We ran two contests this year at 18to88.com. One was the ESPN Pigskin Pick ‘Em. W. Tyler Michael won the league, going 143-113 against the spread. I finished second, a whopping 18 games behind him. Congrats to Mr. Michael who wins a copy of Blue Blood.
The other was the 18to88 Fantasy League. Ani Guri was our winner this year, and part of his prize is the chance to write about whatever he wants. The rest of his prize is a seat next to Luke for a preseason game next year. Second and third place winners received copies of Blue Blood. Here are his thoughts:
“If you don’t invest very much, then defeat doesn’t hurt very much and winning is not very exciting” — Dick Vermeil
First of all I would like to start this post by thanking “my psychiatrist who helped me relax.” As everyone knows being in the Final of Fantasy Football, not to be confused with Real Football which Ray Lewis plays, can be really nerve racking. By the way, what is wrong with Ray Lewis in that Old Spice commercial? Bubble bath football uniform. Come on Old Spice, bring back the “I’m a Real Man” guy. For Real.
Sorry, I lost my train of thought there for a moment. What I was trying to say is that I was more nervous than usual that weekend. Like everyone else I had spent most of the season tweaking my roster at the tune of 44 acquisitions (not as many as Remember Cato June (63) but not as little as ICU81 MI (2) I did not include the zeros here) , checking my weekly matchup (at least 3 times a day) and checking football stats every chance I could get, no matter where I was. Not included in this paragraph are the countless times I brought up Football Players/Fantasy Football in meetings, dinners, and phone conversations/texting/emails. Heck I almost forgot my son at the day care one Monday night. That reminds me: I would like to take this opportunity to thank my wife, my boss, and coworkers and friends for putting up with me in these few months. I promise you all that I will be there for you….Now.
Having put so much into it makes sense to be nervous when you find yourself in the FANTASY FOOTBALL FINAL. Yes that’s right I made it and you didn’t. Well Ray Rice-A-Roni did too but he lost so…I will talk about that a little later.
By now you all have figured out that I side track easily, but I will try to keep an eye on that going forward.
What made me more nervous is that the NFL had announced that the Sunday night’s game Vikings vs. Eagles had been moved to Tuesday night. Now, I’m not sure if you were for or against the move, but I was livid. Who do they think they are? I’m in the FANTASY FOOTBALL FINAL and I now have to wait until Tuesday midnightish to see if I won or not? Forget the storm and what have you. What happened to Real Football? I bet Santa is livid. He would have never been booed or smacked by snow balls. Come on Man! That’s what he would say.
Going into the Tuesday night game I was up by some 60 points but Mister Ray Rice-A-Roni had at his disposal Percy Harvin, Quintin Michaels and the “Real MVP” Michael Vick. Not sure what you think about the NFL MVP either but I’m thinking about a number between 450 and MANNING. I had Sidney Rice and Jamar Chaney. I liked my chances but…
Vick alone had put up 60 points against the Giants the previous week. That’s why I was nervous. Vick scores 60 and I’m done; and against the 3 and something Vikings that was entirely possible. Luckily for me, the Vikings (thank you Leslie Frazier) came to play. Harvin and Mikells got some points but not much. After every Vick turnover I was jumping so high of the ground that Glorious Tuesday (that’s what I will refer to it from now on) Blake Griffin had nothing on me. My In-laws thought I had money riding on the game but after I explained (at least three times) fantasy football points, players and such they started to look at me funny. I didn’t care, I was witnessing A CHAMPION IN THE MAKING. That’s right….ME. And I am yelling. Almost doesn’t count. Second place is for…. well not for me. Sorry Steve you fought valiantly…well not you but you know what I mean. Some people just are not cut for this; I’m looking at you Nate. Luke; I let you win. It has been a pleasure to do business with all 19 of you ladies.
On a serious note, I would like to thank Nate and Luke for giving me the opportunity to be a part of 18to88 Fantasy Football League. It was an amazing season. When you allowed me to come into the league I was just hoping to be competitive. I never thought that I could have a shot, let alone win it all. I would also like to thank you for allowing me to ramble on in this post. This is the first time I have done something like this so I hope you all don’t take it too seriously.
It feels good to have won it all but I will gladly give it back for another shot at the playoffs this Sunday. We all have invested a lot (emotionally, mentally, and physically) in this Colt’s season. Another win this Sunday and it will be all worth it. From there anything is possible. Go Colts.
-Ani Guri
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