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OK, before I get too deep into this, I’m gonna start off by giving some major props to Brian Langtry.

Partly because he had an insane show stopping game against Portland and then partly cuz I don’t wanna get stabbed in my sleep like I fear our boy Kevin Fixler is doomed for. We really liked ya Kev, but I think Langtry is out for blood on this one. Maybe lemme know tonight where you plan on having your funeral. It’ll save me a phone call to Denver to find out where to have the flowers sent. You like carnations, right?

Anyways, even with all that said, Langtry looked like he couldn’t be stopped during last week’s early game, Fixler killing spree aside.

Actually, one of the greatest individual performances I think I’ve ever seen was back in 2003 (I think). Colorado was closing out their season in TO and Langtry had a similar game, probably better, than the one we saw from him last week.

Remember it?

He had something crazy like seven goals, every one of ‘em coming from slick outside shots that left the Toronto D with a nice cool shave. I think it was the best outside game I’ve ever seen in pro ball. The only thing that came close to stopping him was the buzzer that ended the fourth. Well, actually, it totally stopped him, but seriously, it was the only thing that could on the night, outside of a sniper from the press box (Kev, you might wanna look into that and get to him before he gets to you).

Langtry’s performance also helps me out a bit with another point (the other obviously was keeping me in his good books so I stay alive), that a clutch performer doesn’t necessarily have to come from a team that wins the game. It helps, but isn’t a must.

Langtry’s almost recording breaking game rocketed him up The Money Ballers charts, picking up a ton of points in one of this year’s tightest games. The Mammoth may have dropped the game, but they got beyond a money performance from the guy that is gonna make Kevin Fixler’s life a living hell.

I even opened up this week’s charts a bit past the usual top 15 to show you how close John Grant is to the best 15 money guys this year. Rochester keeps dropping games, but Jr. keeps ‘em in the hunt. Again, in spite of their recent slide, Grant is the highest on the charts he’s been all year. Wins do not always equal clutch ballers.

A team could bury the opposition 20-1 every night out, not exactly giving birth to too many guys you could tag as being money. Sure, you could say they’re lights out good, but clutch, probably not. On the other hand, a team could go 0-16, lose every game by one, and you might have one dude stepping up in every one of those games with clutch goals when the games tight. Unfortunately he’s just not scoring the game winner, but is he clutch enough to keep his sh** team in games? Hells ya he is.

And even though today’s post was our Money Ballers Brian Langtry Special, gotta plug Josh Sanderson too. Shooter’s been hoverin’ around the top part of the charts for most of the season, but after two killer games this past weekend, Sanderson picked up a slew of money points that has him just a clutch goal away from passing Athan Iannucci, our leader this week again. Nooch picked up just two points against New York, while Shooter picked up an unheard of 8.5 points (trust me, it’s unheard of… biggest weekend for anyone this year) in the Rock’s weekend sweep of Edmonton and Buffalo. 

Everyone’s callin’ Josh a set-up man after the trade this week (and yeah, dudes the definition of a disher), but one of O’Villes most famous (Note: Ryan Cooley, yes that Ryan Cooley of Degrassi The Next Generation fame, is easily the town’s most treasured son) also knows how to show up when his mates need him most.

Anyways, check out our slightly extended version of The Money Ballers below…