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Interview with Lenny Pappano (1 Viewer)

David Dodds

David Dodds

Administrator
Lenny will be on site on August 1st (time to be determined later) to answer your questions about the World Championships of Fantasy Football (www.wcoff.com).

Lenny has been active in the FF Community for many years. He runs the successful FF information site Draftsharks.com and joined forces with Emil Kadlec to launch WCOFF in 2002.

Please post your questions you would like to ask Lenny here.

 
Lenny, it seems every year there are a couple of earlier round steals (Steve Smith, Larry Fitzgerald last year), a couple of mid-round steals (Palmer, Chambers) and a couple of late flyers that really explode (Galloway, M. Anderson.)

Identifying a few of these guys can win your league singlehandedly. If you drafted 3 of the 6 players I mentioned above last year and didn't get killed on your other picks, you likely won. Who are 2 3rd-4th round guys, 2 5th-7th round guys, and 2 8th round or later guys you think could be this year's version of the guys I mentioned above?

 
What issues have casued other high $$$ games to fail, while yours, and pretty much yours alone, has succeeded?

(would be curious about actual financial/marketing/advertising stuff, not just "because our game is grrrrrr-eat!)

 
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We're stoked to have Lenny on board for this. Definitely a guy that's set the pace and blazed a trail in the high stakes games and a quality guy to boot. :thumbup:

J

 
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Lenny, how crazy did you think the idea was at first that you could get people to come to Las Vegas for a high stakes league?

J

 
With the advent of the internet, instant information, NFL Network, etc., this hobby of ours has exploded in the last 5-7 years. Information is easy to get, sleepers are harder to find (and keep quiet), and anyone can just download an up-to-date cheatsheet the day of his draft and go. 8 years ago, who would have thought that enough people would pay enough money to hold the WCOFF?

Do you think we are at or reaching a tipping point? Where do you see the hobby in 5 years? 10 years?

 
Lenny, Been with WCOFF since the outset. How much luck do you think is involved in coming home with the WCOFF Title?

And

Do you see the $200,000.00 Grand Prize growing as the number of registered teams continue to grow? Will the stakes ever be raised? Will we see a $1M dollar cash sometime down the line?

 
A big deal has been made by some that that WCOFF requires that you stay in the hotel where the draft is being held, as well as requires you to pay a mandatory events fee, unless you receive exemptions. This is constantly brought up by detractors of WCOFF and is part of their complaint that WCOFF has a lower prize payout (based on total receipts) than other high stakes contest. What is the economic reality behind both of these items?

 
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Hey Lenny,

I've always respected your sharp scouting eye and occasionally contrarian take in the past. How do you see the 2006 draft class shaking out, and who do you think will have the best pro careers from what looks like it could be a strong QB, RB & TE class. Who has the best chance to break out and help fantasy squads this year, possibly later in the season. Based on the best combo of value, upside and risk minimizing would you rather have the IND (Addai/Rhodes), CAR (Foster/Williams), NE (Dillon/Maroney) or TEN (Brown/White) RB handcuff?

* How about your Comeback Player of the Year candidate/s.

 
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Lenny, i have a subscription to FBG and my wife won't let me subscribe to more than one site.

who is your first round bust this year?????

 
Lenny,

1. The WCOFF enters it's fifth year this year. Every year you have added events (DraftMasters, auction formats, poker tourney, vendor booths, etc) to the biggest Live draft. Anything new for this year?

2. How big can this thing get (number of entrants, cities, prize pool)? What are your goals 5 years from now regarding the WCOFF?

3. Tell us a little about the other events at the WCOFF

a. The poker tourney

b. Auction and DraftMasters Leagues

c. The $10,000 challenge

d. The vendor booths

4. Tell us about the WCOFF satellites that you are offering through Xperts Sports.

5. I have been to this event and can only offer a wow to the buzz and excitement before they open the doors and let the 1,000 rabid fans into the place to draft their teams. For those that have never attended this event, please describe these events:

- Thursday Night ESPN pre-party

- Registration

- The 30 minutes before the doors open

- The actual draft

- The ESPN Post-party

6. If someone is new to the WCOFF scoring (start 3 WRs + flex + PPR scoring), what advice would you give them to have a competitive season in year 1. What pitfalls should they look to avoid?

 
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Hey David,

can you email Lenny beforehand and ask him if he's got any pics laying around of the WCOFF that would follow along with the discussion?

 
Lenny,

thoughts on Randy, Horn, Dillon, and Curtis Martin? Some FF studs that were less than their usual self last year

"gun to head, gotta pick one" what RB do you draft from the Jets?

Who will do better: Julius or Marion?

 
Lenny,

1. The WCOFF enters it's fifth year this year.  Every year you have added events (DraftMasters, auction formats, poker tourney, vendor booths, etc) to the biggest Live draft.  Anything new for this year?

2. How big can this thing get (number of entrants, cities, prize pool)? What are your goals 5 years from now regarding the WCOFF?

3. Tell us a little about the other events at the WCOFF

a. The poker tourney

b. Auction and DraftMasters Leagues

c. The $10,000 challenge

d. The vendor booths

4.  Tell us about the WCOFF satellites that you are offering through Xperts Sports.

5.  I have been to this event and can only offer a wow to the buzz and excitement before they open the doors and let the 1,000 rabid fans into the place to draft their teams.  For those that have never attended this  event, please describe these events:

- Thursday Night ESPN pre-party

- Registration

- The 30 minutes before the doors open

- The actual draft

- The ESPN Post-party

6.  If someone is new to the WCOFF scoring (start 3 WRs + flex + PPR scoring), what advice would you give them to have a competitive season in year 1.  What pitfalls should they look to avoid?
Click to expand...
This ought to soak up about 53 minutes of the hour he'll be here. :D Edit to add : Which is likely a good thing since my question is not remotely related to WCOFF. Read, man, read. :wall:

 
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Lenny,

FBGs has a bunch of poker obsessed people here. At WCOFF, how much (on the side) poker playing takes place+poker chatter? Any thoughts on an accompanying poker tournament while FF guys are in Vegas?

Any thoughts on adding a WCOFF satellite league in AC for us East Coast guys?

 
Lenny,

In addition to Footballguys, I have been a loyal Draftsharks supporter for many years. They are the only 2 services I subscribe to and as a med student I have no money and a mountain of debt so that's saying something.

Now to my question. You're first round bust articles are so insightful. What are 3-4 most important components that you look for when compiling a player primed for a bust year? So much time is spent identify players who will break out, but avoid the trainwrecks could be even more important to a fantasy squad.

Thanks for putting out such a great product.

Gandalf

 
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LP,

Will you ever consider increasing QB scoring to 6 to add more interest to the QB position? Currently, its a position you should WAIT on. One would think with QB being such an important position in football, we'd make it important in Fantasy Football as well.

 
Greetings, another happy D-sharks customer, great site - and aslo a 2-year WCOFF attendee, though I drank too much in Vegas both times so far.. I just want to know what got you into FF and what you did before that. Thanks for your time

 
Lenny... since everyone and their mother has figured out that drafting early in 12 man drafts often (always) is a huge advantage, any thoughts to joining the growing trend of reversing the draft order in the 3rd round? Im not discussing injuries or owner ability, just the large and undeniable advantage of picking early - being lessened by reversing the 3rd round. Early picks will still be advantageous, just not so dramatically as it currently is.

 
My question would be if the owners of WCOFF are worried about potential future legal issues with the the NFL and NFLPA over fantasy football revenue, player stats, etc. MLB has already been part of a couple lawsuits over fantasy baseball. Will the NFLPA someday start demanding excessive licensing revenue from the premier fantasy competitions like WCOFF?

I'd like to hear Lenny's take on the issue.

 
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Lenny,

FBGs has a bunch of poker obsessed people here. At WCOFF, how much (on the side) poker playing takes place+poker chatter? Any thoughts on an accompanying poker tournament while FF guys are in Vegas?

Any thoughts on adding a WCOFF satellite league in AC for us East Coast guys?
Click to expand...
apparently I live under a rock, please don't ask this
 
My question would be if the owners of WCOFF are worried about potential future legal issues with the the NFL and NFLPA over fantasy football revenue, player stats, etc. MLB has already been part of a couple lawsuits over fantasy baseball. Will the NFLPA someday start demanding excessive licensing revenue from the premier fantasy competitions like WCOFF?

I'd like to hear Lenny's take on the issue.
Click to expand...
They already do!
 
My question would be if the owners of WCOFF are worried about potential future legal issues with the the NFL and NFLPA over fantasy football revenue, player stats, etc. MLB has already been part of a couple lawsuits over fantasy baseball. Will the NFLPA someday start demanding excessive licensing revenue from the premier fantasy competitions like WCOFF?

I'd like to hear Lenny's take on the issue.
Click to expand...
They already do!
Click to expand...
can you elaborate?
 
My question would be if the owners of WCOFF are worried about potential future legal issues with the the NFL and NFLPA over fantasy football revenue, player stats, etc. MLB has already been part of a couple lawsuits over fantasy baseball. Will the NFLPA someday start demanding excessive licensing revenue from the premier fantasy competitions like WCOFF?

I'd like to hear Lenny's take on the issue.
Click to expand...
They already do!
Click to expand...
can you elaborate?
Click to expand...
I think he means that WCOFF already pays some type of licensing fee. They do have the Players Inc logo on their site which I'm sure they had to pay for. Players Inc. is the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFLPA.But I'm concerned that the NFL will get greedy (like MLB did) and force down ridiculous licensing fees that will shut most of these sites down or have them potentially face legal action. It's a mega multimillion dollar business now and the NFL is going to want to control and generate as much revenue as possible.

 
My question would be if the owners of WCOFF are worried about potential future legal issues with the the NFL and NFLPA over fantasy football revenue, player stats, etc. MLB has already been part of a couple lawsuits over fantasy baseball. Will the NFLPA someday start demanding excessive licensing revenue from the premier fantasy competitions like WCOFF?

I'd like to hear Lenny's take on the issue.
Click to expand...
They already do!
Click to expand...
can you elaborate?
Click to expand...
I think he means that WCOFF already pays some type of licensing fee. They do have the Players Inc logo on their site which I'm sure they had to pay for. Players Inc. is the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFLPA.But I'm concerned that the NFL will get greedy (like MLB did) and force down ridiculous licensing fees that will shut most of these sites down or have them potentially face legal action. It's a mega multimillion dollar business now and the NFL is going to want to control and generate as much revenue as possible.
Click to expand...
ohwell the NFL's focus seems to have shifted to (oddly enough)college ball lately so that's good for FF sites. They're buying rights to bowl games and senior bowl and such. Also battling cable companies that don't carry NFLNetwork

 
My question would be if the owners of WCOFF are worried about potential future legal issues with the the NFL and NFLPA over fantasy football revenue, player stats, etc. MLB has already been part of a couple lawsuits over fantasy baseball. Will the NFLPA someday start demanding excessive licensing revenue from the premier fantasy competitions like WCOFF?

I'd like to hear Lenny's take on the issue.
Click to expand...
They already do!
Click to expand...
can you elaborate?
Click to expand...
I think he means that WCOFF already pays some type of licensing fee. They do have the Players Inc logo on their site which I'm sure they had to pay for. Players Inc. is the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFLPA.But I'm concerned that the NFL will get greedy (like MLB did) and force down ridiculous licensing fees that will shut most of these sites down or have them potentially face legal action. It's a mega multimillion dollar business now and the NFL is going to want to control and generate as much revenue as possible.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but if they get too greedy they would be biting the hand that feeds them. Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that but with the online gaming initiatives that have been going on I'm getting nervous, and I hope that FF doesn't get lumped into the "gambling" category.
 
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