“It brings in people that don’t necessarily watch the sport to really recognize the drivers and their talents.” – Kyle Busch

“Fantasy players get deep into the sport, and I think that’s cool” – Jeff Burton

“I have lots of friends who play Fantasy Racing” – Jimmie Johnson

“So many people have fun with it, and it keeps people interested in our sport.” – Greg Biffle

“Fantasy Racing is a new, hot thing. Everyone is into fantasy football and baseball, and I like the challenge that racing presents.” – Kurt Busch

Any time I get the opportunity to ask a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver what he thinks of Fantasy NASCAR, as you can see from the above quotes, the reaction is overwhelmingly positive. In the past, when interviewing athletes in other sports, some of them admit they could care less about you and your fantasy team.

Yet NASCAR drivers are some of the most approachable, friendly sorts you could ever hope to meet. Some of Jeff Gordon’s detractors have been fully disarmed when they actually meet him, as he will take lots of time to sign autographs and meet fans. NASCAR may be the most fan-friendly major sport you are missing out on. Drivers are often accessible, and NASCAR offers many interactive experiences and lots of giveaways and extra entertainment at every race and event.

At a NASCAR race, I always feel on top of the action. When viewing it at home, the coverage is very in-depth, as we get in the pits and the garage, and in Victory Lane. The drivers rarely leave the circuit, and I can be a Gordon fan for many years without my loyalties having to change. Sure, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s switch to Hendrick Motorsports last year shook up his fan base a bit, but his fans were still rooting for the same driver.

Is that reason enough to play Fantasy NASCAR? No, but it’s a start. Living in New York, people still chuckle when I ask to put on a race at my local sports bar. “A million left turns,” they’ll say. That’s what I used to think, until I spent more time studying the sport. Obviously, anyone who has made the “left turns” comment has never watched a race on a road course.

There’s a lot more going on than meets the eye at a NASCAR race. There are 43 cars battling each other at approximately 180 miles per hour, trying to pass each other, avoid a crash, and manage their car, which is in danger of submitting to mechanical or other troubles at any time. There is a lot of strategy and teamwork involved in every race. You may not be aware of it, but NASCAR is an outstanding team sport that also puts a high emphasis on individual performance. It blends team and individual like no other sport.

Earnhardt may be the fan favorite in the No. 88 car, but without a savvy crew chief and a finely-tuned pit crew, he isn’t a regular contender. One errant judgment by the pit boss or a small blunder by the crew could cost the driver several positions, and ultimately the chance to win. Pit crews are the most under-appreciated group in sports, more so than offensive lineman. They must be a highly precise group, and only get spotlighted when they make a mistake. Yet without them performing up to expectations, no driver has a chance of winning.

The driver must do a lot more than step on his pedal and steer. He has to know his car as well as his pit crew does, so if he endures any issues throughout the course of a race, he can adjust accordingly. Just like a quarterback must know the playbook, or a pitcher must scout the tendencies of opposing hitters, drivers must know what makes their ride tick, and also be ready for the challenges of the different types of courses he runs on every week. When you finally sit down and watch a Cup race with an open mind, you’ll be washed over with nuances and strategies you never were aware of before. If you like football for its teamwork and strategy, you will appreciate NASCAR if you have an open mind.

Some who subscribe to stereotypes still see NASCAR as strictly the cult hobby of southerners who listen to Molly Hatchet and watch endless reruns of The Dukes of Hazzard. While NASCAR’s roots are well defined, today’s drivers are anything but “good “ol’ boys” and nothing else. With mainstream stars like Gordon and Johnson becoming more dominant and visible in recent years, Cup racing fans come from all walks of life. The attendance figures at Cup races in recent years prove NASCAR is no longer a niche sport.  Even with some attendance totals dipping, you can find well over 100,000 people at some races. At the same time, the emergence of a “new breed” in NASCAR fandom over the past two decades has produced lively rivalries in the stands. And there are even more rivalries developing on the track every week. You can often bet on heated commentary from Tony Stewart, and I am always watching to see if Juan Pablo Montoya stirs a ruckus with his aggressive approach.

So now maybe I have sold you on why you should watch the sport, but why should you dive in as a fantasy participant? Because Fantasy NASCAR is a glorious marriage between the best elements of baseball and football. You must do your statistical research to submit a successful lineup every week, just like in baseball. You must be aware of which drivers perform well at certain tracks, and take many numbers into account. On the surface, wins, Top 5 and Top 10 finishes paint some accurate pictures of what to expect, but there are many other ways to measure a driver’s performance that make a numbers-cruncher very happy. NASCAR’s full stable of “Loop Data” provides further food for fantasy appetites. Loop Data is statistics generated by electronic scoring loops embedded in each track. We explain and offer Loop Data throughout this Draft Kit and every week during the season.

Like football, there is only one event per week in the Cup series, so you don’t have to get overwhelmed by roster management. Also, it gives each race a “big event”-type of feel like an NFL game. The ultimate lure of playing in fantasy, though, is the interactivity and personal stake in each event. In Fantasy NASCAR, most leagues ask you to pick three or more drivers for the season or each race. This gives you a chance to not only cheer on your favorite driver if you land him, but also makes you pay attention to a handful of drivers each week. Again, the fusion of individual and team also comes to light when playing the fantasy game.

Also, in Fantasy NASCAR, because it’s a sport centered around picking individuals, there is none of the notorious fantasy problem of rooting for your fantasy player at the expense of your favorite team’s success. If Burton is your favorite driver, you can easily land him for your team and root for him to win each week with no second thoughts. If you’re a Gordon fan, but you own Johnson as your top driver, you’ll be easily pleased if Gordon finishes second and Johnson third in a given week. Of course, if you decide you don’t like Gordon, you still have to do what’s best for your fantasy team if you get the opportunity to acquire him. Yet you can still cheer for your favorite driver and also hope Gordon finishes near the top without beating your guy.

Ultimately, as I outlined before, it’s about keeping an open mind. It’s about enjoying a new sport that doesn’t take a lot of work from the fantasy perspective, but also offers much statistical depth if you like it. You’ll find a lot more to like about NASCAR than you ever thought possible if you give it a chance. Like many of you, I could never imagine watching the sport years ago. Now, my Sundays are empty without it.

Scott Engel also views NASCAR as his ultimate “family” sport. Each week, it’s the one sporting event he can watch with all of his family members. E-mail Scott at scotte@rotoexperts.com

I was really surprised to see how big UFC/MMA had grown. I had originally told Hector that I had no interest in sponsoring a fighter.  His persistence is one of the reasons he is flying to Las Vegas this weekend.

December 8, 2008, Safety Harbor, FL. RotoExperts, LLC today announced that they have partnered with Team BombSquad to sponsor Mike Massenzio for his fight at Ultimate Fighting Championship 92. UFC 92 will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV on the last weekend of December 2008.

UFC 92 has recently been touted as “The Ultimate 2008,” offering the best fight card ever assembled in UFC history, with two title belts on the line over the course of the evening. The fight will be available via Pay-Per-View, and viewership is expected to approach one million households. Massenzio enters the fight with an 11-2 record, while his opponent, UFC 7 Runner-Up CB Dollaway sits at 7-1. This is the first sponsorship of its kind for a fantasy sports-affiliated venture.

“RotoExperts.com is very pleased to be sponsoring one of the fighters on the best card the UFC has ever offered,” said Ben Ice, founder of RotoExperts.com. “In our short tenure as a fantasy sports advice site, we are looking to take a more active role helping to advance various areas of the sports entertainment world. Since our primary demographic also enjoys UFC, it is a natural match for us when considering sponsorship opportunities.”

“Team BombSquad is extremely happy to be working with RotoExperts.com,” added Ryan Citoli, manager for Team BombSquad. “Mike is thrilled to have a sponsor like RotoExperts in his corner to support and promote him, and Team BombSquad is looking forward to a long working relationship with both RotoExperts and Mike.”

To view the fight, contact your PPV provider prior to December 27, 2008. The first fight on the card begins at 10:00PM EST / 7:00PM PST. Viewers can also access the fight via Yahoo! Sports if they prefer to watch online.

And the press release

December 16, 2008, Safety Harbor, FL. RotoExperts, LLC announced today that they have acquired Diamond Draft Fantasy Baseball Draft Software. The acquisition includes all intellectual property including source code, the Diamond Draft web site and customer database.

Diamond Draft Software, operating since 2001, has built a dedicated user base with its cutting edge approach to managing fantasy baseball drafts. Diamond Draft will undergo some minor improvements as part of the acquisition, and it will be offered in the upcoming RotoExperts Fantasy Draft Central service with an option to be bundled with the RotoExperts Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide. RotoExperts will rebrand its line of fantasy draft software, formerly Xpert’s Edge, with the Diamond Draft name. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

“Fantasy drafting software has been an interest of our leadership team since the origins of the company,” said Ben Ice, founder of RotoExperts.com. “After building a custom application for the NFL season, we decided that it would be most efficient to acquire an existing product heading into the upcoming fantasy baseball season. Diamond Draft is one of the best applications available in this space, and we are thrilled to be able to build upon such a well-designed tool moving forward.”

“I’m really excited about the merger between Diamond Draft and RotoExperts,” added Keith Macari, founder of Diamond Draft. “This merger will be an immense benefit for current and future Diamond Draft users. The first-rate staff at RotoExperts will supply far greater depth with player info, values, and projections. Another plus is that a greater effort can be put towards program enhancements. Improved player information and an enhanced program will be a huge win for everyone involved.”

In addition to more traditional marketing efforts, RotoExperts is also working with baseball sites and blogs interested in generating income by offering Diamond Draft to their readers. “There are thousands of smaller web sites and blogs struggling in today’s economy to generate revenue” said Ice. “Our marketing team will reach out to them with an excellent opportunity to help their readers and generate revenue for their operations.” Interested sites can contact Ice at  ice at rotoexperts.com.

Existing customers will be “grandfathered” into the new program, with the software remaining available at the 2008 pricing for as long as there is no lapse in service for any full baseball season.

The value in point-per-reception leagues has been there all year, and he now looks to be on track to regain his WR1 status in all leagues.  Chad Johnson still doesn’t have a 60-yard game, but he’s worth starting as flex play due to the fact that Fitzpatrick does look his way often in the red zone.  The Steelers have the best run defense in the league, and the Bengals will be without two left-side starters and their top backup on the offensive line.  Cedric Benson should not be started under any circumstances.

In their early-season game against Cincinnati, Mewelde Moore had a monster fantasy day with 120 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns.  Now that Willie Parker is back, Moore obviously has no value, but his success should be a good indicator of what Parker’s owners can expect.  Ben Roethlisberger is coming off a strong showing against San Diego, in which he completed 31-of-41 passes for 308 yards, but he’s failed to throw a touchdown in his last three games.

That streak should be broken on Thursday, as he’s found paydirt in all but one game against the Bengals in his career.  He can be comfortably counted on as a starter in all formats.  With back-to-back 100-yard receiving games, Hines Ward has clearly emerged as the number one target in Pittsburgh, while Santonio Holmes continues to fail miserably in living up to his pre-season expectations.  With just two touchdowns and an average of 53.5 yards-per-game, Holmes has settled in as a WR3 option.  After a great four-game stretch that saw him catch a pass of over 48 yards in each contest and three touchdowns, Nate Washington has come back to earth over the last two weeks.  Unless you’re in an extremely deep league, there are most likely better choices available in your free-agent pool.

STANDOUT STARTS: Willie Parker, T.J. Houshmandzadeh
BANISH TO THE BENCH: Cedric Benson, Nate Washington

INJURY REPORT

CINCINNATI BENGALS

OUT
WR Antonio Chatman (neck), DE Eric Henderson (neck), LB Abdul Hodge (elbow), T Levi Jones (back), G Scott Kooistra (knee), S Chinedum Ndukwe (foot), DE Antwan Odom (shoulder), QB Carson Palmer (right elbow), G Andrew Whitworth (ankle)

DOUBTFUL
WR Jerome Simpson (ankle)

QUESTIONABLE
CB Johnathan Joseph (foot)

PROBABLE
WR Andre Caldwell (foot), WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (back), TE Reggie Kelly (ankle), RB Kenny Watson (shoulder)
Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
WR Antonio Chatman (neck), LB Abdul Hodge (elbow), QB Carson Palmer (right elbow)

Thursday
WR Antonio Chatman (neck), LB Abdul Hodge (elbow), QB Carson Palmer (right elbow)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Eric Henderson (neck), T Levi Jones (back), CB Johnathan Joseph (foot), G Scott Kooistra (knee), S Chinedum Ndukwe (foot), DE Antwan Odom (shoulder), WR Jerome Simpson (ankle), G Andrew Whitworth (ankle)

Thursday
DE Eric Henderson (neck), T Levi Jones (back), CB Johnathan Joseph (foot), G Scott Kooistra (knee), S Chinedum Ndukwe (foot), DE Antwan Odom (shoulder), WR Jerome Simpson (ankle), G Andrew Whitworth (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
RB Kenny Watson (shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Andre Caldwell (foot), WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (back), TE Reggie Kelly (ankle)

Thursday
WR Andre Caldwell (foot), WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (back), TE Reggie Kelly (ankle), RB Kenny Watson (shoulder)

PITTSBURGH STEELERS
OUT
CB Bryant McFadden (forearm), T Marvel Smith (back), CB Deshea Townsend (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE
TE Matt Spaeth (wrist)
Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
T Marvel Smith (back), CB Deshea Townsend (hamstring)

Thursday
T Marvel Smith (back), CB Deshea Townsend (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
TE Matt Spaeth (wrist)

Thursday
CB Bryant McFadden (forearm), TE Matt Spaeth (wrist)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB Bryant McFadden (forearm)

It’s official. I hate bye weeks.

It’s bad enough that Randy Moss lost Tom Brady, dashing the hope that my clever WR/WR gambit in many of my leagues could set a new standard for draft day craftiness. But now Plaxico Burress, new contract in hand, is suspended for two weeks (one of them of course a bye this week) and my wide receiver corps suddenly looks like something out of The Living Dead, with Marques Colston, Joey Galloway and Marvin Harrison either lame or nearly embalmed.  I’m going to have to pick up Ike Hilliard and Brandon Lloyd this week just to have three warm bodies in my WR slots.

I suppose it could be worse though.  I’m not exactly sure how, but when you survey week four’s fantasy landscape; there are a lot of divots in view that need patching. Then there are the canyons in my lineup because I foolishly didn’t pay attention to bye weeks during my drafts.

Ouch

It’s only week three and many teams are already looking at their bench like a triage doctor does after a train wreck. Not much salvage here.  Steve Slaton; he’ll live. Ray Rice…not so much.  Marc Bulger…nurse, bring a priest and a body bag please. Gus Frerotte, hmm, looks like a resurrection. Nurse, you can use the priest and body bad we had assigned to Gus.  Such is my waiver wire scouring.  It’s not so much a labor of love as it is a desperate attempt at keeping life support plugged in for one more week.  As I stave off elimination in some leagues and look for some cork to plug a leak here and there in my 3-0 teams, I’m also asking myself a few questions.

How badly will the Eagles miss Brian Westbrook this week?

Westbrook’s early exit last weekend cost me two games; worse considering I had Ronnie Brown riding the pine. Somehow the Thunder and Lightning act of Correll Buckhalter and  Lorenzo Booker don’t have the star power, much less the firepower, to scare the Bears, especially wounded from last week’s theft of a win and at home. Jeremy Trueblood was the real culprit in the personal foul call that allowed Brian Griese to pull a Houdini against his former team, for his former team.  Ok, that made me a little dizzy.

Can Rashard Mendhenhall cure what ails the Pittsburgh Steelers this week? 

Baltimore looks like a renaissance defense, which doesn’t portend good things for the Steelers’ ground game.  Mendenhall needs to hang on to the ball, and Baltimore just might give the rookie a hearty hazing of an introduction to the NFL.

How many more beatings does Ben Roethlisberger have to absorb before Mike Timlin gives him a break and patches Charlie Batch in?

Oh, yeah, Batch is broken too, which leaves Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon as the evil of two lessers.  Yes, you read that right.  Santonio Holmes value decreases, and I don’t know that even Hines Ward can be considered a viable starter this weekend for most fantasy teams. I do know that the Pittsburgh line misses Alan Faneca about as often as they miss their blocks…yup, pretty much every play.

The Hot Seat Derby has a winner; The City and fans of the Detroit Lions. 

Of all the firings a football fan could have hoped for, none raises the spirits, nor calls for a spirited toasting, than the long-overdue removal of Matt Millen as President and General MisManager in Detroit.  Yes Michiganders there is a Santa Claus and his name is Bill Ford Jr. Apparently he got through pappa Ford’s hearing aid loud enough to effect a long needed change at the top of the Lion’s heap, which frankly doesn’t reach the bottom of most other NFL heaps. 

Can a third quarterback change stave off the next firing of our current Hot Seat headliner? 

It worked for Jon Gruden and Brad Childress, so why can’t it work for Scott Linehan? I have two words for you. Offensive line.  As in the Buccaneers and Vikings have good ones, and the Rams don’t.  Stephen Jackson and Torry Holt are so completely devalued compared to their draft positions that fantasy owners have been known to send mass emails out begging to be nickel and dimed in trade talks for the pair.  Sorry Scott, but I sense that you are next unless Lane Kiffen loses again in the final seconds against Denver. 

How good are the Vikings now that they have a real quarterback?

I know it sounds funny, but Minnesota’s fortunes, and likely those of Brad Childress, are now riding on the 38 year old arm of Gus Frerotte.  And believe it or not, that isn’t a bad thing.  Frerotte isn’t going to scramble out of the pocket. He won’t have to hit a receiver on a roll out. The Vikings have a good enough line that he will have time to look downfield and see his options. This is good news for Bernard Berrian and Sydney Rice owners. It’s also good news for Adrian Peterson, since defenses can no longer afford to put eight in the box against the Vikings’ running game.  Now if Peterson could just stay healthy for the rest of the year…

What kind of value can we expect from Brian Griese for the balance of 2008?

People often forget how well he did with Gruden in 2005 before tearing an ACL in the sixth game.  While he still forces the ball into tight coverage too frequently, he is a more patient and accurate passer than Jeff Garcia, and Gruden seems to have all but abandoned the running game.  I’d say that at least for the next two weeks, in games against Green Bay and Denver, he’ll be throwing often enough to warrant a start.

Two more words, this time for Jon Gruden.  Earnest Graham

Ok Cleveland fans let’s hear it – “Brady Brady Brady Brady” -

Someone call the cops.  My studs have been stolen and replaced with poor imitations. This must be how owners of Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow are feeling.  I’m just hoping Cleveland rights the ship before I sink any further into the morass of depression known as “no shot at the playoffs.”  It’s only week four for goodness sake, let me have hope!

Will Steve Slaton survive his first start?

This isn’t an easy matchup so far. Jacksonville has been flat out nasty since the Bills rode into town and fleeced the Jaguars in a close game. Houston does have a history of playing big against their division rivals. This is a game I stay far, far away from in my survivor pools.

What is going on in John Fox’s head?

It’s supremely obvious that Jonathan Stewart is the better back in that offense and it really isn’t close. DeAngelo Williams couldn’t beat out Deshaun Foster the last couple years, and Stewart is a much better runner than either and should be huge this weekend against Atlanta.  Maybe John has been consulting with Mike Shanahan. Either that or he hates fantasy football.  I’m currently shopping for a voodoo doll in his likeness.

Is The Streak really in danger or is Brett Favre just begging for attention?

Considering the drama that has swirled around this august field general over the last few years you have to wonder if it’s become his new drug.  Eric Mangini said he expects Favre to play, and it’s not like we don’t already have sympathy for Brett playing for the Jets.

Will Brandon Marshall have a 200 yard game this week against Kansas City?

That sounds pretty crazy since 200 yard receiving games are so rare, but Jay Cutler seems to have locked on to Marshall since his return. The Chiefs are currently ranked 4^th in the NFL against the pass, but that is a mirage, since they’ve given up an average of 204 rushing yards per game so far 31^st in the NFL  . Teams haven’t needed to throw on them but I’m betting Denver will want to bury them quickly to avoid any last minute surprises.

One more game for the Tampa Bay Rays and the bubbly will flow. What an amazing season.

Please say a prayer for Matthew Tryson Bryant, who died in his sleep at only three months old, and his parents, Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant and his wife Melissa. There is no pain that compares to losing a child, especially one so young.

Scott Engel writes a ton of stuff for us, and following is one of his most recent columns. I’ll be posting some of my favorites from the site, since we have over 40 guys working on the project.

Every week, Scott Engel highlights important skill position players and related trends to watch for during the upcoming week in an effort to help you make those tough fantasy lineup decisions. Consult Scott’s Lineup Rankings as a basis for the Advance Scout analysis. For game day lineup analysis, be sure to tune into XPerts Edge on BlogTalkRadio on Sunday mornings, featuring Scott and RotoExperts.com Senior Writer Jonathan Phillips.

QUARTERBACKS

Jon Kitna: He is a viable, sneaky play if you don’t have another standout quarterback to use. Don’t start him over a guy like Brett Favre, but if your QB situation is not ideal, he’ll make a good option. If the offensive line can keep John Abraham out of Kitna’s face, the Atlanta secondary is going to have a lot of trouble with the Lions’ standout wide receivers. I would certainly use him over guys like Marc Bulger and Jake Delhomme.

Matt Hasselbeck: It may appear that he has limited receiving options, but he is still a pretty good start. Hasselbeck is expected to be healthy for the opener and spreads the ball around well, even to less experienced pass-catchers. With LT Walter Jones protecting Hasselbeck from pocket-crushing threat Aaron Schobel, Hasselbeck will have time to throw and should at least have a respectable day.

Tom Brady: He missed the preseason, but Kansas City might as well be considered a tune up game. The Chiefs won’t be able to generate much of a pass rush, even against a New England offensive line that has elicited some concerns. There is simply no way the Chiefs secondary can handle the New England WRs. I can’t see benching Brady even if he doesn’t look 100 percent.

Drew Brees: The Tampa Bay secondary is certainly a group that can handle the New Orleans WRs and help contain Reggie Bush. You can’t bench Brees, but he won’t post big numbers this week. Yet he is very savvy and will limit his mistakes, so he won’t hurt you as much as some other lesser-ranked starters.

Derek Anderson: He is expected to be ready for the opener. The Dallas defense looks really menacing this season, so he will have to get rid of the ball quickly on some occasions. You could be looking at a mixed bag statistically, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Kurt Warner: Absolutely love him this week. The Niners try to confound opponents by switching up looks, but that won’t rattle Warner, who goes through his progressions quicker than Tatum Bell goes through someone’s luggage. Yes, the Niners have top cornerback Nate Clements leading their secondary, but he can’t cover all of Warner’s options by himself. Heck, many of the best CB tandems in the league will have trouble with the Arizona wideouts, especially now that the pass protection is better than it was in recent years, when Warner was usually bludgeoned by edge rushers.

Peyton Manning: The state of his offensive line will alter his game plan, but he will still be highly effective. Look for him to get rid of the ball quicker and take even more of a commanding role directing the offense without center Jeff Saturday. The preseason rest will do him well, and he’ll be efficient more than explosive. You can’t bench him; just expect a good, but not great game.

RUNNING BACKS

Ryan Grant: The Minnesota defensive line looks even better than it did last year, and Grant is coming off a lost preseason. He is No. 22 in my ranks, but on second thought, maybe it’s just out of respect. Aaron Rodgers is making his first pro start and Grant is clearly in the crosshairs of the Minnesota defenders. Go ahead, bench him for just about anyone else; it’s not crazy.

Marshawn Lynch: He faces the best three-man crew of linebackers this week as the Bills take on the Seahawks. It’s difficult to envision benching him, but he’s going to draw a lot of defensive attention. Yardage numbers may be limited, but he will justify the start by finishing off a scoring drive with a touchdown.

Ricky Williams: If the Dolphins can keep NT Kris Jenkins from occupying space and having the Jets linebackers shoot the gaps at will, Williams is going to have a lot of running room. In a high-intensity rivalry with a lot of attention focused on it, plus the motivation to reboot his career, Williams is a fine pick for a standout performance against the Jets.

Larry Johnson: The Chiefs will be predictable and easy to defend. Johnson will post only mediocre numbers as Kansas City quickly finds itself playing from behind. I don’t even have Johnson ranked in my top 20 RBs this week.

Steven Jackson: Here’s another guy that may not play up to his usual lofty expectations in the opener. He missed most of the preseason, and the Rams don’t want to overwork him in the first game. Plus, if St. Louis is playing from behind in the second half, Jackson may become less of a factor. Still, he’s a must-start who should at least give you a TD for having faith in him.

Willie Parker: Rookie Rashard Mendenhall is playing hot potato, so we may see a lot of Parker until Mendenhall gets a new pair of gloves. He’ll be good for a 100-yard game against Houston despite the fact that if someone painted an end zone on his front door, he wouldn’t be able to get into his house.

Marion Barber III: Top-notch RBs are used to control the clock, especially against potent opponents. That’s why you’ll see lots of Barber this week as the Cowboys attempt to win the time of possession war with the Browns and keep their offense off the field. Barber is in for a big day, and Felix Jones has looked outstanding in camp and appears to be a nice flex option.

Matt Forte: I really like him this year and have been seeing him go way too late in some drafts. But the Bears may fall behind quickly against the Colts. You’ll see better totals from Forte in the weeks ahead, but you should consider avoiding him in many formats in the opening week.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Greg Jennings: Overall, I am not expecting numbers anywhere close to last year. Yet Aaron Rodgers seemed to quickly develop faith in him in the preseason and will look to him often for possession catches, which Jennings still may have to prove he can make consistently. A mediocre starting option. Not quite desperation.

Derrick Mason: Look, Joe Flacco is starting, but he has to throw to someone. The Cincinnati secondary is indeed vulnerable, and Mason will step forward as a veteran to be Flacco’s safety valve. He’ll be especially useful in point-per-reception leagues. That’s no surprise, of course.

Ted Ginn Jr.: Chad Pennington is going to be fired up to face his former team, and Ginn is simply his most talented target. On the Miami WR scale, experience doesn’t take precedence over pure upside. Ginn will fare well as an option in PPR leagues.

Joey Galloway: You’ve probably heard lots of fantasy people proclaim him as a top start because of his past numbers against New Orleans. Sorry, not buying into past numbers. This is not fantasy baseball. Galloway has missed too much of the preseason and will be rusty with still no other proven options to take pressure off him. I have him in my Top 30, but maybe I should drop him out and you should sit him.

Santonio Holmes: He looked great in the preseason and Houston CB Dunta Robinson is out. Holmes is going to simply explode in the opener. He will be equally dangerous on slants and longer routes.

Patrick Crayton: I have said before: the Dallas-Cleveland game can be a shootout. Terrell Owens will draw double teams and bracket coverages, leaving Crayton open to start his 2008 season off with a flourish.

Andre Johnson: Of course, you’re going to start him. I’m just telling you that you’ll be very happy with his opening week performance. The Texans are going to have to throw a lot, and the Steelers secondary won’t be able to prevent Johnson from breaking loose for at least one long gain and a TD. Plus, Matt Schaub is going to get rid of the ball quickly and will have to lean heavily on his best receiver with the running game sputtering.

TIGHT ENDS

Ben Utecht: The issues with the Cincinnati offensive line may force Carson Palmer to get rid of the ball quickly. Utecht is a big sleeper this season, but may be well-known after the first week. Utecht will be a go-to guy when the pocket collapses on Palmer, especially on third downs and in the red zone.

Dustin Keller: Brett Favre took a quick liking to the rookie in the preseason. Favre may not be fully comfortable in his first game as a Jet, and will opt for his tight end when he feels he is in trouble. Another nice “under the radar” starting option.

Heath Miller: Again, the Steelers may not be able to rush Mendenhall near the goal line yet, so Ben Roethlisberger may opt for his trusty tight end instead. A fine option for Week One.

Leonard Pope: When the Cardinals get in the red zone, it will be no surprise to see him choose passing over punching it in. The Niners will try to blanket Warner’s big WR targets and that will leave another big target open, Pope. A great low-level option if you are desperate.

Scott Engel will be wearing his new Lofa Tatupu jersey at a popular sports bar in Queens on the first Sunday of the season. He also owns Tatupu in two individual defender leagues. E-mail Scott at  scotte at rotoexperts.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

This was my response to the persons who, thanks to the people who don’t think to remove headers before forwarding, had started this particular chain.

—————————

I thought it appropriate to thank you for a heart-warming story and point out an apparent hypocrisy in the message. 

This statement - “I chose to share this with those who I believe will pass it on, to others who will pass it on. We hear so much inflated trash out there” encapsulates exactly what is wrong with both the political process and the willingness of the masses to spread disinformation as if it were truth. The email ended with the following quote from Barack Obama’s book (and I noticed that the author added his middle name to further tie him to his Muslim roots “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.” 

This is a classic case of taking something out of context to smear another who’s ideas don’t match those of the original author.  It shows how willing people are to denounce others, mostly I suppose out of fear of change or upsetting the status quo. 

However there is another reason I am sending this note to you. You see, I passed it on as well. And I received an interesting response.  

It’s a nice story about McCain.  The Obama quote has been taken completely out of context. Allow me to clarify.

Obama was referencing alarmist American racism and bigotry expressed by naturalized Arab and Pakistani American citizens immediately following 9/11, not standing with one group or the other in general. In fairness, here is the complete passage that actually reveals Obama’s smart, level headed intent. The actual quote from the book is from page 261 and is as follows:

“Of course, not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific reassurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”

————————————- 

I am always the person who debunks email, if I even bother to do more than hit the delete key. Its things like this that make me hate chain emails…because frankly most of it is false.  So I went and bought the book.  It was not an easy decision, as I generally do not agree with the Obama’s platform. 

I should note that, having lost a son in Iraq, this story touched me deeply, and I let my emotions overcome my desire to be certain that whatever I pass on, that it be factual and not a misrepresentation. But there it was…in black and white. 

Interesting that we use those two colors for contrasting, and yet it is so appropriate, especially in this case. What saddens me most is that the author took a truly incredible story of Senator McCain and used it for such a filthy purpose.  Those who are so warped as to do anything to further their cause, including using the grief of someone who lost a loved one in the war on terrorism to blatantly tell a lie… 

Well, I find that reprehensible, uncalled for and flat out disgusting.

I wish for once that people would see these chain emails for what they are…mostly lies meant to manipulate the thoughts and actions of thousands of people. 

There was a time when a Catholic becoming president was considered the most heinous of concepts. It was generally accepted that black people weren’t as smart as white people, and that they should be treated no better than cattle.  Going farther back, it was a proven fact that the world was flat and the universe revolved around the earth, and that bleeding a person was the right way to cure someone’s ills.

At least in the latter it was true, to some extent. It often killed the ill, thereby relieving them of the pain and suffering of their illness.

And that is the effect of these nonsensical kernels of “wisdom”, these emails full of half-truths, misconceptions and out right lies.  They only sow the seeds of dissension instead of bring about intelligent discourse. 

We live in a country that, like the Greeks long before us, brought a new way of life and of living to the rest of the world.  It’s stupid little chain mails like this and the willingness of the masses to believe them without prejudice that is contributing to the unraveling of our marvelous tapestry we call the United States of America.  A tapestry sewn with the blood, sweat and tears of every race, every nationality, every religious faith on this planet.  Yet we would so easily destroy this incredibly resilient fabric because we have forgotten that someone like Barack Obama is living the dream that is America. That anyone can rise up and become President of the United States.

It saddens me to realize how right PT Barnum was when he coined this classic – “There’s a sucker born every minute”

 Nowadays they spread the chain mail virus
 

 Interestingly, I receive less chain mail than I used to. I just wish the rest of my friends and relatives who are too thick to realize what I’m doing would suddenly have that light bulb appear above their heads.  “Ahhhhhh,” they’d nod with sudden illumination. “That’s why he does that.”

 Epiphany anyone?

Regardless, sometimes there are emails that, true or not, I truly enjoy. Following is one of those. The difference is, I’m taking the comment about veterans and putting it at the top instead of the bottom.

When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by
the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example
of ‘empire building’ by George Bush.
He answered by saying, “Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return was enough to bury those that did not return.”

A “Veteran” — whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve — is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America,” for an amount of “up to, and including his life.” That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today, who no longer understand that fact.

What is a BILLION??
This is too true to be funny
The next time you hear a politician use the word ‘billion’ in a casual manner, think about whether you want the ‘politicians’ spending YOUR tax money.
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.
A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.
While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let’s take a look at New Orleans It’s amazing what you can learn with some simple division
Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is asking the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans. Interesting number, what does it mean?
A. Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, child), you each get $516,528.
B. Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.
C. Or, i f you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.
Washington, D.C .. HELLO!!! … Are all your calculators broken??

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Perm it Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),
Liquor Tax,
Luxury Tax,
Marriage License Tax, Medicare Tax,
Property Tax,
Real Estate Tax,
Service charge taxes,
Social Security Tax,
Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
Sales Taxes,
Recreational Vehicle Tax,
School Tax,
State Income Tax,
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax,
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax,
Telephone State and Local Tax,
Telephone Usage Charge Tax,
Utility Tax,
Vehicle License Registration Tax,
Vehicle Sa les Tax,
Watercraft Registration Tax,
Well Permit Tax,
Workers Compensation Tax.
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago,
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened?….. Can you spell ‘politicians ?????’
And I still have to “press 1″ for English.

Mike has mixes sarcasm and analysis well, as you will see below.

 Magic 8-Ball Mock Draft
by Mike Gilbert
Everything I am about to tell you is a lie. Everything you hear from an NFL team regarding who they’re looking at in the draft is a lie. Did Glenn Dorsey have knee surgery? The Jaguars want everyone to think so, so that he slips to them. Personally, I say that he should sue them for libel. Similar defamatory statements were made in the past about Warren Sapp and Randy Moss, and they turned out OK. The NFL Draft is the world’s largest cut-throat poker game. The following is one man’s attempt to predict a process more inscrutable than the stock market, Pearl Jam’s lyrics and Kim Jong Il’s fantasy basketball team put together. Even with as much no-ledge as I have and research as I’ve put into this, it is completely wrong and for entertainment purposes only. Which reminds me: does Vegas take bets on draft picks? They say you can bet on anything there, so it must be so. Trades are always difficult to predict in the NFL Draft, so I’m going to avoid that scenario and play it straight. I offer only two caveats. The first is that I am a rabid SEC partisan. It’s the best conference in college football, so live with it. The other is that Louisville QB Brian Brohm will be drafted in the first round, presumably in a trade down scenario involving Baltimore, Chicago or Minnesota. Beyond that, baby baby, it’s a wild world, so on with the show…

1. Miami Dolphins –Jake Long, OT, Michigan
There is no way on this Earth that the Dolphins are taking Matt Ryan with the #1 pick, not on Bill Parcells’ watch. That pick would have Alex ‘Tiny Hands’ Smith written all over it, and Chubby da Chuna isn’t gonna get played like that. Parcells knows that to win in the NFL, you need solid O-line play. Jake Long would be the answer, then. He could be paired with Vernon Carey, allowing Carey to move inside to his natural OG spot, to form a solid left side for years to come. We know from seeing Long play in the Big 10 that he can block ‘big’. The question is, can he block ‘fast?’ He had some trouble with the only guy in the Big 10 that would fall into the ‘speed rusher’ category, Vernon Gholston, so the jury is still out on that. But Long is the safe pick, and right now, that’s what the Dolphins need more than anything. 2. St. Louis Rams – Chris Long, DE, Virginia
The Rams really needed Jake Long to protect Marc Bulger from the beating he’s taken over the last few years, but it’s not to be. That said, Chris Long falls right into the Rams ongoing plan of drafting strictly D-linemen in the first round. They’ve taken 5 of them with their last 12 first round picks, but unfortunately, the only one that has played out is Grant Wistrom. Long is a different kind of guy, though. He’s got the skills, the smarts, the bloodlines, and yes, the “blue collar work ethic” to be a star in the NFL. He’s versatile enough to play end in the 3-4 or 4-3, so that should open up playbook of D-coordinator Jim Haslett (oooh, scary!). Teamed up MADD’s poster boy, Leonard Little, Long should be able to bring the heat for the Rams. At minimum, he’ll be able to serve as a sturdy pall bearer at Bulger’s funeral.  3. Atlanta Falcons – Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Good Lord, how badly does Falcons owner Arthur Blank want to take McFadden right here? It would put butts in seats and sell many, many jerseys. Alas, they traded for Michael Turner, so that’s out the window. Glenn Dorsey has utterly dominated SEC lines over the past several years, and would be brilliant as a one gap tackle in Atlanta’s 4-3 scheme, bringing some much needed push to the pass rush. He consistently beat double and triple teams and finished the Tigers’ National Championship season with 69 tackles, including seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Even those numbers don’t fully convey exactly how dominant he was, but maybe his two All-Americans and Lombardi, Nagurski, Lott and Outland trophies do. As previously mentioned, Dorsey has some knee issues, thanks to a brutal and cowardly chop block by treacherous Auburn assassins Lee Ziemba and Chaz Ramsey. Assuming he’s recovered from that (he looked fine in the National Championship game), Dorsey should be a top notch player at the next level. And yes, I am an LSU alumnus. 4. Oakland Raiders – Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Like a creepy old junkie, Al Davis cannot resist speed. You could be a drooling idiot wearing a pinwheel hat, but if you run a sub 4.4 in the 40, Grandpa Al will probably draft you. Never mind that he’s got Justin Fargas, Lamont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes and the forgotten Michael Bush on the roster. Those guys are just cannon fodder. McFadden is the top rated player in the draft, and Davis will find it physically impossible to resist him.

McFadden could come in and immediately take an immense weight off of JaMarcus Russell’s shoulders. Russell will need all the help he can get, because the Raiders WR corps is severely lacking. Ronald Curry is more of a 3 or 4 receiver and God only knows what’s the deal with Javon Walker’s knee (mistake!). But he’ll have Robert Gallery out front, so he’s got that going for him. *cough* 5. Kansas City Chiefs – Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
Let’s be brutally honest here:  QB Brody Croyle was a bum at Alabama and he’s a bum as a Chief. KC has [rightfully] hit the panic button at the QB position, and it’s going to result in them taking Ryan. The good thing is that KC can justify offering up Croyle as the sacrificial lamb for this season while Ryan gets ready. It’s probably even better for the team, as it will take longer than one offseason to solve the team’s O-line woes. As far as Ryan himself goes, he’s the first QB taken off the board by virtue of a weak draft class. This past season he threw 19 interceptions in the second-rate ACC, and BC’s only quality win was a squeaker at Clemson. In a normal year, he’d be the third or fourth QB drafted (hello, JP Losman). At the end of the day, Ryan isn’t a complete dog, but his best efforts will result in an average NFL QB at best, and you can get one of those for far less than $20 million guaranteed. 6. NY Jets – Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio St.
What was with the Jets bringing in all those old fossils in free agency? I loves me some Alan Faneca (Geaux Tigers!), but it was crazy to pay him $40 million. In the draft, the Jets are desperate for defensive help, particularly a pass rusher that may do more than mildly annoy Tom Brady. Gholston has eaten Jake Long’s lunch in all the highlight reels, so that will look good on his resume. Several of the scouting reports praise his pass rush moves, but say that Gholston can be inconsistent at times. But since when does the latter stop most mediocre NFL teams from drafting a guy with his pre-draft hype? There’s a lesson in there somewhere, I think.  7. New England Patriots – Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
The defections in NE’s secondary have gotten so bad that they’re now bringing in guys the Detroit Lions cut (Fernando Bryant) to fill the gaps. That tells you all you need to know about what the Patriots will do with this pick: best CB available. That would be the top rated DB in this draft, Troy’s Leodis McKelvin. Reading scouting reports on CBs are like reading a wine review. They discuss technical issues such as hip fluidity, smoothness of transition, knee bend and recovery speed. Among his many other erudite pursuits, Bill Belichick strikes me as a gentleman that has a pretty extensive wine collection, and McKelvin looks to be of superior vintage. As an added bonus, McKelvin was the nation’s best return man last year, and Kevin Faulk ain’t getting any younger. 8. Baltimore Ravens – Ryan Clady, OT, Boise St.
There’s been some noise recently about the Ravens taking QB Brian Brohm in the first round. I’m not saying this won’t happen, but not with the 8^th overall pick. That’s just crazy talk. If they don’t trade back, the Ravens need someone to fill in for the ancient/retiring Jonathan Ogden, and Clady is the best bet. At 6′6″, 317, Clady is a monster; he must have towered over everyone on Boise St.’s Smurfberry blue field. He’s got a lot of the same issues that many smaller school guys have, i.e. inferior coaching and training facilities, but those will be quickly overcome at the next level. How could they not be, with a certain wild-eyed MLB who’s handy in a fight breathing down Clady’s neck? 9. Cincinnati Bengals – Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
Seriously, I can’t recall the last defensive draft pick by the Bengals that has turned out to  be worth a crap other than Leon Hall, so they should probably just draft an offensive player. They have far more success there. Obviously, they need help at every position on defense, so I’m just going to take the best guy on the board at this point, Sedrick Ellis. Take everything I said about Glenn Dorsey, shave off a few skill points to account for inferior PAC-10 opponents, and there’s your review of Ellis. The Bengals like their DTs a bit on the skinny side, relatively speaking, so Ellis should fit right in with their plans. Mike LB in Cincy has got to be the most dangerous position to play in the NFL, outside of Houston or St. Louis QB. 10. New Orleans Saints – Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State
My name is Mike, and I am a long-suffering Saints fan. I can recite chapter and verse about the deficiencies of the Saints secondary and LB corps, but suffice say they desperately need help at both positions. Even with the off-season acquisition of Jonathan Vilma’s cartilage-free knee and Dan Morgan’s 472 concussions, they still need help at LB, but not nearly as bad as they need help at CB. The Saints’ only proven CB, Mike McKenzie, tore his ACL in week 16, which likely means he won’t be up to snuff until 2009. Bottom line: the Saints need to take the best CB on the board. As of now, that is Rodgers-Cromartie, out of Tennessee State. Dude has exploded up the draft charts since an impressive Senior Bowl performance, and the Saints won’t be able to resist. Besides, he can’t possibly be worse than the Saints’ other wretched CBs, Jason David, Jason Craft and Fred Thomas, he of the legendary ‘Fred Thomas Face.’ And kidneys? He don’t need no stinking kidneys!11. Buffalo Bills – Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan St.
Seems like the Bills have been looking for a WR forever. Lee Evans made his rep off of a good 2006 season, but his other two years have been mediocre and there’s not much else to speak of in the team’s WR corps.Thomas is everything that the Bills though that Josh Reed was going to be: sure handed, solid runner after the catch, and able to draw attention away from Evans. He’s a bit of a question mark after only playing one year of major college ball, but that hasn’t stopped him from skyrocketing up the draft board after some excellent workouts. Some people will believe anything…12. Denver Broncos – Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson
Why on Earth would you fire your own scapegoat? Well, that’s what Mike Shanahan did when he used the Power of Numbskull to get rid of figurehead GM Ted Sundquist. Now he’s definitely on the hook for all the terrible draft choices and free agent acquisitions he’s sure to make. You can’t coast on the Champ Bailey holdup forever…Shanny has been trying for years to cobble together a decent D-line, and this year, the quest continues. Merling can come in to shore up the run support and provide some speedy moves in the pass rush. He can also play a little DT as well, and Denver needs all the help it can get at that position. Merling had better come in with the full skill set, though, because Denver has had trouble coaching its D-line to break the huddle, much less opposing QBs.  13. Carolina Panthers – Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
The Panthers better take an O-lineman here, because erstwhile horse trainer Jake Delhomme is about one big hit away from being sent the glue factory. Luckily for the team, both they and Jordan Gross have accepted that the young man is a RT, and the Panthers can focus on filling that LT spot.  The scouts portray Williams as a bit of a finesse player (i.e. soft), but I have to disagree on principle here. If the kid had a good enough career against SEC defenses to be drafted mid first round, he must have some kinda fire. Besides, he went to Vandy, so he can probably do the team’s taxes or something. 14. Chicago Bears – Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
The Bears are another team that may fit into the “trade back for QB” category, though I see them traveling a familiar path. Yes, it’s that time of year when the Bears awake from hibernation to take yet another RB in the first round to hilariously disastrous results! It’s like that bear on the trampoline video; I just can’t get enough of it. Will this be the year the curse breaks? Mendenhall has good size and speed, and looked pretty good against solid competition. Then again, so did Cedric Benson; and Curtis Enis; and Rashaan Salaam. We’ll give the poor guy the hometown benefit of the doubt, and just wish him good luck. He’ll need it, with Rex ‘The Dog’ Grossman at QB and Marty Booker as the top WR target. Why did Lance Briggs sign up for this again? 15. Detroit Lions – Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
Or Limas Sweed. Either way. You know Matt Millen would do it. This is probably the most difficult pick to predict. We all know that Millen doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing, and that makes him unpredictable. Add to that the fact that the Lions need help at every spot on the roster except for WR, and this could go anywhere. Let’s give them Jones here because their starting RB as of today is Tatum Bell. Even Millen can’t be that dumb. The underrated Jones provides the Lions with a speedy homerun hitter that can actually help bail out Jon Kitna with his receiving skills. Playing in McFadden’s shadow at Arkansas, Jones has got a lot of tread left on the tires, and this is a good thing. He’ll need all the resilience he can muster to survive behind the Lions’ O-line. 16. Arizona Cardinals – Keith Rivers, LB, USC
Speaking of an NFL death sentence, ladies and gentlemen, your Arizona Cardinals! How many analysts will waste precious, precious oxygen telling us that this is the year the Cardinals make a play for the NFC West? It will never happen. The pickle they got themselves into with Larry Fitzgerald’s contract was a perfect example of the ineptitude of this franchise. Fitzgerald is probably the only guy they’ve ever given big money to re-sign, and they were forced into it. They certainly weren’t going to pay enough to keep DE/OLB Calvin Pace, so he’s off to the Jets. They’ll need someone to pick up the slack at LB, and Rivers falling to them is an unexpectedly lucky break. Who knows, if they keep getting breaks like this, the Cardinals might one day be able to compete for second place in the horrific NFC West. Nah. 17. Minnesota Vikings – Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
It’s a tough break that a young man with as much promise as DE Kenechi Udeze develops leukemia. That’s not something you can predict in your scouting reports or pre-draft interviews. That’s real life intruding into football. Keep him in your thoughts/prayers and maybe donate some of that beer money to cancer research. The Vikings finished #1 in rush defense last season, so they’re looking for a pure pass rusher. Harvey fits that bill perfectly and the value is good at this point. He played well against some top notch competition in the SEC, and as long as the Vikes don’t put him in a situation where he needs to hold down two gaps, he should have a good career running down the sad sack QBs of the NFC North. 18. Houston Texans – Jeff Otah, OT, Pitt
Many hearts were broken in Houston with the announcement that Jonathan Stewart will be on the shelf for 4-6 months. With no RBs of value available, they’ll be forced to address either their need at CB or OT. With their hefty new investment in the fragile Matt Schaub, the Texans would be out of their minds to pass up a prospect like Otah at a position of need. He may be a bit raw, but O-line guru Alex Gibbs is there to coach him up. Honestly, the Texans need to get serious about stocking their O-line, or they’ll never get anywhere, especially in the brutal AFC South. 19. Philadelphia Eagles – Limas Sweed, WR, Texas
In the five years since I moved to Philadelphia, I don’t recall hearing one positive appraisal of the team’s offseason moves. The fans here treat Andy Reid like a knuckleheaded kid that they love but are exasperated by, which is crazy, because the guy has put together a perennial contender. The Iggles need help at WR, particularly one that isn’t too small or too skinny. Sweed gives them everything they need to forget the whole T.O. incident, and will take the heat off Donovan McNabb. Sweed does have some problems staying healthy, but when he’s on the field, he absolutely slays. The jokers in my South Philly neighborhood will worship this kid if he stays healthy, and eat him alive if he doesn’t play hurt. Brian Westbrook is the patron saint of Broad St.  20.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma
The Bucs only have 6 QBs on their roster currently, so I was tempted to go with Brian Brohm. I’m sure Gruden will be, too. Nevertheless, the Bucs are desperate for help at WR, considering that Joey Galloway played ball at the Naval Academy with John McCain and Michael Clayton is nearly as overrated as the movie about his life. Kelly is a guy that grades out a lot higher than this pick (like Buffalo at #11), but I’ve heard a fair amount of talk that not one, but both of his knees are shot. To me, Kelly seems like a pure “measurables” guy: the college numbers were OK, but man, does he look great in shorts. Honestly, if this is the way the NFL Combine makes teams think, they should just run it on the Oxygen Network or Logo. 21. Washington Redskins – DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
Quite a run on WRs here, with Jackson making the final cut. The Redskins haven’t had consistent WR play in what seems like forever, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying to rectify the situation every single offseason. Jackson is a bit on the scrawny side, but he’s got the kinda speed that makes guys like Dan Snyder drool. He should be able to help out in the return game too, for what it’s worth. I’m not sure how this pick helps QB Jason Campbell develop, but then again, that’s Jim Zorn’s job, not some rookie from Berkeley. Damn hippies. 22. Dallas Cowboys – Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
Did you know that Jerry Jones has never drafted a player from his alma mater, Arkansas? But he’s not insane enough to…oh, wait: Quincy Carter in Round 2. Never mind. The Cowboys are a lock to trade into the top 5 for a shot at McFadden. I kid. No way does that happen with Mike Jenkins on the board. A 200 pound CB with 4.3 speed and character concerns? Jerry Jones just soiled himself. After the beating that Jacques Reeves took last year, finding a starting CB is a priority for the Cowboys. No, Pacman Jones doesn’t count.  23. Pittsburgh Steelers – Branden Albert, OG, Virginia
After the Alan Faneca fiasco, the Steelers are in serious need of some O-line help. Albert is a bit of a steal at this point, as he fits in at either guard or possibly RT. Should I reel off some buzz words here? Uh, “mean streak,” “knee bend,” “point of attack.” Is that working for you? The kid is a good player and fits perfectly into the Steelers’ system. 24. Tennessee Titans – Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
The Titans have other needs *cough* quarterback *cough*, but D-line is a priority. The return of The Freak isn’t getting anyone excited, and Albert “Russian Mouthwash” Haynesworth isn’t in a contract year, so expect his play to fall off.  That leaves Kyle Vanden Bosch to anchor the line, and that’s not enough. Balmer seems to have developed the “one year wonder” tag, but some slack has to be cut for a guy that played for perennial doormat North Carolina. It’s pretty easy to double team a guy of any talent whatsoever when you’re playing UNC, as there’s not much else going on there. He’s got the typical red flags for a guy of his position (i.e. he might balloon up to 400 pounds), but I’m sure he’ll do fine at the next level.25. Seattle Seahawks – Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
Ho hum, another year, another division title. The smartest thing the Seahawks ever did was moving over to the NFC to steal the lunch money of the pitiful nerds of the NFC West. Hell, it will be front page news when the Seahawks don’t take the division crown. Another great thing about playing in a division as poor as the NFC West is that you can draft the best player on board, regardless of position, to keep your team on top for the long term. By now, Mike Holmgren has got to understand the sheer wastefulness of taking a TE in the first round, so that’s out. Talib is the best on the board right here. Besides, you can never have too many good CBs on your team, especially in a division with receiving threats the likes of Arnaz Battle and The Receiver Formerly Known as Torry Holt. 26. Jacksonville Jaguars – Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
The Jaguars organization’s draft m.o. consists of focusing on one position until they get it right. Seeing as how last year’s pick of S Reggie Nelson worked out pretty well, let’s assume they stick with this line of thinking. While the Jags need to replace DT Marcus Stroud, there are better options here at a position of equal need. Phillips can be teamed up with Nelson to form a formidable young pair of safeties that will put a hurtin’ on you.  27. San Diego Chargers – Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. What exactly will it take to get these guys over the hump? Maybe a massive, mauling offensive lineman from a school known for churning them out? Yeah, that will do.  Cherilus will form quite a pair of bookends with the surprisingly good Marcus McNeill, protecting Philip Rivers’ behind and clearing the way for L.T. to do what he does. Jeez, Tomlinson with an even better line? Some records might get re-written this year. 28. Dallas Cowboys – Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
As with the Seahawks, having few holes in your roster allows you to plan for the future. For instance, everybody and his grandma knows that Jerry Jones wants one of those Arkansas RBs. I don’t think they’ll be there for him, but that might turn out for the best. Stewart will be out 4-6 months after big toe surgery, but this kid has skills that are worth waiting for. He rushed for 1,700 yards and 11 TDs in his junior year at Oregon before deciding to enter the draft. Stewart is big, quick, and runs low to the ground like another Cowboy great you may have heard of, Emmitt Smith. Besides, this fits in with Jones’ inexplicable hatred of Marion Barber, so I’d call it a lock. 29. San Francisco 49ers – Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
The 49ers are a hot mess; they need help everywhere. While a WR such as James Hardy or Early Doucet is a possibility here, the Niners D-line stinks, and they should probably take the best D-lineman available. Campbell is more of a bull rusher than a speed guy, and the Niners defense could definitely use an extra shot of toughness. He has a knack for making plays in the backfield, and at minimum, will provide opponents with something other than Patrick Willis to worry about.  30. Green Bay Packers – Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech
Why does a team with Al Harris and Charles Woodson need a CB in the first round? Because both are in their 11^th season and are old as dirt. Flowers is used to being off on an island, so he’ll fit perfectly into the Packers’ man-up defense. He’ll also get to ease into the system as a #3 CB, learn from two wily old veterans. Getting picked by the Packers would probably be the best thing that could happen to Mr. Flowers. 31. New York Giants – Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennesee
In the wake of the annual post Superbowl win exodus, the Giants are in desperate need of some help at LB. Luckily, Mayo is the last blue chipper on the board. Funny how that worked out. Mayo played at every LB spot for the Vols, but in The League, teams don’t draft Sam LBs in the first round. Good for Mayo, as his skill set lends itself fairly well to the Will LB spot. Bad for opponents, as now the Giants will be able to bring even more heat in the pass rush, if that’s even possible.   When his skull is not jacked into the NFL Network, Matrix style, Mike Gilbert also follows the issues surrounding independent music at Booming Din.com.   

If you’ve done this before you know how much work it is. In my pollyannish naivete I figured that with almost a dozen guys writing for me it would be a cake walk.

So much for the cake walk!

What I didn’t realize is how much work goes on in the backend of a Web site. For instance; I’ve found that you can’t create a Word document and paste it into the WYSIWYG editor and expect the formatting to play nice. Seems Word and Joomla! hate each other. Damn you Steve Balmer! Of course, had I been thinking clearly, something I’ve found can be pretty difficult at 3:30 in the morning after a full day of work and a full evening of wrestling with WYSIWYG editors, I would have realized that Open Source is to Microsoft as Hatfield is to McCoy…they just don’t like each other.

So I’ve struggled along, slowly but surely, and it’s not doing as bad as I thought it would. One thing I would mention however.

If you aren’t a technical person with the ability to read the work of others whose command of English is as a second or third language, you might want to consider a different web site Content Management System. While extremely powerful and feature rich, I’ve yet to unravel the mystical command structures inherent with this CMS, and have gone to bed with my butt completely kicked by the menu system.

Be that as it may, I’m continuing to plug away. Following is one of the columns I’ve posted on the site.

There is bound to be some controversy whenever a site posts a Top 20 list, and that controversy certainly extends to the 1B position this year. Most of us in the fantasy world are concerned about the health of Albert Pujols’ elbow, a problem that dates back to 2003. Media coverage, especially in the fantasy industry, can get so granular as each site tries to get an edge on the others that it is easy to overlook the facts. Here are a few to consider with our #1 ranked corner man.

Albert Pujols is the only player in baseball history to start his career with seven consecutive seasons with a .300 batting average, 30 HRs, 100 RBI. Yet he was an unheraled player coming out of high school and Jr College. Teams that passed on him include the Colorado Rockies and Tampa Bay (then) Devil Rays in 1999.

We all know the story. After being drafted by the Cardinals in the 13th round, he bolted through the minors, and was named the NL Rookie of the Year. He also made the first of six All-Star teams and won the first of three Silver Slugger awards.

As a Rays fan, I can only weep in frustration that we passed him up.

Just a few things to keep in mind when you go through the rankings. As always, registered users can comment on all articles and columns posted on RotoExperts.com.

#1 Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

STRENGTHS: What can’t he do with bat? He is just a complete hitting stud when healthy. Is anyone more consistent? Draws walks and doesn’t strike out.

WEAKNESSES: Not much speed. His elbow is very worrisome. It’s been a problem since 2003 however, so it’s hard to take him down a notch.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: Coming off arguably his worst season yet, there is still the issue of the supporting cast, or lack thereof, around Albert. Could it affect his production again this year? After deciding not to go under the knife for his troubled elbow in the offseason, it is also very much an issue this season. He has been on record saying he won’t play through the pain he had last year again.

NOTES: If you are sitting behind the 3rd pick in your draft or are looking for Pujols at a reduced price, talk up the injury and the fact he doesn’t have any proven protection.

STATS

2007 Season: .327 AVG, 32 HR, 103 RBI, 99 R, 2 SB

2008 Projection: .331 AVG, 41 HR, 117 RBI, 110 R, 6 SB

#2 Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies

STRENGTHS: Got some pop and some more pop, and then throw in a little more pop.

WEAKNESSES: Strikeouts can hurt his average. 225 AVG with 85 K’s in 209 AB vs. Lefties

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: Plays in a great hitter’s park. If he can get hot for longer periods of time, 60 dingers and 150 RBI’s are not out of reach. Those K’s could catch up to him though. Could he turn in to Adam Dunn?

NOTES: Stolen bases? We don’t need no stinking stolen bases. After struggling badly in April last year showed the testicular fortitude not to let it affect his whole year. If you don’t mind the strikeouts and you dig the long ball this is your man.

STATS

2007 Season: .268 AVG, 47 HR, 136 RBI, 94 R, 1 SB

2008 Projection: .286 AVG, 48 HR, 137 RBI, 100 R, 0 SB

#3 Mark Teixeira, Atlanta Braves

STRENGTHS: .300 avg- check, over 35 HR-check, over-110 RBI-check.

WEAKNESSES: Playing full season in a pitcher friendly park.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: Got to love a guy playing to get paid. Teixeira chose to sign a one year deal this year. Tex got very hot last year after arriving in Atlanta. He will turn 28 years old in early April. We smell money, both for Tex and his owners.

NOTES: The Braves professional attitude in the clubhouse could very well push Big Tex into the hitter a lot of us thought he was going to be a few years ago and could be a steal in the 2nd or 3rd round.

STATS

2007 Season: .306 AVG, 30 HR, 105 RBI, 86 R, 0 SB

2008 Projection: .298 AVG, 37 HR, 119 RBI, 101 R, 2 SB

#4 Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers

STRENGTHS: The soon to be 24-year-old is maturing as a hitter. Check out the BB/K ratio after the All-Star break (49 BB 49 K). Didn’t press when pitchers started being stingy with him. Um, did I forget to mention the 50 HR and 119 RBI in ‘07?

WEAKNESSES: Super Size Me!! Let’s hope this isn’t in his winter vocabulary. Not staying in shape would probably be the only thing to keep him from reaching #1 on this list someday.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: Sky is the limit. Can mash like Howard and is patient like Pujols. Now that’s a scary combo.

NOTES: Youngest player to ever hit 50 HR in a single season beating Willie Mays by an astounding 363 days. That is some impressive company right there.

STATS

2007 Season: .288 AVG, 50 HR, 119 RBI, 109 R, 2 SB

2008 Projection: .288 AVG, 43 HR, 110 RBI, 101 R, 3 SB

#5 Lance Berkman, Houston Astros

STRENGTHS: Can hit with best of them when he is on. Career .300 AVG, .412 OBP, and .559 SLG.

WEAKNESSES: You never know which Lance is going to show up - the stud or the dud.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: A notoriously slow starter, hit .256 before the ASB in ‘07. Has some new speed setting the plate for him in Matsui and Bourn. Problem is, with career OBP’s of .325 and .340 respectively, Berkman could be going to bed hungry a lot this year. Pence and Tejada should make up for any problems with the 1 and 2 hitters in the lineup.

NOTES: He is a better hitter than he showed last year, but the new guys at the top of the order are far from proven. The offense could be huge for the Astros in ‘08 with Tejada in the mix, and where Berkman hits in the order could decide the dud or the stud question.

STATS

2007 Season: .278 AVG, 34 HR, 102 RBI, 95 R, 7 SB

2008 Projection: .295 AVG, 35 HR, 109 RBI, 92 R, 4 SB

#6 Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs

STRENGTHS: Will hit .300 and be around 100 R and 100 RBI. 43 doubles last year suggest he still has some pop in his bat.

WEAKNESSES: Hasn’t shown much HR power since his wrist injury. At 32, Father Time may be knocking on his door. SB’s have gone down every year since ‘03.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: Showed his power could be returning, hitting 16 of his 22 HR after the break. Has a good lineup around him and if the Roberts deal goes down look for the RBIs to go up.

NOTES: Has played in at least a 150 games every year since 2000 the only exception being the ‘06 “wrist” campaign. While most guys were watching football Lee was showing his wrist problems were gone. Could very well be overlooked on draftday.

STATS

2007 Season: .317 AVG, 22 HR, 82 RBI, 91 R, 6 SB

2008 Projection: .304 AVG, 28 HR, 95 RBI, 99 R, 6 SB

#7 Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins

STRENGTHS: Has Good Power. Main RBI producer on the team and hit .291 with runners in scoring position last year.

WEAKNESSES: Absolutely fell apart after the break last year (.243 AVG, 7 HR, 37 RBI). Only hit .228 against southpaws. Only 84 runs scored. No run support.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: It’s hard to find a silver lining in Morneau’s debacle of a second half that had plenty fantasy players scratching their heads. With that said he still managed to hit .285 with RISP after the break which leads me to believe that his slump may not have been completely of his own making.

NOTES: Does .295 AVG, 24 HR, 74 RBI in only 322 AB make you tingle? That’s the first half of ‘07 for a player coming off an MVP season. So he didn’t sneak up on anyone to start last year.

STATS

2007 Season: .271 AVG, 31 HR, 111 RBI, 84 R, 1 SB

2008 Projection: .285 AVG, 32 HR, 114 RBI, 89 R, 1 SB

#8 Carlos Guillen, Detroit Tigers

STRENGTHS: The real value here is the SS eligibility. Hits both lefties and righties (.295 R, .302 L). A little speed.

WEAKNESSES: Health. Battled injuries at the end of last year.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: When he gets 500 AB in a season the production is there. Detroit’s lineup improves a ton with the addition of Cabrera and Renteria.

NOTES: Struggled after the break (.267 AVG, 7HR, 35 RBI). Take advantage of what should be his last year of SS eligibility.

STATS

2007 Season: .296 AVG, 21 HR, 102 RBI, 86 R, 13 SB

2008 Projection: .301 AVG, 19 HR, 92 RBI, 87 R, 12 SB

#9 Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay Rays

STRENGTHS: Found his groove in Tampa. Better late than never. Excellent power potential.

WEAKNESSES: Only one season of stellar numbers. Could be a one hit wonder.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: Showed plenty of pop in the minors; he wouldn’t be the first player to mature later in his career. The 103 BB last year give us hope of being able to put up good numbers this year.

NOTES: Put those stellar ‘07 numbers up in only 490 AB. Signed a 3 year deal worth 24 million, let’s hope he is hungry to prove last year wasn’t a fluke.
AVG will probably fall some but his power should be there.

STATS

2007 Season: .282 AVG, 46 HR, 121 RBI, 99 R, 1 SB

2008 Projection: .270 AVG, 37 HR, 108 RBI, 93 R, 1 SB

#10 Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres

STRENGTHS: Took a big step forward in ‘07. Good Power. Improving approach at the plate.

WEAKNESSES: 140 Strike outs. Worst hitting park in MLB.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: Even with 140 Ks his second half strikeout rate improved from 1 every 4.06 AB in the first half to 1 every 5.45 AB. Lineup and ballpark should draw concerns.

NOTES: Met with Tony Gwynn twice a week this winter, trying to improve his hitting ability. Gotta love a kid making an effort to improve his craft. Look for his AVG to improve in ‘08.

STATS

2007 Season: .271 AVG, 31 HR, 111 RBI, 84 R, 1 SB

2008 Projection: .286 AVG, 29 HR, 100 RBI, 94 R, 0 SB

#11 Victor Martinez, Cleveland Indians

STRENGTHS: Catcher eligibility. He has hit over .300 the past three seasons (.305, .316, and .301). Hit both lefties (.289) and righties (.307) well in ‘07.

WEAKNESSES: Doesn’t hit a lot of HR for a 1B. Low runs scored and zero SB. Production slowed after the break last year .324 AVG 16 HR in 79 games before, and .273 AVG 9 HR in 68 games after.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: He is a valuable enough hitter for the Indians that they give him AB at 1B and DH when his knees need a rest. Solid in AVG and RBI.

NOTES: He will likely be the first C off the board. After two years of declining numbers he posted career highs in HR (25) and RBI (114).

STATS

2007 Season: .301 AVG, 25 HR, 114 RBI, 78 R, 0 SB

2008 Projection: .305 AVG, 22 HR, 101 RBI, 79 R, 1 SB

#12 Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox

STRENGTHS: Very Solid in HR and RBI and AVG usually doesn’t hurt. 30+ HR for four straight seasons. Good park to hit in.

WEAKNESSES: Coming off worst AVG year since ‘03. Trade rumors all winter. Oddly struggled against righties (.244) in ‘07.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: He is a very solid fantasy 1B and will be overlooked by some this year. Should have a good supporting cast.

NOTES: Look for AVG to bounce back and RBI to be right at around 100. He will probably be taken at a reduced price after ‘07 struggles.

STATS

2007 Season: .259 AVG, 31 HR, 90 RBI, 71 R, 0 SB

2008 Projection: .279 AVG, 34 HR, 99 RBI, 87 R, 0 SB

#13 Nick Swisher, Chicago White Sox

STRENGTHS: Has some power potential. OF eligibility will give some roster flexibility. Walks and AVG have improved every year.

WEAKNESSES: AVG is sore spot.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: His HR numbers should bounce back this year especially with the move to a very friendly HR hitter’s park and improved lineup around him. Is 27 years old this season.

NOTES: Don’t look for a huge improvement in AVG, but all other categories will have marked improvement.

STATS

2007 Season: .262 AVG, 22 HR, 78 RBI, 84 R, 3 SB

2008 Projection: .268 AVG, 32 HR, 94 RBI, 96 R, 2 SB

#14 Todd Helton, Colorado Rockies

STRENGTHS: AVG is always .300+, usually closer to.320. More BBs than Ks. Great doubles production. Career OBP sits at .430.

WEAKNESSES: HR power is gone. Not getting any younger and will be 35 by the end of year.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: Could be traded if the Rockies fall out of contention early on. Has good lineup around him and we all know about Coors Field.

NOTES: Had 928 OPS in ‘07. Very good value for the 14th rated 1B.

STATS

2007 Season: .320 AVG, 17 HR, 91 RBI, 86 R, 0 SB

2008 Projection: .313 AVG, 16 HR, 84 RBI, 87 R, 0 SB

#15 Carlos Delgado, New York Mets

STRENGTHS: Has 30+ HR power, and 100 RBI isn’t unreachable.

WEAKNESSES: AVG can be a liability. Age is a factor as he turns 36 this year.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: If he stays healthy and in the middle of this lineup numbers will be there in the end.

NOTES: Showed he may be over his ‘06 injuries with a .285 AVG in the second half last year.

STATS

2007 Season: .258 AVG, 24 HR, 87 RBI, 71 R, 4 SB

2008 Projection: .270 AVG, 28 HR, 95 RBI, 79 R, 1 SB

#16 Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals

STRENGTHS: Age. Just a matter of time before he becomes a fantasy stud.

WEAKNESSES: Struggled badly with lefties (.217) in ‘07. His BB/K ratio (41/137) needs work before he can take the step to fantasy stud.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: Is going to be given every opportunity to show his skills. Kansas City lineup is headed in the right direction. Talent will show sooner rather than later.

NOTES: With less of the spotlight on him, look for a better start and will maintain it all year.

STATS

2007 Season: .247 AVG, 15 HR, 60 RBI, 60 R, 14 SB

2008 Projection: .268 AVG, 19 HR, 75 RBI, 75 R, 16 SB

#17 Ryan Garko, Cleveland Indians

STRENGTHS: Solid hitter who hurts lefties, with a .913 OPS in first full season.

WEAKNESSES: Getting consistent ABs, as he loses them when V-Mart rests his knees.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: It all comes down to being able to stay in the lineup. He will put some decent numbers with the ABs.

NOTES: Worth taking a chance on as he can definitely hit.

STATS

2007 Season: .289 AVG, 21 HR, 61 RBI, 62 R, 0 SB

2008 Projection: .290 AVG, 24 HR, 87 RBI, 72 R, 0 SB

#18 James Loney, Los Angeles Dodgers

STRENGTHS: He has improved at every level in the minors and has carried that trend into the majors. Hit both righties (.336) and lefties (.319) in 344 AB last year.

WEAKNESSES: Pitchers will know how to pitch to him this year.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: The kid can hit, without a doubt, and he will most definitely have big fantasy expectations on his shoulders this year.

NOTES: Don’t overreach on him. His pop may still need a little time.

STATS

2007 Season: .331 AVG, 15 HR, 67 RBI, 41 R, 0 SB

2008 Projection: .294 AVG, 18 HR, 86 RBI, 71 R, 2 SB

#19 Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox

STRENGTHS: Excellent approach at the plate. Draws walks. Nice post-season showing.
WEAKNESSES: Not a lot of HR, R or RBI. Had a poor second half (.238).

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: He is in an absolutely sick lineup and a good hitting park.

NOTES: He will put up solid numbers but you know what you are getting. The ceiling is higher in AVG than anywhere else in his game. Low risk that comes with a low price tag.

STATS

2007 Season: .288 AVG, 16 HR, 83 RBI, 85 R, 4 SB

2008 Projection: .283 AVG, 17 HR, 78 RBI, 91 R, 4 SB

#20 Adam LaRoche, Pittsburgh Pirates

STRENGTHS: Decent average and 25+ HR power. Improved after the ASB, .239 before and followed it with a .312 the rest of way.

WEAKNESSES: Strikeouts have held him back a bit.

OPPORTUNITY/RISK ASSESSMENT: Will start at first base for the Pirates. Not exactly an eye-popping lineup, but he made strides last year with a much improved second half.

NOTES: If you miss out on the top 1B, don’t panic, as there is a lot of depth at this position this year.

STATS

2007 Season: .272 AVG, 21 HR, 88 RBI, 71 R, 1 SB

2008 Projection: .275 AVG, 25 HR, 86 RBI, 73 R, 0 SB

I get these things, and I am sure many of you do, via email. I decided to intersperse some of what I receive in hopes that I can bring a smile to your face today.

So, without further ado…

GAMES FOR WHEN WE ARE OLDER 

1. Sag,  you’re It.
2. Hide and go pee.
3. 20 questions shouted into your good ear.
4. Kick the  bucket
5. Red Rover, Red Rover, the nurse says Bend Over.
6. Musical recliners.
7. Simon  says something incoherent.
8. Pin the Toupee on the bald guy
 
SIGNS OF MENOPAUSE: 

1. You sell your  home heating system at a yard sale.
2.  You have to write post-it notes with your kids’ names on them.  
3. You change  your underwear after a sneeze.
 
OLD IS  WHEN:
 
1. Going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face.
2. You don’t care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don’t have to go along. 
3.  Getting a little action means I don’t need fiber today.
4.  Getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot. < BR> 
5. An all-nighter means not getting up to pee!
  
THOUGHTS FOR  A SLOW WEEK:
  
Wouldn’t it be nice  if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press ‘Ctr Alt Delete’ and  start all over?
 
Just  remember, if the world didn’t suck, we’d all fall off.
  
If raising children was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor! 
 
Brain  cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever.
 
But Most Of All, Remember:
 
A  Good Friend Is Like A Good Bra: Hard to Find, Supportive, Comfortable,  
And Always Close  To Your Heart!
==============
 
Ponderisms:
 
I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.  
  
Garden Rule: When  weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed an d not a valuable  plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable  plant.
  
The easiest way to find  something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
 
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets  out alive anyway.
  
In the 60’s, people took  acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to  make it normal.
  
How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire? 
  
Who was the first person  to look at a cow and say, “I think I’ll squeeze these dangly things here and  drink whatever comes out?”
  
Who was the first person  to say, “See that chicken there? I’m gonna eat the next thing that comes outta  its butt. ”
 
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
 
Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when  you get undressed if he’s going to look up there anyway? 

Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
  
Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

Have a safe and happy Christmas and holiday season, and may Santa put everything under the tree you wished for.

That is because they offer an inferior product. The picture on plain old TV isn’t as good. When it rains I lose my signal. Too many places don’t allow you to install a dish, my goodness I could go on ad infinitum with the reasons.

The latest antic by the NFL and its fledgling network is to ask you to send an email to the FCC voicing your concern and as an attempt to force the cable companies to provide the service free. Hell I’d love it if they would, but I’m not buying the BS the NFL is trying to feed me.

Why?

Because they are the reason it costs me a weeks salary to take my family to a game.

They are greedy. They make money hand over fist but it isn’t enough. Football teams are worth 100s of millions, but that still isn’t enough.

So I went to the site, and I filled out the form to send an email to the FCC. Following is that email:

Thank you for using NFL Network Mail System

Message sent to the following recipients:

Kevin Martin
Michael Copps
Jonathan Adelstein
Deborah Tate
Robert McDowell

Message text follows:

Ben Ice
(Address Info Deleted)

November 15, 2007

[recipient address was inserted here]

Dear [recipient name was inserted here],

I am a writer in the fantasy football industry, and I handle business development for an up and coming site as well. So I think I am a fairly savvy fan.

The NFL would like me to use this platform to lobby for the addition of the NFL Network to my local cable company. I even kept their email below. It is typical PR spin, looking to incent fans by pointing out issues that aren’t at the heart of this dispute. Yet their deals with the satellite companies cost me hundreds of dollars in additional fees, so who are they trying to kid? They are equally responsible but trying to push all the blame on the cable networks. There is no party free of guilt here, but I believe the NFL owns 90% of it.

The NFL is trying to incite fans to pressure their cable companies to carry the NFL Network. Yet it is the NFL who is purposedly punishing fans, and I am not the only one who feels this way.

Tell the NFL Network that they are hurting themselves with their core fans. Every game they televise upsets us even more. They make so much money, the teams’ value continues to spiral upwards, as does the cost of going to a game or buying hats, shirts, etc.

Tell the NFL to go to hell. Come back to the table and negotiate in good faith instead of like a bunch of spoiled brat greedy bastards they are acting like.

I DO NOT agree with the message below - Ben Ice

————————————————————-

Cable companies are announcing another round of rate hikes, and they want me to pay extra to get the NFL Network. This isn’t fair - and I know the FCC is looking into how to resolve these types of disputes. I urge you to change the rules to allow for a fair and fast mediation process with an arbitrator to make sure that football fans aren’t blocked from watching football programming anymore - and that other people also get to watch the programs that interest them.

My cable bill gets bigger and bigger, but I probably watch less than half the channels that I get. I want to get the NFL Network, but I don’t think I should have to pay extra for it - after all, the cable companies make me buy other sports channels that they own, like the Golf Channel and Versus, in the basic package, even though I’d rather watch NFL Network.

Cable companies are taking advantage of the millions of football fans in this country and singling them out to pay extra for the premium sports package. Unless this is resolved quickly, there will be a huge public outcry in just a few weeks as the NFL Network starts telecasting regular season games on Thanksgiving night.

I hope the FCC will change its rules to allow for an arbitrator in these kinds of disputes. Football fans and other consumers shouldn’t have to pay the price when a simple solution could be made available.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Ben Ice

What we have here is a failure to communicate.

Is it because they weren’t smart enough for a private firm? Maybe it is some overwhelming sense of wanting to do good, maybe they really do see themselves as the crusaders of just causes, but in both cases the actions of the the local justice systems have proven to be grossly inept at doing their duty.

Lives are being forever altered, careers are destroyed and I’m sick of it.

I am tired of watching people’s lives destroyed because some underpaid government employee feels he needs to make a statement for his community. It is absolutely disgusting that a person like Julie Amero should be subjected to the horrendous treatment she received at the hands of Assistant States Attorney (Connecticut) David Smith.

[tags]pop-up porn,spyware,malware,computer security,JAT,Julie Amero[/tags]

The Bucs were gracious hosts, providing tickets, concessions, field passes, a photo opp with GM Bruce Allen and, to our suprise, a special commemorative football. We were told they had something for us just as the game against Arizona was kicking off, and as I looked to my left I saw none other than my favorite Buccaneer, Mike Alstott, walking towards me with two glass-encased footballs. He handed one of them to me and shook my hand. I have to admit I was a bit numb as he was one of the players I’ve always wanted to meet, but the significance of this special gift took the words right out of my mouth…something anyone who knows me will tell you is a difficult thing at best.

We owe the Bucs much gratitude for their tribute, not just to Jon and Mike, but to all the service men and women they honored that day.  There were hundreds of service men and women on the sidelines, and at half time almost 200 recruits from all branches of the service gave their oath of service.  Jason Rossi, Jon’s brother, was one of them. He ships out to bootcamp on November 20th.

[tags]Jonathan Rossi,Tampa Bay Buccaneers,Support Our Troops,Football,Tribute,Raymond James Stadium,Bruce Allen,Mike Alstott[/tags]

Job Security!

I was flabbergasted. Why do the union workers deserve job security? How many of us out in the working world are guaranteed job security? I know I don’t have it, and most people I know don’t have it. If a company is losing money, it should guarantee your job?

Ridiculous.

This is the kind of stupidity that has allowed Toyota, Honda, and others to grab mass market share from American auto manufacturers. And it all falls back on one destructive concept that permeates most unions these days.

Entitlement.

The unions seem to feel like they are entitled to their jobs. In fact unions these days are saddling many American firms with massive costs, and the union members allow it because that’s what they want. They don’t want to be competing against lower wage workers for their jobs, or overseas plants, or any of that. It seems the consensus is to stick their collective heads in the sand and ignore the real world around them. And you know the biggest problem with that kind of action don’t you?

You stick your butt up, unprotected… that’s a real opportunity to get shafted in the worst way.

Unions are an anachronism. They were a good idea, and there is still a viable place for them. But they need to be completely re-invented to have any true value. Unions don’t foster a competitive environment, and they should. They should ratchet up performance requirements, and look hard at the costs associated with providing jobs for hundreds of thousands of Americans to work out more of a partnership with the GMs of the world. It would be a good idea to do this sooner rather than later, since GM could just shutter plants here and move more production to Mexico, China, Vietnam, and any number of other countries who would gladly provide the labor.

I’m not saying GM is a complete innocent here either. Companies too often focus on short term profitability and almost always never think of their employees as much more than numbers. But the system is broken, and a long term fix is necessary before it lands on the trash pile of ideas, concepts and companies that are no longer relevant in this world.

I mean, how many blacksmiths do you know? Or telegraph operators?

[tags]Unions, GM,General Motors, UAW, strike, job security, autoworkers[/tags]

Obviously I had a lot of questions and concerns, but I let him explain to me why he made the decision.

It wasn’t a complete shock. After all, I knew he had talked seriously about joining the Navy after he graduated college. He had always wanted to be a lawyer, but law school is very expensive. He figured that joining the JAG program would allow him to learn new things about himself through service to his country, and obtain the law degree he’d dreamed about for so many years.

But the Army?

When Matt took his ASVAB test he scored in the highest percentiles. This provided him an opportunity to choose his vocation in the service. Matt also has an ear for languages, so he decided to go into signal intelligence. This can lead to a number of different career choices later on, most of them, thank God, behind the scenes.

That doesn’t mean that he won’t be on the front lines however. It just means that there is less chance.

While part of me hurts, thinking he could be putting himself in harm’s way at some point during his army career, I also realize that he could do the same when sailing, which he loves, or partying with his friends. Matt believes that joining the Army will help him become a man, and show him what his capabilities are. He has never backed down from a challenge, and wants to be, just like the commercials, the best that he can be.

Matthew, my son, I salute you.

[tags]Army,ASVAB,Iraq,military[/tags]

This weekend I received a call from Mike Rossi, Jonathan’s father. He was hard to understand but finely I heard the words “He’s dead. Jonathan’s dead.” Then the phone disconnected.

Jon Rossi was my childrens’ stepbrother. He was a quiet, unassuming young man with both the talent and a passion for art. He drew a couple of pictures for me, which I have in a file in my desk at the office.

Jon was the kind of young man who wasn’t easy to anger, nor fast in making a decision of importance. He thought things through before making a decision. He only had friends… you either were a friend or you weren’t. He didn’t bother with acquaintances.

John knew for a long time that he would join the military. He wanted to travel, see the world, be his own man. I remember when he started running and working out, months before basic training. He told me that he knew it would be hard, but that he was going to prepare his body for the rigors of training and, eventually, combat.

Jon wanted to be an Army Ranger, and made it through the first couple of levels. He had to set the dream aside for a while after injuring his knee during a jump, but he didn’t let it bother him. He continued training to be the best he could be, and was deployed to Iraq in September of 2006.

Jon was very close with my two oldest children, Matthew and Kaitlin. He spoke often of them, and especially Kaitlin, as well as his father and brother Jason. He had recently found the love of his life, a beautiful young redhead with a golden heart, and was planning to ask her to marry him when his unit returned in January 2008.

Jonathan knew the risks and challenges he faced but never shied away from them. He had tattoos on his arms that, when crossed, said “To win you have to be willing to die.”

Jon, I want you to know you live in our hearts forever, and dedicate this song by Edwin McCain, which I tried to sing to you at the candlelight vigil we held for you on July 4th, 2007. I couldn’t finish the song, so I am posting it here on my blog so when anyone reads this they know what I was trying to say.

Let them in, Peter
For they are very tired
Give them couches where the angels sleep
And light those fires

Let them wake whole again
To brand new dawns
Fired by the sun
Not wartime's bloody guns

And may their peace be deep
Remember where the broken bodies lie
God knows how young they were to have to die
Well, God knows how young they were to have to die

Give them things they like
Let them make some noise
Give dance hall bands not golden harps
To these our boys

And let them love, Peter
For they've had no time
They should have bird songs and trees
And hills to climb

The taste of summer
And a ripened pear
And girls sweet as meadow wind
And flowing hair

And tell them how they are missed
But say not to fear
It's gonna be all right
With us down here

Please, if you read this, say a prayer for Jonathan and his family, as he will be sorely missed.

[tags]Iraq,war,Jonathan Rossi, Edwin McCain, Prayer to Saint Peter[/tags]

Enter Roger Goodell, the new NFL commissioner.

I wasn’t sure what to think of Goodell when I first heard the announcement that he would take over for Paul Tagliabue. Tags had overseen a complete overhaul of the league and with it the emergence as football as America’s game, not baseball. While many may decry that statement, it has become readily evident that football has surpassed baseball in popularity.

Goodell may have secured that legacy for years to come with his tough policies against players who cross the line, and I for one am giving him a standing ovation.

For too long pro athletes have been coddled by their teams. Criminal behavior was swept aside by dream team legal eagles, hired mercenaries doing the bidding of the owners and players in the name of winning. It has gotten so ugly that I have already forsaken basketball, and have questioned my passion for the gridiron game on more than one occasion.

When Goodell suspended Pacman Jones for a year without pay, we took notice while at the same time wondering whether it was simply a maneuver to salve the league’s reputation. When he subsequently did the same with Chris Henry and then again with Tank Johnson, what seemed a sliver of hope has turned into a bright sunny day in professional sports.

Our children look upon these men and women as heroes, emulating them on playgrounds and athletic fields across the country. My children have on more than one occasion raised questions about the nefarious yet often smoothed over actions of players in our area. Locally last year it was a player pointing a gun at someone at a McDonald’s and another driving his car into his wife’s to stop her from leaving in the middle of an argument. This year Elijah Dukes allegedly threatened the life of his soon-to-be ex-wife and their too children, and of course the issues that seem to link Michael Vick to dog-fighting.

The message Goodell is sending, if he indeed enforces the lines he has drawn, is one that must be sent to all athletes in all pro sports. Just because you are getting rich playing a game, and just because we follow your exploits on the field with a combination of fantasy and fanaticism doesn’t give them a free pass to do anything they choose. If anything pro athletes should be held to a higher standard.

If Roger Goodell can succeed with his efforts, hopefully he can spark a long-awaited and direly needed revolution in how athletes are treated. Not above the law, but beholden to it.

[tags]NFL, Football, NFLPA, Chris Henry, Michael Vick, Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, Roger Goodell[/tags]

While we stress through the ever-increasing pace of life, this poignant tale reminds us to, as Chris Dautry says in his music, “Be careful what you wish for, cause you just might get it all…”

An unemployed man is desperate to support his family. His wife watches TV all day and his three teenage kids have dropped out of high school to hang around with the local toughs. He applies for a janitor’s job at a large firm and easily passes an aptitude test.

The human resources manager tells him, “You will be hired at minimum wage of $5.15 an hour. Let me have your e-mail address so that we can get you in the loop. Our system will automatically e-mail you all the forms and advise you when to start and where to report on your first day.”

Taken back, the man protests that he is poor and has neither a computer nor an e-mail address. To this the manager replies, “You must understand that to a company like ours, that means that you virtually do not exist. Without an e-mail address you can hardly expect to be employed by a high-tech firm. Good day.”

Stunned, the man leaves. Not knowing where to turn and having $10 in his wallet, he walks past a farmers’ market and sees a stand selling 25 lb. crates of beautiful red tomatoes. He buys a crate, carries it to a busy corner and displays the tomatoes. In less than 2 hours he sells all the tomatoes and makes 100% profit.

Repeating the process several times more that day, he ends up with almost $100 and arrives home that night with several bags of groceries for his family.

During the night he decides to repeat the tomato business the next day. By the end of the week he is getting up early every day and working into the night. He multiplies his profits quickly. Early in the second week he acquires a cart to transport several boxes of tomatoes at a time, but before a month is up he sells the cart to buy a broken-down pickup truck.

At the end of a year he owns three old trucks. His two sons have left their neighborhood gangs to help him with the tomato business. His wife is buying the tomatoes, and his daughter is taking night courses at the community college so she can keep books for him. By the end of the second year he has a dozen very nice used trucks and employs fifteen previously unemployed people, all selling tomatoes. He continues to work hard.

Time passes and at the end of the fifth year he owns a fleet of nice trucks and a warehouse that his wife supervises, plus two tomato farms that the boys manage. The tomato company’s payroll has put hundreds of homeless and jobless people to work. His daughter reports that the business grossed a million dollars. Planning for the future, he decides to buy some life insurance. Consulting with an insurance adviser, he picks an insurance plan to fit his new circumstances. Then the adviser asks him for his e-mail address in order to send the final documents electronically. When the man replies that he doesn’t have time to mess with a computer and has no e-mail address, the insurance man is stunned. “What, you don’t have e-mail? No computer? No Internet? Just think where you would be today if you’d had all of that five years ago!”

“Ha!” snorts the man. “If I’d had e-mail five years ago, I would be sweeping floors at Microsoft and making $5.15 an hour.”

[tags]Microsoft, Chris Dautry, tomatoes, entrepreneur[/tags]