Once upon a time, in a land far, far away from the Eastern media center bias, there was a small rather damp Kingdom by the Sea. Many years before, it had been a great and powerful kingdom. But the glorious past faded and the kingdom fell into disrepair under the rule of the evil Lord B. The people hated Lord B, who squandered the wealth of the kingdom, showering lavish gifts on knights whose greatest battles were too far in the past. These knights lost far more jousts than they won for the Kingdom by the Sea, and grew old and fat, prefering to eat and drink rather work hard. The squires of these once great knights saw this behavior and one after the other failed to deliver on their potential.

Eventually, the cries of the people were heard, and the Emperor banished Lord B and many of these fat and lazy knights that served the kingdom so poorly. Then the Emperor searched far and wide, even unto the ends of the Earth, (occasionally called Milwaukee), and there he found a Wizard named "Z". Z was truly a wizard, for the land of Milwaukee had for many many years been a horrible land, where crops from the farm died, and the poverty of the land was widespread and seemed to many to have become an eternal condition. But Z had worked his magic and turned the knights of that realm into winners ... though this did take many years.

During the losing streak, getting swept by both the Twinkies and Angels, they scored 1,2,4,4,5,6 runs (not in that order), and allowed (4,5,5,6,7,11 runs). Three of the losses were by one run (4-5, 5-6, 6-7). Then, against Texas, Oakland, KC and the ChiSox, they scored: (2,3,3,4,5,5,5,7) and allowed (0,1,2,2,2,4,4,8). They won a pair of 1-run games, (3-2 and 5-4).

Upon arriving at the gates of the Kingdom by the Sea, the great wizard was very disappointed, because the knights of his new realm were very sad indeed. The wizard realized that the older knights were fat and complacent and their attitude of entitlement was infecting the younger knights and squires.

"This will not do," he said, shaking his head. "This Kingdom needs knights that are hungry, not fat."

So, he began a search for knights from other realms who had been working hard, but whose Lords and Masters refused to let them join battle. Word went out that the Kingdom by the Sea would welcome those knights willing to work to earn their names in battle, and that no longer would honour be bestowed based on former glory.

So it was that Sir Branyan, Sir Endy and Sir Gut made their way to the Kingdom by the Sea, having served masters who had deemed them unworthy of more than occasional chances to joust, and holding them in reserve to be used only when battles were already won.

Many of the people were shocked and angered by some of the wizard's decisions. To bring Sir Gut, Z had banished one of the realm's greatest knights, Sir Putz. Sir Putz had won many jousts in years past, but had been injured.

"What of Loyalty?" the people who had seen Sir Putz finest hours cried.

"And would you put the corpse of a dead knight on a steed to fight a dragon, if he had slain 10 dragons before?" Z asked. "Or would you send out your best live squire to face him? There is a place for loyalty, yes. But the needs of the peoples of the land come before the needs of the knights. To become a knight is to swear to serve the people and the King, and put their needs before their own lives. Sir Putz' lance may no longer be swift enough to serve this kingdom."

When the wizard had assembled a great many lesser knights from many foreign lands, he had them all joust each other. Those who won, stayed. Those who lost or complained were sent away.

As the jousting season neared, there was much fear and little optimism in the Kingdom by the Sea. Though they were glad to be rid of many of the fat and lazy knights who had gone, they longed for an obvious champion of the realm to cheer. They had little faith in this ragtag group of vagabond knights. But then, the wizard brought forth the greatest of all the knights that had ever served the Kingdom by the Sea. Sir Kid had won wars single-handedly once upon a time. But, he had left the Kingdom by the Sea to return to the far away land where he had been born.

Though he was much older and had many scars from battle, and even though he could no longer wield his sword with the same strength and grace he had once possessed, the people still cheered his return. And the newly assembled knights knelt before him to honor his former greatness.

"Rise," Sir Kid said. "I have had my time to shine. Today is your day, as my greatest days are behind me. But, though my sword may not be as swift, and the swing of my mace may not be as strong, I do know what it takes to win on the battlefield. To win, you must work like never before. And though you may spar with a single opponent, you do not fight alone. You will fight with me at your back, and with Sir Ichiro and Sir Felix and all of the other knights of the realm. Let it be known that none amongst us fights alone - but that we fight as one heart and one soul, for the glory of the Kingdom by the Sea, and not our own. I will raise my sword and help as my aging bones allow. But this once proud kingdom deserved to be proud again!"

So it was that the knights of the Kingdom by the Sea went forth, striking down many foes. The people were stunned and amazed by these unsung knights. But they were soon jubilant as the victories mounted. Could it be that the wizard had worked a spell to so quickly return the Kingdom to its former greatness?

"No," said the King's sages and seers. The greatest physician and apothecary of the realm, known only as D, shook his head, saying, "These knights are scrawny. They may be quick and they may avoid the blows of their opponents for awhile, but they shall surely fail. The Realm still needs a Champion who can slay the enemy with one blow."

Many others agreed.

So it was that Lady Shannon approached the wizard one day and asked about this.

"Child," said Z, "The sages and seers have their uses. They can portend many things. But no seer can see into the heart and soul of a warrior. I have cast no spell. The only spell that has been cast was done so by Sir Kid. These knights are winning because they BELIEVE in themselves. There is no greater power in the universe. No sage or psychic can predict the power of a human heart to change the world around them. There are many battles yet to come. And surely as I live and breathe we will lose our fair share of them. What you have seen thus far is not magic. This ... this is only illusion. This is the time of the quickening, when these men may come together and forge a sword that cannot be broken."

"You believe this to be their destiny?" Shannon gasped.

"Destiny? Though I am wise, no man knows the future with certainty. I speak only of what is possible, not what is ordained. You see, my dear Lady, these men I have brought together have many possible destinies. The one they choose relies on how deeply they believe in each other ... and how deeply the people believe in them. It takes time to forge a sword, m'Lady. But for a sword to become strong, it must be pounded many, many, many times. The pounding has just begun. I do not know the future, but I do believe in ... possibilities."

Z smiled. "The Emperor has a new glove. It will take time to learn whether it is steel or fur."