Fantasy Football Wrap Up

2005: 3rd Place
2006: 7th Place
2007: 2nd Place
2008: 5th Place
2009: 

I think I am finally ready to talk about my Fantasy Football season. Do you see the pattern? In our league, I finished in third place our first year. We had a small league that year - only eight teams. It's not hard to field a strong team with only eight managers. But as a football novice, and the only female manager, I was pleased with my finish.

2006 was a weak year - seventh place. I just couldn't get into any sort of rhythm with my team. But in 2007, I made it to the final game - the championship. I just couldn't hold on for a win. Second place.

2008 started well. I was in first place for eight weeks of the season. I thought I had a chance. But the playoffs killed me. I had the highest points for the league over the whole season, but could only bring home fifth place.

I noticed a pattern - good year (3rd), crummy year, good year (2nd), crummy year. If the pattern held, I would be winning it all in 2009. I even considered retiring after my win and taking over the draft for my husband so he could focus his energy that day on his team. And I had a good season. I won the "Blowout of the Week" seven times, including a four game run from weeks 12 through 15. I finished the regular season in second place. I did well in the playoffs and made it to the championship game.

If you follow football, you might remember some news and controversy during week 16 of the regular season. My Packers had a great game that week (48-10 over Seattle). In fact, they were doing so well that they pulled their starters, including my star Fantasy Football quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, before the end of the game. That was fine - actually, a pretty classy move by the team when others in the league try to stuff every score down the throats of their opponent, even when they have solidly won the game (*cough* Vikings *cough*).


The Colts also played that day... well, sort of. They were in the middle of an undefeated season but decided to "save" their starters for the playoffs, so they pulled them early in the game against the Jets. The boos rang long and loud that afternoon. If you listened closely, though, you might have heard a sorrowful wail above it all. 

That was me. I lost my Fantasy Football championship game by six points. Six. A number easily overcome by any of the guys who were pulled before the end of their game. My "pattern" didn't work at all. I finished in second place.

I guess if the good year-bad year pattern holds, I'm in for another low finishing year for 2010. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed for 2011.

Training Camp Comparison

As a Green Bay Packers fan, it has been my great pleasure to attend training camp a couple times in past years. We didn't make it to Lambeau this year, but our whole family has thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We would go up, watch the players bike over to the field, watch practice and then enjoy the two-story pro-shop and the Hall of Fame tour.

Instead, we went to training camp for the Indianapolis Colts. My son chose the Colts has his team and we thought the two hour drive was worth it for him to see his favorite players up close since he isn't really old enough to sit through a whole game.

It was clear to me early on that we have been spoiled by the Lambeau experience. The Packers have a great set up with their camp on the same grounds as their other facilities. We could watch practice for as long as he was interested and then go see the Hall of Fame and enjoy some air conditioning. We could get ice cream, shop, and my son could play in the kids area.

There are fewer of those options at Colts camp. The practice was a walk through in shells instead of position drills, so there were fewer things going on at any one time on the field than what we usually catch in Green Bay. We chose a day when they had some extra activities on site (inflatables, etc.), but they didn't capture his attention. We watched the 75 minute practice, walked around for 30 minutes or so and we were done. We enjoyed our picnic lunch and left for home an hour earlier than I had originally planned.

I was a little concerned that my family wouldn't feel very satisfied with our experience, but my concerns were unfounded. I love any opportunity to take pictures, so I was happy to sit behind the camera all morning. My husband used it as a chance to scout out some folks for Fantasy Football. And my son enjoyed it so much that the rest of the day at home - for hours - he played imaginary games of football.