Dear members of the 2008 NFL ATS Pick 'Em,
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. Semi-sonic believes it. I believe it. And so should you. Until I begin to write new columns, I need to close the chapter on our season.
There is one last NFL football game to be played this year. A football year that started all the way back in September will come to its conclusion next week with the playing of the 43rd Super Bowl. However, for all extensive purposes, this ATS Pick 'Em league has been finished for nearly a month. The money won has been sent. The awards (to the select few who informed me of their addresses) have been sealed and mailed. Our season, is officially over.
I was quite skeptical of running a 20 member league. In 2007 we had just eight players but a boatload of problems. People were not turning in money. Some people missed a week or so of picks. I stopped posting anything. It was certainly not perfect. Far from it. So, you can understand the root of my skepticism when our attendance more than doubled. I figured we were in for the same problems and probably a few I was not prepared for.
I was pleasantly surprised.
Sure we had one or two guys take a little extra time getting in their money. Sure we had one or two members just stop participating with four weeks to go. Sure we had a few cases when someone missed the deadline. But, all things considered, the league ran rather smoothly.
Our first big crisis came when Brandin Bursa dropped without making any selections. Due to my slight condition of OCD, I felt it necessary to have a solid group of 20, not 19. My brother Josh came to the rescue and said he would join. That one phone call proved to be not only my undoing as defending champ, but the rest of the league's as well. But in a good way. I think.
Josh received the worst record right off the bat because he replaced Brandin who missed week one. Not wasting any time, Josh went 13-2 in week two, the best weekly record in the two-year history of this ATS league. The rest was exactly that ... history. He stayed near the top and when guys like Lucius (who seemed to be at the top forever) and Justin (how did he not make any money?) fell, Josh was there to stake his claim. Josh just never had a horrible week. I've said, to anyone who cared to listen, that the key to making money in this league is to stay consistent, pick your spots, and avoid the horrible week. In golf they call it course management. Well Tiger, meet Joshua Florence.
As for me, the defending champ. My reign came to an end. I peaked too late. There was very little I could do to catch up with the likes of Josh, Lucius and Justin, unless they fell dramatically back. The latter two did. The former did not. I had some sub-par weeks, and never really felt comfortable until the end. Staying with golf references, I was like that Sunday golfer who went out and posted a final round score of 63. Great score, but would have been more useful on Friday.
Justin Whelan did shoot a 63 on Friday, and then another on Saturday in my hypothetical golf tournament. However he was more Greg Norman than Tiger Woods on Sunday. This should not be what Justin is remembered for this year. Not at all. He came right in to unfamiliar territory and turned some heads with his performance. His comments showed the amount of research he was putting into his picks and into the league as a whole. He always double-checked my work, which I could not be more grateful for beacuse we were both striving for accuracy. He always voiced his opinion when asked, and he was the first to send in his money. Needless to say, Justin improved this league greatly.
Josh and Justin weren't the only newcomers who performed well above expectations. Alex Lucius was the second-to-last member of our league, but was typically always in the top three of our standings. Besides his ever-growing intellect, Lucius brought charisma and personality. His thoughts for the week were always a bright spot, and his quotes for some of the games were ... well, what you would expect from AL if you know him. And if you don't, read some of his thoughts/comments.
Don't forget about Brian Boesch either. His goal the entire year was to finish in the money, and thanks to an outstanding week 17, he did just that, taking home $40 for his fourth place effort. Boesch is a sports-junkie, and without question the best bowler amongst us. By finishing in the money, Brian has sent a message, loud and clear, that he will be a force to reckon with in years to come.
Finishing just one game out of the money were Devin Frank and Ryan Polito. A Buccaneer and a Steeler. D-Frank has had a tough time the past two years trying to collect some money. Last season, Kevin came through and stole 3rd place from him, and this year Boesch slipped through to take 4th. As for Polito, well, the league just wouldn't be the same without him. First of all, he's a Pittsburgh Steeler fan surrounded by a group of Browns supporters, which adds tension and conflict. Secondly, his special columns were second to none. Polito will no doubt enjoy this Super Bowl moreso than the rest of us, but this league enjoyed his presence tremendously as well.
But, Polito didn't have the only special column. Andrew Reinhart dropped us several Chew On This segments, and Jake Young always had a different wrinkle in his picks each week. Their efforts did not go unnoticed and were appreciated several times over.
And then there was Kevin Hunt. His comments for each and every game were overwhelming. Humorous, insightful, always original, Hunt's comments embodied exactly what this league is all about. A group of friends with a little money at stake, picking games played by millionaires. I doubt there would even be another season of this league if Kevin quit.
Those were some of the people I felt needed to be singled out. For the people who sent me their address, I added a personal touch to your award as well, which was designed to compliment this column.
I should apologize to those who enjoyed reading the weekly picks' column, for not posting anything more than the picks the last few weeks. I kind of mailed it in that regard. The last month or so I would simply cut and paste the comments that were sent, and it seemed rarely would I add my own two cents. But, at the very least, I wanted to get the picks out there. With $400 up for grabs, it was vital that people could see who everyone else was selecting.
I already have some changes in mind for next season, especially with the format, and would love to hear what everyone thought. Good or bad. Especially if it is bad.
If you've made it this far in this column, and still would like to get an award, just send me your address and I will make sure you get one.
Lastly, thanks for sticking with me this season. I had an absolute blast organizing and putting this all together. Sure it takes a lot of time, but it personally allows me to keep touch with some good people I might not otherwise. Ultimately this league is about its' members. You guys. I cannot thank all of you enough for this year. I look forward to the future and wish you all the best.
Signed, Luke Florence.
"Read it, roll it, hole it."
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