Balladeer’s Blog continues its coverage of the world’s OLDEST team sport. Polo was already centuries old when Alexander the Great’s men played it! FOR MY PRIMER ON POLO CLICK HERE
FIRST SEMIFINAL: LAS MONJITAS VS TONKAWA FARMS. This Match pitted Las Monjitas – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Black Habits – against Tonkawa Farms – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Cavalry.
The two teams went blow for blow and Goal for Goal in the First Chukker, which ended in a 2-2 tie. In the Second Chukker the Black Habits outscored the Cavalry 3 Goals to 2, grabbing a 5-4 edge.
The Third Chukker was just as tight, but more defense-heavy. Tonkawa Farms knocked in a pair of Goals to the 1 mustered by their opponents. Going into Halftime the score stood at 6-6. Continue reading
FIRST QUARTERFINAL: PILOT VS DAILY RACING FORM – Undefeated Pilot – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Troubleshooters – rode into action against the Defending Champions of the U.S. Open, Daily Racing Form – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Stat-Hounds. 
The Stat-Hounds had it all over the Troubleshooters in the First Chukker, scoring 2 Goals while shutting out their opponents. In the Second Chukker neither defense could keep the ball out from between the Uprights. The teams exchanged 3 Goals apiece for a new tally of 5-3 in favor of DRF. 
PART TWELVE 
Now we’re in the 1880s and 1890s. The Fool Killer lore of the Melungeon people was absorbing traces of Mormon influence from the wider culture. The Melungeons were NOT Mormons but their Fool Killer tales took on pseudo-religious elements from Mormon lore, like the notion that the Melungeons may be even older than the previously held legends about pre-Columbian Portuguese explorers or ancient Phoenicians. 
The First Chukker saw the Black Habits dominate the Cossacks on both sides of the ball, swatting in 4 Goals while limiting their opponents to 1. In the Second Chukker the defenses clamped down, forcing the teams to settle for just 1 Goal each for a 5-2 Las Monjitas lead. 
Adam Warlock, one of the Marvel Comics superheroes who are not that well known to the public at large right now, will probably be a household word soon like just about every other Marvel character who gets thrown at the big and small screens. 
PART ONE – ENTER: THE MAGUS – Includes my quick recap of Adam Warlock’s fictional history from 1967 to 1975, including his encounters with the Fantastic Four, Thor and the Incredible Hulk.
PART TWO: DEATH SHIP – Adam Warlock gains a new ally in Pip the Troll when he is taken captive by the Church’s starship The Great Divide. 
PART THREE: THE TRIAL OF ADAM WARLOCK – *** FIRST EVER APPEARANCE OF GAMORA *** Overcoming even more Black Knights of the Church and another battle with the Soul Gem, Warlock at last confronts the Matriarch, the worldly leader of the Universal Church of Truth. 
PART FOUR: ONE THOUSAND CLOWNS – Pip the Troll and Gamora, the most dangerous woman in the galaxy, try to free Adam Warlock from the Pit of the Sacred Palace. 
PART FIVE: THE INFINITY EFFECT – Face to face with the real form of the Magus, Adam Warlock learns the horrific fate that lies ahead for him as he will transform into the Church’s god while being tortured over a period of 5,000 years. 
PART SIX: THE REDEMPTION PRINCIPLE – While evading the Black Knights of the Church Adam, Gamora and Pip encounter the dying Matriarch. 
PART SEVEN: HOW STRANGE MY DESTINY – The story’s final mind-boggling developments unfold as Adam Warlock struggles to fight his fate. 
Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of the many facets of Fool Killer lore. FOR PART ONE, INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, CLICK 
PART ELEVEN: MORE MELUNGEON VARIATIONS
The area covered was still Eastern Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina. The Fool Killer roamed those regions, wielding his iron club/ walking stick/ cudgel topped with a skull crafted from Melungeon gold. 
ROUND THREE, DAY ONE: FIRST MATCH – ICONICA VS LA INDIANA. In this Match Iconica – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Creators – rode against La Indiana – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Indians. 
The Creators put the ball between the Uprights 3 times in the First Chukker, compared to the 1 lone Goal mustered by the Indians. In the Second Chukker La Indiana outscored their opponents 2 Goals to 1 to pull within 4-3. 
USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) 
*** 6. WRIGHT STATE AT THE LAKE LAKERS ### 7. BRYANT & STRATTON (NY) BOBCATS ### 8. FLORIDA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CONQUISTADORS ### 9. STRATFORD UNIVERSITY CARDINALS ### 10. COLLEGE OF SAINT JOSEPH’S (sic) FIGHTING SAINTS ### 
ROUND TWO, DAY FIVE: FIRST MATCH – EQUULEUS VS COCA COLA. Equuleus – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Constellations – rode into action against Coca Cola: Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Red Colossus. 
