You’re the Best
There are a few things I would rather be doing today. Getting a root canal, finding a jury summons in the mail, passing a kidney stone, stepping on a Lego… Any of those would be preferable to this… Having to to write the 2012 thefouline.com fantasy baseball champion post for Dan Mckewen and his Rays those Cowbells.
For some strange reason, our league doesn’t award a trophy to each year’s winner. Instead, you get a few paragraphs noting your great accomplishment. But I will tell you this: if Dan wins back-to-back titles, I may hijack the Lord Stanley Cup trophy to hand out to him. It might be easier than having to write this two years in a row.
In spring of 2008, things were going great on thefouline.com. The Red Sox had just won another World Series title, and we had a loyal following and a steady stream of new posts. But despite all of the positives on the site, we were missing something. Everyone who commented on the site was a Red Sox fan. I appreciated their insight, but we all shared similar opinions. We were in desperate need of someone with a different perspective. We needed a villain.
This all changed on May 18th, on a post titled Like the Weather. A young, brash, opinionated Dan Mckewen had randomly Googled, “awesome baseball blogs written by really cool guys” and stumbled upon thefoulline.com. This was a post written in a derogatory manner that Dan did not appreciate, and he came out guns blazing in the comments section. Like Batman & the Joker, Rocky & Drago, and Buzz Lightyear & Zurg, it was thefoulline.com vs. Dan the #1 Rays Fan. We had our bad guy.
For a long time, no matter what Dan commented on, he received a bunch of abuse. He was pro-Rays on a Red Sox-dominated site. We were relentless on him. But no matter what we said to him, Dan kept coming back to the site and stating his opinions. We couldn’t get rid of him.
As time passed, we began to appreciate Dan’s loyalty to the site, even awarding him a coveted spot in our fantasy league (after his incessant begging). For four seasons, Dan has been all-in. He is arguably the most passionate owner in the league. The first couple of seasons, some may even say he was too passionate. Young Dan drove us a little nuts his first couple of seasons, and he will admit that his buttons were easily pushed. He was frustrated when trades didn’t go in his favor, or when Grady Sizemore got injured. He complained when he missed the playoffs. Then, after finally making the playoffs, he complained about losing in the finals in what is known in the league as “Tulo-gate.” He had a million excuses.
But here’s what I finally realized about Dan: He knows his baseball.
As much as it pains me, I have to admit Dan has matured. He’s a super-smart baseball mind, a tough competitor, and a loyal Rays fan. He has the only team in the league that has gotten better every year, finally culminating in his first and well-deserved baseball championship.
I’ve said a million times how hard it is just to make the playoffs in our league. To win a title is unreal (not that I know), and to dethrone the three-time champ while doing so is ridiculous.
We appreciate all of your support to the site. You’re our most loyal contributor and a great ambassador to thefoulline. Thanks for spreading the word about our little blog. I’m glad we didn’t run you off in 2008!
Congratulations on winning the title, Daniel-san. You really are the best around.
March 17th, 2013 at 11:26 am
Congrats to Daniel-San.
March 17th, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Wow…. I feel like I was taken on a stroll through memory lane of my entire 5 year tenure at thefoulline.com…. What a post! Without a doubt, slam dunk, my favorite post you have ever done. Was it because it was all about me? Perhaps… But still an amazing post regardless.
I can’t believe what an idiot I was… Back in those days, if somebody insulted my Rays, I was ready to bust out the heymakers and break a beer bottle in half. Now I just hit them with knowledge and insights… My how times have changed. I DO feel like i’ve matured in the last 5 years.
I kept coming back to the site because I was in the same situation… I needed somebody to talk baseball with, and I needed a villian as well. I got 6 of them instead, and that made it even better. That and I was getting the best baseball talk in all the land was a nice bonus. That’s why i kept coming back.
Thanks for all the kind words Dave… I can’t wait until my champions post next year! Looking forward to it!
March 17th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Great post Dave. Congrats Dan, but next years post will be about a 20 year friendship and a diehard Yankee fan!
March 17th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Anonymous!???
March 17th, 2013 at 4:31 pm
Who’s going to write my champion post when I win it?
March 17th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Who’s bringing the hot water to unfreeze hell?
March 17th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Hey Dennis and Willis
Thanks for the congratulations. It’s all you foulliners that make playing in this league so much fun every single year. We have without a doubt the best baseball league in the entire world and im honored to be a part of it, and represent as your champion.
I hope you guys can make it to our first of several “thefoulline.com chat nights” on April 12th when the Rays play the Sox. We’re going to be using the RARELY used chat feature on the site’s header, and Allan and I are hoping that you two, both Dave’s, Ginger, and all the other foulliners can make it. I know its a ways away, but something this fun has to be planned in advance!
March 17th, 2013 at 6:35 pm
Man…. You guys let DAN win your league? Shame on all of you… Just don’t let him repeat!
Can I come to the chat night you were talking about? If so, I’ll be there… I would love to talk baseball with knowledgeable people.
March 17th, 2013 at 7:38 pm
We let him win… We all regret it. You are always welcome to chat with us Bdog. Thanks for checking in!
March 17th, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Of course you are welcome at our chat night BDog! The more the merrier.
Breaking News into the Rays Those Cowbells war room. I now officially have the inside scoop for the two players Allan is taking at 10 and 11.
March 18th, 2013 at 4:32 am
Dan thinks he does. Lol
March 18th, 2013 at 1:00 pm
One thing we need to do ASAP is pick the names of the divisions. “divisions 1 and 2″ are really lame.
March 18th, 2013 at 1:38 pm
We’re wracking our brains trying to think of new division names. Any suggestions would be appreciated
March 18th, 2013 at 1:49 pm
Legends and Champions?
March 18th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Ball Busters & wood wackers.
March 18th, 2013 at 5:03 pm
Lets hear some more ideas… We were thinking naming them after great/notorious/character players or managers…
A Francona and a Maddon division?
Ted Williams & Willie mays ?
March 18th, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Bonds and Clemens? lol
March 18th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Fried Chicken & Beer
March 18th, 2013 at 6:11 pm
Keep em coming!
March 18th, 2013 at 6:34 pm
Lugo and Drew
March 18th, 2013 at 6:40 pm
Fried chicken and beer gets my vote!
March 18th, 2013 at 6:46 pm
We’ve talked about the Lugo & Drew divisions.. I like that one!
March 18th, 2013 at 7:07 pm
The Fried Chicken division and the Beer division….. Not bad.
March 18th, 2013 at 7:15 pm
Although Lugo and Drew is great too… I leave with you guys
March 18th, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Sounds like its time for a poll!
March 18th, 2013 at 7:53 pm
I think a poll could settle this nicely….
March 19th, 2013 at 2:56 pm
The people have spoken! Chicken & beer it is… Nice job Allan
March 19th, 2013 at 3:02 pm
YES!!!
March 19th, 2013 at 5:09 pm
Hey guys, one minor problem with the divisions. You guys wrote it as “fried chicken division” and “Beer division”. But the word division is already put in, so right now it reads as “Fried Chicken division division”, and “Beer division division”.
So if you take out the word division, and just put “Fried Chicken” and “Beer”, then the “division” is already added on.
Go to the standings to check out what I mean.
March 19th, 2013 at 5:45 pm
Our IT department will take care of it
March 19th, 2013 at 8:28 pm
So we have our division names… How interesting! This is going to be without a doubt the funnest year yet!
6 days
March 20th, 2013 at 12:27 am
I’m READY!!!