To the horror of all fans, Michael 'Metal Mike' Grendahl, 22, from Iron Tribe's national Gravball representation, Meteor Kings, was seriously injured during training. While his long-term health is not in danger, multiple limb injuries and a torn lung prevent him from participating in the finals.
Metal Mike, captain of the team, is universally beloved for his finishing move 'Iron Bear Hook', developed to score both a point and a K.O. with one strike. Now the crowd seems rather desperate with him not going to the finals, where his talents would be invaluable when facing Blackmarch.
'Bollocks', says his Coach Siffredi, 41. 'The boy needed a break anyway. All of it, went to his head. It would never happen in my Romanica', he explained. Even so, it's a tough year for the Iron Tribe's team: first their captain is Taken by the Star Gods, then his replacement gets himself mangled. Will they be able to defend their championship? Even if not, we do expect they'll make it to the finals, for another battle with their arch-nemesis, Blackmarch's White Hawks.