[USML Announce] USML 2008 - 20th Anniversay Season

Fri Jan 11 12:19:06 EST 2008

I am out of town the weekend of March 22 and unavailable March 29.

I could be available March 30.

I'm torn between accepting the problems associated with a really early draft
as opposed to one that's unusually late -- I'll defer to the majority on
that issue.

I can be available the weekend of March 15 as well as the weekend of April
12.

-- Rich

  _____  

From: announce-bounces at usml.net [mailto:announce-bounces at usml.net] On Behalf
Of springkerb at aol.com
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 10:46 AM
To: announce at usml.net
Subject: Re: [USML Announce] USML 2008 - 20th Anniversay Season

I have conflicts the weekends of March 7-9 and April 4-6.  I strongly prefer
drafting early to drafting late.  I can do a weeknight draft.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew R. Klein <anrklein at yahoo.com>
To: USML Announcements <announce at usml.net>
Sent: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 8:57 am
Subject: Re: [USML Announce] USML 2008 - 20th Anniversay Season

The weekend of March 29th is hard for me, but any other weekend works.  I'd
rather draft really early (weekend of March 15) than April 11.  I could also
come in for a draft most Friday nights.

-Andy

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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