League News Archives: Autumn 2008 to Spring 2009

Looking ahead
Information and speculation on the upcoming 2009 UFFL campaign

According to a recent post by Fleaflicker.com administrators on the company's message board, the website will be reactivated for the 2009 season by the end of the month. This means that any Fleaflicker leagues (not just the UFFL) can begin scheduling drafts or establishing keeper player lists as soon as the green light is given. Of course, for reasons too obvious and numerous to mention, these procedures will take place closer to the beginning of the regular season.

In the meantime, trades and drop-waivers can still be processed year-round, but no players can be added until after the draft. The 2009 UFFL draft order has been posted, but is subject to change, depending upon various factors.

Winners of league awards for 2008 have already been announced, and a questionnaire was recently distributed to current owners via e-mail. If you did not receive your copy of the questionnaire, e-mail the commissioner using the address featured on the contact information page.

In the meantime, keep checking out this website for new features throughout the offseason.

Baseball's back!
Registration for fantasy baseball has begun on Yahoo!

As previously reported on this website, I have created two private head-to-head fantasy baseball leagues at Yahoo! Sports, which are now open for registration. You may sign up for both - in fact, this is encouraged.

Ultimate Fantasy Baseball 2009 (UFB, for short) is a 10-team league (with an autopick draft) which has been around for several years. Previously, the league had 12 owners, but downsized after a few owners decided not to return. For those of you who competed in Ultimate Fantasy Baseball 2008, the rules and settings are identical. While there are many new faces participating from year to year, a dedicated core group of owners remains. If prompted, the league ID number is 25569, and the password is selig.

Roster Positions: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF, OF, OF, Util, SP, SP, RP, RP, P, P, P, BN, BN, BN, DL, DL, DL
Stat Categories: R, H, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, OPS, IP, W, Holds, SHO, SV, K, ERA, WHIP

Website - http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/league/ultfantasybaseball

On the other hand, '09 Fantasy Baseball Challenge (FBC, for short) is a brand-new eight-team league (with a live draft, to be held Friday, March 20 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern). This is my first attempt at using a non-autopick draft system for a sport other than football, and my intention is to make this a keeper league. In other words, I am attempting to create a baseball version of the UFFL. If prompted, the league ID number is 26150, and the password is phillies.

Roster Positions: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF, OF, OF, Util, SP, SP, RP, RP, P, P, P, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, DL, DL, DL
Stat Categories: R, HR, RBI, SB, TB, AVG, SLG, IP, W, Holds, SV, K, ERA, WHIP

Website - http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/league/fantasybaseballchallenge

One big difference between the two leagues (other than the ones mentioned above): the UFB does not have a playoff system, but the FBC does. The top eight teams will battle it out over the final three weeks of the season for the championship in the FBC. Also, the trade deadline in the UFB is August 16, but in the FBC it will be August 30.

Of course, many things may change between now and the beginning of the baseball season. I may have to reduce or expand the size of one (or both) leagues depending on fan interest, or I may add or delete some statistical categories. The draft date and time for the new league is flexible as well. I will only make the leagues public as a last resort, if we need to fill several slots.

... and NCAA tournament brackets are back, too!
I have also created an NCAA tournament bracket contest at Yahoo! Sports. There are an unlimited number of openings in this league. In order to register for the Ultimate March Madness Pickem contest, follow the link below:
http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/register/joinprivategroup_assign_team?GID=5019&P=vitale

This is the end, my friend ...
Super Bowl XLIII marks the end of an illustrious football season

The final game of the 2008-09 NFL season - Super Bowl XLIII, between the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers - closed the book on another exciting football campaign, and is still fresh in our minds. (Yes, I know the NFL Pro Bowl was played the following week, but did anyone actually watch the entire game from start to finish?)

While most of us who didn't have a strong rooting interest were apt to pay more attention to the commercials than the game itself - especially in the hopes of being able to see the "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" one-second Miller advertisement - there was something else at stake for the football fan who couldn't adapt to life without filling out weekly lineups.

We also found out who emerged victorious in the UFFL: Postseason Edition contest. Andrew So was the current leader heading into the championship game, but forgot to make changes to his lineup during the two-week hiatus between games. As a result, Jared Byrd, who had led the competition through the first two weeks of the playoffs, was able to eke out a come-from-behind victory by the slimmest of margins (only five points). To view complete standings for the competition, click here, or head to the Sporting News website, for a limited time, for additional information. You must be a participant in the league to view the latter page.

And the South shall rise again!
Southern Division beats Northern Division in a Pro Bowl nail-biter

For Southern Division head coach Calvin Brown, there was no doubt that his squad could defeat Jay Klinkhammer's Northern Division team. In fact, he was so confident about victory that he spent Pro Bowl weekend in New Orleans rallying quarterback Drew Brees (Pulverizers) to victory.

"Notice is served north," Brown stated in a message on the Fleaflicker message board Sunday, Dec. 28, prior to the big game. "Congratulations on your championship, but this game marks the beginning of Southern dominance for years to come!"

Brees went 30-for-49, with 386 passing yards and four touchdowns, as the Southern Division squeaked by the Northern Division, 138.76-132.21. His 38.44 fantasy points in the game were the most scored by any UFFL player in any starting lineup submitted this season. Wide receivers Andre Johnson (CheeseWhiz, 29.40 points) and Calvin Johnson (Cheeko Chiefs, 26.60 points) made the score close, but not even Adrian Peterson (CheeseWhiz, 11.15 points) could help Klinkhammer, whose regular season fantasy football team is named after him.

The first annual Pro Bowl was a huge success - and a way to generate interest into what would otherwise be a relatively dull portion of the NFL calendar.

He has done it ... again
Minnesota owner wins third championship in five seasons

A-Peterson Fan Club owner Jay Klinkhammer has won his second consecutive UFFL championship, and his third in the last five seasons, after defeating Jim Douglas' CheeseWhiz in UFFL Bowl VII, by the score of 122.87-111.66.

And while some may consider the team a dynasty now, even the current owner wasn't as optimistic about the team's chances earlier this year.

"I almost abandoned the team ... midway through [the season], because honestly my team looked awful," he admitted.

However, Jay's perseverance paid off, as he went 7-3 over his final 10 regular season games, following a 1-3 start, and won all three of his postseason matchups.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning (29-34, 364 passing yards, three touchdowns) led the way for the champions with 32.61 points. New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas (13 carries, 77 rushing yards, one touchdown) was another pleasant surprise, adding 13.15 points. San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (21-31, 287 passing yards, four touchdowns) was the top scorer for CheeseWhiz, with 35.33 points.

"Pierre Thomas wins me a league for the second straight season, and I dominate in points in Weeks 15 and 16 after backing into the playoffs ... AGAIN," Klinkhammer stated. "Not bragging, but ... good luck next year?"

Douglas, who was not immediately available for comment because he was on vacation, expressed his fear of an A-Peterson Fan Club victory during an exclusive interview Monday, Dec. 30. "I was worried he would win ... all he did was brag," he said. "His friggin player did me in - [running back Adrian] Peterson had a bad game."

In the third place game, A Fake Football Team, coached by Roy Bellamy, recorded a come-from-behind victory over The Catch, led by Andrew So, 114.14-97.98. Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (seven catches, 136 receiving yards, two touchdowns) led all scorers with 25.80 points.

Eight teams remain standing as the Ultimate Fantasy Football League enters its second week of postseason competition. A Fake Football Team and A-Peterson Fan Club upset their opponents in the first round, while heavily-favored teams such as CheeseWhiz and The Catch were able to advance as well. The losers from the championship bracket - Football Gal, Deltaman, bbashers and the Pulverizers - are finished for the season.

In the consolation bracket, Exit Strategy and the Steph Infections won their Week 14 contests, and face each other in Week 15. The teams they defeated, the Cheeko Chiefs and Craigntx, are squaring off in Week 15 in the 11th Place Game. All four of these franchises will be done for the year after this week.

Week 16, of course, will feature only two games - the third-place game, and, of course, UFFL Bowl VII. May the best teams win!

News and notes: The 2009 UFFL draft order will be created using a system similar to the National Football League. The league champion will receive the last pick in the first round, with the runner-up receiving the next-to-last selection. All other slots are based on regular season performance. From 2003 to 2008, every slot in the draft was based on regular season performance, leading to many instances where the champion did not draft at the end of a round. In 2002, a random draft order was used because it was the first year of the league ... Craig Hoffman is no longer the leader in the 2008 edition of the Yahoo! Football Pickem Challenge; George Thomas and Jared Byrd are in a two-way tie for first place, after Hoffman forgot to submit his picks for Week 14 ... League award winners for 2008 will be announced in the days following the UFFL Pro Bowl.

Playoffs?!?!?!?!?!?!

Dreams of championship glory dance in owners' heads

Believe it or not, the UFFL postseason is already upon us, and for the first time ever, all twelve franchises are still active. The eight best teams are playing in the championship bracket, with the four remaining teams competing in the consolation bracket.

Unlike last year's playoffs, the postseason will be a one-and-done affair; in other words, once a team loses, they are finished for the remainder of the year. As of right now, it is uncertain if the league will keep this format for future years.

Pro Bowl news: Congratulations to Jay Klinkhammer (Northern Division points leader) and Calvin Brown (Southern Division points leader). They will be the head coaches for the first-ever UFFL Pro Bowl, which will take place in Week 17. Click here for more information.

News and notes: Craig Hoffman had a winning regular season record in 2008, even though Deltaman allowed more points than they scored. However, what made this situation particularly interesting was the fact that his team only allowed two-hundredths of a fantasy point more than they scored (1300.07-1300.05) through the 13-game season. Hoffman currently is the leader in the 2008 edition of the Yahoo! Football Pickem Challenge ... The UFFL: Postseason Edition fantasy football game on the Sporting News website will be returning for the third consecutive year. Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, check out how last year's contest ended.

Let's (not) make a deal
Football Gal owner Mozelle Meyers has just rejected a blockbuster deal which would have sent New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson and Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White to her team from the Pulverizers, in exchange for Minnesota Vikings placekicker Ryan Longwell.

Initially, Meyers reportedly said yes to the deal, but when Pulverizers owner Jared Byrd asked for confirmation, she changed her mind. "I don't need another quarterback," she stated, when asked why she turned down the trade. Currently, Football Gal has New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre, along with Jacksonville Jaguars signal-caller David Garrard, on their roster.

Even though the fact that Meyers turned down a trade is hardly news (according to various sources, she has never made a trade in any fantasy sport), the failed transaction sent shockwaves throughout the league at roughly 7 p.m. Eastern time. Just minutes prior to rejecting the blockbuster, she disapproved a deal which would have sent Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith to the Pulverizers, in exchange for Tennessee Titans tight end Bo Scaife. Before saying no to the first deal, she gave a hearty chuckle, without any further discussion.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! The Ultimate Fantasy Football League has a lot to be thankful for this year, including the discovery of Fleaflicker as a worthy host. Additionally, every franchise is thankful for the fact that they will all be competing in the postseason, which gets underway next week. Seven of the eight teams have already been determined for the championship bracket, but several teams are still vying for better seeds and more favorable first-round matchups. To view the current playoff scenario, click here.

Miscellany: Updates to this website had not occured for several days, due to a series of technical difficulties which have since been fully resolved ... Despite being second in the league in points scored, the Pulverizers only have a .500 record (6-6-0) because they have also surrendered the most points. At the other end of the spectrum, the bbashers have scored the most points and given up the second-fewest, resulting in a 10-2-0 mark entering the week, including six consecutive victories ... Craigntx (3-9-0) has dropped eight straight, while the Cheeko Chiefs (3-9-0) have lost seven in a row. Both teams will end up in the consolation bracket of the postseason, joined by Exit Strategy (3-9-0) and either the Steph Infections (4-8-0) or A Fake Football Team (5-7-0). All other franchises will participate in the championship bracket.

News and notes: Calvin Brown has become the first coach to post at least 10 regular season victories in his rookie season in league history. The franchise's turnaround from last year, when they were 2-11-0 under Becci Domecillo, is also the biggest in UFFL history ... Mozelle Meyers is insured of recording her first season since 2003 with a winning record ... The league's trading deadline is Monday, the final day of the 2008 regular season.

Coming down the home stretch
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, here is what the postseason situation looks like at the moment:

The Catch (8-3-0) is currently in first place in the Northern Division, and has clinched at least a wildcard berth in the championship round bracket. Calvin Brown's bbashers (9-2-0) squad leads the Southern Division, and has also clinched a wildcard berth.

Victories by these two teams, combined with losses by A-Peterson Fan Club, CheeseWhiz (both 7-4-0) and Football Gal (8-3-0) would result in The Catch and bbashers winning their respective divisions.

A-Peterson Fan Club, CheeseWhiz and Football Gal have also clinched wildcard berths, in addition to the Pulverizers (6-5-0).

With wins in either of their next two games, Deltaman and A Fake Football Team (both 5-6-0) will clinch the final two slots in the championship round bracket. Steph Infections, Cheeko Chiefs and Craigntx (all 3-8-0) remain in the hunt for these slots, but it appears more likely that they will end up in the consolation bracket.

Exit Strategy (2-9-0) has been eliminated from both division and wildcard berth contention, and will appear in the consolation bracket.

Playoff picture rounding into shape
With only three weeks remaining in the regular season, the UFFL playoff picture is finally beginning to round into shape. The Catch (7-3), CheeseWhiz (7-3), bbashers (8-2) and Football Gal (7-3) became the first four franchises to clinch playoff spots in the championship bracket, and in a worst-case scenario, these teams will each end up with at least a wildcard berth.

During Week 10, the Cheeko Chiefs (3-7), Craigntx (3-7), A Fake Football Team (4-6) and the Steph Infections (2-8) joined Exit Strategy (2-8) as teams that have been mathematically eliminated from the race to win their respective divisions. However, this does not mean they have been eliminated from postseason contention; it simply means that their only hope to win the championship is by sneaking in via a wildcard berth.

There are several changes to the postseason setup for 2008, as a result of the move last offseason to Fleaflicker. As usual, the playoffs will run from Weeks 14 to 16, with the top eight teams being eligible for the championship. However, once any of these teams loses, they are finished for the year - in other words, there will be no third-place, fifth-place or seventh-place games in the championship bracket, as there were on Yahoo!

In addition, the consolation bracket will only run during Weeks 14 and 15, with the league's four worst teams playing against each other. As is the case with the championship bracket, this will be a one-loss-and-done competition. In previous years, the consolation bracket was intended for teams that had lost during the first round of championship bracket games, with the league's four worst teams being idle following the conclusion of the regular season.

Crossing over

Over a three-week period in late October, the Ultimate Fantasy Football League assembled its first-ever slate of non-divisional regular season games, where Northern Division and Southern Division franchises battled it out for league supremacy. For some teams, the non-divisional games were a much-needed shot in the arm to their playoff hopes, while other teams are undoubtedly overjoyed to get back to playing their division rivals. Here's a breakdown of how the teams fared:

* In 18 non-divisional games conducted between Weeks 6-8, the Northern Division won nine games and the Southern League won nine games - how's that for parity?

* A Fake Football Team, coached by Roy Bellamy, had lost five consecutive divisional games to start the regular season. However, they swept the Northern Division during their non-divisional matchups, and also won their Week 9 contest against Craigntx, to improve to 4-5. They would make the playoffs if the season ended today.

* bbashers, coached by Calvin Brown, was 2-2 through their first four games. After a win in a divisional game in Week 5, they also swept their Northern Division opponents, and won their fifth consecutive game in Week 9 against Exit Strategy, to move into a tie with Football Gal for best record in the league.

* Three teams who won't miss the non-divisional games are Craigntx, Exit Strategy and the Steph Infections, who went a combined 0-9. The latter two franchises are involved in a tight battle for the top selection in the 2009 UFFL draft.

* The Cheeko Chiefs and the Pulverizers went 1-2 during non-divisional play, while A-Peterson Fan Club, CheeseWhiz, Deltaman, Football Gal and The Catch were 2-1.

Miscellany: With their loss in Week 9, Exit Strategy was eliminated from contention for the Southern Division title. "I am the first one eliminated from contention!," owner Grace Cloud said. "Do I rock or what?" Ironically, UFFL commissioner Jared Byrd finished in last place this season in Cloud's NL-only fantasy baseball league.

Sage to the rescue

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, the first overall pick in the UFFL draft, has been released by Deltaman, after a miserable start to the 2008 season. Palmer was 75-for-129 with 731 passing yards, and had thrown three touchdowns and four interceptions. He missed three of the team's first seven games due to injury, and could end up being placed on injured reserve by Cincinnati.

This marks the first time in league history that the top draft pick has been released in mid-season. Houston Texans quarterback Sage Rosenfels replaced Palmer on the roster. To view other recent transactions, click here.

Miscellany: Congratulations to Jim Douglas, for being the last contestant standing in the One (Loss) and Done II Survival Football contest ... Craig Hoffman continues to lead the Yahoo! Football Pickem Challenge, with 67 correct selections through the first seven weeks of the season ... Week Eight will mark the last week of non-divisional regular season games.

A real football win

For A Fake Football Team owner Roy Bellamy, the lengthy nightmare is over. After a series of hard-luck losses, the team that made it to the championship game last season finally emerged victorious for the first time this year in Week Six, with a 98.83-84.34 win over CheeseWhiz.

In the seven-year history of the league, no team has ever gone winless or undefeated during the course of a season. No franchise has ever won fewer than two games or lost fewer than two games in any given year. Much of the reason for A Fake Football Team's slow start was out of the owner's control - their opponents had scored a combined 706.71 points through the first six weeks, an average of 117.79 points per game. The next closest team in terms of points allowed, the Steph Infections, surrendered an average of six fewer points per game.

A Fake Football Team's worst loss was in Week Five, when the bbashers defeated them by 38.7 points. Their four other defeats were by less than 20 points each - including a loss to Exit Strategy in Week Four by 4.6 points.

Miscellany: There are only two active contestants (Andrew So and Jim Douglas) remaining in the One (Loss) and Done II Survival Football contest, after two others were eliminated this week (Jared Byrd and George Thomas) ... A-Peterson Fan Club owner Jay Klinkhammer played Week Six without an active tight end on his team's roster, yet still managed to have the highest-scoring team of the week. He received multiple trade offers from bbashers owner Calvin Brown and Deltaman owner Craig Hoffman, but no deals were made ... Cheeko Chiefs owner Chad Fuller is searching for a running back, with most of the running backs on his roster sidelined due to a bye week. "L.J. [Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs], my only available running back, is suspended - although I am pretty sure I can get seven attempts, two yards out of someone else anyways," he said.

UFFL news and notes

Week Five: A-Peterson Fan Club owner Jay Klinkhammer recently announced that he was in the market for a tight end, and it wasn't long before bbashers tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (Minnesota Vikings) was offered as trade bait for nothing in return; however, the deal was rejected ... Football Gal lost their first game of the season in Week Five, meaning that there are no remaining undefeated teams in the league. However, A Fake Football Team is still winless, mainly due to the fact that they have had more points scored against them than any other team.

Week Four: Ironically, Mozelle Meyers became the first owner eliminated from the One (Loss) and Done II Survival Football contest, after having won the first installment of the contest during the first three weeks of the 2008 season ... Meyers improved to 4-0, despite leaving New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre on her team's bench (24-34, 289 passing yards, six passing touchdowns and 46.56 fantasy points). If not for the fact that he was benched, he would have won Week Four's UFFL Horse Trailer/Player of the Week Award, which instead went to New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, of the Pulverizers ... Last week, Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown (The Catch) became the first running back in league history to be honored with the Horse Trailer award. The award was created in 2007 ... Week Five will be the final week of UFFL divisional games until Week Nine ... Roy Bellamy is still looking for his first win of the season, following a late comeback by Exit Strategy against A Fake Football Team.

Outpick, outplay, outlast
Congratulations to Mozelle Meyers (pictured here with Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell), for winning the One (Loss) and Done Survival Football contest on Yahoo! Sports. In a game which started with six participants at the beginning of the regular season, only one made it through three weeks of NFL action without incorrectly picking the winner of one of the league's 16 weekly games.

In Week Three, Meyers correctly picked the Seattle Seahawks to emerge victorious over the St. Louis Rams, while Grace Cloud incorrectly selected the Green Bay Packers to defeat the Dallas Cowboys. To see the week-by-week pick selection, click here.

Because this particular contest ended so quickly, a second survival football contest has been created at Yahoo! Sports, in time for Week Four. Head to http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/survival, and register for the One (Loss) and Done II group. The league ID number is 30326 and the password is undefeated.

Miscellany: The Cheeko Chiefs have placed Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James on the trading block, making him the first player to be made publicly available for trading. Owner Chad Fuller is looking for a running back, wide receiver or tight end in return.

Injuries taking their toll
The first two weeks of the season haven't necessarily been kind to those who were designated as UFFL franchise players. Out of the 24 players who held this distinction, four are either sidelined for this week's games, or are in serious jeopardy of not playing or seeing their roles greatly reduced.

CheeseWhiz, coached by Jim Douglas, is probably in the worst situation, despite carrying an undefeated record into play this week. They lost New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to a season-ending knee injury during the opener, and just discovered recently that Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is questionable for Week Three with an ailing right hamstring.

Meanwhile, the Pulverizers may opt to use Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones in place of San Diego Chargers veteran running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who is listed as questionable with a right big toe injury. Finally, bbashers owner Calvin Brown will be without the services of New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston for several more weeks, as he recovers from a thumb injury.

Other high-profile players battling injuries include - but are not limited to - Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant (hamstring/probable), Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (shoulder/probable) and New England Patriots running back Laurence Maroney (questionable/shoulder), all of whom were taken within the first 13 picks of the 2008 UFFL draft.

Miscellany: Out of six entries in the One (Loss) and Done Survival Football contest, only Grace Cloud and Mozelle Meyers remain alive entering Week Three. If this particular game ends sooner rather than later, a second survival football pool for UFFL owners may eventually be created ... Douglas and Andrew So are currently tied for first place in the Yahoo! Football Pickem Challenge, with 21 correct picks out of a possible 32 over the first two weeks of the season, meaning they have correctly selected the winners of 65.6% of the games.