 |
 |
An in memoriam for my Uncle Bill |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted - 8/13/2021 3:21:18 PM |
 |
 |
An in memoriam for my Uncle Bill
|
|
|
|
I played fantasy football for the first time in 1991, at the age of 14. My Uncle Bill invited me to co-own a team with him in a league here in Durham. He was a Bears fan. At the time I was a Giants fan. We named our team the Giant Bears. (I agree - not a great name.)
The league was him, me, and 11 lawyers. The league had the standard scoring system of the time: 6 points per TD, with 3 point bonuses for 100 yards rushing or receiving or 300 yards passing.
The draft was held in person at some downtown lawyer club that now must be long gone. Most owners came equipped with a Street & Smith’s or the USA Today season preview, the two pinnacles of fantasy research. And we were ready - by which I mean we had Street & Smith’s.
I believe Uncle Bill made our first two picks. Honesty, I don’t remember them. I’m sure they were solid. Uncle Bill was no fool. And he probably made me feel like I helped decide, but I’m sure I didn’t. I’m sure I didn’t because I remember our 3rd round pick clear as day. That pick he gave me free rein. My first real pick in fantasy football. I saw a perfect candidate, a guy who’d already fallen well below where Street & Smith’s ranked him - a real steal of the draft. So I confidently made my first ever fantasy football pick: Denver RB Bobby Humphrey. “He’s holding out, kid” some dickhead lawyer smirked, holding a USA Today, and the other dickheads lawyers laughed like total dickheads, since I guess they all had USA Today’s too and knew I’d fucked up. Humphrey sat out most of that season and played like 3 useless games. A worse first pick you will rarely see. But Uncle Bill was undeterred. He made a few more solid picks, kept involving me in drafting decisions, and even let me draft my sleeper in the 7th round, a past his prime Washington RB named Gerald Riggs who I thought might be good, based mostly on the fact that I had actually heard of him. That season Gerald Riggs had 78 carries for 248 yards. But he also had 11 TDs, which tied for 3rd in the NFL. (After all, this was a 6 pts per TDs and 3 pt yardage bonus league). Riggs was a star. I was a genius. We made the playoffs. That league ran its course in a few years, as most do, but that first draft stayed with me. And I’ve loved fantasy football ever since.
Uncle Bill passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning after a long cancer bout. He was a wonderful and kind person who dedicated his life to the mental health and well-being of others, leaving behind a professional legacy I expect will be larger than nearly anyone I know. But of all the big deeds he did, and the many great memories I have of him after being around him since we moved to Durham in 1986, it was the small deed of letting me tag along in fantasy football that I expect I'll remember most fondly.
Thank you, Uncle Bill. I’ll miss you. Long live the Giant Bears.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coach Cowher Tomlin
Football Freak
997 posts
 |
Fu: 100.96 |
|
|
|
|
Posted - 8/13/2021 5:20:35 PM |
|
|
Go Giant Bears
|
|
|
|
| All my best to you and the family. I am sure you will continue to carry on his FF legacy with your customary brilliance. The real question is who was responsible for your pro bowling career? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted - 8/13/2021 8:07:21 PM |
|
|
Uncle Bill
|
|
|
|
| He sounded like a nice fella. Thanks for sharing a nice memory. Defending champion Blast keep CMC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted - 8/13/2021 9:49:56 PM |
|
|
Sorry for your loss Jeremy
|
|
|
|
My condolences to you and your family.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted - 8/13/2021 10:05:44 PM |
|
|
Great memories
|
|
|
|
| Along with many more, I’m sure. Thinking of you and your family. A stellar tribute. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Head of Scouting
Gjallarhorn player
529 posts
 |
Fu: 99.57 |
|
|
|
|
Posted - 8/13/2021 11:37:13 PM |
|
|
Loss makes love so bitter sweet
|
|
|
|
| I hope we all get a chance to be an uncle Bill. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted - 8/15/2021 6:45:45 AM |
|
|
Thank you for sharing that story
|
|
|
|
You were a lucky fellow to have such a great Uncle Bill. Isn't it interesting how the smallest things as a child or adolescent will stick with you your whole life? I think about that quite often as I try to be a good parent.
I think it's official: Jeremy has played fantasy football longer than anyone else in Ragnarok. And he still hasn't won since 2005.
And "Giant Bears" has to be the greatest name for a fantasy team, in light of its backstory. |
|
|
|
|
|
