SAN JOSE (AP) - Some highlights from the 2002 Weaver League season...

THE JINX HAS BEEN BROKEN (WE THINK)! - The dreaded Weaver Series Jinx has finally been broken, or has it? By winning the Polanski Division in 2002, the Amity White Sharks became the first ever defending Weaver Cup Champion to return to the playoffs the following season. The Jinx has seemed to plague all defending champions before last season. Many teams have simply had sub-par follow up season, but the Jinx also struck at teams who had great seasons - the Honolulu Volcanos actually improved their record by eight games following their 2000 Championship and won 107 games, but finished 20 games behind Amity! Despite the general view that the Jinx is gone, the Jinx itself begged to differ in an press statement issued during Spring Training... "Why are you people writing me off? I didn't see Amity win no damn Weaver Cup last season! I bet the White Sharks were real freakin' happy about beating me while they were sittin' at home on their asses watching the Riots and Bombers go at it in the Weaver Series, weren't they? You think I'm gone, BE-OTCH? Well let's just see the Riots take the Cup this season, dammit!"

JOSS DOMINATES BLIZZARD LEAGUE! - Pitcher Addie Joss enjoyed a renaissance in 2002 absolutely overwhelming BL batters to take home his first Cy Young Award (Once again, Cy Young does not win the Cy Young award). Joss flourished after being traded with shortstop Edgar Renteria from the Madrid Wolves to the Rio de Janerio Capybaras for Walter Johnson (since traded to Kabul via London), pitcher Dan Mathias, and Rio's first round Amateur Draft pick in 2002! He nearly won the BL Pitching Triple Crown by leading the league in wins (28) and strike outs (444), and finishing second in ERA to Mike Mussina of the Moscow Chaos (Joss had a 1.02 ERA, Mussina's was 0.87). "2002 was great! Madrid was OK, but I love Rio! Not one day goes by that I don't go down to the beach, take a look at the topless girls, and thank God I got out of Europe where they refuse to shave their armpits! Also, I was glad that after years of constantly hearing about how great Walter Johnson was that I could come here and prove that in reality he can't hold my jock strap!" Johnson could not be reached for comment.

AWESOME RACES IN LOCKWOOD, ROEHM - In addition to having an incredible post-season, the Weaver League regular season had two of the closest division races in league history. The Roehm Division battle between Rio and the Havana Cigars came down to the last day of the season! The Cigars had already clinched at least a tie for the division, but with one day left in the season they found themselves faced with the possibility of a one game playoff if they lost and the Capys won. As it turned out the Cigars won and the Capys lost, giving the Cigars the division title, but it was the closest division race in league history! In the Lockwood, the New York Nukes and Los Angeles Riots had battled all season long, with both teams taking turns atop the division. In late August the Kabul Mujahadeen had surged to within striking distance of the leaders, but they began to after the beginning of September. With ten games left in the season, New York and L.A. were tied in the standings going into a crucial head to head series. The Riots proceeded to sweep the NUKES to begin a season ending ten game winning streak, assuring themselves a spot in the post-season!