As I wrote in my column at the end of July,
fantasy football players routinely lure the incompetent, the clueless,
and the hopelessly befuddled into their leagues. Sure, it all seems
like harmless fun-with insults flying and money changing hands.
But your dupes must turn somewhere for guidance, and in ever increasing
numbers they are turning to those of us who made the mistake of
becoming the fantasy football columnists. Please read on, and consider
the sort of cyber-epistolary torture that we are put through by
people who have no business becoming involved with fantasy football.
(Those of you who already read July's installment of this column
will want to skip to the message dated September 25th.)
09/04/02 12:02 p.m. Sender: Lionsfan_gobarrysandersgo@hotmail.com
Dear mikeleedavis@yahoo.com,
I love your column. I read it every day. Thanks for all the really
great advice. Anyway, who should I start, Fred Taylor or Corey
Dillon?
Thanks in advance,
Lionsfan
09/05/02 08:32 a.m. Sender mikeleedavis@yahoo.com
Dear Lionsfan,
Thank you for your kind words concerning my column, but I don't
think you benefit very much from reading it daily, as it comes
out only once per week.
As for your question, I am afraid I can no longer respond to
requests to select team rosters for my readers. You might try
asking someone else (I recommend MikeKrueger@fftoday.com), but
you will probably want to include the scoring system for your
league with your question, as it is often difficult to know which
player to recommend without understanding how player performances
are scored.
Good luck,
Mike
09/11/02 12:02 p.m. Sender: Lionsfan_gobarrysandersgo@hotmail.com
Dear mikeleedavis@yahoo.com,
Sorry for leaving out the information. Our league plays 1QB/2RB/2WR/1TE/1K/1D.
I don't know what it means, but I pasted it directly from the
website, so I'm pretty sure I have it right. Now can you please
tell me who I should start between Fred Taylor and Corey Dillon?
Thanks in advance again (though I shouldn't have to thank you
again, since I thanked you in advance last time and you didn't
answer my question),
Lionsfan
09/12/02 08:32 a.m. Sender: mikeleedavis@yahoo.com
Dear Lionsfan,
That isn't the sort of information I was asking for. In fact,
I wasn't asking for any information at all. I recommended that
you take your question to Mike Krueger, but I wanted you to know
that you should be able to tell him whether you are in a yardage
league or a scoring-only league, whether you are penalized points
for fumbles or not - that sort of thing.
The information you provided concerns roster composition, which
is an entirely different ball of wax. It specifies how many players
you start at various positions, but since it seems to mean that
you can start two running backs, I'm curious as to who your third
running back might be. It must be nice to choose between Taylor
and Dillon for your second RB.
Puzzled,
Mike
09/18/02 12:02 p.m. Sender: Lionsfan_gobarrysandersgo@hotmail.com
Dear mikeleedavis@yahoo.com,
I don't understand why it's so hard to get a straight answer
out of you stupid writers. I have asked you a simple question
twice, and you have blown me off both times. Now, for the third
time, I'm going to ask you a simple question: Should I start Fred
Taylor or Corey Dillon this week?
Waiting patiently for one of two advance thank-yous to be collected
upon,
Lionsfan
09/19/02 08:32 a.m. Sender: mikeleedavis@yahoo.com
Dear Lionsfan,
My apologies if my first response to your first query was unclear;
I was merely attempting to let you know, as politely as possible,
that I do not have time to think through the roster decisions
of any stranger with an email account who claims to have read
one of my columns.
Fortunately, however, I will be happy to answer your question
this week, as the Jaguars are on a bye. Since Fred Taylor won't
be playing on Sunday, I'm giving you a gigantic green light on
Dillon.
Even so, I recommend that you review your league's scoring system
and explain the system to whomever it is that you decide to take
your roster quandaries to in the future.
Thanks in advance for emailing all future questions to Mike Krueger,
Mike
09/25/02 12:02 p.m. Sender:
Lionsfan_gobarrysandersgo@hotmail.com
Dear mikeleedavis@yahoo.com,
I'm sorry I came off like such a sourpuss last week, but I was
really getting frustrated. Anyway, I can see now that you really
gave me some good advice about not starting Taylor 'coz he was
on a bye.
But I thought it over, and my gut instinct told me that Taylor
was due, so I started him anyway.
I just wanted to let you know that I appreciated your advice
even though I didn't take it. Next time, I'll listen. I promise.
I think this 'bye' strategy of yours might even have some applicability
to some of my other players; perhaps you could use one of your
columns to explain how we can avoid drafting players with bye
weeks.
Oh, and last but not least, who do you like this week-Taylor
or Dillon?
Thanks in advance for the column (but you still owe me a pick),
Lionsfan
*** Dear mikeleedavis@yahoo.com - Part 2 ***
09/26/02 08:32 a.m. Sender: mikeleedavis@yahoo.com
Dear Lionsfan,
I wouldn't hold my breath for that column explaining the bye
if I were you. It's not as if some players get one, while other
players don't. All teams in the NFL get one week off each season.
Byes are scheduled in advance (just check the sports section of
your local newspaper), so there really wasn't anything impressive
about my prediction concerning Taylor last week.
In fact, my predictions are always bad, which is why you should
definitely take your questions about Taylor and Dillon to Mike
Krueger.
Good luck,
Mike
WEEK FIVE
10/02/02 12:02 p.m. Sender: Lionsfan_gobarrysandersgo@hotmail.com
Dear mikeleedavis@yahoo.com,
I looked at the newspaper like you said, and it said that Corey
Dillon will have a bye week later this month. I think you may
be right about all of the teams in the NFL taking a week off in
the middle of the season. I think the public has a right to know
about this sort of thing. But more importantly, I would like to
know why no one in my fantasy league told me, when I drafted Taylor
and Dillon, that I was getting damaged goods.
I'm not a lawyer, but I think I have enough evidence to sue my
commissioner for withholding information. I think I'm entitled
to a refund--if not the entire pot for our league. What do you
think?
And what about Taylor and Dillon this week? Which one would you
start?
Thanks in advance for the legal advice (and since you're not
going to write that column I already thanked you for, please convert
that advance-thank-you to a second thank you for a player pick,
which means you owe me two weeks of player picks and one piece
of legal advice),
Lionsfan
10/03/02 08:32 a.m. Sender: mikeleedavis@yahoo.com
Dear Lionsfan,
Hey Stuart, is that you? I never in a million years would have
guessed that the guy I've been getting notes from every week is
actually from my own fantasy league. But it all came together
for me when the commish forwarded a crazy email from the owner
of Detroit Demolition about suing us all for not mentioning bye
weeks.
That's a pretty good joke. You had me going there.
Good luck this season, and I see from the league stats that you've
been starting Taylor and Dillon all season long. You really should
have used a back-up on Taylor's week off, but we all make mistakes.
Nice gag,
Mike
WEEK SIX
10/09/02 12:02 p.m. Sender: Lionsfan_gobarrysandersgo@hotmail.com
Dear mikeleedavis@yahoo.com,
You have picked the wrong guy to harass over the internet, buddy.
I know you think I must be pretty gullible, but I'm not gullible
enough to believe that the Mike Davis who works down the hall
from me is the same as the Mike Davis who writes for FFToday.
Obviously, you hacked your way into our league website and pretended
to be the Mike Davis down the hall.
I think that's invasion of privacy plain and simple. Maybe I
won't hire a lawyer to sue my league. Maybe I'll hire a lawyer
to sue you instead.
It's funny how you say you don't have the time to tell me whether
to start Taylor or Dillon, but somehow you find the time to worm
your way into my computer.
Well, I'll tell you what, I'll forget all about it if you just
agree to tell me when to start Taylor and when to start Dillon
for the rest of the year.
Deal?
Lionsfan
10/10/02 08:32 a.m. Sender: mikeleedavis@yahoo.com
Dear Lionsfan--aka Stuart,
Look, it's really me: Mike Lee Davis. I work thirty feet down
the hall from you. I just walked past your office and said, "Stu,
heads up, I'm about to send you an email."
Here's the proof I'm in your league. I own the team Whiny Crew,
and I have just proposed two trades on our fantasy website. I'm
offering Johnnie Morton and Charlie Batch (two former Lions) for
Corey Dillon and Fred Taylor.
P.S. You really don't need to keep asking me about Taylor and
Dillon, as you have been starting them both all season long.
P.S.S. The deals I am offering you are completely to my benefit.
Don't accidentally authorize them on the website. I just made
the offers to prove to you that we're in the same league.
C-ya,
Mike
WEEK SEVEN
10/16/02 12:02 p.m. Sender: Lionsfan_gobarrysandersgo@hotmail.com
Dear mikeleedavis@yahoo.com,
I just talked to Mike Davis down the hall, and he is the one
who offered me Morton and Batch. You had me thinking that you
had hacked into his team and offered the trade for him, but he
told me himself that he proposed the trade. He also said he was
you, but I figure you put him up to that. The more I think about
it, the more it seems like you have time for everything in the
world except telling me whether to start Taylor or Dillon.
Anyway, the Mike Davis at my job says I would be a fool to take
his offer, but I don't trust him. What do you think? Were you
joking when you said I shouldn't take the trade?
If I do take the trade, should I start Batch or Morton? And if
I don't, should I start Taylor or Dillon?
Hoping that you will collect on your advance thank-yous like
an honorable person,
Lionsfan
10/17/02 08:32 a.m. Sender: mikeleedavis@yahoo.com
HEY STUART!
Listen to me. It's me--Mike Lee Davis. I work down the hall from
you. I was there when you killed the office Christmas party two
years ago with your karaoke version of "Thick As a Brick"--the
forty-minute version. Satisfied?
I absolutely do not advise you to take the Morton-for-Dillon
or Batch-for-Taylor trades. I just picked them because they're
the only two former Lions on my team. Please understand that it
wasn't even a serious offer. I'm not trying to take advantage
of the trust you put in me as a neutral party because I am not
a neutral party. I am in your fantasy football league, and if
you authorize those trades, you will be screwed for the rest of
the season.
As for Taylor and Dillon, start Taylor as this is Dillon's bye
week. Check the paper again to confirm, and then be sure to start
one of your backup RBs in Dillon's place, okay?
Even if you don't believe I am who I say I am, believe me when
I say that Dillon will get you no points this week.
Baffled,
Mike
WEEK EIGHT
10/23/02 12:02 p.m. Sender: Lionsfan_gobarrysandersgo@hotmail.com
Dear mikeleedavis@yahoo.com,
That karaoke story proves nothing. Just tell me who hasn't done
a karaoke of the forty-minute version of "Thick As a Brick."
Nice try.
Well I guess I outsmarted both you and the guy I work with. I'm
no dummy, and since Dillon was taking the week off anyway, I authorized
the trade for Morton. I'm pretty sure it was a good idea, but
the stupid computer wouldn't let me start Morton instead of Dillon.
Anyway, thanks for the heads up on Dillon, since I don't need
a shirker like that on my roster anyway. Imagine if everyone at
my job waited until the middle of our busiest season and then
just took a week off. It's really embarrassing what these overpaid
players think they can get away with.
As for this week, who should I start--Taylor or Morton?
Tired of doling out advance thank-yous as if they grew on trees,
Lionsfan
10/27/02 08:32 a.m. Sender mikeleedavis@yahoo.com
Dear Stuart aka Lionsfan aka Dillweed,
Look, I already explained things to the commissioner, and he
understands that your decision to trade a premier running back
for a receiver who is a bust in Kansas City was just a stupid
rookie mistake. He's going to reverse the trade and waive the
transaction fees, but please don't play around with trades in
the future. They can really make or break a season.
I checked your lineup on the website for the week, and you did
in fact start Johnnie Morton. But the computer assumed you wanted
him as a wide receiver because, well, that's what he is. Anyway,
the important thing is that you're going to get Dillon back and
everything will be back to normal.
In the meantime, keep starting Taylor, and be sure to use a backup
RB if you have to play again before the commish can get Dillon
back on your roster.
Losing patience,
Mike
WEEK NINE
10/30/02 12:02 p.m. Sender: Lionsfan_gobarrysandersgo@hotmail.com
Dear mikeleedavis@yahoo.com,
So it seems like that guy down the hall from me, Mike Davis,
went crying to the commissioner about how I screwed him out of
Johnnie Morton.
Unfortunately for me, the commissioner and Mike go way back,
so the commissioner forced me to take Corey Dillon back for Johnnie
Morton. It all happened before I could call my lawyer. I had no
say at all. It's outrageous the way grownup people behave!
Well, I got 'em both good. I went ahead and authorized the Batch-for-Taylor
trade, and I'm going to keep Batch hostage now until I get Morton
back. I've already talked to my lawyer about it, so it looks like
the guy down the hall will just have to keep Fred Taylor until
the commissioner puts Johnnie Morton back on my squad. In the
meantime, he'll have to do without Charlie Batch.
And who should I start between Dillon and Batch?
Go Lions,
Lionsfan
11/01/02 08:32 a.m. Sender: mikeleedavis@yahoo.com
Stuart you freakin' idiot!
That last trade you made is permanent, and it's going to get
us both in trouble with the commissioner.
According to the rules of our fantasy league (the one that I,
MIKE DAVIS, THE GUY WHO WORKS DOWN THE HALL FROM YOU, belong to),
all trading must come to a stop on the Wednesday prior to the
games played in Week Nine. This is to prevent unsuccessful owners
(like you) from trading top-flight players (like Taylor) for benchwarmers
(like Batch) to successful owners (like me) so that I can advance
to the fantasy championship and split the pot with you.
It's called collusion, and it only works if it comes in under
the radar of the rest of the league, which definitely isn't the
case here. The commish just walked into my office (THE ONE THAT
IS THIRTY FEET DOWN THE HALL FROM YOURS). For your information,
he looks pretty ticked off.
Why don't you join us in my office for this meeting?
Jackhole,
Mike
WEEK TEN
11/06/02 12:02 p.m. Sender: Lionsfan_gobarrysandersgo@hotmail.com
Dear mikeleedavis@yahoo.com
Oh boo hoo hoo. What's the matter? Momma didn't love you? Is
that why you go on and on and on about how upset you are when
all I needed to know was whether I should start Dillon or Batch?
I have been thinking over your proposal concerning collusion,
and I even had a brief discussion concerning the matter with the
guy down the hall and the commissioner in my league, but I think
I'll pass on it. It sounds kind of underhanded to me.
So who's hot this week--Dillon or Batch?
No more thank-yous after all your whining,
Lionsfan
11/07/02 08:32 a.m. Sender: mikeleedavis@yahoo.com
Dear Stuart aka Lionsfan aka ****-for-brains,
Why are you asking about choosing between Dillon and Batch? You
don't need to choose between Dillon and Batch for more reasons
than I can think of. The first reason is that Batch is a quarterback
and Dillon is a running back. The second reason is that Batch
is riding the pine while Dillon is the star of his franchise.
The third reason is that Batch isn't really yours to start anyway,
since he should never have left my roster. The fourth reason is
that you no longer need to submit lineups. Don't you remember
standing in my office a week ago while the commissioner called
us a couple of sorry amateur swindlers and threw us out of the
league? What don't you understand about being thrown out of the
league? Our seasons are over, you moron. Haven't you noticed that
the password to your account on the league website has been changed?
Haven't you noticed that everyone around the office keeps calling
us "cheaters" and throwing cheese danishes at us? What
will it take for you to understand that there is no reason for
you to keep pestering me about your fantasy team?
Please die,
Mike
WEEK ELEVEN
11/13/02 12:02 p.m. Sender: Lionsfan_gobarrysandersgo@hotmail.com
Dear mikeleedavis@yahoo.com,
I don't know anything about hacking into fantasy league websites,
but I assume it's pretty easy if you know what you're doing. So
you changed the password on my account. Big deal. That doesn't
scare me. But what does scare me is that you seem to have installed
bugs and hidden cameras around the office. How else would you
know what people were calling me and throwing at me?
I have to say that my interaction with you has been deeply dissatisfying.
You pose as some kind of fantasy football expert, but all you
do is get me more confused than ever about Taylor, Dillon, Morton
and Batch. And then you get me in trouble at work.
I think that whatever process you have to go through to become
a fantasy football columnist is deeply flawed. And you, sir, need
to stop meddling in other people's personal lives.
I have explained all of this to my lawyer, and he has secured
a court order requiring you to stay at least 500 feet away from
me at all times pending our lawsuit. You really shouldn't have
signed off with a death threat in your last note. The legal system
does not take such things lightly.
Until we see each other in court, please cease all further correspondence
with me.
Oh, and just so you know, once I figure out what you changed
my password to, I'm definitely starting Batch.
Disappointed,
Lionsfan
11/14/02 08:32 a.m. Sender: mikeleedavis@yahoo.com
Stuart,
The boss is here with a moving crew. They're transferring me
to another branch to satisfy that court order of yours. It's going
to be a two-hour commute for me each way. Please explain that
it's all a mistake.
Please?
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