Smell That?
Exactly one day every year, I wake up, walk outside to do whatever it is I’m going to do that day, and it just hits me like a ton of bricks. I’ve lived in Texas all my life, and if you’ve ever been through a summer in central or south Texas, you know how incredibly hot and humid it can get. But today, on this glorious Wednesday, the 3^rd of September 2008, everything changed. The sun was out like any other summer day, but the air was dry and much cooler, the wind was blowing a bit harder and the air smelled a bit more like Bermuda and St. Augustine. The high/low temperature yesterday where I live was 100⁰ F/75⁰ F, while today the forecast says 94⁰ F/68⁰ F. I felt completely invigorated, as if I was shedding some type of dead, outer-layer of my life to dawn a new one.

Only one thing can bring these types of changes, and it’s not just simply summer turning to fall. Yes, I know the NFL preseason and the first week of college football has already passed, and believe me, I was holding onto life by a thread before they came. But, it doesn’t seem to hit you as hard until you experience the changes in nature. It’s a realization like no other.

As men, we don’t cry in front of people, but I have to tell you that I honestly shed a few tears once a year when this day comes. It’s okay guys, just let it out.

What life?
How do you concentrate on anything else? How do you get any work done at the office? How do you tend to your wife or girlfriend, and your kids if you have them? How do you stop being consumed by questions like Drew Bennett or Bryant Johnson? Selvin Young or Darren McFadden? Just come to terms with it: you can’t, and it’s okay.

A blessed few of us are lucky enough to have wives or girlfriends who actually want us watching football all weekend, either because they know it makes us truly happy or because they have better things to do than bother us. Oh the envy …

I travel a lot for work, all over the world, and the fall is the busiest travel time for me (I’m usually gone 1-2 weekends per month this time of year). People say that I’m lucky because I get to travel for free, and although sometimes I feel deep down that I am, I mostly feel like they’re the lucky ones who get to sit in the comfort of their own home, in front of their 50” plasma screens, watching games and tracking fantasy stats. I get to fly on a plane over the weekend because the ticket prices are cheaper, and maybe catch a game on my Sling Box every now and then. I don’t feel lucky. At least I have my live stats, even if I have to be up at 2 a.m. in a different country to track them …

When I am in the office, my computer monitor unfortunately faces the door of my office, and with every footstep I hear down the hall, I’m constantly swapping windows between what looks like could be work and my fantasy web pages.

Dreams and Premonitions
One of the most memorable moments of my fantasy football career came around this time back in 2004. I had the most vivid dream I think I’ve ever had in my life. I had a dream that David Terrell, WR for the Bears at that time, went off for 150 and two, and for some odd reason, he was wearing the San Diego Chargers powder-blue unis. As you can imagine, I was starting him Week 1 in one of my six leagues going into that season, and he was the biggest question mark I had on any of my rosters. Looking back at the stats, he went off for 126 and zero that first game, and to tell you the truth, I only know that because I just looked it up. In fact, I just realized the Bears played Detroit that game, so maybe all along he was wearing the Lions-blue in my dream, because I kept thinking about that Detroit defense. It’s amazing the things you remember and the things you don’t.

Last night I had a similar dream about Drew Bennett. Needless to say, he will be in my starting lineup this week instead of Bryant Johnson.

Decisions
Should I feel ashamed that I’ve chosen fantasy football over college football? This year, my wife made me choose: Saturdays or Sundays. It was probably the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make, but I’m happy with it. Now I just have to think of something for tomorrow and Monday nights.

I enjoy watching college football because I’m more into the actual games themselves, and I don’t have to look down at my laptop every minute to see what’s happening in fantasy land. Quite honestly, I don’t feel like I’ve watched an NFL game any year until the NFL playoffs start. I mentioned that to my wife last season during the playoffs, and let me tell you, don’t make that mistake fellas.