FFFLC II Unabridged Posted

After an initial blip, Mr. Salcido was graceful enough to add his two cents and the updated history has been posted.  Gentleman, three weeks now separate us from destiny.  Let the hype go into overdrive…

Preamble

What are the chances we get some new video footage from FFFLC I and II to get us amped for III?

Any logistics need to be discussed, such as supplies for the draft (ping pong balls?).  I’m working on getting the Space Age Plate mailed in from AZ – where it’s kept my mom proud of me all year – so we can present it to a phone that presumably Melissa will be speaking through.

Trash, Rumors and Predictions

Now that we’ve got the details set, any comments or insights about the upcoming season?

I’ll play Captain Obvious and predict Jay Cutler goes from top-5 QB to #10-15, unless the Bears sign a legit wideout in the next month.

As much as it pains me to say, I think Brian Westbrook’s fantasy value is also tanking.  He’s been my rock the last two years, but his injuries are catching up with him.  It’s too bad because the Eagles finally have an offensive supporting cast to free him up for even more production.

And which former Trojan QB will have the best year: Palmer, Leinart, or Sanchez?  Clearly, the safe bet is Palmer, but I have a feeling the other two might get more playing time than we think.

We’re Set

July 31st-August 2nd.  Kings Beach, CA.  Tahoe Inn and the North Tahoe Event Center.  Gentlemen, each of you owe me $65 (cash or check only please).  Now that we’ve completed our accommodations, I’m done being an asshole (promise).

As for getting there and back, it’s up to you.  Corey and I are gonna get a rental from Sacramento.  Vic of course is in Reno.  Talk to one of them if you want a ride to Tahoe.  We can check in as early as 2pm on the 31st.

I’ll be putting together an agenda for everyone including addressing league points settings (yes Vic, even field goal points), draft rules, draft order, and miscellaneous items.  If you want me to make additions to the agenda, suggestions for format, thoughts on dress attire or whatever, let me know and I’ll do my best to accommodate.

Otherwise, talk trash, talk food and beer, talk gambling strategy, talk about whatever.  Get excited gentlemen.  We are mere weeks from destiny.

Meeting Room 911

We’re 45 days from FFFLC III and we still don’t have a meeting room.  We need a venue with free wifi and a podium at minimum.  I reserved the Tahoe Inn with the understanding that everyone would step up and come to a consensus on a meeting venue in short order.  I asked for a decision on a meeting room by Monday the 15th.  Thusfar, lots of suggestions, but no consensus.  So put your minds together, pick a room, and I’ll reserve it.  Now get on it!  PRONTO!

Tahoe Inn Here We Come

Tahoe Inn is reserved.  And the AAA discount was better than I thought.  We have two rooms with 2 queen beds in each and they guaranteed that the rooms would be adjoining.  Altogether, I’ll need $45 from each of you.  Now for the meeting room.  As per our lengthy previous thread, I’ll entertain meeting room ideas provided that we’ve got free wifi and a podium where ever we are.  Corey and Bebo were engaged in some epic discussions on the subject.  Feel free to jump into the discussion if you have ideas.  Let’s just make sure we get it locked up soon before the prices go up.  Let’s make it a goal of locking up a meeting facility by Monday the 15th.  With that in mind, have at it.

Hotel Options Thusfar

Before reading the list below, a couple pieces of information for y’all.  First, the minimum criteria for my search was a meeting room and wifi.  Second, I capped the acceptable cost at $150 per person as we’ve only paid about half that for the last two years at our AZ drafts.  Third, I tried to keep the area to at or within a short drive to the lake.  So with that in mind, here’s what I’ve found:

• Tahoe Inn (Kings Beach) = $60/person
• Big Pines Mountain House (South Lake Tahoe) = $100/person
• Best Western Station House (South Lake Tahoe) = $125/person
• Quality Inn Casino Area (South Lake Tahoe) = $150/person
• Squaw Valley Lodge (Olympic Valley) = $150/person
• Super 8 (South Lake Tahoe) = $150/person
• Hampton Inn (Truckee) = $150/person

Bottomline, we’re headed into peak vacation season in Tahoe so there aren’t a whole lot of hotels that offer the stuff we need at a cheap price.  Now, that said, there are literally hundreds and hundreds of hotels in and around Tahoe.  When I was searching for hotels, I reviewed travel sites (expedia, orbitz, priceline and travelocity), the North and South Lake Tahoe Chambers of Commerce websites, as well as general google methods.  Its possible that I may have missed a diamond in the rough if we’re talking about a lesser known or lesser advertised accommodation.

So, before we get down to the nitty gritty and vote on this thing.  I want your input.  Like any of the candidates here?  Got some other ones for consideration?  Go ahead and discuss between now and the end of the month.  Then let’s get down to the nitty gritty of choosing the hotel/lodge/motel/whatever.

Happy Memorial Day weekend gentleman.  Now I’ve gotta go fix my fridge.

And The Winner Is…

Lake Tahoe.

Our painstaking voting process has yielded a winner and a home for FFFLC III in 2009.  Now that we have the town, its time for the next step in the process.  A hotel and meeting facility.  I’m moving into a house this weekend so I’ll be a little busy for the next couple of days.  However, I will work to compile a listing of hotel/meeting facilities from which we can decide on.  I should hopefully have that ready for everyone no later than Memorial Day.

While I’m putting that together, let’s get the transportation situation figured out.  Victor of course will be in Reno and I believe Corey said he planned on driving from San Fran to Tahoe.  So that would give us two cars (which should preclude the need for rental cars), but coordinating might be tricky.  To make sure we’re fair to Vic and Corey, a group of us should probably meet up with Corey in San Fran or Sacramento, whereas another group of us should fly into Reno to meet up with Vic. 

So here’s an idea.  Dave and I can fly into Sacramento to meetup with Corey the morning of July 31^st and drive with him to Tahoe.  Whereas Ricardo, JuanPablo, and Andres can all fly into Reno whenever to meetup with Vic and drive to Tahoe from there.  We’d then meet in Tahoe around lunchtime on Friday the 31^st.  Then when we’re done the conference on Sunday the 2nd, Victor can take his crew back to Reno and they all fly out from there.  Whereas Dave, Corey, and I would drive back to Cali and Dave and I would fly back to Phoenix from Sac or San Fran.  This idea would work because neither car would be too full and it would allow both Corey and Vic to start and end the trip in their respective hometowns without inconveniencing either of them.  If you guys have a better idea, I’m open to it, but I just want to make sure we organize it ahead of time.

So go ahead and discuss.  You guys like the transportation idea?  Got a Tahoe hotel you want us all to consider?  Let the rant commence, and I’ll get a list hotels together.

The Final Round: We Come To It At Last

The votes are in.  And after two rounds our final decision comes down to (in alphabetical order):

• Lake Tahoe
• Solvang

No points system needed for this final round.  Simply send me your choice via email, text or Facebook message and we’ll tally it up (since there’s seven of us, its guaranteed that we won’t have a tie).  After this, we’ll move onto hotel accommodations and meeting space.  For now, please send me your final decision from the above two before the end of this week.  Make your final pleas known here on the blog.  Good night and good luck.

Round 2: The Final Four

We have our four finalists.  And none of them should be a huge surprise as they’ve been the front runners from the beginning.  Here they are in alphabetical order:

• Flagstaff
• Gila Bend
• Lake Tahoe
• Solvang

Now the second round of secret balloting begins.  Give me your top two picks.  Your first preference will be given 2 points, while your second preference will be given 1 point.   Once all the ballots have been counted, we’ll be down to two destinations.  Please send me your top 2 from the list above (in order), by no later than Wednesday May 13 at 11:59pm.  Please send me your picks via email, text, or my facebook inbox.  As with the first round, I can start the next round sooner if I get everyone’s votes early.

In the meantime, make your case on this blog for one of the four remaining contestants.  Will it be Flagstaff during Cardinals camp?  Will it be a return trip to the Fuzzy League’s birthtown of Gila Bend?  Will it be a trip to the world famous vacation hub of Lake Tahoe?  Or will it be a taste of the Danish culture of Solvang?  Gentlemen, your commish awaits your votes.