The Day the League Stood Still

Good morning, League-Mates and welcome to a special addition of the Fantasy Report with Carl. 

I have spent the last few weeks brainstorming a topic for this Fantasy Report. I have always delved into my hobbies, interests, and personal lexicon of pop-culture for inspiration. So, sit back, relax, and strap it down because The Fantasy Report with Carl is coming at you. 

From out of this blog, a warning, and an ultimatum! That line is slightly altered to match this blog. It comes from the movie poster of a personal favorite movie of mine (and to be honest, one of the great sci-fi movies ever created), "The Day the Earth Stood Still". How could Klaatu and Gort (Gnut if you are aware of the short story "Farewell to the Master" upon which the film was based) relate to Fantasy Football? It's fairly simple, but I want to make this as complicated as I can. 

It wasn't too long ago that a few of us set out to create a fun league with co-workers. The buy-in was $50, and the very first draft was eight hours long! Yes, eight hours! That year the first overall pick was Phillip Rivers, and Mark Sanchez was selected sixth overall. It was a disaster. It was primitive by all means of understanding fantasy football.

The years progressed, and much like mankind has done, we evolved. Our understanding of the Fantasy Football landscape expanded. Our decision making and research grew by leaps and bounds. Soon, we were watching Fantasy shows, listening to podcasts, purchasing draft kits, and so forth. 

These enhanced skills parallel the advancements mankind was making in warfare in the late 40s and early 50s. This evolution brought forth the nuclear age. The threat of assured destruction raining down from the sky. The cold war began, and uncertainty of the future of mankind weighed heavy on the minds of all Americans. Enter Klaatu, a being sent from the cosmos to bring a message. Not only a message, but a warning and an ultimatum. Seeing that humankind had advanced to the early stages of technology and warfare that the other planets had already achieved, Klaatu descended upon Washington D.C. 

Emerging from his spacecraft, he was met with hostility and fear, which mirrored the suspicions of nations at the time. Who was this individual, and why had he come? What weapons and powers did he possess? All of these factors created an environment of hysteria, paranoia, and fear. Klaatu even says, "I am fearful when I see people substituting fear for reason." 

To sum up Klaatu's mission: live in peace or face complete annihilation. 

What I am trying to convey here, through a very messy metaphor, is that although we are confident of our knowledge of Fantasy Football, we still react with fear to the occurrences of the unknown. And that unknown, most of the time is trades and free agent moves. I would be remiss to not recall the days of collusion trading. Those days have long gone, and now we have to remind ourselves that we are not here to sabotage each other. But the threat of unbalanced trades still lingers. The threat of vengeful waiver wire moves still exists. 

Trades are a great way to make the Fantasy season more entertaining and enjoyable. Yes, making a waiver wire move ahead of the trend is so rewarding. To move about in the shadows, lingering and watching the wounded limp towards the finish line, waiting to pounce on attrition and despair, rather than honesty and pride should be frowned upon. 

I am going to finish this blog soon, and you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. The Fantasy Football world grows smaller every day. More and more podcasts are available to the ear, more and more writers are creating content that is easily searchable and readily accessible. There must be Fantasy Football security for all, or no one is secure. Now this does not mean giving up any freedom, except giving up the freedom to act irresponsibly. Leagues before us understood this and created guidelines to govern themselves. We have long accepted these facts. While I do not pretend that our league has achieved perfection, we do have a system, and it works. 

It is of no concern of mine how you run your own Fantasy team. But should you choose to extend terrible trades, and spiteful waiver wire moves, your Fantasy season and team shall be reduced to a burned-out cinder. I hope that we as league will never have to wait for such an answer again. 

I wish you all peace, love, and Fantasy Football prosperity. 

Sincerely, 

Carl