Mods, please sticky this thread.

With my victory in the recent EoFF Elections, I have officially been declared, for the second year in a row, the supreme commander of this fine forum. For the next year, at least, you will all be under my complete control. In order for such a relationship of "I'm better than you" to occur, certain rules must be put in place involving the realms of sports, movies, music, and books.

The Official Rules of the Lounge
-Last updated 3-15-2005, 6:30 PM

<b><u>Section I: Sports</u></b>

As the designated place for sports discussion here at this forum, any and all sports talk must only concern the following teams. Furthermore, each member who wishes to discuss athletics must strip him or herself of their current favorite teams, and declare the following teams to be the best and greatest:

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/kingbahamut/oldmavsavatar.png" alt="The Dallas Mavericks">
<b>I-1. The Dallas Mavericks</b>

In the year 1980, Don Carter established a new basketball team: the Dallas Mavericks. During the mid-to-late 1980's, the Mavericks found themselves competing for supremacy in the time of such greats as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Through low-key stars like Rolando Blackman, Mark Aguirre, Derek Harper, and James Donaldson, the Mavericks came within one game of a trip to the NBA Finals. Sadly, it was not to occur.

The 90's saw a rebuilding stage in the franchise, both failed and successful attempts. Through the "Three Js" of Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn, and Jim Jackson, to the drafting of Dirk Nowitzki and trades for Steve Nash and Michael Finley, the 90s definitely saw changes in the franchise. New coach Don Nelson rebuilt the team from the ground up, and the new millennium found the Mavericks amongst the Western Conference elite. In 2003, the Mavericks went to the Western Conference Finals, losing in six games to the hated San Antonio Spurs. However, an ankle injury to star Dirk Nowitzki most likely cost the Mavericks that series.

The Mavericks are everybody's new favorite NBA team. There is no way to avoid this. You must all learn their history, and will periodically be quizzed on it. Failure on this quiz will result in a subsequent banning from The Lounge.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/kingbahamut/rangersavatar.png" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
<b>I-2. The Texas Rangers</b>

In 1972, the dying Washington Senators moved to Arlington, Texas, and renamed themselves the Texas Rangers. However, this new team found very little success. The first 20 years of the existence of the franchise never saw the playoffs. It was not until the mid-1990s, with the emergence of American League MVPs Juan Gonzalez and Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez that the Rangers finally won a pennant, doing so three times in the second half of that decade. However, such success was not to last. The Rangers promptly had 4 last-place finishes in the American League West, even with superstar Alex Rodriguez on the team.

In 2004, after the trading of "A-Fraud," the Rangers began to turn it around, finishing with an 89-73 record. Through new stars Mark Teixeira, Michael Young, and Hank Blalock, the Rangers have one of the brightest futures in the major leagues.

The Rangers are everybody's new favorite MLB team. There is no way to avoid this. You must all learn their history, and will periodically be quizzed on it. Failure on this quiz will result in a subsequent banning from The Lounge.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/kingbahamut/cowboysavatar.png" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
<b>I-3. The Dallas Cowboys</b>

There is not enough to say about "America's Team." Through its humble beginnings in 1960, to its utter dominance ever since, the Cowboys are the most successful franchise in NFL history. The 1970s saw two Super Bowl titles under the tutelage of coach Tom Landry and the unrivaled leadership of Roger "The Dodger" Staubach, and more wins than the vaunted Pittsburgh Steelers. The 1980s saw times of change, with new quarterback Danny White and 3 straight NFC championship game appearances. The trade of emerging star Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings in 1987 set off a chain of events that would change Cowboys history.

From the years 1988-1990, the Cowboys selected Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith in the draft. These three "triplets" led the team to three Super Bowl championships in four years. A team of superstars on both sides of the ball, the 1990s Cowboys teams are considered to be some of the best ever.

The Cowboys are everybody's new favorite NFL team. There is no way to avoid this. You must all learn their history, and will periodically be quizzed on it. Failure on this quiz will result in a subsequent banning from The Lounge.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/kingbahamut/desperadosavatar.png" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
<b>I-4. The Dallas Desperados</b>

In 2002, a new Arena Football team was born, under the ownership of Jerry Jones. The franchise saw playoff appearances its first two years in the league, in 2002 under long-time AFL veteran quarterback Andy Kelley, and in 2003 under emerging star QB Jim Kubiak, and superb wideouts Andy McCullough, Dialleo Burks, and Will Pettis. However, a horrible neck injury to Kubiak ended his career with the Desperados, and 2004 became a rebuilding year.

Now, in 2005, with new quarterback Clint Stoerner, the Desperados look to regain the same form of 2002 and 2003 with the help of athletic wide receiver Bobby Sippio, and one of the finest defenses in the league.

The Desperados are everybody's new favorite AFL team. There is no way to avoid this. You must all learn their history, and will periodically be quizzed on it. Failure on this quiz will result in a subsequent banning from The Lounge.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/kingbahamut/starsavatar.png" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
<b>I-E. The Dallas Stars</b>

In 1990, the Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas and became the Dallas Stars. The move brought three stars with them: center Mike Modano and defencemen Richard Matvichuk and Derian Hatcher. With the help of goalie Ed Belfour, and the addition of future hall-of-famer Brett Hull, the Stars lifted the Stanley Cup in 1999.

New star goalie Marty Turco since has emerged, and winger Bill Guerin hopes to restore the Stars to their old glory. When the NHL lockout ends, look for the Stars to once again compete.

The Stars are everybody's new favorite NHL team. There is no way to avoid this. You must all learn their history, and will periodically be quizzed on it. Failure on this quiz will result in a subsequent banning from The Lounge.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/kingbahamut/fcdallasavatar.png" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
<b>I-F. FC Dallas</b>

Originally established as the Dallas Burn in 1996, recently-renamed FC Dallas is an MLS team. They used to have Jason Kreis, and have never won an MLS championship. There is nothing else I can say about them, because I don't know anything else about them.

FC Dallas is everybody's new favorite football/soccer team, which includes both Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, North America, and Australia/New Zealand. There is no way to avoid this. You must all learn their history, and will periodically be quizzed on it. Failure on this quiz will result in a subsequent banning from The Lounge.

<b><u>Section II: Music</u></b>

First off, there will be absolutely no positive discussion of the following genres of music:

Rock
Rap
R&B
Hip-Hop
Punk Rock
Heavy Metal
Black Metal
Death Metal
Emo
Indie
Techno
Electronika
J-Pop
Pop
Latino
Disco
Opera

Any other genres which positive discussion wishes to take place on must first be authorized by me. You may do so by way of PM.

Currently authorized genres:

Classical
Folk
Country

In addition, each and every piece of music discussion must begin with "John Denver is the greatest artist ever." Furthermore, each poster in the Lounge is required to download at least one John Denver song from each of the following albums:

<i>Rhymes and Reasons
Take Me to Tomorrow
Poems, Prayers, and Promises
Rocky Mountain High
Aerie
Farewell Andromeda
Back Home Again
Windsong
Spirit
I Want to Live
Some Days are Diamonds
Seasons of the Heart
Dreamland Express</i>

Failure to follow these rules may result in a ban from the Lounge.

That is all.

<b><u>Section III: Movies</u></b>

There are very little rules when it comes to movies. Don't recommend stupid movies. That is all. No anime movies are to be spoken of, for any reason whatsoever. Not even the Digimon movie.

<b><u>Section IV: Television</u></b>

There is to be absolutely <b>ZERO</b> positive discussion when it comes to the genre of anime. There are absolutely no exceptions. Failure to heed this warning will result in subsequent banning from the Lounge. In addition, there is only to be one thread allowed which discusses British comedies in the top 30. Any other thread will be closed.

<b><u>Section V: Books</u></b>

There will be no manga and/or anime book talk in the Lounge. Any other discussions of any other books is permitted.

That is all.

<b><i>Any and all of these rules may be changed at any point by Kirobaito.</i></b>

These rules will always be posted at the top of the Lounge, and thus, there is absolutely no excuse for not following them.

With most condescendence,

Kirobaito