Thanks to USCL and ICC for my prize!  This week, we have another battle of unique regional accents:  brash “New Yawkas” vs. “Phillelphia’s” “wooder ice” eaters.  I am not sure how Sylvester Stallone factors into this equation.  He’s from New York in real life, but on screen, he professed to be from South Philly, and attempted a Philly accent, coming up with a NYC-Philly hybrid…seven times.

How polite New Yorkers are, compared to Bostonians!  What a pleasure it was to read New York’s pre-match predictions! … http://newyorkknights.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-3-preview.html .

The New York Knights’ blog already outlined Philadelphia’s potential advantages.  Thanks, NYK blog!  I tend to agree with everything they have written.  It’s anyone’s match.  In contrast to what most people believe about New Yorkers, I find them generally polite.  (Maybe this is because I, myself, am a former one!  Although I am in a much, much more congenial locale now, my heart still beats to the pulse of bleating taxicab horns…)  In any case, the Knights’ blog definitely gave each of the members of this week’s Inventors lineup his due.  Personally, I predict an overall draw, although at least on paper, the Knights’ ratings are mostly higher.

Smith, playing Board 1 this week, has not displayed his stingingly strong potential so far this season.  He can at least strive for a win against Kacheishvili, although Kacheishvili has white, and the game will be a challenge for Smith.

Bartell (Board 2) has delighted Philadelphia fans this season, and with white, will definitely will be a force for Fedorowicz to contend with.  Then again, I wouldn’t dismiss someone from the Bronx.  My family hails from the Bronx, and no matter how much Philadelphians tend to hate them, the Yankees are in the Bronx, and they are an amazing team.  So, don’t discount the man from the Bronx.

Dehmelt is another potentially dangerous player for New York on Board 3.  Although facing a rating gap against Krush, Dehmelt has proven himself a very competent player this season, and is likely to surprise League fans with an upset.

Costigan has shown himself time and again to be an invaluable part of the Inventors’ machine, as he has provided the crucial element in a win or draw on many occasions, usually on Board 3.  With his rating advantage over the unseasoned Williams on Board 4 this week, a win is likely, but it also will be interesting to see if the newbie Williams can pull off an upset.

Whatever the results, check back here for postmortem analysis of this week’s exciting match.