MLU Week 4: Games to Watch

Well it's a sad week here at Sports Pro and the Average Bro. After coming out of week 2 with a 2-0 record, I thought for sure I would maintain my undefeated record through week 3 as well. ESPECIALLY, after the amazing game I watched in Philadelphia, where the Spinners edged out on top just like I predicted.

But alas, the Nighthawks couldn't pull out a win against the Rainmakers. I don't blame Vancouver. It's not their fault that I'm 3-1 instead of 4-0. You shouldn't read too deeply into the fact that I'm not picking them to win this week-and-wouldn't-if-you-paid-me. So let's get to it!

I will say that the MLU knows what they're doing. This is the second week in a row where the best games to watch are both the best games you CAN watch on MLULive.

East:

Both teams in this battle are coming off interesting games. The NY Rumble are coming off a double overtime match up against the Spinners. Sweeping the home and home would have firmly cemented the Rumble as a top force in the east. The second game, however, did not go the way the Rumble would have liked. Rumble made too many mistakes and too many missed opportunities. No matter how many chances the Spinners gave them to win the game, they simply couldn't close it out.

The Whitecaps, on the other hand, are coming off a statement game in which they certainly made their statement. The Current beat them in a similar overtime game in week 2, giving them their first loss in the history of MLU. Was this the end of Boston's Ultimate Reign? Boston answered this question for us: "Nope, we're still here."

MLU Big Game Recap: Spinners vs. Rumble

Spinners huddle up before first OT this past Saturday night.

This week, I selected Philadelphia Spinners vs. NY Rumble as my Game to Watch in the East.

Boy. Was. I. RIGHT!

I was at this game and the excitement was insane throughout the game. It was on the brink of being the lowest scoring game in the history of Ultimate, but that doesn't mean it lacked action in any way.

It appeared, at first, that the Spinners were still relying on big plays like they had been in their first contest versus the DC Current. It didn't work well for them then and it wasn't doing much for them this night either. But, like the Spinners always seem to do, they kept it close and made it a 7-5 NY Rumble game at the half.

MLU Week 3: Games to Watch

Oh hey there Ultimate Fans! I didn't see you come in! I was busy reading over last weeks installment of MLU Games to Watch. You know, the one where I swept the weekend picking two upsets, SUPER close to the actual score? I mean really, it's no big deal. But just since we'e on the subject:

There!

Now to try and bring it to 4-0, I give you the Sports Pro and the Average Bro MLU Games to Watch in Week 3!

East

The East is Rematch City this weekend! Two of the great games of Week 2 will be replayed in enemy territory. And since last week I picked the stunner in the Nations Capital, this week I'm heading a bit north to Philadelphia.

MLU Week 2: Games to Watch

After an exciting Opening Weekend in the MLU, teams brushed off the rust and set their sites on their Week 2 Matchups. After a surprising Portland Stags win last week, they get the week off, but the rest of the league will be vying to be undefeated or to even up their record.

Let's look at the games to watch in the MLU:

East

There's a rivalry a brewing as both the Boston Whitecaps and the DC Current come off wins in week 1. Both teams shamed their opponents showing that they had a superior game plan from start to finish. A big difference between their games was Boston's ability to finish. DC let Philadelphia stay in the game far longer than they should have. Like I wrote in my DC vs. Philadelphia recap, the teams were pretty unevenly matched and, though the score was close, the game was pretty one sided. But that doesn't mean Philadelphia didn't have plenty of chances to pull away. Boston put the Rumble to bed early and piled up on them after that. They struggled somewhat on their one possession scores.

MLU Opening Day: Philadelphia Spinners vs. DC Current

The final score of Saturday's Opening Day match between the Philadelphia Spinners and the DC Current was close. The game itself, however, was not as close as the score makes it seem.

The Current controlled the game from first pull to the end. They dominated on just about every stat line. They were able to capitalize on their turnovers and Philadelphia's defensive overcomittals. They took advantage of some weak Philadelphia pulls and got the disc quickly down field.

I would attribute this to the superior game planning by the Current offense. They did a great job of spreading the field and keeping their cutter's open. But even more than that, they made the Spinner's defense work.

And they didn't work all that well.

Major League Ultimate's Rule Changes

The baseball purists have been out in full swing this year, crying out about the addition of instant replay and the Posey Rule. Even Football purists, though fewer, have been vocal about their displeasure with a change to the extra point. But there are another group of purists out there that are joining the ranks. Ultimate fans.

Ultimate is a sport with a great deal of unwritten rules. The concept is simple enough. Throw the disc, catch the disc, don't walk with the disc, and catch the disc in the end zone. Call your own fouls on the honor system with observers. Simple! Just a few unwritten rules, until the game went professional and the rules got written down.