verification code = karl

B. While it's cool to be the beat up veteran proving to everyone you still got it, there's no matching the thrill and excitement of your first challenge cup experience as an individual, let alone an entire team of young players. Win or lose it's an awesome experience and with a young core you plan, or at least hope, to return again. And if you win then you may just be that next dynasty you knocked out earlier in the playoffs.
C. Knocking out the reigning champion and repeat finalist appearance in the Winnipeg Aurora is no easy feat and it was certainly an impressive win for the Blizzard, but I give the edge to the Philadelphia Forge on this one. Both teams managed to finish the regular season with 50 wins and were 2 and 3 respectively in the overall standings, but the Forge are old and on the decline and I don't think many, if anyone, pegged them to beat the #1 seed in the New England Wolfpack.

Oddly enough I was a member of the S49 Blizzard when they won their last challenge cup. I remained with them right through to the end of the S64 season just as the new gm kicked off a full scale rebuild and teared it right down to the floorboards (minus my old veteran ass). We've seen many of rebuilds succeed, just like this current iteration of the Blizzard, and we've seen many fail and have to repeat the cycle. While there certainly is a degree of luck I think the biggest takeaway is the leadership needs to commit to the plan and convince everyone to buy in. Blowing it up and drafting high is great, but there is a long period between when a player is drafted and when they are effective in this league, there are no Bedards. You need to draft good users who are willing to grind it out in mediocrity for several, sometimes many, seasons which ain't always fun. I think the best way to overcome that is to build a enjoyable and friendly environment for users beyond the sim to keep them from remembering their team just isn't quite there yet, until they are!