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Live drafting only way to go

Hanging out with other owners helps peak interest

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  • Originally published July 23, 2008 at 11:32 p.m., updated July 23, 2008 at 11:32 p.m.

The fantasy football preseason is in full swing as many leagues are preparing to draft. Some of the online leagues opt to auto drafts or live drafts via the Internet, but few things rival an old-fashioned in-person live draft.

There’s just something about a bunch of guys and/or girls gathering around a table and making their picks. You get that instant feedback on your draft skills, be it oohs and ahhs, shocked gasps or flat-out laughter. You know where you stand with your opponents in that setting.

Probably the best thing, though, is just getting to hang out with the other owners in your league. I don’t do a whole lot of these drafts, but they’re always fun.

Mitch Albom wrote a book called “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.” Now I haven’t read this book because I prefer to keep some things a surprise, but I’ve come up with my own take on the concept that I’m calling “The Five People You Meet at Your Fantasy Draft.”

The Librarian

The Librarian is the guy that shows up to the draft with half a dozen magazines, folders upon folders of printouts and a wireless-connected laptop.

He/she is out to gain a psychological advantage by showing everyone just how much research went into this draft. The Librarian is the Mel Kiper Jr. of your draft, and makes a 14th round pick with the same confidence of the 1st round pick.

Of course, The Librarian is also the most boring drafter. He’s going to make the safest picks and only pick sleepers that the magazine recommends. The final result is like a color-by-numbers picture. It looks good, but no real skill went into it.

The Homer

The Homer’s blind trust in his favorite team makes for plenty of entertaining draft moments. He will pick his team’s No. 3 receiver before he’s got solid starters. He’ll also pick his team’s starters at least two rounds before anyone else would.

The best thing is when someone else picks The Homer’s favorite player, leading to a horrible conflict of interests at least once or twice during the season.

The Gambler

The Gambler goes for the edgy picks. He wants to be the guy that drafts the big sleeper, and will often pass up a safe pick to do it.

This maverick style of drafting usually results in The Gambler finishing near the top or bottom of the league. Gamblers do not land in the middle too often.

The Panic-Picker

This guy is the Woody Allen of the draft. The Panic-Picker has instant buyer’s remorse and will start writing off his draft after the second round.

The Panic-Picker can really mess up a draft if he is picking right after The Gambler. The Gambler will make a reach on a tight end in the fifth round and then this guy hits his panic button and starts a run on tight ends before anyone really wants to take one.

The Wild Card

I fall into this category more times than not. The Wild Card is usually the least-prepared person. He may have a printout or two, or nothing at all (I did that in my first Advocate Draft).

The Wild Card gets his name because no one knows what he’s going to do. His strategy could be based on the latest Madden video game, bits of commentary from ESPN or nothing at all. The Wild Card is just as likely to draft the big sleeper as he is to pick a kicker in the sixth round.

ACFFL is on the way

Responses to my call for fantasy football players for the Advocate Charity Fantasy Football League have started trickling in, but there’s still time to state your case.

The submission deadline is Aug. 10, so send an e-mail to sports@vicad.com if you think you’ve got what it takes to match wits with the best fantasy players in the area.

Billy Mau is a sports writer for the Victoria Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6538, or e-mail him at bmau@vicad.com.



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