It's safe to say that a lot of Stoolies can't continue with their week unless they get an update on the Barstool bowling team in the King's Media League. This one is overdue, and I apologize.

Things are grim. We took another loss, this one at the hands of the Weekly Dig. Like vs. the Globe in Week 1, we bowled as well as can could reasonably hope, we just ran into a buzz saw. The Dig guys (and girl) were good, as can be expected of a group who can put out their paper every week safe in the knowledge that Mayor Menino won't be swiping their boxes in the morning. Manzo is our tactician/historian/statistician... the Alfred Oglivie of Stool bowling, and he's looked ahead and discovered we've got the toughest schedule in the league. It's a 12-team league and we play 6 games, so the luck of the draw is crucial. Last week we were 3rd in overall pins and lost. The Dig was 2nd. It's like being a 6th seed but your regional includes North Carolina, Georgetown, Duke and Michigan State.

So as it stands, we're floundering. We're solid 1-6, but no one has stepped up to be great. And at the risk of starting a QB controversy, we still don't know whom to follow. El Pres is the natural choice, but he's distracted with building a media empire. And he's a Lou Pinella like manager, flipping proverbial buffet tables in our metaphoric locker room, and we don't seem to respond to the whip. Manzo, maybe. He knows the theoretical game. But he runs hot and cold. Alanna is a gem; a good bowler, bright and enthusiastic. But can she lead? Because it's easy to have good team spirit when win or lose you're still going to be a smokeshow. Eric the photographer? He's a good teammate, but cerebral and introspective.

Which leaves me, and I'm just not the guy other guys follow. I'm not a Ray Lewis let's-touch-foreheads-and-yell-gibberish guy. If I was a Survivor castaway I'd be the one who wins the occasional challenge, not the one who tells everyone else where to build the shelter. The other night, down by 20 something pins with three frames to go, I tried to step up. Tell the team it's gut check time. Let's take it one roll at a time. But it went over like when Bluto says "When the going gets tough...?" [silence]

So that's where we stand. Hopefully though we can right the ship and make a run at the playoffs. Even down 0-2, but a remarkable 3rd in total pins, and experiencing a leadership void. It's been done before. Just ask the San Diego Chargers.