I am halfway done on updating the team rosters for the 2066 IPA season.

Did 8 more teams this afternoon... 32 of the 64 teams have been done.

I will use the last patch of OOTP21 next season for my IPA and also for the North Island and South Island Leagues.

The animations are supposedly much improved over the patch I am using now... my current version is three patches prior to the final patch that just came out.

I really enjoy watching the game play out with the animation figures.

Hope the new owners of OOTPB will really update the animation and make it state of the art graphics.

Wouldn't that be something?

There have been and currently are many great jazz trombonists! You mentioned Kai Winding, and indeed he was great. The most famous jazz trombonist from the bebop era was J.J. Johnson. As a matter of fact you should look for an album called J & K plus 6, it's phenomenal and you would love it! Another trombonist you can check out from that era is Curtis Fuller. He's famous as a sideman on John Coltrane's Blue Trane album. Try to find some old Eddie Bert stuff as well, he killed it back then! You'd really like Jack Teagarden as well, I think he was around in the 1930s.

If you go into the 60s and 70s some trombonists to check out are Frank Rosolino, Carl Fontana and Bill Watrous (who sadly just passed away last year). Also Urbie Green, Slide Hampton and Jiggs Whigham whose careers spanned many decades.

Currently there are many great jazz trombonists. Among my favorites are Conrad Herwig, Steve Davis, Michael Dease, Michael Davis, Steve Turre, Andy Martin, Wycliffe Gordon, John Allred, and John Fedchock

Thanks, I'll have give these guys a listen.
Looks like you know your trombonists.

40 of the 64 team rosters have been updated.

Season 66 should begin next week.

Getting there slowly but surely... 48 of 64 teams have been updated with rookies and roster changes.

16 teams to go.

13 teams to update with rookies and roster purges.

Will do them all today, so I can get on with season 2066 in the IPA.

Sorry, gonna watch the World Series tonight.

6 more teams to do... then IPA season 2066 begins.

Will finish them tomorrow.

Thank goodness, I just did the last team... the Wynnamac Sundowners.

All 64 teams' rosters have been updated for the 2066 IPA season.

I'll work on the preseason preview next.

I tried to download the final patch for OOTP21, but it would not respond... I posted for help on the Discussions Forum, but have not gotten any response after a day.

Any of you know how to download the final patch?... there was notice that some people had problems and it gave instructions on how to handle it, but I didn't understand the instructions.

Check out my thread on the OOTP21 Discussions Forum... it gives details of my problem.

I got lucky... I click on everything I could click on and somehow, someway it downloaded to my Downloads folder the exe file... it seems to have installed alright.

So now, I have the final patch of OOTP21... hope the animation has been improved a bit... many people said it was better.

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Wednesday, March 31, 2066

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL, IPA BACK IN BUSINESS
It's springtime in Islandia and the Islandian Pro Alliance is back for its 66th season... opening day all across the Islands is Friday afternoon... 64 clubs will be showing off their wares for the new season... as always "Hope Springs Eternal"... the IPA Pro Cup champion Southport Sun Sox are hoping to sparkle and shine and win back-to-back titles, something that has happened only 6 times in IPA history... the last time it occurred was in '53 and '54 by the Midway Wolves of the Tycobbian Union.

A couple of teams are rebranding themselves in an attempt to turn things around... the Ancona Red Elephants are now the Jumbos and the Blue Lake Schooners have become the Blue Caps... neither team may be better on the field, but they should be prettier in their new uniforms... maybe they might look better losing anyway.

The Rolling Hills Racers have captured the most IPA Pro Cup trophies with 5 to their credit... four clubs have garnered 4: North Hills, Southport, Tuckanarra and Valmara... only half of the 64 teams have ever won the much-coveted award... yet 32 of them are having to seemingly hope eternally... the Tycobbian Union has the edge over the Ruthlandian Union... the TU has taken 36 Pro Cups to 29 for the RU... Tycobbian has won 6 of the past 7 years.

TYCOBBIAN UNION 36 PRO CUPS... RUTHLANDIAN UNION 29 PRO CUPS

Rolling Hills 5 ('29, '31, '48, '60, '62)
Turon 4 ('03, '06, '09, '18)
North Hills 4 ('34, '36, '38, '41)
Valmara 4 ('26, '43, '49, '50)
Southport 4 ('27, '44, '47, '65)
Tuckanarra 3 ('23, '24, '35)
Middlefield 3 ('05, '52, '56)
Waleska 3 ('28, '37, '39)
Far Mountain 3 ('11, '12, '13)
Crystal Lake 3 ('20, '22, '58)
South Fork 2 ('25, '42)
Eastshore 2 ('16, '17)
Midway 2 ('53, '54)
Wynnamac 2 ('08, '55)
Red Bluff 2 ('04, '57)
Oxford 2 ('07, '61)
Hartsdale 2 ('46, '63)
Sugar Valley 1 ('45)
Taranto 1 ('15)
Volusia 1 ('01)
Ranford 1 ('40)
Rocky Rapids 1 ('19)
San Alejo 1 ('32)
Sligo 1 ('21)
Blue Lake 1 ('30)
Colfax 1 ('10)
Elnora 1 ('33)
High Mesa 1 ('02)
Kenwood 1 ('14)
Arlon 1 ('51)
Ginza 1 ('59)
Claxton 1 ('64)

In 2066 I'm rooting for Volusia to end a 65 year drought. Or a team to win their first IPA Pro Cup in franchise history.

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Thursday, April 1, 2066

PRESEASON PICKS: ANCONA, VALKA, BELLE PLAINE, STONER, EAST POINT, CHICOPEE, LUXORA AND COLCHESTER WILL WIN IPA PENNANTS
Can you believe it?... nothing but losers and also-rans are forecast to win the pennants this year in the Islandian Pro Alliance.

Did you believe it?

Look at today's date... April the first... April Fool's Day.

I must admit I wish it could be so... I dearly love it when a downtrodden team surprises and makes the playoffs... remember the Ginza Karate Kids in '59 and '60... and the Hartsdale Hellcats in '63... sadly, I don't think it's going to happen in 2066... perusing the preseason picks, the baseball gurus are going with the teams that have been the most successful in recent years... not a lot of surprises... however, we might just keep an eye on the Far Mountain Redhawks in the Ruthlandian North, the Mahaska Haymakers in the Tycobbian North and the San Alejo Montaneros in the Tycobbian South... they didn't do well last year, but just might be in the running this year.

Ruthlandian Union Preview

And now... away we go... looking into our IPA crystal ball for the year 2066... the LaGrange Gators are still the class of the RU North and should win their third flag in four years... but they need to keep an eye on Far Mountain, Glasco and Ranford, clubs that could make it interesting for the Gators... LaGrange has very good pitching and solid hitting.

Hands down, it's the Claxton Diamonds again in the Ruthlandian South... the Diamonds have standout pitching as usual... and for a change, a pretty good offense... Claxton is set to win its fourth straight division crown... the Diamonds won the Pro Cup in '64 and they played well in the postseason last year... no real challengers in the RU South... Grand City and St. John are the best of the lot... Claxton is forecast to win by double digits... the Diamonds look like the best team in the Ruthlandian Union this season... LaGrange, Sugar Valley and Sligo are rated second, third and fourth-best.

The Ruthlandian East is shaping up as a very tight three-team affair between Sugar Valley, Wynnamac and Marston... the baseball prognosticators are picking the Rattlers to prevail, followed closely by the Macs and the Nine... Wynnamac is seeking its third pennant in a row.

The Sligo Rovers have had a remarkable run in the Ruthlandian West... in the last 13 seasons, the Rovers have finished second 10 times and won it 3 times... the baseball experts have spoken and this year Sligo is the favorite, but they will be challenged by defending champion Colfax, Fort Benton and Middlefield... the Black Sox will be hard to beat... Colfax has won it 2 of the last 3 years and both seasons went all the way to the Pro Cup Finals.

Tycobbian Union Preview

The Tycobbian Union has been the home of the Pro Cup in 6 of the last 7 years... last year the Southport Sun Sox whipped Colfax in 5 games for the 2065 Pro Cup crown... this year's winner looks like it will come from Oxford, unheralded San Alejo, South Fork or Rolling Hills.

For 6 times in the last 8 seasons the Oxford Red Caps have been the best team in the Tycobbian North... they came in second in the other 2 seasons... the Red Caps are favored, but not by much... upstart Mahaska, White River, Blue Lake and Hartsdale are all poised to give Oxford a good run for their money... no real clear favorite in the TU North... it should be quite year.

In the Tycobbian South race, the baseball pundits are again enamored with the San Alejo Montaneros this year... the Monties won the pennant in '64, but fizzled last year, skidding to sixth place in the standings... this year San Alejo has the offense to go with its solid pitching... the Montaneros are predicted to win by double digits over defending Pro Cup titlist Southport... personally, I find that hard to believe... but EC is just an OOTP Forum sports hack at best and not employed by The Islandian Times or by the Baseball News Network... who cares what I think?... Summerland and Turon are also forecast to be among the better teams in the TU South.

In the Tycobbian East Division, South Fork has sensational pitching, perhaps, the best in the Islandian Pro Alliance... the Stallions are expected to win over 100 games this year and probably win the Pro Cup... they are expected to run away with the Tycobbian East... Ozarka, Red Bluff, High Mesa and last year's champion Tuckanarra will be far out of sight in the South Fork rear view mirror... no one is expected to be within 20 games of the Stallions... not only do they have great pitching, they have some solid hitters, too, with power... 'nuff said... EC is a believer.

And yes, the most powerful team in the Islandian Pro Alliance is still playing baseball... and they are favored to win their 7th consecutive Tycobbian West title... and just like they have in recent times, the Racers will have to fend off the sometimes feisty Kenwood Wildcats again... none of the other six clubs in the TU West appear to be any kind of contenders... the Rolling Hills Express is still rolling and will be trying their hardest to capture its 6th Pro Cup trophy... the Racers can still outhit everybody... a little bit of pitching would go along way in helping them win another Pro Cup trophy.

Ruthlandian Union Predicted Standings North
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Tycobbian Union Predicted Standings East
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Tuesday, June 1, 2066

JUMBOS, GENERALS, HAWKS AND 'CANES ARE CINDERELLA SURPRISES IN IPA
What is the best way to insure success on the diamond in the Islandian Pro Alliance?... spend a lot of money and sign talented free agents?... diligent scouting and discovering talented newcomers?... developing your own in-house talents... taking sabermetrics to the ultimate level... or maybe simply spend some money on a new logo or a new nickname like the Ancona Jumbos, Fort Benton Generals and Cape Coral Hurricanes... three of the division leaders did just that and they are all in first place after two months of play in the good old IPA, now in its 66th season... sure 'nuff, new monikers, new jerseys and new logos must really make a difference.

There are four Cinderellas having a ball this season in the Islandian Pro Alliance... the Ancona Jumbos (29-22) were picked to be last in the Ruthlandian North, but lo and behold, they are the big elephant in RU North circles, riding high and standing tall in first place at the end of May... it has been said that "War is hell"... well, so are the hellatious Fort Benton Generals (32-20), who are blitzkreiging the Ruthlandian West like panzers charging past the Maginot Line... the poorly-regarded North Hills Hawks (30-22) are soaring high in the top perch in the Tycobbian North... and how about those Cape Coral Hurricanes (35-18), ranked near the bottom in the Tycobbian South in the preseason polls, but they are blowing everybody away in sight so far in the early season.

But there is still some semblance of order in the IPA... the favored Claxton Diamonds (40-12) are really shining brightly in the Ruthlandian South already with a preposterous and unheard of 10-game lead at the end of May... top choice to win the Ruthlandian East, Wynnamac (30-22) is playing like they will win their third pennant in a row and sixth in the last nine years... thank goodness, there is some sense of sanity in the Tycobbian Union, too... as usual, powerhouse and Pro Cup favorite, the Rolling Hills Racers (39-13) are leaving everybody in the dust in the TU West for the seventh straight season... and the better teams are playing good like they should in the TU East... the Red Bluff Red Sox (33-19) currently are atop the standings, but are being hotly contested by this year's pick to prevail, South Fork... last year's pennant winner, Tuckanarra... and the Ozarka Naturals.

Other lackluster losers that were not well-regarded by the baseball pundits and prognosticators this season that are doing well so far, are the Elnora Clippers (27-26), running a close third in the RU East... the runner-up Volusia Vigilantes (31-22) and the fourth place Stoner Silver Sox (28-25) in the tight RU West race... the fifth place Hillsboro Blazers (26-26) in the TU East (the Blazers got beautiful new jerseys designed by the latest rage on the OOTP Graphics Forum, CD)... the second place Denton City Redbirds (33-20) and the third place Bay St. Clair Buccaneers (32-21) in the TU West.

All this means is that it's another glorious season in the Islandian Pro Alliance, thanks to our wonderful friend and beloved patron, Markus Heinsohn and all of his tremendously talented OOTP cohorts and baseball conspirators that got rich taking our hard-earned pesos for all these many years and have now sold us out for money, the root of all evil, and will now retire with his riches and live in luxury in Margaritaville with Jimmy Buffett... who would have thunk it?... that Markus is a parrothead... so much for loyalty to all of us dedicated and bamboozled gamers... can you believe he would have sold us out for some rum and coca-cola?... do you think Markus has run off and retired with the Andrews Sisters, Maxene, Patty and Laverne?

I know all of you young'uns are wondering who in the world the Andrews Sisters are... take this as a learning moment... look them up on Wikipedia... then go on youtube and listen to some of their great songs like "Rum and Coca-Cola".

You know what EC is gonna do right now?... sit back, relax, sip on an ice cold RC Cola and nibble on a moon pie... might even put peanuts in my ice cold RC Cola... and most of all head back to my heydays, the 1940s and enjoy the great music talents of Maxene, Patty and Laverne... the Andrews Sisters.

Here's your link on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqAmrUEnc1g

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Two teams now have new nicknames in the Islandian Pro Alliance.

Here are the logos, jerseys and caps for the Ancona Jumbos and the Blue Lake Blue Sox.

Unfortunately I had to use graphics made by EC... maybe I can one day get the good graphics folks to do them.

But I will say EC did a pretty good job on the Ancona jerseys... I really like them... the Blue Lake jerseys are fairly good, too.... the Blue Lake logo needs work... it is too plain and simple... thanks to the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Jumbos logo is fairly good.

txranger, one of the all-time greats on the OOTP Graphics Forum, did the beautiful IPA League Logo.

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Also the Hillsboro Blazers have new jerseys, compliments of the "The Latest Rage of the OOTP Graphics Forum", my good friend, CD.
(Note to CD... I'm complimenting your work on the OOTP Graphics Forum... not being critical)

CD did the Home Blazers jerseys and caps... the Away jersey was created by one of the best graphics guys ever in the OOTP Community... that would be knuckler.

knuckler's work was just too good to replace, but I thought CD did a real nice job on both the Home and Away Jerseys... and the Cap is excellent with the fancy H with the the speed stripes on it.

Attachment 733810
Thursday, July 1, 2066

CLAXTON AND ROLLING HILLS TOP TEAMS IN IPA AT MIDYEAR
Halfway through the 2066 season it is looking like the Claxton Diamonds and the Rolling Hills Racers could be headed for a Pro Cup showdown... The Diamonds are the top team in the Ruthlandian Union and the Racers are the number-one team in the Tycobbian Union... presently, they are the only safe postseason calls in the Islandian Pro Alliance... Claxton has double-digit lead in the RU South and Rolling Hills is running 6 games ahead in the TU West... not so in the other 6 divisions... tight pennant races are abound and in abundance... 16 clubs in the Ruthlandian Union are playing .500 baseball at midseason, while 19 teams are breakeven or better in the Tycobbian Union... 35 of the league's 64 clubs are within striking distance of first place.

Ruthlandian Union
Quickly brousing through the IPA, it's a 5-team tussle in the Ruthlandian North between co-leaders Valmara (46-33) and preseason favorite LaGrange (46-33)... however, Glasco (40-39), Ancona (39-39) and Ranford (39-40) could get back into the race in the second half... the Gators won it last year in easy fashion by 11 games over second place Glasco.

The race is over in the Ruthlandian South... Claxton (58-21) is up by 12 games over runner-up Crystal Lake (46-33) and looks to be headed for a recording-breaking season... they are on pace to shatter the IPA record for most victories in a season... Colfax and Midway currently hold the record with 107 wins apiece... the Black Sox, then the Blasters, did it in 2010, while the Wolves accomplished it in 2054.

What a race they are having in the Ruthlandian East with 7 of the 8 clubs still in the hunt... favorite and last year's champ Wynnamac (44-35) is seeking its third straight division crown... however, the Macs are being hotly pursued by Eastshore (43-36), just one game off the pace... Sugar Valley (40-38) is clinging close, just 3 and a half games behind... followed by Marston (40-40) and Cold Creek (39-39), tied for the fourth spot in the standings, just 4 and a half games out... even Beechwood (39-40) and Elnora (38-41) could it around and contend... Wynnamac is on top, but it could be pressured by several teams... the victor is still up in the air.

It's also quite a battle in the Ruthlandian West with 5 teams in the pennant chase... last year's winner Colfax (34-45) has taken a severe turn for the worst and tumbled to seventh place and looks to be out of it this year... the Fort Benton Generals (47-32) have taken charge with a 3 and a half-game edge over runner-up Middlefield (43-35)... lightly-regarded Volusia (42-37) is hanging close in the third spot, trailing by just 5 games... the well-regarded Sligo Rovers (40-39) are fourth in the standings and 7 games behind... and perennial loser Stoner (39-40) is 8 games back.

Tycobbian Union
Over in the Tycobbian Union, the North Hills Hawks (48-31) and last year's champ Hartsdale Hellcats (48-32) are in a heck of a fight... just a half-game separates them... White River (41-37) is also nearby in third place, 6 and a half games off the pace... preseason favorite Oxford (36-43) has floundered badly below the .500 mark and is sixth so far and not likely to challenge the leaders.

We have a Cinderella ballclub in the Tycobbian South... it's the Cape Coral Hurricanes (49-30)... picked near the bottom in the preseason rankings, the 'Canes have surprised and surged to the top of the standings, 3 games in front of last year's TU South winner Southport (46-33)... the Sun Sox are also the reigning Pro Cup titlist... four other clubs are still in contention at the halfway point... Turon (41-37) is in third place, 7 and a half games out... Arroyo Grande (41-38) is fifth, 8 GB... and Summerland (40-40) and San Alejo (40-40) are deadlocked in the fifth spot, but 9 and a half games back... the Montaneros were the preseason pick to win it all.

It's also a whale of a pennant race in the Tycobbian East where preseason favorite South Fork is one game up on runner-up Red Bluff (44-35), 2 and one-half games better than third place Ozarka, 3 and a half ahead of fourth place Hillsboro (42-38) and Tuckanarra (42-38)... even sixth place High Mesa (40-39) is just 5 games behind in a splendid pennant race.

Over in the TU West the powerhouse Rolling Hills Racers (48-31) as usual are doing quite well and seem to be on track for its 7th straight flag... arch rival Kenwood (49-31) is playing very well, yet it still trails the Racers by 6 games... the Denton City Redbirds (47-33) are a distant third and 8 games behind at midyear... fourth place Bay St. Clair (44-36) is also having a good year, but is 11 games out of first place.

What this all means is there is still another half of the season to be played in the Islandian Pro Alliance and lots to be settled on the baseball diamonds, where 6 of the 8 divisions are anybody's ballgame.

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The Claxton Diamonds are a great team this year! Can you post their team stats and roster?

The Diamonds have been very good the last few seasons... Claxton is headed for its fourth straight RU South title... they won the Pro Cup in an upset, beating powerful Rolling Hills in 2064.
It would be nice if they meet once again in the Pro Cup Finals... but that is really hard to do... 64 teams make it highly unlikely... this year it looks like Claxton has some offense to go with their fine pitching... that make them double trouble in the playoffs... the addition of a big bat at first base with rookie Jeff Walton, plus career years by Paddy Garson, Karl Dornhauer and Fred Hahn, has greatly boosted the offense... the Diamonds are hitting 30 points higher this year... they are batting a torrid .296 this season as opposed to a modest ..263 last year.

The way Claxton is playing this year makes the the odds-on favorite for the Pro Cup... their offense is right up there with Rolling Hills... and their pitching is much better than the Racers... head-to-head, I would favor the Diamonds.

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Claxton is very talented and well balanced but it looks like Rolling Hills may be just as good, so if they met in the Finals that would make for a very interesting series.