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Saturday November 12, 12:47am

"Home, sweet home," muttered the cat. 11 days on the road wasn't that bad, it just could've been so much better. Going 1-5 when his team could've easily been 3-3 were it not for last-second heroics by their opponents, coupled with back-to-back games that included some rather rough bus rides and less-than-stellar hotel experiences due to the late arrivals in Baltimore and Boston, and the siamese was ready to just curl up by the window and wait for sunrise to soak up some daylight for a good long time. At least the lone win was their regular season opener, and he did get to see his buddy Huck [Storrs (Raccoon, F, TEN)] even though he wasn't matched up directly with him this past game.

As Quovaedis [Broyles (Siamese Cat, F, HNT)] shuffled through his townhome, he saw a giftwrapped package sitting on his dining room table along with an envelope with his name on it as well as the name and logo of his team. As suspicious as it seemed, curiosity easily got the better of the feline as he could faintly detect the odor of fish coming from inside the cube-like item. Tearing through the wrapping revealed a mini-cooler, and inside was an ice-pack covering up a package of salmon steaks as well as some fresh crab meat from Maine. Smirking slightly, Reflex then opened the envelope and read the letter inside.

"To the esteemed Mr. Quovaedis Broyles,

Welcome home! I hope these gifts find you in good spirits. I'm sorry that I could not personally deliver these to you and your teammates upon your return from Nashville, but I do look forward to addressing all of the Mayors on Monday when I get back to Huntsville.

I am confident that everyone on the club gave it their best against our divisional rivals, and as heartbreaking as the loss may have been I want to assure you that I have not been more proud of your accomplishments over the past week and a half. Together as a team you held down the Alphas and came back against the Moonshiners, even pushing both Williamsburg and Newark to the brink in spite of the pre-season atmosphere. With our home opener against the undefeated Typhoons coming up, I can't stress enough the importance of maintaining our teamwork. As long as we remain one united force, win or lose we will come out stronger.

Good luck and keep growing!

Stefan Calico 2011-2012 Huntsville Mayors Owner and Temporary GM

PS: Reflex, hope Barry [Carpenter (Beaver, F, TEN)] didn't rough you up too badly, but you're going up against Chuck [Yotechuk (Coyote, F, TAL)] next and I wanted you to be prepared. You've got a similar game to his, but he's got six years of experience and about 10% more muscle behind that lighter frame. Don't get too frustrated, just play your game, and let the McCormick brothers steal the rivalry spotlight this time around instead of you and Huck. Trust me. -SC"

Quovaedis quirked his brow at the postscript to the letter -- it was definitely handwritten, but it looked more like a copy and not the actual ink. Looking over at the gifts once more, the personal attention was starting to unnerve him. He resolved to talk with some of the other players at practice in the afternoon. But first, he was going to put the food away and then get to bed. And hopefully have some good dreams.

* * * * * * * * * *

Monday, November 14, 10:55am

"I seriously hope he's not going to go through with this," thought Howard [Schnitthund (German Shepherd, head coach, HNT)]. "He's certainly not like the old owners." Blowing his whistle long and loud for everyone on the practice court to hear, the fifteen Huntsville Mayors stopped their morning drills and made their way over to the canine.

"Before we get too deep into practice," announced Schnitthund, "we have a meeting with the GM in the men's locker room, so let's get this over with." The last few words of the dog's announcement were drowned out by a chorus of growls and groans as they were herded reluctantly by the coaching staff to their appointment with Stefan Calico (Tabby Cat, Owner/GM, HNT).

Outside the locker room stood Leo (Black Cat) who nodded and opened the doors for everyone to file in. Despite most of the team allowing the three ladies on the squad to go ahead of them, Evan Ashton (Lion, F, HNT) had slipped in alongside Telki Holland (Chinchilla, G, HNT) who shot a nasty glare at the grinning feline. Inside the locker room, however, only the owner's secretary Natalie Marlowe (Vixen) was seen standing near the entrance to the showers. Though over the din of everyone shuffling into the room, keener ears picked up the sound of one of the showers running.

From the entrance, Howard gave an exasperated look over at the bodyguard, who just nodded. "I don't believe this," muttered the shep.

"Hey, is he actually using *our* showers?" squeaked out Ray Rodin (Rat, G/F, HNT) just as the water was shut off. About fifteen seconds later, out strode the tabby cat, dripping wet and wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist and his mischievous grin.

The silence seemed uncomfortable for everyone except for the one wearing the towel, who was studying each one of their expressions. While most were obviously confused, he could tell who was looking him over and who was mostly disgusted. "Sorry for interrupting practice," began the tabby, "but I wanted to personally congratulate you all for exceeding my expectations so far.

"Sadly, I can't stay long, as my flight up to Baltimore leaves in a couple of hours, but since I obviously have your undivided attention I wanted to also thank you for exemplifying the primary part of our team vision: teamwork. Other than a couple of minor incidents..." The cat trailed off and paused to check the assembled furs to see whose glares would accuse their fellow Mayors before continuing, "you've succeeded at times where others would have written you off.

"Which leads me to the secondary part of the team vision: respect. And I honestly ask you, do you respect me any less for standing before you dripping wet and wearing only a towel?"

After a cough and a cleared throat, John Stoat (Stoat, G, HNT) chimed in. "Well f**k if everyone's that bloody scared to say it: of course! You're the g**d**n owner and General Manager, what kind of f***king example do you think you are?"

"A very liberal-minded and open one," was Stefan's quick response, "because I'm trying to show you that I'm just as vulnerable to making mistakes and poor decisions as each of you are while you're on the floor. But none of you deserve to be singled out for a bad pass or a missed free throw or what have you, because part of this game is the trust in your teammates' skills. And if you respect your teammates, you can trust them more, and perform better."

The mustelid was about to retort back in the brief breath between the cat's sentences, but the tabby was faster. "Is it that hard to believe, John, that I believe in your skills despite nearly every other team in the league looking down on your abilities to still shoot the longball with having only one eye? And that the one team that did give you an offer in free-agency, were the ones who came to me and offered the sign-and-trade deal for [Xavier] Knutten (Squirrel, G/F, SPO)? And that they're the ones coming into our arena tomorrow night with their undefeated record to rub it in your muzzle that they're better without you?"

For once, Stoat was actually silent. But there was a rage that could easily be sensed, from his quivering whiskers and twitching ears. Stefan flashed that grin of his and added, "Is it that hard to believe that I respect every one of these players here as being the best team with the best potential to bring Huntsville back to the FBA Finals? Because you all are, and tomorrow's game is just another stepping stone on that road.

"But for now, you still have practice to finish up, and I have a Spirits and Firestorm game to prepare for. Howard, Natalie has all my notes from the Spokane win in Montana. Use them well."

Jim McCormick (Badger, G/F, HNT) did a double-take. "Wait, you're scouting for us too?"

"Gotta stay one step ahead of the competition," remarked the feline.

Somehow the seething Stoat decided not to fire back at the cat who wrote his paychecks, instead filing out of the locker room with the rest of the players. Coach Schnitthund came up to the vixen to get the tabby's scouting report, patting Stefan on the shoulder. "That took a lot of guts," admitted the dog. "Just, please, don't pull stuff like this again, okay?"

Stefan chuckled. "I believe he can keep his emotions in check. Unless the squnx pulls some magic lineup change out of his hat, you'll be fine tomorrow."

"I meant the shower. And the towel."

The cat mewled, "But this place is so much more closer to the airport!"

Leo groaned audibly from outside the locker room.