Editor's Note: This is the sixth in a series of feature stories on the men who make up the Erie Fantasy Football League. In order to be featured, you must respond to the official Erie League survey.

Through his eight seasons in the Erie League, Storm Thomas hasn't always had teams with the most talent. Yet, year in and year out he's always had more of one thing than his fellow owners - opinions.

"Jones will not win the title this year," Thomas said. "If he does, he would become the poster child for dumb luck! No one could have predicted the year his guys are having. No one!"

Despite a dismal 3-6 record this year, including a 99-41 ass-whipping at the hands of the Midnight Vigilantes this week, Thomas has the distinction as the only owner to have knocked off Don Jones -- whom Storm calls his biggest rival -- and his league leading LTP squad. The Gargoyles won the Week Eight matchup 100-52, leading to several comments in the following week's Sports Page.

"I am not trying to fool anyone, I don't have a good team," Thomas said at the time. "This weekend, we came up with a big victory against an average club of overachievers that has everyone fooled by the hype.

"I like talking shit with Jones," Thomas added. "He is so sensitive. A girl playing a man's game."

Thomas, who had his franchise paid for by Titlebound Two co-owner Brett Harney as a result of a fantasy baseball bet, had the following advice for the five franchises who debuted this season.

"To the new owners who are out there I offer this piece of advice: Play to win and take nothing I say personal," Thomas said. "It is all about the game. It is all for the love of the game."

As an owner who is always looking to make the game fun, Thomas has ranked right up with Hall of Fame smack talkers like Keith Kuratko, Bryan Vince, and Jody Barth over the years when it comes to developing feuds. A classic example took place during his championship year of 1994 when he placed "the phone call" to Cosmic Monsters GM Brad Rzyczycki.

It started when Rzyczycki turned down a trade offer that would have landed him RB Emmitt Smith from Thomas' Stormtroopers the week the two were playing. Thomas responded by predicting that Emmitt would respond to the rejection by leading his team to victory. Smith backed up his owners words and the Stormtroopers eventually defeated the Cosmic Monsters 69-50 in Fantasy Bowl 5. (Click here to read the Fantasy Bowl 5 Preview).

"It wasn't the call itself," Thomas said. "It was the fact that I called my shot and there was nothing that anyone could do to stop it.  In retrospect, I am glad Brad refused the trade I wanted to make with him that night.  I probably would not have won a title.  Thanks Brad, it was a pleasure kicking your ass in the Fantasy Bowl!" 

As for this season, Thomas still isn't counting out his Gargoyles.

"My team sucks," he said. "But anything can happen. Keep hope alive."