For me, my Love of football started at a very young age. My dad played football, not in the NFL, but in a semi-pro league. I watched him play and dreamed of the day that I too would be playing, but in the NFL! I started by playing in the street on our block, like most kids do. At a young age I realized that I had a gift & could really throw the ball, both far and accurately. I’d call the plays & deliver the ball... touchdown! As I grew older I competed in the annual Punt, Pass and Kick competitions. I would take 1st Place in all of our local contests-year after year!
My love of the game continued to grow stronger and I knew that I was on my way to a career in the NFL!
I played in grade school, then high school, college, but NEVER made it to the NFL. I, like my dad before me, could only make it to the semi-pro level of competition. I played until the age of 26. I had gotten married and started a career with the federal government. So at 26, I gave up on my dream of a life in the NFL.
Then in the late 1980s, a friend I had played high school football and he asked if I’d help him out with his Fantasy Football team. I’d not heard of this type of football, but was drawn to it due to my Love and Passion of the game! I did all the research I could to assist him. This lead to his winning the league championship! Word spread and now another friend was asking if I too could help him. Of course I would and this lead to his 1st championship! I knew I could no longer play the game that I loved so much, so why not stay connected in this way?
So I bought my 1st computer. Now I was ready to get in the game! I prepared for my 1st "live" draft. Newfound information abounds! I read EVERYTHING I could leading up to that draft. I was hooked for life! I was like a child again, waiting for Christmas! That’s how much I would look forward to those drafts and I still do!
I started that 1st season with 3 teams. I won 2 league championships and I was on my way!
Every season I upped my number of teams so I could have MANY MORE Christmases! Three teams became 6, which became 9. Then on to 12, then 13! This lead to 15 and now this season I’m up to 18 teams! That’s A LOT of Christmases!
This takes, as you can imagine, a lot of time to work the waiver wires, read the injury reports and attempt to make the necessary trades that will bring home the championships!
Through the years, I’ve had several undefeated seasons, while averaging 7 league championships! My love of the game of Fantasy Football continues to grow stronger, season after season! That is why it would be such an ultimate honor to be selected into the Toyota Legends of Fantasy Football Hall of Fame!
I would Not then rest my laurels, but strive to make the hall proud, season after season and championship after Championship to the very end!
With much appreciation,
Mike "Blaze" Blazic