2008 NFBC Champion Profile - Stewart Cables and Ryan Cooper

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:18 am

1. How did it feel to win the league title?

Gratifying. Winning a league championship against some of the country’s best fantasy baseball players is a tremendous accomplishment. We were worried, worried, worried the last week which made the win feel even better.

2. What were the keys to your championship season?

Preparation. We put in most of our work before the draft, but also performed research each week during the season. Determination. If you don’t want it bad enough, you probably aren’t going to win. Teamwork. When Jan and Claire Gustafson recruited me to enter the league, I knew I had to find a co-manager both to counteract my man-love for players who never pan out (like Eric Chavez and Ben Petrick) and my busy attorney lifestyle. That’s when I called Ryan Cooper and asked if he was interested in managing with him. Working together kept us from making bonehead decisions. But, we still somehow managed to draft Hunter Pence in the second round.

3. Was there a point in the season when you began to realistically believe you could win the title?

Honestly, the draft played out just like we anticipated it would, so we felt good from day one.

4. What draft day strategies worked out the best?

We decided to go with three stud pitchers early, focused on offense for the middle rounds, and tried to finish things up with targeted sleepers late (e.g. Jon Lester - 18th round, Kerry Wood - 19th round, Ubaldo Jimenez - 20th round, and Milton Bradley - 21st round). Our strategy worked well.

5. Did any not work out the way you planned?

Sure. We missed out on the big closer run the 10th and 11th rounds (10 closers were taken in those two rounds) and went with Kevin Youkilis and Jarrod Saltalamacchia instead. However, we were able to salvage saves with Kerry Wood.

6. How was the competition in your league and the overall event?

If you think you are a strong fantasy player and want to prove yourself against the best, the NFBC is the place to do it.

7. How long have you been playing fantasy football/fantasy sports?

Stewart Cables – since 2001; Ryan Cooper – since 2002

8. Personal info - married/single, where do you live, what do you do for a living.

Manager: Stewart Cables; Attorney – Cables Law Office, Denver, CO. Co-manager: Ryan Cooper; Law Student – Nebraska College of Law, Lincoln, Neb.

Cowboy Joe · Post by **Cowboy Joe** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:05 am

Nice win guys. Congrats.

Top Dawg · Post by **Top Dawg** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:43 am

Congrats guys. Who were the 3 pitchers you drafted "early" and what rounds did you get them? Just curious.

Thanks - Pete

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 9:03 am

Congratulations from Boulder gentlemen on your winning inaugural season. It's not easy to buck the learning curve, but you guys did it. As a matter of fact Dallas Jones of Centennial Co. pulled off the same feat (Is that you Cowboy Joe?) I'm guessing that the Rocky Mountain Spring Water should get some credit here? Looking forward to meeting you folks in Vegas at the annual Fraternal Order of Colorado Fantasy Players Caucus (Just don't use the word caucus in front of Dan Kenyon. You've been warned

) Once again, great job and welcome to the club.

Sack · Post by **Sack** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 9:06 am

4 weeks from today Bob M ..... R U Ready?

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 10:36 am

Originally posted by Sack:

4 weeks from today Bob M ..... R U Ready?

M I Ready? I just got off the phone with Lindy and he confided all his draft day secrets to me. As a matter of fact, most of your's too

So between now and then as long as the NFBC doesn't designate Ibuprofen a PED, ban it's use and suspend it's users, I'm buffet line ready baby!