Who Is Coming To The 2005 NFBC And Where?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 3:53 am

The NFBC Registration page for 2005 went live at midnight today and it took only two hours for our first member to sign up. Appropriately, it was Ken Bayes of Mansfield, Ohio, who was a BIG supporter of the NFBC during our debut season. Ken has signed up for the NFBC's main event in Las Vegas and has already signed up for the NL Auction League in Las Vegas at $1,250. Thanks Ken for your incredible support of the NFBC and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and the $7,500 Auction League prize. Your prize for being our first entrant in 2005 is a free beer (or more) from yours truly in Las Vegas!!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 4:31 am

Dave Cushard of Marshall, Michigan becomes the second official entrant in the 2005 NFBC as he is coming back for more. Dave and partner Justin Esposito won the NFBC's New York League 5 title and $5,000, but he just missed the money with a fourth place finish in the Las Vegas AL Auction League. Dave has already signed up for the NFBC main event in Las Vegas, the NFBC AL Auction League ($1,250) and the NL Auction League if the times are staggered. I think Dave was in 32 baseball leagues this year, so these three shouldn't be a problem for him next year!

Anyway, thanks again for your great support of the NFBC, Dave, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize, the $7,000 AL Auction League prize and whatever prize is available for the NL Auction League that fits your schedule. Oh, and of course, the first few beers at the Rio are on me!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 4:36 am

It looks like this year's winners are definitely coming back for more as the tag team of Stanley Kaye and son Michael Kaye of Frisco, Texas are using their 2004 winnings to pay for 2005's entry fee. Stanley and Michael won Chicago League #2, but have just signed up for the NFBC's main event at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 19th. Congratulations guys on a great 2004 season as you were one of the first teams to book a flight in 2004 to fly to Chicago for the draft and your calculations paid off. Now in 2005 we'll have some fun in Las Vegas. Best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and I look forward to meeting you in Las Vegas.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 7:47 am

We're glad to welcome another Leaderboard Sports member and NFBC champion to our 2005 event as Clark Olson of Seattle, Washington has just signed up for the NFBC's main event in Las Vegas and for the AL Auction League ($1,250 entry fee) at the Rio Hotel & Casino. Clark won Las Vegas League #5 this year and will return to defend his league title in 2005. He didn't cash out in the Auction League, but he's ready to return to that high-stakes league again next year. Thanks for all your support, Clark, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and the $7,000 Auction League prize. See ya in March, where I'll gladly buy the first beer again!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 7:56 am

It looks like a lot of our NFBC guys will be returning for 2005 as we just received our first New York entry of the season. Kevin Grady of Flemington, New Jersey, who took second in New York League #2 behind Leonard Ringle, has agreed to participate in the NFBC's main event at the New York Hilton on Saturday, March 19th. We're glad to have you back for another go-round, Kevin, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize. Oh, and congratulations on an excellent 2004 season as finishing second in a 15-team league is a stellar accomplishment.

Leaderboard Sports · Post by **Leaderboard Sports** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 5:28 pm

Thanks Greg, I've had my airline tickets for over a month now so I was probably first in that as well.

Don't reward those two guys in second and third with free booze, they can't hold their liquer and will just embarrass the rest of our LeaderboardSports contingent.

Speaking of the LeaderboardSports contingent, look for us to have significantly more people in Vegas this year. We had a blast last year at the draft and after the draft, hanging out with Meat and his fiancee and playing poker till the wee hours.

It's become a convention/reunion for our group and the buzz around the chatlines sounds like a lot of first timers will be making the trek this year.

What kind of price break on rooms have you gotten from the Rio? Hotels will book early because of the NCAA tourney.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 4:13 am

Good to hear, Ken, and we're glad to host the LB Sports convention each year!!! The more the merrier as I think Las Vegas is going to fill up fast this year. I'm hearing from some New York and Chicago NFBCers who are going to make the trek out to Sin City for the main event this year as well. I reserved space for eight NFBC leagues in Las Vegas in 2005, but now it wouldn't surprise me if we top 120 out there this year. I'll expand the required space if we need to!!!

We just had an NFBC meeting this morning, so I have an answer for you on the Rio. Remember, it's the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, so everything is expensive. We have a block of rooms for Wednesday March 16 at $149/night and a block of rooms Thursday-Friday-Saturday, March 17-19 at $229/night. I know that's expensive, but you don't have to stay there, although each room is a suite. I even called the Gold Coast, which you know is right down the road, and they were SOLD OUT for Friday night and they only had suites at like $219 on Saturday. So it's tough.

I'll get the code number for the reservations soon. See ya all there.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 7:35 am

We have our first official signup for Chicago's NFBC main event as Paul Weber of Richmond Heights, Missouri is returning for another season. Paul finished third in New York League #1 as he started the season living in Boston, but has since moved to Missouri. Paul's 100 LARGE AND IN CHARGE team competed for the $100,000 grand prize throughout the year, before falling to the grand champion in NY League #1. He's ready to improve on his third place league finish and contend for the overall title. I told him to keep the team name as we'll again offer the 100 Grand. Thanks for trusting in us again, Paul, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 7:55 am

Okay, let's officially welcome the four NFBC members who earned free entrys to the main event in 2005 by finishing fifth through eighth overall. I waited to officially welcome them until I knew which cities they would be drafting in.

Jeff Thomas, founder of SportsBuff.com and a fellow cheesehead from Kenosha, Wisconin, will be returning to the NFBC in 2005 in Las Vegas, his home away from home!!! JT won Las Vegas League #1 and did everything in his power to win the $100,000 grand prize, before settling for fifth place overall. He had a great run and will be back at the Rio to defend his league title. Best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize, JT, and thanks for all your support during the last year.

Eric Peden of Star, Idaho finished sixth overall as he won Las Vegas League #2. He led his Maroon & White team to the league title and had it in contention for the $100,000 grand prize throughout the second half of the season. Eric will also be returning to Las Vegas to defend his league title and to take another shot at the $100,000 grand prize. Best of luck Eric and congratulations on a great, great season.

Jim & Emmett Ruland of Playa del Rey, California led the "what's the Rumpus?" team to the Chicago League #3 title and to a seventh place overall finish and will again return to Las Vegas to defend their league title. They were one of 12 teams from Las Vegas that were hooked up via phone with three owners in Chicago and it paid off in a big way. Interestingly, Ruland finished first, George Kleeman finished second from Chicago and Howard Markowitz finished third from Las Vegas. Jim & Emmett are also in the NFFC and are looking forward to a return visit to Las Vegas in March. Best of luck guys in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and the $5,000 league prize.

Ari Benjamin of Summit, New Jersey led the Ya Gotta Believe team to an eighth place finish overall, but finished second in New York League #4, losing to Stephen Jupinka's team by one point for the league title. Ari had Ya Gotta Believe near the top of the overall standings most of the season, but was in a dogfight all year long for the league title. I haven't talked to Ari yet, but I believe he will return to New York for the NFFC draft in 2005. Thanks for your support Ari and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

Great job guys and we'll do again in March of 2005.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:47 am

CreativeSports.com has been a GREAT supporter of the NFBC in the last year and in 2004 Lawr Michaels sponsored four teams, all of which finished in the top 1/3 of the overall standings. Two teams cashed out and finished in the Top 12 overall, so kudos to Brian Walton and Scott Zeidman. Now Lawr is re-investing his NFBC winnings with repeat teams in 2005.

Brian Walton of New Milford, Connecticut, finished third in New York League 4 last year and will be back in New York to again contend for the overall title. That NY League 4 was mighty tough last year, but Brian is determined to top this year's experience. Lawr will have Brian wearing the "away" CreativeSports.com jersey for next year's draft!!! Welcome back, Brian, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and the $5,000 league prize.

Also returning to Las Vegas for CreativeSports.com will be Scott Zeidman of El Segundo, California. Scott finished second in Las Vegas League 3 and is ready to improve on that finish. Best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and the $5,000 league prize, Scott, and we'll have a beer together in Las Vegas.

Rounding out the CreativeSports.com road team is Dave Gawron of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, who will be drafting in Chicago. Dave drafted in Chicago last year for the NFBC and in New York for the NFFC. Welcome back, Dave, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

Thanks again Lawr and team. Your support is definitely appreciated by us.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:12 am

Now this is a good sign for the NFBC. Until now, we've had all NFBC prize money winners signing up for 2005. But the thought of a tough 2004 season hasn't stopped the tag team of Michael Edelman of Elmwood Park, New Jersey and Mike Cuellar (the former pitcher? Nah, we tried that one last year!). Michael renamed his team the "All-Injury Team" as it finished 15th in New York League 2 this year. But the duo has signed up to compete again in New York on Saturday, March 19th at the New York Hilton. That's the spirit, guys. Thanks for supporting us again and best of luck (and better health this year) in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:23 am

We apologize for not having the registration page fixed yet with a spot for the $650 Auction Leagues, but that didn't stop Igor Greenwald from becoming the first owner to sign up for those leagues. Greenwald, of Monson, Massachusetts, didn't compete in the NFBC last year, but he was interested in the format and certainly wants to participate in the Auction Leagues in 2005. Igor has signed up for the $650 AL Auction League in New York and the $650 NL Auction League in New York as those starting times will be staggered on Friday, March 18th. Igor wants to make sure he gets in those leagues and I'm convinced we'll fill a few of those this year. Welcome to our growing NFBC family, Igor (and trust me, it's early in our pregnancy), and best of luck in the hunt for the Auction League prizes.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 2:53 am

Howard Markowitz of Las Vegas is again grabbing home field advantage in the NFBC's main event as he has signed up to compete in our main event on Saturday, March 19th at the Rio Hotel & Casino. Howard finished third in Chicago League 3 this year as he was one of 12 owners in Las Vegas who competed via teleconference with three owners in Chicago. He enjoyed the third place finish, but he has his sights set a little higher in 2005!!! Welcome back, Howard, and thanks again for your loyal support. Oh, 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** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 3:27 am

I feel safe in saying that Aaron Seefeldt of Northbrook, Illinois was the most dedicated person to attend Draft Day in 2004 and we're glad to see that he has just signed up for the NFBC's main event again. Aaron finished second overall after winning Chicago League 1 (Razor Shines Last Fan team name), earning a cool $20,000 for his efforts. He was tied with Artie Rastelli for the overall title two days before the end of the season, but had to settle for the second place prize of $15,000. Aaron will return to defend his title in Chicago on Saturday, March 19th.

Where his dedication deserves mention was in the Auction League as he DESPERATELY wanted to compete in an NL Auction League. When we couldn't get enough people to form a league in Chicago, he booked a Friday morning flight to Las Vegas to compete in the Las Vegas NL Auction League. He just missed a money finish in that league as well, finishing fourth in the Auction League. As you can imagine, Aaron took a red-eye immediately after the auction in Las Vegas to get back to Chicago for the NFBC draft on Saturday, where he obviously did well despite the lack of sleep. Awesome, Aaron.

I've promised Aaron I will do everything in my power to get an NL Auction League to Chicago this year so that he doesn't have to take the red-eye back to Chicago again. Thanks again for joining the NFBC, Aaron, and best of luck in your goal of moving up one more spot this year in the overall standings and capturing the $100,000 grand prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 2:58 am

It's good to see our members continuing to return for 2005. Our latest NFBC signup had a rough debut season in New York League 1 -- yes, the league that produced our 2004 NFBC champion -- but that hasn't stopped the tag team of Patrick Tremaglio and Kevin Sullivan of New York, N.Y., from coming back for more punishment. Their Tyree and Lysol team finished 11th in NY League 1, but they had so much fun this season that they have re-upped for 2005. Like many others, they are coming to Las Vegas for this year's draft and the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Glad to have you guys with us in Sin City and I promise to kick off your draft in a good way by buying the first beer!!! Thanks again guys for supporting the NFBC and better luck this year as you chase the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 3:07 am

The run on Las Vegas signups continues as Mike O'Connor of Burnsville, Minnesota has re-upped for 2005, coming back to the Rio Hotel & Casino for the main event on Saturday, March 19th. Mike led his Team O'Connor to a second place finish in Las Vegas League 5, winning a pair of weekly prizes for the best team and finishing 30th overall. It was a great, great run for Mike, who has promised to bring more of his buddies from his local league to next year's draft. I'm even letting him come back to the event despite seeing him on Draft Day wearing a hated Minnesota Vikings polo shirt (I'm a Packers' die-hard fan)!!! Mike, we're glad to have you back and best of luck this year in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 3:16 am

I'm glad to see the signups continue for the Auction Leagues as we should have more than we had in 2005. Jeff Rackliffe of Mableton, Georgia teamed up with Ken Bayes to finish third in the Las Vegas NL Auction League and Ken has signed up again for that league this year. It looks like Ken and Jeff are taking separate teams in 2005 as both are signed up for the NL already. We're glad to have you back again, Jeff, and best of luck in the hunt for the $7,500 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 4:05 am

Only six teams have entered every single event we've offered in the last year, but now the tag team of Shawn Childs and Kevin Deckel of Forestdale, Massachusetts is taking this dedication to a new level. Shawn and Kevin led CC's Desperados to an NFBC title in Las Vegas League 4, which resulted in a third place finish overall, while also winning the Las Vegas AL Auction League. That resulted in a cool payday of almost $20,000.

Shawn and Kevin then competed in all three National Fantasy Football Championship events in Las Vegas, teaming up for the main event, the Draft Champions League and the Auction League. They even made both golf outings in Las Vegas!!! Now that's dedication and we appreciate it.

Now it's a new baseball season and CC's Desperados isn't going to fool around this March, either, as the tag team is back for three events. Shawn and Kevin have signed up for the NFBC's main event on Saturday, March 19th and they've also signed up to defend their AL Auction League title ($1,250 entry fee). They are also going to compete in the NL Auction League ($1,250 entry fee) since those events will be staggered on Friday, March 18th (10 a.m. start and 4 or 5 p.m. start). Welcome back guys and thanks for your loyalty. Oh, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize, $5,000 league prize, $7,000 AL Auction League prize and $7,500 NL Auction League prize!!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:20 am

I thought I would personally sign him up for the NFBC later this month at Ron Shandler's Arizona Fall League Symposium, but I'm glad to see that Perry Van Hook of Santa Ana, California beat me to the punch. Perry went into the final day of the NFBC season this year with a half-point lead in the Las Vegas AL-only Rotisserie League, but he lost a point on the final day to finish second, winning $2,500 instead of $7,000. He teamed up with Gary Cowham for that Captains of Tequila team and both will be back in 2005 to challenge for the AL-only Auction League ($1,250 entry fee) once again. Perry's Captain Hook NFBC team finished fifth in Las Vegas League 2 and he will come back to fly solo in that competition again. Thanks for your support of both events, Perry, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize, the $5,000 league prize and the $7,000 AL Auction League prize.

I think Perry is also interested in organizing a poker event in Las Vegas this March. I will converse with him this week and start a thread to see if that's possible. It's going to be an EXTREMELY busy weekend in Las Vegas, but ideally a Saturday night poker game involving only NFBC players would be some fun. I'll talk with Perry about that and see if we can get it done.

[ October 13, 2004, 01:42 PM: Message edited by: Greg Ambrosius ]

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 5:30 am

Loyalty is a big part of our high-stakes events and nobody is more loyal to us than Ken Magner of Freehold, New Jersey. "Sackofpotatoes" is one of only six members who has participated in every event we've offered as he was our second official registrant of the National Fantasy Baseball Championship and the first official registrant of our National Fantasy Football Championship. He's not wasting any time preparing for the NFBC in 2005, either, as he has just signed up to compete in the main event at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 19th, while adding the NL-only Auction League ($1,250 entry fee) on Friday, March 18th. Thanks again Sack for your loyalty to us and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize, $5,000 league prize and $7,500 first place prize in the NL Auction League. See ya in Las Vegas, where I'll buy the first beer!!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:27 am

I'm proud to say that we've already filled up one full NFBC league in Las Vegas and all of our Las Vegas signups are returning NFBC members. Our latest signup is Gary Cowham of Ramseur, North Carolina, who led his PezSox team to a fifth place finish in Las Vegas League 3 in 2004, while teaming up with Perry Van Hook to lead the Captains of Tequila team to a second place finish in the AL Auction League. Gary will be teaming up with Scott Pezzola on Draft Day in the NFBC, March 19th at the Rio in Las Vegas, and with Perry again in the Auction League on Friday, March 18th. Thanks again for your strong loyalty and trust, guys, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

[ October 13, 2004, 01:41 PM: Message edited by: Greg Ambrosius ]

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:07 am

I sense a trend here as we have received another signup from an NFBC member who drafted in New York last year and is now going to Las Vegas in 2005. Is it the March Madness fun or is it the fact that they want to get away from the very, very tough New York League 4??? I have a feeling it's the fun.

Anyway, we're glad to welcome the tag team of John Wojtowicz of Freehold, New Jersey and partner Eric Pallotti, which led the Barnstormers to a fifth place finish in New York League 4 in 2004. The top four teams in that league were all in contention for the overall title last year, so it was definitely one of the toughest in the NFBC. John and Eric battled 'til the end, but going to Las Vegas in 2005 was just too appealing it seems. Welcome back guys and thanks for your loyalty and trust. Oh, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:04 am

Let's welcome back Salvatore Vella of Staten Island, New York, who officially signed up for the NFBC in New York last night. Sal led his We Go Now NFBC team to a third place finish in New York 3 last year and is currently battling for a league title in the NFFC this year. That New York 3 League was a tight one last year as six teams were within 11 1/2 points of first place. We Go Now finished third, 1/2 point ahead of Team Paley in what was a very close finish for the money spots. We're glad to welcome Sal and his co-manager, Charles Vella, back to the NFBC and we'll hook up with them on Saturday, March 19th at the New York Hilton. Thanks again for trusting in us, guys, and best of luck this year in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and the $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:32 am

Let's welcome another returning NFBC member to the fold as the tag team of Lance and Herb Goebel of Manhattan, Illinois is back for the NFBC's main event in 2005. That duo finished in the money in the NFBC and the WCOFB last year in Las Vegas, but they are sticking closer to home this year and will compete in Chicago on March 19th, 2005. Nader's Raiders finished third in the very tight Las Vegas League 4, where seven teams were within eight points of second place. Nader's Raiders finished one point out of second place, but they edged two other teams by 1 1/2 points for third place. Lance is also competing in the NFFC, so we thank him for his loyal support. Welcome back guys and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize and $5,000 league prize.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:39 am

We're glad to welcome another loyal tag team back to the NFBC, and a Cheesehead at that!

The tag team of Chris Schinker and James Vassallo of West Allis, Wisconsin is back for another go-around after competing in the NFBC's main event and the AL Auction League last year, while also doing the NFFC's main event and Auction League in September. Chris and James finished eighth with their "gigglin marlin" team in the Auction League last year and sixth in the very competitive NFBC Las Vegas League 5. They finished eight points out of the money in the NFBC and are back to compete for the overall title again in Las Vegas, having signed up for the NFBC and the AL Auction League again ($1,250 entry fee). Thanks for trusting in us again, guys, and I'll buy the first beers at the Rio. Oh, and best of luck in the hunt for the $100,000 grand prize, $5,000 league prize and $7,500 Auction League prize.

[ October 13, 2004, 01:44 PM: Message edited by: Greg Ambrosius ]