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Ladies and Gentlemen of the TSL Universe:

On Saturday, August 24^th, in the Year of Our Lord 2019, the sun will be shining. The wind may blow ever so slightly from the Northeast, and in Partly Cloudy weather the Race for Social Co-Ed Football Immortality will once again begin!

Just a few short months ago we saw Marketing Mayors, Gryffindor, Slytherin That End Zone, Puckett All-Stars, Cunning Stunts, and Practice Squad walk away with championships. Some of them were a bit of a surprise, and some of them were not. But on August 24^th none of those past accomplishments will matter as we hit the proverbial “reset button” and everyone in the league begins with a 0-0 record and hopes are renewed!

This season, 47 of the finest Co-ed football teams in Western New York will descend upon the Rose Garden to do battle once again. This season brings a lot of questions to the TSL. Gone are some stalwart teams in the league (We’ll miss you #XTC), but what’s more exciting is that we’re growing.

Yes, the usual TSL teams have taken the Fall session off, HOWEVER, they’ve been replaced by an astounding TEN brand new teams that have joined the TSL! Granted, a few of these teams are some retread teams with a few new players and a different name, but quite a few of them are completely, brand spanking new. And to those teams I say: Welcome to the TSL!

Since there’s so many new teams to this league, allow myself to introduce myself. I am The Godfather. I write a weekly article where I talk about league happenings and make picks for the next week’s games. I was once a TSLer just like you, but life and fate took me all the way to Des Moines, Iowa, where I sit back and hear all about the TSL and give my opinions. I used to get a lot of my information from our dearly departed Commissioner Lenny Alba, but since then multiple sources from the league have popped up to give me intel from the Saturday games.

To the new teams, I say this: If you want to be recognized, just email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and tell me why you’re going to be the next big thing in the Topper Sports League. I look forward to speaking to you guys.

Same goes for you “Teams who have been in the league for a while and don’t get enough credit and publicity”. Let me know why YOU matter. Or why someone on your team matters more. We love our TSL All-Stars, and perhaps the next one could be you!

Let me give the new guys an explanation here. The TSL, well, we’re a family. Everyone who crosses those fields, whether they know it or not, immediately become a part of that family. It’s up to you to decide just how deeply you want to get into things. If you just play your game and head home? Well, that’s perfectly alright. But if you want to play your game and hang out at the bar for while? That’s even better. When you’re there, you’ll see a LOT of awesome people. I know you might suffer from a case of social anxiety, but put yourself out there and say hello to some new friends. You’ll see a ton of great people, starting with Topper himself (seriously, he doesn’t know who you are so introduce yourself!), and it trickles down to a lot of awesome people like Rameer, The first lady of the TSL Val Bernal, Val Testa (Yes, we have two Vals), 40 Year Plan Guy, The league Icon Darryl Carr, Joe K, Travis, Katie rhymes with Heller, the Clarke twins, Ferger, Brent!, Second Shift Dave Walter, Emily Curry, Emily 2.0, Coach Jay, the Jabronies, the plant that Eric Klecker murdered one year, B’s Brother, Jeff Krol, and a HOST of other amazing people that are all waiting to welcome new people into the family to hang out and have a great time each and every Sunday.

Like I said, this is a family. Sometimes we fight, sure, but for the most part we hang out and have fun and we do it so much more often than just on “Football Saturdays”. But Saturdays at the Rose Garden are where it all begins. The family is always looking for new members and we accept everyone. Please reach out, and get involved!

Each week, on this website, you should be seeing various fun articles. The Rant comes straight from the Director of Officiating Rameer Green himself. He has NO problem calling people out for their nonsense. The Sentinel, whoever they are, proceeds to recap the weekend’s games. The QB Power Rankings is a lot more than just ranking the QBs! The team over there (however many there are, I don’t know) will also give you a bevy of stats just waiting for you salivate over. And then there’s me, The Godfather. There’s literally no telling what I’ll write about. And on top of it all, word is flowing that Joe K is definitely bringing back the TSL Podcast, where he’s going to need many of you to guest and star on. So if you want to be heard and call out the league? That’s the place to be! Email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. I believe.

I know for a fact that we’re incredibly excited to have all of you around for another fantastic edition of the TSL. Shout out to Topper for having the wonderful foresight to move the season up a few weeks in order to lessen the risk of the championships being playing in the snow in November. For the next 10 weeks, its game on as teams try to go the extra mile to win the most prestigious co-ed football titles in WNY.

But what’s really going to matter is the friends we’re about to make along the way.

So go out there to the fields, make some new friends (Seriously, make it a point to talk to one new person each week. Your life will be better for it.), wear some sunscreen, and have fun out there. Remember that as intense as the games can get, this is ALL FOR FUN. Treat the refs with respect. Treat your teammates and your opponents with respect. Have fun. It’s all about to go down. Now get out there, play some games, and have some excellent dance competitions or something. Be excited! I know I am, and I’m not even at the fields each week.

Welcome back everyone, I’ve missed you.

Go get ‘em.

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