Is It Okay To Allow A Third Team Member?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 5:28 am

As all of you know, we allow just two members from each team at the Draft table. Space is reserved for two team members and if you draft alone, you are given more space to spread out. Each U-shaped draft is exactly the same for each league in each city.

That being said, I realize that some teams actually have three "owners" and some team members were on cell phones during the draft last year with their other partner(s). I have no intention of ever expanding the draft tables to accommodate a third team member, but I am open to allowing a third team member a spot in the draft room to sit behind his partners and watch. I would even allow interraction as long as it doesn't interfere with the other league members.

Now this is just an idea that I am throwing out to the group for feedback. Is there an advantage for a team with a third member on Draft Day? If so, how is that more of an advantage than a partner helping out? My thought is that this may reduce the amount of owners on cell phones and allow some owners who really do have three partners to participate in the NFBC. Feedback is welcome.

I also was asked if three members could be present on Draft Day for the NFBC Ultimate, which has a $5K entry fee and obviously some teams are splitting the costs. My feeling is "yes" at this point as space won't be a problem, but I won't say "yes" if there are too many objections to this idea.

Thanks for the feedback. As always, your thoughts are important on new proposals, so I'll await to hear from the group before acting on it.

sandckaye · Post by **sandckaye** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 5:34 am

Greg

I would like to have 3 at the 5k draft.

Stan

Balticsquids · Post by **Balticsquids** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 5:37 am

Id rather have a 3rd owner there , then 4 teams all on cell phones (that cell phone crap is annoying )

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 5:39 am

I think we can all get along - but I would ask that the moderator at each table be given the power to kick out the 3rd party if there was a problem.

I'd hate to be sitting next to 3 Sumo Wrestlers and have one of them leaning heavily over my shoulder checking out my draft sheet and have no recourse because 'it's okay to have three guys there so just deal with it.'

Just like with moderators bellowing picks - I'd just like to have some kind of acknowledgement during the pre-draft instructions.

Dyv

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 5:49 am

1 have no promblem with a third party. The more people the more excitment in this event. For the ultimate , absolutely a third if a team wants or needs a third person. For 5 thousand im sure a few of the teams are going with multiple partners.Can you imagine being at the ultimate , but your the third member of a team ,and you cant be their. The draft is the best part of the season, i cant wait.

Nevadaman · Post by **Nevadaman** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:04 am

I'm totally against the 3rd guy unless it is a VERY STRICTLY enforced rule that he cannot walk around the room or bother any other teams in any way. (A walk means you keep walking - right out of the room until the draft is over!) Otherwise there will be a bunch of spies wandering around and that will lead to all kinds of problems - maybe even fights! I don't want anybody looking over my shoulder for any reason. Same goes for the Ultimate. And no way should there ever be 3 actually at the table. There just isn't room.

newkidintown · Post by **newkidintown** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:12 am

Wow. Why not allow each owner to bring in a team of fantasy experts? If one of the experts coughs when a pick is made, the owner will then know that he has been found clueless and will then have 30 seconds to pull his head out. If there are a large number of owners that feel the need to have a third member at the draft for consultation or they have to be on the cell phone before making each pick, I am volunteering to be placed all by myself in a league with 14 fantasy corporations.

Balticsquids · Post by **Balticsquids** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:16 am

If your really going to push the issue , I prefer NO 3rd owner and NO cell phones ......Both i think can become a bit much and cause trouble , Bad Enough King of Queens , came to last years auction with a laptop and still finished 8th or so

Plymouth · Post by **Plymouth** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:30 am

Will you be charging $100 for the third person just like you do for the second person?

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:43 am

NO for 3rd members. it will be like shopping during christmas...always bumping into people.

Leaderboard Sports · Post by **Leaderboard Sports** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:15 am

In the first year of the WCOFB my twin sons were allowed to both help me. There was plenty of room for one of them to place a chair directly behind and between the two table chairs. Not at the table but close enough to lean forward between us and whisper comments and go over strategy. They did charge me an extra $100.

If there is room for them to sit in a chair behind the other drafters I don't have a problem with a third party at all. I do not think they should be allowed to stand or walk around except during breaks for obvious reasons. Last years tables on the one side of the room were a little too close to the wall on the one side of the room to allow for a chair behind so there will need to be some adjustment there.

I also would like to see a few chairs setup for fans and friends to watch the proceedings, not close enough to interfere but close enough to get a feel for the excitment of the event, eventually leading to holding drafts at the Thomas and Mack Arena in front of 20,000 screaming fans.

One other thing while I'm at it, it would be nice if we had two or three waitresses roaming the draft taking drink orders. I would think they could make pretty good tip money in a 4 hour draft. Plus a table full of beer drinkers with full bladders would definitely speed the draft up

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:19 am

Originally posted by Leaderboard Sports:

One other thing while I'm at it, it would be nice if we had two or three waitresses roaming the draft taking drink orders. I'd like to see if we could get that in Chicago too.

Ummm sorry, this thread is for you guys, not me and my wishes. Sorry about that.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:35 am

Remember, our goal is to partition the draft rooms in half to reduce the noise and prevent owners from other leagues walking around during the breaks and checking out the other draft boards. Yes, it would be mandatory that the third owner stay seated, only leans forward to help out and doesn't belch or toot. We will enforce this third person rule pretty heavily and have the right to kick out anyone we feel is using that third person to cheat or gain an advantage. It's basically to allow teams with three owners the right to all attend the most important day of the year, Draft Day.

I'm not sure about an extra fee. Maybe $50 if we provide drinks and goodie bags like we do for everyone else. I need to think about that. I'm just looking for constructive feedback and so far it's all been good. All good suggestions. We don't have the space for spectators yet, but it's a good idea. I'm trying to get TV coverage first.

Keep the feedback coming. It helps.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 9:20 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

it would be mandatory that the third owner stay seated, only leans forward to help out and doesn't belch or toot. We will enforce this third person rule pretty heavily. sounds good in the books, but i think you'll have a tough time enforcing it.

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

It's basically to allow teams with three owners the right to all attend the most important day of the year, Draft Day. have them buy 2 or 3 teams.

[ January 13, 2005, 03:20 PM: Message edited by: Gordon Gekko ]

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:04 am

Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

it would be mandatory that the third owner stay seated, only leans forward to help out and doesn't belch or toot. We will enforce this third person rule pretty heavily. sounds good in the books, but i think you'll have a tough time enforcing it.

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

It's basically to allow teams with three owners the right to all attend the most important day of the year, Draft Day. have them buy 2 or 3 teams. [/QUOTE]Have no fear, GG, we'll provide the FSX girls with whips and chains and anything else they need to enforce this rule!!!

If that's not enough, Rocky, Tom and myself will enforce it.

Honestly, I'll be talking with every team that requests a third person and be very specific with them about what we're allowing. I honestly think this will be easier than 20 guys with cell phones on the whole time. If this causes the least bit of a problem, it will be the last time we do it. But I still haven't decided to do it yet.

seefer · Post by **seefer** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 2:55 pm

Cell phones should be banned from the drafts. There is not one reason for having them other than to annoy other drafters.

Airplanes and hospitals don't allow cell phones, we shouldn't either!

At last year's draft I sat next to a guy who was on his cell the entire draft! A serious pain in the arse, I tell ya.

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:00 pm

I've only done a couple of these but this my take.

Every time I've been next to a 2 person team they have asked if they could use some of my table space. I've never had a problem with this because I didn't need the whole room plus the other side of me was a single person. Human nature is if there was three they would want to inch up to the table too. Now you put a single player between two three player teams and he gets put in the postion of either giving up more space or speaking out and being called a jerk. I'd rather avoid seeing problems caused over table space. Most people will want to avoid a problem and let those people take up the space they payed for. But its not fair to them. Greg I'd rather have your people watching the draft to make sure its going right and not policing table space. The 5K is a different ballgame. Theres not going to be a problem with table space for them.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:33 pm

Originally posted by Walla Walla:

I've only done a couple of these but this my take.

Every time I've been next to a 2 person team they have asked if they could use some of my table space. I've never had a problem with this because I didn't need the whole room plus the other side of me was a single person. Human nature is if there was three they would want to inch up to the table too. Now you put a single player between two three player teams and he gets put in the postion of either giving up more space or speaking out and being called a jerk. I'd rather avoid seeing problems caused over table space. Most people will want to avoid a problem and let those people take up the space they payed for. But its not fair to them. Greg I'd rather have your people watching the draft to make sure its going right and not policing table space. The 5K is a different ballgame. Theres not going to be a problem with table space for them. i agree with you 100%. first time ever!!! well done

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:41 pm

Originally posted by Balticsquids:

If your really going to push the issue , I prefer NO 3rd owner and NO cell phones ......Both i think can become a bit much and cause trouble , Bad Enough King of Queens , came to last years auction with a laptop and still finished 8th or so Ouch! Well, at least I helped everyone figure out how much money they left to outbid me on all the good players. Mussina and Zito did me in--won't go that route ever again thank you very much.

Baltic, will you be there for the Ultimate Auction? Eddie Jag, Bad Shad and the King in New York...and a bunch of talking heads in Vegas. Gonna be a classic.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 3:51 pm

Single best moment of last year's New York AL Auction was the Cliff Lee fight. Closest I've ever seen to a fist fight breaking out in a draft or auction. I am quite certain that both teams would have loved to have had a third owner present--in case things got REALLY ugly.

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 4:13 pm

Originally posted by King of Queens:

quote:Originally posted by Balticsquids:

If your really going to push the issue , I prefer NO 3rd owner and NO cell phones ......Both i think can become a bit much and cause trouble , Bad Enough King of Queens , came to last years auction with a laptop and still finished 8th or so Ouch! Well, at least I helped everyone figure out how much money they left to outbid me on all the good players. Mussina and Zito did me in--won't go that route ever again thank you very much.

Baltic, will you be there for the Ultimate Auction? Eddie Jag, Bad Shad and the King in New York...and a bunch of talking heads in Vegas. Gonna be a classic. [/QUOTE]Talking heads? Wait until you see the cue cards I'm getting made up for the guys who are in Vegas... I'll hold up a big card that reads 'CLOSER RUN NEXT ROUND, BE READY' and we'll just rake you NY guys out for the donations... lol.

Dyv

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 4:18 pm

Originally posted by King of Queens:

Single best moment of last year's New York AL Auction was the Cliff Lee fight. Closest I've ever seen to a fist fight breaking out in a draft or auction. I am quite certain that both teams would have loved to have had a third owner present--in case things got REALLY ugly. I wish I had seen it. Best draft story I have to offer was at the other event during the Draft Masters draft... we had a guy show up to the draft stumbling drunk. I mean literally he stumbled to his seat and finally sat down. Opened up his laptop, started getting ready. He had like the 3rd pick? I was sitting 11th or 12th, so basically straight across from him. My partner looks at me and says, that guy is going to pass out. I said nah... no way - in the 2nd round he wanted me to bet with him and I wouldn't do it. By his 2nd pick, this fella was drafting everyone else's players. He'd snooze off a bit between his picks and not update his laptop. When it was his turn someone would nudge him and he'd look at his laptop and say name after name already taken.

The other thing he did (at random) was yell 'Good pull there, good pull!' to compliment people after they made a pick. In round 5, the inevitable occurred and he slumped forward onto his arms and passed out. So, we took an impromptu break while security came and got him and someone sat down with a magazine and finished his draft for him.

He later apologized to everyone explaining he was just a ball of nerves and had been up all night drinking.

What happened with the fight??

Dave

devilznj · Post by **devilznj** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:16 pm

Cell phones??? Three guys to pick a team??? Jeez, what have I gotten into?

Study up, show up and pick your damn team. If you have to call Uncle Sal for input on every pick, freakin' Uncle Sal should be sitting there and you should be home watching Sponge Bob.

Can I call Regis Philbin every round before I make my final answer????

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:44 pm

Originally posted by Dyv:

What happened with the fight??Great story about the drunk guy. This was in WCOFB, no?

Regarding the Cliff Lee fight, I won't reveal the names of the owners, but it went something like this:

The bidding on Lee was going fairly slow, $4...$5...$6...$7...silence. So the auctioneer called out "going once, going twice, sold," and awarded Lee to Team A. Problem was, Team B had said "$7" at virtually the same moment as Team A--but almost no one heard him. Naturally, Team B was upset about losing out on a player he wanted. He handled it pretty poorly, however, and that's where the problem started. Team B started muttering about how Team A was an "F-ing Scumbag." Team A didn't like being called an "F.S." and stood up screaming at Team B. Trust me, it was a very tense moment. Had they not been sitting across the room from one another, it could have gotten pretty ugly. Things cooled off after that, and fortunately nothing really bad happened.

Should be interesting to see if things get "testy" at the Ultimate Auction. Greg might want to call in some extra security for this event.

The Lollygaggers · Post by **The Lollygaggers** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:15 am

Greg - As someone who may have two other partners participate in Ultimate, I'd prefer to NOT allow all 3 at the draft table. A third owner sitting behind the table could see other owners' laptop screens, create "crowding" issues as all three huddle to converse, etc. I don't see anything gained by the third owner at the table, and it could very easily create tension with other teams given the stakes involved.