Countdown to the NFBC 2015

[Glenneration X]

In just 6 DAYS on Saturday at the Bellagio and through until the next Saturday in Vegas, NYC, Chicago, and Online, we'll be sitting at live draft table after draft table, in online draft room after draft room, and taking on the very best this game has to offer. In just 6 MONTHS, one of us will have beaten all these other very best and been named the NFBC Main Event Champion, and proven that he is The Man....





And whenever you've taken on the very best and shown that you are The Man, you've earned the rewards, accolades, and praise that come along with it, from no matter how high....






Jeez...I don't even think General McArthur's met this many Presidents!
Stan Musial really was The Man.



Now to be honest, winning the NFBC won't likely earn you a handshake and one of these medals from the President....




But you're pretty much assured a handshake and a big fat check from this guy....


And you won't have to wear a tie when you receive it.


Just 6 DAYS 'til our next chance to prove which one of us is The Man of the NFBC.

[Glenneration X]

Down to just a handful, that's right only 5 DAYS left 'til the Bellagio ballroom and Online draft rooms fill with fantasy baseball drafters ready to take on the NFBC's signature event....




Where we'll be looking to draft a lineup filled top to bottom with future HOF-er's, MVP's, and All-Stars....



And if we're able to just grab an ace along the way....



Who knows what could be next.



And afterwards, we'll gather around checking out the draft boards and talking about old times....



And maybe head to the Sportsbook for a bet or two....



Either way, good times are coming in just 5 DAYS....

Catch you there.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Where the hell did you find that photo of me and Geoff Stein? Believe it or not, that was on a trip to St. Louis for meetings with Fanball. Geoff and I checked into a hotel and the first thing we did was go to a liquor store so that we could have some drinks in the hotel hot tub!!! I have no idea who took that photo, though!!

Wow, those were the days. Glad we lived through them and moved on!!

Nice thread and awesome photos. Did I miss my Brewers already or is Paul Molitor going to be No. 4?

[Glenneration X]

Where the hell did you find that photo of me and Geoff Stein? Believe it or not, that was on a trip to St. Louis for meetings with Fanball. Geoff and I checked into a hotel and the first thing we did was go to a liquor store so that we could have some drinks in the hotel hot tub!!! I have no idea who took that photo, though!!

Wow, those were the days. Glad we lived through them and moved on!!

Nice thread and awesome photos. Did I miss my Brewers already or is Paul Molitor going to be No. 4?

Ha Greg, knew you'd like the pic. I actually found that picture way back when I put together my first Countdown in 2011. Pretty sure I used it again the next year for that 100 day Countdown. And though I'm not big on recycling pics, some just transcend that rule of thumb and need to resurface every chance they get.

As for Brewers day, sure Molitor's an option for number 4 tomorrow, but let's not forget Gorman Thomas at number 3, Scooter Gennett at number 2, or the immortal Fernando Vina at number 1 are options as well.
I guess we'll just have to see.

Thanks for the kind words Bud and see you Thursday night. Man, it's almost here!!!

[mlbbug]

Glenn,as a lifelong baseball fan for nearly 6 decades now I truly appreciate each and every one of these great photos on your NFBC countdown . The "Great Eight", as the Big Red machine lineup was known as, may have been the best top to bottom lineup in MLB ever assembled ( with apologies to 1927 Yankees Murderer's Row) . Bench,Tony Perez,Joe Morgan,Dave Concepcion,Rose,Cesar Geronimo,Ken Griffey Sr. and George Foster had power, speed ,batting average and great defense. We may never see such a complete lineup again.
I know Greg is pushing for his Brewers guy, Paul Molitor for #4 but my vote( not that I get one) would be for the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig .
Rich McCormick

[Glenneration X]

Glenn,as a lifelong baseball fan for nearly 6 decades now I truly appreciate each and every one of these great photos on your NFBC countdown . The "Great Eight", as the Big Red machine lineup was known as, may have been the best top to bottom lineup in MLB ever assembled ( with apologies to 1927 Yankees Murderer's Row) . Bench,Tony Perez,Joe Morgan,Dave Concepcion,Rose,Cesar Geronimo,Ken Griffey Sr. and George Foster had power, speed ,batting average and great defense. We may never see such a complete lineup again.
I know Greg is pushing for his Brewers guy, Paul Molitor for #4 but my vote( not that I get one) would be for the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig .
Rich McCormick

Thanks Rich, it's certainly been a fun journey for me through all 30 MLB teams.

I'm sorry to disappoint you Bud, but I'm afraid though a worthy choice, the decision for tomorrow's already been made and the Iron Horse won't be the representative for the Yanks or number 4 come tomorrow morning. Not to worry though, there's still plenty of good choices among the remaining Yankees jersey numbers.

It's a tough call, but whether I go George (no not George Herman Ruth) Selkirk at 3, Dale (no not Yogi) Berra at 2, or hold off on George Selkirk again 'til 1 (ummm how did this guy get not one, but two Yankees single digit numbers), I can't go wrong. It's a brutally rough decision among these all time Yankees greats, but at least I have a couple days to make it, and for my Buds who are Yankees fans, they deserve nothing less.

[Glenneration X]

There's only 4 DAYS remaining 'til we enter the big ballrooms at the Bellagio, where we'll be welcomed by Greg and Tom to our 2015 NFBC Main Event....




The Main Event will once again be sold out, the fruition of another long hard offseason of work by our friends from Iola, and they deserve serious kudos.

Let's face it. Greg and Tom get their share of grief on these boards. FAAB, online draft rooms, live scoring, the Primetime, etc. etc. We ask and demand that these tools and contests be perfect, and rightfully so. And when they aren't, or take longer than we want to get there, we let Greg and Tom, those faces of the NFBC to us, know about it.

However, what we probably don't do enough of amid our requests for improvements is thank them for what's really important, for providing us the NFBC in the first place. For giving us this great contest and this great forum to play and discuss this hobby we're all so passionate about at its highest level.

High stakes fantasy baseball is no easy task to provide. The WCOFF tried and failed after only two years. The FFPC tried and bailed after only one. High stakes fantasy sports itself is no sure thing. Besides the WCOFF, once this hobby's largest live provider, we've witnessed the demise of Fantasy Jungle, AFFL, FFOC, Fanball, Phenoms, and on and on, some who took our entry fees and winnings with them.

Yet the NFBC is here year after year, providing us live venues to meet and play, huge overall contests and high stakes stand alone leagues in which to compete, selling out each year, growing each year, improving each year, and most importantly paying each year. 12 years and running.

And it hasn't been the easiest of tasks. The NFBC has been through a number of owners since its inception in 2004, the last of which before STATS was Fanball, who was at the helm during the NFBC's most turbulent year back in 2010, and whose demise that same year almost took the NFBC down with it. What kept the NFBC afloat were the efforts of Greg and Tom, that led to the eventual partnership with STATS, the saving of the NFBC, and just 5 years later it thriving like never before.

What would we be doing right now if not for the NFBC? Somehow I think talking about and Counting down to meeting up in Las Vegas, NYC, and Chicago for high stakes fantasy baseball drafts would not be part of the conversation.

So I'd like to thank Greg and Tom for creating this great contest 12 years ago, for saving it 5 years ago, and for continuing to allow this great community of their doing to meet up and compete year after year.


Greg and Tom have had many individual accomplishments in their long careers....




But their greatest accomplishment, the NFBC, they achieved and grew together and in just 4 DAYS, we get to enjoy it because of them....

Thank you.

[TOXIC ASSETS]

Good stuff Glenn, all around.
Big Red Machine was a little before my time but those teams were certainly stacked with good players.

[uky]

Good stuff Glenn, all around.
Big Red Machine was a little before my time but those teams were certainly stacked with good players.

Absolutely my favorite lineup of all time...Rose, Morgan, Bench, Perez, Foster, Concepcion, Griffey, Geronimo...GREAT PIC

[Bronx Yankees]

Good stuff Glenn, all around.
Big Red Machine was a little before my time but those teams were certainly stacked with good players.

Absolutely my favorite lineup of all time...Rose, Morgan, Bench, Perez, Foster, Concepcion, Griffey, Geronimo...GREAT PIC

That was an awesome lineup. I remember them sweeping my Yanks in '76. That may have been the best baseball team in my lifetime (excepting, of course, the '98 Yankees ).

Mike

[Greg Ambrosius]

There's only 4 DAYS remaining 'til we enter the big ballrooms at the Bellagio, where we'll be welcomed by Greg and Tom to our 2015 NFBC Main Event....




The Main Event will once again be sold out, the fruition of another long hard offseason of work by our friends from Iola, and they deserve serious kudos.

Let's face it. Greg and Tom get their share of grief on these boards. FAAB, online draft rooms, live scoring, the Primetime, etc. etc. We ask and demand that these tools and contests be perfect, and rightfully so. And when they aren't, or take longer than we want to get there, we let Greg and Tom, those faces of the NFBC to us, know about it.

However, what we probably don't do enough of amid our requests for improvements is thank them for what's really important, for providing us the NFBC in the first place. For giving us this great contest and this great forum to play and discuss this hobby we're all so passionate about at its highest level.

High stakes fantasy baseball is no easy task to provide. The WCOFF tried and failed after only two years. The FFPC tried and bailed after only one. High stakes fantasy sports itself is no sure thing. Besides the WCOFF, once this hobby's largest live provider, we've witnessed the demise of Fantasy Jungle, AFFL, FFOC, Fanball, Phenoms, and on and on, some who took our entry fees and winnings with them.

Yet the NFBC is here year after year, providing us live venues to meet and play, huge overall contests and high stakes stand alone leagues in which to compete, selling out each year, growing each year, improving each year, and most importantly paying each year. 12 years and running.

And it hasn't been the easiest of tasks. The NFBC has been through a number of owners since its inception in 2004, the last of which before STATS was Fanball, who was at the helm during the NFBC's most turbulent year back in 2010, and whose demise that same year almost took the NFBC down with it. What kept the NFBC afloat were the efforts of Greg and Tom, that led to the eventual partnership with STATS, the saving of the NFBC, and just 5 years later it thriving like never before.

What would we be doing right now if not for the NFBC? Somehow I think talking about and Counting down to meeting up in Las Vegas, NYC, and Chicago for high stakes fantasy baseball drafts would not be part of the conversation.

So I'd like to thank Greg and Tom for creating this great contest 12 years ago, for saving it 5 years ago, and for continuing to allow this great community of their doing to meet up and compete year after year.


Greg and Tom have had many individual accomplishments in their long careers....




But their greatest accomplishment, the NFBC, they achieved and grew together and in just 4 DAYS, we get to enjoy it because of them....

Thank you.

You came through Mr. Glenn!! My two favorite Brewers of all-time. That's Tom the handsome one on the left and me the moustachioed one on the right!! And yes, like me, Robin Yount still has his 70's moustache today. Love that guy.

[Tom Kessenich]

I still remember where I was literally standing the night the Brewers kicked Molitor out of town because they wanted to go with John Jaha instead. Easily one of the worst moves in pro sports history in the 90s and an all-time bumblef by the Brewers. I was so happy to see Molly go to Toronto that season and win the World Series. He deserved it after being s**t on by the Brewers and Sal Bando.

[Greg Ambrosius]

I was so happy to see Molly go to Toronto that season and win the World Series. He deserved it after being s**t on by the Brewers and Sal Bando.

Ahhh, that was also a Wendy Selig-Prieb move. Dad put her in charge of the team then and this was one of her first big decisions. Nice job Bud.

[mlbbug]

Kudos to Glenn for the imaginative work that he does with this NFBC Countdown blog. It really gets the juices flowing for some fantasy baseball with the best players in the nation. And a huge thanks to Greg and Tom for maneuvering the NFBC through the stormy seas during the dark Fanball days and finding a way to right the ship and turn this organization into something to be really proud of.

[Glenneration X]

We're just about there. Tomorrow and Friday, we get our warmups and practice swings in with the All-Star Auction and some Primetimes, while sitting right on deck in just 3 DAYS the real stuff begins with our NFBC Main Event....




When that time comes, we'll all be looking at our NEXT 2nd chance to accomplish what we set out to do when registering for our very 1st NFBC Main Event, whether last year, or 12 years ago, or somewhere in between. Unless your last name is Morgan, last season ended as another wasted chance to reach that goal. And for some (like Massotto ), last year ended before it even began....




For the rest of us, no matter where we finished in the Overall standings, it wasn't where we wanted or expected to be. Where? At the very top, as the NFBC Main Event Overall Champion. Instead, it was yet another wasted 2nd chance. But don't despair, you're not alone. After all, there's been less than a dozen of us over the years who've made the most out of these chances....

2004 - Artie Rastelli
2005 - Brian Oldenski
2006 - David DiDonato
2007 - Terry Haney
2008 - Bobby Jurney
2009 - Lindy Hinkelman
2010 - Steve Jupinka
2011 - Lindy Hinkelman
2012 - Dave Potts
2013 - Ken Norred/Dan Semsel
2014 - Greg & Dale Morgan


So pick yourself up and stop whining....




And take a good hard look in the mirror at what you have to do....




Because life, sports, and the NFBC does give us 2nd chances, and in just 3 DAYS, we get our next one to join those other 11 NFBC Main Event championship teams, by making good on all that potential we thought we had when we took our first chance....


'The saddest thing in life is wasted talent."



Today, I fly out to Vegas for my next 2nd chance. Safe flights to anyone else making the trip over the next few days.


Hmmm, I hope they know how to fly. Well, at least they look like they know how to keep their passengers happy.

[blazer68]

Really excellent countdown especially Molitor and Yount and your tribute to Banks as well as memories of many great players you have a real gift for helping people stay excited and interested but my pilots or flight attendants did not look anything like those two

[ALL-IN JD]

Greg sent a picture of the Vegas draft facilitators!

[Glenneration X]

We're down to TWO. That's right. Just 2 DAYS remain 'til our NFBC Main Event....




I know some of you are probably thinking "Jeter? He went with Jeter for the Yankees with all the other great legends that he could have gone with from the Evil Empire who accomplished so much more?"

I mean Jeter didn't hit 714 home runs....


Jeter never played in 2130 straight ball games that only a fatal illness could end....


And Jeter never hit in 56 straight games either....


And if I recall correctly, Jeter never hit for the triple crown. In fact, he never even led the league for ANY of those triple crown stats.



And while the Babe, Gehrig, DiMaggio, and the Mick did accomplish all those great feats and any one of them would have been worthy choices because of them, there is something that Jeter accomplished that would make even these all-time greats green with envy....



And after all, this is by and large a picture thread....









Jeez!! And I didn't even post pictures of Vida Guerra, Jordana Brewster, Vanessa Minnillo, a Miss Universe, and multiple others on Jeter's long list of "worthy achievements". I mean seriously, he could field a full 9 player baseball team with all the hot girls notched on his belt... and still have a full reserve list!

I know a few days back on this Countdown, I called Mr. Musial the Man, but the only pictures I was able to post regarding his extracurricular activities outside of baseball was meeting Presidents. Obama or Johansson? George W. Bush or Jessica Alba's bu... ummm, well you get the point. Derek Jeter is truly the MAN!!!

Only 2 DAYS remain 'til the Main Event, where if you're able to pull off a Championship, maybe you'll have gained enough cred to impress one of Jeter's leftovers.



See some of you tonight at the All-Star Auction. Should be blast.

[jdryan]

Jeter had a Hall of Fame career on the field but that off the field lineup in his stable almost trumps that
can't wait Main OL in 2 Days Primetime in 5 then NY best time of year... Great job with this Glen, You made the
last month a nice read...

[Glenneration X]

I just left the All Star Auction, where I got to see some of the great people I've gotten to know over my years playing with the NFBC. That's what it's all about. The people. The people at these live events, the people on these message boards. That's what makes the NFBC special, that's what I look forward to every year. Seeing these great guys again, catching up, talking sports, talking fantasy baseball, and competing against them in all the great contests that the NFBC provides. The greatest of them all of course, the Main Event.

We're finally here in Vegas. We're playing the live events. And we're finally at the end of this Countdown, because in just ONE DAY, we'll be playing the Main Event....




So when sitting at the Main Event draft tables and checking your personal draft sheets come tomorrow....


Be sure to grab your aces....


And get a solid mix of power and average....


And at least a couple 5-category studs....


If you're able to do all that while covering your scarce positions....


And obtaining reliable options at closer....


You could be Champion!


Come on, you had to know I'd save my Mets for last.

Good luck tomorrow everyone, in the Main Event and all your drafts.

[Wolfpac]

Glen I loved the countdown, and I loved that you saved OUR METS for last! Why wouldn't you save the Amazins till the end GottaBelieve

[Le Grand Orange]

Thanks for saving the best for last Glenn. As Rick said to Ilsa in Casablanca, "We'll always have '86"

[mlbbug]

Glenn, you deserve many thanks for your truly imaginative countdown blog. Even as a lifelong Yankee fan, one who stayed loyal to his team even through the dark years of mid 60's and early 70's ( finished dead last in 1966 in an expanded 10 team league!) , I had to admire and enjoy the way you brought this countdown to a glorious conclusion. I must admit that your Mets are probably much closer to another championship than my aging Yankees. Good luck out in Vegas and look forward to seeing in NY next weekend!