Kent - the first guy I really talked to was at the NCAA Watch Party... he came up to me and asked me who I would want to punch if I ever met him... knowing I would say Kent.. hahaha... Kent is a class guy (though a d-bag on the message boards haha) who is great to talk to about strategy, baseball players, and owners alike... just a real down-to-earth guy who loves to talk to people. He is a lab rat who plays fantasy baseball.. he loves to study people and who they like and what their tendencies are.. He sees himself as a bit of a sherpa and loves providing "intel," as he calls it, on owners... "Lindy loves Jake Peavy... guaranteed he will take him".. and he did haha... just about everything he told me turned out to be correct (I wonder what he was telling people about me... "Dave is pretty bad, he likes Luis Castillo and Mark Buehrle"). He knows more about your drafting style than you do. He knows who I drafted 3 years ago.. he told me he utilized my strategy from the Super League last year in a draft he did this year... he's insane... I don't even remember who I drafted 3 years ago! It's scary to think I'm playing against people who can guess who I'm going to take before I do... but anyways, Kent, I loved talkin to ya and hope to have many more convos in the future.. preferably ones that don't include you calling me "dead money" haha
Lindy Hinkelman - When I sat down for my classic league, I realized Lindy was drafting in the spot right next to me... how did I not realize beforehand that the biggest money winner in NFBC history was drafting right next to me? Good question. Lindy was another class guy... very nice and a good guy to talk to, though a bit quieter... he's a very humble guy and someone I felt privileged to talk to.. nice to meet ya, Lindy
Shawn Childs - The one and only. We met at the NCAA Watch Party, and right off the bat you realize this guy is both brilliant and very strange... haha... he's another great guy to talk to, and when Shawn tells me something, like "Tulowitzki is the right pick at 7," I don't try to argue why he's wrong, I just try to figure out why I'M wrong... he basically followed me around the whole weekend harassing me and calling me "More than Dave".. he even loomed in the background of one Double Play draft I was in that he was just spectating... I guess when you're Shawn Childs you can do that... he would lean on the back of my chair professing his man-love for Tulo and Zobrist... "I'm tryin to draft here, Shawn..." But seriously he is every bit as great of a guy to talk to as you hear...and you'll learn something if you're even half-listening
Andy Nolan - One of the nicest guys you will meet there (not to mention a great fantasy player).. I was glad we got to talk and draft together too.. for 26 rounds at least haha...
Terry Haney - another legend and great guy... I enjoyed sitting next to and talking to you at our Double Play... I was shocked you knew I was from Cleveland! I even got to see him get rattled and swear... even the great ones have off moments.. good to know
Ray Flowers - He is a wonderful asset to the Fanball team... he is very knowledgeable and a great conversationalist to boot.. very down-to-earth... I talked to him whenever I had the chance... keep writing those Insider's Edge articles I don't have access to, Ray!
Matt Bauler - Another great guy who I drafted with about 3 times that weekend haha... I should have paid more attention to your tendencies in the first draft so I could have used it against you in the next 2 drafts we had... nice talkin to ya, Matt.. look forward to seein ya next year too
Bobby J - Well, I already knew your ass pretty well from Chicago... you're still a bitch, but thanks for not drafting Nick Hundley so I could have him in our Double Play haha... oh, and for waking me up so I only missed the first 4 rounds of that draft
(And thanks, Greg too for talking to me on the phone to make my picks as I was sprinting to the Bellagio from the Flamingo) In all seriousness Bobby (and his co-manager Joe) is a great guy and I consider him a friend... glad you will be back in Vegas next year as well!To anyone else I may have left out, I apologize... I know this was long-winded but I wanted to let you know just how much I appreciated everyone's wisdom and personality... thanks again for not making a kid feel out of place with the adults haha... good luck to all this year and I'll see you guys next year!
[ April 03, 2010, 03:37 AM: Message edited by: Less than Dave ]
