Sunday, September 11, 2011

2011 NFL ATS Pick 'Em: Now Is The Time

By: Luke Florence

It all happened so fast I’m still not sure exactly how it did happen. Our group was sitting comfortably around 28 or so members when all of a sudden it exploded to 49. Never thought that was possible, but when you have Shane Kline and Matt Barnes as co-chairmen of your Public Relations group, these are the results you get.

It makes me excited because I have no idea how this is going to go down. It could be great, it could be shaky. The new weekly pot could make things really exciting for people who aren’t going to be in the top-six, or it could place an unnecessary emphasis on a rather mundane Monday Night Football score. It’ll be a learning experience for all of us.

With a group this size the only way it’s going to work effectively is for communication to be open and free-flowing. My e-mail address is Florence.luke@gmail.com and my phone number is 608-738-4853. Find me on facebook, or follow me on twitter (@kingofarguments). Any questions or concerns please get at me.

Deadlines will also be key for a great season. You already know what the deadline is for getting picks in but the most important deadline will be November 1st. If Kevin Hunt doesn’t have your $30 by November 1st then you will be watching from the sidelines and will be placed on a one-year probation. I understand that by the middle of October you might be completely out of the race for the season-ending money, but with the weekly prize you can still walk away with $100 for one great week. Don’t be “that guy” who tests the water and then bails because he thinks his ship is sinking. Usually I don’t need to post deadlines and threats of probation, but that’s because I used to know everyone in the league … not the case this year.

Here’s the address:

Kevin Hunt
4753 Middletowne St. Unit C.
Columbus, OH 43214

Without further ado, here are the 2011 NFL ATS Pick ‘Em League Members.

What a lucky bunch.


2011 NFL ATS Pick ‘Em League Members (in alphabetical order once league seniority is accounted)


1) Matt Barnes - 5th Year (0/4 cashes)
2007: 130-126 (4th)
2008: 120-136 (17th)
2009: 136-120 (9th)
2010: 137-119 (6th)
Awards (2): 2009 MVP and 2009 Quote of The Year
Odds to Win It All: 65-1

How do you write a fifth different intro for the same person and not sound redundant? It’s almost impossible. Well for those of you that don’t know, I met Barnes on the 2nd day of college and have been great friends ever since. We were roommates for a year-and-a-half at OU, were up for the host of Gridiron Glory (he got it), and are currently posting our favorite 100 movies. Barnes summed our relationship pretty well the other night during the Packers-Saints game, “thanks for always being there, except for the couple of times you weren’t.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.

As for this league, Barnes has yet to make any money although I’m sure he’s made plenty of people laugh over the years with his comments. He’s gotten close the last couple of years and has only finished with a sub-.500 record once so he should be right there until the very end. And since we didn’t hand out any hardware in 2010, Barnes is the reigning MVP which should either booster his confidence or create unreasonable expectations.

2) Luke Florence - 5th Year (4/4 cashes)
2007: 150-106 (1st)
2008: 144-112 (2nd)
2009: 140-116 (4th)
2010: 143-113 (1st)
Awards (3): 2007 & 2010 Mel Kiper and 2009 Swami
Odds: 50-1

Last season came down to the final week and then the final game. I have two people to thank for winning the whole thing last year: Rex Grossman and Charlie Whitehurst. The Redskins scored a late touchdown that gave them the cover against the Giants and then the Seahawks did just enough to beat the Rams and earn me my second 1st place finish. Do I think I have a chance to win it all this year? Absolutely not. With 49 guys it’s going to be incredibly hard to win a 3rd title. In fact, I think my 2007 record of 150 wins will NOT be enough to take home 1st in 2011.

The key to these leagues is to pick up on trends before they happen, avoid awful weeks, and put together one or two spectacular weeks. If you do that, you’ll go home with some cash.

3) Devin Frank - 5th Year (0/4 cashes)
2007: 129-127 (5th)
2008: 138-118 (6th)
2009: 119-137 (21st)
2010: 58-198 (27th)
Odds: 85-1

Devin’s been my roommate on two separate occasions. The first was back at OU in 2004. The second location is currently here in Dublin. In between Devin has spent time in Tiffin and overseas in Europe (I’m sure he preferred the latter). He’s the only Tampa Bay Bucs fan in this group (that I know of) and probably the biggest soccer fan as well. Devin and I were co-hosts of a college radio show called Old College Roommates back in 2007 during the first year of this league. We made five year predictions on that show and neither of us predicted we’d have nearly 50 guys in 2011.

Devin joins Barnes in the 0/4 department as far as cashes are concerned. In fact if you take a look at where he’s finished it’s a downward sloping line. The low point came last year when he pulled a Grothaus and stopped making picks half-way through the season. With that in mind, Devin has nowhere to go but up in 2011.

4) Kevin Hunt - 5th Year (3/4 cashes)
2007: 138-118 (2nd)
2008: 133-123 (12th)
2009: 140-116 (5th)
2010: 141-115 (4th)
Awards (4): 2007 & 2008 Gus Johnson, 2009 Bill Walton and 2009 E-Mail
Odds: 55-1

I’ve known Hunt since Kindergarten. We’ve gone to elementary school, high school, and college together. We’ve spent time living in Madison, Wisconsin and now in Columbus, Ohio. I know Kevin pretty well and it’s safe to say he’s upset that it’s been more than two years since he’s won the Gus Johnson. Going home with Bill Walton helped ease his pain a bit but Gus is the goal. There are only a small number of people that are capable of winning this league’s Triple Crown (Gus, Bill and Mel), and Kevin will always be the odds-on favorite of pulling it off.

We’ve seen coaches do pretty well in this format. Alex Lucius took 3rd a couple years ago, and Kevin has cashed every year except one. Coach Hunt has his Bishop Ready Silver Knights at 3-1 before conference play and if Hunt can win three of every four NFL games he’ll win the whole thing.

5) Brian Boesch - 4th Year (1/3 cashes)
2008: 139-117 (4th)
2009: 128-128 (16th)
2010: 115-141 (19th)
Awards (3): 2008 Newcomer, 2009 Mr. Normand and 2009 Gus Johnson
Odds: 90-1

The first time I met Brian Boesch was prior to the summer of 2008. He interviewed me for a position with the Southern Ohio Copperheads. I thought he was 30. Turned out he was closer to 10 than 30. Long story short, I got the job and a friendship followed. Boesch was the play-by-play guy for all of the Copperheads road games … a job he conquered with ease. You could tell he was destined for greatness. Three years later and Brian is wrapping up his second season calling professional baseball games as he spent this season with the Texas Rangers’ Double-A squad. He’ll be in the major leagues before you know it, and this league will be getting all sorts of crazy-free promotion.

6) Shane Kline - 4th Year (0/3 cashes)
2008: 137-119 (7th)
2009: 139-117 (6th)
2010: 135-121 (8th)
Awards (1): 2008 Brady Quinn
Odds: 62-1

If you know Shane Kline you know how competitive he is. How he can sometimes just will himself to victory. With that in mind, you have to realize how much it’s eating at him that he hasn’t won any money in this league. Especially when you consider how close he has been every single year. He’s averaged 137 wins in his ATS career and has taken home $0. Does he deserve better than that?? Absolutely, but if you didn’t already know you soon will learn that you hardly ever get what you deserve with Against The Spread.

7) Chris Rapking - 4th Year (0/3 cashes)
2008: 130-126 (14th)
2009: 119-137 (21st)
2010: 96-160 (24th)
Odds: 100-1

If I don’t win the 2011 NFL ATS Pick ‘Em then I want Rapking to do it. I’m rooting for him. He’s been a loyal league member, always one of the first to join and always one of the first to pay. He’s never really been close to winning any money but I get the feeling it’s not necessarily about taking home cash but about the competition. It’s not about the destination for Rapking, it’s about the journey.

It’s a shame I haven’t talked to Rapking in a long time but I’m glad to have him back again this year. Wouldn’t feel right without him.

8) Ryan “Po” Polito - 4th Year (1/3 cashes)
2008: 138-118 (5th)
2009: 127-129 (17th)
2010: 140-116 (5th)
Awards (3): 2008 MVP and 2008 & 2009 Special Section
Odds: 57-1

Another OU alum, Ryan Polito is coming off a 5th place finish and his 1st cash in ATS pick ‘em. Shared plenty of drinks with Polito my senior year of college and also came up with The Big Ben Game. No, it doesn’t involve going to bars and cornering under-age girls in bathrooms. Seems to be that however Pittsburgh does in the NFL that’s how well Polito does in this league. He also is the 2X reigning Special Section column, and it’ll be interesting to see if he tries to go for the three-peat this year.

Polito didn’t get off to a great start this season as him and his younger brother both forgot to get in their Thursday night game. Maybe Polito, one of the biggest Steelers fan you’ll come across, decided to protest that game because of Green Bay’s victory over Pittsburgh seven months ago. Basic.

9) Justin Whelan - 4th Year (1/3 cashes)
2008: 134-122 (10th)
2009: 145-111 (2nd)
2010: 112-144 (22nd)
Awards (1): 2008 Katy Perry
Odds: 52-1

We had our first fall softball game last Tuesday and Coach Shane put me at first-base. The first thought I had was “I need to channel my inner-Justin Whelan.” See, Justin was the first baseman on our intramural softball team at OU. One of the highlights of my OUIM career was when a mildly-buzzed Justin showed up with less than 30 seconds remaining so we could field a team of eight. We played the best team in our league and won 9-3. Justin played the entire right side of the infield by himself in our underdog victory.

Don’t be fooled by last year’s 112-144 record. Justin can flat out pick winners and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up winning a couple weekly pots.

10) Jake Young - 4th Year (1/3 cashes)
2008: 130-126 (15th)
2009: 130-126 (14th)
2010: 141-115 (3rd)
Awards (2): 2008 Mr. Normand and 2009 Katy Perry
Odds: 40-1

The odds-on favorite to win money has historically failed to do just that. Mr. Normand, Kevin, Shane, and Justin have all been pegged as the odds-on favorite and each have failed to make any money, let alone win the whole thing. Well Jake Young, you sir are the 2011 odds-on favorite and I expect you to buck that trend this year.

I’ve only met Jake a couple of times but because of this league it seems like more. Currently Jake is in Augusta, Georgia filling the shoes of fellow league member Matt Barnes. He also is currently still celebrating the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl victory. Life appears to be treating Jake Young pretty well at this point and hopefully a solid 2011 ATS campaign will keep that momentum going for Jake when we reach 2012.

11) Jason “Fiz” Fazzone - 3rd Year (0/2 cashes)
2009: 121-135 (20th)
2010: 89-167 (25th)
Odds: 115-1

We’ve had nothing but OU guys so far, and Fiz keeps that streak going. Another Pittsburgh Steeler fan, Fazzone reportedly is still fuming for getting “screwed” out of the 2009 Special Section Award. Did he deserve to win that award?? Probably. Did his noticeable absence from the awards ceremony hurt his chances?? Absolutely.

Hopefully Fiz is a better poker player than he is at picking games ATS. Fiz has never really been in contention the last two years but perhaps this is part of his strategy. Tank the first couple of years, set the bar as low as possible and then shock the world by winning it all. It’s a bold move but the table’s set.

12) Eric “Huggy Bear” Hug - 3rd Year (0/2 cashes)
2009: 137-119 (8th)
2010: 132-124 (11th)
Odds: 72-1

I’ve bowled in two summer leagues and the most recent one just finished up last month. “TV’s Matt Barnes” consisted of myself, league members Devin Frank, Matt Barnes and Huggy Bear. We finished in 3rd place but had a lot of fun in the process. Unfortunately Huggy Bear could not join us for the fall season but he will join us for his 3rd year of ATS pick ‘em.

Huggy Bear has been sneaky good in this league thus far. He’s cracked the 130-win mark in each of his first two years. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that if his Oakland Raiders make the playoffs then Huggy Bear will make some money.

13) Nick Lay - 3rd Year (1/2 cashes)
2009: 148-108 (1st)
2010: 107-149 (23rd)
Awards (1): 2009 Mel Kiper
Odds: 53-1

It takes us until our 13th member to find the first non-OU participant. But you better believe there are plenty of OU references available with Lay, starting with the fact he went to OU’s biggest rival, Miami University. While we were rivals in college, we were teammates in high school, as Lay and I were on the golf team back at Tiffin Calvert.

Lay took this league by storm in 2009 and was well on his way to pulling off that elusive Triple Crown. He ended up winning the Mel Kiper and posting the 2nd best record ever. Last season was the polar opposite for Lay, setting up this season to determine which previous record was an anomaly.

14) Luke Polito - 3rd Year (0/2 cashes)
2009: 134-122 (11th)
2010: 129-127 (12th)
Awards (1): 2009 Brady Quinn
Odds: 73-1

You know which league member was the most excited to hear that Peyton Manning was going to miss significant time?? This guy. Luke Polito is a big Houston Texans fan so you know he had to have a big smile on his face when he learned Manning might miss a couple months.

Little Polito has been fairly consistent and I’d expect nothing less here in year #3. If he doesn’t make any money I don’t think he’d mind as long as he won more games than his brother Ryan and as long as the Texans finally make it to the playoffs. Only time will tell on both.

15) Jeff “Spider” Schaffer - 3rd Year (0/2 cashes)
2009: 130-126 (13th)
2010: 123-133 (17th)
Awards (1): 2009 Newcomer
Odds: 82-1

Schaffer and I had our much-anticipated Jin-Sun reunion at the start of the 2011. We brought in New Years together along with Phillip Rivers. We went undefeated in wiffle-ball during Huntfest. And we just finished up skyping during the Babb Bowl fantasy football draft. Needless to say, it’s been a solid 2011 for Jin and Sun. (I’m probably Sun because I’m shorter, but come to think of it, wasn’t Jin shorter??)

Schaffer has taken a new job up in the boondocks of Michigan country and as far as I know is enjoying it. Or at the very least he’s not hating it. The 2009 Newcomer had a bit of a sophomore slump in 2010, but 2011 has been too good to Schaf to let him down in his ATS picks.

16) Erik “Smitty” Smith - 3rd Year (0/2 cashes)
2009: 130-126 (15th)
2010: 127-129 (15th)
Odds: 105-1

Barnes and Shane weren’t the only ones who promoted the ATS league, so did Erik Smith. Smitty recruited a couple “others” to participate, both of whom I’ve never met. Speaking of meetings, Smitty got the pleasure of meeting Matt Barnes during Huntfest 2011 and it reinforced to me how great it would be if there was a league-ending awards banquet. Like an actual banquet with food and everything. Well maybe just some beer, but you get the drift.

Back to Smitty.

Erik was in my brother’s class in high school and we never really hung out or talked much until after we graduated. Smitty was good friends with Brooks Arbogast and Kyle Racette (two golf teammates) and so whenever there was a party up at Borer’s cabin, or maybe a rendezvous at the Clover Club we would run into each other and talk about the Irish or the Browns. Who knows how well Smitty will do in this league, but just like Rapking, it wouldn’t feel complete without his presence.

17) Corey “Prom Night” Taylor - 3rd Year (0/2 cashes)
2009: 135-121 (10th)
2010: 128-128 (13th)
Odds: 47-1

“Will you please do a better intro for me this year?” - Corey Taylor.

I really do love Corey Taylor. It’s impossible not to. The first time I saw him at Ohio University I pegged him as the guy I wanted to mentor, much like Joe Barrett and Keith Cawley “mentored” me. Corey reminded me of myself. He resembled me physically (tall and thin), thought we had a similar sense of humor, and figured we would be spending a good number of nights drinking and causing trouble. But for one reason or another it never happened. Much of the blame should be placed on my shoulders as I ducked out of WOUB right when Corey was getting started. Our relationship was put on hold even longer when I moved up to Madison, Wisconsin for a couple of years, but now we are finally back in the same town.

Corey still reminds me of myself. We both are currently working in a field we didn’t plan on once we graduated college. We both absolutely despise Ohio State and most of their fans, and we are currently “planning” on moving to the Carolina’s. I hope it happens because Lucy (my dog) just won’t stop talking about him.

“When this all gets sorted out I think you and me should get an apartment together.”

18) Anthony “All Day” Tynan - 3rd Year (0/2 cashes)
2009: 122-134 (19th)
2010: 124-132 (16th)
Awards (1): 2009 Jake Delhomme
Odds: 125-1

My very first Gridiron Glory game I shadowed my freshman year was a game Anthony Tynan was doing. Not sure who the cameraman was, but Tynan was the on-air talent. Don’t remember where it was or who was playing, but Tynan was the go-to guy. The next year Tynan and I covered the MVL together as we saw Sheridan make it to the Regional Finals. That was my last season with Gridiron but Tynan and I stayed in touch through fantasy baseball. But, when Kevin and I dropped out of his league we were just left with the ATS contest.

Tynan deservedly won the 2009 Jake Delhomme due to an unabashed confidence, repeatedly turning picks in late, claiming to have “inside information,” and turning his money in late as well. This year Tynan is living with Barnes and Shane so there’s no way he’ll be late with the cash or the picks right?

19) William “Billy” Wakefield - 3rd Year (0/2 cashes)
2009: 137-119 (7th)
2010: 133-123 (9th)
Odds: 48-1

Whenever I take a shot of Mr. Boston’s Brandy I think of Billy. He’s one of the few people I know who enjoy it as much as I do. We polished off a bottle quite easily one drunken night at OU and it’s a shame we haven’t done it since. Part of that could be because last I checked Billy was living in Texas. I’m sure he would fly in for a possible awards banquet if he knew we would have Mr. Boston’s available though.

Billy has been steady thus far, always finishing well above .500 and averaging 135 wins in his two years of ATS picks. I’d be willing to guess though that it’ll take closer to 145 this season to make any money than it will 135, so Billy will have to go from being steady to being great. And the best way anyone can go from steady to great is to do a ton of shots of Mr. Boston’s.

20) Chris “Woody” Woodard - 3rd Year (0/2 cashes)
2009: 131-125 (12th)
2010: 127-129 (14th)
Odds: 42-1

To quote Sanka from Cool Runnings, “I’m feeling very Olympic today.” Only I’m feeling very Olympic for Woody this year.

My Hooters partner-in-crime actually came to Ohio to visit a few months back during March Madness and it was great seeing him. He got to eat in Eddie George’s restaurant and watch all four games at once in the 1718. But the most important thing happened when he got back to Madison.

You ever see a couple together and just know they are going to work? You just know they are perfect for each other and seeing them in love actually makes you smile? Well, as corny as that sounds, Woody and his fiancé Katie are that perfect couple. It reminds me that true love is actually possible. So when Woody told Kevin, Shane and myself that he was going to propose to Katie, I got really excited and started dancing. Yes, I was really drunk when he told me, but the excitement was genuine. They truly are perfect for each other and I’ll continue to smile when I think of them.

21) BESS Club (Lumpy, Smitty, Louie, Hess, Ott) aka Kevin Brown - 2nd Year (1/1 cashes)
2010: 142-114 (2nd)
Odds: 110-1

How in the world did this ragtag group of guys almost win the whole thing last year?? I’m completely stunned by how well they did and whether or not they can repeat that success is probably the #1 story-line for this league in 2011.

I’d like to sit in on Wednesday nights and listen to them make these picks because I get the strange suspicion that not everyone is pulling the same weight (much like when they go out on the golf course). If we do have a golf outing during the summer for the 2012 ATS pick ‘em league (which is on my to-do list), then these boys will be a tough team to beat. They have the uncanny ability of looking absolutely horrible but still managing to win. It’s kind of what they did last year but fell just one game short.

22) Adam Jenne - 1st Year
Odds: 130-1

Adam is currently the lead-off bowler for “Bottomless Pancakes.” Aka our fall bowling team. He started things off this year by throwing a 215 right off the bat. He couldn’t have picked a worst week to do it because it means his average to start the year will be in the mid-180 range. But maybe he will parlay (pun) his week one success to an outstanding fall campaign.

If you order Jet’s pizza in the Hilliard area, chances are Adam could be dropping it off. I guess they have good pies, but I’ve never tried it myself.

23) Brooks Arbogast - 1st Year
Odds: 135-1

Brooks was in Smitty’s high-school class and was on the golf team for one year with me as well. He is one of the tallest kids in this league and would stand right up there with Schaffer and fellow rookie Matt Bachman.

Not gonna lie, I have zero idea how well Brooks will do in this league. Do I think he should start a feud with Smitty? Absolutely. Do I think he should feel slighted that I didn’t know if he was the tallest person in the league? Yes, and he should come swinging at both Schaffer and Bachman for that crown. Somewhere Kevin Hunt is fuming.

24) Erik Koby - 1st Year
Odds: 92-1

Every year I get really excited for one or two new league members. Well this year I’m really giddy to have Eric Koby joining us. He’s a fellow Tiffin Calvert alum and graduated with Nick Lay. (These two should make for some entertaining banter) He’s a big Michigan fan and currently resides in Akron, OH. Those are the basics. He’s also the creator of EWO (The Euchre World Order) and is one of the best Guitar Hero players I’ve met to date. Koby also holds Calvert’s school-record for most 3-pointers made in one game (I think it was nine??). If Adam Beatrice was still with us I would love nothing more for him and Koby to have a 3-point contest.

This league just got a lot more interesting with Koby around. Glad to have him.

25) Jason Koma - 1st Year
Odds: 87-1

My first interaction with Jason Koma took place during the summer of 2005. I was in Athens before school started because of Gridiron Glory and Koma was the new producer for WOUB. We had a meeting scheduled for late afternoon-ish and I can distinctly remember getting drunk with Braves and Keith Taylor prior to that meeting.

Much like with Corey Taylor, I wrapped up my brief career with WOUB right when Koma was getting started so we never really had too many interactions. I do know there are multiple Koma’s in this league so one story-line will be which Koma (if any) prosper in 2011.

26) Josh Gillespie - 1st Year
Odds: 102-1

The 3rd leg of “Bottomless Pancakes” Josh Gillespie is also the founder of nflats.com, our website that he put together prior to the start of the season. Josh asked if he could set up a free one for the league and I’m never going to turn down a free domain name. It’s just starting up but hopefully it works better than good old blogger.

Josh is happily married (something most of us won’t be able to say for quite some time) and even had a cute Spanish girl live in his house over the summer (no, she wasn’t his maid, she was a foreign exchange student). I was promised I would be able to see this cutie the next time she is in the states and I can’t wait. Josh is also from Chillicothe and actually knows where Tiffin, Ohio. He’s even got a wedding to attend there later in October so if you see us drinking downtown stop by and say hello.

27) Matt Bachman - 1st Year
Odds: 77-1

Matt Bachman was the best free agent pick-up of my young life. It was my sophomore year and we were both OUIM basketball refs. My own team needed a couple of guys to fill out a roster and I asked Bachman if he wanted to play. He said yes and on we went. Our very first game we had Bachman do the tip because he was the tallest. He won the tip and broke down the middle of the lane. Whoever got Bachman’s tip passed him the ball, he took one dribble and promptly dunked it. All of this in the first seven seconds of the game. I had no idea he was that good. None. I gave the Michael Jordan shrug and smiled. If his ATS skills are as solid as his basketball talents, he’s going to go 15-1 in week one.

Bachman is currently residing in the Cleveland area and it’s been way too long since our paths have crossed. All the more reason to have a banquet at the end of the year.

28) Vernon “Mr.” Barnes - 1st Year
Odds: 68-1

It’s been a while since we’ve had a father in this league (technically my dad is part of the BESS club, but he’s part of an entity, not an individual member) and I couldn’t be happier about it. Mr. Barnes is a great addition to this league even if his son Matt probably made him.

Mr. Barnes, myself, Shane and Matt went to the Indiana-Chicago playoff game this past spring and had an absolute blast. I can’t speak for everyone I guess since the Pacers lost at the end, but I had fun. Mr. Barnes is from Indianapolis and is a big Colts and Pacers fan. Let me go ahead and offer my condolences on Peyton Manning.

Mr. Barnes is a great guy, as evidenced by his ability to always wash your car if you leave it at his house for more than 25 minutes. He’s our group’s oldest contestant which may make him the wisest, but we’ll have to wait and see on that. Welcome aboard Mr. Barnes. The more shots you can take on your son the better for all of us.

29-49) The Others - 1st Year
(includes Anthony Bloomquist, Ben Ferree, Bob Carleton, Brad Hannahs, Brent DeCoster, Brian Keenan, Clarence Dela Vega, Donald Gies, Greg Miller, Joe Clark, Josh Wolf, Keith Koma, Kent Dale, Marcus Thorpe, Mark Finken, Matt Fox, Michael Koma, Nick Ostronic, Phil Tassi, Randy Fraley and Shane Saum)
Odds one of them wins it all: 5-1

“Remember on LOST when they met The Others?” - Dwight Schrute.
This is the group of people that I don’t really know. The group of people that came when Barnes and Shane started promoting the league. The group of people that comprise nearly 50% of the league. They are “The Others.”

LOST was such a great show in so many ways. They used “The Others” to introduce new characters and develop new plot-lines. The Others in this league will do the same thing. Hopefully they assert themselves into this league and do just more than pick games every week. Hopefully they all pay on time. Hopefully they enjoy everything that this league offers. Hopefully one or two of them will separate themselves from the pack (ala Ben or Juliet from LOST) and not be considered “others” this time next year.

I’m excited to have The Others join us as they will make this league more competitive, more exciting, and more prosperous for the winners. LOST needed The Others and now so do we. Here’s to hoping they don’t trap us in the jungle and have Mr. Friendly shout, “LIGHT EM UP!!!”

Well that does it for the league intros. This will serve as my week one column. The week two column will have our finalized payout structure and the typical NFL-stuff that my constant readers are more accustomed to. Also be on the lookout for invites to be authors on the blog and the website. We are trying out both this year, going to see which one works better and go from there.

Best of luck boys. Should be a fun season.

Until next time, “read it, roll it, hole it.”

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