ON SPORTS ~ Leagues Of Our Own...

Those of you reading along last fall and winter know that I ventured into the world of Fantasy Football and came out victorious in both of the leagues I joined. This year, I am playing in two different ones since neither of the previous two seem to be active this season - that or they "forgot" to invite me back. Hmmm.

The Family Jewels is a league that I started as a way for the cousins in my family to keep in touch. We are spread across the country and all have competitive spirits. And most of us enjoy sports. Five of the eight cousins signed on. Three of their significant others also wanted in. Andy's sister and her husband decided it sounded like fun to co-manage a team and a cousin's friend (who I think is a ringer - since she chose the team name Jewel Crusher) round out the group. I am so excited to have a way to play with, scheme against, torment, taunt and laugh with these folks who mean so much to me but whom I rarely get to see. I am also excited to take their money when all is said and done.

The other league came to me. It seems that my awesome performance thus far in the Fantasy Baseball League my rookie season this year has caught the attention of a few of my competitors. I received an e-mail two of them lauding my knowledge, feisty spirit versus my nemesis - The Commish - and the ability to use a Tolstoy quote as my team's motto/mantra. They were recruiting me to join in their existing Fantasy Football League that was being purged of inactive and disinterested parties and in need of real players. They obviously weren't aware that I kicked the rest of our baseball league's asses in their football league last year. In the spirit of full disclosure I of course let them know I had vouchers for my success right under their noses. This of course made Andy jealous - where was his personal recruiting invite?! He brought me into the baseball league and introduced me to these fellows after all. So I made sure to tell my pursuers that Andy was easy money and they happily welcomed him into the fold.

This league is filled with a bunch of people who already know each other as friends and I feel like I'm listening to a bunch of inside jokes without understanding the punch lines. I have also never heard such squawking back and forth, bickering about scoring settings, draft orders, and fee collection! These people are nut jobs - entertaining nut jobs, but nut jobs nonetheless. They also want to draft individual defensive players and not just a team defense as I am accustomed to doing. So I feel a bit lost in this league and only hope to keep up - with their witty bantering and the roster moves.

The drafts for both are at the end of this upcoming holiday weekend. One will be stressful and the other will be filled with fun trash talking. Hopefully both will keep my winning streak alive and do the Bumble name proud. And if I can't come out on top, then it is high time Andy brought in some of the winnings around here!

Are YOU ready for some football?