Plain, simple Jake

Because I just can't say no to Steve

1. Have you ever been in a fantasy league?

Indeed. I was in both an NHL and an NBA league last year, managing the Geelong Rabbitohs HC in the Gateway's NHL league, and the Big Damn Heroes in a semi-related NBA league. I did quite terribly in hockey, quickly discovering that I had never heard of the majority of NHL players. After brilliantly picking Daniel Alfredsson second overall, my draft was absolutely horrid (although picking Jussi in the second round was awesome, if not in any way good for my team). I finished second-last, if I recall correctly. The Big Damn Heroes got off to a good start, but once I realized that having a fantasy team didn't make me care about the NBA any more than before (which was basically none), I started to neglect it and they started slipping. By the end, I amused myself by attempting to acquire the entire Phoenix Suns roster. I failed, but came closer than you might think.

2. What was the first jersey you ever owned?

When I was a wee baby, I had a wee Eskimos jersey, with Dan Kepley's number 42 on it. I kept it for many years, only parting with it when my niece was born and I gave it to her.

3. Top 5 sports books

Christ, have I even read five sports books? Seriously, I think the GAA rulebook has to make it on the list. Um, I have The Stick, by Bruce Dowbiggen, which is okay. Mick Foley's Have a Nice Day is pretty awesome, and I'm going to count it as a sports book. The Hockey Sweater is a classic, of course. And, um... is misogyny a sport? If so, then Atlas Shrugged.

4. 10 favorite athletes

This is a little weird, but my favorite sports are also sports I haven't been able to follow closely enough to know the players. So, sadly, no rugby, Aussie, or Gaelic football players will be on this list at this point. I'm sure this will change as time goes on. But at any rate, in no particular order:

Rocket Richard
Hayley Wickenheiser
Gizmo Williams
Dave Nedohin
Doug Flutie
Kim Martin
Chantal Petitclerc
Wayne Gretzky (Cliched? Sure, but come on.)
Muhammad Ali (And I don't even like boxing.)
Jen Botterill

5. Three Athletes I secretly admire but am ashamed to admit it for fear of ridicule

Barry Bonds - Okay, yeah, steroid allegations and all that. But the dude's good, and he knows it, and he insists on being himself even if other people don't like it. My kinda guy.
Chris Benoit - Yes, he's an athlete, and you're very wrong for questioning it.
Darryl Strawberry - For the same reason Steve gave.

6. The 5 people I tag are:

Let's see: Heather Smith, Heather Wallace, Daniel Kaszor, I find it difficult to believe no one's said Ross Prusakowski yet, and, um... any Pandas who happen to run across this. Even though none will.

posted by Jake @ 7:12 PM