NEWS: (from  rourkie and  dakotabailey)

ALB | 17 20 11 13 | L 61
@BLX| 29 23 31 22 | W 105

Biloxi Starts the Pre-Season Off With a Bang

Crawdad Park was in high spirits for the Mudpuppies’ first game of the preseason, and rightfully so. Fans packed the stadium for the sold-out game, beginning with Barton Rogue leading the Biloxi fans in his traditional voodoo curse of the ball. In what should have been an evenly matched game, the Biloxi Mudpuppies served the Albany Alphas for a four-course meal of humble pie. Without their captain, Carl Esteban (Jaguar, SF), the Alphas were off to a rough start, and despite their best efforts and a new coaching staff, Albany seemed unpolished, unpracticed, and, quite frankly, unprofessional.

The Mudpuppies showed off their new roster tonight with some new players mixed in with some old fan favorites. The shocker of the night was that team captain Barton Rouge (Red Fox, Guard) was, for the first time, playing as shooting guard backed up by Silas Rand (Squirrel).

“It ain’t gon’ be a permanent change” Castillo explained to stunned reporters. “Preseason is all about testin’ things. Gotta admit, Rouge looked good out there. Think that’s just him, though. That fox is a leader whatever post he’s playin’.”

The Guarantee did well in the position, scoring 32 points for Biloxi. Playing in Rouge’s usual point guard position was Mudpuppies’ veteran Giraldo Murillo (Jaguarundi, G/F).

“Agua Fria was really struggling as forward last season,” Coach Gary Armstrong (Louisiana Black Bear) stated. “We wanted to see how he’d play as a guard. He looked a lot more comfortable there than playing forward.”

With some fresh blood on the court, Biloxi was elated for the win, even if it didn’t count toward the official season. The fans are excited to see the what the future might bring.

“The Mudpuppies had a tough season last year, I’m not gonna lie,” commented the Mudpuppies’ fanclub president Dakota Bailey (Mackenzie Valley Wolf). “I think they’ll do a lot better this year with the new players and all. Just as long as no one gets hurt that it.”

New players weren’t the only new faces that Biloixi fans saw on the court. The team’s new owner, former State Justice Bureagard Teagues (Red Tabby Cat) was seen, settled in a customized over-sized chair, seemingly quite pleased at his team’s victory. Also new to Biloxi was their GM, Alaina Castillo (Black and Tan Coonhound) who spent the game sitting solemnly, her face straight and her eyes fixated on the court.

“Ah must admit, Ah really didn’t think we’d beat them that badly. Ah mean, shoot, Ah know we’ve got a mighty fine team and all but this was murder. Ah really can’t complain though,” she gave a small smile. “Proud of ‘em. This just the first game, though and it’s still the pre-season. Ain’t time to celebrate yet. ”

The Alphas’ manager, Darius E. Mal’nioto (Wolf) was unavailable for comment.

Also new to Biloxi’s roster was staring small forward Nathan Spinner (Iguana) whom the Mudpuppies acquired during the off-season. The Mudpuppies couldn’t be more happier about his decision to sign with the team.

“We were really struggling last season on terms of defense,” Coach Armstrong said. “Then again, it didn’t help that we were down a few key players due to some unfortunate injuries, “He added, referring to the injuries that Biloxi faced last year with their starting center, Nathan Robinson (Sidewinder) out for forty-five games due to a back injury, forward Conrad Schaefer (German Shepherd) out for fifty-five games due to a broken leg, point guard Devon Kellendyne (Cacomistle) out for seventeen games due to an elbow injury.

“We really don’t want to see that happen again this season” Armstrong chuckled. “Schaefer and Kellendyne are back, though, and are playing stronger than before” he commented on the benched small forward and benched point guard.

Rounding out the new starters was a new starting center, Kurtis Avenaeson (Aadvark) whom the Mudpuppies acquired from the Spokane Rapids during the offseason, backed by Louise Ellenberger (Brown Swiss Cow, C), whom the Mudpuppies picked up during the 2011 FBA draft. Fans recognized Bobby Heron (Snowy Egret, PF) playing at his usual position, and Barú Greene (Rottweiller, F/C) plugging holes where they were needed.

The Alphas had a couple of fresh faces too, including the addition of Julio Onca (Panther, PF), who was suspended at the end of the ‘10-‘11 season. Albany made a hard push to acquire him this year, but so far, it seems not to have helped. Onca played decently until the 3rd quarter, when Albany guard Lance Wildfyre (Rabbit) was sent in for relief. Onca’s attention was clearly split between the game and making threatening gestures toward the rabbit every time he was near the Slasher.

Last season, when things needed changing up, Wildfyre was the Alphas’ Go-To guard to get things shaking again during the third quarter. However, the rabbit lacked the enthusiasm he normally brought to the court, seeming tired and harrassed, although it was hard to tell whether it was from Onca’s stares, or the extra weight he seemed to have put back on during the off-season.

The rest of the Alphas were in rough shape as well. Particularly of note was the fact that starting Center, Dennis !Xabbu was strangely absent from the game, though he appeared on the night’s roster. It was clear that without two of their starters, the rest of the team had to step up, but instead, without Esteban to guide them, the Alphasllacked any real leadership on the floor.

Kelvin Lennon (Cocker Spaniel, SF) had the chance to step up, but he appeared to be more pre-occupied with how he looked while he was playing, rather than how well he was playing in general. Cassandra Walburg (Tuxedo Cat, PG) seemed to be rather distracted, missing several shots which should have been easy for her to make. Margaret Walters (Spotted Hyena, PG) played well, but only when she had the ball. Onca seemed to turn a blind eye to the hyena unless she was clearly open, instead opting to do things himself, rather than pass off to another teammate.

The Alphas’ relief did little to help the cause, too. Seria Delgado (White Wolf, F) was looking more gaunt than usual, and Albany’s other new acquisition, Holly Barker (Boxer Dog, G) didn’t play at all. Mostly, the team looked overworked, and lacked the natural interaction and enthusiasm that Biloxi seemed to exude, and that the fans adore.

“This is just one of those teams in the FBA that you’ve gotta love,” said one fan, a striped skunk with his family. “I mean, who really thought we would make it to the playoffs last year when we were pretty much at the bottom of the league.” He paused for a moment. “I did, of course! I could never give up on the ‘Pups!”

A further statement from Bailey indicated that the same skunk had created a thread on the Mudpuppies’ forum early on last season entitled ‘Season’s Over, Now What?’

“That was back in December when we weren’t doing so well” the wolf laughed as he reached over to steal a pawful of popcorn from the red husky he was sitting next to. “Of course he’s going to try and cover that up.

“Now that we’re doing great, I just hope we just get better, and not worse. I’ve seen how quickly things can change. Then again, with Rogue on the team, we could just have him whip up some voodoo and give our opponents some extra bad juju in case we start to have trouble again. Seemed to work last year,” the wolf joked.

It is rumored that Barton Rogue places an actual curse on the ball before each game, instead of simply trying to psyche the Mudpuppies’ opponents out. There’s no telling whether the fox’s curse worked for sure or not, but the way the Alphas played, there’s no doubt in any of the fans’ minds that the magic in Biloxi is certainly alive and well.