Monday Night Wishes

On a weekly basis, Monday Night Football travels with two companions: Hope and Despair. Burdened with “what if’s”, last-minute calculations, SSG’s preemptive waiver wire un-jockeying (Add/Drops), and a healthy dose of superstition, the mind of a typical General Manager is as settled as a poorly-stacked game of Jenga - located on a well-oiled California fault line. Each GM has their preparation rituals that range from listening to Fantasy Football Podcasts, in-depth analysis on opponents remaining strength of schedule, to binging on Easy Mac and hot sauce (I see you HBK) only for all to come undone by the inevitable “dud.”  Marian-Webber defines dud as:

Dud (/ded/)

Noun

1. A thing that fails to work properly or is otherwise unsatisfactory or worthless
        "Eddie Lacy was drafted 6th overall! What a dud."

2. Clothes
        "Buy yourself the latest Cam Newton Signature red duds."

Synonym: Buster (See: Educators)

Week 13, I find myself in the enviable position of recognizing my weekly dud(s) – 1a. Dez Bryant, 1b. DeMarco Murray – yet declaring myself “Dud-Proof”. Nonchalant? Maybe. But for the first time in the history of the Elite, the Sith reigns as the champion of the East. Some might claim that the Sith’s rise from the ashes should be considered lucky due to season altering injuries (Charles, oh Charles… Foster, oh Foster… Dez, oh Dez, shall I continue?) attributing his team’s success to the Star Wars release (C'mon, I'm the Sith) coming soon to a theatre near you. Others might contend that if the divisions were vanquished, that the Sith would be 3^rd overall in standings barely avoiding the dreaded regular season participation trophy (see James Harrison).

However, Dear Reader, consider that the source of the Sith's success stems from consistency (say that 5 times fast), consistency inspired by one Mr. Timothy Theodore Duncan. Throughout his Hall of Fame career, there has been only one season that Mr. Duncan did not win 50 or more games ('98-'99) where he proceeded to win 37 of 50 due to the NBA lockout. Duncan’s winning ways have rightfully earned him the title as the greatest professional sports player of his generation (yes, that includes Teddy Bridgewater, sorry Demps). As a result, if I claim Duncan to be my favorite player, I should strive to reflect his best qualities both on and off the court.

As a rookie, number 21 showed incredible promise, athleticism, and a high basketball IQ yet he refused to make a "Kwame Brown" of himself. Duncan went on to win 5 championships in 3 separate decades due to his ability to recognize how the game of basketball developed and his ability to adapt his approach in order to maintain his dominance. By no means do I seek to imply that I have been dominant during my time spent in the Elite. Nevertheless, I have an unquenchable passion to harvest both my potential and near-miss opportunities and convert them into sustained excellence.

The fantasy football nickname, Darth Waiver (formerly Rocket Scientists, formerly the Maven), came from a GM who despite drafting poorly never gave up on the season. Waiver wire victories became the staple that continually fed my teams a diet of .500 - that is, until I learned how to adapt. I spent my off seasons learning how to research, how to properly draft a team, and how to offer quality and respectful trades. Similar to Duncan, I relentlessly sought opportunities to improve which eventually yielded a first-round playoff bye.

With each new year of Fantasy Football a new lesson is presented. Last year, by altering my draft approach, I celebrated my first championship victory (different league). This season, I learned to appreciate the value in the word: Fortitude. Had anyone told me that I would have secured the first round bye in week 4 (1-3), I would have laughed with them; by week 10 I was using Gotham’s annual hash tag “#iHateFooball”. Yet, fortitude, not luck is the reason that I have found regular season success in 2015. Choosing hope rather than despair may occasionally garner you the title of a dreamer, but look at Joseph, things turned out pretty all right for him. As I conclude, if you remember only one thing from the message above remember this: "Never underestimate the power of the dark side."

-Sith

I’m out like Killa Cam Cam’s losing streak.. #CAMVP #CamERA

Sunday Morning Carryovers

This time of  year people will tell you “Christmas time is here” In the Elite we say, “Playoffs are here.”  

Saturday Evening Rollovers

As we get ready to start a new week (and almost new year), I’ve got some resolutions to finish... 

Just 'Cuz I'm Finally Number 1 In The East Once Again...

..."we back...we back, we back, we back"...at Number 1, that is. Three more games until the playoffs, boys! Ha...ha...ha...

~Bishop

Tuesday Morning Hangovers

I would just like to say, with days like today, I’m glad we have this #week8

ESPN

Getting to Los Angeles wasn't easy. So many hours of driving! I'm already dreading making the drive back to the East Coast. But there was one thing I knew for sure that I wanted to do once I got to LA, and it wasn't Disneyland or Hollywood.

ESPN 

Entertainment and Sports Programming Network 

This network has been around longer than all of us have been alive (it began in 1979). I am sure we have all spent hours upon hours watching this network while in high school and college. Staying up late to hear Boomer say whoop, waiting for the latest episode of 30 for 30, hearing the NFL crew say "C'mon, man," and listening to our old friend Stuart Scott say "BOO YAH!" I remember having it on while doing homework just to have something on in the background.

We even know the soundtrack! This network has in some way impacted us in one way or another –trades, waiver wire, conversations, and even relationships.

I was amazed at how big this place really is. I am more amazed by how many channels this network actually has (espn2, espn college, espn deportes, etc). A great network who loves to talk about sports and the occasional Tebow and the deflate gate.

SPORTNATION was the TV show I was able to get tickets to. It has seat for only 25 people max. It's the only show that has a live studio audience. The TV show actually loves and wants the audience to scream at the hosts if they are wrong about something. They truly want you to be a part of the show. Not sure if you guys have seen an episode or not, but you should. It's very entertaining.

I had my bright Denver Broncos shirt sitting next to a guy with an Oakland Raider shirt. The guy in front of me had a Royals shirt and the person a couple seats over had a soccer jersey. Everyone was welcomed no matter what sport it was.
What a great network to be a part of your life. I know we have other networks such as Fox Sports, but there is something about ESPN. I don't know what it is. Maybe you guys know? The network has had some issues, but that's another story.

There is more to life than sports. We all know that, but we can't deny how sports have affected us and still affect us today. It has made us who we are in our GM-ing skills.  But it is something that can be controlled as well.

Everything in moderation, like my wife told me one day.  Have you ever been in a party and not known anyone... But once you hear someone talk about football, especially fantasy football, everything changes? I will talk for hours, and by the end of the conversation I know about his kids and wife. And I opened up about my life and exchanged phone numbers! It is a great tool to know your sports, and we have ESPN to thank for that. But there is more. I am sure we can all agree with that.

Living here in LA has made me see a lot of things that I will be writing about or try to write about the next couple of weeks. We are now heading to week 8 and our league has gotten a lot more competitive than ever before, and I love it!!

Have a great week, boys.

Tuesday Morning Hangovers

“I’d rather lose by a million than to lose that close” – Some dude named, Darius… #weeksix

Tuesday Morning Hangovers

Text to Ryan: “Since I complained to you about the Rams taking Gurley, it’s only natural that I make sure you know I take it all back…J” #weekfour

Tuesday Morning Hangovers

"Sir today is Tuesday and we don't have our Hangover yet. Get your act together. (Also, I'm actually ranked worse than "The Bane." I need to get MY life in order.)" - Gotham Knights #weektwo

Tuesday Morning Hangovers

Spoiler alert: Don’t ever go to a place like this for a date, let alone with your boss…#weekone

Tuesday Morning Hangovers

The aftermath of the season isn’t till next week, but I just couldn’t wait…I love this game. #preseason

2015 Elite League Draft Lottery Show

2015 Draft Lottery

I apologize gentlemen as the day was very full and got away from me, nevertheless for those who are interested in their draft pick results, behold! (Video presentation coming)

1. The Sith 

2. Prophet N Kings 

3. Sons of Thunder 

4. The Bane 

5. Gotham Knights 

6. Orange Crush 

7. Limited Edition 

8. Dunwall Assassins

9. Heartbreak Kid 

10. Sesame Street Gang 

Straight Out Clowning...(Continued)

Here are some more! Can you figure out which fits whom?

I'll be waiting for my meme, now. Anybody wanna step up?

- JB

Straight Out Clowning...

Gentlemen. Start your engines. The 2015 season of the Elite League begins. If you're not up to date with the most recent trends of the internet, I'm not going to waste the time to catch you up. All you need to know is there is no other way to start a new season than by shots fired. As much I would have liked to feature all of you, I only had a six carrier so I had to use my best ammo. Welcome to year 10. 

Here's how it works: "Straight Outta" either means what you "represent" or what you don't have :) 

Gotham Knights would still draft Daunte Culpepper if the NFL.com didn't say, "NO."

The Bane is actually from a place called "Farmington"...this is a probably a compliment. 

This one made me laugh out loud. 

Get the blade count on your razor up, Sith!

Bonus: 

I don't care if 10 more years go by...I just can't resist myself when it comes to The Educators. 

Dude could only take so many losses...
P.s. Niners are "straight outta players"