[USML Announce] USML 2008 - 20th Anniversay Season

Doug Shabelman doug at burnsent.com
Fri Jan 11 10:01:52 EST 2008


The weekend of March 22nd is out for me, otherwise I should be okay.

Doug

________________________________

From: announce-bounces at usml.net [mailto:announce-bounces at usml.net] On
Behalf Of Brad Jansen
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 9:28 AM
To: USML Announcements
Subject: Re: [USML Announce] USML 2008 - 20th Anniversay Season


Mark: I teach Mon. and TH, this semster if you are scheduling a
weeknight.  I plan my kids' spring break to be available for fantasy
baseball auctions and for the life of me after years of doing this I
cannot understand why the rest of you don't either.  This is your
passion, isn't it...the one day you're free to wear your goofy caps and
tee shirts and eat sugar and grease all day (and in Doug's case, well,
it's too early to go there to talk about the League's Party Boy...).
These dates should be etched in stone.  Anyway, your firm as a location
certainly works for me.  Thanks for all your efforts....hey, was I the
only one to get some invitation on MBB's behalf to join cbssportsline or
whatever? What's goin' on? 
BLJ
  
 
On 1/10/08, MBBlocker at aol.com <MBBlocker at aol.com> wrote: 

	

	Gang:

	 

	  Let the planning for USML 2008 begin!  Incredibly, this will
be our 20th consecutive season in existence.  For those who may not
know, our league's birthplace was a dingy, college-style apartment in
the heart of Lincoln Park.   Ten owners - including two of our league's
current members -- attended the inaugural USML draft in that tiny
apartment.  From those humble beginnings, we have persevered over 20
seasons, and along the way, endured multiple strikes, the Steroids Era,
and even the coming and going and then The Return of Brad Jansen.   But
I digress.  Let's get right to the matters that need our league-wide
attention (as opposed to, say, the NFL playoffs, which is only relevant
to half of the league's membership). 

	 

	  Draft Day:  The Major League Baseball season will begin on
Monday, March 31, 2008, so the question is whether we want to draft
before or after opening day.   The options do not look great either way.
The weekends of March 22 and 29 likely will bookend many school spring
breaks.  The weekend of April 4 is a non-starter for me because of the
Sidley partners meeting.   The weekend of April 11 is a possibility, but
well into the real baseball season.  Another possibility is to draft on
a weekday evening right before or after opening day.  Please send around
an e-mail with your availability and preferences for a draft date.   As
I get responsive e-mails, I will compile the information and
re-circulate it.

	 

	  Draft location:  My impression from Draft Day 2007 is that the
Sidley conference center downtown was perceived to be an excellent draft
site.   Let me know if anyone objects to holding the draft there again
this year.  Keep in mind it will be alcohol-free if we hold the draft
there.  

	 

	  Stat Service:  We will likely need to choose a new stat
service again this year.  It is pretty clear from last year that we
cannot stay with All Star Stats.   It was expensive and routinely failed
us.  Our prior service, TQ Stats, was and is inexpensive, but has not
received good reviews from those that used it last year.  Jeff Winick
and I have done some investigating and are inclined to try the service
offered by CBS Sportsline (the same company that runs the football pool
in which many of us participate).   The advantages:  it's run by a
reputable company, its cheap ($79 per league per season), and it appears
to offer all of the features we care about.  I have set up (but not yet
paid for) our league on the CBS Sportsline site, and you should each
receive an e-mail later tonight about accessing the site.   Please tour
the site and share any impressions you may have.  Also, if you have
suggestions for alternate website, please let us know.

	 

	  Rules Discussion:  Now is the time to start proposing any new
rules.  If there are any proposed amendments to our rules please
circulate those soon so we can debate them and vote.  If you are among
the minority that does not enjoy the rules debates, please just ignore
the e-mail traffic relating to the new rule topics.   I would prefer to
see proposed amendments circulated by the end of this month, with voting
on the rules in early February.  Let me know if you think those
deadlines are acceptable.  

	 

	  League size:  We currently have 11 teams.  Fruiter's recent
e-mail notwithstanding, I assume all current owners will be
participating in 2008 unless we hear otherwise.   If there is any
groundswell to expand to 12 and a willing owner is available, please
speak up soon.  Otherwise, 11 it is.

	 

	 That is it for the moment.  Another update will follow shortly.
Please send around an e-mail soon with your preferred draft dates.   

	 

	  -- Mark B.

	 




	
________________________________

	Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape
<http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489>
in the new year. 

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