Week 4 '24 X League Area- Back on Track

As we kick off the second half of the X1 Area schedule, though the weather is finally cooling off (it has been Mississippi hot here since June) in Japan, the jockeying for promotion and relegation position is just heating up, with the Tainai Deers, As One Black Eagles and Dentsu Caterpillars looking to take the pole position in each of their respective divisions.

The goal for each of the top three is to not just win their divisions, but also remain healthy and operating on all cylinders as they head into the post-season. For the bottom teams, Nagoya, Bulls F.C., and the Blue Thunders their goal for the remaining season has to be to try and improve, remain competitive, and for one team in particular, the Bulls, put some points on the board! Yet, even if they don't I know they will try their best.

Week 4 of '24 X League Super- To Win is a Habit

Week 4 of X League Super had few surprises.

As autumn settles in, the focus of the Japanese sports world is not focused at all on our favorite top-tier gridiron league here in the Far East. Especially yesterday, which was a national holiday called "Sports Day." However, right now, the focus of most has not been on amateur sports, but rather the Dodgers and Mets NLCS, which matters more here than perhaps the World Baseball Classic to Japanese baseball fans, or even the current NPB playoffs.

With that said, the X League is flying so far under the radar that us here seem to be the only ones in the English speaking world covering it.  Before you disagree, just know that the other major English language international gridiron news site simply copies, pastes and publishes (do they really have permission?) X League items. Maybe they think no one notices, but we have. Regardless, we do things here the old fashioned way- we use our own words.

Week 3 of the '24 X League Super

Week 3 of Super X League play witnessed
the biggest upset since before the pandemic.

In week 3 of X League Super play there was another shake up at the top of the power rankings as IBM Big Blue knocked off the Obic Seagulls to enter into a three-way tie with the Tokyo Gas Creators for first place in the Eastern Division. For the X League, this was a MAJOR upset, as the balance of power in the league (Fujitsu, Panasonic and Obic being the near perpetual top teams in the league for many years), with second tier teams such as Tokyo Gas, the Nojima Rise, and Mike Phair's Big Blue team now challenging the status quo. As a result, and as stated last week, 2024 might be the first season in many years in which the Rice Bowl will not feature a battle of Japan's top computer brands. Yet despite the upset as the six game season reaches the midway point, the perpetual "have nots" continue to struggle, as is seen clear in the standings. Hopefully in week four, the Suns, Minerva and the Lions can break into the win column. 

Week 2 of the '24 X League Super

 

In week 2 of X League Super play there was a shake up at the top of the power rankings as the Obic Seagulls, Tokyo Gas Creators and Sekisui Challengers put the top teams in the league, Fujitsu and Panasonic, that they can no longer be taken lightly this season. In fact, this season might be the first one in many years where the final game, the Rice Bowl, will not be another Panasonic vs. Fujitsu meet up in the Tokyo Dome. Unfortunately, this week also sadly brought another painful reminder of why the X League needs to address the on going issue of parity, for the beat down of weaker teams continued.