hard foul by Jet Sets' leading scorer Jeff Regensburg on Throwbacks' ranger Steve Fariss left Fariss on the turf writhing in pain with a significant head injury. Throwbacks captain  Joe Ferrigno found everything wrong with the over-aggressive block attempt and a brief confrontation ensued. In their initial matchup of the KL 2011 season during Round 5, the Throwbacks took advantage of poor game management, ball control, and shot selection on the Sets' behalf as they were missing a captain crosser in Matt Parsons and the league points leader in Regensburg. The Throwbacks dug out an 82-74 victory prompting a guarantee from Regensberg via Twitter that the the T-Backs would never again defeat the bitter Sets.

So far, his Twitter post remains accurate. They pounded the feisty T-Backs into submission during the Round 9 grudge-match. Aided by game-high 42 points from Regensburg himself, the Sets had their opponent turned every which way but loose as their physical play and prolific offensive talent landed them a vengeance-filled 123-99 victory. But it wasn't even that close. Right off the Prime Rush, ranger Anthony Barbera lifted the Sets off the runway with a 4-point ring from the Flex Zone and the rout was on. Mike Schaeffer (10 points) added an 8-point Kronum, Matt Parsons (14 points, KL record 14 assists) buried two 4-point Cross Zone throws, and air traffic controller Nick DeLuca (10 points, 6 assists) threw down two thunderous Crown Ring dunks. The T-Backs countered with 8 points from wedgeback Ryan Hoff ( 12 points, 8 saves) in the 1st but the Jets' engines were too loud and they launched themselves to a 14-point lead at 47-33 after one.

The "Battle of the Burgs" was the highlight of the 2nd period. Teammates Regensberg and crosser Steve Vandenberg (18 points, 4 assists) seemed to have a friendly bet on the side on who could score more points in the frame. The two carried the Sets, accounting for 26 of their teams 35 points, all coming from 2-point Flex Zone throws. @JRegz collected the cash with 7 scores to Vandenberg's 6. Rangers Steve Fariss (16 points) and Bret Young (10 points) tried to keep the Throwbacks in contention with 8 and 6 points, respectively. John Graham (8 points, 10 saves) filled in nicely at wedgeback for injured starter Jim Bradley, collecting 8 saves to lead the defense effort.

As Parsons' worked on on his record setting assists-in-a-single-game total in the third, Regensburg went nuts on the T-Backs "D", or what was left of it. In addition to Nick Ferraro's and Bradley's absence, rookie sensation and amateur acrobat James "Cell Block T" Thomas was playing with an injured hip that definitely affected his reaction time and mobility in the Goal Zone. Regensburg pegged the back of every net on the round, including a 4-point Ring, and blew up for 20 points in the final 20 minutes. The T-Backs connected for two coveted 8-point Kronums in the 3rd, courtesy of Crosser Kevin Casero (12 points) and wedgeback Steve Botta (16 points), but it was all but over by the time they decided to go for the glory of the rings. Aside from two 8-pointers, the T-Backs were only able to muster 6 scores in the period as Sets' wedgebacks Zach Van Fossen (9 saves), Jim Andorko (8 saves), and Scott Reimer (7 saves) collectively shut down shooters for 14 stops. The Jet Sets glided to a 123-99 win to move to 5-4 heading into final week of the regular season and the Throwbacks fell to 3-6.

Round 10 puts the T-Backs against a winless but improving Work Horses team determined to go out on a positive note while the Jet Sets look to knock-off the first place Nimble Jacks in hopes of improving their playoff seed ranking.

The action starts this Sunday, 1/8/12 at 10:00 am.

Join the Revolution at www.kronum.com

PC

Kronum League Round 9 - Nimble Jacks vs. Urban Legends

The Cool Factor. Doug E. Fresh had it. Vinnie Chase lives it, and this writer still believes that Keanu Reeves in Point Break is the definition of it, contrary to anything the critics and review panels say about "Canada Suave".

The Nimble Jacks have it all the time. The Jet Sets, Urban Legends, Night Owls, Throwbacks, and Work Horses have it against each other but they all seem to lose it against the Jacks. Whenever they find themselves in crucial spot in a match, they flip on the switch. It's like watching the cool kid at a Junior High social function when the first slow dance song flows from the speakers. While all the boys panic and plan their approach, he's walking over to the girls' side to grab a partner and commands the attention of the gymnasium dance floor in his Reebok Pumps and QuickSilver t-shirt. It cannot be taught by instruction, but it can be learned through example and experience. It takes the right type of athlete to possess and hone it and the Jacks have these athletes on their talented and deep roster. Your team does not. So crank up your Miles Davis albums kids, and learn the ways of the rabbits who have more swagger than Roger Rabbit and B. Rabbit combined and who will take you to school if you ain't cool.

Both the Nimble Jacks and the Urban Legends had their respective Ring "Mojo" levels set to maximum power in the first period. Legends' high-flying ranger Kevin Clark (team-high 24 points, 4 assists), who has a reputation for slow starts, had the hot hand right from the get go. He banged a 2-point Crown Ring slam, followed by two 4-point "Clark Zone" throws from the center of the field, and capped of a 14-point period by drilling a 4-point ring from the Flex. The Jacks did not seem impressed, however, as wedgebacks Pete Weiss (17 points, 9 saves) and Sean Kennedy (game-high 18 saves, 5 assists) took entry passes from captain Scott Kennedy (22 points, game-high 9 assists) in the goal Zone and combined to slam home four 2-point dunks over the Legends' stunned wedgebacks. Kennedy and crosser/ranger Ryan Coyne (game-high 26 points, 4 assists) provided the bulk of the offensive damage in the opening period, taking turns nailing throws from the Cross and Flex zones while Ben "Hutch" Hutchison (8 points, 13 saves) recorded 6 saves in net to limit the Legends' shooters and help the Jacks to a 46-38 after 20 minutes.

The second period offered more insight into the Evolution of Greg Ermold. The multi-skilled Legends' ranger, previously a foot-only aficianado, literally took matters into his own "hands". Ermold (15 point, 11 save double-double) torched the Jacks for 9 points in the 2nd period with a healthy combination of 2-point throw and kick scores from the Flex and Wedge Zones. Kevin Glover (10 saves, 5 assists) and Scott Anderson (8 saves) made big stops in net against the Jacks big shooters. Rookie ranger Joe Petrino (15 points) was the only Nimble Jack that broke loose from the Legends' tight defense and hit for 7 points in the period. Both teams continued to play evenly and traded 4's for 4's and 2's for 2's as the Legends kept the gap in check by shooting fifty-percent as a team and the deficit remained at 8 points, 81-73, heading into the third and final period.

This is where the aforementioned "Cool Factor" of the Jacks reveals itself. Crunch time. Do or die. I mean, how could they settle for less with the name Jacks? Every Jack I know, Jack Bauer,  Jack Burton, Jack's Mannequin, and so on play it chill and easy when their number's called and they get the job done. Any other Kronum League squad could succumb to the pressure of holding a small lead late in the game. But the Nimble Jacks know the situation. They simply watch their opponent self-destruct and nothing was different on this day. The Legends were without All-Star captain Cory Robertson in Round 9 and his presence as a leader was severely missed as a manageable 8-point deficit quickly transformed into a rout. Throw attempts for 4 and 8 point scores were attempted much too early by shooters and the typically-reliable Legends' defense was giving up open looks far too often. Jared O'Donnell (22 points, 4 assists) and Coyne set the net ablaze going a combined 11-for-11 for 22 points in the third period and Scott Kennedy shut the curtains with an 8-point Kronum shot to the jugular of the Purples. Hutchison and Sean Kennedy did serious work in goal with 7 saves apiece and held the Legends to 23% shooting late in the game. Ranger Brian Sperling was the lone bright spot in the final frame and finished with 16 points but the Jacks were too calm, cool, and collected to be upset and strolled to a 133-97 victory.

Both teams have huge playoff implication matches in Round 10 this Sunday, 1/8/12 as the Urban Legends fight for the #3 seed and face the Night Owls at 11:30am. The Nimble Jacks play a hot Jet Sets team also looking for that 3rd seed for playoff weekend. No off weeks in the Kronum League. Every team has to stay sharp and play to win.

Watch all the action LIVE beginning at 10am at www.kronum.com.

Join the Revolution.

PC

Kronum League Round 9 - Work Horses vs. Night Owls

The Work Horses are living proof that “luck favors the bold.”

In Kronum, everything from jumping a pass for a steal on defense to passing up a low percentage Chamber shot in lieu of a Crown Ring gamble, is high risk – high reward. An 8-point Kronum shot from the cross through the ring offers life to any team that has a hard-headed and confident enough scorer  to put the team on his back and go for the glory. In this particular matchup versus the Night Owls, the Horses saddled up two cowboys for the gunfight, rookie sensation Dave Slusser and captain Jeff Yetter. The two combined for a Kronum League record three, 8-point “Kronums” accounting for 24 points that, if not scored, would have left the Horses in the stable and out of contention against the high-powered, second-place Owls.

The first period offered a plethora of points, passes, and penalties. Owls ranger Luke Dougan (28 points) drilled home half of his game-high total in the first with 14 points early, including two 4-point shots from 17 yards out and Phil Cavalcante (22 points, 7 assists, 6 blocks) got some help from Horses’ wedgeback Trevor Lyman (7 saves) on a deflected penalty that found it’s way through a Crown Ring for 6 points. Owls' wedgeback and ROY candidate Matt Sola (18 points, 12 saves) patrolled the field and found open shots from the Flex and Cross Zones, connecting for 10 points in the opening frame to go along with 5 saves in net while Greg Ashton (11 saves) recorded 7 saves. The Owls were flapping along  with a double-digit lead early when Horses' rookie ranger Dave Slusser (24 points) sniped the first of his two 8-point "Kronum" shots on the day to breathe life back into his squad. Kosta Nikolos drilled 8 of his 10 points to support Slusser's heroics and the Horses were within reach, trailing 46-34 after one.

The re-emergence of Horses' captain Jeff Yetter seemed to have more than an inspiring effect for the defense in the second period. The team's physicality alone stymied the Night Owl shooters, forcing ill-advised shots and turnovers in the middle of the field. As good as the first line of defense was in the second, the wedgebacks were even better. Bill Zane (8 points, 10 saves) led the cavalry with 5 incredible stops to help limit the Owls to less than half of their first period total. Around the 11:00 minute mark in the second, Slusser decided to go ahead an bury another 8-point "Kronum" to start the surge that would eventually bring the Horses within two points to close out the period. Yetter began heating up as well drained a 4-pointer from the Cross and a 2-point dunk late. The Owls needed to mend their broken wings but escaped with a slim lead at 68-66 heading into what would be one of the greatest 3rd period battles in Kronum history. 

The winless Work Horses smelled blood against the Nimble Jacks three weeks ago where they played lights out and took a 6-point loss. In this game, they already took a bite and had it running down their chin. Yetter (28 points, 5 assists) was the first to jump in on the carnage, going off for 18 points in the 3rd and showed his versatility in the process. An 8-pointer from the cross, a 2-point kick score in the wedge zone, a 4-pointer from the cross, AND a 4-point Ring shot from the Flex. Matt Urglavitch (16 points) played Robin to Yetter's Batman in the 3rd and chipped in 8 points. Bob Zane (9 saves) was going crazy in net for the Horses, turning aside all 5 shots fired on him in the final 20 minutes. The Owls' were missing ranger Jay Klein, their "Maestro in the Middle" and turned to their All-Star wedgeback Joe Tulskie for a spark and Tulskie went ballistic. Working in unison with Chris "CVT" Von Tanhausen (game-high 7 assists), "Polish Joe" went 5-for-5 from the Flex to erase 5-point deficit. With half-a-minute left in the game and the Horses leading by 1, Tulskie calmly fired a bullet past Bob Zane to give the Owls a one-point lead. Now, every sport has its own legendary finishes. Bobby Thompson's "Shot Heard Round the World", Ali/Frazier's "Rumble in the Jungle", and so on. The final 20 seconds of the 2011 Work Horses/Night Owls second go round will forever be known as the "Mess in the Wedge". After Tulskie's go-ahead shot the Horses put all their focus and effort on Quad 1. About 12 players battled in the "no hands" Wedge Zone as the Horses tried to get off a shot and the Owls desperately tried to clear the zone. Elbows, shoulders, knees, and hips were thrown spastically by each team in the frenzy. Tick, tick, tick. The clock seemed to be in slow-motion but eventually timed out on the Horses and the Owls "limped" away with a hard-fought and exhausting 106-105 victory. 

The Horses fell to 0-9 and the Owls made a bigger push for the first round bye and advanced to 6-3 heading into the final week of the regular season.

Tune into kronum.com on January 8th beginning at 10am to view all the action.

PC