So here I am. Sitting at my desk a week before the season starts, not feeling myself. The hum of the office is the same. The chores I have to complete when I get home are the same. My family is good, my friends are good. My life is good. Yet I’m sitting here not feeling myself. I’m anxious. Coming off a frustrating week of work, not getting what I was hoping for; I feel a bit tired. It’s a foreign feeling for me to be in this state of mind so close to the season. Normally it’s all RAH RAH and high energy. Not this time. But being as lucky as I am, my mind doesn’t sit on the negative too long. I have too many wonderful things around me that pull at me, dragging me back out into the sunshine.
It’s almost Fall now, and things honestly couldn’t be much better. My family is healthy and happy; succeeding in all different corners of life. My friends are growing their families, getting married…talking again. I am doing good work in my career and still forging a path that will lead me to where I am looking to go. But there’s another thing that makes this year so special.
It’s our fifth season.
Four years, five seasons of doing this dumb game I came up with while sitting on a twin bed, unemployed, and looking for something, anything, that was constructive. I didn’t think this thing would last one season, let alone five. I thought, will it work? Will people like it? Who would want to listen to me ramble about football this much? I’m still figuring that one out by the way. But the other answers were “yes”. It does work, it is SO much fun, and I am so thankful that you all have been on this journey with me. I mean, hell, it really hasn’t been that long and we still have grown so much. From a Google Doc to a full blown website. From 4 to 7 members. From feeling like maybe this’ll be the last season, to hoping that the league continues forever. It has been the best. I can’t imagine what Fall would be like without us all getting together to bet literal pennies on a game for kids. But it’s special.
And why is it so special? Well, I think it’s a bunch of things. From a unique platform to the randomness of it. From actively watching someone lose a bet in real time (normally Kevin); to yelling at a scoreboard in a stadium to stop adding yards so you can place first that week. It’s also the passion, and camaraderie that we share. I think I can say that we all look forward to each week, hoping to see Jonny place last. Plus, reading what’s going on in our little bubble from our own unique perspective. We’ve seen so much that has made this league special. I’d like to just bullet point a few of my favorite memories so far.
Kevin, Chris, and Kait joining this mosh pit of a league
Christopher getting cockeyed drunk before betting and then winning the tournament in Season 2
Us yelling for Brian Lewerke to complete just one final pass so we could win our bet, only for him to finish EXACTLY on the wager number, thus resulting in a 7-way tie.
Giving up hope that Jonathan will ever lose
Sully forgetting to place his bets last year and STILL doing better than some who actually tried.
Benj and Kait joining the WTS Bets Writer’s Room
BROWNS
Our BBQ
There are so many other awesome memories that I’m not listing, so if you have a favorite moment please tell us in the chat. I think that would be fun.
Thank you all for supporting this ridiculous idea enough so that it could spread its stupid wings and fly. I have had nothing but fun heading this league over the past four years. And I am excited to watch it continue to grow alongside all of us.
Each season brings something new, something fresh. We have a lot of history behind us helping us build as we take each step, but every Fall is a new opportunity. We can make changes, do something different. We can reflect and see what worked and what we should improve on. We can also take a moment and just enjoy where we are, where we’ve come, and how sweet it is right now. Isn’t it awesome? Isn’t this fun? I love it, and can’t wait to keep going.
I hope you all are excited to keep going also. But if you need a signal; here’s your greenlight.
