Idea's to improve the NFFC experience - for little expense.

TamuScarecrow · Post by **TamuScarecrow** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 3:00 am

I see the single owner using the old fashioned method or submitting picks in written form to avoid trying to keep track of both cheatsheets and computer. I see shared owners using the technology but this is certainly the direction live drafts need to be moving towards. This is what I call enhancing the experience.

I wouldn't have the player pools set up by any ADP but in alphabetical or in team order would work just fine.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 3:20 am

Originally posted by BONGIZMO:
My concern is that if you make the live event have a feel too much like that of an online draft, one runs the risk of more people saving the coin of travel, rooms etc. and simply drafting from home.I agree and that's what I mentioned before. We want the live events to be an EVENT. It should be special to be in that room drafting live with all of the other participants. For me, that's what makes the NFFC and NFBC great. The experience of drafting live with so many other competitors. I think any attempt to steralize that environment really robs it of much of what makes it so special. That's not something I'd like to see. I'll say again that for me nothing beats being in that room when the drafts are going. The buzz and the intensity is palpable and makes it something pretty incredible.

Ted's Cracked Head · Post by **Ted's Cracked Head** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:02 am

This is a good conversation because on the surface, a technological advance would be cool but it could also hamper the event if not thought out entirely.

Having said that, the MAIN aspect of the live draft that most of us LOVE is the social aspect before, after and while on breaks.

The technology would not affect that and if players had completed drafts in their hands afterwards, with some number crunching done by the software, it could enhance the social aspect.

The technology might actually speed up the drafts and offer more time for socializing?

TamuScarecrow · Post by **TamuScarecrow** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:12 am

My concern is that if you make the live event have a feel too much like that of an online draft, one runs the risk of more people saving the coin of travel, rooms etc. and simply drafting from home.Why do you think the NFFC is offering more and more online drafting every year? Isn't this where technology is taking the fantasy sport industry and society as a whole? In 2004, we had no online drafting in the NFFC and look where we are today.

The live draft will never go away because this is a chance for people to take a weekend and mingle while pursueing the passion of playing fantasy football in some very fun places. It's a chance for owners to get together and get the blood flowing. It's a chance to meet the people you talk with the most on these MB's and make friends across the country. I know in Chicago after the Friday drafts in 2006 we had pizza brought in and sat around until midnight playing poker. Greg has done lots of things like this in Vegas after the Friday drafts.

My goal with my recommendation for a quieter draft was to eliminate or limit the OUTSIDE INFLUENCES affecting live drafts. The only issue I've ever had is the difference between Roger Goodell standing up and announcing draft picks and the NFFC doing it is there's more than one draft in the room. This isn't a problem the first half of the draft as even the novice owner knows what he wants. It's after the break and the last half of the draft when the serious owner knows what he's looking for and the novice owner doesn't that the announcing of draft picks by multiple drafts is a problem. To use the example given by Glenneration X, this is the equivalent of Glenn Schroter sitting next to Mr. Novice Owner in my league and giving him his draft picks the last half of the draft. If technology can relieve this problem, great. A quieter draft won't and shouldn't change the fun you have from the rest of the "experience" IMHO, and in the case of what Rob is proposing, it will enhance it.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:16 am

I don't want to speak for Greg or Ryan but I'm not sure we'll ever remove the "announcement" aspect of the live draft. For me (and again this is just my opinion), I think that's one of the many things that makes the live draft something unique. I think it's cool to hear the picks being announced. As far as whether they influence other drafts I suppose that's possible but when I'm drafting my focus is on what I'm doing and what's happening in my draft. What's happening in other drafts is irrelevant and if people are using other drafts as a guide that leads me to wonder if they are not as focused on their draft as they should be.

And that's just fine with me.

Team Legacy · Post by **Team Legacy** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:19 am

Agreed Tom. I am of the opinion MORE exposure is better for the drafts, not LESS.

If it were up to me, there'd be a camera in the face of every LIVE drafter with LIVE commentary discussing who he should pick.

TamuScarecrow · Post by **TamuScarecrow** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:45 am

{quote]As far as whether they influence other drafts I suppose that's possible but when I'm drafting my focus is on what I'm doing and what's happening in my draft. What's happening in other drafts is irrelevant and if people are using other drafts as a guide that leads me to wonder if they are not as focused on their draft as they should be.[/quote]

You're not that naive', Tom. In 2004 Greg sat some guy down next to us that had shown up that morning and got lucky with a no-show. Problem is he had no cheatsheet materials whatsoever and I have no idea what he was using to draft with. Not everyone sitting at the draft table is Billy Waz. I can't tell you how many times I've heard the name of my next pick get announced from another draft and the next thing you know there's an echo in the room. Happens quite frequently in the 2nd half of drafts. I can't speak for you but I can verify Greg can't here much by then.

TamuScarecrow · Post by **TamuScarecrow** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:47 am

If it were up to me, there'd be a camera in the face of every LIVE drafter with LIVE commentary discussing who he should pick.I would love the camera, Scott, but you can keep Mel Kiper, Jr.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:50 am

How'd that guy do in his league, Rick do you remember? I'm just curious.

And I do agree that some people hear a pick and the light bulb goes on. But again, if that's their strategy how successful is it? For me, my focus is on my draft. What's happening in other drafts doesn't matter to me because my only concern is my team and the people in my draft. If any of them are using picks from other drafts as a guide of any kind I'm not sure they're going to be people I need to be all that concerned about.

If I like Jeremy Maclin, for example, and I'm targeting him and he's still on the board and suddenly our draft hears "Jeremy Maclin" from the league next to us, could that influence someone in my league? Sure that could happen. But again I would ask whether the person in my league who needs to hear "Jeremy Maclin" announced at another draft to remind him to draft Jeremy Maclin is someone whose focus is where it should be.

That's just my take. I could be wrong. Been wrong before.

[ June 10, 2010, 10:50 AM: Message edited by: Tom Kessenich ]

TamuScarecrow · Post by **TamuScarecrow** » Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:58 am

As I said Tom, EVERY owner knows where he wants to go the first half of the draft. It's the second half where some guy is looking and looking and the timer says 15 seconds and then he hears it and boom, he says it, three more guys say it in a 15-second span, and that sleeper pick that could have been the difference between $100k and 40th place in the Championship Round is gone.

As for the last-minute replacement, I think he did ok, middle of the standings, but in my league that year, Shawn Childs had best record, Srebro/Emma had most points and won the $100k, and I finished last in record and 5th in the league in points.