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Friday, November 02, 2012

The Patron Saint of Nerdy Jewish Baseball Fans - Bloomberg

I bought the original Rotisserie League Baseball book. It literally changed my life, for the better. Thanks to Dan Okrent!!

Okrent has compared himself to J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who invented the atomic bomb: “I mean, look what I’ve unleashed on the world.” Indeed. Fantasy sports, as anyone who has ever played them knows, are an epic time-suck. There is pleasure, but more often a lonely, pathetic pain in having your well-being tethered to a handful of guys on an imaginary team.

It’s a distinct form of suffering that Okrent has shared. More than three decades after presiding over fantasy baseball’s inaugural draft, he has never won his league.

EDIT: Link fixed. Jim

Jim Furtado Posted: November 02, 2012 at 05:15 PM | 9 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: fantasy baseball, history

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   1. Avoid running at all times.-S. Paige Posted: November 02, 2012 at 05:38 PM (#4291177)
bad link
   2. dr. scott Posted: November 02, 2012 at 06:18 PM (#4291210)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-01/the-patron-saint-of-nerdy-jewish-baseball-fans.html

Get rid of the 'time' at the end of the published line.
   3. AndrewJ Posted: November 02, 2012 at 07:41 PM (#4291257)
In this, he was also helped by more ecumenical forces. While millions of fans were discovering fantasy, stat guru Bill James, not just a gentile but a night watchman at a pork and beans factory, was becoming a cult hero.


And millions of fans (this one included) discovered Bill James via a 1981 Sports Illustrated profile written by D. Okrent.
   4. Heinie Mantush (Krusty) Posted: November 02, 2012 at 08:29 PM (#4291280)
Nerdy Jewish baseball fan???? Fantasy baseball???


...sometimes, BBTF hits me right in the target demo.
   5. asinwreck Posted: November 02, 2012 at 08:39 PM (#4291285)
I initially thought the last word in the headline referred to NYC's mayor, not his media empire.
   6. GGC don't think it can get longer than a novella Posted: November 02, 2012 at 09:46 PM (#4291326)
(Forget) Rotisserie. Nine Innings may be his magnum opus. It might be one of the best baseball book ever.
   7. Walt Davis Posted: November 02, 2012 at 10:38 PM (#4291382)
Are there non-nerdy Jewish baseball fans?
   8. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: November 02, 2012 at 11:43 PM (#4291431)
Wouldn't that be BLOMberg?
   9. AndrewJ Posted: November 03, 2012 at 08:34 AM (#4291507)
(Forget) Rotisserie. Nine Innings may be his magnum opus. It might be one of the best baseball book ever.

The Ultimate Baseball Book is pretty amazing, too.

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