JSM Cafe: Sports! by JSM80

Readers Tattooed their votes; Twins surging & Training Camps opening!

So the readers have spoken and in a bit of a surprise, "tattoo" was the narrow winner over "shaved head" in my playoff stipulation poll. So yes, should I fail to win my fantasy football playoff game this season, I will be sporting some new ink shortly thereafter, and contrary to public demand, the design & location will not be up for voting. I do, however, challenge my other league mates to follow my lead and show similar bravado and put their provebial money where their mouth is. But I'm not holding my breath on that happening.

It was the bottom of the eighth inning of Tuesday's all-star game when I finally made it home after running some errands. I was disappointed that I had missed --what I thought was--most of the game. Little did I know at the time that the game was only half way to its conclusion.

I really enjoyed the game, sure it wasn't the offensive highlight reel that most people have come to expect from an all-star game, but the numerous plays at the plate and the level of intensity shown by the managers as the innings passed presented its own sense of drama that you just don't see in typical exhibition games.

Just for the record, I have no issue with the game's format, and have always supported the idea that the game should mean something extra. This year's game was a good example of why adding meaning makes it better, because there is no question from seeing many of the faces involved and listening to the post game comments of both managers afterward that they both wanted to win. That is why the baseball all-star game remains far superior to those in other leagues.

Well on June 11th I publicly ripped the Minnesota Twins organization (don't believe me? Check out my June archives). They had just come off an embarrassing four game sweep at the hands of the Chicago White Sox and I questioned the front office's decisions & commitment to building a competitive team & chastized them for continuing to allow star players to leave town. Since that time the Twins have had the best record in baseball and are just a half game out of first place in the A.L. Central.
While I would like to take the credit for lighting the fire under this resilient team, it all belongs to a great coaching staff that continues to overcome a limited budget every season to field an overachieving club. Manager Ron Gardenhire remains the most underrated manager in baseball, in my opinion and should get some serious consideration for A. L. Manager of the Year.

According to the information I've gathered thus far, it appears as if (right or wrong) Viking's running back Adrian Peterson will "most likely" be the first player selected in our league draft next month. If that is the case, it could go down as one of the more gutsy #1 picks in recent years.
With our draft drawing just a week a way, I'm cringing at the possibility of being placed in that difficult position of having to make the call with the number #1 pick. Normally the easiest pick in the draft, this year it may be the toughest. Nobody wants to be the guy (or girl) that has to pass on either the local boy, Peterson or the proven Tomlinson.
For those wondering, I will not be updating my draft board rankings here at the site again this season, for purely competitive reasons. I am aware that many of my fantasy league associates visit the site regularly, so I have decided to withhold that valuable data that I've collected until after my fantasy draft has been conducted.
I will, however, be posting another 8 round mock draft board in August, this time using the ten owners in my league once our draft order is determined next week. Mock drafts are always a guessing game, especially this season. But they can also be a fun & valuable tool in predicting the mindset of the other players in your league.

It's hard to believe that several training camps are opening this week! Football season is back in full force & for fantasy owners, the preseason has offically begun.