By Brian Burke
Since it’s inaugural season in 2005, The League has been mired in controversy, beer, and verbal combat. However, The League’s beginnings were humble. In the first installment of “True Fantasy Story: The League,” we delve into how this phenomenon got started.
In the summer of 2003, fourteen members of the Texas Gamma Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon entered battle in SigEp Pigskin 2K3. Seven team owners in The League honed their skills in this friendly low stakes game. At the end of the season two owners from The League found themselves at the top of the heap of fantasy rubble. Jon Provost and Brian Burke finished in first and second place. In 2004, the SigEp men clashed for fantasy dominance once again with nine of The League’s owners playing a huge part in how things panned out. Two owners of The League found themselves in the top three once again. Burke claimed the second place trophy for a second year in a row while Karl Augspurger snagged third place with his team “Iplaysoccerdamnit.” Augspurger’s name goes down in history as one of the worst team names fantasy football has ever seen.
The format differed greatly from the parameters The League currently follows. SigEp Pigskin 2K3 had 14 owners, while SigEp Pigskin (2004) had 16 owners. Both leagues were also drafted online.
The SigEp leagues, although amusing, were nothing compared to what was ahead of these nine fantasy football followers. With the addition of a young Blayne Rhynsburger, a roommated Michael McCain, and the subtraction of Brett “I lived in Hawaii at the time” Johnston The League went into the 2005 season ten owners strong. The current chemistry between these league owners is at such a high level that it is hard to believe that Rich Gola, champion of SigEp Pigskin (2004), was actually asked to be an owner. One would assume he would have dropped like a fly after the 2005 season, but it is hard for one to stomach the fact that the landscape could be very different today if this transaction took place.
The inaugural season of The League was that of epic proportions and was a great building block for what was to come in the future. The draft was held in a manner that none of the owners had ever experienced. They called it…the boardroom. Dining room tables and sofas were moved to make a college apartment look like an NFL war room on draft day. This setup still exists today when that fateful day in August rolls around. The draft proceeded in a serpentine manner. Some highlights included, Tom Brady picked at spot number five by Lloyd Kraus and Rhynsburger wearing a Manu Ginobili jersey. (Spurs Football also goes down in The League history as one of the worst names ever). In it’s first season, The League was not a keeper league. Moving into 2006, the ten owners would start from scratch all over again.
The inaugural season ended with Provost being crowned the first ever champion of The League. Provost’s winning team was led by Larry Johnson and Carson Palmer. Ben Findley experienced his highest finish yet with a second place title. His fall from grace will be depicted in an upcoming installments of “True Fantasy Story: The League.” The cleverly named, “The Floating Chairs,” owned by Burke, claimed third place. A promising career in The League was evident from the get go for Burke.
The League is not just a competitive feeding frenzy for fantasy football dominance. It has grown into a way to keep in touch with friends far far away and keeps our significant others annoyed during football season, which is always amusing. The League’s growth from its’ inaugural season and SigEp beginnings is impressive and will be depicted in future installments of “True Fantasy Story: The League.” Good night my fellow owners.
Brian Burke has been the Commissioner of The League since it’s inception in 2005. Burke owns the Super Bowl Sex Romp and pisses excellence. The SBSR won the championship in 2006 and have finished in the top three every year The League has been in existence.
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