One major factor in being at the top of your fantasy football league is getting great value in the middle rounds. This year I have seen two players going in the middle rounds that I feel will put up 1st and 2nd round numbers. I think targeting these two players as QB1 and RB2 in the 6th-8th rounds could be the move that puts your team over the top this year.
Ben Roethlisberger: Since he came in to the league, Big Ben has been a great team leader. He has taken the Steelers to three Super Bowls in the last six seasons. His ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat has solidified him as one of the top quarterbacks in the game. All of that doesn't translate into fantasy football success however. So what has changed? For starters, Rashard Mendenhall is developing into one of the elite running backs in the game. His ability to break off a big run on any down, will force defenses to keep a close watch on him at all times. This will give Roethlisberger more opportunities to throw the deep ball. Not to mention, Mendenhall himself is a viable threat break a few tackles and take a Roethlisberger screen pass to the end zone. An even bigger factor to success this year is the growth of the Steelers young receiving corps. Mike Wallace showed signs last year that he was ready to take the reigns from Hines Ward as the go to receiver on the Steelers. Last season he reached the end zone 10 times, while compiling over 1,200 yards. Wallace showed he believes in his abilities earlier this preseason. "I figure that if I average 20 yards a catch this year and catch 100 balls, that will be 2,000 yards," Wallace stated. Add to that, the biggest surprise of the preseason, Antonio Brown. After three games in the 2011 Preseason, Antonio Brown has 230 yards and 3 touchdowns. Those are incredible numbers considering the limited playing time for the starters. Keep in mind that those are indeed first team numbers, not junk time. If Brown can put up anything close to those kind of numbers in the regular season, defenses will not be able double Wallace with impunity. And lets not forget that 'Dancing With The Stars' Champion Hines Ward is also still in the mix. He may not have the legs of yesteryear, but he has shown throughout his career that he will make the big catch when it is needed most. Finally, one final factor is schedule. Since the Steelers play in the AFC North, that spells four games against the lowly Browns and Bengals. The non-divisional games are even juicier, with some of the worst defenses in the NFL making an appearance on the schedule. And to top that off, during the crucial fantasy stretch of weeks 14 through 17, the Steelers play in this order: Cleveland, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Cleveland again. All three of those teams were in the bottom 15 in passing yards allowed last season.
Tim Hightower: During his years in Arizona, Tim Hightower never really got the opportunity to take the role of featured back. With his move to Washington, it is starting to look like his day will finally come. After the first three preseason games, Hightower has amassed 170 yards on just 25 attempts, and 2 touchdowns. That is an incredible 6.8 yards per carry average. The numbers are even more impressive when you consider they came against two of the NFL's top defenses, the Steelers and Ravens. One of the perks of his move to the Washington Redskins is their commitment to the running game. If he can hold on to the role of featured back, he will have every opportunity to put up top 5 numbers. As of right now, Tim Hightower's average draft position is in the upper 60's. He is often being taken after guys like Cedric Benson and Beanie Wells. With those two, you know what you are going to get. There is very little potential for a surprising upside. The same can not be said for Hightower. There are no guarantees in fantasy football. To attain big rewards, you often have to take big risks. In this case, Hightower isn't a huge risk. His stellar preseason play has won him the starting job. As of right now, all signs point to him being a serviceable RB2 at worst. At best, he could be a top 5 running back. By locking him in as your RB2 in the fifth or sixth round, you are allowing yourself the opportunity to fill up the RB1, QB1, and at least WR1 and WR2 with proven talent. Why take a mediocre RB2 in the second or third round when you will get at least that with Hightower in the sixth round?
Shopping for a new vacuum cleaner is a lot like shopping for a car. Much like when buying a car, you should do your homework when buying a new vacuum cleaner. Think about it, this product is going to be an integral part of your life for the extended future. You want to make sure that you are getting the best product for the best value. There are so many to choose from, that narrowing down the field can be a daunting task. I will break down a few of the best sellers.
Up first we have the Dyson DC25 Animal Ball-Technology Upright Vacuum Cleaner. I can't recommend this vacuum cleaner high enough. This is the vacuum that I personally own. I have three cats, and you wouldn't know it after I run my Dyson. If this vacuum were a comic book character, it would be Superman. The only downside on this product is the price. At $549, it is a hefty chunk of change, but it really is worth every penny. If you have never tried a Dyson product, you have to see it to believe it. My carpet is pretty old, but one pass with the Dyson makes it look brand new. Another perk of this vacuum is that it is bagless, with a see through trap. You will always know how long you have until its time to empty the vacuum. And now for the breakdown:
Dyson DC25 Animal Ball
Product:Dyson DC25 Animal Ball-Technology Upright Vacuum CleanerPrice: $549.00 Rating:4.5 out of 5 Stars on Amazon.com Random Customer Review: "If you live in an apartment, if you own a dog/cat, if you HATE DUST, if you currently own a POS vacuum and are reading these reviews, trying to figure out if you are gonna cave in and buy a Dyson....DO IT NOW!!! BUY THE DYSON DC25 ANIMAL!!!! You will be glad you did and you won't ever mind cleaning your apartment EVER AGAIN!!! It does it all!!!"
Up next we have the Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Pet Rewind Plus Upright Vacuum, Bagless, UH70210. For starters, this is another bagless upright! As I already said, I am a huge fan of bagless vacuums. Another big selling point, is this product has a collapsible handle that enables it to reach the difficult areas that most other vacuums miss. As a multiple cat owner, my favorite feature is "Pet Upholstery Tool". This attachment has rubber wipers that make pulling up stubborn pet hair from upholstery a breeze! Another thing that I like is this product has an 8' long stretch hose. That really comes in handy when cleaning out your car. And now for the breakdown:
Hoover Windtunnel T-Series Pet Rewind Plus
Product:Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Pet Rewind Plus Upright Vacuum, Bagless, UH70210 Price:$135.59 Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars on Amazon.com Random Customer Review: "I have owned many vacuums. I originally purchased a Hoover Windtunnel and was not impressed. I then ordered this Hoover Windtunnel Pet vacuum and WOW! This is amazing. I've already picked up an entire bucket of dust that the other one did not get 5 days ago. I'm not sure why people gripe about the size of the bagless bucket. I have an 1800 square foot house and 2 cats (so we vacuum our furniture) and we only have to empty it once, maybe twice. It takes about 3 seconds to empty (SUPER EASY). Purchase this with confidence. You will love it!!!"
Up next is the Oreck XL2000 RHB Commercial Upright Vacuum Cleaner. Right off the bat, the first thing I love about this vacuum is the cool retro look. This really could have come directly from an episode of The Odd Couple. Felix Unger would be proud to own this vacuum! This machine is very light, only 8 pounds. It also boasts the ablility to go from carpet to hard surface with no adjustment. It has a high speed double helix brush, and low clearance to get under furniture. The MetaXAlloy motor fan resists breakage and wear out from metal objects, like paper clips and coins. And now for the breakdown:
Product:Oreck XL 2000 Upright Commercial 8 lb Vacuum Hypo Filtration Price: $220.99 Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars on Amazon.com Random Customer Review:"This is my second Oreck. My first one lasted over 13 years without any trouble. It was time for a new one and decided to upgrade to the commercial. So glad I did, I have a lot of space to keep up with. The ease of using this vacuum is by far one of the best I've ever used. It's so light weight and even the kids will offer to vacuum!"
I know you are going to see my title and think I am crazy. But the number one killer in fantasy football is starting the wrong player when you have a tough decision. I can not count the number of times I have lost because I had three good running backs, and I benched the wrong guy. It happens all the time. I much prefer having two every week starters, and one bye week plug in. The two positions where this comes into play the most are quarterback and defense. Those are the positions where two fairly equal players will lead to a match-up based sit/start decision every week. I have adopted the strategy of not trying to play match-ups at those positions, and just sticking with the same starter every week. The NFL is so unpredictable that playing a weekly guessing game will lead to many incorrect decisions throughout the course of a season. Most of the time a mistake will not affect the outcome of a game, but when it does, it really stings. I have actually lost two very close championship games in the last six years by picking the wrong running back five minutes before kickoff. (Continued Below...)
Now, I am not suggesting you should ever pass on the best player available during a fantasy football draft. This situation I am describing is unlikely to play out early in the season. The odds of drafting a third or fourth running back/wide receiver that is superstar quality right out of the gate is very rare. You would have to be in a league of extraordinarily inexperienced fantasy players for that to occur. More likely one of your drafted sleepers, or an early season pick-up will blossom into a legitimate number one guy midway through the season. When this happens you are suddenly faced with a weekly dilemma. If you have made it through the byes at running back or wide receiver, and have a tough choice every week, I say trade for value. Why have a top running back/wide receiver sitting the bench every week just in case one of your other players goes down? If your running backs are this strong, then you are likely to have a deficit at some other position. Why not trade the running back with the highest value and maximize the return at wide receiver, tight end or quarterback?
I realize that the main argument against this strategy is the potential for injury. But I am more of a believer in back-up handcuffing than benching a legitimate starter. I also realize that most people will wholeheartedly disagree with my strategy. Call it amateurish, but it does reduce the headaches that accompany watching your top running back put up 15 yards against the Lions, while someone just as good is on the bench and goes for 150 and a TD against the Steelers.
The NFL Preseason is underway. That means fantasy football is almost here. Everywhere you look, experts are speculating on who should go number one and who might be great late round sleeper picks. I read all the advice, and every year the experts could not be more wrong. So, since I am the furthest thing from a fantasy guru, you won't be getting any of that here. My expertise lies in the realm of funny and clever team names.
(It should be noted that most of my example names won't be as funny as they could be. I am trying to keep this article somewhat clean, and most of my true gems have been very vulgar and offensive.)
One thing that bothers me every year are the mundane, uninspired names that people manage to come up with for their fantasy teams. Every league I am in has an "Eagles Rule", or a "Bill's Bears". Invariably, at least one person will take their favorite team's name and replace the "S" at the end with a "Z". In fact, this year alone I will be facing off against the "Raiderz" and the "Cowboyz". Rarely will I stumble across someone with a creative bone in their body. I am here to help you strategize on the best possible name for your team. Lets go over a few categories that you can choose from to spice up your fantasy team.
Double Entendre
Football is ripe with all sorts of possible double entendres to choose from. Football has tight ends, balls, encroachment, illegal touching, and many more. Any one of these can be a hidden gem just waiting to be unearthed. If you are in a league with friends, just pick one person to insult and add a football term to his name. In fact, go after the guy who named his team "Bill's Bears". I recommend something like "Bill Loves Illegal Touching", or "Bill Wants A Man In Motion".
Insult Someone Elses Team Name Directly
If innuendo isn't your cup of tea, just go straight for the jugular and insult someones team name directly. This technique is great for stoking rivalries later on in the season. In this scenario, let everyone else name their team first. Then, pick the name that annoys you the most, and trash it via your team name. For example, what can we do with poor Bill and his stupid Bears? The obvious choice is "Bill's Bears Suck". This may be just as uncreative as Bill's original name, but at least it drives the point home how much you hate his name. Another possibility is just going with "I Hate Bill". I personally like this one the best. It has a bit of harsh, right to the point charm to it.
On a personal note, my all time favorite team name could fall into this category. Last season I was in a league with some friends. One member of the league started off 0-5. In his frustration, he changed his team name to: "My Team Blows Chunks". Upon seeing this, I immediately changed my team's name to: "Chunks". I will just let that one sit there, and if you get it, great.
Insult Athletes or Celebrities
Athletes and Celebrities are great fodder for team names. Everyday a story hits the internet that makes some famous person look like a giant asshole. Here are a few examples from my past:
Tiger Woods: "Tiger Roids"
Rex Ryan: "Rex Ryan Tummy Tuck"
Ben Rothlisberger: The year after his motorcycle accident I went with "Ben Crashlisberger". The year after his legal troubles I went with a very similar name that I will keep to myself.
Paris Hilton: "Paris Hilton is a..." Fill in the blank. I have used a few celebrities with this template.
In conclusion, I am not expecting everyone to be Richard Pryor when they name their teams. It would be nice however, if people took a few extra minutes to make their names somewhat interesting. After all, we do have to stare at it for the entire season.
Obama is a failed president. He should not run for a second term for the good of the country.
% living below the poverty level:
1. Detroit , MI 32.5%
2. Buffalo , NY 29.9%
3. Cincinnati , OH 27.8%
4 Cleveland , OH 27.0%
5. Miami , FL 26.9%
6. St. Louis , MI 26.8%
7. El Paso , TX 26.4%
8. Milwaukee , WI 26.2%
9. Philadelphia , PA 25.1%
10. Newark , NJ 24.2%
What do these top ten cities (pop over 250,000) with the highest poverty rate all have in common...?
Detroit, MI hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1961.
Buffalo , NY hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1954.
Cincinnati , OH hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1984.
Cleveland , OH hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1989.
Miami , FL has never had a Republican mayor.
St. Louis , MO hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1949.
El Paso , TX has never had a Republican mayor.
Milwaukee , WI hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1908.
Philadelphia , PA hasn'telected a Republican mayor since 1952.
Newark , NJ hasn't elected a Republican mayor since 1907.
Einstein once said, 'The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Yet, it is the poor who habitually elect Democrats...
while they REMAIN PERPETUALLY POOR!
I just spent three days in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It is a cool little town that is based around the world famous chocolate company of the same name. The factory for Hershey Chocolates is headquartered there. They also have a theme park and other attractions nearby. Much like Disney, Hershey is much more than just a theme park. There is golfing, spas, and even a zoo. Also, the Hershey Bear's minor league hockey team plays within walking distance of the amusement park. Unlike Disney however, The Hollywood Casino is just a short drive from the family friendly action of Downtown Hershey.
Hershey Park is probably the main attraction of the whole town. It boasts 11 roller coasters, with number 12 currently in the works, due for a 2012 unveiling. The coasters are a nice blend of nostalgia and modern excitement. The Great Bear, Fahrenheit, and Storm Runner are three state of the art, high excitement coasters. Storm Runner was by far the most intense roller coaster I have ever experienced. It goes from 0-72 MPH in 2 seconds, and almost immediately goes into a complete vertical assent, followed by a full vertical drop. It really was a thrilling ride unlike any I've ever experienced. Fahrenheit follows a similar theme, without the shotgun start. The Great Bear is much different. It is also a high speed, steel coaster, but hangs below the track. This setup gives you a flying experience like no other. And to the people on the ground, every time the ride passes, it lets out a sound not much different than an angry bear roaring his warning. For the purist, there are some old-fashioned wooden coasters to be enjoyed. The Comet, The Wildcat, and The Lightning Racer will take you back to a simpler time when Big Band Music ruled, and cotton candy cost a nickel. The most unique coaster in the park is The Roller Soaker. This is a steel coaster in the water park area known as The Boardwalk. The Roller Soaker is equipped with water cannons that can dump up to 4 gallons of water on unsuspecting patrons walking below. As the ride progresses, plumes of water will occasionally shoot up from the ground at the riders. Spectators may also take up arms with their own water cannons to blast riders with a heavy dose of H2O.
Next door to Hershey Park is a fun little place called Hershey's Chocolate World. In addition to buying every imaginable Hershey's product, this is a great place to learn the history of Hershey's candy company. Hershey's Great American Chocolate Tour is a cute ride, very similar to Disney's It's a Small World. It takes you on a journey through the entire lifespan of a Hershey's Chocolate bar. From bean to candy bar, this ride was beloved by the ten year old child in our group. It is complete with a catchy song that will never leave your head. Another popular attraction here is the interactive Make Your Own Chocolate Bar exhibit. Here, you will don an apron and hairnet to design your very own candy bar. First, choose your special ingredients and design your package. Then watch as your chocolate bar rolls down the conveyor belt and is created in front of your eyes. Sound like too much work? If you just want to sit back, relax, and enjoy some chocolate, then Hershey's Chocolate Tasting Adventure is for you. This class is designed to teach your palate the intricacies of different types of chocolate.
Once you tire of Chocolate, there is still plenty to do. As I already mentioned, the Hollywood Casino is a short drive from the park. This is a beautiful casino with a full arsenal of slots, and table games, as well a 16 table poker room. If shopping is your vice, there is The Outlets at Hershey. There are a lot of high quality stores in this outlet mall. Under Armour, J. Crew, Gap, and Coach are just a few of the shopping gems to be found here. For the history buffs, Gettysburg is a mere 40 miles from Hershey. Where else can you ride amazing roller coasters, play some poker, and see the site of one of the most important battles of The American Civil War all in one day?
Click the link above for the story from Guitar World.
As with any news that comes from Tool, this info should be taken very lightly. In the past the band has been known to screw with their fans. Prior to the release of Lateralus, the band put out a press release with a fake album name, and fake track listings. The info was reported with delight through the Tool Fan community for weeks. Then suddenly we were informed that all the titles were faked, and a new list was released(also fake). Then there was the April Fools prank that lead singer Maynard James Keenan had decided to leave the band after finding religion. That one lasted about a week or two if I remember correctly.
Fake or not, this is the first of any new album news in years, so I am pumped. For the record, I am guessing fake. Knowing Tool's love for the occult, and other bizarre things, I predict the new album will be released December 21, 2012. That would be very Toolish.
Remember two weeks ago? We were all riding high, and planning our Pirate playoff parties. Then the Buccos lost the 19 inning nightmare game verses Atlanta. Since then the Pirates are 1-8. Not only are they falling rapidly out of contention, but at 2 games under .500, are starting to show symptoms of another losing season.
On the "if thats not bad enough" front, Derrek Lee was scratched from the lineup tonight with a sore hand. As one of the only recent signs of life from this putrid offense, the Pirates can not afford to lose him for any extended period. On the bright side, Ryan Doumit returned to the lineup with a solid 2 for 4 effort tonight.
The Pirates are now 54-56, and need only 4 wins to surpass last years paltry 57-105 record. There are 52 games remaining, and as it has been for over a week now, the magic number for finishing at .500 or better is still 27 wins. That now seems like a lot taller order than it did at the All Star break doesn't it?
Being the lazy and mediocre writer/researcher that I am, there isn't much more for me to add. So in closing, here are some sinking ships.
This is the aftermath of Derrek Lee's first Home Run. It was exciting as hell! I just wish I had thought to tape his whole at bat with my stupid Iphone.
Check out the Amazing view from our seats. We were just past the Cubs dugout on the first base side.
One of the roving camera men. He shot a little kid for the big screen right behind us.
PNC Park is still one of the most beautiful stadiums in baseball.
Tanya's favorite part of the game was discovering a Rita's right behind our seats. You guessed it people, Mint Chocolate Chip!
Ben Roethlisberger: Since he came in to the league, Big Ben has been a great team leader. He has taken the Steelers to three Super Bowls in the last six seasons. His ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat has solidified him as one of the top quarterbacks in the game. All of that doesn't translate into fantasy football success however. So what has changed? For starters, Rashard Mendenhall is developing into one of the elite running backs in the game. His ability to break off a big run on any down, will force defenses to keep a close watch on him at all times. This will give Roethlisberger more opportunities to throw the deep ball. Not to mention, Mendenhall himself is a viable threat break a few tackles and take a Roethlisberger screen pass to the end zone. An even bigger factor to success this year is the growth of the Steelers young receiving corps. Mike Wallace showed signs last year that he was ready to take the reigns from Hines Ward as the go to receiver on the Steelers. Last season he reached the end zone 10 times, while compiling over 1,200 yards. Wallace showed he believes in his abilities earlier this preseason. "I figure that if I average 20 yards a catch this year and catch 100 balls, that will be 2,000 yards," Wallace stated. Add to that, the biggest surprise of the preseason, Antonio Brown. After three games in the 2011 Preseason, Antonio Brown has 230 yards and 3 touchdowns. Those are incredible numbers considering the limited playing time for the starters. Keep in mind that those are indeed first team numbers, not junk time. If Brown can put up anything close to those kind of numbers in the regular season, defenses will not be able double Wallace with impunity. And lets not forget that 'Dancing With The Stars' Champion Hines Ward is also still in the mix. He may not have the legs of yesteryear, but he has shown throughout his career that he will make the big catch when it is needed most. Finally, one final factor is schedule. Since the Steelers play in the AFC North, that spells four games against the lowly Browns and Bengals. The non-divisional games are even juicier, with some of the worst defenses in the NFL making an appearance on the schedule. And to top that off, during the crucial fantasy stretch of weeks 14 through 17, the Steelers play in this order: Cleveland, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Cleveland again. All three of those teams were in the bottom 15 in passing yards allowed last season.
Tim Hightower: During his years in Arizona, Tim Hightower never really got the opportunity to take the role of featured back. With his move to Washington, it is starting to look like his day will finally come. After the first three preseason games, Hightower has amassed 170 yards on just 25 attempts, and 2 touchdowns. That is an incredible 6.8 yards per carry average. The numbers are even more impressive when you consider they came against two of the NFL's top defenses, the Steelers and Ravens. One of the perks of his move to the Washington Redskins is their commitment to the running game. If he can hold on to the role of featured back, he will have every opportunity to put up top 5 numbers. As of right now, Tim Hightower's average draft position is in the upper 60's. He is often being taken after guys like Cedric Benson and Beanie Wells. With those two, you know what you are going to get. There is very little potential for a surprising upside. The same can not be said for Hightower. There are no guarantees in fantasy football. To attain big rewards, you often have to take big risks. In this case, Hightower isn't a huge risk. His stellar preseason play has won him the starting job. As of right now, all signs point to him being a serviceable RB2 at worst. At best, he could be a top 5 running back. By locking him in as your RB2 in the fifth or sixth round, you are allowing yourself the opportunity to fill up the RB1, QB1, and at least WR1 and WR2 with proven talent. Why take a mediocre RB2 in the second or third round when you will get at least that with Hightower in the sixth round? 
I can't recommend this vacuum cleaner high enough. This is the vacuum that I personally own. I have three cats, and you wouldn't know it after I run my Dyson. If this vacuum were a comic book character, it would be Superman. The only downside on this product is the price. At $549, it is a hefty chunk of change, but it really is worth every penny. If you have never tried a Dyson product, you have to see it to believe it. My carpet is pretty old, but one pass with the Dyson makes it look brand new. Another perk of this vacuum is that it is bagless, with a see through trap. You will always know how long you have until its time to empty the vacuum. And now for the breakdown:
