Having participated in the Raleigh Fantasy Football League for the last 10 years, it was time again to arrange for the draft party for the upcoming 2006 season. This league was so competitive, that we did whatever it took to make the 2 hour trip to attend the draft. It was the best part of the season and created so many memories.
The year that my co-owner and I would turn the thermostat up a hair each trip we took to the bathroom to see how hot we could make it before someone would complain or pass out - and the inordinate amount of time it would take for anyone concede that they were mildly uncomfortable.
The record for most spilled beers in the same spot being set at 5.
The annual moment in the draft when Jason would announce "I just lost my draft". The constant chorus of "Best pick of the draft. Good job." after every patently obvious bad pick.
The "Write-In Scratch Off" that represented the player who was so bad that he was not so much as listed on any cheatsheet, requiring you to write his name down, and then scratch it off after some poor soul called in name out.
Except in 2005, something changed. We loaded up as usual and headed to Raleigh. Except this time, instead of the gobs and gobs of color-coded cheatsheets and confidential, 3-star top secret sleeper sheets - we had two laptops. We arrived at Pete's to the same thing: a room full of laptops resting on knees. This draft went on and took place in an eerie silence, with only the background noise of the buzz of laptops and ticking of keystrokes. It sounded like a server closet, and every now and then someone would announce their pick amidst this awkward silence.
With the lingering memory of the 2005 Server Closet Draft, in 2006 I caved and for the first time pushed the league to do an 'online' draft. Heck, I could draft in the comfort of my own home and save the 2 hour trip. What’s the difference? Laptop and no interaction with any other league members in my house, or laptop with no interaction with anyone in Pete's house? It was a concession to the times and the dawning of the internet. This just made the most sense and slowly the responses to the idea began to trickle in my inbox.
Among the responses popped in an email with the subject "Save The Draft" from long-time league member Chris, completely trashing the online drafting idea and imploring us all not to sell out and sacrifice the best part of our entire season. And he was right. With this single email, he re-invigorated the entire league and immediately we issued a 'No Laptop At the Draft" rule, and forever more our league has been better. To this day, draft night remains the best part of our season.
From this experience, I along with a group of colleagues began SaveTheDraft.com with the intention of preserving and promoting the essence of fantasy football drafts by offering the finest draft board and player label kit on the market. After all, we had been customers of these draft board kits for years, so we knew what would comprise a perfect draft board and label kit. Adding my personal 10+ years of experience in the printing industry, this was a natural fit.
If you are reading this, you are a fellow fantasy baller just like we all are at SaveTheDraft.com, except we are as just interested in your draft night going smoothly - as you are. With that in mind, we hope we can earn your business by allowing us to provide you with the materials that ensure that draft night remains everybody's favorite part of the season.
MEMBERS:
The year that my co-owner and I would turn the thermostat up a hair each trip we took to the bathroom to see how hot we could make it before someone would complain or pass out - and the inordinate amount of time it would take for anyone concede that they were mildly uncomfortable.
The record for most spilled beers in the same spot being set at 5.
The annual moment in the draft when Jason would announce "I just lost my draft". The constant chorus of "Best pick of the draft. Good job." after every patently obvious bad pick.
The "Write-In Scratch Off" that represented the player who was so bad that he was not so much as listed on any cheatsheet, requiring you to write his name down, and then scratch it off after some poor soul called in name out.
Except in 2005, something changed. We loaded up as usual and headed to Raleigh. Except this time, instead of the gobs and gobs of color-coded cheatsheets and confidential, 3-star top secret sleeper sheets - we had two laptops. We arrived at Pete's to the same thing: a room full of laptops resting on knees. This draft went on and took place in an eerie silence, with only the background noise of the buzz of laptops and ticking of keystrokes. It sounded like a server closet, and every now and then someone would announce their pick amidst this awkward silence.
With the lingering memory of the 2005 Server Closet Draft, in 2006 I caved and for the first time pushed the league to do an 'online' draft. Heck, I could draft in the comfort of my own home and save the 2 hour trip. What’s the difference? Laptop and no interaction with any other league members in my house, or laptop with no interaction with anyone in Pete's house? It was a concession to the times and the dawning of the internet. This just made the most sense and slowly the responses to the idea began to trickle in my inbox.
Among the responses popped in an email with the subject "Save The Draft" from long-time league member Chris, completely trashing the online drafting idea and imploring us all not to sell out and sacrifice the best part of our entire season. And he was right. With this single email, he re-invigorated the entire league and immediately we issued a 'No Laptop At the Draft" rule, and forever more our league has been better. To this day, draft night remains the best part of our season.
From this experience, I along with a group of colleagues began SaveTheDraft.com with the intention of preserving and promoting the essence of fantasy football drafts by offering the finest draft board and player label kit on the market. After all, we had been customers of these draft board kits for years, so we knew what would comprise a perfect draft board and label kit. Adding my personal 10+ years of experience in the printing industry, this was a natural fit.
If you are reading this, you are a fellow fantasy baller just like we all are at SaveTheDraft.com, except we are as just interested in your draft night going smoothly - as you are. With that in mind, we hope we can earn your business by allowing us to provide you with the materials that ensure that draft night remains everybody's favorite part of the season.
Our contact information
By email: savethedraft@yahoo.com
By standard mail:
Savethedraft.com
P.O. Box 20428
Greenville, NC 27858
By phone:
(252)353-6020(24 hours a day)
savethedraft@yahoo.com
By email: savethedraft@yahoo.com
By standard mail:
Savethedraft.com
P.O. Box 20428
Greenville, NC 27858
By phone:
(252)353-6020(24 hours a day)
savethedraft@yahoo.com
Shipping Information:
We offer USPS express shipping services (overnight and 2-day) and USPS Priority Mail (offered free in most cases). Please visit our Shipping Section for complete details.
Refund, Returns and Cancellation Policies:
We offer a full 100% refund on all of our draft kits (boards and labels), hats and visors, conditional upon the return of the unused draft kit or unopened hat/visor. - no questions asked!
All software is sold on a non-refundable basis, for anti-piracy purposes.
We offer USPS express shipping services (overnight and 2-day) and USPS Priority Mail (offered free in most cases). Please visit our Shipping Section for complete details.
Refund, Returns and Cancellation Policies:
We offer a full 100% refund on all of our draft kits (boards and labels), hats and visors, conditional upon the return of the unused draft kit or unopened hat/visor. - no questions asked!
All software is sold on a non-refundable basis, for anti-piracy purposes.