I get a twitter notification every day at 12pm from an account called “Daily Death Reminder”. The alert is a tweet from the account that simply says “one day, you will die”.
Football is something that has played a major role in my life. Some of my happiest memories are my father and I watching Michigan football and playing fantasy football together. This league has taken over most “social” aspects of my life in my adulthood. Hell, I don’t even have social media anymore. How am I supposed to post in the chat 20 times a day and scroll Instagram??? I don’t have the time! And this league consists of my friends, family and wife… so kinda all in one place for me.
Last season wasn’t a good football season for the Dohm household. Mainly because it wasn’t a good football season for the University of Michigan. After a flash in the pan start, the team was flat out embarrassing for the rest of the season. Ending a pandemic shortened season 2-4. Fall Saturdays quickly went from the highlight of my fall to a weekly emotional unraveling. When the season finally ended, it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders… you could say, Michigan’s football season led me to losing 60 pounds, adopting a healthier lifestyle and a career change… but that might be loose association.
Another possible reason for my sudden life change could have been due to the fact that this past spring my mother passed away. It was a lot to process… It’s still a lot to process. This was my first close death and up to this point in life, death wasn’t even on my radar. I had only processed the thought, not the actual feeling of someone being gone. With the reality of death being non-existent, it was very easy to just never think about it. It was there, but in the same way I know there are other planets in our solar system but I have no understanding of what they’re like.
After Michigan’s loss to Michigan State on Halloween (which turned into a terrible day) I asked myself… why the hell am I doing this to myself. Just stop watching the fucking games (yes, I have thrown of my evangelical shackles of employment. I can curse now. Except not GD, let not get crazy here). Then I had a thought… was I only reason I enjoyed Michigan football because they win? (The whole group can laugh collectively.) Of course not, I watch Michigan football because it reminds me of my dad. Of my family. Michigan football represents this whole Dohm family legacy, of hard work, honesty, and the pursuit of becoming a better person. Am I willing to throw away this tangible connection to my heritage away just because they stopped winning for a season? I had to learn a new way to navigate the season, because just stop being a fan wasn’t an option. I had to accept the worst out come before the game even started and be okay with it. That freed me to enjoy the game for what it actually means to me.
Oh hey, did I tell you about my daily death reminder?
My mother’s death taught me a lot, it’s still teaching me a lot and I bet it will teach me for years to come.
I learned that ignoring death made me take my life for granted.
I learned that fearing death can keep me from living.
I learned that accepting death as an unavoidable reality freed me to live.
So, let me start this fantasy football season off with a statement, “You’re not going to win the super bowl”. Accept it. If the league is still worth sticking around for, I am glad you’re here.
….
Also, mathematically it’s a pretty safe statement… cause I AM WINNING BITCHES!!! LETS GET RICH AND LIVE FORRRREEEEVVVEEEERRRRR!!!!
Okay, I’ll admit that was a lot to start the season off with… I am just going to take a few cheap shots at whoever’s game I am previewing first just to knock off some of the tension… Let’s see who’s first *checks notes*
Jake vs Logan
I am just kidding, if I take any more cheap shots at Jake, he will probably hurt me. I am like 140 pounds now; I am a swift kick from Jake away from a different time zone.
I told Logan last week that his team “wasn’t unbeatable”, now he took that as an insult but the reality is, that was a huge complement. Never before have I ever told anyone that… because it’s NEVER BEEN A DEBATE BEFORE. His team is stupid good. Like save time forward the checks to Logan good. Jakes team is less good. How less good? Less good than about half the league. Lol jk… (eyes emoji)(at least tell me what direction you’re gonna kick me so I can get a hotel room)
The JT’s would need multiple touchdowns from someone with a different last name than Mahomes or Kamara… I’m not saying it ain’t happening but… wait what am I thinking… that’s exactly what I am saying. Give me the Legion *Copies sentence for the purpose of pasting for the next 17 weeks*
Papa Tim vs Derek
Obvious breaking news, Derek has a decent team. Dangerous breaking news, Derek’s team has scary upside. There could easily be 3 top 10 WRs on that team, but sadly even at his upside he isn’t quite a serious contender yet if the best RB he has is James Robinson.
(I call that the swoop and poop, 2 quick sentences, shit on the team, keep movin’)
Papa Tim took a sigh of relief when the news about Swift being a full participant in practice broke. He’s got a tricky bunch. I don’t think it’s a contender but it’s one of those teams that can beat you any week. Dk Metcalf, Tee Higgins & Lamar Jackson all have huge potential week in and week out.
This ones gonna be close, the winner of Thursday night wins the week. Since I got the boys covering 8, I am guessing Ceedee. Give me the BDE
Caleb vs Hanna
MARK ANDREWS REVENGE GAME!!!
A battle of former jacket winners who had a huge let down season after their championship. The big difference is, one of the two teams is laying face down in a puddle and the other just got Najee Harris. Hanna’s team got a lot better from the disappointment last year. Najee is a game changing addition. Plus, a fully healthy Dak, Kenny Golladay on a new team, and AB is the hottest thing on twitter since Javante Williams.
Caleb, several questions.
- You missed the draft for a girl at least, right?
- Cause it couldn’t have been for your love of radio country music… Right?
- You don’t like pop country right?
- Pop county?
Hanna wins
Max vs Adam
This one’s going to be interesting. Adam’s been on a decent roll this summer. Good draft, Carson Wentz got healthy, he won a nice trade and I think he is in a relationship of some sorts.
Adam’s team has taken a nice turn since about midway through the past season and I couldn’t be happier for him. Shows the system works. Now, he’s got a fully healthy George Kittle, Jonathan Taylor, Mike Evans and Dhop. Watch out.
Sadly, the on the other side Max’s team has been on a slow slide down the mountain into “I trust the gut” country. I am not sure what he’s doing but I guess you don’t have to explain it to me, but you should explain it to someone. You need more wisdom… like the football wisdom of a good woman.
This is the battle of the Dhop trade and I thought Adam got the better of that, and I think Adam gets the better of this. GIVE ME THE ISLES!
Jarro vs Mason
This is matchup of the week for me. Kinda like how Georgia vs Clemson was for college football last week… except not pull your eyes out boring outside of watching that dawgs D-Line eat Clemson alive. Dabo. Not a good coach.
Both teams are still good. Both feature a couple top 10 guys in the lineup, but of course the biggest difference here is depth. Jarro lost a starter in JK that he couldn’t afford to lose. The team was really good with one weak spot at WR. Now it’s got two, cause even though I love Kareem the dream, I just am not sold on him being a week in, week out, set it and forget it starter. Limited upside. Limited touchdowns. It’s gonna take some crafty play on the waiver wire (which Jarro has done before) or … dare I say it… a trade?
Sadly, not a lot to report on Mason’s team. Of course, Thursday night will tell the story of his week but I think he will be pleased with the results. Saquan is going to have a limited role on Sunday, but I’d bet my right foot (and please take it… I can’t keep running like this anymore) that they’re going to try really hard to get him in the end zone this week. It’d be huge for him.
Give me Mason, but CMC or Chubb can go for 50 and it not be a thing, so when you have that much top end talent you’re always in it.
Mitchell vs Ben
Finally, I can talk about someone I actually like… myself.
Teams good. Still needs work. There’s some flex seal holding parts of the ship together, see Edwards, Gus (I wrote this last night and it’s funny in hindsight because, as Mason knows, flex seal doesn’t work). But I love Julio this year. I love Ekler this year. And I really think Javante will fill in any gaps mid-season, plus watch out for Sony out in LA, that man is going to have a role and if that offense is as good as we think it could be… watch out.
Ben made some decent moves before the draft but had an underwhelming draft trading away most of his picks which means two things… either stock piling trade assets or building for next year. I am happy with either direction you’re choosing because it’s better than just rolling the same guys out there every week.
Sadly, this week won’t be your week. GIVE ME THE LOBOS TO RIDE AGAIN!
The MFL 