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 (Legacy Master):
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.
Zach Kuperman:
Otherwise known as Superman Kuperman, Zach came on the scene and showed everyone who's boss as he won the first two tournaments he's ever played in, and then backed up his Pigs with some fierce trash-talking to boot. Always one to be dealt with and and never easy to play against, Kupe was basically an unknown among the Masters and quickly made his way to Pig stardom by feuding with one of their most prideful Masters, Johnny Derango. But aside from that, his resume simply speaks for itself.
Gus Mosca:
After one look at the game of Pass the Pigs, Mosca knew what he wanted to do with his life - be a Pig Master of the NPPL. He practices often and is a feared competiter as he rolls successful pigs in every tournament he plays. He also carries pigs with him everywhere he goes (see World of Pigs page) and can trash-talk 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.
Jeff Schwartz:
Jeff was once BANNED from the NPPL for over 10 years for reasons even he didn't know about (ask one of the veteran Masters) but then solidified himself as one of the true Masters of the game. Many opponents take his height as a weakness, but that only makes him closer to the Pigs as his intensity unlike any other. He finished 2nd in his first Madness tournament ever and is always a threat in every tournament he plays.
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!
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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