The Draft Room-- AOL it is

[Zap 0]

To scooter's delight, we WILL NOT be doing a board draft here. That Toral draft I mentioned is a nightmare. So, one way or another we're all getting together and going live. Please check the new date and time thread if you haven't made the IN crowd yet. (RLLD, tornado, 420)

 

Where to draft? We cannot use Yahoo. They're nazis on the clock and don't support some important features. I doubt I could get our time and date anyway.

 

Last year, we used a Fanball room. I thought it worked well, but Fanball doesn't seem to be offerring the room this season. It was $10 I gladly paid. Maybe I cannot find the link. Anybody? Is the feature gone?

 

My one issue with a room like that, or Yahoo, or xperts, or the typical java based draftroom, is that they always come with a cheatsheet feature. The stinkin' software has pre-ranked the players giving you hints on who to draft. I'm sure you all know the Yahoo rankings suck, but some of the others are very good. And, I'm sure you're all bright enough to use your own projections and desires for picking players. Still, without the cheatsheet, those of us better prepared get the benefit of the occasionally forgotten player falling to us. This is closer to the situation in an in-person live draft, and I do prefer it. Cheatsheets sort of level the playing field for the unprepared. I don't think they're deserving the tool for being unprepared.

 

Nevertheless, to expedite this motha, I will use such a room should anyone suggest a good one. Too bad Fanball isn't providing the option. Maybe I missed it and they are.

 

Which brings me to my preference. MyFantasyLeague offers the use of it's traditional draft interface. I'm sure some of you have used it. Basically, you draft from a giant alphabetical list of all NFL players. It's a simple highlight and click when you are up. The site is automatically updated and looks a little like a board draft, but has a few tools, like the list and update and a clock for setting time limits. It also has an excellent queue that makes your pick in the blink of an eye should you be willing to list some players. Hey, it's better than sending one of us a list. I know RayRay likes to bail late and leave a list to build the end of his bench and defense. In this set up he could just queue the players after 15 rounds and go to sleep for the end of our draft.

 

Another option is a private chat. PIK and I used one last year. It is a burden for the commish, but if all are prepared it can be very fast. I think he prefers it. I don't mind it, but do prefer a few tools. If we do this, and you haven't done it before, please be very prepared. Maybe use this site's popular Cheatsheet Compiler or Draft Dominator from FBG to track the league and picks and your projections on your own computer. I use one of those tools and love it.

 

So, those are my three suggestions.

 

1. Find a good Java based room like last year and draft away just like at Yahoo, but with some commish controls and better tools.

 

2. A private chat, and everybody will be prepared.

 

3. Use MFL's draft interface and a two minute clock that I can control.

 

4. Anyone have a better idea. Please share.

[Zap 0]

Correction. Fanball's draftroom is available this year. It looks the same as last year.

 

If you're not familiar with it, check it out here. There is a feature where you can test drive it. It's worth every penny of the 9.95 to me, because it makes my life so simple, but it doesn't change my vote. I'd rather take on this crew without the cheatsheet.

 

Still, it's a very convenient method. If you liked it, or want to try it, this is as close to a democracy as this league is likely to get.

[Sisters of No Mercy 0]

I'm down with whatever ya'll decide. I don't need no stinkin' website's cheatsheet anyway.

[waveman 0]

Fanball looks ok to me...anybody use a Mac to draft? Just wondering if I have use a stinking PC or if it is Mac compatible.

[Zap 0]

Fanball looks ok to me...anybody use a Mac to draft? Just wondering if I have use a stinking PC or if it is Mac compatible.

PC or Mac isn't the problem. As long as you can use Java applet's you'll be fine. If you can draft at Yahoo, you'll love Fanball.

[Diesel07 0]

I voted other, though i dont really care where we fraft. AOL is offering free fantasy football services. Its nice too. I just tried doing a yahoo one and i couldnt get it to work, i couldnt get the java applet installed.

[Zap 0]

I'll check out aol's service. I'm open to whatever works for all. Can you link me up with the right page so I don't waste time looking?

 

Thanks

[waveman 0]

Fanball looks ok to me...anybody use a Mac to draft? Just wondering if I have use a stinking PC or if it is Mac compatible.

PC or Mac isn't the problem. As long as you can use Java applet's you'll be fine. If you can draft at Yahoo, you'll love Fanball.

Cool!

[Zap 0]

I voted other, though i dont really care where we fraft. AOL is offering free fantasy football services. Its nice too. I just tried doing a yahoo one and i couldnt get it to work, i couldnt get the java applet installed.

Wow. What a great call on AOL. I never thought I'd say that.

 

Here's the deal. We get Fanball's $60 League Manager, and league site including the draftroom I was thinking of buying again, FOR FREE. We'll just have to deal with some general AOL advertising, but that's true of any site. This roxor.

 

 

 

[Zap 0]

I'll try to get all the invites out tonight. I think you'll approve of what Fanball and AOL have done. This won't ever be free again. I hear it's just a way to get AOL into the mainstream of fantasy sites and to further promote Fanball in future years. We got live scoring, we got it all. Want an injured reserve for a player or two? We can do that.

 

I'm going to actively seek a replacement for 420. I don't see how he can expect me to wait any longer, nonetheless, considering his ordeal, he's welcome to his spot if he just steps in again to reassure me (us).

 

Speaking of that, tornado is also making me nervous. Where'd he go?

 

RLLD is also inactive lately, but he's been around here forevah. He'll show, or make quality arrangements.

[rurbaniak 6]

I'm going to actively seek a replacement for 420. I don't see how he can expect me to wait any longer, nonetheless, considering his ordeal, he's welcome to his spot if he just steps in again to reassure me (us).

Zap,

 

We are also looking for 420 in DPL and Dungeon, so if you hear from him, please shoot me an e-mail. I'll do the same for you.

 

Thanks

[Zap 0]

 

I'm going to actively seek a replacement for 420.  I don't see how he can expect me to wait any longer, nonetheless, considering his ordeal, he's welcome to his spot if he just steps in again to reassure me (us). 

Zap,

 

We are also looking for 420 in DPL and Dungeon, so if you hear from him, please shoot me an e-mail. I'll do the same for you.

 

Thanks

Thanks rurb, and you bet I'll notify asap if I hear anything.

 

Here, it's not that big a deal. I'd hate to have to cover a Dungeon spot at this late date.

 

:fingerscrossed:

[Diesel07 0]

Ya, i heard good thinga about the AOL, so i thought i'd check it out. I knew you would like it. Glad i could come through

[rurbaniak 6]

 

I'm going to actively seek a replacement for 420.  I don't see how he can expect me to wait any longer, nonetheless, considering his ordeal, he's welcome to his spot if he just steps in again to reassure me (us). 

Zap,

 

We are also looking for 420 in DPL and Dungeon, so if you hear from him, please shoot me an e-mail. I'll do the same for you.

 

Thanks

Thanks rurb, and you bet I'll notify asap if I hear anything.

 

Here, it's not that big a deal. I'd hate to have to cover a Dungeon spot at this late date.

 

:fingerscrossed:

Update on 420: http://www.fftodayforums.com/forum/index.p...howtopic=143735

[Zap 0]

 

I'm going to actively seek a replacement for 420.  I don't see how he can expect me to wait any longer, nonetheless, considering his ordeal, he's welcome to his spot if he just steps in again to reassure me (us). 

Zap,

 

We are also looking for 420 in DPL and Dungeon, so if you hear from him, please shoot me an e-mail. I'll do the same for you.

 

Thanks

Thanks rurb, and you bet I'll notify asap if I hear anything.

 

Here, it's not that big a deal. I'd hate to have to cover a Dungeon spot at this late date.

 

:fingerscrossed:

Update on 420: http://www.fftodayforums.com/forum/index.p...howtopic=143735

Excellent. He's got mail. Thanks again, rurb.

[football_scooter 0]

To scooter's delight, we WILL NOT be doing a board draft here.

[football_scooter 0]

Question: So we're drafting using AOL, but is the league hosted by Yahoo then?

[Zap 0]

Question: So we're drafting using AOL, but is the league hosted by Yahoo then?

Nah, Yahoo isn't as nice as this Fanball AOL alliance. Football Scooter's Scooters will remain where they are.

[football_scooter 0]

Question: So we're drafting using AOL, but is the league hosted by Yahoo then?

Nah, Yahoo isn't as nice as this Fanball AOL alliance. Football Scooter's Scooters will remain where they are.

cool. Oh, and the team name is a place holder until I can think of another....or if I feel lazy I might stick with it.