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RJ Young Writes: ESPN’s Father Passes: Chet Simmons 1928-2010

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Yesterday, though, should be remembered as the day a pioneer in sports broadcasting was loss. Chester “Chet” Simmons, the first president of ESPN in 1979 and the USFL in 1982, is one of a select few to which we can attribute the way we watch and report sports today.

Because of Simmons, sports was no longer a part of the nightly news, it became its own brand, style and feel. He helped to create a niche for guys like me who desire to do intelligent and grounded sports journalism and broadcasting. Such jobs were scarce, especially in sports broadcasting before ESPN, but with Simmons at the helm change was inevitable.

Simmons helped NBC secure rights to the Moscow Olympics, was the driving force behind the television show, Wide World of Sports, and for the first time evertelevised the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and NFL Draft all in 1980. He was the principle behind arguably the greatest sports broadcasting show of all-time, Sportscenter. 24/7 sports coverage was presumed to be impossible before he did it.

He is responsible for hiring iconic anchors including Chris Berman, Greg and Bryant Gumbel, Dick Vitale, Cliff Drysdale, Dick Ensberg, Bob Ley and many other notable sports commentators. Ley, told ESPN.com “I will forever treasure the trust that Chet placed in all of us at the beginning in 1979. He brought this young network immediate expertise and credibility. His legacy is seen in his family and his grandchildren, and professionally in the foundation he laid so well and profoundly with those of us who now celebrate his life.”

For those of you under 35 with sports addictions akin to a crack head, a world with Chet Simmons is like the dopeman moving out of town. We would have been deprived us of some our favorite 10pm friends. The great sports anchors we know may not have had the role in shaping our ideas about sports on television and the many virtues they possess.

Imagine, Stuart Scott relegated to NBC Nightly News. You really think they would have let words and phrases like “BOO-YAH” or “Cool as the other side of the pillow” come out of his mouth when describing President Obama? Or Neil Everett mention a shot of whiskey every time Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, or Vladimir Guerrero hit a homerun? What if Linda Cohn and Kenny Mayne actually had to compose a story completely devoid of humor? Disastrous stuff, I know.

The sports world is forever changed for the better because of Simmons influence.

Before ESPN, Simmons functioned president of NBC Sports and was involved in yet another sports milestone, the creation of instant replay.

From 1957-1985, Simmons was to sports broadcasting, what William Randolph Hearst was to the newspaper industry. He remained innovative, open to all types of ideas and constantly kept the organization signing his check on the cutting edge. He died of natural causes Thursday, March 25, 2010 at his home in Atlanta, Georgia. He was 81.

26 March 2010 • reblog: makegoodart • sports news espn american football chet simmons

Go Beyond Standard Scoring Fantasy Football Leagues

The Importance of Exploring A Variety of Fantasy Football Leagues

Each year I participate in a variety of fantasy football leagues. I enjoy the challenge of using my fantasy skills and football knowledge in different ways. This season I have 3 ESPN Keeper Leagues: 2 PPR (points per reception) and 1 non-PPR. I also participate in an FSTA (Fantasy Sports Trade Association) Expert League that is PPR and hosted on myfantasyleague.com.

Currently in the ESPN leagues I am in first (PPR), 2nd (PPR), and 4th (non -PPR). In all of these leagues the top 6 teams make the fantasy playoffs, so I am in great shape for the playoffs. In the FSTA Experts League, I am in last place in my division. Since there are 2 divisions of 5 teams each and the top 2 teams in each division make the playoffs I have been eliminated from playoff contention.

The 2009-2010 season is my first as part of a fantasy football expert league. This has been a humbling learning experience. I learned that in PPR leagues it is very important to get at least one stud wide receiver and to wait on selecting a quarterback. I have also come to understand that winning in an expert league is a lot tougher. In the expert league my opponents are the best in fantasy football and I must face the fact that there are others out there with more skill and knowledge than myself.

Fantasy Football Leagues

PPR or Non-PPR? That is the Question!

Fantasy football is a popular pastime and there are many ways to play that game. Different types of leagues have different starting, scoring and team rules and requirements. So how do you know whether to play a PPR or standard scoring league? There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Points Per Reception leagues are dismissed entirely by some, however those who play understand PPR often creates a more exciting experience. I enjoy playing both PPR and Non-PPR since they both force me to strategize in unique ways in order to win.

FantasyFootball.com writer Jonathan Bales discusses this in a November 24^,2009 article. (1) According to Bales in PPR leagues “wide receivers instantly gain more value, and running backs who catch the ball out of the backfield (Ray Rice, Reggie Bush, Maurice Jones-Drew) see their value skyrocket when compared to those RBs who are not great receivers (Michael Turner, Adrian Peterson).” Bales continues to say, “that, if utilized correctly, a PPR scoring system creates fast-paced, high-scoring leagues where the value of each position, unlike in standard scoring leagues, is relatively even. The equalization of positional value makes drafts, waiver wire pick-ups, and even flex position plays more interesting.”

What are keeper leagues?

Keeper leagues allow team owners to keep players on a roster from one season to the next. The number of players an owner keeps varies generally from 2 to 5. KFFL.com writer Kevin Fitzpatrick believes, “While participants of all skill levels can enjoy single-season leagues, keeper leagues tend to cater to more advanced players, as the strategy, planning and knowledge required are more extensive. However, as the complexities of your fantasy football league increase, so, too, must the rules governing your owners. While a standard league can survive on a fairly basic set of regulations, a keeper league’s rules need to be more comprehensive.” (2)

I agree with this synopsis since the considerations of a keeper league differ greatly from those of a standard scoring league. In order to win you must think outside the box. If you want an even harder challenge check out a dynasty league. These are leagues in which almost every player on the roster can be kept from one season to another. The rules of these types of leagues are even more complex

Loser Leagues: A New Trend in Fantasy Football

Loser leagues are a new trend in fantasy football. Sites like Stinkball.com focus on predicting the worst players in order to win. Stinkball.com offers no draft, you simply pick the players you think will allow the most fumbles, sacks and interceptions each week. In loser leagues you must truly understand the scoring system and be aware of what is happening in the NFL since you can be penalized for choosing players that don’t actually play. (3)

Auction and Salary Cap Leagues

Auction leagues can be more difficult since team owners must know exactly what players to bid on since each owner begins the draft with a specified salary cap. (4) These types of leagues can be complex and fun. In salary cap leagues the player’s salary or value rises each week based on their performance and the points they’ve been awarded. Owners must build the strongest team without exhausting their funds; this requires more attention to variables not discussed on standard scoring leagues. (5)

Fantasy Football Resources:

(1)http://fantasyfootball.com/ppr-vs-non-ppr-weighing-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-point-per-reception-scoring/

(2)http://www.kffl.com/article.php/72775/

(3)http://www.stinkball.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=3&zenid=78c99ce98ad4c32cc481867f3ab81b5e

(4)http://www.pcdrafter.com/auction.shtml

(5)http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/fantasy-football6.htm

24 December 2009 • fantasy sports football play online games gaming vernon davis leagues teams free

A Fantasy Football Expert’s 2nd Half Predictions for the 2009-2010 NFL Season

At the beginning of the season many fantasy football experts made their predictions and backed them up with solid facts and expert knowledge. However, at the end of the day life and football aren’t always predictable so you watch, collect, analyze and synthesize data on games, players, coaches, teams and trends each season so next year you will have even more insight into how to dominate your leagues and win big.

So far the 2009 NFL season has produced some interesting twists, as well as fulfilled some of my expectations, but who knows what will really happen when we still have most of the second half of the season to follow. In September I made some pretty clear predictions about what teams would succeed and fail, in a few cases it seems I was dead on in my thinking, in other cases things have not gone as I planned. Here are a few examples:

My Best and Worst Predictions for the 2009-2010 NFL Season

My Best Prediction:
The Vikings and Saints would win their divisions.

My Worst Prediction:
Tampa Bay and the New York Jets would win their divisions.

My Thoughts on the 2nd Half of the 2009-2010 NFL Season

As we draw closer to the Super Bowl I think we are going to see a few key things happen. First, Dallas will win the NFC East. Second, Philadelphia and San Francisco will win the two NFC wild cards. Third, the NFC representative of the Super Bowl will be New Orleans or Dallas. Although New Orleans is the best team in the NFC right now Minnesota or Dallas have the strength and skill to beat them.

As far as the AFC is concerned I have been surprised at how well the Colts have played this year. Houston has also shocked me with their unbelievable inconsistency. I predict the AFC representative in the Super Bowl will be the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals have really been a surprise this year, however they do need to watch out for the Colts or the Patriots

The Best Games in the 2009-2010 NFL Season

So far this year the best games played have been the Patriots vs. the Colts on November 15, the Browns vs. the Lions on November 22 and the Packers vs. the Vikings on October 5. All of these games were memorable and exciting. Coming up I predict the Vikings vs. the Bengals on December 13 will keep everyone on the edge of their seats. This game will show us if the Bengals truly have a chance to make it to the Super Bowl or if Favre has the chance to end his career with a Super Bowl win.

The Cowboys vs. the Saints, scheduled for a rare Saturday game on December 19, should be a fantastic showdown. There is a chance the Saints will enter the game undefeated and the Cowboys are a team that could hand the Saints their first loss of the season. The Christmas day game featuring the Chargers vs. the Titans will be a treat. Even though the Titans haven’t lived up to RB Chris Johnson’s prediction that they would win 10 games in a row, they are still contenders for the playoffs.

Football: An Irresistible Addiction for NFL and Fantasy Sports Fans Alike

As the Super Bowl draws closer I expect to see even fiercer competition and any teams planning to step up their game in the 2nd half of the season will emerge in the next few weeks. As I said in the beginning life and football aren’t always predictable and sometimes the most exciting experiences come from what no one saw coming. This is why so many fantasy football fanatics are addicted to watching the games on TV and participating in fantasy leagues. I can’t wait to see what the final outcome will be this season and whether my predictions are correct or not I will enjoy the season to the fullest.

24 December 2009 • fantasy football sports nfl news fantasy leagues games ESPN predictions FSTA

Fantasy Football News: 2009-2010 NFL Disappointments

Who Fell Short this Fantasy Football Season?

Every year there are triumphs and failures, surprises and predictable behaviors that unfold throughout the football season. Sometimes NFL teams and players that evoked low expectations send a shock wave through the fantasy leagues with unbelievable, breakout seasons no one knew would happen. Other times teams and players let down both their regular and fantasy football fans by falling short of their best. I guess football players are human too, and no one can be at the top all the time. Here are some of this season’s biggest fantasy football disappointments.

Disappointment #1 Tampa Bay Bucanneers

Sometimes you consider taking a chance on a team. You have a feeling of inspiration and hope that this team can be more than anyone ever expected. Unfortunately you’re wrong. This year anyone who believed in the possibility that the Tampa Bay Bucanneers would be good realized they made a mistake. Tampa Bay stinks. It’s the simple truth.

Disappointment #2 Steve Slaton-Houston Texans

There’s no other way to say it except Slaton has been a huge disappointment. Why? Because he fumbles and he’s been benched. Early in the season the Texans misused his talents. Slaton is not a “between the tackles type” runner. First, the coach should have spread him out and used him in the passing game

Disappointment #3 Matt Forte-Chicago Bears

Matt Forte has not lived up to his superstar performance in 2008-2009. It’s hard to determine exactly what is holding him back, but it appears to be happening partially because the Bears are trying to emphasize the passing game and partially because Jay Cutler has been a disappointment as QB as well. Cutler’s inconsistency cuts down on Forte. In addition a lot of the wide receivers are inexperienced and lack a certain level of talent. Bears fans can hope Forte will be alright and pick it up when it gets colder because once they start pounding the ball and players get tired of getting run into by a running back over and over.

Disappointment #4 Laveranues Coles-Cincinnati Bengals

Although there is still a lot of talk about how Coles is a #3 fantasy WR and has the rest of the season to step up his game, the reality is he has not been so spectacular the first half of the season. Time will only tell if he can make up for his slow start or if he will end it by lowering fans’ expectations.

Disappointment #5 Texans Defense

I’m not no sure the Texans defense was a disappointment since most fantasy sports and football experts know they’ve been the worst in the league for some time now. If you were hoping to see a change this season then you are probably feeling let down this far into the season. According to NFL Fanhouse writer Stephanie Stradley in her article “Texans Defense Is the Worst in the NFL”, “The Texans defense has been worst-of-the-league bad over the last four years.” “Explanations for the predictable struggles are easier to identify than the solutions,” Stradley continues. If you’ve been hoping for this situation to turn around this season, I wouldn’t hold your breath.

24 December 2009 • fantasy football fantasy sports fantasy leagues sports nfl news players play football online online football online games gaming

The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.

—

-Vince Lombardi

About.com

29 September 2009 • fantasy football sports leagues play online games gaming fantasy online football

Fallacy Sports: A New Genre of Fantasy Sports

The Fantasy Sports Phenomenon

Fantasy sports are fast becoming a popular topic in the media today. Popular fantasy sports web sites like Yahoo! Fantasy Sports, CBS Fantasy Football, ESPN Fantasy Football and FOX Fantasy Football have all been created by internationally recognized media names and new ideas are being developed throughout the year by small and medium sized fantasy entrepreneurs as well.

In a March 2009 article titled “Best Startup Markets for 2009” by Karen E. Spaeder, a writer for Entrepreneur.com, Spaeder reports, “The Fantasy Sports Trade Association estimates that upwards of 20 million (primarily male) North Americans participate in fantasy sports leagues, with a market size of more than $1.5 billion, including sponsorships, endorsements, contest management and advertising.” As more people flock to fantasy sports the need for continued innovation and new ideas increases. There are a few fantasy sports experts making an effort to offer fantasy diehards new challenges and more niche oriented products.

Innovation and Imagination

Over the last few years a number of unique, fantasy sports web sites and online tools have been developed including fantasy football web sites, baseball web sites, racing web sites, draft tools, cheat sheets and more. One new, imaginative take on fantasy football comes from Jason McCoy of Asheville, North Carolina, the creator of a points-based, loser league style fantasy football contest on Stinkball.com. McCoy calls this genre of fantasy football “fallacy sports.”

McCoy attended the 2009 FSTA (Fantasy Sports Trade Association) Summer Conference and shared his new idea with FSTA members and experts. He received a welcoming response. According to Andy Behrens of Yahoo! Sports the fallacy sports concept behind Stinkball.com is “fabulous”*. Scott Swanay of FantasyFootballSherpa.com states on a Stinkball.com video, “I like it a lot. I think it is a unique take on things. It’s fun to think, okay, who would be on my Stinkball team?”* So, what is “fallacy sports” and what inspired Jason McCoy to take this seemingly backwards approach to fantasy football contests?

What is “Fallacy Sports”? An Interview with Stinkball.com Creator Jason McCoy

According to the online version of the Encarta World English Dictionary the word fallacy means:

“1. Something that is believed to be truth but is erroneous.
2. An argument or reasoning in which the conclusion does not follow from the premises.
3. The condition of being misleading or deceptive.
4. A mistake made in a line of reasoning that invalidates it.”*

McCoy called his web site Stinkball.com “Fallacy Sports” because members have to do their best to predict the NFL’s worst performances. The contests are points based so there is no draft. Members choose from a pool of all NFL players and follow specific rules regarding the times when individual players are available for inclusion in a team lineup.

“Essentially, I see fallacy sports like Stinkball.com as fantasy sports turned on its head,” states creator Jason McCoy, “It challenges experienced fantasy players to expand their thinking and make predictions based on an entirely new set of stats not often considered in traditional fantasy football.” “ My vision is to use the concept of fallacy sports to carve out a new direction in the fantasy sports industry,” continues McCoy, “Why only focus on the best players? In sports, like in life, nothing is perfect. We must consider ALL aspects of the team if we intend to play the game to win. Why not have fun while you are doing it?”

The Future of Fantasy Sports

As the fantasy sports industry continues to grow many experts predict fantasy players will see more niche marketed products and services, as well as new sports added each year. Whether it is fallacy sports or new drafting tools, you can expect there to be new, exciting ideas on the horizon each season. If you want to expand and enhance your fantasy experience be sure and stay up to date on the latest developments. For more information about the concept of Fallacy Sports visit www.Stinkball.com or check out our fantasy football blog.

*Sources
1. Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
2. Stinkball.com Fantasy Football Video www.stinkball.com