1 Day, 10 Hours until Kickoff!

This is it folks!  The time for DiploBall III is now!  Get your picks in ASAP! 

URGENT NEWS! Time Clock Change: 6 Days, 4 Hours, 45 Minutes till Kick-Off

Sorry to bother everyone twice in one week HOWEVER, I have VERY important news!

My weekly kickoff countdown has been of by one week!  DiploBall will actually start on September 1st, not September 8^th; (one week earlier than anticipated).

For those of you who are DiploBall veterans you’ll know that we have traditionally started our pool on the first week of NFL regular season (NCAA’s second week)… this start date was never a conscious DiploBall decision, rather a predetermined date dictated by our OLD pool provider (CBSsports). 

Although we changed providers to PoolTracker.com this year, it never dawned on me that they might plan to start our pool on the September 1^st, the first week of NCAA regular season play… which they are. 

Anyway, I thought this was important news to share right away… and if you find any of this confusing… just ignore me and log on to PoolTracker.com before September 1^st and make your picks!  There are currently 23 NCAA games reason for your picks!

Let the games begin!

15 Days, 10 Hours, 30 Minutes until Kickoff!!!

Well folks, its only 15 days until the start of DiploBall III… and if you’re anything like me (in general need of a life) you’re probably foaming at the mouth and ready to play!

This week I want to share a link to a PoolTracker screenshot demo.  It’s pretty archaic and was probably created in 1984 on a Commodore 286 processor… however, that is one of the reasons I like PoolTracker; it’s not flashy.  http://www.pooltracker.com/demo/

Most of the demo pages are designed for pool managers, BUT ya’ll will probably find slides 4 through 9 helpful.  Take a look.

Also, while looking at the demo here are some things to keep in mind:

1.       DiploBall is a confidence weighted pool, meaning you will need to assign a point value from the drop down menu for each game (as shown inside the red circle on slide 6: http://www.pooltracker.com/demo/season_picks_edit.asp).  Remember, you can only use a point value ONCE per week… and your goal is to get the MOST points, so make sure you use your top point values on games you feel confident about!

2.       DiploBall combines both NFL and NCAA games into one weighted format.  So, when weighting your games don’t simple compare NFL games with NFL game and NCAA games with NCAA games.  Weight your games as if all the NFL and NCAA games for the week are in one GINORMOUS league.

3.       DiploBall uses a Jeopardy style points structure.  On slide 9 (http://www.pooltracker.com/demo/season_picks_view.asp) where they show incorrect picks being worth “0” points, in DiploBall you will actually lose points.  So instead of “0” for game one JH would have scored ‘-8’.

Anyway… these are all things to think about.  Enjoy!

22 Days, 10 Hours, 30 Minutes until Kickoff!!!

Yeah, so home leave pretty much rocks.  Last week my brother (last season’s DiploBall Champion) surprised me with tickets to the first Falcons Preseason game.  We took my oldest son and our dad and had a BLAST!  Epic.

And I know what you might be thinking… ‘How fun can a preseason game be?’  Well… a lot and it meant the world since I had never been to an NFL game in person AND I leave for Suriname two days before the Falcons first regular season home game.

Although the Falcons lost, there is some good news… Matt Ryan was looking great!  I just hope he doesn’t get injured… because the three back-up quarterbacks who got field time looked pretty scary. 

However, for better or worse, GO FALCONS!

Only 22 days until the DiploBall Season begins.  Please take a moment and log onto PoolTracker.com (our new DiploBall Pick ‘Em host) and get comfortable with the interface.  And let me know if you need a walk through.

And just a reminder, I have started the ‘DiploBall – Legacy Fantasy League’ this year… there are still a couple open spots available is you are interested. 

Take care!

29 Days, 10 Hours, 30 Minutes till Kickoff!

We're up to 16!!!  Only 14 players away from this years unrealistic goal!  Have you recruited anyone to play?  If not... you are breaking my heart.  29 DAY!!!!! 

Preseason starts TOMORROW!!!!!

36 Days, 10 Hours, 30 Minutes until Kickoff

This is a DiploBall Challenge Week!  As it stands now we’re up to 13 players but we’re looking for more!  I challenge you to recruit ONE new player.  That’s not much!  It should be easy!

Remember, this year DiploBall is hosting our normal Pick ‘Em League AND a brand new Fantasy Football Legacy League.

                                   

If you’re interested in playing or know someone who is please email me at diploball@gmail.com.

The following is a really great piece done by USA Today on NFL Films.  Check it out:

Link to Video: http://youtu.be/egLzNsV7OzM