Alumni News
Fantasy Baseball, Real Bonds It’s the Downtown Athletic Club. Not in New York, but in Eugene. Not for the Heisman Trophy presentation, but for an annual baseball draft. These are not uber-wealthy franchise owners, but pastors, a publisher, a regional sales manager, a store manager, an air traffic controller and other Beacons shining in a variety of fields. These are not the Yankees and Dodgers, or the Mariners and the Giants. These “owners” represent the McKenzie Wisox, the Boomtown Rats and the Westwood Wizards—and other names that make sense only to the participants. This is a fantasy baseball league. Established in 1981, the fantasy league began in a campus apartment with students who attended or graduated from NCU in the early to mid-1980s. With some research, this league believes that they are the longest standing fantasy league in the western United States. Through the years, eight participants have remained constant. A few others have fallen away (including the author of this article) and others have joined. The league itself involves researching, drafting and following professional baseball players, with their statistics amounting to success or failure in the standings. Trades and injuries, slumps and career performances mark the ups and downs of ownership. Mark Elmblade, “The Commissioner”, wrangles the group with a mix of humor and gravity. Tom Ferrari has donned an actual green jacket a record eight times, with his name affixed to a traveling trophy for each victorious year. Barry Lind ‘84 is four decades deep in the mire of defeat. Other participants (Neil DeBerry, Kevin Hastings, Dave Keeling ‘83, Dave Kleinfeldt ‘83, Jon Stock ’86, M.A. ‘88, Mark Wiley and some relative newcomers) see their names affixed to the trophy here and there. Along with trophy and jacket, the champion receives a modest financial prize in a brief ceremony. Other rituals include the singing of the Canadian national anthem—badly. The heart of this league is not, however, about winning or even baseball. “We’re here for camaraderie. This league keeps friendships going that have lasted for thirty-nine years,” said Dave Keeling, following up his meaningful
moment with requisite smack-talk. “We would have kicked Kevin [Hastings] out of our friendship ring years ago if it weren’t for this draft. And Barry [Lind] is just here to try to learn about baseball.” Is this league important to these players? Mark Elmblade admits, “I quit my job to do this one year.” The teasing continues, intermingled with genuine gratitude. “I don’t like baseball. I don’t like fantasy. I don’t even like the people I’m doing this with,” insinuating quite the opposite. Hastings says, “This is how I maintain relationship with my college friends.” Jon Stock adds, “We love baseball, but sometimes it’s the only time we see each other.” Hastings throws in, “Once a year is all we can take.” The day starts with breakfast at a local restaurant, and then a caravan to the club. As the work of drafting teams begins to take form, so does an ever-flowing stream of false and misleading rumors about the pro players (“Did everyone hear that Mike Trout broke his leg?”), along with decades of lore—the famous draft selections, the infamous choices. The group remembers how the author (in 1983) drafted Matt Keough, a journeyman pitcher coming off an 11-18 season, proving naiveté and guaranteeing punchline status thirtysix years later. Some decisions echo with laughter through the halls of tradition. Punchline or not, this reunion feels good. Whatever the enduring tie that binds, these fantasy team owners prove each year the value of life together during formative college times, as well as the ongoing value of staying connected.
The Beacon | Spring 2019
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