Viva Murillo!
Now is the time to start ranking the best available guys -- the ones you'll rely on all season long. You might need to do some homework, but if you do the proper scouting, you'll find reliable players who won't let you down.
I'm not talking about football players for your fantasy team. I'm talking about fantasy owners for your league. You'll want to fill your openings with quality guys who will stay with the league for several years.
What's that? Your favorite league doesn't have any openings? I'm sorry to say that you might have one or two before your draft. Even the very best leagues have owners flake out, drop out or simply fade away. Even leagues that have been around for a dozen years can lose owners -- people get older, they gain family members, they lose interest or they have other things going on in their lives. Things happen, but whatever the reason you should be prepared to deal with the situation before it becomes reality.
Yes, you should be prepared even if you're not the commissioner. If you care about the league, you should be thinking about potential replacements just in case. Maybe -- hopefully -- you don't need to call them. But if you do, you'll be light-years ahead of most leagues. In most situations, the commissioner will find somebody, as in "some body": A human being with the entry fee in their wallet and a couple hours to kill when your draft is scheduled. Usually the "scouting" process involves seeing a team bumper sticker on their car or noticing that they have a pulse at the office. Is that the way you want to find a new owner?
If your league means something to you, you'll want to set the bar a little higher. Start thinking now (before you need them) about people who fit the necessary criteria:
* An owner who has enough time to devote to your league. You don't want someone who is already in 50 leagues and can probably fit yours in. These folks will disappear after one season (or an 0-4 start).
* An owner whose attitude will fit in with everyone else. You don't want a blowhard in a friendly league or a thin-skinned owner in a trash-talking league. Find someone who fits your league's personality, whatever it is.
* An owner who can show up to events outside the draft. Instead of finding a guy (or girl) you only see at work or online, how about someone who can watch games on a few Sundays? That's good for camaraderie.
* An owner who isn't a jerk. Sometimes jerks don't identify themselves early, so some scouting is necessary. You don't want someone who complains or blames others every time something doesn't go right for them. You don't want someone who throws a tantrum when their favorite team loses. You don't want a degenerate gambler. You do want someone who is generally a nice person and you wouldn't mind spending time with them every season.
Please note that none of the criteria involves how awesome they are at fantasy football. A fantasy football resume is kind of like your baby pictures: Nobody really cares except your family -- and even they're annoyed if you overdo it. A league full of highly-successful jerks is a drag; a league full of friends provides years of fun memories. The competitive spirit will be there if the league is engaging. Besides, the hobby is random enough that the "winners" might become doormats anyway. Don't worry about that part. Just find good owners.
If you can just think of a couple people who might be good replacements, and have a casual conversation with them to gauge their interest in the hobby, you'll have a head start in finding a suitable replacement. If you don't need them, fine. But if you do, you won't have just anybody at the table -- you'll have a quality owner. And those are always in short supply.
You can reach Michael Murillo at vivamurillo@gmail.com.
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