Stone Station FFL

It’s a wrap!! The 2024 season is over even though it doesn’t really end until 2025. We’ll get to the rundown in a few but first a few other things. Our friend Workin’ is still in the hospital so keep him in your thoughts and prayers. And kudos to Workin’ - he submitted a lineup from his hospital bed. That, kids, is dedication. So again, fingers crossed for our friend.

Now for the thanks—First let’s thank the Barracudas (and Mrs. Barracuda) for hosting the opening festivities. It’s a perfect room for what we do. And thanks as well to those that come out and help get the room ready. Thanks to our timekeeper who does her level best to keep us on schedule. That ain’t easy—especially in that room. Thanks to the ‘Cudas and Monsters for insisting on a reboot of this annual event. I’d like to toss out a personal thanks to team RX. Keep in mind—everything I do, they do. Everything. That keeps this “mess” quite accurate. Without that watchful eye this would truly be a mess.

And—I’d like to thank the entire membership. And remember, the membership extends beyond the twelve people with a team. It also includes those around you that put up with all this stuff. I would imagine sometimes Stone Station gets in the way of a thing or two along the way—so extend my thanks to those around you that let you do this.

And to those owners out there—remember when we had a member unable to attend at the last moment. We, as a group, put a team together. Taking turns across the board, we picked the best available player on the board—whether or not it was a player we would like to have on our roster. Done at a moments notice. THAT is what this league is. Sure—winning is great (just ask the two guys that normally win) - but speaking for myself it’s about spending the better part of a year hanging out with folks I kinda like. OK—Let’s get to it!

R-E-L-A-X!! Kind of standard for them. Hang out within striking distance then Whoot! There it is! Drafts well, manages well, makes good moves when required. Even though our scoring system is, well, weird—it still takes skill to finish at or near the top. And maybe just a bit of luck. Then—the Barracudas. The Cudas ran the standard quarter mile race. Perfect start, great speed down the quarter mile. Then like most cars built to race the quarter at the end the motor dies. Sometimes it dies after the finish and sometimes just before. This year—well—it was just before. Happens sometimes. Finishing up the teams with over one thousand points—the Crusaders. Not only did these three teams top the thousand mark—they were all over eleven hundred. Keep in mind—these were teams 10, 11 and 12, Proof that it doesn’t really matter where you draft. Anyway the Cru may have scored the most points they ever have and still were in third. OUCH! But if you put up 1,100 and get beat, you just get beat. Anyway—great job you three—and well done!

Holding the fourth spot—the Inglorious Staffords. iStaff had a case of the zoomies. They were pretty much dead in the water when all of a sudden the engine found fire and off it went. From week two through week eight they were in 11th and 12th. Then week nine found them in the eighth spot. And from there to number four at the end. Just goes to show it’s never really too late. Yeah—they didn’t win—but what a show. Next up—the Indiana Huskers. The Huskers started in the top four, and, well, stayed there pretty much all year. Only twice did they stray from the top four—unfortunately the second time was week eighteen. It’s like NASCAR—the only lap you have to lead is the last one. iStaff took the last lap—and the race from the Huskers. But no worries, Huskers, that’s still a great year. Hung with the big boys and finished in the top half. Rounding out the top half—the Swamp Monsters. This team just can’t catch a break. Ever. They lose more first round picks to injury than anybody in the history of history. BUT—they always finish in the top half. If they ever, ever have a season with few injuries and their first few picks play a whole year they might actually win one. We here at headquarters are rooting for you, Monsters. You have to get it done.

The next three up—respectively—I’m Workin’ On It, yours truly and Doogan’s destroyers. Workin’ really does work—he’s been drafting for two teams for a couple of years and getting it done quite effectively. This season though, but for one week Workin’ spent the entire year in the bottom half. The first couple seasons they played that was pretty standard fare. But recent history is different for this team. They’ve been solid for a while. Just ran into a bit of bad luck. The Express. We had our annual end of season slide. This season, though, we started a bit closer to the bottom than usual. That’s what you get for being a homer with a rookie QB. Lesson learned. Maybe. Next—the Destroyers. The Destroyers had about their usual run but this time they made it to the Super Bowl—which makes it their best season so far. Nicely done fellas.

Then there’s the next three. Redhawks, Nuts and the Riders. Redhawks one day will figure out the QB thing—and needs to remember—RB hot this year—won’t be next year. There are exceptions for sure—but not many. Your time will come. Nuts—they were in a tough spot to start—but the membership stood up and did their part to help. It’s been a tough year for them and we hope for a better year for them next season. Fingers crossed. The Rump Riders—at least they didn’t kill EVERYBODY on their roster this year, but they killed enough to end up as our cellar dweller—or as it’s been said—Basement Boy (or is the Boi—Who knows). Anyway, tough year for them but hopefully they’ll turn it around next season.

Before I close—another nod out to the Cru. Not only did they top 1,100—they won the Superbowl. I wanted to get that in there for my fellow hunter.
Now the close. I thank you all for yet another successful season. A successful draft (thanks again, Cudas), and a fun run. Let’s do it again, shall we? Same bat time, same bat channel.

Get well soon, Workin’. Please. We love you all—have a safe, happy and healthy year.

Out.