[08.11.04]
Written by: Bob Pinter

For the Love of the Game, Part 3
Manning Ridicules Yoopers

[08.10.04] (Somewhere in Hawaii) -- With one game in the books, things looked bright for the PWFFL's Summer Tournament.

Started by a group of players looking to settle some friendly summer grudges, the event began in the Hawaiian sun with a 23-20 win by the Green Bay Fudgepackers over the Wisconsin Wannabes.

The two teams were quickly rushed off the field so that the Rhode Island Ridicule and Northern Michigan Yoopers could begin playing, with five-minute quarters, no punters, no offensive linemen, and no rules.

Okay, there were a few rules, given the circumstances:

1. No hard tackling. "Hey, man, we've got a whole season to finish," Ridicule runningback Tiki Barber shouted as he took the field. "Tackling's fine, but take it easy!"

"I agree," yelled Detroit quarterback Michael Vick, to much laughter. Vick, coming off of an injury-plagued season, was anxious to get on the field himself.

2. Players call their own penalties. With no referees, the PWFFL had to rely on the honor system for the summer. And, while there were a few disagreements, things generally worked themselves out.

But when Rhode Island and the Yoopers began to play, many of the players on the sidelines began to lose interest. Some went back to the grill for more fried chicken and steak, others began playing cards or video games in someone's SUV. And the game on the field got sloppy.

Both teams went to the run early and often, with Northern Michigan relying on Trung Canidate, Rhode Island sticking primarily with Barber. But neither team could find any momentum and the first quarter ended in a 0-0 tie.

"Okay!" Ridicule quarterback Peyton Manning barked into the huddle. "Any one of you guys that doesn't hustle from here on out, I'm personally taking you out of the game." He looked as if he meant it.

And he promptly went out and drilled Hines Ward in the middle of the end zone with a 15-yard pass to start the second quarter.

But the Yoopers continues to attack with Canidate, since rookie quarterback Byron Leftwich was clearly in over his head. Leftwich, who started over fellow QBs Jon Kitna and Patrick Ramsey, wasn't reading his receivers, and communication was starting to break down. In the second quarter, tight end Boo Williams dropped a wide-open pass in the end zone. Kicker Josh Brown scored the consolation prize to make it 7-3.

Leftwich would finally start to find his way, though, as the half crawled to a close. Once again, it was Canidate, only this time through the air, to give the Yoopers the lead with a minute to go. But punt returner Corey Harris gave it back on a fumbled punt return at his own 2. Manning would run it in as time expired to put the Ridicule back in front at halftime.

The 2002 Puck Bowl champions never gave it up after that. Early in the third quarter, Manning, who never liked to be shown up, answered a Leftwich touchdown to Williams with one of his own; a 72-yard bomb to Terrell Owens that would turn out to be the game-winning score.

And about time.

Canidate slumped back to the sideline, having run for 108 yards for the game. "And we have to do this again?" he wondered aloud.

"You've got time to recover," Keyshawn shouted. "Detroit and West Palm Beach, come on! We've got to keep this moving!"