***Cheaply edited titles play, showing clips of BoBo Saxton and L’Gazzy Burfict from the original “Dare to Dream” series plus snapshots of newspaper articles whilst Chumbawumba’s hit single ”Tubthumping” plays over the top.***
Narrator: Good evening. Now coming out of a stat heavy year in London in which L’Gazzy Burfict won both the LBotY and DPotY awards there were high expectations for the third round pick in Arizona. But nothing in life is that straight forward, certainly not in football. In tonight’s show, long time Shubutan native BoBo Saxton will start to guide you through a review of a debut season in the big leagues, and a look forward to see what season 27 may bring our favourite linebacker. So here he is, take it away BoBo.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, welcome, welcome, it’s me BoBo Saxton and i’m glad to be back for these special edition shows. Now for L’Gazzy Burfict’s debut season in the DSFL you’ll all remember that I travelled to London with him, following his every move as he took the league by storm. Bang Bang, Lion Gang. Unfortunately cut backs in the Clarke County networks sports team budget and my recent flying restrictions means that we’ve had to pull back a little this time out. But don’t go worrying yourelves. I’ve seen the games, I’ve rewatched all the tape and heck, I’ve even put together what I like to call BoBo’s SloMos. So crack open that beer, get your hand in that bucket of chicken and sit back and join me. Here we go!
***Screen goes blank for a moment.***
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so Arizona found L’Gazzy in the third round, one of the final few linebackers of the board tells you the standard of the class, and also how well our main man played that second year to win those two awards. I didn’t expect Arizona to be his landing spot, but that’s how football goes – you can never know what to expect. Let’s take a quick look at their roster.
***Graphic appears on screen on the AZ roster and some general stats, with BoBo’s face superimposed.***
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so this is what I mean about Arizona. Look at the two guys they have up there in the linebacker positions – those are classy guys. And when L’Gazzy was off winning those two DSFL awards, Galf Wilf was picking up the same awards in the ISFL. So you have two things right there. Clearly Arizona were looking to the future in picking up L’Gazzy, knowing that in some part Wilf could be the ideal role model, a bit like Busch Light and Juan Domine back in London. But then on top of that, seeing him slip down to them in the third probably wasn’t expected. They didn’t want to pass up on that opportunity. So maybe they made an adjustment for that, to bring him in. That’s my thought anyway, you know. With Wilf and Koniecpolski ahead of him there would be a lot of waiting, but learning, ahead. In fact, why take my word for it – L’Gazzy, you there?
***Screen splits horizontally into two and L’Gazzy Burfict appears , sitting on what looks like his living room couch. He’s dressed in an Outlaws tracksuit. There are photos and a few trophies on a set of shelves behind him.***
L’Gazzy Burfict: Hey BoBo, how you doing man. Thanks for setting this us, like old times right!
BoBo Saxton: Huh, well, it’s good to hear from you. Straight down to it though, I know you have a busy off season schedule ahead so thanks for the time. The move to Arizona, surprising, or do you not look at it like that?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Hey well, BoBo, you know, football is surprising. But nah, that don’t surprise me. I look at it like this, right. These GMs, they are in that position because they know football, they know what they gotta do to win. Cos everyone wants to be on a winning team, you know. I guess they all have an idea of what they need, and they all have an idea of who they want to do that for them. Did Arizona need a top three linebacker coming in? Well they ain’t gonna pass up on that one, right? The Arizona GMs were smart enough to see; if they didn’t take me, they’d be facing me. I actually got a call soon after the pick from my man Jay Cue, he was glad to see me join the roster put it that way!
BoBo Saxton: Huh, that was nice to hear from such a legend in the game like Jay Cue, it shows he must have been following you closely, only a good thing. And the bonus of heading to Arizona was the link up with your London Royals teammate Tayshaun Crunk?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Sure BoBo. There were a group of us in London who were pretty tight, Crunk, Swanty, Rusch, we all hoped that maybe a couple of us would be able to get to continue that link up going in the big league. They are all real top players though, you saw that in draft night when they all went in the first, ha! And they been doing good things straight up, they didn’t have that second season with me in London. So yeah, I was delighted that I got drafted to Arizona with my man Crunk. Let the good times roll. I’m blessed for the opportunity.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, yeah for the fans back in London, seeing a couple of their guys go to the same team, I know there were some happy faces. And not just the fans, the coaches too. So listen, L’Gazzy, we spoke a little about this before the show. You still good to help take us though your games for us in a season review, yeah?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Man, I’m happy to BoBo. Let’s do this.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, right, no need to look at the tapes of pre-season hey L’Gazzy, I mean Arizona went 3 and 1 but its hard to take anything away from that…
L’Gazzy Burfict: Hey BoBo man, that was my only sack all season in there man, don’t take that away from me! Ha, I’m only kidding really, I know what you mean. But it was my only sack though, tough season, much tougher than maybe I thought it would be coming off the back of that great year in London.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, exactly. It’s tough in the ISFL, you just gotta keep pushing. So here goes, you guys started off by hosting the Otters, headed out to New York to face the Silverbacks and then came back to town to host New Orleans. Now you and the Outlaws came out of this 0 and 3 and all three of these teams would end the season tied with you at 9 and 7. Did you expect that, how did you approach the games and if you can lay a finger down on it, what went wrong?
L’Gazzy Burfict: So a game against the Otters is always gonna be a tricky one, there ain’t much love with them I could see that straight up. I think the game got away from us in the middle of the second. Our QB got taken down for a safety, and then Booker took them in for a huge return. I mean, that hit us hard, a real kick in the stomach. Sure, there was only a point between us at the half, but that momentum had been pushed back. We ended up losing the game by a field goal, I didn’t put down any stats on the board, not the start I had dreamed of to be honest. But then following that up in New York, man we expected to walk that game but their run game was the difference. I think I got my first batch of tackles in that game, and as for pass protection – our defence against the pass that night was another level. But it sucked to lose. New York making the playoffs, I didn’t expect that but after beating us that night I guess that was the start for them, they did well. And game three could have gone either way. Early lead for the Second Line, they came out all guns blazing and we looked sluggish. No individual blame, just the team. We pulled it right back but right when we figured we could take it home there was the late field goal and no way back from that. Another batch of tackles for me, I saw more game time and made the most of it. But man, it doesn’t mean much talking about that when you’re 0 and 3.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so what had gone wrong, anything?
L’Gazzy Burfict: I mean, BoBo, that’s just football sometimes. We’d had a great pre-season, obviously I’d been meeting all the guys, learning the plays and we were feeling good. I guess the other teams were just feeling a little better, I dunno really. I was blessed to make my debut out there in the ISFL, but I would have liked to have better memories to look back on, you feel me?
BoBo Saxton: Huh, but you sat down, regrouped and put together your first wins of the season in the next couple games, starting out with a trip to the reigning Ultimus champions, San Jose SaberCats. And I got a little tape here, your first forced fumble in the ISLF, first of many?
***Tape plays showing L’Gazzy Burfict force a fumble in the fourth quarter, recovered by Galf Wilf and setting up first and goal. The tape continues a moment longer, ending with a touchdown for Saba Donut .***
L’Gazzy Burfict: First of many, believe. Ha. Well, only one this year, but still! Yeah we sat down, looked at the tapes and figured out a way to play against them. And importantly, we were able to execute that plan and deliver. The fans who had travelled to see us were great that night, it was great to be out there and get the win for them. But as you saw in that tape too, great feeling to knock that ball free, what a run by my man Galf and then the touchdown for Saba, that put us out of sight. And, I mean, what better way to follow that up than with another win, right?
BoBo Saxton: Huh, yes that’s the way you wanna do it, L’Gazzy. But I mean, it was Honolulu, if you’d lost to them then…
L’Gazzy Burfict: Hey BoBo, please, first up, in this game you never know. We knew after week 2 against the Silverbacks that anything could go down if you let up so we weren’t gonna make that mistake this time around. If I remember right I didn’t do much on the field that day. I mean, I didn’t need to, the legend Mr Cue was on point, over 350 yards thrown, offense smashed it that day and you could see that by the gap on the scoreboard at the end of game. Man, good night. That first win in front of the home crowd. I’ll remember that one.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so you had the momentum from those two wins, taking the Outlaws to 2 and 3. Next up was another home match against the Sailfish. And a bit like the New Orleans game the visitors blew you away in the first quarter. What happened?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Well yeah, as a trait for the team that was something we needed to take a good hard look at. We’d prepared well for the game, or at least I thought we had. I’d started to get in my grove a little, had been learning a lot from the two main guys ahead of me. But yeah, that first quarter, gee. The whole game really, they had the ball so much we just failed with the basics – as a defence we didn’t do what we needed to do, we didn’t give our offence enough time to do the business down the other end of the field. But that’s how it goes sometimes. And then just when you want to follow it up, make it right, we go lose out in Austin by less than a score. Another game decided by a late field goal, man that was hard.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, certainly yeah, that’s football. But the late kick against Orange County, then New Orleans, now this late kick in Austin. Especially after such a strong fourth quarter to bring you back on even terms. Any thoughts on that?
L’Gazzy Burfict: I mean it’s a difficult one, BoBo. Let’s be straight up, that was not a pretty game. Both QBs had a rough time out there, both offensive lines were dominated by the D. But the running game was on point. It just didn’t fall for us that day. Another one of those bad days at the office, you feel me. Damn, feels bad looking back. I mean the way the season ended, and then looking back on that game in Austin, the game with New Orleans, the first game with the Otters, that was our season right there man wasn’t it BoBo.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, well it’s easy to look back on it like that right now. But at the time, what were you guys, 2 and 5. So if you think you ended up being 9 and 7. But look, we can’t end today on that note. So again you picked yourselves up after the disappointment in Austin and headed to Philadelphia. What do you recall from that day?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Oh damn, yeah. I feel like I am repeating myself a little but damn, did you see Jay Cue!? That man is legit a legend of the game, so for me to be on the roster, seeing that close up, blessed for that BoBo. Everything was hitting that day for Cue, man. And good old Saba showing why he’s been such a force in the game taking three in for scores. Philly was always gonna be an interesting one, what with the trade earlier in the year and then seeing one of my linebacker class in DeSoto out there. Jimi had a good game out there too, I think we were pretty even numbers wise. Seeing him like that, he’s one of the players who makes me keep pushing, I know he’s always gonna be there doing his thing. But yeah, it was us that ended up with the W that night.
***Tape cuts in, showing three of Burfict’s six tackles on the night in slo mo.***
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so that leaves us and 3 and 5, half way through the season. I know we spoke at the time, you thought the season was over in terms of playoffs. Neither of us expected to see what happened next, though it ultimately ended in heartbreak. That’s football though, right. Now, we have another call coming up in which we can go through that all though, don’t worry!
L’Gazzy Burfict: Yeah BoBo, mixed emotions that’s for sure. But you’re completely right. And at the end of the day, I’m blessed to have this opportunity, to be out there doing what I love. And again, like London, these fans have been great, welcoming me to Arizona. Now it’s my turn to show them what I can do. Well, next season, ha. So we done then BoBo?
BoBo Saxton: Huh, well yeah but look, just before we go – I couldn’t hold off on this. I dug out that pre-season sack on tape for you. Only the one camera angle on it though, but here you go…
L’Gazzy Burfict: Hold on there BoBo, don’t go…
***L’Gazzy is cut off and a slo mo video is shown on screen. It’s L’Gazzy Burfict’s one and only sack of the season in a pre-season friendly against New Orleans.***
L’Gazzy Burfict: Ahhh man. Yeah, next season. You’ll see.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, ha well I hope so, I mean, we all hope so L’Gazzy. We all wanna see you doing what you do best. Alright then, that’s about it for today. We’ll speak again soon, thanks for your time; take care, BoBo out.
***Chumbawumba’s ”Tubthumping” kicks back in, slowly fading up as BoBo’s piece to camera ends***
Narrator: Good evening. Now coming out of a stat heavy year in London in which L’Gazzy Burfict won both the LBotY and DPotY awards there were high expectations for the third round pick in Arizona. But nothing in life is that straight forward, certainly not in football. In tonight’s show, long time Shubutan native BoBo Saxton will start to guide you through a review of a debut season in the big leagues, and a look forward to see what season 27 may bring our favourite linebacker. So here he is, take it away BoBo.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, welcome, welcome, it’s me BoBo Saxton and i’m glad to be back for these special edition shows. Now for L’Gazzy Burfict’s debut season in the DSFL you’ll all remember that I travelled to London with him, following his every move as he took the league by storm. Bang Bang, Lion Gang. Unfortunately cut backs in the Clarke County networks sports team budget and my recent flying restrictions means that we’ve had to pull back a little this time out. But don’t go worrying yourelves. I’ve seen the games, I’ve rewatched all the tape and heck, I’ve even put together what I like to call BoBo’s SloMos. So crack open that beer, get your hand in that bucket of chicken and sit back and join me. Here we go!
***Screen goes blank for a moment.***
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so Arizona found L’Gazzy in the third round, one of the final few linebackers of the board tells you the standard of the class, and also how well our main man played that second year to win those two awards. I didn’t expect Arizona to be his landing spot, but that’s how football goes – you can never know what to expect. Let’s take a quick look at their roster.
***Graphic appears on screen on the AZ roster and some general stats, with BoBo’s face superimposed.***
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so this is what I mean about Arizona. Look at the two guys they have up there in the linebacker positions – those are classy guys. And when L’Gazzy was off winning those two DSFL awards, Galf Wilf was picking up the same awards in the ISFL. So you have two things right there. Clearly Arizona were looking to the future in picking up L’Gazzy, knowing that in some part Wilf could be the ideal role model, a bit like Busch Light and Juan Domine back in London. But then on top of that, seeing him slip down to them in the third probably wasn’t expected. They didn’t want to pass up on that opportunity. So maybe they made an adjustment for that, to bring him in. That’s my thought anyway, you know. With Wilf and Koniecpolski ahead of him there would be a lot of waiting, but learning, ahead. In fact, why take my word for it – L’Gazzy, you there?
***Screen splits horizontally into two and L’Gazzy Burfict appears , sitting on what looks like his living room couch. He’s dressed in an Outlaws tracksuit. There are photos and a few trophies on a set of shelves behind him.***
L’Gazzy Burfict: Hey BoBo, how you doing man. Thanks for setting this us, like old times right!
BoBo Saxton: Huh, well, it’s good to hear from you. Straight down to it though, I know you have a busy off season schedule ahead so thanks for the time. The move to Arizona, surprising, or do you not look at it like that?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Hey well, BoBo, you know, football is surprising. But nah, that don’t surprise me. I look at it like this, right. These GMs, they are in that position because they know football, they know what they gotta do to win. Cos everyone wants to be on a winning team, you know. I guess they all have an idea of what they need, and they all have an idea of who they want to do that for them. Did Arizona need a top three linebacker coming in? Well they ain’t gonna pass up on that one, right? The Arizona GMs were smart enough to see; if they didn’t take me, they’d be facing me. I actually got a call soon after the pick from my man Jay Cue, he was glad to see me join the roster put it that way!
BoBo Saxton: Huh, that was nice to hear from such a legend in the game like Jay Cue, it shows he must have been following you closely, only a good thing. And the bonus of heading to Arizona was the link up with your London Royals teammate Tayshaun Crunk?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Sure BoBo. There were a group of us in London who were pretty tight, Crunk, Swanty, Rusch, we all hoped that maybe a couple of us would be able to get to continue that link up going in the big league. They are all real top players though, you saw that in draft night when they all went in the first, ha! And they been doing good things straight up, they didn’t have that second season with me in London. So yeah, I was delighted that I got drafted to Arizona with my man Crunk. Let the good times roll. I’m blessed for the opportunity.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, yeah for the fans back in London, seeing a couple of their guys go to the same team, I know there were some happy faces. And not just the fans, the coaches too. So listen, L’Gazzy, we spoke a little about this before the show. You still good to help take us though your games for us in a season review, yeah?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Man, I’m happy to BoBo. Let’s do this.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, right, no need to look at the tapes of pre-season hey L’Gazzy, I mean Arizona went 3 and 1 but its hard to take anything away from that…
L’Gazzy Burfict: Hey BoBo man, that was my only sack all season in there man, don’t take that away from me! Ha, I’m only kidding really, I know what you mean. But it was my only sack though, tough season, much tougher than maybe I thought it would be coming off the back of that great year in London.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, exactly. It’s tough in the ISFL, you just gotta keep pushing. So here goes, you guys started off by hosting the Otters, headed out to New York to face the Silverbacks and then came back to town to host New Orleans. Now you and the Outlaws came out of this 0 and 3 and all three of these teams would end the season tied with you at 9 and 7. Did you expect that, how did you approach the games and if you can lay a finger down on it, what went wrong?
L’Gazzy Burfict: So a game against the Otters is always gonna be a tricky one, there ain’t much love with them I could see that straight up. I think the game got away from us in the middle of the second. Our QB got taken down for a safety, and then Booker took them in for a huge return. I mean, that hit us hard, a real kick in the stomach. Sure, there was only a point between us at the half, but that momentum had been pushed back. We ended up losing the game by a field goal, I didn’t put down any stats on the board, not the start I had dreamed of to be honest. But then following that up in New York, man we expected to walk that game but their run game was the difference. I think I got my first batch of tackles in that game, and as for pass protection – our defence against the pass that night was another level. But it sucked to lose. New York making the playoffs, I didn’t expect that but after beating us that night I guess that was the start for them, they did well. And game three could have gone either way. Early lead for the Second Line, they came out all guns blazing and we looked sluggish. No individual blame, just the team. We pulled it right back but right when we figured we could take it home there was the late field goal and no way back from that. Another batch of tackles for me, I saw more game time and made the most of it. But man, it doesn’t mean much talking about that when you’re 0 and 3.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so what had gone wrong, anything?
L’Gazzy Burfict: I mean, BoBo, that’s just football sometimes. We’d had a great pre-season, obviously I’d been meeting all the guys, learning the plays and we were feeling good. I guess the other teams were just feeling a little better, I dunno really. I was blessed to make my debut out there in the ISFL, but I would have liked to have better memories to look back on, you feel me?
BoBo Saxton: Huh, but you sat down, regrouped and put together your first wins of the season in the next couple games, starting out with a trip to the reigning Ultimus champions, San Jose SaberCats. And I got a little tape here, your first forced fumble in the ISLF, first of many?
***Tape plays showing L’Gazzy Burfict force a fumble in the fourth quarter, recovered by Galf Wilf and setting up first and goal. The tape continues a moment longer, ending with a touchdown for Saba Donut .***
L’Gazzy Burfict: First of many, believe. Ha. Well, only one this year, but still! Yeah we sat down, looked at the tapes and figured out a way to play against them. And importantly, we were able to execute that plan and deliver. The fans who had travelled to see us were great that night, it was great to be out there and get the win for them. But as you saw in that tape too, great feeling to knock that ball free, what a run by my man Galf and then the touchdown for Saba, that put us out of sight. And, I mean, what better way to follow that up than with another win, right?
BoBo Saxton: Huh, yes that’s the way you wanna do it, L’Gazzy. But I mean, it was Honolulu, if you’d lost to them then…
L’Gazzy Burfict: Hey BoBo, please, first up, in this game you never know. We knew after week 2 against the Silverbacks that anything could go down if you let up so we weren’t gonna make that mistake this time around. If I remember right I didn’t do much on the field that day. I mean, I didn’t need to, the legend Mr Cue was on point, over 350 yards thrown, offense smashed it that day and you could see that by the gap on the scoreboard at the end of game. Man, good night. That first win in front of the home crowd. I’ll remember that one.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so you had the momentum from those two wins, taking the Outlaws to 2 and 3. Next up was another home match against the Sailfish. And a bit like the New Orleans game the visitors blew you away in the first quarter. What happened?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Well yeah, as a trait for the team that was something we needed to take a good hard look at. We’d prepared well for the game, or at least I thought we had. I’d started to get in my grove a little, had been learning a lot from the two main guys ahead of me. But yeah, that first quarter, gee. The whole game really, they had the ball so much we just failed with the basics – as a defence we didn’t do what we needed to do, we didn’t give our offence enough time to do the business down the other end of the field. But that’s how it goes sometimes. And then just when you want to follow it up, make it right, we go lose out in Austin by less than a score. Another game decided by a late field goal, man that was hard.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, certainly yeah, that’s football. But the late kick against Orange County, then New Orleans, now this late kick in Austin. Especially after such a strong fourth quarter to bring you back on even terms. Any thoughts on that?
L’Gazzy Burfict: I mean it’s a difficult one, BoBo. Let’s be straight up, that was not a pretty game. Both QBs had a rough time out there, both offensive lines were dominated by the D. But the running game was on point. It just didn’t fall for us that day. Another one of those bad days at the office, you feel me. Damn, feels bad looking back. I mean the way the season ended, and then looking back on that game in Austin, the game with New Orleans, the first game with the Otters, that was our season right there man wasn’t it BoBo.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, well it’s easy to look back on it like that right now. But at the time, what were you guys, 2 and 5. So if you think you ended up being 9 and 7. But look, we can’t end today on that note. So again you picked yourselves up after the disappointment in Austin and headed to Philadelphia. What do you recall from that day?
L’Gazzy Burfict: Oh damn, yeah. I feel like I am repeating myself a little but damn, did you see Jay Cue!? That man is legit a legend of the game, so for me to be on the roster, seeing that close up, blessed for that BoBo. Everything was hitting that day for Cue, man. And good old Saba showing why he’s been such a force in the game taking three in for scores. Philly was always gonna be an interesting one, what with the trade earlier in the year and then seeing one of my linebacker class in DeSoto out there. Jimi had a good game out there too, I think we were pretty even numbers wise. Seeing him like that, he’s one of the players who makes me keep pushing, I know he’s always gonna be there doing his thing. But yeah, it was us that ended up with the W that night.
***Tape cuts in, showing three of Burfict’s six tackles on the night in slo mo.***
BoBo Saxton: Huh, so that leaves us and 3 and 5, half way through the season. I know we spoke at the time, you thought the season was over in terms of playoffs. Neither of us expected to see what happened next, though it ultimately ended in heartbreak. That’s football though, right. Now, we have another call coming up in which we can go through that all though, don’t worry!
L’Gazzy Burfict: Yeah BoBo, mixed emotions that’s for sure. But you’re completely right. And at the end of the day, I’m blessed to have this opportunity, to be out there doing what I love. And again, like London, these fans have been great, welcoming me to Arizona. Now it’s my turn to show them what I can do. Well, next season, ha. So we done then BoBo?
BoBo Saxton: Huh, well yeah but look, just before we go – I couldn’t hold off on this. I dug out that pre-season sack on tape for you. Only the one camera angle on it though, but here you go…
L’Gazzy Burfict: Hold on there BoBo, don’t go…
***L’Gazzy is cut off and a slo mo video is shown on screen. It’s L’Gazzy Burfict’s one and only sack of the season in a pre-season friendly against New Orleans.***
L’Gazzy Burfict: Ahhh man. Yeah, next season. You’ll see.
BoBo Saxton: Huh, ha well I hope so, I mean, we all hope so L’Gazzy. We all wanna see you doing what you do best. Alright then, that’s about it for today. We’ll speak again soon, thanks for your time; take care, BoBo out.
***Chumbawumba’s ”Tubthumping” kicks back in, slowly fading up as BoBo’s piece to camera ends***
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