Day: November 26, 2014

For the past few years I’ve been playing in a Turkey Bowl. It started right after I started playing these sunday morning pick up games trying to work my way back into shape. That last part hasn’t happened yet, but the fire of conflict hasn’t dimmed for me one bit. I love competition. I love going head to head against another person in a battle to see who is the better at anything. I always feel like I have a shot to compete–even if I don’t. Fortunately, in the world of Fantasy Football there is a degree of parity and always the outside chance to pull off the big win. This year I am in two leagues. One is with the Turkey Bowlers and my partner and I have to win out to get to the playoffs. A lot of that depends on our ability to gauge what kind of matchups are going to happen and be advantageous this week. In my other league I was able to recognize the Bellicheck strategy and started Tim Wright as a result. His pair of TDs put me over the top. Here are some tips from the waiver wire for those fighting for their playoff lives this week:

 

CHI over DET
The Detroit offense is reeling after two rough weeks in a row. On the other side of the field, Cutler isn’t sucking right now. So long as he’s throwing better than the cutlet, the upgraded fast pass attack ought to be enough to slow an awesome pass rush–especially when you consider the the use of RB screens. Invest in the Bears this week.

DAL over PHI
Dallas isn’t great. Philly isn’t great either, but the run game there is fast and effective. Still, it comes down to a QB who has been exposed once again. The Sanchize is making all the classic mistakes and getting scared. So scared that he’s going away from the best receiver and relying on match ups. DAL isn’t good but they are consistent at the corner position. 1-4 is about the same skill level… I believe Sanchize have another game where he throws one pick too many.

SF over SEA
Two struggling offenses clash. One is at home. The end.

SD over BAL
This is a very tough pick. After Forsett showed signs of life I became a believer in what the Ravens can do. However, SD has been playing much better after their lull and that could spell a loss for BAL.

CLE over BUF

TEN over HOU

IND over WAS

 

NYG over JAX
Odell Beckham almost broke the internet with memes of his ridiculous catch. Imagine the damage that would be done if the Giants actually lose this game. They can’t anyway. The line got much needed rest this week and will be back to playing as they did in the first half against DAL.

MIN over CAR

NO over PIT

OAK over STL

ARI over ATL

NE over GB

DEN over KC

MIA over NYJ
Starting Smith is about seeing if he is going to be a starter next year. He isn’t.

I spent the last week in DC, a stone’s throw away from my home in NYC. Though I didn’t go back, a piece of the city came to me in the form of my mother. She brought me a small treasure trove of memories dating all the way back to 1986. The items she brought helped sprinkle a smile on my face and served as a reminder that though we are not static beings, we are informed by our histories. As a result I’m taking these ten minutes to reflect on DC.

I went to the nation’s capital in order to attend the National Conference for Teachers of English (NCTE) and the young adult author’s workshop after (ALAN). From top to bottom the affair was a clash of social cultures and the coming together of a professional culture–the reader and teacher culture. Over time I’ve learned to mitigate my expectations about conferences. Often you get a lot of presenters rehashing ideas that have been around for a real long time but never formally published or presented, because the people applying the ideas prior to the publishers always viewed them as common sense.

Above all else I learned that nothing in common sense. If I have a really good and simple idea I ought to publish it and try to get on with one of these conventions. Likewise I learned that the people paid to speak at such things often do so for exorbitant fees or personal gain. Keynotes are exorbitant fee breeds, but writers and other ‘in the trenches’ folks are doing it for personal gain–usually for sales.

Some Thoughts:

1. Slow and sleepy night after hours on the plane.