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Long Island Sound
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September 14, 2013
September 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
22: The New Face of Baseball – Andrew McCutchen
September 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment
In an era in where steroids and PEDs have tarnished the image of baseball and its players, there are very few pure American stars — yet alone any stars — left.
Ryan Braun has suffered a disgraceful fall. Alex Rodriguez is an afterthought. Barry Bonds was forced out of baseball six years ago. If you ask the uninformed fan who the next face of baseball is, I’m sure that there would be a lot of pauses before he answers. Well, I have a simple suggestion for you. You take the best player on one of the the best teams in baseball. How about the Pittsburgh Pirates?
Yes, those Pirates. For Pittsburgh sports fans, many are used to boasting about Ben Roethlisberger or Sidney Crosby, but they have a new superstar to talk about, Andrew McCutchen.
”Cutch” has steadily progressed since making his debut in June 2009. The right-handed hitting center fielder is the total package. He has speed like a gazelle. He shows his power by hitting it to all over the field, including over the fence. He covers ground like a sumo wrestler. Most importantly, he plays the game the right way, free from off-the-field temptations and PED use.
In January, McCutchen was announced as the cover athlete of the baseball video game MLB 2013: The Show, where he beat out CC Sabathia in fan voting. After making the All-Star team for three consecutive years, Cutch is slowly starting to be the face that baseball desperately needs to carry its torch. Just like the Pirates, he is walking the walk with style and class. They don’t the need the media attention that the other teams get to prove their greatness.
Social media is a new tool that players like Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth never experienced. Typically, the media helps create these superstars who play in big markets such as New York or Los Angeles. And given the fact that the Pirates have played in a playoff game since two days before Bryce Harper was born, they have not received much attention from the fans, and especially the people who just tune in to watch during the playoffs. McCutchen is putting Pittsburgh on the map. This Wednesday, ESPN televised the Pirates playing on the road against St. Louis, a game in which the Pirates won easily. It was very symbolic for Cutch and his Buccos.
Given the state of the game rife with scandal and steroids, baseball must utilize their superstars to get fans interested again in watching the game. It starts with finding the right players who epitomize the perfect balance of excellence on and off the field. And Cutch hits a home run in regards to those statistics. He is very proud of who he is, where he came from, and what he is on his way to doing. Young kids learning the game need a role model like this to learn how to play the game the right way, with hard work and dedication. He was drafted out of high school, worked his way up, paid his dues and is now thriving as the cornerstone of the Pirates organization.
Meanwhile, he is leading his team to their best season in ages, and given a terrible collapse, we will be seeing the Pirates playing ball in October for the first time in a long time. Cutch has been there through thick and thin, and did not choose to abandon ship to cash in on a bigger paycheck. He signed a 6-year, $51.5 million extension with the Bucs, showing that he plans to play in Pittsburgh for a very long time. His loyalty to his team and city is commendable and another positive character trait that kids growing up can follow. Very few superstars in any sport these days play with one team their entire career.
McCutchen is a rising star for a rising franchise. He has made Pittsburgh a baseball city again and has the rest of Major League Baseball buzzing as well. Steroids and PED use has given the sport a major black eye, especially with the Braun scandal. Now, Cutch emerges as the new face of a sport that needs a face lift. His skills are elite, his team is playing like it belongs in the World Series and he does this with class personified. He never promotes himself as a superstar, and these days, he does not have to. The Pittsburgh Pirates are back and Cutch is here to stay. Baseball has a new golden boy, and they look to Buc the trend of scandal and negativity into a new era of excellence done in the right way, on and off the diamond.
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Paul Culley
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Fantasy Football Preview: A Guide to Win Your League
August 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Who to Target, Who to Avoid
Round 1:
Yes, you’re going to want to go RB here, big surprise. The only non-RB I’m targeting is Calvin Johnson. Outside of Megatron, I’m taking a top-12 back to help sure up that position.
Who to Target:
CJ Spiller: Spiller’s going to have a monster year. Barring injury I’m willing to put my fantasy credibility on the line and say he’s a legitimate candidate to rack up 2000 total yards. He’s my No. 2 pick after Adrian Peterson.
Doug Martin: Dougie has my attention. I think he’s worth the third pick considering he’s got an elite offensive line clearing holes for him and Greg Schiano said the Bucs will be leaning on him. If he and his line stay healthy, look for his numbers to improve even after a stellar year last season.
Ray Rice: I’ve seen Rice fall out of the top 5. At six it’s a no-brainer. Many are afraid of him due to the slight emergence of his backup, Bernard Pierce. Pierce is an added bonus in my eyes. John Harbaugh has said Rice will be lined up in the slot when Pierce is in the backfield which sounds like PPR gold to me. Pierce can also keep Rice fresh throughout the year which could bring a welcomed consistency to Rice’s fantasy performance. Draft Pierce as an insurance policy.
Calvin Johnson: If I don’t get AP, Spiller, Martin or Rice and I’m sitting at six with Megatron on the board, I’m taking him. He’s a monster in PPR leagues and I think his TD numbers will be up a whole lot from last year. Calvin owners from last year won their league 25 percent of the time, the highest winning percentage by any player outside of AP. Expect to get Stevan Ridley and Darren Sproles as your first and second backs and I’d recommend going after a Shane Vereen or Daryl Richardson as well. Either way you’ll want to pay attention to the RB position later in your draft.
Al Morris/Matt Forte: These two are going at the end of round one and in some drafts, the beginning of round two. If you have the last pick this year there’s a good chance you end up with both of these guys. You gotta love that. When it comes back around you can focus on snagging a couple high-end WRs. You could take one WR and an elite TE or QB such as Jason Witten or Drew Brees/Aaron Rodgers, a really solid draft strategy.
Who to Avoid:
Jamal Charles: I had a terrible experience with Charles, taking him with the No. 2 overall pick the year he tore his ACL. I may be biased on this guy, but I’m not convinced he’s who I want to count on as my No. 1 RB. I look for reliability with the first RB I take enabling me to take risks on high upside guys later. If you must take Charles, look to follow him with a pick like Ridley. I like Ridley’s ability to remain consistent.
Arian Foster: I love Arian Foster, I took him first overall last year and won my league thanks in large part to him. There are so many questions surrounding Foster this year I’m almost sure I’m avoiding him completely. The only chance I’m taking Foster is if he falls to me at six or later and Megatron isn’t available. I don’t think that will happen in most drafts. If you take him, Ben Tate is a must-draft later on.
Marshawn Lynch: Why did the Seahawks take a RB in the second round in this year’s NFL draft? On top of that Christine Michael has really impressed in camp and in preseason games. He could steal a few carries. Plus Lynch doesn’t really catch the ball. I’d take him if it was between him and Morris at the end of the first, but that seems unlikely.
Jimmy Graham/Dez Bryant: Expect huge years for these guys. I want them both on my team. But I’m not spending a first-round pick on either.
5 Sleeper WRs to Keep Your Eye On:
Justin Blackmon: Blackmon isn’t that under the radar; however he’s still going extremely late in drafts for some reason. Even with the four-game suspension he’s worth it because by the time he falls in drafts teams already have their starting WRs as well as a backup or even two. You can’t go wrong with Blackmon. I’m sure he’ll produce even with the QB situation in Jacksonville. The old Phil Simms quote applies here, “even when he isn’t open, he’s open.” I could get this guy the ball.
Kembrell Thompkins: Another guy who the secret is out on. Thompkins is going to start alongside Danny Amendola and we don’t see Amendola playing a full 16-game season so Thompkins may be the No. 1 in some weeks. This kid is going a round or two after Blackmon, so when you take him it’s most likely you’ll already have 4 WRs. You have to take him if that’s the case. He could be a 75-plus reception guy as he’s run both the deep routes and the Wes Welker-style routes for the Pats.
Markus Wheaton: Wheaton can absolutely fly. Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown are the starters for the Steelers but expect Wheaton to be on the field a whole lot for Pittsburgh. The Steelers could cause some problems for defenses with both Brown and Wheaton out there. That’s a serious amount of speed.
Kenny Stills: He’s the third WR for New Orleans and he’s a talent for sure. Drew Brees has already shown a lot of trust in the rookie in just a few preseason games. He’ll go undrafted without a doubt, so pick him up if you don’t like how your WR corps looks immediately after your draft. After 70 yards and a TD in Week 1 it will be a race to waiver wire for him anyway.
Brandon LaFell: LaFell showed he can contribute as a No. 2 receiver for Carolina. Cam Newton has found him in the red zone a few times as he’s much bigger than Steve Smith. If you need a fill in, you could get a TD out of him.
5 Sleeper RBs to Keep Your Eye On:
LaMichael James: The 49ers began to get him involved last year and this year he should see even more action. James possesses big play ability and is the young guy knocking on the old veteran’s door. I remember a similar situation last year in San Fran involving a former No. 1 overall pick and some guy name Colin Kaepernick. Hmm.
Christine Michael: This kid fits right into the “beast mode” mentality in Seattle. Michael is a physical runner who punishes defenders with every attempted tackle. The Seahawks drafted him in the second round with no apparent need at RB, so we ask… Why?
Knowshon Moreno: Still can picture him leaping over defenders in that Georgia uniform. He’s a talented player who came on strong after Willis McGahee went down last season. He is probably the most seasoned RB the Broncos have when you factor in pass protection, ball protection and receiving ability. He’s worth the late pick it costs to get him.
Kenjon Barner: Jonathan Stewart’s been placed on the PUP list and even after he gets back I feel the tiny Oregon product, Barner, can show he deserves his touches. If he outplays DeAngelo Williams in the first six weeks, look out.
Isaac Redman: Went undrafted in my 12-team PPR high stakes league. I scooped him off the waiver wire because LeVeon Bell’s out for awhile and sure enough Pittsburgh named him the interim starter. Nothing special here but he’ll carry the ball more than anyone on his team. There are only 32 of those guys out there ya know.
The Trick to Adding Depth and My Famous Jason Witten Pick
Year after year my favorite player to draft is Jason Witten. For the past two or three years explosive guys like Jimmy Graham and Vernon Davis garner all the attention and it’s made it even easier for me to go under the radar and snag Witten in the fifth round. At that point I have my starting RBs and WRs, and while people are “adding depth” at those positions, I’m stealing a 20-30 point player (referring to points per game) giving me an edge every week at the TE position.
The only matchup I’m losing is Witten vs. Graham (or Witten vs. a healthy Rob Gronkowski) and even then I’m competing with them, scoring enough at the position to allow my other players win me the week. Graham goes in the mid-to-late second round and scores a little more than Witten. Witten goes three rounds later and really gives you an edge since you took a stud RB or WR in the same round that Graham was picked.
With the next two picks you add either another RB and WR, or one of the two and an elite QB who’s fallen right to you. I find myself in this position every draft, a possible top-three guy like Tom Brady or Tony Romo falling right in my lap in the seventh round holding a big sign saying, “Draft Me!” So through seven rounds all starting positions (outside of DEF/ST and kicker) are filled and everyone of those guys flat out score points. Plus, you have the luxury of not having to worry about a finding a QB who can get you 20 points weekly or a TE who’ll get you 10. Why? Because you stole both Witten and Brady/Romo, who can be counted on to score a substantial amount of points throughout the year.
Now you can focus on depth. You already know you’re getting points from your workhorses. Now is the time to take risks and target sleepers or undervalued guys. Snatch up guys like Kenny Britt or Lance Moore, DeAngelo Williams or Daryl Richardson adding more starters for their respective teams and late at that. Then take your risks like Kenbrell Thompkins or Justin Blackmon. Then add a solid defense and kicker one round earlier than most in an attempt to get a leg up on those positions knowing you can get Kenny Stills or Isaac Redman (who have been going undrafted) with your last pick. A good defense and kicker to target just a tad early would be New England and Sebastian Janikowski. Try it out in mocks and see if you like your team. I always do.
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Christian Stinchfield
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August 26, 2013
August 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Cover 4 presents you another installment of The Sound Off by Long Island Sound…
Let us know what you think!
College Football Top 25 Team Mottos
August 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
We are officially a few days away from the kickoff of college football, meaning that my Saturdays will soon become incredibly unproductive. Coaches are planning, players are practicing and fans are buying gear and beer in preparation for the season. Every team is hoping for success, and success requires proper motivation. Coaches often come up with motivational sayings or quotes to inspire their team to victory. Here’s a look at what the mottos for the Associated Press’ Top 25 teams should be this year.
1. Alabama-“Roll ‘Bama roll”
Alabama enters the season as the early preseason favorite and for good reason. The powerhouse program has won three of the past four national championships and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Head coach Nick Saban has the Crimson Tide rolling and you better ride the wave or get the hell out of the way.
2. Ohio State-“Win when it matters”
Ohio State couldn’t go to a bowl game last season, but Urban Meyer led them to an undefeated season. I would take that trade all day. Let’s see if the Buckeyes can repeat and get themselves into the national championship picture. Meyer began the string of seven consecutive championships for the SEC back in 2006, but his Ohio State team will need to win big if he hopes to end the SEC reign.
3. Oregon-“Win the day, especially when it’s in November”
Chip Kelly may be gone, but the Ducks still have high expectations for themselves. What has been the biggest downfall for the Ducks the past two years? How about losses in back-to-back years during mid-November. You don’t make the national championship game when you lose that late in the season.
4. Stanford-“Nerds do it better”
Just look in Sports Illustrated and see Stanford linebacker Shane Skov embrace his nerd-athletic freak combination. Not only can the Cardinal beat your football team, but they probably murdered your SAT score as well. David Shaw has run a hell of a program, keeping the Cardinal relevant through a coaching change and the loss of Andrew Luck. Stanford-Oregon will be one of the games of the year and just may be for a national championship berth.
5. Georgia-“Beware of Dawg”
The Bulldogs made it into the SEC Championship last year and very nearly knocked off Alabama. Georgia won games because of its offense and is bringing back 10 starters from that unit. Opposing teams’ defenses better be ready if they hope to stop the Bulldogs. Georgia will live or die though with its defense as eight new starters will have to face Clemson in their first game. If it makes it through the fire early, Georgia will emerge as a strong contender.
6. South Carolina- “WWCD-What would Clowney do”
Unless you haven’t seen SportsCenter in the past year, odds are you’ve seen Jadeveon Clowney’s ridiculous hit, forced fumble and bear-paw fumble recovery against Michigan last year. The future NFL No. 1 pick sets the tone for South Carolina and every player should try to mimic his inhuman athleticism. Steve Spurrier should tell every player to think what Clowney would do on the play — make the hit, grab the ball, dodge some bullets and score a touchdown. Clowney is so feared that he is the only man that can scream “go Cocks” while cheering for his team and no one will laugh. The Gamecocks have talent and that talent could lead them to a title game.
7. Texas A & M-“The Twelfth Man isn’t the guy asking for autographs.
Apparently Johnny Manziel thought the Twelfth Man was the guy who pays you for your autographs. Texas A&M is sitting in some hot water over the recent autograph fiasco and even implemented a new policy against signing memorabilia. The Aggies need to shift the media away from Manziel and focus on winning the SEC.
8. Clemson-“Live up to the expectations.”
The Clemson Tigers won 11 games last year and have earned themselves a No. 8 preseason ranking. If the Tigers can make it past Georgia in week 1, they will make a statement and start to expect more than just an ACC Championship. Clemson’s goal should be to the first team that comes to mind when someone says “the Tigers did well this week.” You’re ranked higher than LSU right now, try to keep it that way.
9. Louisville-“Never make an insurance claim.”
Lousiville’s hopes rest on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and his $10 million insurance policy against a career-ending injury. If the Cardinals hope to enter the BCS picture, they’ll have to make sure that insurance policy never gets claimed. If you insured your expensive house, you better have a good fence around it. There will be a lot of pressure on Louisville’s offensive line to keep its house protected and safe.
10. Florida-“It’s MusCHAMP, not MusChump”
Nobody expected the Gators to go on the tear they did last year and coach Will Muschamp seems to know what he’s doing. Muschamp went 7-6 his first year, 11-2 his second, and he’s looking for a championship in his third.
11. Florida State-“I’m gonna get some cheeseballs anyway”
Jameis Winston has the potential to be this year’s Johnny Manziel, not only because his athleticism, but because he too has a huge personality. For instance, when asked if he would give up a national championship for a lifetime supply of cheeseballs (Winston is known to LOVE cheeseballs) he replied, “I would not, BUT I’m gonna get some cheeseballs anyway.” So, here’s to Winston leading Florida State to a national championship and getting those cheeseballs while providing us with more ridiculous quotes.
12. LSU-“We got Les but we need more offense”
The Tigers lost their games because of their lack of offense. The LSU defense was top 10 in nearly every defensive category and was the reason that it won as many games as it did. LSU needs Zach Mettenberger to play well and Cam Cameron needs to redeem himself for almost preventing the Ravens from winning the Super Bowl. The Tigers are going to need a little more go from the offense if fans hope to be cheering Geaux Tigers this season. We’ll find out their offensive skill early as the Tigers take on TCU in week 1.
13. Oklahoma State-“The best defense is having a good offense”
Oklahoma State better hope this is true because there are some major questions surrounding its defense this year. Its saving grace may be its offense where Jeremy Smith looks to continue where Joseph Randle left off and OSU’s endless supply of talented receivers continues with Josh Stewart. The Cowboys will need to avoid having their defense hold them back again this season if they hope to make any noise.
14. Notre Dame-“Play like a champion today, even though you couldn’t against Alabama”
Between the Manti Te’o embarrassment and the spanking put on Notre Dame by Alabama during the national championship, it’s easy to forget the Irish had an undefeated season. While the Irish went from unranked to BCS berth last year, they will need to do some serious praying if they hope to end up back there. Tommy Rees is back in the saddle at the quarterback position with Everett Golson suspended. Rees will need to vastly improve to give Notre Dame a 10-win season.
15. Texas-“Don’t mess with Texas, please Oklahoma?”
Few rivalries go as deep as the Red River rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma. Texas fans are fine with not winning a championship, not winning 10 games and losing in a bowl game. However, they HATE losing to Oklahoma, and the Sooners have now crushed them two years in a row. If Mack Brown and the Longhorns don’t step it up against Oklahoma this year, expect some heads to roll.
16. Oklahoma-“Boomer! Let’s play Texas Sooner”
Oklahoma will aim to win the Big 12 and make it three in a row against Texas. Even more important is for the Sooners to get back in the BCS picture. The Sooners are now three years removed from their last BCS bowl. This Oklahoma team lacks the usual preseason hype. I don’t see it making too much noise in the BCS and think it’ll have its hands full against Texas this year. However, if it pummels Texas three years in a row, Bob Stoops will keep Sooner fans smiling.
17. Michigan-“Defend the Big House”
The schedulers looked kindly upon Michigan this year as they gave it Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State all in Ann Arbor. If the Wolverines can manage to hold down the Big House, it’s easy to see them in the Big Ten championship and potentially the Rose Bowl. Expect the Michigan-Ohio State game to potentially shake up the BCS picture, and for the Big Ten championship to be a rematch of the two teams the next week.
18. Nebraska-“Pound the rock”
Not only is this a saying on the huge rock by the Cornhuskers locker room, but it should ring true this year. Nebraska’s offense looks to be the most dominant in the Big Ten and will put up points all year long. With Taylor Martinez, Ameer Abdullah and Kenny Bell returning, the Huskers offense can be scary. The Huskers will move the ball, but their defense’s inability to stop it could ruin their season.
19. Boise State-“We still hate the BCS system”
It’s entirely possible for Boise State to go undefeated this year and still not make it to the BCS Championship game. Boise State moved to the Mountain West conference but its two most difficult games this year will be out of conference teams BYU and Washington. If you’re a good team joining a new conference, make it an automatic qualifier next time.
20. TCU-“No longer tadpoles, fear the Frogs”
TCU had a little bit of a rough introduction in its first year of the Big 12. The Horned Frogs will have an opportunity to make some noise early when they open the season against LSU. If TCU can beat LSU, they’ll set the tone for the rest of their season and put some fear in the rest of the Big 12 teams.
21. UCLA-“We want Mora what happened last year”
Last year was an incredible success for new UCLA coach Jim Mora. Mora won the Pac-12 South and defeated USC. UCLA fans couldn’t ask for much more. Mora may have a more difficult time winning this year with away games against Nebraska, Oregon, Stanford, and USC. Can UCLA beat USC in the Coliseum and show that LA’s football monopoly is over? Or was last year just a fluke?
22. Northwestern-“More is always better”
Northwestern had one of its best seasons last year and will try to build off of it. Northwestern takes the idea that more is better to heart. Not only does it hope for more wins, but its success comes from utilizing as many players as possible. Why use only one quarterback when you can use two? Let’s throw in three running backs and seven different receivers. The strategy kept opposing teams unprepared and uncomfortable, and Northwestern is hoping for more of what happened last year.
23. Wisconsin-“Jump Around”
Not only is Jump Around a stadium tradition for fans, but the Badgers will need to do it to be successful. With Montee Ball leaving to the NFL, Melvin Gordon and James White will attempt to replace the former leading rusher. If the ball hopes to move, the entire offense will need to jump around opposing defenders and into the endzone.
24. USC-“Fight On! And out of the embarrassment”
If it wasn’t for Marquise Lee, last year would have been an entire embarrassment for the USC football program. As a USC alumnus and fan, I watched my team plummet from preseason No. 1 to completely out of the rankings. Throw that in with an abysmal bowl performance and loss to UCLA and you have a failure of a season. Lee is arguably the most talented football player in the country and will be looking to further improve his draft stock this season. USC hit rock bottom last year, let’s see if it can fight its way back into the college football’s elite.
25. Oregon State-“Beavers are best at building”
The Oregon State Beavers had a quiet 9-4 season last year and will be hoping to build off that success. Mike Riley will have to show that last year wasn’t a fluke and that two teams may soon be relevant in Oregon. With games against Stanford, Oregon and USC, the Beavers will have their hands full.
Revisit: The Cover 4 Bracket: Final
August 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Cover 4 wanted to revisit our Hottest Female Athlete voted on by the Fans again!
Alex Morgan v Ellen Hoog!
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We have finally made it! This is the Championship of the Hottest Female Athlete (Post 2000) voted on by you; the fans. Do some of us at the Cover 4 agree with this, absolutely not, but the public has spoken. I mean these poll decisions are similar to what we all have to deal with in every day life…
In order to refresh your memory, we have presented a small collage for each loverly lady with a brief background for your review.
Here is your Championship:
Name: Alex Morgan
Seed: 1
Path to the Finals: Laila Ali, Caroline Wozniacki, Lindsey Vonn, & Amanda Beard
Sport: Soccer
Date of Birth: July 2, 1989
Country: United States of America
Relationship Status: In a Relationship
(1) Alex Morgan (Soccer)
versus
Name: Ellen Hoog
Seed: 4
Path to the Finals: Gina Carano, Anna Kournikova, Maria Kirilenko, & Leryn Franco
Sport: Field Hockey
Date of Birth: March 26, 1986
Country: Netherlands
Relationship Status: Single (Cover 4 reports no boyfriend. If she does, it’s not Facebook official, so it’s not serious)
(4) Ellen Hoog (Field Hockey)
The Sound Off by Long Island Sound
August 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Cover 4 presents you The Sound Off by Long Island Sound…
Let us know what you think!
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Long Island Sound
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Don’t Be “That Guy” During your Fantasy Draft
August 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
It’s officially August, and that means it’s the time of year that sports fans forget about all other fantasies that don’t involve fantasy football. Although many of us have been doing mock drafts and rating running backs since the Super Bowl ended, draft time is officially right around the corner. With crimes being so rampant in the NFL right now, I’m here to make sure you don’t commit one during your draft. Don’t be the one who ruins their league’s draft and gets his trades vetoed all season long. Everyone hates “that guy.” Nobody wants to be “that guy.” So, don’t be “that guy.” Protect yourself and don’t act as any of the following:
The Delay of Game
Don’t be the guy who shows up late to his draft. Odds are you’ve known about the date and time for weeks. If you’re doing an online draft, all it takes is one or two auto drafts and not only can your team be ruined, but the whole league drastically changes. If you are all drafting in person, you are making the whole league wait on you. We all know that fantasy drafts are a process that will take hours to get done. Also, by being late you drastically increase the risks that the beer will be gone before the kickers start going. If you make the league wait for the draft, you will wait on the league during the draft. Enjoy being the guy to grab everyone’s beers from the fridge.
The Bum
If you’re playing in a money league, don’t show up to the draft without having paid your dues. Asking someone for money is always an awkward situation, so do your best to avoid it and pay on time. Don’t be the douche that keeps trying to get out of paying because he doesn’t like the team he drafted. The earlier that all the money is collected, the better it is for the entire league. Good luck trying to get a guy that is 2-10 to fork over $100 come playoff time. Make it easy for everyone and don’t be the bum that can’t pay.
The Caveman
This is the guy who has been living under a rock, sat in the dark, or suffered a serious head injury the day before the draft. You know, the guy who is going to draft Aaron Hernandez in the fourth round and think he got a steal. You’ll know you are this guy because you will draft a person and immediately hear the entire room laugh out loud at you. Not only will you ruin your draft, but you will be the butt of every joke the entire season.
The Whiner
We’ve all heard them before: “I never get the first pick,” “this is the worst year to pick eighth,” or “if I had your pick my team would be so much better.” There’s always that guy who decides to whine about his draft position. Nobody wants to hear your excuse for why your team sucks. It’s not where you drafted, it’s just you.
The Whistleblower
This is the guy who gets most hated by his fellow fantasy players. It’s bound to happen at some point during the draft, and odds are it will ruin the pick you had lined up. This is the guy who yells “How is (insert player here) still on the board in this round?!” If you scream about a player still sitting on the board, everyone who wanted that player will hate you and rightfully so. Odds are some people saw him, but didn’t want to blow their chance getting him by yelling it out. This is a fantasy no-no and may get you punched in the throat.
The Einstein
Big whoopdy doo, you watched NFL Network and ESPN all week long and are throwing around more facts than Biogenesis throws out steroids. Few things are more annoying than this guy. Just because you watched and read Matthew Berry all week doesn’t mean you should pretend to be him. Nobody likes a know-it-all and everyone hates a person who simply is ACTING like a know-it-all. No matter what you say, I don’t need to know the name of every center, tackle or guard and their lingering ankle, middle toe or nipple injury to draft my running back. Some things are better left unsaid.
The Computer Thief
If you’ve ever had to share your computer with someone during a fantasy draft, you’ll know that this is one of the worst things that can happen. Don’t be the guy who forgets to bring his laptop to the draft. When you make someone else share their computer with you, you take away their time to research, can look at their draft queue, and just all around piss that person off. Make sure to bring your own computer and charge it before the draft. Draft picks are like girlfriends, some things you just don’t share.
The Macaulay Culkin
This is the guy who brags about his fantasy championships throughout the draft even though he hasn’t won in years. The only champ that escapes being a Macaulay Culkin is the league’s champion from last year. If you won your league last year, boast away, you’ve earned it. If you have to talk about the 8-man league you won five years ago, nobody wants to hear it. You may have been a hit in the past and had some glory moments, but you’re washed up now.
The Snail
There’s a time limit on draft picks for a reason, so don’t be that guy who uses the ENTIRE time limit each and every time you pick. Fantasy drafts are already a long process and don’t need to be made longer by you taking forever to decide between kickers. Few things are more annoying than the first or twelfth pick taking the full time for their two picks in a row. It’s like being stuck in line at a drive-thru because the guy in front of you placed a huge order. Don’t be the guy that slows everything down to a snail’s pace.
The Ed Hochuli
This is the guy who is constantly asking about the rules of the league. He’s either complaining about them, asking what they are or suggesting new ones. He’s bound to bust out, “we should really go PPR” or “the flex position shouldn’t allow running backs,” if it would help his team out. All this does is make everyone else wish they hadn’t allowed you in the league. The draft is not the time to bring up issues with league rules.
The Sleeper
This is the guy who read a bunch of fantasy articles about this year’s fantasy football sleepers and proceeds to draft every player named. Not only does he draft every sleeper, he also makes sure everyone knows that the player is indeed a sleeper. If you say “this guy is going to be good, he’s my sleeper pick,” you’re guilty. He’s everyone’s sleeper pick and ESPN has shown him about 10 times in their fantasy sleeper segment. By the end of the draft this guy is bragging about his team’s potential and the entire league is hoping that they’re all busts.
The Roster-bater
So the draft is completely over and you managed to not commit any of the acts that’ll turn you into “that guy.” You’re not out of danger yet, however, and the last thing you want to do is be caught roster-bating. Roster-bating is when you simply stare at your team saying how good your team is and how much you love it. If you’re going to do it, don’t do it out loud or in public, you’ll only embarrass yourself.
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Tye Masters
Sports Activist for The Cover 4
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Lebron James: The Most Underpaid Athlete
May 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Cover 4.com would like to highlight a segment done by our great friends on http://www.cabletv.com/blog
Lebron James is the most underpaid athlete! Yes, we said it. Don’t believe us? Well our friends at http://www.cabletv.com/blog are going to show us how.
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Oh yeah, tell your friends too!
James Kaikis
Chief Sports Activist for The Cover 4
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The Cover 4 Bracket: Champion
April 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Congratulations goes to Ellen Hoog for winning the inaugural Cover 4 Bracket: The Hottest Female Athlete (Post 2000). YOU have chosen a 4 seed over the entire field, who defeated women from Anna Kournikova to Alex Morgan.
It was a close battle, but in the end, this international Field Hockey star has taken the title of Hottest Female Athlete.
Here is your winner:
(4) Ellen Hoog (Field Hockey)
The Cover 4 