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Last week I watched a very interesting film entitled Silly Little Game.
Silly Little Game chronicles the invention of Rotisserie Baseball, which in effect created Fantasy Sports. It is an entertaining story. I am terrible at Rotisserie Baseball. I am good at Head-to-Head Fantasy Baseball, but I have not quite got the hang of Rotisserie. I got 4th out of 9 last year, but currently I’m sitting at number 9 for this season. This film got me more excited about Fantasy sports, but I have pretty much given up on my Fantasy Baseball team this year. That is why I am super excited about football season beginning.
Fantasy Football drafts feel like you’re a floor-trader at the Stock Market. There are so many stats to look at, and your gut feelings could lead to amazing success or utter failure. Last year, I thought I put together a good team. Our league is a “keeper league,” which means each team owner gets to keep two players from the previous year. Last year, I kept Calvin Johnson and Adrian Peterson. Your two keepers serve as your first two picks in the draft. I badly needed a quarterback, and I was thrilled to see that Peyton Manning was available in the 3rd Round. Little did I know, that Peyton Manning had a neck injury that would keep him from playing all year.
Thanks a lot Peyton. I am going to be better prepared this year. I will be aware of the health status of all my draft picks this year. This game can border on obsession, but it is a lot of fun. It mixes my love of football and my love of problem-solving. For instance, last year when Adrian Peterson blew out his knee, I was faced with a new problem: do I keep him for future seasons, or do I let him go and secure a solid second-round pick?
I haven’t chosen what to do with AP yet. Will he return to his dominant form? I don’t know. This is all part of the excitement of fantasy football. You start following every game more closely. You take injuries and turnovers personally. As long as you can keep it in perspective (these players don’t owe you anything), it can be a ton of fun. I am really looking forward to our draft, and I will post my roster in the coming weeks. Wish me luck.
Until later friends…
I am about sick of hearing the name “Payton” (“Peyton”) this week. OK, we get it. Peyton Manning decided to go to the worst of the three options he had WR-wise in signing with Denver . (Seriously you pick Denver over Moss, Crabtree, and Davis at San Francisco and Britt and Washington in Tennessee?)
(Is it just me, or does John Elway look like he’s forcing a smile after he just realized they spent $95 million on a dude with a serious neck injury that will never return to the top of his game?)
Also, Saints coach Sean Payton has been banned from the NFL for 1 year for the Saints bounty program. I support this. It is further proof that Roger Goodell is the toughest guy in the NFL.
So, I suggest we end all this modern Payton/Peyton talk. Lets talk about my favorite Payton….Walter.
Walter Payton was nicknamed “Sweetness.” Kind of a sissy name for an NFL legend, but he wore it well. And his play, put simply, was sweet.
I met Walter Payton when I was in the 5th grade. He was incredibly nice. I have a picture at my parents house of Walter and me – he has me in a headlock…it’s pretty great. So, here’s to you Walter. Way to be nice to kids, and run the ball better than anyone other than Barry Sanders.
Until later friends…
The NFL lockout is over. The NFL season is coming. That means, Fantasy football is back! Hooray! Are you ready for some football?
Last Thursday my league had our Fantasy Football Draft Night. My friend @leesill and I set up shop for the draft in a vacant classroom at SBTS, and a night of trash-talking, nervous clock-watching, and hilarity ensued. I am happy with the team I was able to put together. The Volunteer State Fighting Scots are going to be a force to be reckoned with. Here is the team photo:
In case you don’t recognize everyone, here is my roster:
Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Offensive Coordiantor/Punter/Long Snapper: For Aslan…and the Volunteer State
QBs: Peyton Manning (Colts) and Colt McCoy (Browns)
RBs: Adrian Peterson (Vikings), James Starks (Packers), Tim Hightower (Redskins), and LaDainian Tomlinson (Jets)
WRs: Calvin Johnson (Lions), Percy Harvin (Vikings), Brandon Marshall (Dolphins), Sidney Rice (Seahawks), Danny Amendola (Rams), and Jacoby Jones (Texans)
TEs: Vernon Davis (49ers) and Kellen Winslow (Bucs)
Defense/ST: Steelers and Lions
K: Billy Cundiff (Ravens)
I think I have a good mix of players from different teams. Peyton Manning will be great once he gets back from neck surgery, and Colt McCoy will do just fine until Peyton’s ready. I am excited about another season of cheering for individual players on completely random teams that I would have no other reason to care about.
Until later friends…
Well, this photo describes yesterday’s game (Notice the flying Viking divebombing this poor quarterback no one has heard of, and the other Viking running up from behind like a Norse Ninja). The Vikings finally won their first game of the season. Of course, it was against Detroit, but I’ll take what I can get.
I love good defense in football. I rode the bench as a cornerback in middle-school, and as a result, I view football through defensive lenses. I have always been a fan of defense, and I do not think that is only because I am offensively challenged in most sports. It’s no surprise then that I have both the Vikings and Ravens defensive squads on my fantasy team. The Ravens have been consistently great in defense for years, mainly because they have a linebacker that is not scared to stab people. The Vikings are – in my opinion – the scariest pass-rushing/rushing defense in the league. Jared Allen is a manbeast, plain and simple. It was good to see the Vikings defense and Adrian Peterson‘s pure awesomeness (160 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards, and 2 TD) compensate for another poor performance from Favre.
Also, it was great to see Joe Flacco finally realize that the preseason is over. Flacco has three solid receivers in Boldin, Houshmandzadeh, and Mason. I think he will put up career numbers this season now that they are starting to gel. Say hello to an offensively lead Baltimore Ravens – sorry Ray Lewis.
I am more excited about the NFL season this year than I have been in a long time. Thanks Lee for introducing me to fantasy football, and inciting in me an interest in every single game, and sorry to all of you that think Fantasy Football is nerdy. Until later friends…
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