THANK YOU, TONY BENNETT
by Kyler Brake, WGN-TV
August 8, 2034

Tony Bennett made a shocking announcement today. After 14 seasons, he’ll be retiring from the NDL. Just three years ago, the Chicago B/ZB won his third consecutive MVP award, but severe injuries in both 2032 and 2033 limited his playing time and hastened his decline. The 38-year-old played most of the 2034 season, but according to a statement he released on social media, felt like “a shell of [his] former self,” going on to say, “my heart’s still in it, but the rest of my body just isn’t anymore.”

Bennett’s path to becoming an NDL superstar was certainly not a straightforward one. It started out that way, as Bennett was taken second overall by the Toronto Hogs in 2017. Less than two weeks into his major league career, however, Bennett tore multiple ligaments in his knee. Thanks to multiple setbacks and a long rehab process, it looked like he may have been out of the league for good, as teams simply weren’t willing to take a chance on a player coming off of that much struggle with injury. Finally, in 2022, the Hogs picked up the phone. The next year, he worked his way into the starting lineup, and rewarded the team with a solid season, though it came without the success the team had seen the previous year. With the team looking to bounce back, they traded Bennett to Nashville, where he helped the Fugitives to their first-ever playoff appearance, and then a year later, their first-ever playoff series victory. As a free agent that offseason, he signed with Chicago, and had a breakout year, finally turning into the superstar teams saw all those years ago. The rest, as they say, is history, but today, we have to close the book.

The announcement comes as a blow to the Frost first and foremost, as Bennett’s departure signals a major turning point for the team. Bennett has been a beloved figure in Chicagoland, from his success on the court to his charity work

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It's hard to say whether the Invaders have really hit their stride yet, but we're continuing to heal up our star players and more importantly, have won another game. Coming off our win in Detroit, we return home, where we'll be welcoming the Boston Schooners to town. Boston, like us, has had a decent year but has struggled with injuries so far. Nonetheless, if we want to catch up to any of the four teams currently in the playoffs, we'll need to make sure we keep winning games against the teams that aren't. We're bringing the turquoise jerseys along for a second straight game, and spotlighting rookie F/C Alex Sarr. The Frenchman posted 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists in a strong showing against the Mustangs. #GoldStar

when will the league expand to anchorage

For the second time in four years, the Seattle Steelheads have entered the playoffs as the #7 seed and upset the #2 in the first round. The Bolts put up a good fight, and made it close down the stretch, but we pulled it out to advance to the semifinal round against top-seeded Tennessee. The Copperheads earned that #1 seed as the most dominant team all season, but we've already pulled off one upset this postseason, so why stop now? We're throwing it back to kicker week this week, as K Brandon Aubrey has been one of our most consistent performers this season, hitting 29 field goals on 34 regular-season attempts, including 10 from 50+ yards and a long of 65. Oh, and he was a perfect 23/23 on extra points, too. #TipTheScales

The Invaders couldn't capitalize on the momentum coming into this game, as we took the L against the Kahunas. We've gotta head out on the road for this next one, as we've got a date in Dertoit. The Mustangs are coming off just their second win of the season, so this will be a bit of an easier matchup. We can't rest on our laurels, though, since we'll need a lot of help making up the distance between us and the top four. Rocking the turquoise jerseys on the graphic is C Goga Bitadze, who has been a surprise success this year. Against Honolulu, the Georgian (that's the country, not the US state) scored 20 points, hauled in 25 rebounds, and blocked 4 Kahuna shots. #GoldStar