The fantasy football season is just around the corner! I am really excited to be the first commissioner of the Mango Market FF League, and I think we have a solid mix of veterans as well as competitive rookies assembled. If you have not done so already, I recommend doing a few mock drafts on Yahoo to become accustomed to the process and get comfortable with the new draft-room interface.
Our real draft is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, August 29th at 9:30 pm Eastern Time. If possible, I would like to gather some of our league members at my Aurora Conference Center so we can be in the same place when drafting. It is not mandatory, however. In addition, I will have an open house so people can have a look around my draft HQ and hang out. You may even learn about a couple prize opportunities as well! This is a nice, short feature on how fantasy football was created.
The Origin Story of Fantasy Football - YouTube
BIG THANK YOU to ROWDI_DESIGNS
FOR SPONSORING OUR WEEKLY HIGH-SCORE PRIZE of 2K!
The late Mike Tagliere was one of the most-respected analysts in the world of fantasy football. He was also my friend Phebe's go-to-guy for picking players, and she raved about his expertise and overall fantasy knowledge. I remember having a good laugh when fans of his show were picking celeb lookalikes for the analysts, and they ended up choosing Danny Devito as his doppelgänger. Needless to say, 6-foot-plus Mike was not a happy camper that day. LOL
Mike Tagliere Tribute with Tabbie Tagliere
In this podcast episode, host Bobby Sylvester and Tabbie Tagliere look back on Mike's life. The two chat quite a bit about food as well, but there is also a very emotional and inspiring story about one man's ascent to the top of the fantasy-football world before his untimely passing at the age of 39.
In case you missed it, I am reposting my story on the era of Zubaz, those striped, brightly colored pants that both NFL fans and players wore in the 1980s and 1990s. What were we all thinking?!! Also check out legendary former NFL player Dan Marino displaying some impressive accuracy AND generosity in the QB Challenge video clip.
The Zubaz Era: Unapologetic Fandom and Pure '90s Energy
Nothing captures the loud, rebellious spirit of late-1980s and '90s football fandom quite like Zubaz.
The Origins: Built for Big Guys
Born in 1988 out of a Minnesota gym, Zubaz pants were originally created by Bob Truax and Dan Stock. Hardcore bodybuilders and athletes needed baggy, flexible pants that could fit massive thighs without ripping at the seams. The creators gave them an elastic waistband, a comfortable tapered leg, and—most importantly—eyeball-searing zebra stripes designed to "Dare to Be Different."
The NFL Explosion
What started as gym wear quickly hijacked tailgate lots across the country. By 1990, the NFL took notice and officially licensed Zubaz in team-specific colorways. Almost overnight, the striped pants became the ultimate uniform for die-hard fans.
The Superstars: Legends like Dan Marino and John Elway wore them with pride.
The Tailgates: Stadium parking lots turned into seas of bright green, yellow, black, and orange zebra stripes.
The Peak: At its height in the early '90s, Zubaz was selling tens of thousands of pairs a week, generating well over $100 million in sales.
A Lasting Cultural Icon
While the initial hype cooled off by the mid-1990s, Zubaz never truly left the culture. Today, they remain a legendary badge of honor for classic football fans—a vibrant reminder of an era when game day style was maximum effort, maximum comfort, and zero apologies.
Finally, I am reposting a fantasy-football cheat sheet for team managers who are new to this game. It is some basic guidance on drafting players and assorted comments. The draft is your best chance to pick premium players for your team, although you should always be on the lookout for players on the waiver wire who outperform expectations. Good luck in our league, everyone!
Flashback: Nellie Rachel, matthewkg, Pst, and Vanilla Dutch at Super-Bowl Watch Party
Comments
Post a Comment