(I'll leave the what-could-have-beens, like captaining Fëanor instead of Glorfindel, behind.)
First, congratulations to
Nogrod for that fine finish--like your team Real Valinor, you were struggling at the starter's block but found your stride near the finish. (Whereas I, like my team AC Beleriand, had a bad semifinals and failed to recover from that.) Also my undying hatred for
Gwathagor, in the same way I hate the L.A. Lakers, Manchester United, and the Brazilian national football team--for being so consistently darn good at what they do.
Next, thank you
the phantom for giving me the chance to write. I had so much fun, even though I felt like running out of gas at times. I had a blast following my AC Beleriand for seven matches, but I reserve much of my delight for the Doriath squad. I didn't even ask for that team, but I enjoyed immensely writing their matches.
As a side note, apologies to those who felt weirded out or overwhelmed by my attention to formations and especially the pitch diagrams I introduced this season (and if anyone is wondering where I got them, I refer you to
this.)
To my fellow sportswriters,
Boromir88, Nog,
Shastanis Althreduin, and phantom: it was an honour writing with you.
Galadriel55, you are perhaps the most astute writer of things almost-football I've ever read--take what you will of that.
And to the big-boy networks of the Arda Cup, MESPN, TTN, and AKM: thank you for not being too hard on TENT during their maiden season. Expect the barbs to start showing next season.
And finally, to everyone who joined the Phantasy Competition: I'll beat you all next year.
++Nilpaurion Felagund
Possums. Apologies for the length.
Postal possums. Exit interviews, as well as TENT and ArdaCup.com's team of the tourney, to come in a day or two.
Post-partum possum. $100 million champion, baby!