Ok fellas, I haven't forgotten about this, just had some things going on.

Time to get serious on a league HQ. While I like Yahoo, unfortunately there is no keeper option, so with that in mind I have been looking around at potential Keeper sites.
I joined an ESPN Fantasy Football league this year and have been testing out the functionality while playing out my season. I think it's got the right stuff for our BBall league considering the 2 main options we need.

1) Keeper
2) Free

It's not quite as simply laid out as Yahoo, but it's got some extra features that are nice. The only downside I've seen so far is there doesn't appear to be a Watchlist feature which is a bit annoying but we can live without it. After the season begins, making moves every day/week is perhaps not as important in Keeper leagues anyhow.

Oh, and it's got free live scoring, so no more will the freaks who can afford paying $9.95 have an advantage. (Darth)

I've created a mock PF.com keeper league in ESPN, so everyone feel free to join it and look around. Play with settings, wreck stuff, its not for real so do whatever you want. I have sent invites to the people whose email I already have, otherwise PM me your email and I'll send an invite.

Some more thoughts I've had regarding the draft; I think the Auction draft is a legitimate option, especially considering this first year of the Keeper league is probably the most important.
This is where you build your foundation for the next few years and the snake order just doesn't seem right. I know there is the problem of getting everyone together and length of time it takes so I've had an idea to combine the Auction and Snake order drafts!

ie.
First 50 players are called out in Auction format. Which players are called is determined by the pre-draft order set by the provider. Top 1-50 ranked. This should allow most teams to draft at least 3 players, however this depends on your strategy. Maybe Roscoe could open the chat for this?

The rest of the draft would happen as a snake order to save on the time required for participants. This could happen immediately after the Auction while everyone is there, or even a few days later - no problem. If you didn't have any more time to waste on the draft, set your own rankings of the remaining players and let the system do the rest.

I would then add the auction players manually into each teams lineup either before the snake part of the draft or afterwards.

Now all this may sound complicated but I don't think it is. I'd be doing all the background work to help make it a smooth process. Of course I'd have to make sure all this is possible but I already am fairly certain I can do this using ESPN. However, the provider is not confirmed yet, I'm still open to suggestions, but you better make a case for one and make it quick. ESPN is the clubhouse leader right now.

PS - Once we decide on the provider I will get going on an entry list. 12 teams seems to be the consensus so far, so while I encourage everyone interested to get an invite off me and play around with the functions, unfortunately I can't guarantee everyone an actual entry for the league just yet. But your input is very much appreciated.

- webz

__________________

I'm in. Email sent by PM.

You are just sending in a request to be in. There are no guarantees.

I've got some pull with the forum owner.

That's the kind of sick puppy you really are. Pulling on this nasty forum owner just to get in a league...

I'm in!

Happy to see all you eager beavers declaring your interest, but could I please have some thoughts/feedback on the proposed system/provider and draft style?

Thanks!

Tomorrow. Promise.

i'm very interested. i've learned that i can only play fantasy basketball...i just have no interest in football/baseball leagues. i think an auction format would be very cool and take a lot of preparation.

As much as I love the idea of being in a keeper league, I just don't think that I have the time right now to dedicate to being in one, so I will have to respectfully decline at this time.

It wouldn't be fair to those in the league, and anyone that could potentially be left on the outside looking, for me to enter when I won't be able to put forth 100% effort.