Fantasy Sports --- A Major Industry

Fantasy sports are games of fun played by men women and children of all ages. Yes I did say of all ages. I'm 50 and I am not the oldest player in the two local fantasy leagues I play (baseball and football). Fantasy games can be played in many different ways with different formats and can be played with many sports. I personally play fantasy baseball, football, hockey, and golf. I know there are many other sports such as basketball, auto racing, college football, college basketball, and soccer that have fantasy leagues. You know what? Fantasy sports has been around for ages, it seems. I have been playing for 21 years now in football and 20 years in baseball! I know for sure that fantasy sports has been around for longer than that.

But did you know that there is an organization that devotes itself to the fantasy sports industry? I sure didn't. This is no fly by night firm either. The organization I will speak of has been around since 1999 and has many major members, with a board of directors, special events, member benefits, a code of ethics, and even a Hall of Fame!

Welcome to Fantasy Sports Trade Association.

The Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) has what I find to be a very well organized website with all the information needed to become a member, what they do, and it's history. According to the site, The FSTA is a forum in which many fantasy organizations interact to improve the fantasy sports industry. There are newsletters distributed to members, networking opportunities, and recognition awards.

The committees of the FSTA include membership, conference, public relations, awards, finance, Web, and research. Some of the notable members include Jeff Christiansen of Fantasy Football Toolbox (a favorite of mine), Howard Kamen of USA Today, Danielle MacLean of CBS Sports, Peter Schoenke of Rotowire.com, and Charlie Wiegert of Fanball. The main job of all committees is to oversee FSTA operations and keep its practice to better the fantasy sports industry.

The Code of Ethics is pretty straight forward --- Honesty, Integrity, Credibility, and Gambling. The gambling code states that no entity will be granted membership whose primary function fantasy sports gambling --- cut and dried.

There are 103 members of the FSTA including notables as the aforementioned CBS Sports, Rotowire.com, Fanball, USA Today, and Fantasy Football Toolbox. Other well known entities include Ron Shandler's Baseball HQ, Electronic Arts (EA), ESPN, FFToday.com, KFFL Inc, Rotoworld.com, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, STATS, Turner Sports, and Yahoo!. You may want to take a gander to see if any of your favorite fantasy sites are members.

That's just an overview of the FSTA...visit their Website for complete information.

There is also a well written article in the online version of U.S. News and World Report titled "The Reality of Fantasy Sports". Many of the leaders of the fantasy sports industry present their thoughts on what is a growing industry along with analysis of the future.

Enjoy!

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

History of the Site of Ali/Liston Fight --- An Overview

Many sports fans either remember or heard of the Muhammad Ali/Sonny Liston boxing match in which Ali scored a knockout with the infamous “Phantom Punch”. That fight took place on may 25, 1965 at what was then known as the Central Maine Youth Center (CMYC) in my hometown of Lewiston, Maine. My dad recounts the story of a buddy of his paying $100 a seat to see the fight. Dad's friend said he was so excited to see the match in which my dad replied that the fight was already over.

Many other events have happened during the winter months on that site in Lewiston that has great significance for the sports fans of our area. I will attempt to give an overview of some events. My main source of information comes from an article written for our local newspaper the Sun Journal written by Mr. David A.Sargent, a freelance writer from Auburn, Maine.

The first arena at the site, Saint Dominic's Arena (St. Dom's for short), commenced building in the late 1940's and was completed in 1951, as an ice plant was installed ushering indoor hockey to Lewiston. A great place to meet for the rabid hockey fans of the area. The arena was financed in part by Boston Celtics founder and Boston Garden manager Walter Brown. Local club teams and high school hockey filled the arena with powerhouse St. Dom's High School leading the way, as well as Lewiston High School.

In the mid – 1950's a portable hardwood floor was added and hosted several events, including Boston Celtics exhibition games. The floor was reported to have been the world's largest at that time by roughly 100 square feet. Unfortunately, fire totaled the building in November of 1956.

A second building was erected and finished in 1958 and was dedicated on January 17, 1959. This arena was named the Central Maine Youth Center (CMYC). Again, the main attraction was hockey although basketball was also played there. Also in later years, there were concerts, trade shows and boxing cards held there.

Some of the hockey teams that played there were the L-A Twins (Lewiston – Auburn) in the 1960's and from 1973 to 1977 the Maine Nordiques, the main minor league affiliate for the World Hockey League's Quebec Nordiques. In fact, if you saw the movie Slap Shot, at least one former Nordiques member, Guido Tenisi, was in the movie as the player with the two gorgeous blond babes at his side.

Today, with much refurbishment, the arena called the Androscoggin Bank Colisee' is the home of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's (QMJHL) Lewiston Maineiacs. Of course, high school hockey is still a big draw with powerhouses St. Dom's and Lewiston leading the way as well as other local teams and youth hockey as the Lions' Tournament is held at the Colisee' annually.

I hope that I have given you a taste of a small part of the sports history of the city I call home, Lewiston, Maine. If you have something to share about your area sports, feel free to comment or email me. I would be more than happy to share your experiences.

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

May The Forcier Be With You

I had a chance to play 9 holes of golf mid Saturday afternoon under gray skies. I didn't play particularly well, however anytime on the course is a good time in early September. After golf, I knew I was to get home in the middle of the Notre Dame/Michigan football game, hoping Notre Dame was flattening the Wolverines at Michigan Stadium --- "The“Big House” in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Much to my chagrin,The University of Michigan was hanging in there, not knowing they had jumped out to an early lead and the Irish coming back. I saw that Michigan was running the ball effectively in the first half and took it to Notre Dame right up the middle. I thought nothing of this, knowing that the true freshman quarterback of Michigan was just to manage the game.

To nobody's surprise, the game was tied at close at the half with the Irish holding a slim 20-17 lead.. The second half was sure to be a barn burner. But nobody could have predicted who the hero of the game would be. It was that true freshman quarterback for Michigan that was to manage the game.

Enter Tate Forcier.

Forcier, a true freshman from Scripps Ranch High School in San Diego, CA was highly regarded by Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez. Forcier was thought to be mobile with his feet, an accurate arm, and very confident even though he is a smallish 6' 1” 185 pounder. Exactly the type of quarterback Coach Rodriguez needs to run his offense, the spread option.

Was Tate all of that in the second half? Boy, was he ever and then some.

Forcier was as calm and collected as any player I have seen in a freshman in many, many years...including one Tim Tebow. I cannot remember Forcier being frustrated once during half number two and had the guts of a cat burglar. He stood up in the face of a fierce Fighting Irish pass rush and in the 3rd quarter he led the Wolverines to the lead with a 3 yard touchdown pass.

Oh, but the best was yet to come. The fourth was as amazing as they come.

With Michigan driving to the Notre Dame 31 yard line, Forcier dropped back to pass on a 4th and 3 play, and was under duress from the Irish pass rush. He spotted a seam up the middle and put a move on Irish linebacker Darius Fleming that left him dead in his tracks. Thirty one yards later, Michigan was up 31-20. Bedlam in Ann Arbor as most believed the game was salted away.

But as former Indiana head coach and now ESPN commentator Lee Corso would say “Not so fast, my friend.” as Notre Dame scored two TD's to regain the lead at 34-31. The Irish had the ball with less than 3 minutes to go and basically one 1st down away from victory. Notre dame ran on 1st down for no gain then tried two passes that fell incomplete. After the punt, Michigan had 2:13 left to either tie or win the game.

Forcier never flinched during the final drive completing six of seven including a huge 2nd and 15 completion for 11 yards followed by a six yard completion for the 1st down and a clock stoppage. After a dropped pass that would have won the game, Forcier coolly completed the 5 yard game winner to Greg Mathews. Indeed, a star was born!

After the game ended a few ticks later and “The Big House” rocking, young Tate Forcier was interviewed by reporters and said “I don't get nervous”. That was apparent, wasn't it?

Yes indeed, a new star was born in Ann Arbor, MI on Saturday September 12, 2009. Any college football fan would hope this star can stay healthy and University of Michigan fans hope he will be the quarterback for 4 years and a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) national title.

Welcome to major college football Mr. Tate Forcier.

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

NCAA Football “RESPECT Weekend”

This past weekend, The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the NCAA became partners to initiate “RESPECT Weekend” held for games during the Labor Day weekend from September 3 – 7 to show sportsmanship. All teams were to have a pregame shaking of hands just prior to kickoff lead by the head coaches and the athletics directors, this according to the NCAA Press Release last Tuesday.

“We wanted to show sportsmanship in a clear way.” said Grant Teaff, AFCA Executive Director and former longtime head coach at Baylor University. Teaff also said, “This is a symbolic initiative that says to the football world, our fans, our students, our student-athletes and athletics departments that sportsmanship is a vital part of the successful football programs we have in this country,”

No kidding --- isn't that part of what the NCAA is about? I thought it was anyway. The unfortunate truth is that has been swept under the rug by players, coaches, administrators, AD's, fans and university presidents.

According to the release, attending patrons and television viewers saw different types of promoting RESPECT Weekend in the forms of signs, public address announcements, and merchandise giveaways.

Hmmmm … we the fans had to be bribed to buy into this initiative? I can't help but wonder if the NCAA and AFCA think those of us who love college football are nothing more than people the teams of our choice stomp the opponents. We must be morons!

Here's a couple of tidbits I was not aware of having to do with RESPECT Weekend. According to the press release, The AFCA already has a code of conduct that at least the coaches should shake hands prior to and at the conclusion of each game.

Says Teaff, “We want to make sure we’re teaching the right thing to our student-athletes, the student bodies and the youngsters out there watching the game.”

Keep teaching this people because I wonder how many are truly understanding this message.

How did RESPECT Weekend come about? Apparently, there was two-year study of student-athletes, coaches, conference commissioners, administrators and fans. The study revealed the the greatest concern of college sporting events was fan behavior.

It took two years of study to determine fan behavior was the greatest concern at collegiate athletic events? I think many of us could have told them this after one event for crying out loud!

Finally, who is “them”? The folks who conducted this study? Of course, none other than the NCAA.

All I can say to that is what the characters of the old Guinness commercials would say …

“BRILLIANT!!!”

Of course I kid.

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com