Social League News Wire

Michael Frain, GM of Team Commish, announced Friday that ties with LD Cat Tracey had been severed and the team had signed G Amanda (Mandy) Brant to a contingent-length contract. There was no lack of controversy over the signing, as the OPCR immediately raised concerns that Frain had influenced Brant to leave her former team (Team M-H-Rock, a member of the Southwest Wisconsin Social League) to sign with Team Commish. Frain denied all allegations and went on record, stating that "I had many opporunities to act unethically but instead I chose to wait until such a time when my actions would be free and clear without any controversy." That did not stop free agents such as Jayme Barschdorf from denouncing Frain as an unethical dealer. Frain downplayed such quotes, chalking them up to "jealousy that it was Ms. Brant that was signed, not themselves."

In other news, the HSC is down to two sanctioned events in its final season. The first one, Turnabout, is approaching quite rapidly. It takes place at 730pm on 16 Feb 2002. The matchups and rosters are all but set, with Team BoboKr the only wild card. Results will be available late that evening and will be finalized the next morning. The CC is also preparing for its own events, including the Spring Formal (date is still TBA).

The league offices of the IISL reopened a day early, as Commissioner Michael Frain returned to his office a day early amid controversy surrounding his teams signing of Cat Tracey. Many teams were under the assumption that the contract signed by Tracey was simply a contract for the event held December 31st, but Frain announced before the league break that Tracey would remain a member of Team Commish for an indefinite length of time. Frain was unavailable for comment on the matter, but sources around the league speculate that the OPCR may become involved, possibly at the request of Team BoboKr GM Robert Krajniak. Vice-Commissioner Tim Brechlin was conspicuously unavailable for comment as well, leading to speculation that he may not investigate Team Commish directly, but instead investigate the circumstances surrounding Tracey's termination with Team BoboKr and her subsequent signing with Team Commish. In question seems to be Tracey's motives for signing with a CC team - scouting reports indicate she's not quite ready for play in such a high-powered level, but others say that Frain is willing to take a chance on a youthful prospect with lots of potential. Updates to this story will be posted as they become available.

The second half of the season started early for two teams in the IISL early in the morning of January 1st, 2002. The House, run by Tim Brechlin, won a third game by an overwhelming margin, propelling him into a tie for first place in the HSC and providing much-needed momentum for the late-season heroics that has become a staple of The House's teams. The IISL had already awarded The House two wins for the signing of RD Amy Bergman. The third win provided The House with the needed points to resuscitate a dying record and propel the team back into the hunt.

In the Collegiate Conference, Team Commish made a surprising move, signing Cat Tracey to a contingent contract in the late hours of December 31st, providing time to acquire a win for the team in the sanctioned event held tonight in Aurora, IL. The upset victory allowed Team Commish, managed by Michael Frain, to move into sole possession of the CC lead. When asked to comment on his motives for signing Tracey, Frain was succinct, if not a bit nebulous: "She's a very good person to have around on the team. Whether or not it lasts, it certainly is worth a shot and, no matter what happens, she got the win for us tonight and we'll go from here." League insiders were shocked by the move, not expecting such an event to take place by Team Commish. Other analysts pointed out that there was a definite trend occuring between Frain and Tracey at these league events and it was only a matter of time before this signing took place.

What does this mean for the HSC? While Bob Krajniak, John Loucaides, and Paul Nepywoda - the Big Three of the conference - were unavailable for comment, analysts have been abuzz with their thoughts. Said one principal consultant for Team Nepy, "We've always told Paul that he's safe as long as Brechlin's in the back of the pack. Now he's already in a third-place tie, and probably moving forward. We all saw what he did in the playoffs last year, and that was after a winless regular season." The chief analyst for Team Zathros agreed, stating that "Brechlin's a sleeping giant. Except, he's not sleeping anymore." Team BoboKr officials declined comment on the situation.

TWB: Well, I'm going to have to be careful with my answer here. Everyone is aware of the controversy that surrounded the negotiations between Desmond and myself, so I won't get into that. However, it was brought to the attention of OPCR that there may have been tampering on the part of either Desmond or Nepywoda's part, or both, while she was under contract to my team. Thus, it's being looked into.

TWB: Well, I submitted my final report to OPCR this morning. To sum it up, I concluded that there was enough evidence to cite Commissioner Frain for report evasion and intentional disinformation regarding his signing of Claire Salz. However, now that he's released her, we can't void the contract, can we? (laughs) Sanctions haven't been decided upon, but I'm guessing that they'll be in the realm of suspension or fines.

TWB: You have to approach that from two different perspectives. As a general manager, my goal is to out-perform the other teams in my conference. Therefore, I'll curse his success and praise his failures. Outside of the league, however, Paul is a very good friend of mine. Any harsh words you see traded between us are merely in the context of honest competition, and are not a reflection of our personal lives.

Team Nepy -- Current Standing: 1st; Predicted Finish at Start of Season: 1st -- Paul Nepywoda's team has been bogged down by controversy, intrigue, and hostility, but has remained strong throughout. In his role as GM, Paul Nepywoda has made effective moves at the right times, and has put his team in a very strong position to grab the Valedictorian's Cup at the end of the regular season. Although the move is now being investigated by OPCR for possible tampering, his signing of Clare Desmond has been widely praised as a wise action. His methods may be questionable, he may be outspoken, and he may not be the most popular man at the card table, but there is no denying the fact that Paul Nepywoda is one hell of a GM.

Team BoboKr -- Current Standing: 2nd; Predicted Finish: 3rd -- The team that Bob Krajniak constructed was recently dealt a major blow by the midseason free-agent departure of Cat Tracey, but all indications are that it is still going strong. Krajniak has proved to be a resourceful, if hotheaded, general manager, and he will likely find a way to improve his team's standing by season's end.

Team Zathros -- Current Standing: 3rd; Predicted Finish: 2nd -- This team is headed by the most enigmatic general manager ever seen in professional sports, the mysterious John Loucaides. He answers questions by raising even more questions, and rarely does he ever state anything directly. However, it is hard to argue with results, mysterious as they may be. Zathros has been the most consistent performer for the past two seasons, and Loucaides is looking to continue that run - rumor has it that he has signed Dawn Sikora to a long-term deal, although there is no confirmation.

The House that Tim Built -- Current Standing: 4th; Predicted Finish: 4th -- It's hard to call a team that was picked to finish last in every category a disappointment, but that's exactly what The House has been. Free agents have shunned this organization at every opportunity, ranging from turning down better offers to go to other teams (Clare Desmond's signing with Nepy despite a lucrative offer from The House) to flat-out public rejection (the Halligan and Davidson-Bell debacles), GM Tim Brechlin has been faced with difficulty in any avenue he tries. Indeed, news from the team has dropped to absolute silence - the worst sign from any organization. IISL Weekly will attempt to procure an interview with Brechlin in the near future.

Year in and year out, Team Sparkle turns consistently turns out quality teams, and this year is no exception. Opening the season on a six-game winning streak, Team Sparkle (with Colin Smith at the helm and RW Diana Burrell leading the way) is once again leading the way in the CC. No roster moves are expected as Smith seems to have put together a championship-caliber team heading into the second half of the season.

All was well for The Commish until late in the first half of the season when an unexpected roster move sent the team into a downward spiral heading toward the all-star break. When asked to comment, GM Michael Frain remarked that "The team will recover for the second half of the season and may very well surprise some people throughout 2002." Rumors abound, but Frain will not confirm who his first choice to replace Claire Salz is, or if she will even be replaced by the end of the break. The SLN will keep an eye for any developments.

Plagued by inconsistency, Team MattKr struggled to string together wins during the first half, managing a couple meager streaks but overall not causing much damage in the win department. GM Matthew Krajniak is confident in his teams ability, citing that "Even though we can get off to rough starts, we manage to make it through each season with a reputable record. I doubt this season will be any different." It is unknown who Krajniak will sign for the second half of the season.

A slow start by Team Black Rose (managed by the enigmatic but equally charismatic KR Resnick) didn't dampen the spirits of the team - in fact management of the team expects it to start quickly in the second half and make a run up the standings. There have been whispers of a possible merger with The Commish, but no substantial negotiations have commenced as of press time. A merger would involve release of all current players on both teams, and Black Rose still has payroll obligations. In addition, the merger would have to be approved by current IISL management. Stay tuned.

Michael Frain abruptly terminated the contract of C Claire Salz on Wednesday evening, citing conduct detrimental to the team. "Ms. Salz's behavior has declined sharply in the last week, and it fell to the point that it was no longer beneficial to the team's continued success that she be a member of the team. Her contract was bought out an hour ago, and she is now officially a free agent," Frain said in a prepared statement. There is no official confirmation as to the actual circumstances regarding Salz's release, but one team insider speaking on condition of anonymity said that Salz had begun to make castigating remarks towards Frain that crossed the border of offensive. Salz was unavailable for statement at this writing.

Following his unceremonious termination of RW Talitha Davidson-Bell's contract, Paul Nepywoda is on the move once again. Team Nepy insiders are hinting that a formal contract offer may be made to RW Clare Desmond within the next two weeks. "Desmond's been wanting in for months, so it's really just a matter of when, not if," one Nepy advisor said. Another stated that "Paul's the type who doesn't want to stay silent for long - if he has the opportunity to make waves, he'll do it." When asked to comment on the rumors, House GM Tim Brechlin responded with a terse "I don't really care anymore about what he does. I'm ready to just fold my damn team at this point. If Desmond signs there, big whoop. It's not like they can beat us any more than they already have."

As can be concluded from the previous item, news from The House has stopped completely. Brechlin has secluded himself from advisors and friends, as well. "I think he's just tired of it all right now. The losing's starting to get to him," one team official said, and went on to say that "They talk about the law of averages and grass being greener on the other side, but it's not a popular opinion around here right now."

In his role as Vice-Commissioner, however, Brechlin has not been silent. He has launched an official investigation into the activities of the Zathros team, citing evidence of rules evasion. In his preliminary report filed this morning, he stated that "The IISL has been presented with substantial evidence that John Loucaides has engaged in willful deception of the IISL and IISLPA as a whole. To be specific, it appears evident that a contract between Loucaides and LW Dawn Sikora was agreed upon some time ago, possibly two months or more, and that that contract was not reported to the proper authorities. Exacerbating the wrongdoing, both Loucaides and Sikora openly deny the existence of such an agreement." The investigation will likely not be over for some time, possibly lasting until January or February, but the possible punishments are severe. According to IISL rules, the Commissioner's Office has the authority to arbitrarily terminate contracts, suspend team officials, and ban teams from competitions for indefinite periods of time, subject to arbitrator approval.

"Good evening. To begin, allow me to say that the IISL has indeed been racked with a number of internal issues that have weakened morale and drive. I cannot and will not dispute that. However, I will dispute the supposition that these "issues" are the hallmarks of organizational cancer. Instead, I remind you that these are transitional times, and that these issues are merely symptomatic of transitional times.

Yes, I will address the situation regarding Tory Davidson-Bell. To put it bluntly, Ms. Davidson-Bell has been an embarrassment to the league, its management, its players, and its fans. Her conduct is completely indefensible, there is no question about it. Ms. Davidson-Bell was placed on indefinite suspension by the IISL as of last evening. I will go on record as stating that I do not expect her to be reinstated during the course of this season. Let her eat cake.

Yes, yes, I will address the issue of Commissioner Frain. Yes, there is an investigation of the commissioner and his activities. And, in fact, that investigation has produced concrete results. I presented the findings to our OPCR office earlier today. To summarize them, there is irrefutable evidence that Commissioner Frain signed Claire Salz to a contract more than four weeks before any official notice was given. However, I cannot tell you what action will be taken against Mr. Frain, as there are no guidelines for disciplinary action nor any precedent. However, action WILL be taken - I can promise you that.

There has been a large amount of criticism lately regarding the IISL's scheduling, or in my opinion, the lack thereof. I agree wholeheartedly with what has been said regarding the absolutely appalling lack of events on the schedule until mid-February. I find it laughable and quite simply disgusting - this is a COMPETITIVE LEAGUE, not a beer hall. However, there is nothing I can do about it - unfortunately, even league management has to answer to ownership in many cases. You want answers? Go ask Loucaides why there hasn't been a damn thing going on. Or better yet, ask Nepywoda, since he seems to want to run this show.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. As many of you probably understand by now, the IISL is decidedly in a transitional period. While the league is still strong, it is undergoing changes that will, in the end, allow it to be an even stronger force in professional sports. The first point of emphasis is on two of our more talented players, Tory Davidson-Bell and Angel Abrell. Despite many rumors floating about them, I would like to set the record once and for all on how the league stands concerning the recent actions of these two players.

"Tory Davidson-Bell, no matter how talented a player she is, must abide by the standards of conduct laid down by the league. To this point she has failed to do so and has violated the substance-abuse policy numerous times. While the IISL has always embraced its own and has done so in this case, offering help and assistance to Ms. Davidson-Bell, she has repeatedly disappointed us and now must be disciplined, in an effort to turn her around. She is hereby suspended indefinitely, most likely for the rest of the season. Until she displays consistent, concerted progress, she cannot participate in the league - she must resolve her problems first.

"As for Angel Abrell, her constant jumping of teams and turning of the league rumor mill is causing numerous distractions. As of this evening, she will not be allowed to play under contract for any IISL team in any sanctioned event unless the OPCR specifically approves the case. The OPCR will receive the request for contract, and determine if the negotiations are in good faith or simply an attempt to start the rumor wheel spinning. This league is not to be a forum for social experimentation - it is to be a legitimate sports organization whose structure is based around contract bonds that are solid.

Frain: "It is not. As a commissioner, I work with VC Brechlin in a different manner than when I work with him while I am a team owner. I also consider him a close personal friend, and as such we have learned to separate personal matters from business affairs. I understand that he has a job to do, and as owner I will not stand in his way. As commissioner I will assist him in every way possible."

Frain: "Since scheduling is generally handled by the individual teams, that will not change. It is only natural that more sanctioned large-scale events happen in the spring. Unfortunately these events are very difficult to plan and execute, so very few of them can be scheduled in the course of a season. In the league office we are always kicking around ideas on how to increase individual scheduling. Possible ideas we may implement next year include a minimum number of wins or games played to qualify for a postseason berth, qualification for sanctioned events based on individual scheduling, or mandatory intra-conference scheduling. More news will be forthcoming as we solidify details about these changes."

Frain: "Well, I suppose we all mellow out after we've had a chance to think about what we say. But actually I just know he's doing his job and if he oversteps his boundaries, I'll let him know. This is a new job for him and sometimes it takes a little while to learn the ropes. Right now, what he's doing is well within his job description. And I know what you're going to ask next - is it a conflict of interest to run the team while leading the league? No, it is not. If it comes upon me to level any punishment against my franchise, I'll take my medicine like a man and be done with it. That's as fair a level as I can see."

Commissioner Frain today filed papers with the IISL and IISLPA, announcing his signing of C Claire Salz to a long-term contract. Terms were not disclosed. However, in an odd turn of events, some IISL officials have stated off the record that Vice Commissioner Brechlin has launched a low-profile investigation of the signing, believing that everything may not be on the up-and-up. "We've had some evidence that Ms. Salz has been acting as a member of The Commish for some time without any official notice from Mr. Frain, so an investigation was inevitable, announced signing or not," said one insider who spoke on condition of anonymity. VC Brechlin declined to comment on the situation, but did say he would touch upon the rumors in his upcoming league address, due this week. When asked to comment, Frain noted that "no league-sanctioned events had taken place during the time Brechlin contends Ms. Salz became part of the team again and the offical announcement. What is he going to do? It's not like anything illegal took place. He should keep to his business in the HSC. I pay him to fix problems, not step on toes." Frain's pointed remarks went without reply.

In other news involving Brechlin and The House, the situation between Clare Desmond and House management has turned ugly. Apparently, Desmond is refusing to honor a standing debt to The House. According to one House official, "Ms. Desmond owes us money for breach of contract, plain and simple. And we're going to get that money, plain and simple." When reached for comment, Desmond stated, "I don't have to pay them; I've got more important things to worry about." VC Brechlin is expected to send the matter upstairs to Commissioner Frain in coming days and officially request his judgment.

In CC news, Black Rose signed G Jason Stockhausen to a long-term deal. Terms were not disclosed. This comes after two months of intense negotiations, and it comes as no surprise that both parties are relieved to have finished the deal. Katy Rose Resnick, the GM of Black Rose, noted that "these negotiations did take time, but that time was well worth the effort it took to hammer out the details of this agreement which benefits both Jason and myself." Stockhausen was unavailable for comment.

Paul Nepywoda spoke out recently against his team's fine for unspecified rules violations, calling it "insane" and also indicting IISL management. "[Brechlin and Frain] are out of their league, and they doesn't know what they're doing. Fining us $300,000 is crap, and I'm not going to pay it. OPCR can take their investigation and stick it; I do what I do and I don't need someone telling me I can't." Brechlin was unavailable for comment; Frain noted that "Nepy better quiet himself down, or he might find himself dwelling in the cellar of his conference before long."

In other HSC news, the recent owners' meetings concluded with no real news to report. No proposals for new events or different scoring regulations were put forth, even though they were expected to be the focal point of the discussions. When asked why, John Loucaides of Zathros stated "I guess we just didn't care. How should I know?" Tim Brechlin took a stronger standpoint, saying "It's not my problem if my esteemed colleagues have issues with getting things off the ground. They're the ones who are losing out on opportunities for points."

IISL insiders have learned that Vice-Commissioner Tim Brechlin has officially suspended LD/W Tory Davidson-Bell for three weeks as a result of another violation of league substance-abuse policy. It was known for some time that Davidson-Bell was under investigation for her relatively questionable off-ice activities, and insiders suggested that the investigation was ramped up after Brechlin was named VC.

"Ms. Davidson-Bell's behavior has declined to the point that it is detrimental to herself and to the league. I have no choice but to suspend Ms. Davidson-Bell for three weeks, with her reinstatement pending a hearing before OPCR. If, in my opinion, she has not demonstrated reasonable improvement in her conduct by that point, she will be placed on indefinite suspension by the league," Brechlin said.

In other breaking news, Commissioner Michael Frain awarded the team Nepy five losses and a fine of $300,000 for unspecified rules violations pertaining to contract negotiations and salary cap issues. Frain declined comment except to say that "[Paul] Nepywoda's behavior is out of hand and must be stopped at once. Further violations will result in losses of standing points and heavier fines. We will get our message through that this league's rules must be adhered to strictly, or punishment will be dealt severely."

Commissioner Michael Frain, GM of The Commish, was spotted by IISL insiders with C Claire Salz. When questioned later, he denied any news of contract talks. "Damn it, people, get it through your head. I was enjoying a dinner with an old friend. Can't you morons look at that without having to blow it out of proportion in so many ways?" It was remarked that possibly it was not the SLN reporters blowing it out of proportion...but the denial was highly uncharacteristic of Frain, being highly vehement and vitriolic toward the reporters.

Tim Brechlin, GM of The House, announced today in a press conference his acceptance of Commissioner Frain's recent offer. A transcript of his speech: "It was very smart of our commissioner to realize the importance of a league structure in the HSC. And in response to his move, I'm proud to accept his offer for the vice-commissionership of the IISL and as well as president of the HSC. For starters, I want everyone to know that the discipline isn't going to be as lax as it was under the previous setup. Yes, I'm referring in part to the madness that went on a month ago and to some extent is going on now. On that note, I am announcing that I am taking over for Commissioner Frain as head of the OPCR investigation into Angel Abrell. Now that the investigation can actually be carried out from inside the conference, I expect some results. "For those of you who will ask about conflict of interest, I've already got an answer. In any matters that directly affect the affairs of The House, I will defer all decisions to Commissioner Frain. "This will be a playoff team this season. Chicago has a scouting department for the first time ever. This team will be competing for the Stanley Cup in three to five yea...oops, sorry, wrong press conference. "I'm not going to use clichés, I'm not that kind of guy. There's a new sheriff in town. The buck is going to stop here. This league is stuck between a rock and a hard pla...oops, sorry, wrong press conference again. "Not much is going to change in the HSC, for the moment. I emphasize "for the moment". As president of the conference I'm now tasked with the responsibility of analyzing the day-to-day operations of the conference and its members. And let me just say it right now - OPCR covers ethics, too, Nepywoda. "So, in closing, I want to thank Commissioner Frain for this opportunity. I also want to make it known that I'm not going to rule this like a fiefdom; I'm simply an overseer. That is all."

League insiders predicted that Team Nepy was looking to make a splash in the free-agent market, but no one expected it to be this soon...and certainly not with the player they selected. On Sunday, October 14th 2001, Nepy filed official notice with the IISL and IISLPA that the team had signed RW Talitha Davidson-Bell to a long-term contract. Terms were not disclosed to the media, but it is believed to be heavily loaded with incentives. Reactions from other team officials were mixed.

"Obviously it's good to see that the competition in our conference is still as heated as ever, but as an observer I have to question the wisdom of the move," said House GM Tim Brechlin. It is well-known that off-ice issues began to poison Davidson-Bell's performance near the end of her previous contract with Nepy, particularly in May and June. Whether or not these issues are anywhere near resolved is anyone's guess.

It was officially announced last week that talks between The House and RW Clare Desmond have officially broken off. The news came as no surprise to a number of team and league officials, particularly because it had become common knowledge that Desmond was greatly interested in meeting with Team Nepy representatives. "What was being offered was very standard, nothing special. I've always said I want to be on a team, but I'm not just going to go to the first team that gives me an offer sheet," said Desmond regarding the failed negotiations. However, GM Brechlin was a bit more vitriolic in his statement, once again suggesting that negotiations may not have been done in good faith. "I don't think she ever had any intent of getting into serious negotiations, and I think she just wanted to see how far we were willing to go. It's her loss; we'll move on just like we always do and we'll find someone else," he said. How soon The House will be able to move on is in question, however. The free-agent market has become extremely thin in recent weeks

Commissioner Frain has been a busy man in the last few weeks. He not only is coming off a very successful Homecoming weekend for the CC, but he has been saddled with his administrative duties as well. There of course is the ongoing OPCR (Office of Professional Conduct Review) investigation into the activities of D Angel Abrell, which Frain is in charge of overseeing. In addition, he is still drafting and reviewing potential schedules for the remainder of the first half of the season (it has been suggested that new events should be created to compensate for the unreasonable lull in activity for the next few months). Said Tim Brechlin, "If we're going to have a four-month gap of activities in the HSC, why not just declare Nepywoda the winner already and get it over with? Bloody hell, it's like a second offseason and we don't need it." Frain was unavailable for comment.

Dubuque, IA (SLN) -- Commissioner Michael Frain, fearless leader of the IISL, is reported to have offered The House player/coach/GM the position of HS Conference President, citing Brechlin's desire to have a leadership role for a member of the HS Conference as well as a league office wish to have a second-in-command for the entire league in the event that Frain should require the services of one. "If he accepts, Mr. Brechlin would be my vice-commissioner as well as the foremost authority on matters concerning the HS Conference. With the office having moved out to Iowa, it is increasingly difficult to keep tabs on the activities of HSC members, and with the recent disconcerting news concerning certain members of the IISL, I feel it would be very prudent to have a representative within the geographical confines of the HSC. Having received the bulk of reports in the past couple of weeks from Mr. Brechlin, I feel it justified that he be offered an official position within the league structure." Brechlin was not immediately available for comment, but sources close to the GM say that he will accept the offer within the week.

An interesting side-note to this news is that it is the first news out of the Frain camp since Clarke College HC. Insiders insist that Frain is not up to anything but other sources around the league say that he "is up to something." What it is cannot be immediately discerned but SLN is keeping an ear to the ground in the event news breaks. Experience has shown that when members of The Commish get quiet, it's usually because they're hard at work on something. Again, what it could be is not known at this time, but sources here at SLN will continue to keep exploring.

As was expected, The Commish ended the HC weekend on a high note, going 3-0 at the only sanctioned event of the fall and early winter in the Collegiate Conference. At the post-event press conference, the general mood was one of happiness and satisfaction at how the event transpired. Said the coach, "The match overall was well played and in conclusion was a great adventure. Hopefully the spring event will be just as fruitful and good to our record." The owner was not available for comment, but has granted the SLN an exclusive interview in the near future. Watch this space for the premiere of what is certain to be an enlightening talk.

News from underneath The House's roof has come to an absolute standstill. However, there have been a few reports that contract talks between GM Tim Brechlin and RW Clare Desmond have now frozen stiff. "I want to be on a team and I want to contribute to a winning effort, but frankly, none of the teams in the conference appeal to me," Desmond reportedly said. When asked to comment, Brechlin stated, "It's always been my policy not to negotiate through the media and it's still going to be. All I'll say is, if it's true, her loss." . . . .

In other news relating to Brechlin, he has now officially started a push to be named as assistant commissioner of the IISL. An excerpt from his press conference: "Our commissioner is in Iowa! Our commissioner is a card-carrying member of the Collegiate Conference! All I want is for the HS Conference to have an equal standing in the front office of this league. If our commissioner is going to continue active participation in his conference, then at the very least an assistant commissioner should be located in OUR conference." . . . .

There has been a large public outcry against Nepy coach/GM Paul Nepywoda following comments he made to one of his advisors. Nepywoda allegedly said, "I see these things as opportunities, really. I'm not looking to win." Commissioner Frain was reported to be quite upset at Nepywoda, and House GM Tim Brechlin, normally reserved in his statements, blasted Nepywoda with a scathing rebuke: "If you're in it just to make money so you can have a few extra kicks, just fold up your team and go home. Quit wasting your time and ours." . . . .

The next event on the league's calendar is the Clarke College Homecoming, only one day away. . . . however at this point it is hard to tell how the events after Homecoming will unfold. Currently, Michael Frain, player/GM/owner of The Commish, is not answering questions related to the league or his standing in it. At this point, one can only speculate. Possibly he has another signing to announce in the upcoming days but nobody can say for sure because Frain is not talking.

Nepy and The House are the two teams currently seeking immediate free-agent help. Analysts identify Nepy as the team more likely to make a signing in the near future, however. It is believed that the long-running losing streak of The House that stretched more than two years and ended only last month has established a stigma, warding off free agents. Analysts do believe, however, that there is a significant gap in coaching and overall management between the two, with the advantage towards The House. Said Nepy GM Paul Nepywoda, "Take your analysis and shove it. Gap in coaching, my ass - look at the records, and look where I've gone. If there's any advantage, it's mine." . . . .

Nepy - Coached by Paul Nepywoda, Overall Season Record 3-0 - Nepy came into Homecoming amid speculation that his run at the top could be over, to be displaced by a resurgent BoboKr or perhaps even Zathros. However, thanks to excellent strategy and planning by coach/GM Paul Nepywoda, Nepy flew in with guns blazing and never looked back. The team rightfully earned three wins for the evening, and now speculation is brewing that a long-term deal between Nepywoda and RW Talitha Davidson-Bell could be in the works once again. The relationship between Nepywoda and Davidson-Bell is long and tortuous, and would be enough to fill an entire book. Right now, the situation over at Nepy has the attention of the entire league...

The House - Tim Brechlin, 3-1 - The House limped into Homecoming, both literally and figuratively. Coach/GM Tim Brechlin, also known as The Gimp, was wheeling and dealing leading up to the night and eventually was able to guarantee placement. According to all present, RW Clare Desmond performed admirably in her role. Said Cat Tracey of BoboKr, "It was cute." The one-week contract that was signed expired immediately following the event, and there is no news of any further development. There is substantial interest from The House, but Desmond appears to want to take her time and analyze her options. Most are predicting that a decision will be made by mid-February. Unfortunately, that may be too much time, and BoboKr and Nepy may have left The House in the dust by that time. More as it develops...

Angel Abrell, the highly criticized defenseman formerly of Nepy, was not reprimanded following the event, having not caused any major problems at the dance. She was seen arguing with the referees on occasion, but this is nothing new for Abrell. She has long maintained that "the referees suck." Commissioner Frain laughed and said, "If I ran my business according to the opinions of the people that work for me, I'd be long out of business."

We have been receiving unconfirmed reports throughout the past two days that all may not be well under The House's roof. There have been some rather public incidents between House coach/GM Tim Brechlin and D Angel Abrell, and now insiders are confirming speculation that Abrell has been attempting to sour the business relationship between The House and RW Clare Desmond, recently signed to a one-week deal earlier this week.

However, nothing has been confirmed by House officials. We can only guess at the current nature of tensions. Papers have already been filed with IISL management; thus it would be impossible for The House to void its deal with Desmond before Saturday's Homecoming event. However, some analysts are predicting that the relationship is already over, and that the sides will part ways following the expiration of the contract.

IISL involvement is slim so far. Insiders suspect that if The House does not win at least one game this weekend, Abrell will be fined heavily and suspended from league play for at least one year. She may receive a fine and/or suspension even if she is unsuccessful in her alleged efforts to undermine The House. Michael Frain, commissioner of the league, declined comment, saying that he would await the results of the event to make any final determination on appropriate punishment. "We must strive to be objective in these matters-if her efforts are futile, then it is fruitless to punish her, because we do not care about stupidity. If she succeeds, then we will certainly make sure she is reprimanded, and heavily so. So it's a lose-lose situation for her - if she succeeds, we will act. If she does not, we will all laugh at what a moron she has made herself look like." Under his breath, Frain seemed to add that "she's a moron anyway, didn't you know that already?"

"Second, The Commish would like to announce the signing of Jayme Barschdorf, formerly with the Southern Maine Social League. From all accounts, she was truly an asset to the SMSL, and hopefully will be one for the IISL as well. We have signed her to a temporary contract through October 13th, with a team option to be exercised past that point. We are confident she will be a great asset to our team. We are looking forward to a great matchup at Homecoming this year."

In other news, team insiders for The House are telling us that a one-week contract between The House and RW Clare Desmond is all but a done deal, and the only thing left is an official announcement. Reasons for the delay are speculated to be the intensifying preproduction schedule of Timby Is Forever, the latest from Tim Brechlin's film group, Moo Studios. We have no information regarding any possible extension of the contract.

The House - Indeed, the blood is in the water for The House That Tim Built. In a move that absolutely shocked officials around the league (except from Zathros, who was a driving force behind the deal), the enigmatic TWB signed Clare Desmond to a one-week contract. The House was the final team to have a confirmed showing at Homecoming, and although the simple presence of The House is stunning to many, the lateness of this move may be a bad sign. The House will be the enigma this year, it appears - its GM/coach is probably the brightest in the league, but its perpetual lack of success is mind-boggling. Perhaps things will turn around following the beginning of the season, but analysts are not optimistic.

In HS Conference activity, Nepy re-signed Talitha Davidson-Bell through 22 Sep 2001. This move was not totally unexpected, but still a small surprise to those in the Nepy camp and insiders through the league. Having parted on good terms, the two parties left open the option of renewing their relationship at a later time, and it seems they have done so. Out of The House's camp, reports are that Tim Brechlin has signed RW Clare Desmond. Brechlin has confirmed that the signing is through 22 Sep 2001. The signing provides the club with an automatic win, and a possibility for up to three more on September 22nd. With his signing of LD Tory Davidson Bell through the next weekend (29 Sep 2001), the possibility exists for The House to take command of the HS Conference with an 8-1 or 7-2 record.

A big juicy one just off the wire today...The Commish, having renounced the rights to C Claire Salz, is rumored by numerous sources to be in negotiations with none other than...The Commish! Yes, folks, that's correct. Michael Frain, player-coach-GM of the team, has declined comment so far, but sources close to him report that ever since the buyout of the Salz's contract, both parties were having second thoughts about the buyout since it occured. Neither Salz nor Frain will confirm, but it is believed that details are being hammered out at this time.

In other news, Tim Brechlin, player-coach-GM of The House, and Tory Davidson-Bell, of the West Suburban Social League team "Bat Girl", reportedly will team up for the first sanctioned event of the WSSL year, the Geneva HS Homecoming. Unfortunately, voices are quiet in regards to Brechlin's attempts to sign a free agent prior to Benet Academy's Homecoming, the first sanctioned event for the IISL. IISL officials have not yet determined if Geneva HS's Homecoming will be sanctioned by the IISL as well, but there seems to be no reason to think that officials will not allow it in the standings.

So what's this we hear about The House wheeling and dealing? That's right, folks, good ol' Timby Brechlin is moving and shaking, and insiders say he could be close to a deal with center Kara Halligan. Halligan was reported to have mentioned that The House "would make an awesome team for my skills". After digging further, The House denied such reports as "preposterous" and "unfounded", being based on only the quote. Halligan was not available for comment. The House did not vigorously deny the rumors, however, drawing suspicion from insiders that perhaps the team is preparing to sign Halligan to a lucrative deal. Halligan, a free agent, brings depth to a team that has been sorely lacking in that area for the past two seasons.

Analysis: This move would be beneficial for all involved...Halligan gets to lead a team in need of leadership. The House gains a power player in hopes of rising in the HS Conference ranks next year. While undoubtedly the free agent market is diverse and there could be more options for Brechlin, the signing of Kara Halligan is certainly a step in the right direction. At the very least it puts him in a competitive position for the first major event of the year, Homecoming (worth three games in the standings). Despite the denial of knowledge, it is very possible that The House management is considering this roster move very carefully and may make a decision on it within the week. By then, ISL Rumor central should have more information on a potentially league-changing signing.

Looking around the conferences this week, it's pretty quiet. Aside from minor signings and cuts (The House and The Commish excepted) the teams are playing it close to the vest, keeping quiet their plans for the coming season. It's not unusual for this time of year, as game plans are being formulated and guesses are being made as to what the other teams are going to bring out come opening day.

After officially cutting loose Claire Salz, insiders with The Commish report that major talks have begun between Michael Frain and C Katrina Kolind. In addition the obvious stumbling blocks that might hamper such a deal (being the logistics of such a contract), Kolind is looking for a long-term deal while GM Frain is looking more for a contingent contract. Insiders say that the parties are closer to an agreement than it appears. More to come as this develops.

Aurora, IL (SLN) -- Michael Frain, owner of the league champion club "The Commish", finalized the buyout agreement reported to be in negotiations on Wednesday with his starting center, Claire Salz. Having lost his star player, Frain now goes on the search for a replacement to put him back on the title track again in 2001-02. "Truthfully, the team stands a decent chance as it is, and even though we lost [Salz], it's not going to hurt us as much as the analysts predict. We can fill her place in the roster, maybe not completely, but with some effectiveness." When asked about the separation, Frain said that "it was better to do it now and leave open the possibility that she may re-sign in the future, rather than keep her on for one or two more years and allow the relationship to irreversibly deteriorate. I'm not completely shutting the door but we're going to have to live without a major star such as her for a year, possibly more. We'll just have to see what happens once the season opens and the signing period starts." The lockdown on free-agent signings ends for the Collegiate Conference on August 24th. The HS Conference may commences FA signings on August 28th. All signings must be reported to the league office for final approval.

There were reports going into today that Team Nepy would be placing Paul Nepywoda, its player-coach-GM and central figure, on the disabled list due to prolonged illness. That proved to be the case today, as Nepywoda was placed on injured reserve, making him eligible for activation on 1 September. What does this mean for the conference? Potentially, this could throw a monkey wrench or ten into the way the conference was shaping up. Nepy was expected to continue its winning ways (and its dominance of the conference) this season. However, if Nepywoda is unable to perform, that makes the team ineligible to participate in all events until he is returned from IR....

There is a new air of optimism coming from the training camp of The House (located in scenic Wautoma, WI), based on both the news from the Nepy camp as well as developments on its own end. As reported on the wire yesterday, team president and general manager Tim Brechlin tentatively agreed to begin negotiations with Talitha Davidson-Bell. Said one House insider, "This would be a hell of a signing. Talitha would bring significant knowledge of the systems and strategies of Nepy. Insider trading? All's fair in love and hockey."....

The Commish, AKA the Piano Man, announced today its plans to negotiate a buyout of C Claire Salz's contract. This leaves the team in a bit of a lurch. According to one assistant at the team, "We could be in trouble. The commish has been unusually kept to himself in the last few days, and that's not a good sign." There is speculation that the buyout of Salz was fueled by budgetary constraints. Following the jump to the CC, the Commish went through a number of free-agent busts, which would place a strain on any team. League officials have not made any comment regarding contact to the League Central Fund (available to teams in need of financial injections), but there could be news in the coming days.

Downers Grove, IL (SLN) -- Accusations today by the former star of MattKr, Colleen O'Toole, cast a pall on the team's recent signing of Amy Hogan. Comments were unavailable from O'Toole, but Matt Krajniak, team captain, said that "all's fair in love and war. I don't feel this was underhanded in any respect." The team's manager-GM, Captain Buckles, said that "all negotiations were made in good faith and without any underhanded tactics involved." O'Toole disputes that claim, issuing a statement yesterday denouncing the signing. Krajniak and Buckles are writing off the accusations as "bitterness toward the team that cut her following her season-ending injury" and agree that it shouldn't be taken seriously, but league insiders report that officials are looking into the validity of the contract. What steps might be taken is unknown, but possible steps include a fine, suspension, or forfeiture of league-sanctioned matches.

After a weak finish in 2001, Nepy looks to rebound in the coming season. Having agreed to part ways with his key player, manager Paul Nepywoda is looking to rebuild over the signing period in time for the first HSC game on September 22nd. "I'm not worried yet, even though the free agent pool is thin this offseason, we still look good. We'll be competitive again, like we always are." After a regular season conference championship in 2001, look for Nepy to be challenging for a second straight crown in 2002.

Expectations were high at the beginning of last season, but due to some early-season setbacks, Zathros was never quite able to recover, stringing together a pair of point-games late in the season, but unable to do real damage during most of the season or in the playoffs. A loss to The House in the conference semifinals was highly unexpected, but forgivable due to the fact that The House caught fire in the playoffs (in more ways than one). With key moves in the 2001 signing period, look for Zathros to come out swinging in 2002.

After an improbable run in the ISL Playoffs, The House looks to come out strong early in the 01-02 season. Despite an incredibly rough off-season, and a thin free agent market to work with, The House seems to have an ace in the hole...while details were not immediately available to release, it seems The House seems very confident in its ability to compete in the 01-02 season. 'It's not a matter of not wanting [to be competitive], it's a matter of not being sure I want to give up another loss because she didn't live up to potential.' With the off-season contract busts, caution is obviously in high supply, but insiders say that once the signing period begins in late August, there will be some surprises from The House. The HS Conference looks to be a three-team race come playoff time.

The perpetual whipping boy of the league, BoboKr will attempt to break its streak of losing seasons this year. While having difficulty signing free agents, BoboKr is trying to stock up on resolve and looks to break its two-year winless streak. Unfortunately, this team is realistically another year or two from being competitive, so this year should provide some much-needed experience to its players.

The Collegiate Conference, generally regarded as the stronger of the two league conferences, almost gave up that distinction last year, as The Commish came within 13 seconds of losing Game 3 to The House, the upstarts from the HS conference. Despite the turmoil within the organization and the reshuffling of its starting team, The Commish looks to compete for a third straight title in 01-02, with an all-star lineup sure to make its mark. It won't be easy, however, playing in a conference that is anybody's to win.

After a season that held so much promise went down in the finals days due to a career-ending injury, MattKr looks to rebound this season and put together another winning run. With free agent season looking thin for everyone, MattKr still looks to put together a team that is powerful enough to challenge The Commish, with whom he is a rival with. He is the main competitor to challenge The Commish for the conference crown and possibly the league title as well. The enigmatic team will show itself soon enough.

Despite having an undefeated year, the lack of experience the team saw was its undoing in the playoffs. Looking to rebound, no moves have been made and the team looks to continue its winning ways in 2001, while playing in a few more games. The manager acknowledged that "when it came crunch time, the team was inexperienced and that will have to change for next year." Look for Sparkle to shine come opening day.

Due to the relocation of the league office, The Eastern Edge will no longer be in the ISL. To replace them, Black Rose joins the ISL in 2001. A strong competitor, it is yet to be seen how competitive Black Rose will be in the ISL. The ISSL is slightly weaker in terms of talent and competition, but for years Black Rose has been a competitive team in the ISSL, so look for Black Rose to make a name for themselves in the ISL.e u

Aurora, IL (SLN) -- Commissioner Frain returned Saturday evening from a two week hiatus in New York to meet with members of the Rochester and New York City councils, discussing viability of expansion into the Rochester and NYC areas. While no immediate progress was expected, groundwork was laid for possible expansion into upstate New York within the next five years, and possibly also expanding into metro NYC within the next ten years. No timetable has been established as most of the discussion was very informal and not binding in any respect. When asked about the state of his team for the upcoming season, Frain remarked that he "expected to be very competitive and we are very much looking to be in the running for another championship." When asked about his key player, he noted that "progress is being made, and I fully expect to field the same team he assembled at the trading deadline last year. However, should we be thrown a curve, I do have a backup plan in place." Frain declined to elaborate further, however, leading to widespread speculation among ISL insiders as to exactly what his "backup" plan is.

Charleston, IL (SLN) -- In a scene reminiscient of the OVC women's soccer championship, The House, 0-8-0-3 over the past season, nearly pulled the shocker of the year, taking The Commish to triple overtime in game three of the ISL Cup before succumbing 2-1. Inspired play by The House and possibly some let down from the Collegiate Conference championship by The Commish allowed The House to win game 2 and if not for spectacular play with the extra attacker in the final minutes of game 3, it would have been a spectacle of an upset. However, a controversial goal allowed by the referees won the game for The Commish, which has now won two straight championships and made three straight appearances in the title game. The House, which relies on an aggressive defense, gave a defensive clinic during the tournament, allowing more than two goals only once (in game 2 of the ISL Cup, ironically, which The House won 4-3). Spectacular goaltending and key plays by the defensemen allowed The House to keep offenses at bay for most of the playoffs. However, showing that they can win the shoot-outs as well, the offense scored 4 goals in a span of 8 minutes to defeat The Commish 4-3 in game 2. Next year looks to be a break-out season for The House, and Michael Frain, player-coach-GM for The Commish, acknowledges that "The House will be a force to be reckoned with next year" and that "[The House] proved exactly what the most important part of the year is-the playoffs." Free agent signings and trades may commence beginning June 1st.