Donn Johnson Wins NFBC Diamond League & $75,000

[Greg Ambrosius]

In one of the wildest races we've ever had in the NFBC, Donn Johnson of Atlanta, Georgia won the NFBC Diamond League and the $75,000 league prize. Donn and Gino Yu were among the top 4 teams throughout the year as those four spots seemed to change on a daily basis, but during the final two weeks their Marsupials team forged to the front and held on with 114 points to win the league title. CONGRATS DONN AND GINO!!

Donn now joins James Stanard (2010) and Jim Ferrari (2011) as Diamond League champions. CONGRATS.

Glenn Schroter held on for 2nd place and the $35,000 prize there, although he will tell you that he could have just as easily finished anywhere from 1st to 4th. The standings just changed that much down the stretch. Finishing 3rd and winning $20,000 was Chad Schroder, while KJ Duke held off Will Tyrer for 4th place and the $10,000 there.

Just an FYI, we already have commitments to return for the 2013 NFBC Diamond from 10 owners. The original 15 owners do get the first shot at this league and they have through November to commit to this league. No money is needed until March, but we do ask for commitments up front. If all 15 don't return by November, we'll then open it up for business. No draft date or time has been set yet, but the early feedback is for the Diamond League to be held on the weekend of March 22-24. 7 of 10 respondents have said they wanted it then. We'll have plenty of time to discuss that on another thread once we get 2013 rolling.

But for now, let's CONGRATULATE Donn Johnson for a well deserved title. Great job Donn.

Here's the final standings of the NFBC Diamond League:

1 Marsupials 71.0 43.0 114.0 -1.0
2 King of Queens 40.0 67.0 107.0 +0.5
3 Cocktails and Dreams 59.5 46.0 105.5 +1.0
4 ~KJ~DMD~ 57.5 41.0 98.5 -2.0
5 coldwater coyotes 51.0 46.5 97.5 0.0
6 Bustouts 50.0 39.0 89.0 -2.5

[Cocktails and Dreams]

Out if drafting that early. Diamond leagues should not be drafted a week before other main events.

[KJ Duke]

Out if drafting that early. Diamond leagues should not be drafted a week before other main events.

Agree with Chad that this really needs to be after the regular drafts, as is tradition.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Out if drafting that early. Diamond leagues should not be drafted a week before other main events.

Agree with Chad that this really needs to be after the regular drafts, as is tradition.

Again, there will be a time and a place for that discussion. There is one other person out of 10 that agrees with you and Chad. Let's congratulate Donn here and move onto 2013 when the time is right, which will be soon. I understand both of your feelings, but Easter is making this tough. Still, we'll do all we can to make it right.

Heck, maybe a second Diamond League is needed this year.

[Quahogs]

Out if drafting that early. Diamond leagues should not be drafted a week before other main events.

Agree with Chad that this really needs to be after the regular drafts, as is tradition.

Congrats Donn, well played. Real tough crowd to get ahead of. Nice job by the other $ finishers too. You all earned it no doubt !

KJ - not sure why you think it needs to be after the other drafts. This is by far the most expensive, it should be 1st if anything. Not sure what tradition has to do with anything, it was just tacked onto the last day of the weekend.
Since I'm guessing most of us will be present the 1st weekend why not make if friday BEFORE the 1st weekend's Main Events ? It's basically 8 days before the start of the season, rosters are basically set besides we're all working off the same data point anyway.

[bustouts]

Congratulations Donn and Gino!!! You played to perfection this year. Great job. I look forward to the challenge next year.....but it just keeps getting tougher and tougher.


ps i think the draft should be held the first week as well

[CC's Desperados]

Nice Job Donn..Jim Stanard would be proud of you.

I agree with Quahogs. With the most money on the line, this should be a blind draft where no one really knows who likes who in the live events. It's tough getting beat by your own information that you give out in the other live drafts.

[Glenneration X]

Congrats Donn, nicely done and an awesome payday.

For next season, I have my preference but I'm cool with either weekend. I would just like the decision to be made as soon as possible so that I can reserve the dates as the weekend of the Diamond will most certainly be the draft weekend I'm in Vegas.

[KJ Duke]

Out if drafting that early. Diamond leagues should not be drafted a week before other main events.

Agree with Chad that this really needs to be after the regular drafts, as is tradition.

Congrats Donn, well played. Real tough crowd to get ahead of. Nice job by the other $ finishers too. You all earned it no doubt !

KJ - not sure why you think it needs to be after the other drafts. This is by far the most expensive, it should be 1st if anything. Not sure what tradition has to do with anything, it was just tacked onto the last day of the weekend.
Since I'm guessing most of us will be present the 1st weekend why not make if friday BEFORE the 1st weekend's Main Events ? It's basically 8 days before the start of the season, rosters are basically set besides we're all working off the same data point anyway.

I'm looking at player info and revising all the way up until the last draft; the Diamond represents my final thoughts on all players. Everything prior is a tune-up subject to revision. Greg is also enjoying that last draft because everything else is done at that point.

It's the finale, the icing on the cake of a great weekend. The cat and mouse game is then over and we can discuss players freely. To switch it around would be disappointing, and certainly change the dynamic. If MLB starts playing the World Series prior to the regular season games I'll rethink my position.

[Greg Ambrosius]

I'm looking at player info and revising all the way up until the last draft; the Diamond represents my final thoughts on all players. Everything prior is a tune-up subject to revision. Greg is also enjoying that last draft because everything else is done at that point.

It's the finale, the icing on the cake of a great weekend. The cat and mouse game is then over and we can discuss players freely. To switch it around would be disappointing, and certainly change the dynamic. If MLB starts playing the World Series prior to the regular season games I'll rethink my position.

[/quote][/quote]

I totally understand KJ, but this year we're dealing with Easter Sunday. Possibly moving it off the final day of the draft season is something we HAVE to consider if we're going to get everyone (or almost everyone) live in Las Vegas. It's not as ideal as past years, but dealing with a family holiday is always tough. It definitely wouldn't feel the same to have half the owners on the phone for the NFBC Diamond League, so we have to consider other alternatives for this year only.

[KJ Duke]

I'm looking at player info and revising all the way up until the last draft; the Diamond represents my final thoughts on all players. Everything prior is a tune-up subject to revision. Greg is also enjoying that last draft because everything else is done at that point.

It's the finale, the icing on the cake of a great weekend. The cat and mouse game is then over and we can discuss players freely. To switch it around would be disappointing, and certainly change the dynamic. If MLB starts playing the World Series prior to the regular season games I'll rethink my position.

[/quote]

I totally understand KJ, but this year we're dealing with Easter Sunday. Possibly moving it off the final day of the draft season is something we HAVE to consider if we're going to get everyone (or almost everyone) live in Las Vegas. It's not as ideal as past years, but dealing with a family holiday is always tough. It definitely wouldn't feel the same to have half the owners on the phone for the NFBC Diamond League, so we have to consider other alternatives for this year only.[/quote]

That's another thing Greg - this should be a LIVE event only, short of a medical emergency. It wasn't the same this year for football with a bunch of guys on the phone. If we keep giving back what makes this special, it just isn't going to be special anymore.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Will Tyrer had a medical emergency for the NFFC Diamond. Larry was on the phone. That was it.

[KJ Duke]

Will Tyrer had a medical emergency for the NFFC Diamond. Larry was on the phone. That was it.

Will's excused. Air Lar needs to get out of the house next year. Also, if Brady is in town he must moderate the Diamond ... the guys that ran it did a bang up job of course, but Brady is part of the tradition.