Why, after 18 years, do I still get excited for essentially a kid's game ? It really has nothing to do with football, or the money that's on the line. It's the comradery. It's the idea of sharing a common interest with your best friends. 14 people, all with the same goal, and all the fun that comes with it.
When I started this in 1993, and for the next 15-16 years, I would prepare like crazy for draft day. I'd buy all the books. I'd take a ton of notes. I'd even dream about the goddamn thing. That stopped in 2009. And guess what happened? I won it all, for the first time ever. I would stress about drafting the perfect team, create charts, second guess myself, and nothing ever came of it. But in 2009, I did none of that, and won a championship. Ever since then, I've done nothing to prepare for the draft, but recall all the great draft day memories, and all the fun we've had following our teams the past 18 years.
I'm 35 now, and I've been following the league a long time. I know the players. I have a short list of sleepers, but the days of extensive research are over. Now, it's time for me to draft on my gut feeling, and enjoy the process.
This league is about getting together with Mike Moser and his son on a Sunday afternoon. This league is about Nick Korth talking smack. This league is about The Brothers Fefer putting their heads together to win another title. This league is about Tom Hnasko reminding me that I was an idiot in 1993. This league is about Jamie and Pat. This league is for my friends, and this league will be my daughter's league.
I never get enough sleep the night before. I hope that never changes.
