This One Hurts...

I am a fantasy junkie. Ever since high school I have been participating in fantasy sports leagues. I have mostly competed in football or baseball, with a a couple tries at basketball and even Nascar this season. In the spring of 2005, a couple of my best friends at college and I started a keeper league. We each got together the best fantasy players that we knew and agreed that we would all compete in both football and baseball each year. It is a motley crew of guys that don't all know each other, but reconvene twice a year for each draft.

So far the Boston boys are the only to win a title. In addition, no #1 seed going into the playoffs has ended the season on top. I have made the playoffs in each of the four seasons so far. This is definitely a solid accomplishment, but obviously what is important is winning it all. This past baseball season I had a dominant squad. I had speed, power, hitting, and pitching. I ran away with the regular season title, but floundered in the playoffs. It stung, but I was already well aware of the #1 seed curse and wary of it burning me. This football season, I scored the most points in the league, but was the #4 seed due to poor luck in match-ups. I felt that this would be my chance to burn someone else and finally get my championship. Yesterday my team went up against "Craig Biggio Football." My team was definitely favored, mainly because I have the most dominant player in the history of fantasy football, Ladanian Tomlinson (LDT). LDT had a big day as usual, as did the majority of the rest of my guys. I racked up 127 points. On most days that gets you an easy win. Unfortunately, the team I faced had the week of their lives. They some how put up 171 points. Absolutely ridiculous. This loss burns more than any of the others by far. All I can say is I hope Maurice Jones-Drew tears his Schur, I mean ACL and Drew Brees dislocates his shoulder. Oh and the Miami defense comes down with a case of HPV.

In any event imagine how I felt going to sleep last night after having to watch Drew Brees single handedly destroy both the Dallas Cowboys and my fantasy season in the process. My girl was over and wanted to know why I was feeling so bummed. I attempted to explain it all to her. This was very therapeutic in one respect because it made be laugh thoroughly at how ridiculous I sounded. In addition I got response such as "You made the playoffs?? That is so great!!" or "You tried your hardest and has a nice season!!". I tried explaining that there are no moral victories in fantasy, but then I realized once again how silly I sounded. In any event, congratulations Craig Biggio for having the fantasy week of your life. I will be back with LDT waiting for you next season.

Giants

Great win. The QB played well, as did the defense. Not much more to say. Dallas lost, and now the division title is back in the picture. Another big game next week against Philly. If they can win out, they will be the most dangerous team in the NFC playoffs and a team that no one will want to face.

Jets

Tough loss. The Bills played well, and ran the football. The Jets gave up way too many big plays and the QB did not look good. The Jets do not have the talent to win a game that they do not set the tone in physically. The Bills pushed the Jets around from the beginning of this game and had them on their heels. When this happens, the Jets have no chance. Like I said before, I do not see them making the playoffs, but I think they will finish a very respectable 9-7. After the season they need to upgrade their skill positions. One thing I am quite certain of is that Chad Pennington, while dependable, is not a bigtime QB. He can only take you so far, and the Jets will need to upgrade over him before making a major playoff run.

STKAFI