The Champs

No one would have believed it, but somehow those scrappy underdog Washington Wizards and longtime GM Darko won the NLL Championship! After squeaking in during a last minute surge and claiming the 8th seed, the Wizards, behind star Pau Gasol, managed to overcome numerous better-equipped teams to take the glory back to the nation's capital city.

But how did a team who gave heavy minutes to Armon Johnson and Alonzo Gee outplay, outsmart and out maneuver their opponents? Something just clicked. Vets such as Shane Battier helped players like Yi Jianlian find their inner potential. No one showered for weeks. Darko led his boys on dawn yoga expeditions. Whatver it was, the NLL community wanted some.

In the waning weeks of the season, it looked as if the Wizards didn't have a prayer of making the playoffs. But after clinching the 8th seed behind a multi-game winning streak, they beat the heavily favored Miami Heat and Joe Johnson in six games. Wizards fans cheered. Miami GM Tmac threw his hat on the ground and jumped up and down on it. These Wizards were bringing the noise.

Up next, GM Badwolf and the evil empire Milwaukee Bucks. Unlike the Wizards players, who ate organic food and used aromatherapy in the locker room, Badwolf made his players train til they dropped. There are even rumors of corporal punishment. Didn't matter. The Wizards took out the Bucks in five games. Badwolf went home and reportedly kicked his dog. The Wizards were the new NLL darlings.

But surely they couldn't beat the Sixers, the team that took them out of the playoffs each and every year. Even better. They swept the hapless Sixers. Alonzo Gee showed Manu Ginobili how to play ball. Sixers GM VT complained about sympathetic refs and then went home to stroke his GM of the year award in tears. The Wizards made the Finals. Only Dwight Howard and the Denver Nuggets remained.

So it was the Wizards vs. the Nuggets. In Game One, Gasol took rookie Hasheem Thabeet to school. Jianlian and Jason Terry combined for a lousy 0/12 but the Wizards still won!! GM Nick mumbled, "It begins." The rest of the NLL community anticipated another sweep.

The Wiz continued to shine in Game Two. Yi bounced back and went 12 for 16. The Nuggets played fine, but the Wizards shot 55%!

After the game, Darko said, "Wow, thats what i love about my team, each game anyone can be the star. Game one Yi and Terry go 0/12, game 2 they combine for 44 points. Its kind of crazy. I am as shocked as anyone that im 2-0 right now."

GM Nick was less excited. "I really don't understand how this wizards team is so successful. And the fact that i dont understand it will be my plight, lol. C'mon nuggies!!!" Tmac, VT and MIL all chuckled and shook their heads.

Looking at the stats, the Wizards had gone 21-5 over their last 26 games, 14-3 so far in playoffs, 6-0 to finish the regular season.

The Nuggets battled back in Game 3, taking the contest 126-121. Thabeet woke up for once in his carer and helped earn the win. Was this the beginning of the end for the Wizards?

Game 4 didn't look any better for them. The Nuggets kicked them to the curb 117-94. It looked like the spell had been broken and the favorite may actually win this time around.

The Nuggets swept the Wizards on their home court in Game 5, winning 108-94. They were now just one game away from the putting Darko and the Wizards in their place. Was it going to happen in Game 6??

On their return to Denver, Darko made an impassioned plea to his team. He revealed that the NLL was the only thing he had in his life and that winning the series would be the defining moment in his existence (he also told him he might be dying, but that was a lie). After some tears and hugging, the team went out to bring it home for Darko. The Wizards dominated the Nuggets, up by as much as 21 points in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets made a late run but ultimately lost 98-85.

"Home court advantage my eye!" a pouting Nick shouted as he jumped into his Mystery Machine and chomped on a Scooby Snack.

Game Seven time. Two teams. One win. One championship. The snow was beginning to thaw on the Rockies. It was time for a Coors.

It wasn't even close. The Wizards, fearful that GM Darko was really dying, decided to bring home the glory, beating the pants off the Nuggets 109-89 behind Gee and Battier. Too bad they won it all to silence as the Nuggets fans left the arena in disgust.

"Wow, i cant believe i did it! Thanks to Denver for a hell of a series too," Darko said, ripping off his oxygen mask and revealing he in fact would live.

"Congrats darko," Nick said and suddenly realized everyone else had gone home and had to find his way out of the dark arena.