The 2002 FLF season got off to a powerful start as The Pimps rose up and popped the defending champion Hellions in the mouth. Downing Irwin with a 33-26 victory, The Pimps quickly avenged their loss to the three-time Western Division champs nine months ago in Super Bowl V.

In what was arguably the ugliest game of the week, The Pimps and Hellions seemed to sometimes be trying to underscore their opponent. The Pimps' Shaun Alexander had a respectable game with 7 points and, with backfield partner Jerome Bettis getting shutout, managed to beat the combined 6-point effort of the Hellions' Edgerrin James and Curtis Martin. Aside from the kickers, who both posted double-digit points, the only two offensive starters to best Alexander were the quarterbacks. Hellion Brett Favre and his never-say-die attitude outgunned Pimp counterpart Mark Brunell 12-10 to keep the offensive score close, but Irwin's Buccaneer defense lost the battle to The Pimps' Packer squad 10-6.

The loss is the third straight regular season defeat for the Hellions, while The Pimps have won an astonishing nine of their last ten games outside of the the playoffs.

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Last season, home field advantage preyed on the Abstract Machines while they were on the road. In the first game of 2002, however, that same two-point attachment saves the Machines from defeat as they battle the P.W.O.P. to a 37-37 tie.

Travis Henry, P.W.O.P.'s first round draft pick, made an immediate impact with a game-high 15 points. From the other sideline, the Machines' second-rounder, Drew Brees, doubled up the Profiteer$' Jeff Garcia 10-5. In a battle of backfield heavyweights, the Machines' Marshall Faulk clipped Ahman Green 9-8, and on defense their Rams unit edged the Profiteer$' Saints squad 15-12. Yet Henry's memorable performance assured that the best the Machines could do was settle for the first FLF tie since Week 8, 1999. Although they couldn't score the win, P.W.O.P. takes a big step by not absorbing the loss; the Profiteer$ had started each of the previous three seasons 0-3.

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The Anderson Brewmeisters entered Kickoff Weekend a healthy ball club, which has been a rarity for this franchise over the past few seasons, and that healthy ball club made the Sims Stereco sick with a 16-point drubbing of the red and gold.

Peyton Manning, second-year man LaDainian Tomlinson, and a healthy Fred Taylor torched the Stereco for a combined 33 points. Sims was not without its own offensive standouts, as Ricky Williams (12 points) and Amani Toomer (7) turned in strong games, but quarterback Drew Bledsoe managed only 4 points in his return to the Stereco. Anderson's second-overall draft pick, the Pittsburgh defense, barely surpassed Sims' Ravens squad, 7-6. Yet the Brewmeisters score an encouraging win while avenging last season's Week 10 loss to the Stereco that made them playoff-ineligible. The loss drops Sims' career Kickoff Weekend record to a dismal 1-5.

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The Bock Boys continue their mastery of the Piana Raze with a 36-25 victory at En Fuego Field. Bock Boy Priest Holmes posted a league-high 19 points in the win, which was 12 points better than Piana's combined ground production and even managed to dwarf teammate David Boston's 10 points receiving. Kurt Warner was bested by Daunte Culpepper 5-4 in his Raze debut, but Marty Booker managed to provide some excitement for the home crowd with 13 points. Piana also managed to win the defensive battle as their Cowboys defense topped Thomas' Eagles squad 19-14, but it was too little, too late to avoid the loss. With everything else that has happened this week to Western teams, the Bock Boys surprisingly find themselves alone in first after a single win.

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Jody's Colossal Waste of Time improved its career opening weekend record to 5-1 with a 47-30 victory over the visiting Naughty Figs. Making his debut in the pewter and black, quarterback Aaron Brooks had a good outing, matching the Figs' Rich Gannon with 9 points. The game quickly turned in Jody's favor as the C.W.O.T. backfield of Eddie George and Anthony Thomas combined for 16 points with receiver Qadry Ismail posting an additional 10. The only offensive victory for the Figs was at kicker, where Ryan Longwell out dueled Martin Gramatica 13-9. Yet Jody ruled on defense, with its Dolphins unit besting the Figs' newly drafted Bears team 17-10 to seal the win. Dating back into last season, the win is the third straight for the C.W.O.T. franchise, while the loss is the fifth straight for the frustrated Figs.

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