In the MFFL (5-8)...
This is the local league I run that had their first draft this year as a keeper league. This is the league that I mentioned last article about being snake-bit. The top 10 teams make the play-offs in this league with the final two teams playing for the first pick in next year's draft.

The top two seeds get byes into the third round (semi-finals) and everyone else plays head to head. I was the eighth seed playing the fifth seed. I'll tell you I knew I needed some luck to win the first round game but my quick reflexes paid off too. I saved two transactions for the play-offs and pulled out the stops for week one. I dropped Brandon Stokely and added Chris Fua'matu Maafala. I knew that his playing at the time was 60-40 but as the week wore on it became apparent that he was not only going to play but he was going to a get a lot of carries.

As luck would have it my opponent had to make the decision about Daunte Culpepper or Kerry Collins. He chose wrong. He gambled and started Culpepper against my Gannon. I won a decisive victory even while sweating out Lamar Smith's performance on Monday night. I advanced to play the number 4 seed.

Now I have to face Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens. I dropped FM this week and added Bob Christian against the Colts as my final move. I am hoping that Owens will not be able to play and that my David Boston will recover from his thigh bruise. The #1 and #2 seeds in my tournament were both 10-1-1 with the tie coming head to head. Luckily one of the owners had way more points than the other.

In the CCL (9-5)...
Our final week of the regular season of this dynasty league is this week. Only the top 4 teams in this league make the play-offs and after the first 2 years in the gutter the old-hanging chads have made the top 4. I did it with spit and bailing wire but I am in and I intend on winning the damn thing. The remaining 8 teams play for the toilet bowl and their pride.

In the RRL (7-6)...
We also are in our final week with all eight teams making the play-offs. I am in second place in my four-team division but would be winning the other division. It is a rough league because it is my only performance based league and because there are only eight owners everyone has a really good team. I figure I should do well in that tourney because my team is so strong.

In the Idiot League (11-3)...
I am the number one seed and won the high points money. The play-offs start this week and with Joe Horn available as a free agent I think I may make a move this week. This really should be illegal fleecing these guys out of their $50 entry fee... but oh well. Only the top 6 teams make the play-offs while the bottom 6 play for the toilet bowl and their entry fees back.

As you can see every league has their own method of the play-offs and there is no right way or wrong way. I'd be very interested in hearing about your tourney format and what you different. Send them in and we'll put them in next issue. Also in the next issue we will talk about the pros and cons of Dynasty leagues and whether you should torture yourself.

This week's recipe is a Christmas special. A crunchy chocolate chip, cranberry and orange-scented bar is balanced with a lightly sweetened layer of cream cheese.

:: comments to the commish