Draft Dominator (1 Viewer)

[bshell27]

I have used DD for four years now and love it. Not only do I customize the info, but it helps me track the draft with much greater ease than paperwork. I especially love the Bye week reminder and the stats of which team has what so I can feel what position they may grab next.

Without this technology, I will draft fine, but never felt like it was giving an edge the others did not have.

The Commish feels that it drafts for you and will not allow the software. What is the Shark Pool opinion on this?

 

[identikit]

Wow...

Great testimonial for FBG...

 

[massraider]

I have used DD for four years now and love it. Not only do I customize the info, but it helps me track the draft with much greater ease than paperwork. I especially love the Bye week reminder and the stats of which team has what so I can feel what position they may grab next. Without this technology, I will draft fine, but never felt like it was giving an edge the others did not have. The Commish feels that it drafts for you and will not allow the software. What is the Shark Pool opinion on this?

The Shark Pool opinion is that between this and the 'no trading of draft picks' there are some commishes seriously over-stepping their boundaries. And there's some gutless owners allowing this stuff to happen.

 

[Creed Bratton]

The Draft Dominator is just a tool. I don't think your commissioner really understands what it is if he thinks it's drafting for you. I mean if you think that this is the year that Torry Holt is returning to 1600 yard glory, the Draft Dominator isn't going to save you from yourself. But with that being said, I'd be pissed if I wasn't allowed to prepare for my draft any way I could.

 

[identikit]

I have used DD for four years now and love it. Not only do I customize the info, but it helps me track the draft with much greater ease than paperwork. I especially love the Bye week reminder and the stats of which team has what so I can feel what position they may grab next. Without this technology, I will draft fine, but never felt like it was giving an edge the others did not have. The Commish feels that it drafts for you and will not allow the software. What is the Shark Pool opinion on this?

The Shark Pool opinion is that between this and the 'no trading of draft picks' there are some commishes seriously over-stepping their boundaries. And there's some gutless owners allowing this stuff to happen.

I'd be one and done with commishes like this.

 

[Pickle Rody]

It's a little late to ban your use of DD this year after allowing you to use it for 4 years.

I say bring your laptop anyway and use DD. There are ways to hide the fact that you are using it. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, just print out the latest cheatsheet from DD the day of your draft. Obviously, some of DD's functionality will be lost, but you'll still have most of what you need.

I was the first to use DD in my league, but I'm also the commissioner. Nowadays there is at least one other owner who uses it on draft day, but several more who use it to prep/mock for the draft and create cheatsheets to bring along. Other owners simply enjoy looking over my shoulder once in a while.

Using Draft Dominator does not insure that you will dominate your draft nor does it insure that you will win the championship. In reality it doesn't "tell" you to do anything nor does it "draft for you". Only a complete idiot would think that it does.

 

[Kriegott]

Could he run DD lite off a PDA? maybe a bit less conspicuous? Not sure they even make DDlite anymore? Get a buddy to run it while you're on the phone or text,IM you your top 3-5 DD picks for ya. Every draft I do I always get the WTF Cheater looks.

 

[snellman]

I have used DD for four years now and love it. Not only do I customize the info, but it helps me track the draft with much greater ease than paperwork. I especially love the Bye week reminder and the stats of which team has what so I can feel what position they may grab next. Without this technology, I will draft fine, but never felt like it was giving an edge the others did not have. The Commish feels that it drafts for you and will not allow the software. What is the Shark Pool opinion on this?

Does your Commish still use a paper and calculator to figure stats and game results?Tell him to come to the 21st century, it is fun here. Also tell him if he feels it is helping you man up and pay for a subscription.

 

[JHuber77]

I have used DD for four years now and love it. Not only do I customize the info, but it helps me track the draft with much greater ease than paperwork. I especially love the Bye week reminder and the stats of which team has what so I can feel what position they may grab next.

Without this technology, I will draft fine, but never felt like it was giving an edge the others did not have.

The Commish feels that it drafts for you and will not allow the software. What is the Shark Pool opinion on this?

Start making it for mac FBG's!

 

[JHuber77]

Start making it for MAC FBG's!!!!! Please

 

[SSOG]

In a league I commish, I got so sick of everybody forgetting whose pick it was that I sent everyone in the league a link to the free version of the DD and told them that I would strongly, strongly recommend they pick it up (while implying that I would be very upset if the forgetting-whose-pick-it-was shenanigans continued). The truth is I haven't noticed any changes in drafting patterns since then.

 

[Kleck]

We quit using draft boards a few years ago and now hook up a laptop to a projector and have the DD on the big screen. Drafts have never gone smoother.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I have used DD for four years now and love it. Not only do I customize the info, but it helps me track the draft with much greater ease than paperwork. I especially love the Bye week reminder and the stats of which team has what so I can feel what position they may grab next. Without this technology, I will draft fine, but never felt like it was giving an edge the others did not have. The Commish feels that it drafts for you and will not allow the software. What is the Shark Pool opinion on this?

Couldn't you argue that the same could be said for a magazine or any printed cheet sheet? If you went strictly off of those tools, then they would be drafting for you as well. What's the difference?

 

[Black]

We quit using draft boards a few years ago and now hook up a laptop to a projector and have the DD on the big screen. Drafts have never gone smoother.

x2!!I go split screen, stretching the Main pane of DD across my laptop and to the Big Screen. I keep the Draft window results on the Full Screen and the updated rankings, etc. visible only on my laptop. Helps me run the draft more smoothly AND keep my own rankings private.Not sure why your commish is such a wuss about it.

 

[mozzy84]

yea we had a few guys trying to ban laptops this year also, it didnt happen though thankfully

 

[Godsbrother]

We have one guy that brings a laptop and has been using DD the past 2 seasons. He hasn't made the playoffs either of those years.

 

[Mark Wimer]

Tell your commissioner that he has to pass an amendment to the league rules in order to ban all laptops/handheld computers/smart phones from the draft.

If he wants to force everyone to use pen-and-paper (or go bare-knuckles with nothing but a communal draft board), that's fine - IF he can get the rule/amendments passed by the other owners.

Arbitrarily banning one type of software is asinine in the extreme. He's trying to disadvantage the OP.

 

[massraider]

We have one guy that brings a laptop and has been using DD the past 2 seasons. He hasn't made the playoffs either of those years.

I brought mine to a draft about 4 years ago, and didn't know anyone (friend of the commish). I was labeled 'Laptop Guy' for the season, until I made the title game. I have seen more laptops every year. Only one other team uses DD, the others use a different one (FFTolbox?). Never bothered to find out which one, I like DD.Bringing the laptop/DD isn't going to help the casual player beyond maybe as a great organizational tool. If you like bad players, you're gonna have a bad team, period.I like the magazine point someone made. Same concept, just in a primitive form. Getting help from outside sources. Either way, it's dumb. It's just fantasy football, and some guy that put a league together telling his buddies how they can prepare for the draft is the height of absurdity to me.

 

[Doug Drinen]

I suspect most football fans have no objection to the wristband flap QBs wear to help them keep the plays straight, but would get queasy at the thought of QBs being allowed to carry a super-powerful PDA type thing onto the field for the same purpose. Some people probably don't think the wristband flap should be allowed. Others would be fine with the PDA.

It's just a matter of taste. No right or wrong. Same deal with laptops. I can definitely see the argument for banning them. It's no different from deciding whether you want to implement a flex or PPR scoring or IDPs: what kind of league do you want to be?

But that's a decision for the league to make as a whole. It's a HUGE problem that the commish thinks he can unilaterally decide stuff like that. I seriously don't understand how people like that can look in the mirror.

 

[DenverBuc]

Wow. Well, then to be fair and equitable, is he also disallowing:

Cheatsheets, magazines, ADP lists, buddies giving advice, the use of pencils, etc.?

I mean tools are tools. Some people have nicer ones than others. What is the crime in that? If you choose to use that tool and spend your money on it, you should be able to use it

What is the logic here? I really do not understand where he is coming from at all. Does / should a commissioner have the power to outlaw anything that could give me, an owner, an edge or assistance with my draft? If it does not do anything to any of the other owners, I say "no" and would tell him as much.

I agree with an earlier post that said too many owners allow their commissioners to behave this way. If there is no explicit rule in your bylaws that gives him this authority, I would challenge him openly and directly. Though it pained me to leave leagues with my friends, I have had to leave leagues in the past because the commissioner acted too much like a dictator instead of a commissioner that enforced the rules.

 

[mrip541]

DD effectively automates draft decisions. Some people won't like it and I see where he is coming from. I like the human aspect of FF. Kind of how baseball won't implement an instant replay. Are you drafting against your friends or 11 computers?

 

[Holy Schneikes]

I agree with the sentiments of most here - particularly with regard to dictator commishes.

However, to play Devil's advocate...

If you have a semi-casual league where half of the league has DD, but most of them don't customize it in any way (from default projections), it could have a negative impact on the "fun" of the draft. It'd be like everyone is drafting from the same draft board and half of the draft could be determined by original draft positions. Not exactly, but you get the point.

There is a perception that a tool like that could draft "for you", and frankly it more or less could. And despite that not being the optimal draft strategy, the result could actually be better than some of the stuff I've seen in casual leagues.

But it depends on what the commish is trying to fix. A scenario like I just laid out would be an advantage for someone who customizes projections (or whatever you use instead of that) because not only are you not blindly going in, you pretty much know what half of the people are going to do at every pick.

 

[Donsmith753]

All of this assumes that you would do exactly what DD says, which is ridiculous. It's there for advice and guidance, tell your commish to get to.

 

[stugnut]

There have been a number of threads over the years on banning DD from drafts:

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...howtopic=327972

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...howtopic=391391

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...howtopic=408288

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...howtopic=252536

Some of my favorite replies from those threads:

From freshly_shorn:

I once asked my auction league commish if I could use a laptop. He said, and I quote, "I don't care if you bring a <expletive> NFL scout, have at it!"

From Jason Wood:

Should we ban other modern conventions like writing instruments, seats and lightbulbs on draft day too?

That's asinine.

From dapunisher:

Maybe you should propose that everyone draft from memory alone.

 

[renesauz]

DD effectively automates draft decisions. Some people won't like it and I see where he is coming from. I like the human aspect of FF. Kind of how baseball won't implement an instant replay. Are you drafting against your friends or 11 computers?

DD automates your choice no more then any other well prepared/designed cheatsheet does. IN the end...all it is is a big cheetsheet and tracking tool.

 

[ookook]

Although I loves me my DD, I do not take it to any drafts. I print cheatsheets based on my modified projections.

So not really a big deal, yes? Just hit print.

Sure, is harder to keep track of what others have (best part of DD on draft day) but really matter not so very much...

 

[Godsbrother]

I will say a couple of years ago I was in a league at work where we drafted online using ESPN and it was annoying that it had a window showing everyone the next 25 best available players.

 

[Brothers Mayhem]

I have used DD for four years now and love it. Not only do I customize the info, but it helps me track the draft with much greater ease than paperwork. I especially love the Bye week reminder and the stats of which team has what so I can feel what position they may grab next. Without this technology, I will draft fine, but never felt like it was giving an edge the others did not have. The Commish feels that it drafts for you and will not allow the software. What is the Shark Pool opinion on this?

Tell your commish you agree - the Draft Dominator gives you too much of an advantage. Then keep using it, but call it something else. Move your windows around, change the colors, you know, play the part.

 

[Brothers Mayhem]

Wow. Well, then to be fair and equitable, is he also disallowing:Cheatsheets, magazines, ADP lists, buddies giving advice, the use of pencils, etc.?I mean tools are tools. Some people have nicer ones than others. What is the crime in that? If you choose to use that tool and spend your money on it, you should be able to use itWhat is the logic here? I really do not understand where he is coming from at all. Does / should a commissioner have the power to outlaw anything that could give me, an owner, an edge or assistance with my draft? If it does not do anything to any of the other owners, I say "no" and would tell him as much.I agree with an earlier post that said too many owners allow their commissioners to behave this way. If there is no explicit rule in your bylaws that gives him this authority, I would challenge him openly and directly. Though it pained me to leave leagues with my friends, I have had to leave leagues in the past because the commissioner acted too much like a dictator instead of a commissioner that enforced the rules.

You are there to have fun too. Utilizing software isnt cheating and if your league mates aren't going to allow you to manage your team as you see fit, find new leagues to play in. That is why I love online fantasy leagues. Everything is laid out and you either agree and join or disagree and do another google search. I play in one live draft league and have for the last 3 years with some of my poker buddies. They always used magazines or mere gut feelings. When I joined - my using DD had the opposite effect. Everyone was intrigued at how "sophisticated" fantasy football could be. Since then, everyone has learned to research their own information, put together their own draft rankings, some even started using software of their own. It has become more fun than ever. Every year we vote in changes that continue to make it more challenging. I typically play in a few, what is high stakes to me ($200-$400) league entry fees, and none of them are as fun or challenging as the one live league I have with this group of guys, which we only buy in for $25...lol.So again, let them losers go on and keep Saddam Husseining themselves to death - you got mock drafts to do !!!!

 

[GregR_2]

I have used DD for four years now and love it. Not only do I customize the info, but it helps me track the draft with much greater ease than paperwork. I especially love the Bye week reminder and the stats of which team has what so I can feel what position they may grab next. Without this technology, I will draft fine, but never felt like it was giving an edge the others did not have. The Commish feels that it drafts for you and will not allow the software. What is the Shark Pool opinion on this?

The Shark Pool opinion is that between this and the 'no trading of draft picks' there are some commishes seriously over-stepping their boundaries. And there's some gutless owners allowing this stuff to happen.

I'd be one and done with commishes like this.

I agree. It isn't that I perish at the thought of doing a draft without DD. But once I see such questionable of judgment out of a commish I'd consider it a warning flag and get out.

 

[habsfan]

Some commishes do things "in the best interest of the league" without even consulting "the league". They are not the league, the owners are.

 

[brownhelmets]

Terrible idea for a commish to deny you the ability to prepare the way you want. Any good owner makes their own projections anyways and stray from lists they can be provided.

 

[Keith R]

Appeal and call for a league-wide vote.

 

[Evil Monkey]

I have used DD for four years now and love it. Not only do I customize the info, but it helps me track the draft with much greater ease than paperwork. I especially love the Bye week reminder and the stats of which team has what so I can feel what position they may grab next.

Without this technology, I will draft fine, but never felt like it was giving an edge the others did not have.

The Commish feels that it drafts for you and will not allow the software. What is the Shark Pool opinion on this?

Tell him to come to the 21st century, it is fun here. Also tell him if he feels it is helping you man up and pay for a subscription.

Exactly. Is there nobody else in the league that uses sources on the internet? You are not using anything that isn't available to everyone else. All they have to do is put forth the same effort as you. I wouldn't just let this fly without a fight.

 

[Jeff Haseley]

Someone get this commish a shirt