Thanks Guys.
Dan, don't apologize. I sometimes like to run a couple themes simultaneously for the same Countdown post, similar to what I did with Shawn's 75-75 strategy & the 75 Topps set or as I did with the Citifield drafts & my son's first ballgame. Today I wanted to congratulate Greg for his great year of achievement, but I also wanted to acknowledge Maris for a year that I don't believe ever got its just due. I've become more and more sympathetic to Maris' plight over the years. The ironic thing is that prior to McGwire's breaking of his record, I was one that never fully respected Maris. I felt it minimized one of baseball's most sacred records to have it held by what I felt at the time was an ordinary player who just had one spectacular season that didn't match up with the rest of his career. I felt that the record deserved to be held by a special player and when McGwire broke the record I was satisfied that it was finally in the hands of one. I was young, naive, and obviously very wrong. The record was broken again just a couple years later by Bonds, a player I've always disliked, the feat of 60 home runs became commonplace due to the cheaters, and then as we all know the cheaters were exposed and eventually all but confirmed as cheaters (and in some cases, confirmed). I, like you and I believe many others, now consider any of the 60 home run seasons of the steroid era tarnished and illegitimate. I also believe that this may have been the best thing that has happened to Maris' legacy. He's grown in stature in my mind, and I believe in the minds of many others, a sympathetic figure, a simple man, thrust for a brief time into greatness, now thrust again by the criminal actions of others back into the forefront of a sport's conciousness. Unfortunately, much too late for him to know it.
Greg, I'm flattered that you're enjoying this thread. I'm certainly enjoying putting it together. As far as the accolades, little doubt that you, Tom, and STATS have earned them. The fact that they get me on the NICE list is just a bonus.
Regarding your budget numbers, there's little doubt in my mind that you'll achieve them easily. The highest stakes leagues are selling out already (even MtM's is near full which is an achievement in itself
), several Auctions are already filled, the slow drafts are through the roof (it looks like you fill one every other day), and there's little doubt the Main, the XII, and the Online Championships will follow suit. We're all as excited as you are, and believe me, we're tuned in.
Give Geoff my highest regards as well. A good man, he's missed.
Joe, though I disagree with the New York bias you claim is extreme in this thread (have I even mentioned the Mets yet???), and you seem to have forgotten that the Tigers have been very well represented with Ty Cobb, Denny McLain, and even Ernie Harwell being prominently featured, you are correct that I missed an obvious call in regards to the '84 Tigers. I blame myself and promise it won't happen again. I'll make it up to you here in the only way I know how....
Only
61 Days 'til we can all do our best to fill our rosters with as many Tigers as possible.
a few here might have the impression that I'm a Mets fan. 
), you best be fully prepped come draft day against this level of competition. Realize though, that if you rely solely on the advice of the "experts" as your prep (sorry Doughy), please remember that even those to whom we pay for information like Mr. Shandler are sometimes a bit off base on their projections, leaving your fantasy hopes wounded and you throwing your hands up in frustration if that's all you relied on.
