Top 50 Motivational Rankings – 11/11/23-11/18/23

Welcome to the Top 50! This is the part where you’re really happy, or – and this is the usual response – you wish to get motivated. Just a reminder – three of the 4 semi-finalists had the #1 at some point of the year (and the other one got to #5) so I sort of know what I’m talking about. Sometimes. But please have fun. And as for my prerequisites…

1. Style points count.
2. Keep in mind that with over 200 teams competing (with an increase of teams) this season, this list represents less than the top 25% of the UBA. If you’re on here, consider that some kudos.
3. If you’re not in the Top 4 in your district, you’re not here. That means we’re getting a lot of movement early.
4. This is for fun. Don’t get salty, get motivated.
5. Yes, I know there’s districts with byes. And yes, if it’s a close race, sometimes teams will fall out due to said byes. I learned my lesson last year when teams with byes complained about that. When I decided to be nice and rewarded teams with extra spots, said teams didn’t make the playoffs because they didn’t get the points needed when the teams over them had byes and I looked like more of a moron than usual. This season, if you try to use that argument, I will just mention that Nice is a city in France and send you on your way. Deal with it.
6. In the words of Andre Welbon – many teams here will not be here in August. So just enjoy it. While you can.
7. I love all feedback, so keep it coming 🙂

So here we go with this week’s rankings….

CURRENT PLAY NOTES: This is after Tour Stop #4 (for most teams).

1. Outrage (142 / 4: DMV North 1st Place: Was 2)
   I do get complaints asking me why they are always here. The answer is – track record. They are a powerhouse team that gets to the finals for most of the past half-decade. And as long as they keep winning, they aren’t moving. So deal.
2. Bulletproof (92 / 3: NJ South 2nd place: Was 5)
   Is this the year that Bulletproof takes the next step? Bulletproof seems to think so. The Smurfs seem to differ. Right now, they are good for second place.
3. M.O.P. Nation Militia (160 / 6: New England North 1st Place: Was 6)
   They get to move up 3 spots because three of the teams over them took the L. And I don’t mean too much licorice during Halloween.
4. Synergy (140 / 4: Inner Coastal 1st Place: Was 7)
   Most people don’t have Synergy on their Bingo card for the #1 Team in the Southeast. I do, as they have now shown that being a threat in the Sandhills for all of these seasons is not a fluke.
5. Disorderly Conduct (132 / 4: Triad 1st Place: Was 26)
   That being said, Disorderly Conduct is right behind them as they almost skinned GOAT alive, 38-2. A very Happy Thanksgiving to the Disorderlies.
6. Impact (118 / 4: DMV Central 1st Place: Was 9)
   Other team’s losses = Impacts’ gain.
7. Hitmen (138 / 4: Capital 1st place: Was 10)
   Remember everyone who was dancing on Hitmen when they left the tournament early last season? You got them mad . They are already up by 30 after 4 Tour Stops.
8. Beast Squad (118 / 4: Sandhills 1st Place: Was 12)
   The first advantage for the Battle of the Sandhills goes to the Beasties, who take advantage of a High Octane misstep. 22 points may not be impressive, but it’s better than 10.
9. Long Island Legendz (126 / 4: Long Island 1st Place: Was 13)
   This is going to be a fun season for Long Island. Especially for the Legendz, who you know wanted to shut me up near the end of the season. This is a good way to start that.
10. D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F. (132 / 4: Queen City 1st Place: Was 15)
    As the competition gets tougher, they are taking less points. Still, they have a double digit lead in the QC, and they could increase that with a few more clutch wins.
11. Da Hit Squad (140 / 4: Brooklyn / Queens 1st Place Was 18)
    They made the playoffs last season and one of their wins this season was against last season’s district champion Wrecking Crew. Can they keep their squad healthy and available? If the answer is yes, they will be int he Top 50 all season.
12. Framed 4 Murda (140 / 4: DMV South 1st Place: Was 17)
    We are going to see exactly how for real F4M is in the next few tour stops. Right now averaging 35 points per tour stop is pretty real.
13. G-Town Heavy Hitters (98 / 4: Queen City: 4th Place: Was 1)
    As the defending champions, you get some perks from me – like only dropping 12 spots despite falling to 4th in your district. That being said, one of the non-perks is NOT staying in the Top 50 if you’re not in a playoff spot, so one more loss and the drop will be a lot steeper.
14. Release the Kraken (120 / 4: Long Island 2nd Place: Was 19)
    They are still undefeated in tour stop play but I want to see what happens when they play a team over .500. Yeah, I’m that sort of guy. Give me results.
15. Dead Flush (110 / 4): NJ Shore 2nd Place: Was 36)
    Being first in the NJNW gets you a lot of props, though if anything, because they are in the NJNW, this ranking may be a little bit low. If they can keep fending off challengers, this will be a lot higher in the weeks to come.
16. Murder Inc. (92 / 4: NWNJ 1st Place: Was 3)
    We all know the NJNW is not only hard, but any of the 8 teams can make the playoffs. Dead Flush made their claim to it. How does Murder Inc. respond?
17. New England Heat (110 / 3: NE South 1st Place Was 20)
    While the NE South had their third tour stop, the Heat had their bye…and still remained in first place. This is going to be a very tough out as the Heat could be up on top for awhile.
18. City Morgue (107 / 4: Metro 3rd place: Was 4)
    They still have some work to do on said consistency that was being talked about on the last Top 50.
19. Powerhouse (126 / 4: NJ Shore 1st Place Was 21)
    Powering through the NJ Shore with no Tour Stop losses. They are up by 18 over second place.
20. High Octane (106 / 4: Sandhills 1st Place: Was 11)
    One thing we can say about High Octane – they were not untouchable last weekend. Yeah, that was a terrible dad joke.
21. Smurf Nation (96 / 3: NJ South 1st Place Was 22)
    The Smurfs are feeling kind of Smurfy in first place. They can feel even more Smufry if Joe Heim defeats Jonathan Dansbury for the Heavyweight title this upcoming weekend. Can they feel even more Smurfiliciou…ok, I’ll stop now.
22. The Arsenal (119 / 4: NJNE 1st Place: Was 33)
    Quickly rebounded to take first place back from International Flavors. There will be a rematch down the road….
23. Str8 Bizness Cartel (104 / 4: DMV South 1st Place: Was 27)
    No games played? No matter. Other teams played and wishes that they didn’t.
24. International Flavors (102 / 4: NJNE 2nd Place: Was 8)
    This would be one of said teams, as Arsenal came in and roughed them up a little.
25. NWO Wolfpack (114 / 4: DMV North 2nd Place: Was 29)
    See what I wrote about SBC? Lather, rinse, repeat.
26. Fearless (105 / 4: Virginia 1st Place: Was 30)
    Giving Virginia some love, though not much is known about the new team. Time will tell.
27. High Voltage (104 / 4: Virginia 2nd Place: Was 31)
    We know this team is good from the Capital District, so we know they can ball.
28. The Risen (104 / 4: Virginia 2nd Place: Was 32)
    This team has been a previous district winner, so we know they can ball.
29. DC Mafia (112 / 4): DMV South 2nd Place: Was 26)
    As we continue the March of All-American Conference teams that didn’t play last weekend, the DC mafia is looking strong early.
30. Beach Brawlers (104 / 4: Inner Coastal 2nd Place: was 38)
    That’s better. Those sorts of wins from the Brawlers was what was expected last season – and they need more of those this season.
31. All In! (110 / 4: PA North 1st Place: Was 14)
    If Mr. Dansbury can hold on to their heavyweight title this weekend, then they will move back up. But being one of 2 teams losing and letting everyone get back into it in the PA North when you had an early stranglehold is not a good look.
32. Da Garden Foundation (104 / 4: NJNW 2nd Place: Was 40)
    DGF Vs. Dead Flush coming up. What’s old is new again. Is this the year of the resurgance of the old guard?]
33. G.O.A.T. (98 / 4: Triad 3rd Place: Was 16)
    No one told GOAT that they were going to a Thanksgiving feast. But they went, because they almost got EATEN ALIVE! They got as many points as they had bowls of cranberry sauce – 2. Yum yum.
34. Usual Suspects (102 / 4: PA South 4th Place: Was 41)
    Right now, the top 4 teams in the PA South look pretty decisive. There’s a 29 point gap between them and 5th, so they may stay here for awhile.
35. Rival Alliance (112 / 4: PA South 1st Place Was 23)
    Sure, they are in first, but not by much – and based on what they did last time out, it may be time for that Tryptophan (the thing that make you sleepy after eating a turkey) may have already started kicking in.
36. Secret Society (104 / 4: PA South 2nd Place: Was 45)
    The clawing to get back up the carts starts now.
37. Outkasts (104 / 4: Capital 2nd Place / Was 46)
    If only they didn’t have those pesky Hitmen in their district.
38. Apocalypse (118 / 4: Metro 1st Place: Was 42)
    Apocalypse is always hanging around the top of the Metro – but they are usually not in first. Now they are. Is this the season that they take the next step?
39. Critical Roll (104 / 4: Deep South 1st Place Was 24)
    For all of those D&D fans out there, I’ll try to explain what taking 2 points means: They don’t get the treasure, they don’t win the fair maiden’s hand in marriage, the king’s daughter gets sacrificed to the cult of Sutekh, and the almost everyone in town of Nottingham gets eaten by the Wind Dragons.
40. Augusta Reign (100 / 4: Palmetto 2nd Place Was 25)
    They got first row tickets to the Shot Show as they put up a Shot Show of their own.
41. Identity Crisis (135 / 5: New England North 2nd Place: Was 43)
    Waiting for the rest of the UBA to catch up to them in terms of games and points.
42. Apex Predators (88 / 4: DMV North 3rd Place: Was 46)
    Can Sagirah Wheeler hold on to the Northeast Vixens Belt this weekend?
43. Messenger Mafia (95 / 4: NJNE 3rd Place: NEW)
    They already have wins over 2 teams that made the playoffs last year and they bowl the bye on their next match-up. Assuming that they don’t screw that up, they cou;d be here for awhile.
44. The Militia (117 / 4: Queen City 2nd Place / Was 49)
    A win is a win is a win. Even if it’s only a 22 point win. Still a win.
45. JustUs League (114 / 4: Brooklyn/Queens 2nd Place / Was 50)
    The win keeps them in second, as well as gives them a little breathing room between them and 5th place – which we all know will get tighter once the season goes on, because this is the BQ that we are talking about.
46. BC Crew (114 / 4: Long Island / 3rd Place NEW)
    I could say it’s refreshing to be back. I could also say what took you so long. Either way – welcome.
47. Royalty On Da Lanes (110 / 4: Metro North 2nd Place NEW)
    We see some royalty looking to be crowned. Hopefully metaphorically.
48. Conspiracy Theory (100 / 4: Triad 3rd place / NEW)
    Here’s another welcome return. Can they stay there?
49. Goon Squad (108 / 4: NJ Shore 2nd place / NEW)
    They were here, then after getting knocked out, they are back here. I don’t know if it’s because they are decent, or the best team in a shaky district, because they are paired with…
50. Reaper Crew (108 / 4: NJ Shore 2nd place / NEW)
    …The team that everyone in the NWNJ picks on because of the migration to the NJ Shore and the success that they are having there. (SHRUGS)
    

NEXT 5 IN: Om a Mission, South Jersey Strike Force, Most Wanted, Hot Pockets, Natural Disasters

OUT: Complete Anarchy, New World Order, Capital City Hitters, Total Mayhem, Striking Vipers