Seventh grade. 1983. I found out one of the teachers in my junior high was running a fantasy football league for students in his 8th-grade classes. I couldn't wait until the next year to crush all of my classmates ...

And then we moved. And the dream died.

Until 1994, that is. Eleven years after a Connecticut junior high teacher who was well ahead of his time piqued my interest, I finally started playing. And playing extremely poorly (I KEPT a receiver who retired the season before, declaring at the draft, "He'll come out of retirement"). Never happened -- and I went 3-10-1.

I've learned a whole lot since then (like DON'T keep guys who retire!) and have paved the way to nine championships in two leagues since 1998. Hopefully that knowledge will shine through this season and beyond as we embark on a new venture sure to please all of our subscribers.

In addition to my addiction to fantasy football, I also love to play 16-inch softball and golf in the summers, while trying to get out to Colorado more than once every five years to hit the slopes. I have been married to my beautiful wife, Kathleen, for nine years and we have a red-headed 7-year-old son, Connor.

Finally, for those of you who want to see how I've done over the years, here are my fantasy football records ...

North-South league

2008: 8-5 (1-1 - 2nd Place)
2007: 10-3 (1-1 – 3rd Place)
2006: 8-5 (1-1 – 5th Place)
2005: 10-3 (2-0 – 1st Place)
2004: 10-3 (1-1 – 3rd Place)
2003: 8-5 (2-0 – 1st Place)
2002: 7-6 (1-1 – 5th Place)
2001: 7-5-1 (3-0 – 1st Place)
2000: 10-2-1 (2-0 – 1st Place)
1999: 6-7
1998: 5-9
Regular Season: 89-53-2
Playoffs: 14-7

Regular league:

2008: 7-6 (2-1 - 3rd place)
2007: 9-4 (2-0 - 1st place)
2006: 7-6 (1-1)
2005: 7-6 (0-1)
2004: 9-3-1 (3-0 – 1st place)
2003: 7-6 (3-0 – 1st place)
2002: 7-6 (0-1)
2001: 7-6 (2-1 – 2nd place)
2000: ?-? (?)
1999: ?-? (1st place)
1998: ?-? (1st place)

Regular season: 60-43-1

Playoffs: 13-5