Razor Sharp: An Xtreme Strength Series Ballkrusha appears courtesy of BTX. Caroline is mentioned courtesy of Paul Smith. Stardate--7/3006: TUESDAY In tonight's Sportscenter cover story, we'll foucus our attention on the Xtreme Mutant football League Team, the Quasars. Once the talk of great expectations, the team has fallen on hard times. Mired in fourth place in the Terran Earth Division and struggling at 5-7, the Quasars now face a litany of questions surrounding their club as to what's gone wrong, and, if they can salvage their season in time. At the center of the controversy is rookie player Valerie Trakten. Taken third overall in the amateur draft, Trakten was supposed to upgrade the Quasars to championship caliber status. However up until now, she's been more of a distraction on and off the field. Picking up the story in the Milky Way sector is Sh'Nel To'var. ESPN Cover Story by Sh'Nel Tovar This is where rookie Valerie Trakten spends her Tuesday, in the team traning and practice facility located at the ancient space shuttle site known to all as Cape Canaveral. Clad in a white tank top, sjhorts, and the brand name athletic gloves and sneakers she currently endorses, Val fervently worked out with the free weights. Starting out with 60 lb dumbell curls in both hands as a warmup, Trakten increased the resistence to nearly 100 lbs by the time she finished. Moving on to the bench press, she again warmed up at around 180 lbs, eventually finishing her sets at 260 lbs. She skipped rope in the tunnel leading to the practice field using a 6 in. thick 30 ft. chain. Moving at an especially quick pace, Valerie kept going for 8 to 10 minutes before she even broke a sweat. She resembled a blur, striking the pavement and literally causing a fire to emerge, and creating quite the burning smell. After smoking the chain, and grabbing the hottest links as a demonstration of her superior body, she wrapped it around her neck before heading to the field to workout. Having found herself relegated to backup status on bith offensive and defensive units, Trakten, the third overall pick is acutely aware of the dysfunction she's unwittingly brought to the Quasars' franchise. "I know what I've done...and it's cost the team--" she says. "I knew that it wasn't going to be easy, and never said that it would." 'But what about your comments before the Jupiter game?' "What comments?" 'Where you stated that the game should be a cakewalk...' "I said that if we prepared and did our jobs correctly, the game should be a cakewalk--" Upon bantering back and fourth with the media, Trakten practiced for about an hour, working on various techniques with a Quasar assistant couch. After finishing, she returned to the weight room to finish her weight lifting. FLASHBACK Trakten's struggles with the Quasars have been well documented. since a month and a half ago, the team have been in freefall. Losing six straight games after a 5-1 start, theeir chemistry has slipped considerably. They lead the entire XMFL in turnovers during this stretch, a lot of which can be attributed to Ms. Trakten, whose seven lost fumbles and off the field behavior have contributed to the Quasars' dimming light: XMFL DRAFT (November 8, 3005) Commissioner: With the third pick in the XMFL Amateru Draft, the Florida Quasars select Valerie Trakten from FAM-U... Sol Gumbel: To me she's the best overall player in this year's draft. She's got speed, strength, power, awareness versatility nd by comets, she's a freak of nature! Gabe Dinwiddy: She runs the 100 yd. in 4.5 seconds and the 40 in half the time!! In addition to football, she also has a track background, where she set all sorts of school records in both the heptathlon and decathlon!! Don't let Valerie's size fool you, she can move! T'al Burgundy: She can move mountains, Uranium piles, the scrimmage pile and any other pile you want moved. Jay B.: Yeah, including the pile of bovine excrement that said that this gal ain't a first round draft choice! **everyone laughs in unison** PRESEASON Valerie: I'm just lookin' to help the Quasars out any way I can...It's great that I'm only a few miles away from my alma mater. My parents are from Georgia and they have family here in Florida and in Carolina. So...it's excellent. February 10, 3006--Preseason Game v. Lunar Rovers Radio Call: Second and ten from the Quasars 23...J.D Pippin takes the snap and drops back to pass...she drifts and flares it to Trakten in the right flat...She bowls over the free safety as she's swarmed by the rest of the Rovers' defense...WHOA!! She's still on her feet!! Valerie Trakten's still running with a calvary if her teammates! She's to the 50..55...50..45...40..only one player can catch her--Drummond climbs on her at the 29, Trakten's still going! 15...10...three other Rovers converge...she busts them all loose--TOUCHDOWN Touchdown--Valerie Trakten...an 81 yard play and the entire Rovers' defense is slow getting up... Analyst: I have never seent hat in my entire life span...the only thing that compares to that is Caroline destroying the Jupiter team's offensive line all by herself with no pads or cleats on!! Preseason 3RD Week--vs Nova Announcer: Pippin back to pass..Looks--steps up....throooows....complete! Catch made by Rayelle Roberts for a gain of 23 yards, first and ten Quasars. Analyst: Did you see that block Trakten threw on BIG Donna Tinsley, the defensive end (6'6 295)?! Tinsley beat the right tackle off the ball and Trakten practically decleated the big woman and she's still down. Tuesday Feb. 28, 3006 ESPN Reporter: Just days before the XMFL Regular Season begins play, the Florida Quasars must deal with matters of a non-football ature. Tonight, just three hours ago, their top draft pick Valerie Trakten was pulled over for driving her hover cruiser several units over the speed limit. After a brief conversation with a highway patrol officer, Trakten failed a breathalizer test and was charged with a DUI... Thursday March 1, 3006 ESPN Affiliate: Two nights after being arraigned on DUI charges, Quasars' runningback Valerie Trakten may face additional indictments stemming from marijuana possession. A police investigation into her vehicle, a 1978 Dodge Convertible turned hover mobile, revealed a small amount in a sanbdwich bag stashed in the glove compartment... Valerie: Yes...I had some in my car, but I didn't give the fuzz permission to search it. Reporter: You denied the policeman access to search your car? Valerie: Yes Sir-- He asked, 'May I search your vehicle?' And I said, 'unless oyu got a warrant, no you may not.' Saturday March 3, 3006 Regular Season Opener vs. Triton Warlords Triton Announcer: Today the Milky Way Galaxy Conference Florida Quasars begin their season amid turmoil and controversy surrounding their buddin young star, Valerie Trakten. She was arrested just days ago and charged with Driving Under the Infleuence. An additional charge of marijuana possesion was dropped because the police conducted an illegal search of the vehicle. In the face of all this, the team continues to stand behind Trakten, she will be in the starting lineup for today's game. 2ND Quarter- 9:17 Left--Warlords 10 Quasars 3 WEBD RADIO (FLA): Quasars on the move, 2nd and 5 at the Warlords' 12 yard line. Pippin under center....Takes the snap--hands off to Trakten, she blasts through the line, breaks a tackle at the 7--gets hit and spun backward at the 5...she keeps going-- WEBD Analyst: OH MAN! WEBD Announcer: She gets a touchdown! WEBD Analyst: Valerie got turned around and she managed to backpedal the final five yards and busted through the four players to cross the goaline. 5:10 Left-- Quasars 10 Warlords 10 WEBD Announcer: The Quasars are on the move again--Trakten has dominated on this drive; 49 yards on her last 5 carries--Pippin--to Trakten up the gut, BOWLS over the Linebacker--stiff arms a DB who's holding on for dear life....she's to the 10...to the 5...she's stood up at the the 3 by four more defenders!! Trakten's still moving---she's in the end zone--TOUCHDOWN QUASARS! Trakten scores for the second time today! ...The DB is still down on the field...oh...she's not looking good at all! When Valerie Trakten straight-armed her, she damaged the helmet--The DB is being carted off the field with multiple gashes to her bloodied face. WEBD Analyst: OUCH! Do you realize that's premium grade titanium alloy armor she just mangled, with a special visor? ******************************************************************************** **** It all started very promising for Trakten. From the very beginning, she displayed her talents for the Universe to witness. In her very first regular season game, she scored a league high three touchdowns, and provided the game clinching play-- WEBD Announcer: Kilroy, back to pass for the Warlords--they need something on this critical drive--passes....Wart gets the her hands---she's walloped...intercepted by Pippin!! Trakten clotheslined an airborne Valerie Wart and that, my friends, could very well be the ballgame. Trakten's timely impact play also highlighted a busy day on defense as the Quasars' interior linebacker. Deployed primarily as a coverage tool in the team's zone schemes, Valerie's role was clear cut--to disrupt the Warlords' intricate passing attack by eliminating the middle and seam routes. she did so with tremendous efficiency. Post Game Interviews: Warlords H. C.: What Trakten did in the Quasars' defensive scheme was t he key to them winning--she batted a few passes, made it extremely tough for our quarterback to find her receivers, they deserve a lotta credit. Warlords TE Jou'an Da'L: So let me get this straight...In addition to being a beast of a runner...she can also cover people one on one? I didn't know that...Not at all...Didn't know she was that good. TO BE CONTNUED