BY CALEB GINDL
NEW YORK POST FANTASY SPORTS BEAT WRITER
Unprecedented league activity paces typically dormant off-season period
NEW YORK — One thing I’ve learned since covering the Bobcats4Ever Fantasy Football League is to expect the unexpected. Commissioner Kyle Brennan has encouraged his owners to think about their teams all year long.
And boy did they ever.
I was out of the country on a personal journey during the month of February. It was a very rewarding life experience and I’m thankful my new employer allowed me to pursue it. But opening up my email upon my return and seeing league release after release was rewarding in its own right. The league is full of 12 passionate owners and to cover this league takes a special kind of reporter. Let’s jump right into some of the news and notes we missed last month.
Fletcher sells franchise stake to Cuban
Food Network Football, Inc. Chairman, CEO, Owner and GM Andrew Fletcher made the biggest splash of February when he swam with the sharks on the Feb. 6 episode of ABC’s “Shark Tank.” After negotiations, he exited with an investment from Mark Cuban, the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks, for 5 percent of the franchise for $10. Cuban also agreed to join the company’s board of directors.
“This is yet another chapter in our ongoing success story,” Fletcher said. “With Mark’s business acumen and success in the sports industry, we are going to be a force to be reckoned with. I can’t wait for this summer.”
The deal valued Fletcher’s franchise at $200, surpassing HOW BOUT DAT?!’s league-high $192 valuation reported by Forbes and Sports Business Journal at season’s end.
League spies said HOW BOUT DAT?! Owner and GM Jamie Palatini was unamused by this development. At a gathering of owners in the city for a Quinnipiac hockey game on Feb. 20, Fletcher was seen confronting Palatini about his franchise’s higher valuation. Palatini remained cordial, if not calm, a source told the Post, saying that he was well aware of what Cuban’s investment meant in the short-term and to stay tuned. When pressed, the source refused to elaborate as to what that meant.
“Having Mark Cuban become associated with a franchise in this league is a truly validating milestone for us,” Kyle Brennan said. “In my brief conversation with Mark after he purchased a stake in Food Network Football, Inc., it became clear that he sees a bright future for this league. We’re thrilled to have his wisdom in the front office of a cornerstone franchise and certainly expect FNF, Inc. to continue its growth.”
One of Cuban’s first major initiatives as investor was to persuade Fletcher to create a Twitter account to promote the franchise. Fletcher registered @FNF_Inc on Feb. 28 and will tweet with #StayHungry as the franchise’s official marketing hashtag for the 2015 season.
Fletcher has not publicly announced his 2015 keeper selections, but a photo of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck appears as the account’s header photo. Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas was also the 11th person @FNF_Inc followed.
Palatini makes deal with Big Salami
Fletcher was not the only owner to sell a minority stake in his team.
Palatini announced on Feb. 3 a partnership with Salume Beddu, a St. Louis-based salumeria recognized as the best salami in the U.S. Terms of the deal were not disclosed; however, Palatini’s franchise will be rebranded as HOW BOUT DAT SALAMI?! for the 2015 season.
“We believe in our Italian roots, and we believe in delicious deli meats,” Palatini said in a statement. “This will be a delectable, flavorful partnership between two like entities.”
The deal was subject to Brennan’s approval, according to the release.
“I think it’s great whenever an owner decides to incorporate one of his true loves into the name of his franchise,” he said.
League launches first-ever Web presence
The first week of February clearly was a hotbed for league activity. Brennan formally launched the league’s website on Feb. 5, which features owner bios, an archive of league news and history, and the league’s constitution.
Brennan said the website was developed by the Bobcats4Ever Technological Operations Unit Council Headquarters (TOUCH) and the league’s historical records will be compiled by the Bobcats4Ever Chroniclers of History, Other Details, Etc. (CHODE).
“I can’t say enough about the tremendous work put forth by Bobcats4Ever TOUCH,” Brennan said. “We put in some long hours to develop this website, as none of the members of this group have any formal training in website design.”
Brennan also had strong words for other fantasy football leagues following the creation of the website.
“We may not be the oldest league, but we’re the best damned league going,” Brennan said. “You don’t have what we have. You can’t have what we have. You won’t have what we have. We are better than you.”
The site can be accessed at http://b4effl.kylebrennan.net/.
News in brief
Deacon Blues Owner and GM Miles McQuiggan unveiled on Feb. 5 his franchise’s new brand identity. Deacon Blues will feature Keaney Blue in its color scheme, paying homage to McQuiggan’s home state of Rhode Island. Second Floor Shits Owner and GM Lenny Neslin called this “dumber than Jamie’s name change, which isn’t easy to do. Name changed by week 4 is my guess.” McQuiggan had no further response. … Calle Ochocinco Owner and GM Corey Hersch was forced to comment on an inflammatory tweet from minority partner Chad Johnson on Valentine’s Day. Johnson’s Tweet read, “Whoever penetrated your box in the month of February is your Valentine by default, if you’ve had multiple partners, eenie meenie miney mo.” Hersch said the Tweet “could only be described as in the poorest of taste,” and apologized to the members of the league and the fans of his franchise. … Brennan added a special “splash” page to celebrate the Quinnipiac/Yale hockey game on Feb. 13, featuring a picture of Quinnipiac mascot Boomer the Bobcats holding a “Puck Yale” sign. The picture, taken by Thanks Obama! Owner and GM Andrew Vazzano, typically goes viral in Quinnipiac circles prior to this game every season. Both teams skated to a 2-2 tie at the High Point Solutions Arena in Hamden, Conn. All 12 members of Bobcats4Ever are Quinnipiac alumni. … In non-news, Mr. McGibblets Owner and GM Matt Eisenberg issued a rambling release on March 6 regarding Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch’s contract extension. In what was essentially a history lesson about a middling franchise, Eisenberg whined about his 2013 first-round selection as if Lynch were his prom date who left him for the prom king.
Caleb Gindl joins the New York Post as its first-ever fantasy sports beat writer. He previously served as a freelancer at the New York Daily News. Contact him at gindlpost@gmail.com.