Who Is Coming To The 2005 NFBC And Where?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 2:12 am

The signups for the $1,250 Auction Leagues in Las Vegas keep coming as we just filled our 10th spot in the NL Auction League at the Rio Hotel & Casino, leaving us three spots left there. We welcome Richard Bales Jr. of Lincoln, Nebraska to the growing NFBC family as Richard has signed up to compete for the $7,500 first place prize. Richard is new to our NFBC family and we welcome him with open arms. Thanks for trusting in us, Richard, and we look forward to seeing you at the Rio on Friday, March 18th for that morning auction (likely at 9 a.m.). See you there.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:42 am

It's always good to have defending champions back and I'm glad to welcome one of them right now. Terry Haney of Spring Valley, California won the NL Auction League in Las Vegas last year, good enough for $7,500, and he will return on Friday, March 18th to defend that title. His cheapthrills team won an exciting race to the finish in 2004, beating the Zefurs by one point. Terry is also returning to compete in the NFBC's main event at the Rio in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 19th. I'm on the road right now and don't have the data in front of me, but I believe he also cashed out in the main event last year as well. Thanks for your loyal support, Terry, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize, $5,000 league prize and $7,500 NL Auction League prize.

We now have 11 NL Auction League spots filled at $1,250 each, leaving us with two guaranteed spots left. We'll keep working to fill a second league after that as we still have 4+ months to go. Thanks everyone.

Oh, and our best wishes to Terry, who unfortunately is dealing with a death in the family. Our prayers go out to you and your family, Terry, during this time.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 3:58 am

It's easy to sign up for next year's event after you've cashed out in 2004, but it's not as easy to jump back into the fire after getting burned twice during the first year. Fortunately for us, Dohn Terrell Jr., of the McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey, isn't afraid of tackling challenges. Dohn is a serious CDM Fantasy Sports player and last year he joined us in Las Vegas for the AL Auction League and the NFBC. His PIGGY team battled injuries all year long in the AL Auction League and finished 11th, while his PIGGY team in Las Vegas League 1 also went down hard with a 12th place finish. But Dohn is coming back for the AL Auction and the NFBC at the Rio in Las Vegas and we're glad to have him back. Thanks for trusting in us again, Dohn, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize, $5,000 league prize and $7,000 Auction League prize.

We now have 12 teams in the AL Auction League and have one guaranteed full league. We'll continue taking signups over the next 4+ months and should easily fill up another AL Auction League. Thanks for the early support guys and keep the signups coming.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:54 am

Robert Mauri of Seattle, Washington was a fill-in drafter for Lindy Hinkelman's NFBC team last year, but this year he is grabbing his own team after earning some "play money" with a good finish in another high stakes contest! Robert will be drafting in Las Vegas on March 19th at the Rio Hotel & Casino and we're glad to have him back with his very own team. Welcome to the growing NFBC family, Robert, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize. Ken Magner will buy the first round of beers and I'll follow for the next two!!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 2:57 am

Let's welcome another new member to the growing NFBC family as Todd Lammi of Union City, California found our contest too late last year to compete, but stayed in touch with us and was determined to get involved in one of the high-stakes auction leagues. Todd has just signed up for the NL Auction League ($1,250) at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and thus becomes the 12th league member, leaving one guaranteed spot left in that Auction League. Welcome aboard, Todd, and best of luck in the hunt for the $7,500 first place prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 7:50 am

The signups keep coming in for the NFBC, a good sign this early in the off-season. Let's give it up for the tag team of Chris Stephenson and Andy Nolan of Sandwich, Massachusetts, which led their "Welcome to Stevieland" NFBC team to a second place finish in Las Vegas League 2 last year. This dynamic duo finished second to "Maroon and White" in 2004 and they are coming back for a shot at first place and the $100,000 grand prize. Thanks once again guys for trusting in us and we'll have some fun this March at the Rio in Las Vegas. Best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and the $5,000 league prize.

We now have two full leagues for Las Vegas, 30 official NFBC signups in all at the Rio. Keep 'em coming.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 8:04 am

It's a pleasure to welcome back Eddie Gillis of Jamestown, Rhode Island to the NFBC. Eddie is one of only six members who have competed in every high stakes event we've offered this past year. Eddie had a great 2004 season as his Bad Angel's team won the New York AL Auction League by 10 points, good enough for a $7,000 first place prize. Eddie's Dream Team also finished second in New York League 1, losing out to the overall champion, Artie Rastelli. Dream Team also finished 30th overall, with his second place finish good for another $1,750. Eddie is currently competing in the NFFC's main event, the NFFC Auction League and the NFFC Draft Champions League! Now Eddie (who by the way fell off his chair during the NFFC Auction League after an incredible bid by one of his competitors!) is coming back to the New York Hilton to defend his AL Auction League title and he's also coming back for the NFBC's main event. Thanks for the loyalty, Eddie, and best of luck once again in the hunt for the $7,000 Auction League prize, the $100,000 grand prize and the $5,000 league prize. See ya on March 18-19 in New York!

Oh, and Eddie is willing to compete in the Mixed Auction League if there's enough interest in New York. We'll keep everyone posted on that one.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 9:40 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Oh, and Eddie is willing to compete in the Mixed Auction League if there's enough interest in New York. We'll keep everyone posted on that one. Excellent!! How many is that? Mixed league is the best. Why limit the players you use? Keep em coming.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 10:04 am

Wow, you guys are really something! With 129 days until Draft Day, we have already sold out a full AL Auction League and a full NL Auction League in Las Vegas at $1,250 per team. We still have plenty of time to get more Auction League participants and I'm sure we can fill up at least one more of each before Draft Day. We will mix up the owners once we have two (or three!) Auction Leagues finalized. But as of now, the 25 owners who have signed up are guaranteed of participating in an Auction League at the Rio in Las Vegas on Friday, March 18th.

Coming back for a return engagement in the NL Auction League is the tag team of Jesse Herron and Dustin Ashby of Winchester, Virginia. That duo led their Statistical Apocolypse team to a tie for fourth place last year, just missing the money in the Auction League. Statistical Apocolypse also finished in a tie (fit to be tied, obviously) for fifth place in Las Vegas NFBC League 1. They have secured the 13th spot in the NL Auction League for 2005 and are also coming back to compete in the NFBC's main event on Saturday, March 19th. Thanks for your loyalty, guys, and best of luck in the hunt for the $7,500 NL Auction League prize, the $100,000 grand prize and the $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:05 am

We're glad to welcome back the tag team of Mark Lally and Daryl Williams of Clovis, California to the NFBC in Las Vegas. Mark and Daryl formed Fresno Fanatics, which had some tough luck last year and finished 11th in Las Vegas League 4. The duo came back for our football event and are in the running for a playoff spot despite some tough luck in the head-to-head matchups. How tough? During Week One, FresnoFanaticsFB had the second highest point total in the entire contest and they lost that week as they played the only other team that scored more than them! Yikes. But they're hanging tough and having fun. We're glad to have Mark and Daryl back to the NFBC's main event in 2005 and they might even try one of the $650 Auction Leagues in March. More on that later. Anyway, best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and the $5,000 league prize and we'll have a beer or two together in March at the Rio Hotel & Casino.

One final note: Mark e-mailed me last February and asked if he could incorporate the NFBC logo into his team logo. Naturally I said no problem and the two showed up in March with hats and jerseys of their team with the NFBC logo. I loved it. They had team jerseys made for football as well, so I love the spirit they bring to the table. Good luck guys and best of luck the rest of the way this football season.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:12 am

It's good to welcome an industry "expert" back to the NFBC as Nate Ravitz of RotoTimes.com will be returning to draft at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Nate struggled with injuries last year and finished 13th in Las Vegas League 3, but his NFFC team is battling for a playoff spot in Las Vegas League 1, where Meat Loaf currently leads the way at 7-2. Nate is returning to the NFBC's main event and I have a feeling he will also be in the AL Auction League ($650) as he's finished second, third and second the last three years in LABR. More on that later. Welcome back to the growing NFBC family, Nate, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 3:55 am

We're happy to announce the return of our defending NFBC champion, Artie Rastelli of Hoboken, New Jersey. Artie won New York League 1 last year and then held on to win the overall title, earning a cool $105,000. He led the overall race from Labor Day until the end of the season, although he was tied with Aaron Seefeldt for first place overall (1,557.5 points each) just two days before the end of the season before pulling away on Saturday and Sunday. Artie drafted alone last year as "Triple A" and will return as a solo participant again when he competes at the New York Hilton on Saturday, March 19th. Welcome back to the NFBC, Artie, and best of luck once again in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and the $5,000 league prize. Drinks are on Artie in New York!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 4:15 am

Richard Williams of Marietta, Georgia has just signed up for the NFBC's main event and will be coming back to Las Vegas for a third time in the last year. Richard had a rough debut in the NFBC last year as he finished 12th in Las Vegas League 5, as his team was flushed with injuries. But he came back to Las Vegas in September for our National Fantasy Football Championship and is currently second in Las Vegas League 5, this time with a good chance to cash out. We're glad that Richard is coming back to Las Vegas on March 19th for the NFBC's main event at the Rio Hotel & Casino as he becomes our 47th NFBC member to return thus far. Welcome back, Richard, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 5:12 am

I hate to be the reason for a divorce, but I am happy to have both divorcees married to the NFBC!

Bradley Shairson and co-manager William Hoffman led Team Shairson to a second place finish in Las Vegas League 4 last year, finishing second to C.C.'s Desperados but outdistancing six other teams that were within eight points of second place. The team had a great debut season as they won $1,750, but now they're parting ways, with each person heading up a new team. William Hoffman is teaming up with his father, Bill, to compete in the main event at the New York Hilton on Saturday, March 19th. Bradley will be coming back to Las Vegas, but we'll announce his signup when it's official. For now, let's welcome William and Bill Hoffman to the NFBC's growing family and wish them best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize. See ya in New York!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:10 am

The other half of Team Shairson has officially signed up for the NFBC's main event in 2005 as Bradley Shairson of Smyrna, Georgia will be drafting at the Rio in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 19th with co-manager Doug Forman. As I mentioned earlier, Team Shairson finished second in Las Vegas League 4 and now Brad and William Hoffman are forming their own teams in Las Vegas and New York, respectively. We're glad to have Bradley and Doug in the NFBC's main event as we now officially have 50 NFBC teams back in 2005 from the 2004 season. Welcome aboard, guys, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and the $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:40 am

I'm glad to welcome the tag team of Doug McCready and Lloyd Harrell of Danville, California back to the NFBC in 2005. I met Doug at Ron Shandler's Arizona Fall League Symposium last month and had the chance to talk with him and his wife about baseball and the NFBC at the Friday night banquet. Doug said he had a great time in the NFBC and was coming back and I'm glad to see that he followed through on his word. Doug's "Johnny Walker Reds" finished in the middle of the pack in Las Vegas League 4 and this year he plans on finishing in the money. It's also possible he will sign up for one of the $650 Auction Leagues, which would be good. Anyway, welcome back to the NFBC Doug and Lloyd as you become our 51st returning team to the main event and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:12 am

Howard Markowitz of Las Vegas has already signed up for the NFBC's main event at the Rio in Las Vegas, but he just became our first official signup for the Mixed Auction League ($650 entry fee) that we'll organize on Friday, March 18th. We will host that auction starting at 4 p.m. and will shoot for 16 owners and a $4,000 first prize. I'm looking to pay the top four finalists ($2,000 for second, $1,250 for third and $550 for fourth) and will gladly take feedback on that setup. We'll finalize that payout soon. Anyway, thanks for getting that league officially started, Howard, and best of luck in the hunt for our debut Mixed Auction League title.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:38 am

We're glad to welcome Larry Schechter of Rexford, New York to the NFBC as he has just signed up to compete in the main event at the New York Hilton on Saturday, March 19th. Larry won CDM's Diamond Challenge in 2002 and competed against me in LABR in 2003 (I think I finished ahead of you, but neither of us won it!) and he was actually in Las Vegas last spring for our Fantasy Sports Trade Conference. He wanted to compete in the NFBC last year, but his son's birthday was on Draft Day. This year it's on Sunday, March 20th, so he has the green flag to compete on Saturday and be Super Dad on Sunday! Welcome aboard Larry and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and the $5,000 league prize.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 11:15 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

I'm looking to pay the top four finalists ($2,000 for second, $1,250 for third and $550 for fourth) and will gladly take feedback on that setup. Feedback:

1st: $4200

2nd: $2200

3rd: $1400

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 3:04 pm

I'm not against that suggestion.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 2:46 am

Let's give it up for another returning NFBC member to the main event as Bruce Barnard of Manassas, Virginia has officially signed up for the Saturday draft at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Bruce was already signed up for the NL Auction League with Meat Loaf and now he's taken the plunge and returned to the main event. Bruce's "The Perfect Obsession" was less than perfect last year in Las Vegas League 2 as it finished 13th and struggled with injuries all year, but we're glad to see that Bruce is coming back to improve on his lifetime standings. Bruce becomes the 52nd returning NFBC member back in the main event in 2005. Thanks for all your trust and loyalty, Bruce, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 7:25 am

We're glad to welcome back another returning NFBC member (our 53rd member so far) to the big event as Kevin Rogers of Deerfield Beach, Florida has just signed up. Kevin led his Weird Science team to a third place finish in Las Vegas League 3 last year and finished 23rd overall. He's not sure if he wants to return to Las Vegas this year, so he's currently signed up to compete in the main event on Saturday, March 19th in Chicago, but he could eventually return to Las Vegas. Kevin is also VERY interested in a $5,000 Mixed Auction League and would compete in that if we assembled enough owners for that league. For now, however, we welcome Kevin back to our growing NFBC family and wish him good luck in the hunt for the $5,000 league prize and $100,000 grand prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 10:10 am

Okay, we're getting more interest in the Mixed Auction League in Las Vegas as Stanley Kaye of Frisco, Texas has just signed up to compete in the debut league. We will host this Mixed Auction League on Friday, March 18th at the Rio, starting at 4 p.m., the same starting time as the AL Auction League. We are looking for 16 teams and will pay out the top three or four finishers. More detailed info soon. Stan, who is already signed up for the NFBC's main event after winning a league title last year, is also VERY interested in the 5K Mixed League draft if we can get enough participants. More on that soon, too. Anyway, best of luck in this Mixed Auction League and the hunt for the $4,000 first place prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 11:04 am

All right, we're starting to get more official signups for the $650 Auction Leagues in Las Vegas now that our registration page has finally added those leagues. We now have four signups for the Al-only and NL-only $650 Auction Leagues after Scott Tilley of Augusta, Georgia signed up last night. Scott is new to our NFBC family and we're glad to have him on board. Scott is a veteran of Rotisserie League auctions and he's glad to jump into both auctions on Friday, March 18th at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Good luck in the hunt for the $3,750 first prize in the NL League and the $3,500 first prize in the AL League and thanks for joining our event. I promise you'll have a great time in the NFBC.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:47 am

Philip Smith of Momence, Illinois becomes our first official signup for the Chicago NL-only Auction League ($650 entry) and he DESPERATELY wants us to form this league. Philip was one of three guys who signed up for the $1,250 NL-only Auction League in Chicago and was disappointed when we couldn't fill that up. He doesn't want to do the straight draft; he's an NL guy and he loves auction leagues. I met Philip again this fall at Ron Shandler's Arizona Fall League Symposium and I assured him that I'd do everything I could to get this league organized in the Windy City. Our plan is to host this at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 18th at the Embassy Suites Chicago-0'Hare. Welcome aboard once again Philip and best of luck in the hunt for the $3,750 first place prize.