Many of you woke up to stunning news this morning. And they are actually true. Two-time Pro-Bowl champion Anders Hoffman who has been the man that CCC was built around, is now leaving the team. How will the team be able to go on? Why did this happen? Are there internal problems in CCC? We sent our reporters down to the “Pool” to find the answers to these questions, and Hertha, what have you discovered?

Hertha: “We are here with newly minted quarterback Inga Dedekind and coach Vatn. And coach Vatn, how could you do this to the CCC?”

Vatn: “We do, of course, think that the trade made between Eagles and Crimson Cascade was the best possible solution for both the team and Hoffman personally. Thus, it’s no problem for me to say that this will make Crimson Cascade even better!”

Hertha: (somewhat impatient) “Better? How can losing a two-time Pro-Bowl champion make you a better team?”

Vatn: (grins wolfishly) “It’s actually easy. Season 2 and 3 was built on the enthusiasm and exuberance of the original crew, and we ended up in the play-offs. Start of season 4, our roster was woefully outdated after heavy losses in season 3. No strong linemen or blitzers, no agile players except Anders. And very little draft capital in draft 5. And we were losing games like crazy. Something drastic had to be done, and the only department with assets were the quarterbacks. Anders is sensational, but Inga here is quite good enough, so we had to liquidate our assets and sell Anders. Simple enough.”

Günther: “You actually lost value on the deal though. Three players for Anders was good, given the skills they had, but you also gave your future 1st. Isn’t that a bit too much?”

Vatn: (shrugs) “It was needed for the deal, and we can’t go on losing games throughout rest of season 4 AND all of season 5 just because we are losing a bit on the deal. We got the big guy we needed, we got a first round pick lineman with excellent skills and we got a promising young recruit in Durant. In my judgement we are now back in a situation were we can fight, and we will sorely need it, cause the rest of the season will surely be no cakewalk!”

Hertha: “Inga, how does the team react to the loss of Anders?”

Inga: “We had a great celebration together with Anders down at the Duck and Anchor last night, so this is great for us all. But we are happy that he went to the KFC, so we do not have to meet him on the field unless we get to the SuperBowl!”

Hertha: “And now you are the leading quarterback. How is that?”

Inga: (grins) “A big chance for me, of course. Now I will need to step up my game another notch, so that’s a challenge. And this new team is also sort of the next generation Crimson shirts. The oldtimers, those locals who started the team, like Friedrich, Dietmar, Raoul and Anders… They are all gone. Only Erwin is left from this generation. Now is time for the next generation of locals to step up, for players like me, Cat and Janine. That’s something we look forward to. And of course we have always had draftees with us, and players traded in as well. It’ll be fine, I know! “

Günther: “And do you think the Crimson Cascade still can reach the 16 points you set as a goal at the start of the season?”

Inga: (uncertainly) “16 points? Did I really like promise that? Nah… that will be unlikely. We are behind by 2-3 points, so 12-13 is more likely.”

Günther: “Won’t the fans be disappointed? First they lose Anders, and now they hear they won’t get the points you promised?”

Inga: (somewhat abashed) “Ah. You may be right. But I can throw a party at the Pool later this week! And everyone wearing a crimson shirt gets free access. And all the players will be there signing autographs. This I can promise for sure!”

Brought to you by Hertha Wendlinger and Günther Schiele, Carroburg Tageszeitung