Welcome Receptions Update

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 5:55 am

Okay, here's the latest update on the Welcome Receptions for each city. We have one slight change and we're trying to modify that. Just remember that you do NOT have to go to the Welcome Receptions. These are just our way of saying thanks for signing up to play in the NFBC and our way of saying this is more than just a first-rate contest; this will be a first-rate event as well. If you decide not to come to the Friday night Welcome Receptions (and I know it's toughest in New York), then please make sure you are at the facility the next day at least ONE HOUR before draft time. We need to make sure everyone is present and through registration in time to start the draft at the top of the hour. We will not be late with our starting time and we will go on without you if you're not there on time. I can't make it any more clearer than that.

Okay, here's the update for each city:

Las Vegas: We'll have cocktails from 5-6 p.m. in Pavilion Rooms 5, 6 and 7 and I'll buy the first drink. It's a cash bar and there will just be snacks and munchies, but you will at least get a chance to see where you'll be drafting the next day, see the Draft Room, meet some of your league members face-to-face and relax with a drink or two. Marty Barrett will speak at 6 p.m. and take questions from the crowd. I will moderate a Q&A panel with Brandon Funston of ESPN.com and a few other industry guys from the Fantasy Sports Trade Conference. It will be very informal and you are free to ask anything you'd like. We'll have a TV with the NCAA games on in the back and we'll keep the room open as long as people want to linger around.

CHICAGO: Same format in Chicago with Bill Campbell speaking at 6 p.m. Tom Kessenich of Fantasy Sports Magazine will moderate the Q&A Panel with Kevin Goldstein of Baseball America. Again, it will be very informal and just a fun time to talk about baseball.

NEW YORK: We found out on Wednesday that Rick Cerone will not be able to make it, so we are looking for a new guest speaker. We are hopeful that Mike Torrez will make it. Cocktails will be from 5-6 p.m., followed by our speaker at 6 p.m. Our Experts Q&A Panel will be moderated by Rocky Landsverk of Fantasy Sports Magazine and will include Ron Shandler of BaseballHQ.com and Irwin Zwilling and Lenny Melnick. Ron's Baseball Forecaster is being given free to every NFBC member and is in its 18th year of production. Awesome job by Ron, who has one LABR League title to his credit and several other expert league titles. Irwin and Lenny are well-known in the New York area for being guests on radio shows and they hosted the Fantasy Baseball Report on MLB.com Radio in 2002. Irwin and Lenny won two LABR League titles in five years.

Again, you do NOT have to come to these Welcome Receptions, but we'll buy the first drink and give you your goodie bags then if you do arrive. It should be a good kickoff in each city of what promises to be a great, great weekend.

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 6:10 am

Amended...

Since we obviously won't be done with the auctions, will we just hold the party open so a few of us auctioneers can straggle in? Somebody has to save me a cold beer... well, I bet I can find another one somewhere in Vegas

Dave

[ March 13, 2004, 12:13 PM: Message edited by: Dyv ]

Leaderboard Sports · Post by **Leaderboard Sports** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 8:24 am

Greg, do actually think there are some people who don't already have Ron's Baseball Forcaster book? I want those guys in my league. I don't always agree with Ron's predictions but mine are based on hunches. Ron has taken statistical analysis to a new level. I hear the St. Louis Cardinals are trying to get him as a player evaluator.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 9:23 am

The auctioneers will have the same amount of free beers coming to them as the regular patrons and they can pick them up during our scheduled "potty" breaks for the auction. There will be time to check out the party, grab a drink and take one back with you to the auction table. Have no fear about that.

Yes, I think several people don't have Ron's book and I'm glad to introduce them to it. Ron's book is fabulous and I hope some people get this free copy and become long-time subscribers after this. Ron and his group have been hired by the Cardinals to analyze players and it's a wise, wise move by the Cardinals. Ron is keeping this low-key, but he deserves a lot of credit for this accomplishment.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Mar 15, 2004 3:17 pm

Okay, we have confirmed that Mike Torrez will be the featured guest speaker in New York, thanks to a contact provided by one of our NFBC members. Torrez went 185-160 over his 18-year career that concluded with two years with the New York Mets. He finished with a career 3.96 ERA and was a 20-game winner in 1975 with the Baltimore Orioles, going 20-9 with a 3.06 ERA.

Mike will speak to the group at 6 p.m. and take Q&A from the attendees. It should be a good time and a good kickoff to what will be a fun time at the Javits Center.

Al R. · Post by **Al R.** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 1:57 am

Greg,

Great! Also, Mike won TWO COMPLETE GAME wins in 77 series, concluding with a Lee Lacy pop up that he caught and Munson jumped on him. If it weren't for Reggies 3 HR, he would have been MVP.