The Counselor is IN:

Is Fantasy Football Geeky?

I  have been pondering the question if Fantasy Football is geeky or not.   Many people will scoff at this converstation.  After all, football has  always been a “jock” thing and not a geek thing.  But like most geeky  things, fantasy football is based outside of reality.  The fans of  fantasy football are often obsessed like I am for a good Sci Fi show or  Spidey comic books.  Fantasy Football owners speak their own language  and often discuss their success and failures Monday and Tuesday morning  similarly to fans of BSG and LOST would do the day after their show.  

Fantasy  football may be fantasy but it is also based on real stats from real  players.  Fantasy football is stat based which is accepted for sports  fanatics.  It is sports related which is hard to reconcile with geekdom.   

Fantasy  football has become much more acceptable over the last twenty years.  I  remember when it was only for fringe few. Now, all sorts of people play  fantasy football.  Some of my friends used to never watch a football  game but now that they are playing Fantasy Football, they watch football  religiously.  

Most  of my fantasy football friends, are not jocks but many are geeks.  I  include myself in this group. We will often weave our conversations from  sci fi to comics to fantasy football.  Comics and fantasy football are  the top two things I discuss with my father.

I  really don’t know if fantasy football is really geeky or not.  I do  know that it lends itself well to many geeks and fits in our geeky  nature. I am leaning towards including it in the more socially accepted  geek obsessions. What do my readers think?

The Counselor is OUT:

But that was a different era!

The Counselor is IN:


As sports fans, we like to discuss who is the greatest of all time for various sports.  Mostly this is a futile venture but can lead to some interesting conversations.  These conversations are killed with the phrase "But that was a different era!"


I have experienced this first hand numerous times.  I was in a recent discussion about Michael Jordan and how I am not convinced that he is the greatest.  My friend was adamant that Jordan is by far the greatest basketball player of all times.  I asked him when Mikey scored one hundred points in a game, which he never did.  My buddy gave me the standard kill phrase of "But that was a different era." I responded with, "yes it was and they did not have 3 point shots so it was more tough for Wilt Chamberlain than it would have been for Jordan."  


Earlier this week on ESPN's Mike and Mike show, they were pronouncing Phil Jackson the greatest basketball coach of all time.  The conversation turned to comparing him to Red Auerbac.  One of their guests scoffed at the comparison and Proclaimed "But that was a different era."


The point of these debates are to compare and contrast players from various eras.  To exclaim that it is unfair to contemplate the differences of players from different eras is ridiculous and ludicrous.  When advocating someone as the Greatest, one is required to answer debate about players from other eras.  Otherwise, this player is just the greatest of their era and not of all time.


 The Counselor is OUT:
 

Dez Bryant Huppla

The Counselor is IN:

This last week, a lawsuit was filed against Dez Bryant. He is accused of not paying his tab for $500,000 in jewelry. He may have stiffed his co-signer and the two jewelry stores for the cost of his new bling. If he did this, then Dez is showing his youth and immaturity.

Some people have blown this out of proportion.  They are ranting and raving about Bryant. These same people declare he is falling apart and will self destruct the Cowboys.

We all know that wide receivers can be divas. Some of them like the flash and spot light. Dez appears to be one of them.

Dez Bryant has not physically harmed anyone.  He was not stopped for driving drunk.  He has not even ranted about his teammates and/or his coaches.  It is not like he was caught with hookers and cocaine.  

Bryant flashed his skill and talents on the field last season.  Injuries prevented him from playing several games but he demonstrated why the Cowboys coveted him at the draft.  He will be a playmaker for years to come.

I am not saying that we need to dismiss Bryant’s off the field issues.  He should be held accountable for his bills and choices.  If he owes this money for a vanity like jewelry, then he should be made to pay for it. I hope he learns from this and adds people around him to help him with his off the field and financial choices.  But this is not at a level that will be detrimental to the Dallas Cowboys.

 The Counselor is OUT: 
 

Opening Day Renewal and Hope

The Counselor is IN: 

The air is full of the smells of the Spring.  Scents of cut grass and pollinating pollinating trees hang and mix with the oxygen. Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is upon us.

Opening day of Baseball season brings me a sense of renewal. After a cold hard winter, it is the gateway to warm weather. The grass, trees, flowers, and plants are renewed and coming back to life. Even at age 40, the start of baseball season brings the promise of playing outside and the upcoming summer months (no longer 12 weeks of summer vacation but still).

Every baseball fan anticipates opening day. His or her team is undefeated. This could be the season that their team breaks out, returns to dominance, and could win the World Series. As a Texas Rangers fan, I am hopeful for a return to the Series and  this time a championship. Even my family and friends that are Kansas City Royals fans believe that this could be their break out season. Opening Day is all about Renewal and Hope and I am grateful for it.

 The Counselor is OUT:

 

Interview with Cardinals Minor Leaguer- C.J. Beatty

The Counselor is IN:

(Original article posted in the March Edition of Sports Jabber Magazine)



Recently, St. Louis Cardinal Minor League Outfielder, C.J. Beatty, agreed to an interview with me for Sports Jabber Magazine. C.J. is a prospect who was the Top Athlete at North Carolina A&T for two years prior to being drafted. I gathered questions from the Sports Jabber community and made my list. I found C.J. to be a down-to-Earth guy who just loves to play baseball and who has high aspirations playing for the Cardinals in St. Louis.

I am sure you will enjoy his responses to our questions.

1) The first question and comments are from Sports Jabber’s Co-Owner Reg.
“First of all, I want to thank CJ, on behalf of SJ, for doing this interview.
Secondly, since you play in the organization of my favorite MLB team AND you & I attended the same GREAT school, you are now one of my favorite players. ;-)
What are some of your goals...in baseball and in life?
GO AGGIES!”

MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO ONE DAY BE A MAJOR LEAGUER! and SECOND....BE ABLE TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ACHIEVE THIER DREAMS!

2) As Reg mentioned, you attended college at North Carolina A&T, near your hometown. Please tell our readers more about North Carolina A&T: size of enrollment; what is the school known for; and why you selected North Carolina A&T?

I THINK THERE ARE ABOUT 12,000 STUDENTS AT A&T. THE AGGIES ARE KNOWN FOR THE BEST HOMECOMING ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH...ALSO I THINK OUR HOMECOMING WAS RANKED IN THE TOP 5 IN THE NATION AT SOME POINT.

I COULD HAVE WENT TO ANY SCHOOL OF MY CHOICE....UVA, OHIO STATE, NC STATE, LSU, JUST TO NAME SOME… I CHOSE AGGIE LAND BECAUSE THEY ARE D-1, 30min AWAY FROM HOME, AND THEY GAVE ME A FULL SCHOLARSHIP.

3) You were twice named Athlete of the Year at North Carolina A & T. You were the big man on campus. Now you are in the minors. How does it compare going from being the best athlete on campus to playing in the minors?

FUNNY YOU ASK! I WAS USED TO BEING TREATED AS A KING, NOW I’M AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL AGAIN TRYING TO CRAWL BACK ON TOP! BUT IT’S FUN.

4) You were drafted in the 26th round in the 2009 Draft after your Junior year. At that point, did you consider staying in school for another year in hopes your draft stock might rise? If so, what convinced you to go to the minors?

WELL....IN BASEBALL, IT’S DIFFERENT. WHEN YOU ARE A JUNIOR, YOU HAVE SOME PULL. BUT WHEN YOU GO PRO AFTER YOUR SENIOR SEASON, REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE, YOUR STOCK IS NOT AS VALUABLE. ONLY BECAUSE SCOUTS KNOW YOU "HAVE" TO SIGN. PLUS THE CARDINALS PAID FOR THE REST OF MY EDUCATION!

5) You had a wrist injury your rookie season that cut your season very short. Last season, your batting average was significantly down from your college stats with North Carolina A&T. Were you still recovering from the wrist injury or was it from a learning curve of professional baseball?

NO....MY WRIST WAS TOTALLY HEALED. IT’S THAT LEARNING CURVE THAT EVERYONE GOES THROUGH. EVERY YEAR I LEARN MORE AND TRAIN HARDER....SO WE SHALL SEE :-)

6) The Cardinals are a storied franchise. They have the second most World Series rings. The have a long list of great players from Stan the Man to Ozzie Smith to Mark McGuire to Albert Pujols. Is it intimidating or inspiring to be with an organization like the Cardinals with such history and iconic greats? Who is your favorite Cardinal of all time?

Noooooooo noooo! MAN I FEEL LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE BEING IN THE CARDINALS
ORGANIZATION! IT’S A JAW-DROPPING EXPERIENCE. I REALLY DO LOOK UP TO ALBERT
BECAUSE OF HIS STRONG WORK ETHIC!

7) This is your second Spring Training with the Cards. How are you approaching it this season?

THIS SEASON, I PICKED A DIFFERENT THEME! LAST SEASON, IT WAS "SHOW ‘EM WHATCHA GOT." THIS SEASON IT’S "COME EARLY...LEAVE LATE, STAY HUNGRY AND HUMBLE."

8) C.J, I live in Springfield, MO. It appears likely that you will be sent to AA Springfield Cardinals this season at some point. Any thoughts on how life may change being so far from home in a small city in Missouri?

UMMMMM.....NOT TOO MUCH THOUGHT! I’M SO FOCUSED ON CLIMBING THE CHARTS THAT IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW FAR OR HOW COLD OR HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AT THE GAMES! I WANNA PLAY FOR TONY ONE DAY AND IMMA TRY MY VERY BEST TO GET THERE.

9) You have been involved with the group L.E.A.D. Tell our readers a little bit about L.E.A.D.

WELL, IT STANDS FOR LAUNCH, EXPOSE, ADVISE, DIRECT. IT’S A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION GEARED TOWARDS HELPING INNER-CITY KIDS OF ATLANTA, GA PLAY BASEBALL AT A HIGHER LEVEL. JASON HEYWARD IS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND HE AND I WORK REAL CLOSE WITH THIS GROUP.

Here are some other questions from our readers.

10) CJ, who inspired you to be so involved with the kids at school and the youth groups
that you speak to?

WELL TO BE HONEST....I KINDA INSPIRED MYSELF. I USED TO ASK MY PARENTS GROWING UP, WHY, WHY, WHY SOME PRO ATHLETES HAVE A PROBLEM SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS OR SPEAKING TO SCHOOLS! FROM THEN ON, I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF TO BE AN ATHLETE THAT WOULD SIGN EVERY AUTOGRAPH AND TALK TO KIDS AND HELP THEM BE ANTHING THEY WANNA BE.

11) What got you interested in baseball to begin with?

FUNNY STORY TOO! MY MOTHER WAS A MOM THAT COULDN’T STAND SEEING HER SON AT THE BOTTOM OF A FOOTBALL PILE.....SO MY DAD DIRECTED ME TO BASEBALL....GOTTA KEEP THE WOMEN HAPPY RIGHT?!?! lol

12) Who was your favorite team/players growing up?

NEW YORK YANKEES BABY! DEREK JETER WAS AND STILL IS MY IDOL.....HE PLAYS THE GAME THE RIGHT WAY AND IS A CAPTAIN.

13) Can you tell us about your first experience of attending a Major League ballgame?

IN ONE SIMPLE BUT STRONG WORD! "WOW"
EVEN TIL THIS DAY I GO AND SAY TO MYSELF......
"I CAN’T WAIT TO PLAY HERE." IT’S LIKE HEAVEN TO ME .

14) What are your other hobbies besides baseball?

I LOVE PLAYING CHESS, XBOX LIVE, POKER, AND SPADES.

15) Do you play fantasy baseball or any other fantasy sports?
How good are you at them if you play?

NO, I’M NOT INTO THAT YET.... BUT MY FRIENDS HAVE TALKED ME INTO PLAYING THIS
SEASON....I HEARD IT GETS REAL COMPETITIVE! SO I’M READY BABY!

16) How long do you expect it to take before you are promoted to the big club?

UMMMM....I’M NOT SURE. HOPEFULLY IF IT’S GOD’S WILL, I WILL BE PINCH HITTING IN
2 YEARS FOR TONY IN A TIGHT SITUATION :-)

17) Final question for you C.J. You have your own website and you are well known on Twitter and Facebook. Can you give our readers your contact information for these sites?

SURE NO PROBLEM....

WEBSITE: WWW.CJBEATTY.COM
EMAIL: cjbeatty44@yahoo.com
TWITTER: @cjbeatty44
FACEBOOK: FOR MY PERSONAL PAGE: CJ BEATTY
FOR MY FAN PAGE: C.J. BEATTY

Thank you once again for your time and willingness for this interview.
If you are assigned to AA Springfield, I hope to have an opportunity to interview you
in person.

NO NO NO.... THANK YOU! I REALLY ENJOYED IT.....TAKE CARE.

The Counselor is OUT: