Football

Fantasy Football!!

/ jimmyrhythm / 1 Comment

Almost as exciting as the return of NFL football is the return of Fantasy Football. Millions of armchair quarterbacks and coaches out to prove that they know the game better than anyone else. Some pay for the privilege, most (like me) seek out the free games and play for bragging rights. I know one guy who’s played in the same fantasy league for several years; the last weekend in August, he travels from his home in Alabama to his league’s Fantasy Draft Day gathering in Missouri. I know another that will literally laugh with sinister glee if, say, Peyton Manning has a horrific game, not because he hate the Colts, but because Peyton’s the quarterback on his opponent’s fantasy team.  I think it not unlikely that many people care more about Fantasy Football than they do about real-life football (I suppose in the way many people’s online life can be more important to them than reality; but that’s not the topic here today).

I’ve been a fantasy fanatic for about 13 years or so. I play several leagues each year, always free, with which I have average success: I’ve been League Champion, I’ve been a cellar dweller, often in the same season.

This season I’m going to post the results of my games every week. No particular reason I’m sharing this with you. Just that it’s my blog and I feel like doing it.

Yahoo Teams

RTVP League: (1-0) Angus’ All Stars 57, Jayusmagnus’ Legion 32
Chix & Dix League: Mudders 239.00, (0-1) Stratoblasters 209.50
Purple Pride League: (0-1) 4th And 10 95.50,  Nordic Nightriders 112.00
Beer & Brats League:  (0-1) The Others 110.04, Cayman Lions 121.52
Pros Joes & Schmoes League:  (1-0) The New No. 2 112.94, LG’s Men of FF 82.72

NFL.com

League 5101: (0-1) The Dharma Initiative 47.22, TUTANKHAMUN 83.22
Leagye 6613: (1-0) Reedy Creek Ramblers 72.64, Mumbles Galaxy 62.08

Fox Sports Public League 6970A: (1-0) A Team Called Brian 124.1, frank’s Team 87.4

ESPN Players League: (0-1) Intimidating Team Name 46, Yukon OK. Evil Eagles 64

So I’m a combined 4-5 for the week for my head-to-head contests.

I’m also a member of several Pick’em (with mixed results) and Survival (which all survived Week 1 thanks to the Dolphins) Leagues, but I won’t bore you with (any more) details.

Yep! Happy to see it back!

Yay (Kind Of)! Football!

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It’s that time of year again: the weather’s changing, kids are back in school, sunsets are sneaking up on us earlier and earlier, and I go into denial as I increase the number that represents my physical age.

Yes, my friends fall is nigh, and football is back!

I should mention that by “football”, I mean professional, NFL football. I’m not a fan of college football, because the matchups are generally something like Notre Dame hosting Northampton Country Community College with a resultant score of 72-3. Not very interesting to watch. I don’t watch the bowl games, which allegedly feature the best teams, because all of the corporate sponsorships have killed the fun for me. The Cotton Bowl and the Orange Bowl were OK, but the Hooters Fiesta Bowl and the Walmart Fabreze Bowl just seem like three hour product plugs to me. I’m surprised they’re not throwing around bags of Tostitos instead of footballs.

(As a tangent: hey, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and the rest of you. How about taking those millions and millions of dollars you spend to get your name on a football stadium and instead lower the interest rates and fees I have to pay?)

Anyway, back to professional football. Did I say professional? I may be stretching the definition a bit, as I am, have been, and will always be loyal to my team, the hapless Cleveland Browns.

It is not my intent, nor do I have the time, to go into the history of my Brownies, or to analyze the various problems that have in the past, and continue, to plague my team. This post is just a small celebration of the return of the only sport I follow closely (I’m not a baseball or basketball kind of guy, I don’t understand hockey, and golf isn’t really a sport, is it?).

That being said, I had guarded high hopes during the preseason: our quarterback, Jake Delhomme, who many had written off as washed up, looked decent, our draft picks looked like they were ready to play at the pro level, and we had Mike Holmgren running the show. Could this finally be the year?

My enthusiasm took a hit in the last preseason game, when rookie RB Montario Hardesty was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

Still, I’m a diehard fan, and I was psyched for the season opener against Tampa Bay.

Well, that didn’t turn out too well. After building a 14-3 lead, we ended up losing 17-14. Delhomme threw a couple of picks, there were lost fumbles, the defense looked lost in the second half…it was ugly.

Today many “loyal” Browns fans are moaning and groaning and talking about dumping the QB and coach and making plans for what we need to do to have a winning team next year.

After one freakin’ game.

Me? I’m willing to give my team a 623rd chance.

I’m just happy they’re back.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Random Thoughts #4 (Birthday Edition)

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On September 21, 2009, I became a 58-year-old kid. I still think (and usually behave) like a teenager, and I like it that way. Life’s too short to be stuffy and serious all the time.

Related Random Birthday Thoughts:

  • Man, I seem to be seeing a lot more scalp every morning when I comb my hair.
  • I don’t need to feel embarrassed any more if I forget something; it’s pretty much expected of me.
  • I used to be obsessed with dying. Now I’m obsessed with living. Makes for a happier me.
  • The cute girl who rings up my groceries…she’s not smiling at me because she’s flirting; she’s just being friendly to the nice old man.
  • I feel lucky because I saw Elvis and the Beatles live in concert (not at the same time, obviously); got to see Dan Marino and Joe Montana play in their prime; was able to realize my dream of visiting London and Liverpool in June of 2001; and made some wonderful friends throughout the years.
  • I feel sad because I remember where I was and what I was doing when the Kennedy brothers and John Lennon were gunned down; I realize that modern sports heroes are playing less for love of the game then they are for love of enormous paychecks and self-glorification; since 9/11/01, I will never again be comfortable spending more than a few hours at a time on a plane; I’ve lost too many friends to drugs and violence.
  • When I was younger, I felt that the music I listened to was the best ever made, and the stuff my parents listened to was lame. Now I feel that the music I listened to when I was younger was the best ever made, and the stuff my son listens to is just so much indecipherable noise.
  • It’s depressing to know that the various aches and pains I experience are not temporary. Arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and pinched nerves don’t just clear up on their own.
  • I will probably never marry again. I’m old and set in my ways; I like coming and going as I please, and not having to explain myself to anybody.
  • That being said, it’s nice to have somebody around to experience things with, somebody to talk things over with, and somebody to say goodnight to.
  • I hate being serious.
  • I have doubts that I’ll ever earn my Black Belt. My body is just not co-operating. However, I will keep trying. I will not give up.
  • Rock and roll and Disney has kept me young. Thanks to both of you.
  • And thank you for listening to an old man ramble! Doo wah diddy diddy!

Random Thoughts #3

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  • Have you been following Big Brother at all? My summer guilty pleasure. I missed the first season, caught most of the second, and have been an addicted viewer since the third (except for the infamous Season 9; I found that cast so vile and disgusting that I didn’t watch past the second week). Just my opinion, of course, but the current season is shaping up to be one of the best. I say that because the people I like are doing well, the people I don’t are gone or self-destructing, and there is no shortage of controversy. Gotta love Reality TV!
  • Hate to see summer end, but love to see football season start! Even if my team is the Cleveland Browns. Only one preseason game in the books, and I’m already thinking, “Oh, well. Maybe next year.” Which, I believe is the Official Motto if the Cleveland Browns’ Fans.
  • Another problem with the end of summer is everyone trying to cram in one last cookoout in a short period of time. I went to two this past weekend, and another is looming before school starts. On top of that, I’m visiting family in Ohio for a few days soon, and the day I hit town, I’m being taken to a sushi bar. I spent three months struggling to lose 15 pounds; in the past 60 days, I’ve gained 10 of them back.
  • I’m a huge, huge fan of Michael Nesmith‘s solo work. Check it out! I particularly like Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma.
  • The “l” on my keyboard has detached itself, and I don’t know how to stick it back on (I have a Dell XPS M2010, if you have any ideas on how to fix this annoyance).
  • That’s all for now. Aren’t you glad you stopped by? I am!