5 Spots Left For NFBC Platinum League

[Greg Ambrosius]

We are starting to get more interest in the 2nd annual NFBC Platinum League, which will be held on Saturday night, March 28th in Las Vegas. Last year Donn Johnson & Gino Yu won the $200,000 grand prize in a draft that was carried live by SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. We are looking for similar coverage this year and another record prize pool.

Now that the fantasy football season is over, last year's participants are mulling over their options and starting to return to the NFBC Platinum League. We now have 9 owners tentatively on the list with ONLY 6 SPOTS LEFT! I've heard back from a few of last year's participants who will have an answer in the next couple of weeks, so we're moving in the right direction. This isn't an easy league to fill, but I like the interest so far.

Here's a look at the current signup list for the NFBC Platinum League:

NFBC PLATINUM LEAGUE
Bellagio, Las Vegas
Saturday, March 28, 6 p.m. PT
1. Donn Johnson, Atlanta Georgia
2. Bob Particelli, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
3. Nic Cassavetes, Los Angeles, California
4. James Stanard, Edwards, Colorado
5. David DiDonato, Smithfield, Rhode Island
6. Ken Norred, Ashland, Alabama
7. Peter Berall, Montreal, Quebec
8. Joseph Martens, Bloomington, Illinois
9. Glenn Lowy, Farmingville, New York
10. Bill Phipps (tentative)
Jim Ferrari (possible on Diamond)
john lemke (would do Diamond at this time)
James Bradtke (would do Diamond at this time)
Shawn Johnson (possible on Diamond)

NFBC DIAMOND DRAFT
LAS VEGAS
Bellagio, Las Vegas
Sunday, March 29, 10 a.m. PT
1. James Stanard, Edwards, Colorado
2. Bob Particelli, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
3. David Potts, Auburn, Alabama
4. Donn Johnson, Atlanta, Georgia
5. Nick Cassavetes, Los Angeles, California
6. Matthew Shepherd, Napa, California (O)
7. kc cha, los angeles, California
8. John Lemke, Brooklyn, New York (O)
9. Patrick Gallagher, Boston, Massachusetts (O)
10. Bill Phipps (tentative)

[Greg Ambrosius]

We also are getting some renewed interest in the NFBC Diamond League on Sunday, March 29th at the Bellagio Las Vegas. We now have 7 owners tentatively on this signup list with several other owners from last year still considering. Let's keep this one out there as well because it would be great to fill this one up as well. Thanks all and good luck.

Here's a look at the current Diamond Draft signup list:

NFBC DIAMOND DRAFT
LAS VEGAS
Bellagio, Las Vegas
Sunday, March 29, 10 a.m. PT
1. James Stanard, Edwards, Colorado
2. Bob Particelli, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
3. David Potts, Auburn, Alabama
4. Donn Johnson, Atlanta, Georgia
5. Nick Cassavetes, Los Angeles, California
6. Matthew Shepherd, Napa, California (O)
7. Bill Phipps (tentative)

[Greg Ambrosius]

NOW ONLY 7 SPOTS LEFT in the NFBC Diamond Draft League that is set for Las Vegas on Sunday, March 29th at 10 am PT. We are able to patch anyone in who can't make it to Las Vegas, but things are looking good for this league to return again in 2015. Sign up online or contact me at [email protected] to secure a spot. We don't need any payment until March, so no worries there. Thanks all and good luck.

Here's a look at that current signup list:

NFBC DIAMOND DRAFT
LAS VEGAS
Bellagio, Las Vegas
Sunday, March 29, 10 a.m. PT
1. James Stanard, Edwards, Colorado
2. Bob Particelli, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
3. David Potts, Auburn, Alabama
4. Donn Johnson, Atlanta, Georgia
5. Nick Cassavetes, Los Angeles, California
6. Matthew Shepherd, Napa, California (O)
7. kc cha, los angeles, California
8. Bill Phipps (tentative)

[Greg Ambrosius]

NOW ONLY 6 SPOTS LEFT in the NFBC Diamond League in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 29th at 10 am PT. John Lemke has jumped into both the Diamond and the Ultimate League today, so all of these private leagues are filling up fast. Don't delay if you want to secure a spot in this league.

Here's the current signup list for this one:

NFBC DIAMOND DRAFT
LAS VEGAS
Bellagio, Las Vegas
Sunday, March 29, 10 a.m. PT
1. James Stanard, Edwards, Colorado
2. Bob Particelli, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
3. David Potts, Auburn, Alabama
4. Donn Johnson, Atlanta, Georgia
5. Nick Cassavetes, Los Angeles, California
6. Matthew Shepherd, Napa, California (O)
7. kc cha, los angeles, California
8. John Lemke, Brooklyn, New York (O)
9. Bill Phipps (tentative)

[Greg Ambrosius]

I also want to shine a spotlight on the NFBC Platinum League right now because this one has been stalled at 9 signups for the last few weeks. I don't want anyone shut out on Saturday night and I also don't want $20,000 per owner being held for no reason, so let's make contingent plans just in case. We have 9 strong owners here who want to compete in the NFBC Platinum League, but if we can't get beyond that then we should try for a Diamond League at that time with a $100,000 league prize, which is different from the Sunday Diamond prize structure.

I do think that what happened at the end of last season has affected this league and honestly it's a shame. This was a great, great league, but some folks are waiting to see who is all coming back before signing up and some have just decided not to return to this format. It's understandable. But if we can't get to 15 for the Platinum, let's plan for a Diamond League at that time or at the very least another Ultimate League. I think a Diamond is doable.

We are talking with SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio about broadcasting the Platinum League again on Saturday night. They would again do a 1-hour pre-draft show followed by three hours of the live draft and then on Sunday morning they would likely do a show before the Diamond League. This was great content for the channel and they'd like to return. We'd love to have a high-dollar private league for them on Saturday night, so hopefully it's the Platinum or the Diamond.

Anyway, if you have interest in the Platinum let me know via email at [email protected]. And if a Diamond sounds appealing, let's consider that as well. The Sunday Diamond is tentatively filled, depending on what happens here, so this might be your best chance to win $100,000.

I'll email the 9 owners above and past Diamond League members to see if there's interest here on either format. Thanks all and let's make it happen on Saturday night.

[Hells Satans]

In.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Joseph Martens of Bloomington, Illinois is signed up for the Chicago Main Events, but he also wants to come out to Las Vegas on the First Weekend and be part of this great live event. He becomes the 10th owner to sign up for the Platinum League and we have several owners from last year's live draft who haven't signed up yet. We're making progress for this on Saturday night, so call your friends and let's make this work!!

SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio is asking about this event once again because last year we had a 1-hour pre-draft show live from Las Vegas with interviews with some of our top players and then 3 hours of the live draft. We hope to do that again as long as we can fill this great league. Let's keep things rolling here.

Thanks all. Here's the current signup list for the NFBC Platinum League:

NFBC PLATINUM LEAGUE
Bellagio, Las Vegas
Saturday, March 28, 6 p.m. PT
1. Donn Johnson, Atlanta Georgia
2. Bob Particelli, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
3. Nic Cassavetes, Los Angeles, California
4. James Stanard, Edwards, Colorado
5. David DiDonato, Smithfield, Rhode Island
6. Ken Norred, Ashland, Alabama
7. Peter Berall, Montreal, Quebec
8. Joseph Martens, Bloomington, Illinois
9. Glenn Lowy, Farmingville, New York (tentative)
10. Bill Phipps (tentative)
john lemke (would do Diamond at this time)

[Hells Satans]

Where are all the big money players? I assumed MTM would bail (it's for the best), but KOQ, KJ, Rick,Wil, Jim F? Come on now.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Where are all the big money players? I assumed MTM would bail (it's for the best), but KOQ, KJ, Rick,Wil, Jim F? Come on now.

Okay, it looks like we might be down to 4 SPOTS LEFT now for the NFBC Platinum League as one of last year's owners is looking at returning in 2015. That would give us 11 in Las Vegas for this great league. I'm heard from some of the other owners from last season and I'm not sure we'll get anyone else at this point, but we'll see. We'd need 4 new owners at the $20,000 level to fill this one up.

There are three other owners interested in a Diamond Draft League at this time, so at the very least keep that thought in mind. We definitely would make this a Pay Top 3 Diamond League on Saturday night, but give us a little more time to work on the Platinum League first. We still have some time yet for this one, but we definitely don't want to tie up your money if it's not going to work out at $20,000 per team for a 15-team league. At some point this month we have to make a call to get a great Saturday night private league and we'll do that.

Anyway, one point I definitely want to discuss now is how to pick the draft spots for a high-dollar league like this one. We randomly picked draft spots last year on Thursday night, but there was a discussion about possibly using FAAB to figure out draft spots, putting No. 1 up for sale first and going down to 15. We pretty much all agreed that using actual money to determine draft spots wasn't the way to go, but is FAAB a solution? I'd be interested in that discussion for the NFBC Platinum and/or Diamond Draft League. Look for an email shortly and we can discuss privately, but a discussion here is fine as well. I have no problem taking out the randomness of the draft order if that's what the group wants. Let's just figure out the best way if possible.

Here is the latest signup list for the NFBC Platinum League:

NFBC PLATINUM LEAGUE
Bellagio, Las Vegas
Saturday, March 28, 6 p.m. PT
1. Donn Johnson, Atlanta Georgia
2. Bob Particelli, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
3. Nic Cassavetes, Los Angeles, California
4. James Stanard, Edwards, Colorado
5. David DiDonato, Smithfield, Rhode Island
6. Ken Norred, Ashland, Alabama
7. Peter Berall, Montreal, Quebec
8. Joseph Martens, Bloomington, Illinois
9. Glenn Lowy, Farmingville, New York
10. Bill Phipps (tentative)
11. Jim Ferrari (possible)

Can we get to 15 teams? Let's keep trying.

[KJ Duke]

I'm not signed up for this league, but FAAB bidding is definitely the fairest way to assign draft slots. No one should start with a randomly-assigned edge, especially when it is easily avoided in a standalone league full of experienced players. I'd implement this for the Diamond draft leagues too.

[Greg Ambrosius]

I'm not signed up for this league, but FAAB bidding is definitely the fairest way to assign draft slots. No one should start with a randomly-assigned edge, especially when it is easily avoided in a standalone league full of experienced players. I'd implement this for the Diamond draft leagues too.

Whatever folks agree to, I'm fine with it. If bidding for draft spots live in Las Vegas makes the most sense, I'm all for it. I'll gladly auctioneer that process, rather than hire a beauty to pick baseballs out of a bin. Well, we can still hire her for the Thursday Night entertainment and photo ops, though!!!

[KJ Duke]

Whatever folks agree to, I'm fine with it. If bidding for draft spots live in Las Vegas makes the most sense, I'm all for it. I'll gladly auctioneer that process, rather than hire a beauty to pick baseballs out of a bin. Well, we can still hire her for the Thursday Night entertainment and photo ops, though!!!

Agree completely.

[Money]

Why not make this a 12 team league? The 15 team league concept is dated and old. It's simply a draft contest. Make in season management crucial to winning. The old school will hate the idea as they have an advantage by living and dying baseball all year long.

This will also eliminate the need for any so called FAAB to determine draft positions. Probably the worst idea I've ever heard. Man up and play the game.

[Money]

[

[Gekko]

Man up and play the game.

[CC's Desperados]

Why not make this a 12 team league? The 15 team league concept is dated and old. It's simply a draft contest. Make in season management crucial to winning. The old school will hate the idea as they have an advantage by living and dying baseball all year long.

This will also eliminate the need for any so called FAAB to determine draft positions. Probably the worst idea I've ever heard. Man up and play the game.

I thought you took your ball and went home...

[ALL-IN JD]

Why not make this a 12 team league? The 15 team league concept is dated and old. It's simply a draft contest. Make in season management crucial to winning. The old school will hate the idea as they have an advantage by living and dying baseball all year long.

This will also eliminate the need for any so called FAAB to determine draft positions. Probably the worst idea I've ever heard. Man up and play the game.

Joe,

You couldn't be more wrong. Winning should be based MOSTLY on how well you draft. A 12 team league in which you draft poorly can be fixed much easier as there is a greater number of players that will help you in FAAB. The 15 teamer will reward much more the team that drafts well. On top of that with the competition for the limited talent in the FAAB fierce you will need to be shrewd with your thousand dollars in FAAB. Stop taking the easy way out, put on your big boy pants, and show off that skill set!!

[Money]

Why not make this a 12 team league? The 15 team league concept is dated and old. It's simply a draft contest. Make in season management crucial to winning. The old school will hate the idea as they have an advantage by living and dying baseball all year long.

This will also eliminate the need for any so called FAAB to determine draft positions. Probably the worst idea I've ever heard. Man up and play the game.

I thought you took your ball and went home...

6 wins out of 15 leagues in the last 3 years, it's hard to turn away, although I did try. The likes of some of these ducks is impossible to turn down. And I wonder why they team up against me.

[Money]

Why not make this a 12 team league? The 15 team league concept is dated and old. It's simply a draft contest. Make in season management crucial to winning. The old school will hate the idea as they have an advantage by living and dying baseball all year long.

This will also eliminate the need for any so called FAAB to determine draft positions. Probably the worst idea I've ever heard. Man up and play the game.

Joe,

You couldn't be more wrong. Winning should be based MOSTLY on how well you draft. A 12 team league in which you draft poorly can be fixed much easier as there is a greater number of players that will help you in FAAB. The 15 teamer will reward much more the team that drafts well. On top of that with the competition for the limited talent in the FAAB fierce you will need to be shrewd with your thousand dollars in FAAB. Stop taking the easy way out, put on your big boy pants, and show off that skill set!!

Big Guy,

It's al about the skill set. They are different for drafting and in season management as you well know, you've mastered both. I prefer to manage baseball during baseball. To be an expert drafter you must do year round. Simply a different skill set and a different point of view.

[ALL-IN JD]

Joe,

We can agree to disagree. I understand your point and 20 years ago that might hold water but with incredible (everyday) stream of information I can assure you that it is nowhere close to year round. I can honestly tell you that my "year round" prep consists of maybe two months. Not saying it's right or wrong but it's what works for me. I draft players I want, plain and simple. I do not need a year to determine who those players are and I am sure it wouldn't take you that long either (heck it only takes a few minutes to determine you are drafting Cabrera, Price, Kinsler, V Mart and A. Sanchez)!!

[Money]

Joe,

We can agree to disagree. I understand your point and 20 years ago that might hold water but with incredible (everyday) stream of information I can assure you that it is nowhere close to year round. I can honestly tell you that my "year round" prep consists of maybe two months. Not saying it's right or wrong but it's what works for me. I draft players I want, plain and simple. I do not need a year to determine who those players are and I am sure it wouldn't take you that long either (heck it only takes a few minutes to determine you are drafting Cabrera, Price, Kinsler, V Mart and A. Sanchez)!!

You lost me after Cabrera.

[Money]

Why not make this a 12 team league? The 15 team league concept is dated and old. It's simply a draft contest. Make in season management crucial to winning. The old school will hate the idea as they have an advantage by living and dying baseball all year long.

This will also eliminate the need for any so called FAAB to determine draft positions. Probably the worst idea I've ever heard. Man up and play the game.

I thought you took your ball and went home...

I rest my case.

[Quahogs]

NEW this year at every NFBC draft : Your choice of :



AND :

[Greg Ambrosius]

Dudes, say your last peace and then enough already. I'm invoking Rule 20 here to delete this thread and start it over, so take your last look here. If you want to damage the NFBC with accusations that are inaccurate, then we don't need you in the contest. These are the SNAKE Message Board rules we put into our Rules link and it's time to enforce them here:

20. Code of Conduct

All participants and co-managers are expected to behave in lawful, respectful and sportsman-like fashion at all live draft events, throughout the NFBC season, and during use of any NFBC website, including, but not limited to comments posted on any NFBC message board. Additionally the NFBC events, games and/or leagues may not be used for any form of gambling. Any conduct or message board post by a participant, co-manager or other person which is deemed by STATS, in its sole discretion, to be unlawful, or to have the effect of intimidating, harassing, offending or otherwise harming any other participant, co-manager, guest, or NFBC/STATS representative, is strictly prohibited. STATS reserves the right, in its sole discretion to ban any person from current and/or future participation in the NFBC and/or from use of the message boards if such person engages in any such prohibited conduct or is otherwise in violation of any of these Rules. In addition, any person engaging in such conduct forfeits any rights to a refund, as well as any potential rights to a prize award. STATS shall not be responsible or held liable to any person for damage to property or personal injury or death arising from the acts or omissions of any third parties. Any participants or co-managers who collude, or attempt to collude, or who attempts to blackmail, bribe or otherwise influence any representative of STATS/NFBC, or who otherwise attempts to sabotage the league, in an effort to alter the results or outcome of any NFBC game will be disqualified and will be prohibited from winning any prize award. If a participant is banned from participation in a current NFBC game, then STATS reserves the right, to take those actions which it sees fit, in its sole discretion with respect to such banned participant’s team. Any criminal behavior may be referred to the appropriate authorities.

Now enough. The NFBC Platinum League was the best league we ever hosted from a draft standpoint, camaraderie standpoint, exposure on a national radio station standpoint, and competitive league standpoint. It was soiled at the end of the season. Some have different takes on the soiling, but it's continued even with non-participants here. It's time to clean up the mess and move on. We will figure out the Saturday night even as the Platinum, although at $20,000 per team is unlikely now. Your dispute is officially over.

[Tom Kessenich]

And in case anyone is wondering where the last two pages or so of posts went I deleted them. I asked everyone to stop and you ignored the request so they're gone now.