თემა: I.1

Congrats to big fatty cats who bought their first player since season 3 it looks like. William Jack is back in the USA for a cool $100M.

Very cool. I was wondering where he'd end up! I think it's awesome when national team players are U.S. owned.

I am glad I could grab him but my facilities are a little bit too weak for a guy like him. There will be an impact on the national team. obviously the next step will be to upgrade my training center.
At least, I should be competitive to make the playoffs.

Finally level 15 academy will be finished at midnight.

Does anyone know why Tujague has so many damn players on his team?

I asked him that a little while back. He basically said it's because he doesn't pay enough attention to handball (which is the same reason I have so many damn players in the other sports).

I was actually borderline considering letting my hockey team fold to bankruptcy recently because I don't check it hardly at all anymore and my costs had ballooned. My player training ratios are for shit, my expense management there is for shit. My construction growth stalled, etc. I ended up making one last gasp (sold a bunch of infrastructure and players to break even again) but still might end up folding the team at some point.

GG to Beer and Pizza, my goalie's thought it would be a good idea to shit the bed.

After tonight's big playoff win, I decided to take a look at who has had the most success through the first 8 seasons in handball.

This list is for fun. My focus was taking home hardware and winning glory. As we all know, there are many ways to have fun with PPM, so this ranking doesn't capture all of the other ways people play the game. And it's not trying to measure how "good" teams are right now or predict future success. So here is how my criteria shook out:
- Titles are better than overall consistent play
- Playoffs mean more than the regular season
- International cups are impressive. Getting out of your group is even more impressive. And ChL > CWC
- Teams only get credit for play in I.1. You have to be playing with the big dogs.

I wasn't methodical in counting everything up. I'm sure I missed some achievements. Sorry if I did.

1. Mojo - (8 seasons in I.1, I.1 playoff champs x3, I.1 playoff finalist x3, I.1 playoff final 4 x2, I.1 reg season champs x3, NC champs, NC finalist, NC final 4, ChL x2)
King of the Hill with 7 trophies. Finished top 4 in the I.1 playoffs every year. Top of the pile in the USA.

2. Erratic - (7 seasons in I.1, I.1 playoff champs, I.1 playoff finalist x2, I.1 playoff final 4 x2, I.1 reg season champs, NC champs, NC final 4, ChL x2, ChL quarters, CWC)
Achieved the trifecta (playoff, reg season and NC champs) plus boasts the most impressive international success. Legend.

3. Covington - (6 seasons in I.1, I.1 playoff champs x2, I.1 playoff finalist, I.1 playoff final 4, NC champs x2, NC finalist, NC final 4, ChL x2, CWC)
Four titles. We need a regular season championship and better international performances to develop an all-around dominant resume. And I give Erratic the slight nod for #2 even though they only have 3 titles because that’s how much value I put in ChL quarters. Maybe a toss-up with Erratic though. But clearly one of the best teams the USA has produced.

4. Renamed - (8 seasons in I.1, I.1 playoff finalist x2, I.1 playoff final 4 x4, I.1 reg season champs, NC finalist, NC final 4, ChL x2, CWC)
Six of 8 seasons in I.1 found Renamed in the top 4 in the I.1 playoffs. Only one trophy, but consistently competing for them, including impressive international experience. On the Mt. Rushmore for USA.

5. *Asshai* - (5 seasons I.1, I.1 playoff champs, I.1 reg season champs, NC final 4, ChL)

6. Team USA - (3 seasons I.1, I.1 playoff champs, I.1 playoff final 4, I.1 reg season champs, ChL)
Inaugural I.1 big dog but has been absent from the top division for a few seasons. Likely have not heard the last of Team USA. Narrowly edges 69ers because of 2 titles to 1.

7. *69ers* - (4 seasons I.1, I.1 playoff final 4, I.1 reg season champs, NC finalist, NC final 4, CWC x2)

8. Cunning - (2 seasons I.1, NC champs, NC final 4, CWC last 16)
Despite only 2 seasons in I.1 they have a trophy. Narrowly edges Beer and Pizza who have many more seasons in I.1 because this list is about competing for hardware and glory. And getting out of any group while representing the USA overseas is a great achievement. Poster child for showing a team can achieve top shelf success without being in I.1.

9. Beer and Pizza - (7 seasons I.1, I.1 playoff final 4 x3)
Consistent I.1 performances and has made noise in the playoffs

10. Edison - (4 seasons I.1, NC final 4 x2)
Known team with several seasons in the top league and also some scalps in the NC

Just missed:

*Nuln* - (NC Champs, NC finalist, CWC x2)

Hanover - (8 seasons I.1)
They have 3 NC quarterfinals and are only 1 of 3 teams to play every season in I.1, so having them outside the top 10 might be a bit harsh. They could jump Edison with a deep NC run next year, especially if Edison drops to div II.

Orlando - (5 seasons I.1, NC final 4)
Similarly, a deep NC run next season could spring Orlando into the top 10.



London Knights and Lehigh Valley won the other 2 NC championships.

Congrats kytihu. Quite frankly I was getting fed up with Handball. Lost interest in it. Hopefully this defeat will get my juices flowing again. Currently I sit on a big pile of cash. So I might make a few moves next season.

Congrats on the championship. Interesting list too, hopefully some newer teams will be making their way into the fold soon

I really think you should start building for a deep run on the international stage. Take that as the next challenge. You have had very good luck on early players that sent you above the crowd. But more importantly, you knew how to take this advantage and manage it and build upon it. Kodus for consistently being the team to beat. It would be a very big disappointment to see you leave.

Wow Im really suprised how the relegation round turned out. I definitely didnt think at the start of the season Orlando Generals or Edison Illuminating Co. would be getting relegated.

Wow... these sponsor offers are awful, love how the regrouping destroys any shot at anything... I was doing better in division II

Yea I spent energy on the international.