Sorry for the lateness of this article. My playoff video didn't go exactly as planned. I was still able to get the Preview video finished but you'll get the rest in written form. This season as a whole has been a mixed bag for me. While there's a couple of leagues I'm doing good to great in, including this one there's a couple that I'm doing just god awful in (Hello Jason). Even so this has been one of the funnest years I can recall. I think one of the main reasons is I haven't been as stressed out as I normally do in previous years. Nothing raises my blood pressure more than losing to a team that you were predicted to beat by 30 points. I think we've all been there at some point. And no matter how pissed and stressed I get I'm always back next week for more. I could even recall the moment that I officially got hooked. it was in 2015 I was leading my opponent by 15 points. I needed to win to clinch a playoff spot. It was a Dallas game, and all my opponent had left was Darren McFadden. It was already the fourth quarter with just a Little over a minute left in garbage time for Dallas. I then watched McFadden break off a 95 yard run to the house. 15.5 points in one play and I got eliminated. Needless to say, my computer monitor never stood a chance. But that one moment institutionalized me for good as the very next year, I started up a league called Fear The Walking Dez. I wonder what happened to that league? 10 years later here we are and one name change later. 

Another big reason I'm having a lot more fun this year is that there were hardly any issues in the league this year. The 12th team has always been kind of a rotating door. First Joe (RIP) then Dave, then John ($1000 for OJ Howard, anybody) and then the dumpster fire that was Lucas. I mean, I don't think I could even try to be as bad as he was. And he was a two time former champion so it's not like he didn't know what he was doing. 

Anyways, this year has been such a breath of fresh air, and I really appreciate all of you for being great team owners, and having great integrity. More importantly, I appreciate all of you being great friends. I've known most of you for years, and I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge each one of you. (even you Kevin)

Billy the Gambler - I guess there's no better place to start. This league was originally an extension of an NFL league called Red Starr, which Billy was the commissioner for a few years. He eventually asked me if I wanted to take over and the rest is history. As is the story with most of you, I met Billy when I started working for Aramark 17 years ago. Although we don't hang out nearly as much as we did back in the Tokyohana days (if you know you know) we still remain close, even after all these years. I know he hasn't been having as much fantasy success lately but I consider him a really good friend and I am fortunate that he has been in this league for all 10 years 

India the Dollmaker - Well Duh... Of course she's the greatest person in the world. Lol. India has also been in the league since it started. She was a former champion in the Redd Starr League and although she's come close, she hasn't been able to match that success. She's come close before, finishing in third place a few years ago. And she's been drafting live for the last couple of years too and is more involved on the waiver wire than in the past. But most importantly, she's been a huge part of my life for the last 17 years and I'm lucky to have her in my life. 

Travis the Onion - it's crazy that Travis has been in the league 4 years, but I've only seen him in person one time. He originally was splitting the league with a very good friend of mine, Mike Davis. One year later, Travis took over indefinitely, and he's been here ever since. With Best Ball there is definitely a learning curve, and Travis is a great model of consistency. Every year he gets better and better and even though he just missed out on the playoffs this year, he'll definitely be in the mix for years to come. 

Goose Killaz -  I met goose about 11 years ago at (stop me if you've heard this) Minute maid Park. He joined my league on day one, and has been with us ever since. I always enjoyed our post game drinking sessions usually in Jason's car. Although he hasn't had a lot of playoff success (2 Playoff runs) he has really improved his game the last few years. His draft results have been good to great the last couple of years and I think he had one of the better teams this year. Even better than mine but injuries unfortunately took a toll. That Amon-Ra injury really sucked for him. Regardless, he's usually always in the mix until the end. I think if goose gets a little more involved in the waiver wire in future seasons that could be a difference maker. 

Prestigious Kelly - The newest addition of the league, and a great one at that.  Aside from being a great team owner, Kelly has been very gracious and complementary towards me and the league which I really appreciate. I'm sure I'll get to meet you one of these days. I know it's only one season, but it looks like Kelly is here to stay.

Josh's Squad -  I met Josh about six years ago in another league called Shell, which I'm still currently in. I was really bummed out when he left the shell league but It ended up being a blessing in disguise as he ended up joining my league and has been here ever since. He's always been very complementary of everything I do and appreciates my efforts. I consider him a good friend, and really enjoy our occasional hangouts at Bogies in Pearland usually with Kevin. I'm sure Josh that you want to forget that night you closed down Bogies after me and Kevin left. lol. I've Been there before.  

Mr. Romo -  I've actually known Jason, the longest of anyone. 18 years. When I first decided I needed to bartend I realized that I didn't know what the fuck I was doing. Enter ABC bartending. I really looked up to his talents in the two weeks I was there. I said, if I could be half as good as he was, I would have a chance at bartending. Looks like I ended up doing OK for myself. As for Jason, after the bartending course I didn't speak with him for a few years until he started working for Minute Maid. We became real close working together for almost 3 years at the Jim beam bar. He's been in the league all but one year. Taking a one year hiatus in between. Even though life has thrown some curveballs at us me and him still maintain a close friendship to this day. 

Brandon's Balls - Brandon ended up replacing Jason at the Jim beam bar in 2019. A partnership that still stands to this day. He joined my league one year later, and won a championship one year later. He's usually always in the playoff mix even finding ways to Houdini himself into the playoffs the last couple of years. Me and him are like husband and wife working together sometimes. Apparently, I'm the wife because he always tells me I have to catch. (it's a prison thing) He's very knowledgeable in the service industry and makes me sound like a genius when I don't know what I am talking about. More importantly, me and him have developed a great friendship over the years that holds up to this day. 

Herman C - I met  Herman about 14 years ago at NRG, or maybe it was Reliant back then. I can't remember. Those were some real fun years back then. Mainly the drinking part but still fun. Herman joined the league in 2018 and although he's tried to retire from the league a few times I've done my best to lure him back in. Most recently with me and Kevin, posting a selfie with T-shirts that said "I suck at fantasy football" as collateral. Thankfully, he decided to stay. I couldn't imagine the league without him being a part of it. 

Eric the Asian -  You're not gonna believe this, but I met Eric at Minute maid Park, 17 years ago. Yes, that was sarcasm. He was the first person I worked with on my first shift in February 2008 and we became pretty close within that same year and have never looked back. I watched him transform from a single degenerate to a great family man with two wonderful kids and it's been a joy to witness. He's been a really great friend to me, and has really helped me in many ways throughout the years.  Also, equally as important, he is the person that got me into fantasy football. Although I didn't care the first couple of years, I eventually got my first taste of playoffs, and here we are now. In the league also since the beginning he is definitely one of the elites in the league. 

The Express Train -  I met Kevin through Eric about 10 years ago when I was looking for teams to fill the league on its first year. I quickly learned how good he was at fantasy football. Eventually, me, and Kevin started working together at some of my jobs and we were in multiple leagues together. Although that's not the case anymore, we always find time to shoot the shit about fantasy football, weather on the phone or in person which usually involves us hanging out at Bogies in Pearland drinking lots of booze with Josh. All gay jokes aside Kevin has been a great friend and I'm glad he has stayed with us all 10 years. Definitely the team to beat,  especially this year.   

This article went on way longer than I expected, but the point I'm trying to make is I'm very grateful to have all of you in this league and and I appreciate all of your compliments and kind words towards my efforts to trying to make this league the best I can. 

Well, I guess I should talk a little bit of playoff preview. 

I'm not gonna go into detail on the four bye teams. Just a quick look at the matchups this week. This was written on Saturday, so I will also include the Thursday night results. 

Romosexuals vs Bounty Balls

Brandon just barely gets the 8 seed just edging out India, by less than six points. He was very dreadful down the stretch, but did what he needed to do the last couple of weeks scoring just enough to grab the last playoff spot. His team averaged 168 points a game this season but he was able to score over 180 the last two weeks. On the flipside, Jason was on his way of having a stellar season until the last two weeks. He was averaging 193 points a game until the last two weeks. Even so he still averaging 186 points for the season. It was still a good season overall, but I can understand his disappointment, considering he was a 2 seed just a couple of weeks ago. His most notable losses have been Sam Laporta, who is more than likely out for the season and Dalton Kincaid who may return this week. He also has Treveyon, Henderson, and Stevenson on bye this week. Brandon will be without Marvin Harrison and Hunter Henry who is on bye which ironically enough Henry is the main reason he made it into the playoffs. As of right now, Jason got 14.7 from Javonte and Brandon got 18.44 from Dak. Brandon has two players on Monday, AJ, Brown and Barkley while Jason has all his players play Sunday. He'll definitely need to go into Monday with a decent lead to give him a chance at victory. 

That Asian Guy vs Prestige Worldwide

I said it in an article a few weeks ago to never count out the reigning champ, and it looks like I was correct. Although I'm sure Eric would agree his team has been underwhelming most of the year you wouldn't know by the results in week 13. He was only averaging 165 points a week before week 13 so It was a pretty impressive performance, most notable by him being able to pass up Travis, for the 7 seed which I thought was nearly impossible.  Eric will be without Drake Maye and Chuba Hubbard on Bye but he could possibly get Mike Evans back this week. Up until week 13 Kelly was having a really nice stretch run averaging 195 points the last four weeks before week 13. He's still having a solid season averaging just under 180 points for the year. He'll be without TMac and Singletary on bye. Kelly scored 63.36 points on Thursday getting a monster game out of Gibbs and acceptable starts from Teslaa and Goff. Eric held his own getting 30.6 from Jamo and Jake Ferguson. The only Monday player Eric with the Philadelphia kicker. This matchup could be wrapped up Sunday.

Good luck to all four of you this weekend.