'TIS THE SEASON!!

Tonight is the last night of the regular season. I LOVE this time of year. Hockey! Hockey! Hockey!

I've run a Fantasy League with a group of friends (not my friends because I'm high maintenance) for over 10 years. When it started, the stats were updated every Wednesday when the USAToday would post a comprehensive list of hockey statistics. I actually had to buy the USATOday every Wednesday. The stats were faxed to the General Managers every couple of days. They were 8 pages long. Along came advances in technology and the stat sheet is now a one page Excel spreadsheet (not counting the sidebet sheet. . .one of the more entertaining aspects of the league). I can now email the stats daily and verify the point totals when I feel the need. Recently, many sites (Yahoo, ESPN, etc) have developed online fantasy leagues. They are more involved and they keep track of themselves. In my opinion, they are not nearly as fun as the league that we started. The team's logo changes as the season goes on to reflect the performance of the team . . . . or the individual . . . .or it reflects something abusive that I just thought up. From Gimlets, Stanley Cups, Heather Locklear in a thong to toilets, tanks, logos of $60 (last place payup) and dumpsters, the league is fun, personal and entertaining (it can also be expensive if you make side bets while drunk at the bar).

The winner gets a Stanley cup plaque with their name engraved on it. Money spent during the year managing the teams is put towards drinks at the following years draft. A few people have drifted in and out, but by and large (not many people say "by-and-large" any more) it has been the same players since it's . . . what? Wyatt. . a little help. . . '94?

Sadly Team Pinchy didn't fair so well this year!

So as that ends, the next phase begins. Deemed by many as the best playoff pool ever, I have to gather playoff pool submissions from now until Friday at 7:00 (playoffs first puck drop). I started a playoff pool not long after the fantasy league. It's easy, cheap and the payout is big. More, you don't need to know players. This pool has gotten bigger every year that I have it.

The playoff pool has gotten to the point that I know about 20% of the people involved. I get emails from people who were referred by people who were referred by people who know friend of mine. As I type this, I'm thinking that I should post the progress of the pool on my blog. Hmmmmm! Anyway, ranking the teams from best to worst (16-1) is all it takes. The team gets the assigned points per win.

Of course, when life starts to get in the way, I have to stand up to life. With my travel for work sending me to California for a week starting Sunday morning, a Beef and Beer scheduled for Saturday night, and D&D scheduled for Friday night (that might get cancelled), it will be typing city from now untilthe puck drops on the playoff season.

Question to you Blogger Elite: Can you attach an Excel Spreadsheet to a blog?

Anyway, Go Flyers!!!!