Hall of Fame Players Who Never Won an MBA Title

 -- Center ... Diamond Dallas Paige

-- Center...Bill Rustler

-- Center...Tom "the Bomb" Kondla

--Forward...Gato DoMato

-- Guard...Soul Duran

-- Guard...Silo Chamberlin

There are 57 members of the Hall of Fame and only these 6 stars never achieved championship status. That's just 10.5 percent of the members of the Hall.

Team Steals Leaders Through the Years

TOP 10 ALL-TIME STEALS TOTALS FOR ONE SEASON BY TEAM

60--Oklahoma City, Season 17

48--San Jose, Season 32

47--Seattle, Season 9

46--Oklahoma City, Season 14

46--Philadelphia, Season 25

46--Charleston, Season 28

45--Sacramento, Season 35

45--Sacramento, Season 52

43--Sacramento, Season 15

43--Sacramento, Season 33

In Season 17, Streetcar Johnny Masterson and Briscoe Darling tied for the league leadership in steals with 18 each for Oklahoma City. Teammate Mamadou Zongo kicked in with 11. Delta Breakout added 5, Rupert Pupkin 4, Diamond Dallas Paige 3 and Baby Backribs 1. The Lariats won the West at 9-1 but fell to Philadelphia in the Finals.

MOST STEALS CHAMPIONSHIPS BY TEAM

8--Philadelphia

8--San Jose

7--Milwaukee

6--Houston/Los Angeles

6--Charleston

6--Sacramento

5--Seattle

5--Oklahoma City

3--Dallas

2--Chicago

1--Kansas City/Gillette

CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS WHO LED THE LEAGUE IN STEALS

Season 1...Houston...26

Season 13...Milwaukee...32

Season 24...Philadelphia...31

Season 30...Philadelphia...41

Season 42...Charleston...23

Season 43...Philadelphia...32

Season 45...Los Angeles...39

Season 47...Dallas...38

Season 48...Sacramento...42

Season 49...San Jose...42

Big disparity for overall percentage of champions who led the league in steals (19.2 percent) and the percentage of champions who led the MBA in steals since Season 42 (54.5 percent). So, does that mean that team steals has become drastically more important in the past 10 seasons?

Season 53 Draft examined

Season 53s deep draft offered something for everyone, and that's just what it delivered. 

Every single one of the MBA's ten teams wound up with at least one player of starting ability, including the late drafting teams and the teams with just two picks.

Amazingly, seven of the 10 prime picks were determined on the initial roll of the dice, giving teams the opportunity to add players at the positions needed by their particular squad.

Gillette landed the concensus overall number 1 pick, getting rookie defensive genius, center Blob Dylan, with the third overall pick and the first prime pick.

Here are the grades as we see them:

Los Angeles Big One

Grade: C

Got one starter-quality player in rookie center China P for its wide open roster. And he may not start right away, being in competition with Swordfish Willie Shingles. Other 2 picks at best bench forwards as rookies.

Charleston Mountaineers

Grade: C+

Only two picks, so they can't really bitch about picking  up one of the two good rookie forwards, (Piping Plover) who could be a starter as soon as this season for the aging Frog Morton. But they needed a guard to replace last year's top scorer, Vinny Zazeech,  and fanned on that try with Rut Tut Tut Patel.

Gillette Humps

Grade: B+

Nailed down a franchise center in 6-11 rookie Blob Dylan and added two forwards who fall short of helping them this season. 

Oklahoma City Lariats

Grade: B+

No. 1 rated rookie forward Phillip Mianus was the perfect fit for the Lariats, who had just two draft picks to work with. Mianus will add much-needed defense at power forward. 

Philadelphia Phobia

Grade: B

Somehow squeezed a starter (prime pick guard Flufferton Springs) into what looked like a set lineup. Forward Jimmy Potsandpans adds depth off the pines.

Seattle Stampede

Grade: B+

The only team to get two prime picks, thanks to a previous trade, they also had the most picks with four and connected on three of them, including a pair of guards who could be starting for the Stampede...rookie Bellybutton Inquisition and former All-MBA free agent Freddy Gooch. Rookie center Laughing Boy Lasso will catch on with someone if he doesn't make the Seattle squad.

San Jose Fighting Amigos

Grade: B+

They made their draft on the first pick, a random number 7 selection that netted 6-8, third-year star Vinny Zazeech (17.3 ppg last season) to team with Hall of Famer Jesse Shershot in the backcourt. They further snagged instant offense free agent guard Joe Momsawhore with their prime pick.

Sacramento River Dogs

Grade: B

Used their prime pick to address one of two starting guard spot needs, selecting good-looking rookie Karma Chameleon. First random pick got them excellent back-up forward in Ape Con Myth. Could have used a center but came up empty there.

Milwaukee Greyhounds

Grade: B

With only two picks to its name, the Greyhounds came away with what appears to be a solid two guard in Itstha Bishop and Hall of Fame center J.J. Gargantuan, who will have to battle longtime starter Lothario Fartlek to get the starting nod in the pivot. 

Dallas Demons

Grade: B

Powerful, young defending champions didn't need a thing entering the draft, but came out of it with three solid players. Last season's All-MBA center Johnny Bananas came via a random pick at No. 10; sharp-shooting rookie guard Dominus Vobiscum was added randomly at No. 14 and 6-10 rookie forward Philibuck Davia was the final prime pick in the draft at No. 20. Their second string is now better than the first string of at least two teams.

 

Consecutive Champion Teams Through the Years

Season 3... Milwaukee 7-3 (5-1 in playoffs) besting Houston in Finals...top player Cappy Gambol

Season 4...Milwaukee 6-4 (5-0 in playoffs) besting Philadelphia in Finals...top player Cappy Gambol

Season 7...Philadelphia 8-2 (5-0 in playoffs) besting Seattle in Finals...top player Alex Pal

Season 8...Philadelphia 6-4 (5-2 in playoffs) besting Charleston in Finals...top player Tarjetas Indice (R)

Season 14...Philadelphia 7-3 (5-1 in playoffs) besting Seattle in Finals...top player Stu Nod

Season 15...Philadelphia 9-1 (5-0 in playoffs) besting Sacramento in Finals...top player Stu Nod

Season 20...Dallas 7-3 (5-3 in playoffs) besting Milwaukee in Finals...top player Shooter Flatch

Season 21...Dallas 7-3 (5-1 in playoffs) besting Houston in Finals...top player Tersio Tataruga

Season 22...Philadelphia 8-2 (5-1 in playoffs) besting Dallas in Finals...top player Curly Hogbottom

Season 23...Philadelphia 7-3 (5-1 in playoffs) besting Dallas in Finals...top player Cam Bodia

Season 24...Philadelphia 9-1 (5-1 in playoffs) besting Houston in Finals...top player Curly Hogbottom

Season 26...Charleston 7-3 (5-3 in playoffs) besting Houston in Finals...top player Jonny Cockaroo

Season 27...Charleston 8-2 (5-3 in playoffs) besting San Jose in Finals...top player Boone Doggle

Season 29...Philadelphia 8-2 (5-3 in playoffs) besting San Jose in Finals...top player Curly Hogbottom

Season 30...Philadelphia 7-3 (5-2 in playoffs) besting San Jose in Finals...top player Boone Doggle

Season 31...Philadelphia 8-2 (5-1 in playoffs) besting Charleston in Finals...top player Boone Doggle

Season 32...Philadelphia 7-3 (5-2 in playoffs) besting Milwaukee in Finals...top player Cheetos Jones

Season 33...Philadelphia 8-2 (5-1 in playoffs) besting Houston in Finals..top player Cock A. Doodledoo

Season 40...Oklahoma City 8-2 (5-0 in playoffs) besting Seattle in Finals...top player Naf Naf

Season 41...Oklahoma City 9-1 (5-1 in playoffs) besting Charleston in Finals...top player Naf Naf

Season 46...Dallas 9-1 (5-1 in playoffs) besting Sacramento in Finals...top player Chip Battoe

Season 47...Dallas 10-0 (5-0 in playoffs) besting Sacramento in Finals...top player Chip Battoe

Season 50...Los Angeles 9-1 (5-0 in playoffs) besting Philadelphia in Finals...top player Quick Tink

Season 51...Los Angeles 6-4 (5-0 in playoffs) besting San Jose in Finals...top player Crentis Dentist

Are the Whiz Kids from Dallas, champions of Season 52, next on the list?

LOOKING BACK: Trades made prior to Season 49

 GRADING THE S49 TRADES

(We picked (or the cube of chance did) Season 49 randomly.) 

SAN JOSE AND MILWAUKEE

San Jose gets center Sabado Gigante from Milwaukee

Milwaukee gets center Lothario Fartlek from San Jose

The trade paid immediate dividends for the Fighting Amigos, as Gigante scored 18.0 points per game that season and teamed with Jesse Shershot to bring a championship to San Jose. Unfortunately, he then retired and though they continue to make the playoffs, the Amigos haven't quite reached the promised land again.

Meanwhile, Fartlek has put in four fine years for the Greyhounds, including an All-MBA campaign, 3 blocked shots titles, three playoff appearances and a spot in the Finals this last campaign.

Verdict: a PUSH

CHARLESTON AND PHILADELPHIA

Charleston gets guard Stankpig Pigglesworth from Philadelphia.

Philadelphia gets Charleston's fourth pick in the Season 49 draft, which turns out to be guard Junior Dabas.

Both middle of the road guards.

Verdict: a PUSH

CHARLESTON AND LOS ANGELES

Charleston gets forward Sheetrock Hudson , forward Caster Gobbler and forward Popple Tittynope

Los Angeles gets center Quick Tink, forward Christ Almighty and Charleston's 2nd pick in the Season 49 draft, which turns out to be forward Turk Attaturk.

Tink turned out to be the MBA's MVP in Season 50 and Attaturk was a starter on The Big One's championship season that same year. They repeated as champs in Season 51 with Almighty replacing Attaturk at forward when Attaturk went free agent. Tink and Almighty have since retired.

Hudson, meanwhile, made All-MBA in Season 49 for the Mountaineers, who finished in first place in the East with an 8-2 record. He's been a stalwart on the team for four seasons, leading them in rebounding every season and will be back in Season 53.

Verdict: ADVANTAGE Los Angeles (you can't argue against two titles)

SACRAMENTO AND MILWAUKEE

Sacramento gets forward Wardy Joubert and center Taco Toosdae

Milwaukee gets forward James Payne and the third pick in the Season 50 draft, which turned out to be center Dead Dreadmore

Sacramento got a good-rebounding, bad shooting starting forward in Joubert and used Toosdae for one season, then traded him to Philadelphia for stopgap guard Junior Dabas, backup center Firenze and Philly's second pick in the Season 51 draft, a prime pick which unfortunately for the River Dogs, turned out to be forward Hi-Ho Bootwhip, who was immediately cut.

Milwaukee got a solid backup forward in "Cherry Challenge" Payne, but cut Dreadmore

Verdict: a PUSH... although Sacramento got a starter, Joubert's contributions were for a couple of bad R-Dogs teams. Meanwhile, Payne was on playoff squads for the Greyhounds before retiring after last season. Joubert is also gone.

CHARLESTON AND SEATTLE

Charleston gets guard Don Barzini and the first pick in the Season 50 draft, which turns out to be guard Splash Gordon

Seattle gets forward Charlest Broccoli

The Mountaineers enjoyed a first-place finish in Season 49 with Barzini running the point, then paired him with Gordon for a 5-5 Season 50. Barzini was hurt most of Season 51, then retired, while Gordon continues to be a mainstay who has been on three 5-5 Charleston teams.

Broccoli put in three more good seasons with Seattle before going free agent and landing in San Jose last season.

Verdict: SLIGHT ADVANTAGE Charleston...both teams made the playoffs in Season 49 but not since then. The Mountaineers still have Gordon to show for the trade.

OKLAHOMA CITY AND LOS ANGELES

Oklahoma City gets center Juji Mufu

Los Angeles gets center Twinkles Spatula and the second pick in the Season 50 draft, which turns out to be guard Flufferton Springs

Mufu played one decent season as a starter for OKC, then left via free agency.

Spatula was a one-season backup for L.A. and also left for free agency. The gem was getting Springs in the Season 50 draft, who became Rookie of the Year and an All-MBA guard while shooting over 60 percent for three seasons. He teamed with Great Gruncle Terry and Quick Tink to bring back-to-back titles in Seasons 50 and 51 to L.A. He's currently a free agent in the Season 53 draft.

Verdict: GIANT ADVANTAGE Los Angeles

Season 53 Rookie Game vs San Jose

 San Jose 74, Rookies 59

AMIGOS HAVE NO TROUBLE WITH ROOKS

SAN JOSE --- After a close first half, the San Jose Fighting Amigos slowly but surely pulled away from the Season 53 Rookies on the way to an easy 74-59 victory.

Nobody among the newcomers could handle Hall of Fame guard Jesse Shershot of San Jose, who poured in 33 points.

The rookies suffered a dearth of scoring from beyond the arc, going 0 for 15 for the game, with most of their points coming from two sources; point guard Bellybutton Inquisition and forward Phillip Mianus.

The Fighting Amigos were far superior on defense, preventing 18 would-be rookie points, while the rooks stopped 7.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

36 GVP...Hall of Fame guard JESSE SHERSHOT of San Jose was 9 for 17 from deep on the way to a game-high 33-point performance, going 12 for 21 overall. Additionally, Shershot prevented the most points of anyone in the game, twice putting forced misses on what would have been good 3-pointers from Bellybutton Inquisition. Shershot added 3 rebounds. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

32 GVP...6-8 rookie forward Phillip Mianus took it to veteran Charles Broccoli, scoring a team-high 22 points while grabbing a team-high 7 boards. The good-looking newcomer added a blocked shot, a steal and an assist.

30 GVP...San Jose mainstay Eddie "the Milkman" Creamer did his Robin thing to Shershot's heroics by getting 19 points and a game-high 9 rebounds. He was second in the game with 4 points prevented and added an assist and a steal. He dominated Piping Plover.

24 GVP...Matched against an all-time great like Shershot did not intimidate 5-11 rookie guard Bellybutton Inquisition. He lit up the scoreboard for 20 points, pulled down 3 rebounds and added 1 assist in the loss.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Rookies...1...4...0...2  Total=7

Amigos....4...6...5...3  Total=18

TOPS IN POINTS PREVENTED

1. Jesse Shershot, San Jose...6

2. Charles Broccoli, San Jose...4

2. Eddie "The Milkman" Creamer, San Jose...4

TURNOVERS CAUSED BY QUARTERS

Rookies...2...0...0...2  Total=4

Amigos....0...1...1...3  Total=5

TOPS IN TURNOVERS CAUSED

1.Twinkles Spatula, San Jose...2

1. Piping Plover, Rookies...2

NEXT UP: The Season 53 MBA draft.

Introducting the Class of Season 53 Rookies

 Overall summary

Really good rookie crop with potential of 14 of 16 making an MBA roster and half the group possessing ability to have big impacts.

Rankings based on Tyler & Dave's 5-star max ratings combined.

CENTERS

Summary: Outstanding group led by yet another defensive gem to match last season's standout Biggus Dickus.

6-11...Blob Dylan...10 (perfect score)

7-0...China P...8

6-10...Laughing Boy Lasso...6.5 

GUARDS

Summary: Four of the six rookies are well worth drafting...all 4 are potential starters.

6-4...Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chameleon...8.5

6-0...Itstha Bishop.....7.5

5-11...Bellybutton Inquisition.....7.5

6-1...Dominus Vobiscum.....6

6-2...Swifty Twitch...3

6-2...Rut Tut Tut Patel...3

FORWARDS

Summary: Worst group...7 forwards, none can rebound, only Plover can pass. Two play enough D and shoot well enough to help some teams.

6-8...Phillip Mianus.....8.5

6-7...Piping Plover.....7.5

6-8...Gene "the Pius 12" Pope.....6.5

6-10...Philibuck Davia.....6.5

6-8...Fudge Pies Deli.....6

6-5...Ed "Horsehead"Henderson.....5

6-7...Joestradamous Walsh.....5