"Autograph" Mike Aring:
Original Masters roster member is back in the fold after a long absence. Has a mean throwing style & talks lots of smack. His feuds with Williams, Day, Vergos & Derango are legendary and the list keeps growing! He is the creator of the Pig Madness "Fillmore" posters that are now a treasured collectors item as the years roll on........ Click here to view and purchase these remarkable pieces of art!
John Coscia:
Granted entry after being the voice of reason and reliable ref & stats man at the Pig Madness tourneys. But this is as far as his even-keel goes. Once the pigs are thrown, he's loud, hot tempered and downright nasty, probably a product of his Philly roots. Created the "best-ball" format used in The Invitational as well as "the 21-person, double-bye, single elimination knock-out bracket" used in Pig Madness V. Has thrown TWO of only five Double Leaning Jowlers in the history of NPPL events!
Perry Day:
Always controversial & never afraid to open his mouth, Day is one of the original Masters and currently holds popular tournaments in his new city of Chicago. In his early years, he was known more for his sharp tongue, terrible losing streaks & bitter feud with Gary Williams than his actual pig playing, but in recent years has gone on a tear, with 2 Masters titles in 3 years (no other current Master ever held it twice) and 4 finals appearances in the past 6, a run that has never been seen before in the NPPL. Likes to start trouble, stir the pot, piss people off, tell it like it is and kick ass. Co-organizer of the L.A. Pig Madness tournaments.
Johnny Derango:
Possibly the most obnoxious member of the Masters, Derango has been known to use psychological and drinking tactics to get an advantage against his opponents. He brings out a fighting spirit from deep within his soul stemming from playing Pig Mania as a child. He has enraged many Madness players with his bold slogans on his t-shirts and he runs his mouth with the best of them. Many opponents loathe him. But that's a good thing. Also known for his crazy reverse toss during games which causes him to have to wear a wrist-guard in between rounds to keep the swelling down.
Ashley Hurd:
One of the few to roll a Double Leaning Jowler, Ashley is the first African-American pig passer to achieve Masters status. Just as Barack Obama was voted in historic fashion to become the first black president, Hurd broke the NPPL color barrier this February and has made history of his own. And this was no token gesture--the guy can throw pigs & party with the best of them! Don't let his smile fool you, or before you know it he'll have thrown 3 double-razorbacks on you without passing the pigs!
Matt Janssen:
One look at this photo will tell you all you need to know about Matt Janssen. He's a real-life Reservoir Dog. He's never far from trouble and he never has any problems when shit gets thrown his way - even if the're great pigs! He sometimes has problems making tournaments since he's always dealing with repercussions of his actions, but he's one of the few to roll a Double Leaning Jowler and he's always ready to roll trotters and leaners with the best of them.
Mark Rago:
One of 2 original Masters who has played in every tournament. The quiet but de-facto Rago actually threatened to kill a man at the afterparty of Pig Madness II. It was a rare occurrence though as he usually leads by example & is the co-organizer and host of the Pig Madness events. He is without a doubt the king of the Piganapolis 500, winning an astounding 4 times! Also has a Masters title to his resume, as well as the first man to take a global approach to promoting the game. He brought the pigs to China and Egypt and in coming years will be spreading the word in South Africa. In recent years he has taken the reigns from former leader Mike "Elvis" Greene and with the help of Day, has taken pigs to a level never before imagined by the previous regime.
Bill Vergos:
Cool, calm and collective is the best way to describe the Chicago-born Vergos. Usually makes the playoffs and is rarely out of contention due to his laid back and focused demeanor. He was the winner of Pig Madness II, and then won the Masters tournament in 2010. Also has been accused of being Day's "twin brother", a fact that both players find hard to dispute. Was the first man to throw a Double Leaning Jowler during an official NPPL tournament. F*cking impressive!
Sean Walsh:
Another one of the more laid back players, Buffalo-bred Walsh has had the same luck at pigs as the Buffalo teams that he loves--mainly, he comes up short. However he has a funny way of having opportunities present themselves and being in the right place at the right time. Has made a couple of playoff appearances and is one of only 4 people to throw a Double Leaning Jowler during an official tournament.
Gary Williams:
Truly the "Bad Guy" of pigs, and easily the most cantankerous member of the NPPL. One of only 2 original Masters who has played in every tournament so far. He is probably most known for running his mouth and generally coming up short when the game starts. One can hear him whining & complaining from miles away once the pigs are rolling. Won the Masters title in 2001. His most important contribution to the game has been the creation of the "Pig Rink" which is the holy grail of Pig Rolling, as only people who make a finals appearance in a Masters or Madness tourney are allowed to roll in the heavenly circle.
THE PIG MASTERS
Just the title alone inspires awe amongst many. Women fawn over them. Men want to BE them. Most of all, everyone just wants the one thing that they have a crack at every year: The Masters Trophy and coveted Green Jacket! Not just anyone can be a master. In fact, many masters have been removed from the ranks over the years. But the current roster all have this in common: They party hard, have fun, and play for the ultimate prize. Who are these men and what makes them tick? Read on, my friend, read on................
What exactly IS a Master? go to our FAQ page...
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