Who's Coming To The 2012 NFBC And Where?

[Greg Ambrosius]

The signups keep coming in for the First Weekend Main Event as we're getting closer to a second full league in Mahwah New Jersey. Our latest entrant to the NFBC Main Event at the Sheraton Mahwah on Saturday, March 24th is Jaime Perez of Midland Park, New Jersey. Jaime is an NFBC veteran who will be drafting with co-manger Dave McClosky. Last year, Team Perez finished 6th in a very tough New York League 2 with 98 points, while placing 108th overall with 2,355.5 points. Welcome back guys and best of luck in the hunt for this year's $5,600 league prize and the $100,000 grand prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

We're getting a good push for New York these past few days as signups are rolling in for the Big Apple events. Our latest NFBC veteran to grab all three live events at the New York Hilton March 30-31 is Eddy Betancourt of Woodhaven, New York. Eddy has been with us since around 2005 and he's back for the Main Event, the NFBC XII and the $1,300 Mixed League Auction. Last year, his Frozen Ropes finished 3rd in the $1,300 New York Auction with 100.5 points. Eddy LOVES the Auction format and is looking forward to that league again. Frozen Ropes also finished 5th in New York 4 of the Main Event with 94.5 points, while placing 135th overall with 2,202.5 points. Finally, Frozen Ropes finished 4th in the New York March 26th Live Double Play with 71 points, while placing 85th overall in the Live Double Play standings. Welcome back Eddy and best of luck in the hunt for all three league prizes and the $165,000 in grand prizes.

[Greg Ambrosius]

New York grabbed another Main Event entrant over the weekend when NFBC Charter Member Ari Benjamin of New York City agreed to return. Ari has been with us every year since 2004 and will be drafting two Main Event teams this year -- Online on March 24th and in New York City on March 31st -- while also competing in the New York Auction League on April 1st. Ari was with me in Las Vegas on the First Weekend last year and he led his Ya Gotta Believe team to a 5th place finish in Las Vegas 2 with 2,196.0 points, placing 138th overall with 2,196.0 points. Welcome back for NFBC Season IX Ari and best of luck in the hunt for all three league prizes and the $115,000 in grand prizes.

[Greg Ambrosius]

We moved one step closer to a sellout in the Las Vegas Auction Championship on Friday, March 23rd with the arrival of David Burke of Los Angeles, California. David is new to the NFBC, but we're very happy to have him with us at the Bellagio on that First Weekend. This gives us 14 owners for sure and one that is tentative. We're going to fill this one up for sure and rise early in the morning for this one!!! It should be fun. Welcome aboard David and best of luck in the hunt for this year's league prize and the $15,000 grand prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Let's get the Welcome Wagon back out as the NFBC Main Event is now over 280 teams. Our latest arrival is an old friend as Dylan Kolatzki of Saukville, Wisconsin will be rejoining us in the NFBC Main Event Online on Saturday, March 31st. Dylan is an NFBC, NFFC and NFBBC member who kept his participation last baseball season to three satellite leagues. We're glad to have him back in the Main Event and back in the hunt for the biggest prize in the industry. Welcome aboard Dylan and best of luck in the hunt for this year's $5,600 league prize and the $100,000 grand prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

We are now full for the Tuesday, April 3rd Super League as we welcome the last person to grab a spot in that 15-team, $2,500 league. Larry Lensak of Wayne, New Jersey is a long-time NFBC veteran who grabbed that last spot. Last year, Larry led his Prospectors team to a 7th place finish in New York League 1 with 75 points, finishing 158th overall with 2,102.0 points. Larry is stepping up to the Super League this year and we wish him best of luck in the hunt for this $20,000 league prize.

[Baseball Furies]

Hey Greg,
Get Lensak to come out to Mahwah. Wayne is his neck of the woods. These Jersey boys need to represent!

[Greg Ambrosius]

We moved one step closer to full leagues in all three in Chicago thanks to a 3-pack from Doug Gruber of Troy, Michigan. It's great to see so many Michigan natives coming to the Windy City for this year's live events!! Doug competed in two Chicago events last year, with Doug's Dawgs placing 9th in the Chicago Auction League with 83 points and Doug's Dawgs placing 13th in Chicago 2 of the Main Event with 58.5 points. Now Doug is coming back for the Chicago Main Event and NFBC XII on Saturday, March 31st and he's our 7th team in the Chicago Auction League. We still have a lot of guys from last year's Auction League who haven't signed up, so I'm remaining confident there. Welcome back Doug and best of luck in the hunt for all three league prizes and the $165,000 in overall prizes.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Okay, I like to see the love for our hometown of Chicago again today. Let's give it up for the arrival of another Chicago Main Event entrant as Kim Dettmann of Mt. Prospect, Illinois is returning to the Windy City on Saturday, March 31st. Kim's D.L. All Stars struggled in Chicago League 2 last year, but that's not going to deter Kim from jumping into the big dance again and competing for that $100,000 grand prize. Welcome back Kim and best of luck in the hunt for the $5,600 league prize and the $100K grand prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

We moved another step closer to a second full Main Event in Mahwah, New Jersey today with the arrival of our newest NFBC members. The tag team of Scott Greengold of Oakdale, New York and his co-manager Jerry Keeler jumped into the NFBC for the first time by securing a Main Event entry in Mahwah on Saturday, March 24th. Welcome aboard guys and best of luck in the hunt for the $5,600 league prize and the $100,000 grand prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

It's great to welcome back a tag team that once won $100,000 together with us. Let's welcome back Mark Srebro of York, Pennsylvania and Jason Emma as they are teaming up for a Main Event League in New York City on Saturday, March 31st. Mark and Jason teamed up to win our first NFFC national title and $100,000, but they've had separate NFBC Main Event teams ever since. Mark competed in Las Vegas League 4 and his Guess Who team stumbled to a 14th place finish and a 237th overall standing, while Jason sat out the NFBC last year. We're glad to have these guys back in the Main Event and back in New York City. Welcome aboard guys and best of luck in the hunt for this year's $5,600 league prize and the $100,000 grand prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

We now have 10 owners signed up for the $1,300 AL Auction League at the Bellagio Las Vegas on Friday, March 30th at 4 p.m. PST thanks to the arrival of two new teams in the last 24 hours. Let's give it up for the return of Carl Greer of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Carl has been with us in this event for several years and it's great to have him back in 2012. This is the one live event Carl does with the NFBC each year and he's back and ready to win it this year. Last year, his Bad Boyz placed 8th with 61 points, but we wish him best of luck in the hunt for this year's $7,400 league prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Also joining the $1,300 AL Auction League with us in Las Vegas on Friday, March 30th is Bradley Shairson of Hermosa Beach, California. Brad almost won our $100,000 grand prize in the NFFC Primetime this year, finishing second to Dave Clum on a last minute drive by Drew Brees. He's bummed about that, but willing to move forward and try to win it all in baseball this time. Brad is returning with William Hoffman in the Las Vegas Main Event as we continue to work on our 6th league there. Last year in the Main, Will and Brad were in the league that produced the $100,000 grand prize, but they weren't the ones who cashed the big check. Their Return of the Schmegs1 finished with only 48 points in Las Vegas 4 where Lindy Hinkelman won the grand prize and they finished 347th overall. In the $1300 NL Auction League last year, their Vandelay Industries team finished 10th with 60.5 points. But Brad is back for two events again this year and we wish him best of luck in the hunt for both league prizes and the $100,000 grand prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

We're glad to welcome a former NFBC and NFFC member back to our $100,000 baseball challenge as we are moving closer to a second full Main Event league in Mahwah, New Jersey. Let's give it up for Gerard Venezia of Staten Island, New York as he will be joining us at the Sheraton Mahwah on Saturday, March 24th for the Main Event. Gerard played in our Main Event in the past, but admittedly he went to the Dark Side and actually finished 5th overall last year in that contest. He's now returning to the NFBC with the hope of actually winning it all in 2012. Welcome back Gerard and best of luck in the hunt for this year's $5,600 league prize and the $100,000 grand prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

We now have 295 teams entered in the 2012 NFBC Main Event as of this morning, with more folks committed but just not officially signed up. This will get to 300+ shortly. Our latest signup comes from an NFBC Charter Member who has been with the NFBC since our debut season in 2004. Let's give it up for the team of Patrick Tremaglio of New York City and Kevin Sullivan as they will be returning to the New York Hilton on Saturday, March 31st for the Main Event. Pat and Kevin have been loyal participants all 9 seasons and last year their You Say Tomato, I Say Tabata team finished 5th in New York League 1 with 83 points, while placing 154th overall with 2,129.0 points. Welcome back guys and best of luck in the hunt for this year's $5,600 league prize and the $100,000 grand prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Kristopher Carroll of Bedford, Massachusetts and Raj Patel became our 9th team to enter the NFBC Super League on Sunday, March 25th at 1 p.m. EST. They're also going to be entering the NFBC Main Event Online and the NFBC XII that weekend. We now have 89 owners doing both ends of the Main Event doubleheader as we approach 120 teams overall in our 12-team Main Event format. Great job all and best of luck in the hunt for the league prizes, the $20,000 Super League prize and the $150,000 in grand prizes. Oh, and that $75,000 bonus!!

[Greg Ambrosius]

We're glad to welcome our newest member to the growing NFBC family as Eric Heberlig of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania will be drafting with us in both Main Events Online this year. Eric competed in one NFBC Online Championship league last year and this year he's having fun in multiple Slow Draft Leagues and last night he grabbed spots in the Main Event Online on Saturday, March 31st and in the NFBC XII Online on Friday, March 23rd. I like that combination. It's great to see someone progress from our Online Championship to all of our other events in one year. Welcome aboard Eric and best of luck in the hunt for both league prizes and the $150,000 in grand prizes.

[Greg Ambrosius]

We're starting to really get some traction for both Main Events from our NFBC veterans and I'm loving it. Next we need to recruit new members to this 12-team Main Event and then we'll fill this one up. Anyway, it's great to have another NFBC veteran back for the Classic Main Event and adding the 12-Team Main Event as well. Derek Pierson of Ballwin, Missouri joined the NFBC last year for the first time and led his DoubleVision team to a 9th place finish in Las Vegas League 6 with 74 points, while finishing 202nd overall with 1,882.0 points. Derek is now returning to the Main Event Online on Saturday, March 24th and to the NFBC XII Online on Sunday, March 25th. We now have 111 teams in the First Weekend Main Event, which leaves us with ONLY 9 GUARANTEED SPOTS left for that weekend. Welcome back Derek and best of luck in the hunt for both league prizes and the $150,000 in guaranteed prizes.

[Greg Ambrosius]

We're glad to welcome back another veteran NFBC owner to both ends of the NFBC Main Event in 2012. In fact, Robert Hudson likes the Main Events so much that he's going to do them both on both weekends in Las Vegas at the Bellagio. Robert will do the Mains in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 24 and March 31 and the Friday night NFBC XII's on Friday, March 23 and March 30. I really like that Friday-Saturday setup in Las Vegas and it sure makes sense from a player's standpoint to do both with so much money on the line. Last year, Robert led his Pickin Splinters team to a 5th place finish in Las Vegas League 5 with 91 points, while placing 136th overall with 2,202.0 points. Welcome back Bob and best of luck in the hunt for both league prizes and the $150,000 in grand prizes.

[Greg Ambrosius]

We're also glad to welcome back Chris Schinker of West Allis, Wisconsin back to both Main Events in Las Vegas on both weekends. Like Bob, Chris is going to do the Friday NFBC XIIs with us in Las Vegas on Friday night and both Mains at the Bellagio both weekends on Saturday morning. Should be a fun doubleheader on both weekends. Chris led his gigglin marlin teams to solid finishes last year, but just missed out on some money finishes in both Main Event leagues. If you have time, take a look at Las Vegas League 1 last year, which may have been the craziest league we had last year. Six teams are within 105 to 100 points for the league title and payouts. Chris, unfortunately, had the team in 6th with 100 points, but gigglin marlin finished 92nd overall with 2,488.0 points. Then gigglin marlin 2 finished 4th in Las Vegas League 2 with 97.5 points, placing 102nd overall with 2,402.5 points. Amazing. Welcome back Chris and we wish you best of luck in the hunt for all of these league prizes and the $150,000 in grand prizes.

[Greg Ambrosius]

We moved another step closer to 300 Main Event teams today as we welcome back another defending Main Event league champion. Richard Van Fleet of La Jolla, California has been with the NFBC since 2005 or 2006 and last year he won a Main Event league title and $5,600. Dick V's FusterCluck won Las Vegas League 4 of the First Weekend with 115 points and placed 21st overall with 2,930.0 points. NICE JOB RICHARD!! His Main Event team on the Second Weekend finished 282nd overall, but who's counting after you win a league title, right? Richard is back for both Main Events Online this year and we wish him best of luck once again as he goes for two more league titles and the $100,000 grand prize.

300 HERE WE COME!!!

[Greg Ambrosius]

We got a handful of new owners who joined the debut NFBC XII this weekend, which is exactly what our 12-team Main Event was set up to do. GREAT NEWS!! Our newest member of the growing NFBC family who will be joining us for the NFBC XII is Cliff Williams of Surfside Beach, South Carolina, who will be participating in the NFBC XII at the Bellagio Las Vegas on Friday, March 30th at 1 p.m. PST. Cliff and his co-manager Ryan Boltz will be joining our live events for the first time and we're excited to have them on board. Welcome aboard guys and best of luck in the hunt for this $4,000 league prize and the $50,000 grand prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Also joining the NFBC XII for the first time is Tony Wilhelm of St. Louis, Missouri. Tony has signed up for the NFBC XII on Friday at 4 p.m. CST at the Hall of Fame Grill -- formerly Pujols 5 Grill -- in St. Louis. Tony will be competing with NFBC veteran Derek Pierson as his co-manager. We have a couple of more guys ready to sign up for that Friday night event and will do all we can to fill that live in St. Louis. Awesome to have you guys on board and we wish you best of luck in the hunt for this year's $4,000 league prize and the $50,000 grand prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

We now have 114 teams signed up for the First Weekend Main Event, leaving us with ONLY 6 GUARANTEED SPOTS LEFT!! We obviously have to fill these leagues up with perfect 15's, so once we get to 120 teams for the First Weekend Main Event we'll have to evaluate everything. Our latest signup is from NFBC veteran Jeff Devoto of Redwood City, California. Jeff and his co-manager Al Shull will be back with us at the Bellagio Las Vegas on Saturday, March 24th for the Main Event. Last year, their Bay Bombers 2 finished 12th in Las Vegas League 3 with 65 points, but this year they are expecting a money finish. Welcome back guys and best of luck in the hunt for this year's $5,600 league prize and the $100,000 grand prize.

[Greg Ambrosius]

WE NOW HAVE OVER 300 TEAMS FOR THE NFBC MAIN EVENT!! It's great to reach that number before spring training even starts and it bodes well for an 8th straight sellout of the Main Event. Thanks all. Our latest Main Event signup came from NFBC veteran Tim Short of Blacklick, Ohio, who will be joining us this year at the New York Hilton on Saturday, March 31st. Tim competed in Atlantic City last year and almost left there with a Main Event League title. Tim led his ninja squirrels to a 2nd place finish and $2,800 in Atlantic City 2 with 111.5 points, while finishing 39th overall with 2,761.0 points. Great job last year Tim and best of luck in the hunt for this year's league prize and the $100,000 grand prize.