Books Boss League has moved to a new wordpress site! All past and future league articles and updates will be on the new website. The link can be found below.
https://booksbossleague.wordpress.com
Look out for the week 1 preview article releasing September 10 on the new website!
Thanks for following along and we hope you continue following the BBL!
The 2020 BBL Draft was completed this last weekend at the residence of the Amazon Piranhas manager. It was held outside on his patio deck, which turned out to be quite eventful in of itself.
The Everglade Squatches held the first pick, and subsequently took Christian McCaffrey shortly after the draft bell chime played in the distance.
With a pouring rainstorm an hour and half before the first overall pick, the sky and radar were looking clear for the remainder of the draft evening. Six of the ten managers joined the live draft at the outdoor deck venue ready to take on 2020 to draft a roster of contenders for the season.
The Everglade Squatches held the first pick, and subsequently took Christian McCaffrey shortly after the draft bell chime played in the distance. We were able to get though the first five overall picks, before an unexpected rainstorm forced the commissioner to take action and pause the live draft, as six team managers frantically scrambled to keep their technology dry, as they all huddled under an umbrella.
This move was greeted with confusion, as the four managers who were not present at the live draft were thrown into a spiral. This was evident as the manager of Wentz upon a Time responded with an “R u serious” in the league group chat as he was slated to make the next pick before the draft was paused.
The rainstorm subsided after 20 minutes, and the draft was able to resume after a 30-minute delay. Luckily, that was the last of the rain for the night. Here are the results from the first round.
The draft finished up shortly after 9:30 EDT, with teams eager to look at their projections and opponents for week 1. This was followed by a sense of excitement, anxiousness and patience, as managers waited for the yahoo generated report cards that follow the conclusion of the draft.
And there they were, released just south of 10pm which resulted in managers flocking to their inboxes. This was followed by yelps of excitement, and sighs of disappointment, as teams took it upon themselves to read their grades out loud to the other managers present.
This also gave some managers, (one in particular) the ammo it needed to declare the season over, as their team was just on a different level than every other team. Chants of 13-0 rang through the night from this owner, who will remain nameless to avoid embarrassment of the actual performance of their team later on in the season.
Jokes aside, the BBL draft grades courtesy of yahoo can be found below on the graphic.
Wentz upon a Time claimed the top spot, followed by the auto drafting Prairie Dawgz. Tropical Thunder and Philly Special were given the worst grades by yahoo, a C and C- respectively.
A night unlike any other. Overall, it was a successful and memorable night for the 2020 BBL Draft. As of the press release of this article, no trades have been completed, but there have been a few waiver claims submitted.
Shout out to the managers of Everglade Squatches, GalensWinningWinners, Sahara Sandstorms, Amazon Piranhas, Tundra Icecaps, Tropical Thunder, and a virtual Philly Special for attending the entirety of the live draft. Also, big shout out to Amazon Piranhas for hosting the draft at his outdoor patio deck.
Good luck to all managers this upcoming season, looking forward to a great year!
Who nailed their first-round pick, and who missed an opportunity? Who is primed for a championship run this season? Comment below!
Want more BBL updates? Follow our website for weekly blog posts to stay up to date with all things BBL, or follow us on Instagram @booksbossleague.
Cheers!
The Tropical Thunder franchise underwent another logo change for the upcoming 2020 season, their third time in as many years. The new primary and secondary logos can be seen below.
The Thunder are hoping to bring some permanency to the franchise with the installment of this logo. Since their inaugural season in 2018, they have debuted a new logo each season. The components of the logo have mainly stayed intact with visual adjustments every year. You can see the Tropical Thunder logo timeline below.
Tropical Thunder is primed for another strong campaign for the 2020 season.
News Around the League
Other franchises returning to the BBL this season include the Sahara Sandstorms, Amazon Piranhas, Tundra Icecaps, Everglade Squatches, Philly Special, Camburger Helper, GalensWinningWinners, Prairie Dawgz, and Wentz upon a Time.
As of this press release, no other teams have undergone logo or franchise changes. Stay tuned to this post for any other league updates regarding franchise team names and logos in the upcoming week(s).
For a list of updated teams and logos, refer to our franchise page located on the BBL homepage.
Draft
In other news, the BBL draft is slated for August 29. The Everglade Squatches hold the first overall pick.
If you would like to read the 2020 BBL Season preview, click here.
Thanks for reading!
Yes baseball is back, as Major League Baseball finally developed a plan for returning back to action earlier this week. Commissioner Rob Manfred implemented a 60-game season for 2020 with Opening Day slated to be July 23 or 24. A universal DH has also been added to the season, as well as additional runners on base in extra innings. All is back to normal in the baseball world, but that is hardly the case.
Negotiations for the 2020 season started in early May with the owners and the players trying to figure out the terms of the season. The first offer was sent to the players on May 26. The final plan implemented by the commissioner was just on June 23. For the rest of the specific offers between, here is a timeline of the past month of the MLB negotiations.
Negotiations
The past month of negotiations have put a cloud over baseball’s head. It soon turned into what seemed to be a CBA negotiation just to play the 2020 season. It’s a shame the owners and the players could not agree to a plan to put baseball back in action sooner, at a time when sports are needed more than ever for morale.
Has baseball been forgotten?
Some may say that baseball is back and once they start playing everyone will forget about the negotiations and move on. I disagree, as baseball missed a golden opportunity to be back and playing July 4th weekend before all the other major sports. Baseball could have found favor with the population and been the reminder that baseball is still relevant and gained new fans along the way. But that opportunity was squandered.
Sports fans are desperate for live sports, which could have been given to them with baseball. Ratings would definitely increase as it would only be competing with a couple other sports like golf and boxing. Yet, these negotiations put a stop to that, and instead of trying to salvage a season when the population needs something to hang on to, another month goes by without baseball.
60-Game Season
With only 60 games this season, some say what’s the point? With the original 162 game slate, a small 60-game season would not nearly be enough games to decide the true champion. Sure, 60 games may not be what were used to, but I think it will do well for the sport.
I believe baseball will benefit from a 60-game season because of the sprint type atmosphere as opposed to the marathon 162 game season. Let’s take a look at the 2019 playoff teams after 60 games.
American League- Astros (40-20), Twins (40-20), Yankees (38-22), Rays (37-23), Rangers (32-28).
National League- Dodgers (41-19), Brewers (34-26), Braves (33-27), Cubs (34-26), Phillies (33-27).
Seven of those ten teams went on to the postseason. The eventual 2019 World Series Champion Nationals would not have made the playoffs, as they held a 27-33 record after 60 games. Other playoff teams that did not make it at a 60-game cutoff in 2019 include the A’s and Cardinals. What 60 games does is make every game count, which in turn makes every game exciting for fans.
For me, the 162-game season drags on and on and what once was excitement in early April, becomes a shrug in September. Mostly because once September hits, the NFL takes priority over baseball for me, and it does for many others as well. If this 60-game season shows promise which I think it will, I strongly believe the MLB should consider shortening the season permanently. Not to 60 games of course, but perhaps 120/130 games. By shaving off about 30/40 games baseball would not have to compete with the NFL as much in the September and October months, where the NFL outperforms them. Plus, do we really need 162 games every year to decide the best team?
Other Changes
Also coming this season is a universal DH and adding a runner on second base in extra innings. The days of having pitchers hit in the lineup are over, as the Designated Hitter spot will take over in both leagues in the 2020 season. I am indifferent about that, as I liked watching pitchers take their stance in the batting box over the years. The jury is still out on the additional runner at second base in extra innings, so I will wait that out before I determine whether or not that is a good idea.
Conclusion
The 60-game season will certainly be different but can be an experiment for baseball and can ultimately lead to positive change. Whether it’s the universal DH, additional runner in extras, or even a shorter season, I think this season will be one to remember, (as long as it happens) and be a precedent for the future of Major League Baseball.
Do you think baseball missed an opportunity to be playing earlier before the major sports? Do you like the changes to the upcoming season? Comment below, and thanks for reading!
Intro
Welcome all to the 2020 BBL fantasy football season! Books Boss League will be entering its seventh year in action this upcoming season. The stakes could not be higher.
The BBL showcases a new logo identity this year for 2020, as seen at the top of this article!
Also new this year, a website! I will be posting weekly write-ups of all the league matchups during the season. This is opposed to only highlighting one match-up per week via the Instagram page.
Stay tuned for other neat updates to the Books Boss League page in the near future. I have already attached the league record book and have profiled our league history which can found on the BBL homepage. I also plan to update the page with all the managers and teams, or ‘franchises’ as we call them, later in the summer once the franchises have been finalized for the season.
“Multiple team owners will look to change that narrative, as the quest for the 2020 BBL title has begun.”
As we enter the seventh year of the BBL, we have only had three different managers raise the banner. Multiple team owners will look to change that narrative, as the quest for the 2020 BBL title has begun.
Season Preview
[Book] Tropical Thunder will look to build on their league high three BBL championships. After raising the banner last season, they are seeking to become the league’s first back-to-back champion. Retaining the BBL title has proven difficult, as no team has accomplished this feat.
[Ezra] The Everglade Squatches hold the number 1 overall pick, after a season to forget last year. They were able to win the consolation bracket after finishing the regular season in last place. They will attempt to recapture the magic that led them to a 2018 BBL Title.
[Galen] GalensWinningWinners has quickly gone from a powerhouse, to becoming the laughing stock of the league. After winning the title in two of its first three years, they have struggled to mount anything substantial since. For the past two seasons, they have had consecutive last place finishes, with a combined 9-21 record over that two-year span.
[Jordan] The Amazon Piranhas have come close, yet still are so far. They have been on the rough end of back to back title games. Doing the unthinkable and making back to back championship appearances, they have yet to bring home that elusive title. They have proven they can hang with the best but cannot find a way to get it done. Will 2020 be any different?
[Jack] The Tundra Icecaps, the epitome of the ‘what if’ team. Trying to establish themselves as a powerhouse of the league, they as well have yet to taste a championship. While they have indeed constructed championship caliber teams, poor roster management (start/sits) have cost them dearly. They desperately need to break the current narrative surrounding their franchise. Tip- Don’t mention the kicker position to this manager.
[Logan] The Sahara Sandstorms took the BBL by, well storm last season. Tired of being overlooked in the league, they dedicated themselves back to the game and it showed in their first ever postseason appearance. Unfortunately, the lack of post season experience proved to be the only setback. With last season in the rearview, they are primed for another good campaign.
[Blake] Blake has been nonexistent the last couple seasons. Also accomplishing the feat of back to back championship appearances in 2014-2015, they have yet to make a name for themselves more recently. One thing they had going for them last year was the most points, as they were led by league MVP Lamar Jackson. However, even with him, they were only able to manage a 4th place finish.
[Tim] Tired of finishing last, they have been able to string together back to back playoff appearances. Each year, they have been stomped out in the opening round. They will look to charge further into the playoff picture this season, hoping for different outcome. Team name wise, having a name centered around his favorite team the Philadelphia Eagles, is almost certain.
[Nick] The Prairie Dawgz have been looking for motivation since the league formed in 2014. After a postseason appearance in the inaugural season of the BBL, this team has proven to be a fluke. Over 6 seasons, they have constructed an unimpressive 42-51 overall record. Will this be this year the Dawgz make a difference and make a postseason appearance? Hard to tell.
[Erk] Joining the league as an expansion team in 2017, they have yet to make an impact in the postseason realm as well. Always willing to make trades, this team is looking for some traction in the league. Overall, in its first three seasons, they have turned in a 21-24 record with no playoff appearances. Also a fan of the Eagles, we will look for some creativity this year in regard to the name of this franchise.
Conclusion
Plenty to look forward to for the upcoming 2020 season! Multiple managers have a lot to prove this season to make a name for themselves. But only one league manager can raise a banner for their franchise to hang in the BBL rafters. Good luck to all managers, and may the best franchise win!
Did you feel your team was slighted? Was an important fact missed in this preseason preview? Who has the most to prove this season? Comment below!
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Books Boss league is a Fantasy Football Championship League full of rich history. With its origins starting in 2014, the league has successfully completed several seasons.
Books Boss League, or the BBL as we call it, was established by myself and my high school friends to make fantasy football more competitive amongst ourselves. Comprised of Manheim Central graduates, fantasy football has brought us closer together. We started out with eight managers and later transitioned to a ten-team league in 2017. A few managers have come and gone but most have stayed true to the league.
Some say it’s fake, or merely a game, but we value this competition quite highly in the fantasy community. Call us what you want, but we call ourselves students of the game. We value the intangible comradery associated with playing in this league year in and year out.
Win, and crown yourself a lifelong champion in the record books.
Upon entering the 2017 season, Books Boss league did not have a visual identity. I created the first BBL logo that was used in the 2017-2018 seasons. The logo got an adjustment for the 2019 year, and is now known by the current logo at the top of this page.
In 2018, I introduced the BBL Power Rankings as a way to engage the league more while comparing the strengths of teams on a weekly basis. I stumbled across the OIL – the OklahomIraqis Fantasy Football league. The OIL uses a power rating system developed by the Oberon Mt. Fantasy Football League. I have adopted this ranking system as a great way to fuel competitive banter among the league. The reason I like this rating system is that it values the amount of points a team scores as well as the record, as opposed to just strictly a team’s record. Since the BBL plays in a head-to-head league, I found this rating system beneficial for our competitiveness.
Finish last, and question whether or not you are capable of competing in the BBL. Not to mention we won’t let you forget about it. Win, and crown yourself a lifelong champion in the record books. And if the sheer fact of winning alone doesn’t get you going, the winner is presented with a championship certificate to relish the accomplishment for years to come. Raise the banner!
Many have tried to be victorious at seasons end, but few do in this hyper competitive league. Some say, this is just another fantasy football league. This could not be farther from the truth, as the BBL pursues excellence every season. Only the strongest managers survive in the BBL.
I hope you enjoyed this brief walk down memory lane, in the historical archives at Books Boss League. If you cannot tell, we value this league seriously, as we all strive to raise the championship banner at the end of the season. Thanks for reading, and I hope you stay along for the ride and become a Books Boss League fan!
Cheers,
the commish
The Cincinnati Bengals select…
As a sports fan, especially an avid NFL fan, I have been looking forward to the NFL draft for weeks. This is one of the closest events to live sports, and it is very important to the teams of the NFL.
The Draft is where teams get the future of their franchise, and generally happens live at a designated venue. This year, the draft was originally to be held in Las Vegas, live. But as we quickly approach the first round tonight, the draft will be fully virtual, yet another by product of the coronavirus.
How will it Work?
Well, with everything being online even with a virtual off season, this would mean that proper internet connection is available for not only teams, but for players that could get selected. In this article, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said “that each team is allowed to put one IT specialist in the decision-maker’s home.” This is hopefully to ensure a smooth experience.
Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be announcing the picks from his basement. Look at this article to see what it looks like.
Teams have had to hold virtual meetings and interviews with players about the upcoming draft yet another wrinkle to the draft process. In the past, teams have met face to face in person with players, but now that face to face is through a monitor. This is one other factor to consider in the future outlook of these players.
Reliability of Connection
With the draft going fully virtual, there is a strong concern for any kind of glitches or even the present danger of having someone hack into the league conference call and disrupting the draft. The NFL held a practice virtual draft to simulate tonight’s draft on Monday.
While there were no major issues, the Bengals (who own the 1st pick) reportedly experienced a technical glitch which lasted for over 2 minutes. With other glitches and some sound issues, it was good to have held a practice virtual draft. Everything seems to be on pace for tonight’s draft.
WNBA Virtual Draft
The WNBA recently held a fully virtual draft last Friday, April 17, 2020, a sign that a fully virtual draft can work. This article outlines how the virtual picks still evoked the emotions of being drafted.
Virtual Draft Setups
Teams and owners will now set up shop in their homes for draft night. Desks filled with multiple monitors, computers and screens will be a must in every team’s draft room. Take a look at these teams’ setups for draft night.
Conclusion
Oh, what a time we live in. The NFL Draft has gone virtual for 2020 and will be broadcasted on ESPN at 8pm EST tonight (thankfully). While this is new territory for all the teams, owners and players, this could help the NFL transition more digitally in the future. Have we witnessed our last draft of teams handing a hand-written card to Roger Goodell to announce? More players could choose to stay in their homes with their families and relatives and enjoy the emotions of the draft with close friends, rather than join Goodell on the big stage in future drafts. The coronavirus may have forced a virtual NFL Draft, but perhaps more virtual elements are on its way to the NFL and other major sports.
As Bill Belichick once said, “On to Cincinnati.”
Who will the Bengals select with the first overall pick in the draft? Who do you want your team to draft tonight? Comment below and thanks for reading!
eSports – Get into the game
Ah yes, the ever-growing world of eSports. Esports, unlike your traditional physically active sports, eSports is the world of organized, competitive online gaming. Games such as Madden, FIFA, Fortnite, and Rocket League are just a few of the games played in the eSports world. While it may seem like a small market, the data says otherwise.
What do the numbers say? The global audience for Esports from Newzoo’s 2019 report said it will reach 453.8 million, while generating $1.1 billion, which is an increase of 26.7% from last year. Not to mention, the esports global audience is expected to grow to 495 million in 2020.
iRacing
With the rise of esports, esports will only continue to grow as not only a hobby, but a career. With professional sports suspended until the foreseeable future, sports fans have turned to virtual sports for one mode of entertainment. NASCAR, who has suspended races until May 3rd, 2020, saw an opportunity with iRacing and created the eNASCAR iRacing Pro invitational Series. Hence NASCAR iRacing was born.
This invitational series features many of the same drivers that would have been racing in physical cars, but now find themselves in a simulation, one that is extremely lifelike. Take a look at this setup for example.
“First of all, it is extremely realistic,” current NASCAR Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer said days after competing in the first eNASCAR iRacing Pro invitational Series event. “You’re using the same mechanics, the same forces, the same movements as you use in real life to make your car go fast; and that is your hand-eye coordination, your feet.
What this also does is that it gives the fans a neat experience and a fun atmosphere on race day. Other sports are following suit, as IndyCar also transitioned into a 6-race challenge for the time being during this pandemic.
Conclusion
ESports and iRacing are a cool response in the sports realm to the coronavirus pandemic that has eliminated sports for the past month. Not only does it allow the athletes to continue to simulate races on lifelike tracks, but also adds an entertainment value for fans to stay engaged with the drivers and the sport.
Have you been watching or participating in any virtual sports during this time to get your fill of sports? What topic should I cover next? Comment below with your thoughts on iRacing and eSports and their influence on sports! Thanks for reading!
When compared to the past month of March 2020, sports have proved of little significance when compared to an overall purpose, and hence has been postponed.
I think it’s safe to say everyone wants the coronavirus pandemic to be eradicated, so that we can all get back to normal life. The coronavirus came onto the scene quickly, and soon wiped out collegiate sports and has threatened the seasons of professional sports leagues.
Early March
Back in early March, the sports world had plans to continue going throughout 2020 without any strings attached. I think the sports world got a wake up call on March 11, 2020. Just 5 hours after the NCAA had announced that the Division I March Madness tournament would continue without fans in attendance, the NBA suspended its season indefinitely.
Rudy Gobert
Center Ruby Gobert of the Utah Jazz has just tested positive for COVID-19 before their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder that evening. With this development, the NBA suspended its season. Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks was stunned by the news, as the Mavericks were in the middle of a game when the news broke. You can see his reaction here.
To add to all of this, Ruby Gobert may have put himself into this situation with his carelessness around the virus. Earlier in the week, Gobert made it a point to touch all of the microphones and every surface at Jazz media day to show his lack of panic of the virus. Here is a clip showing Gobert touching all of the microphones on Monday.
Now while this may not be the way Gobert actually contracted the virus, it makes you wonder..
Suspension of other Sports
After the NBA cancelled its season, other sports and sports leagues shortly followed suit. The NCAA cancelled all remaining winter and spring sports contests, Major League Baseball pushed its season back indefinitely, and now all of a sudden there are no sports. All of this – in a matter of days.
What to do without Live Sports?
So, what impact does sports have on society today?
There is just something exciting about live sports. Not knowing the outcome of the game, allows viewers to be enticed until the end of the game. Sports networks thrive on this passion to consume live sports. But what happens after the conclusion of the game?
Sports are not like your television shows that you can watch and re-watch over and over. Once the moment of live sports end and you know the outcome, to watch it again is, well not as entertaining. This article explains it pretty well about the shelf life of sporting events.
ESPN is now showing documentaries and old sports games because they do not have any live sports to report on. Sports have become… expendable. Or have they?
Conclusion
I found myself watching those documentaries these last two weeks, to immerse myself into the world of sports, even though there are no sports going on in progress. There is something fascinating about watching sports documentaries, you can learn so much about the people involved.
I have also been watching old NFL games that have aired on TV. While sometimes I do know the outcome of the game, that has not stopped me from continuing to watch the game. With a world without live sports, I still find enjoyment in watching old games. Hey, sports are sports.
The realization that there are no live sports has hit, which is disappointing as an avid sports fan. I follow the professional league stats and my favorite teams, all of which I thoroughly enjoy. But the reality is I cannot do that right now. Without that, we can either forget about sports entirely, or embrace a world without live sports.
Sports are an integral part of society today. They are an escape from the everyday stresses of life, and bring people together to form a sense of community. Sports play a vital role in our lives, and they will continue, even without live sports.
There are plenty of ways to still consume sports during this difficult and unprecedented time. I encourage you all to involve yourself in any sports and of course, stay safe.
Have sports become expendable? What are your favorite sports documentaries? Comment below and thanks for reading!
Parity
Let’s define parity first. Parity, when used in the sports realm, refers to the fact that teams in a league have roughly equivalent levels of talent. This creates more competitive games as the ‘best’ team is not significantly better than the so called ‘worst’ in the league. Winners cannot be easily predicted in advance and makes for a more thrilling environment.
NBA
One of the reasons I have not been able to enjoy the NBA over the recent years is the lack of parity in the league. From the four year span of 2015-2018, the Cleveland Cavaliers won the Eastern conference all four years. On the Western side of the conference, the Golden State Warriors came out on top all four years as well.
So, the same two teams battled for the Larry O’Brien trophy in June. This lack of different teams in the championship showed the lack of parity of the league during this time span.
And this all stems from the players deciding to take their fate into their own hands. As a player, you feel like you have all the answers and can start deciding what is best for the team, and ultimately yourself.
Nothing wrong with that, right? While it may have been beneficial to the players themselves, it has been detrimental to the league.
Player Movement / Super teams
In the 2003 draft, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade were all selected in the first five picks. Yet in 2010, all three of these players ended up on the same team, thanks to LeBron James joining the Miami Heat in free agency. Welcome to the Super team era!
What this effectively did was increase the gap between the NBA’s best team and worst team, significantly I might add. Now you have 29 other teams scrambling to try to keep up with the Miami Heat to try to give them a run for the title.
Naysayers will say LeBron did not start the super team era, because the Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks in their first season together, so they were not the overwhelming best team. Sure, they lost that first season, then went on to win the championship the next two seasons. After making the finals for the 4th straight time, the Heat lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
LeBron James left Miami after four years and joined forces with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love with the Cavaliers. Ultimately, if other teams wanted to compete in the NBA, what are they going to do? Build a super team as well. This is exactly the formula that the Golden State Warriors used. A couple years later, the Warriors went out and signed Kevin Durant, to try to further separate themselves from the league.
Easily Predictable
This leaves the rest of the league a couple notches below the top 3/4 teams in the league. And what ends up happening is that at the beginning of the season, we can start to predict who is going to make the championship and win said title quite easily. This makes sports as an entertainment purpose irrelevant. No parity.
As a future sport manager, if people know who is going to win, why bother watch the game? This affects attendance directly and creates lack of interest from the fans.
Conclusion
With the creation of super teams in the NBA, it has furthered the gap between the good teams and the bad teams. This creates a lack of interest in the fans because the games become easily predictable. It all comes back to the NBA’s lack of parity in the league.
Did LeBron James start the super team movement? Leave a comment below! Thanks for reading!
Sports by the Book