What is the Purpose of Fantasy Baseball?

Okay, we are having a very stormy night in Georgia. The entire family is watching the weather carefully, considering we have tornado warnings all around us. What is my hubby doing? Watching Braves baseball (since it hasn't been rained out yet) oblivious to the situation around him. He is whooping it up because one of his fantasy players hit a home run...

Now what is the deal with fantasy leagues? You would think that these guys have enough sports to watch without making up their own baseball leagues. Do they not get enough sports coverage with NBA basketball still going strong and major league baseball now in full swing? In between games, we usually watch Sportcenter to fill the time and make sure he didn't miss anything. My guy watches sports around the clock, but apparently, that isn't enough! They have fantasy leagues to fill up more of their time.

Fantasy leagues exist during baseball, basketball and football seasons. In each fantasy league, there are a limited number of teams, let's say ten, for example. The guys have a team in the league and have a given number of real players on their team. They choose their players in a draft where each participant or "team" takes turns picking players. The best players usually go first and teams must pick players to fill all positions on the team. They can pick players from any team in the major leagues, for example, my hubby has players from Texas, Detroit, Boston, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Atlanta. After teams are chosen, the guys follow their players through the season and keep up with their stats such as batting average, home runs, stolen bases, and for pitchers, wins and saves. The guy's team with the best stats at the end of the season wins.

So, please let me know if you can find any logic in this fantasy league stuff. I just don't get how our guys have time to keep up with real sports and have extra time to keep up with pretend teams! Maybe I need to get that honey-do list out...

Oh Happy Day! The Boys Are Back In Town!

What a wonderful evening! I am sitting on the sofa with my hubby flipping between the 25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania and the season opener for Major League baseball with the Atlanta Braves v. the Phillies. I am totally on overload with all this testosterone!

Okay, I admit that it is very difficult for me to own up to being a wrestling fan. I need to give the credit (and the blame) to my darling husband who got me hooked on this soap opera on steroids! If it was just fighting, wrestling would be so boring. But, the WWE is the most entertaining and colorful show I have seen in a long time. With the dramatic and comedic story lines, special effects and pyrotechnics, it is just too much fun not to watch! We have the Undertaker who has an entrance worthy of Hollywood, Triple H with his huge muscles and sledgehammer, and Rey Mysterio, one of the best high flyers to be found. My husband and I have made Monday nights our "date night" when we sit in front of the TV, eat popcorn and watch WWE Raw!

But the highlight tonight is the opening of the Major League Baseball season! It's just synonymous with the coming of spring! A day at the ballpark with sunny blue sky, green, freshly cut grass, capacity crowd, and the smell of popcorn in the air! Can there be any better sign that cold weather is a distant memory! Our own Atlanta Braves had the privilege of opening the season this year and I couldn't be more excited. With all the rivalry between the Braves and the Phillies, it puts the icing on the cake to have the Braves win their first game of the season. It's nice that the Braves pulled this one out, but the important thing is that spring has sprung and the ballpark is calling!

Final Four is Finally Here!!!

Okay, I have almost made it thru the madness. Today, we are finally down to the final four! Taking a look at Uconn and Michigan St. and rooting for the Spartans 'cause my favorite local guy plays for them. See my previous blog: [Elite Eight Agony and Triumphs] Forget the stats and rankings, I'm still a girl and will pick my fave teams the way I please.

Doesn't really matter as far as my bracket anyway, since I had Louisville and Memphis and have already blown this side of the bracket. Now on the other side of the Final Four bracket, I got it goin' on! I'm right on target with NC and Villanova with NC to win it all. We'll see what happens, but I still have had a blast getting into this crazy madness.

With this madness experience under my belt, I have a new appreciation for these college athletes. With the pros in the NBA, they are paid for playing their hearts out, but it has become the exception at times to find players who do. College players do not get paid and some don't have any hope of making to the pros. But these guys have their hearts and souls in this game! These guys are so incredibly competitive, that we are gonna see the best they have to offer. The emotions are so high that there can be brawls (like I just saw on this game), tears of joy with a win and immense sadness at a loss. Seeing a grown man cry is a moving sight and a good example of how much these athletes have invested in this tournament as well as their entire college sports experience. These young athletes epitomize some of the best efforts in the world of sports.

A Quick Break From All This Guy Stuff

Okay, I know my main focus is teaching you ladies about sports. Yes, I'm sitting here flipping back and forth between Hawks v. Celtics and Braves v. Tigers in exhibition. But, with thoughts of April flowers and warmer weather, I am looking forward to getting my toes out of mothballs and jump into warmer weather. So, here is a requirement for all us gals as we head into spring!

Alright ladies, it's that time of year once again!!! I think we need to be reminded of a few things. So my sisters, PLEASE, raise your big toes and repeat after me below...

As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I pledge to follow the Rules when wearing sandals and other open-toe shoes:

I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.

I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.

I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.

I will shave the hairs off my big toe.

I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.

If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.

I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.

I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.

I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.

I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.

I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.I will promise to go to my local nail salon at least once per season and have a real pedicure (they are only $20 and worth EVERY penny).

I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear... nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals.

Don't keep this to yourself - pass it on to other sisters.

Yes, you can wear sandals to the ballpark! Happy Spring!!