We all have a Flip Saunders story.
If you are a basketball fan or grew up in the Midwest, it’s likely Flip Saunders touched your life in some way shape or form.
I was lucky enough to have met Flip once. It was at the University of Minnesota Tubby Smith Basketball Camp during the summer of 2006.
(This was back when I thought I was D I. Ask my buddy Nick for his opinion on sixth grade hoopin’ me. He won’t say good things because for some reason confidence wasn’t an issue of mine.)
I remember Flip’s talk to the youth campers about hard work and loving the game. I was listening, but honestly all I remember thinking about was how in awe I was of him.
In front of me stood the man that brought my hero Kevin Garnett to Minnesota. I didn’t care that Flip had left the Timberwolves a year prior. KG was still a Wolf and that’s all that mattered.
Flip wrapped up his camp visit and left the university. 30 minutes later word spread that the I-35 W Bridge had collapsed.
I’ll never forget the panic that ensued. Everyone was trying to call their families but no calls would go through. Amongst the confusion, one camper, too young to understand what was really going on, asked one of Tubby Smith’s assistants “If Flip was okay?”
The assistant said to the little boy, “Flip is fine. He was stopped at a red light blocks away from the bridge before it went down.”
That might have been too much information for a second or third grader but I’ll never forget that story.
Sure, It is crazy that Flip was close to being on the I-35 W bridge when it went down. But what sticks with me more is the fact that Flip touched the life of that little boy during his short speech to the campers enough for the child to ask about Flip’s safety.
I bet not many people know Flip was close to being on the bridge when it collapsed. Looking back, I don’t even know if the story Smith’s assistant shared with the young boy was true other than the fact Flip was safe.
But what I do know is Flip changed every campers life that day.
If you’ve read my column before you know that I believe in showing love when it’s due because people rarely get the flowers while they can still smell them.
I broke my own rule today by opening the column and paying respects to Flip Saunders.
Regardless, it felt right to share a Flip story.
With anything in life, people tend to remember how one started and how they finished.
Flip started by bringing , the “6-foot-13 inch kid” from a Illinois high school to the Timberwolves and ended by pulling off what will go down as one of the greatest trades in NBA history when he acquired Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love.
His final move – drafting Anthony Towns and home town product Tyus Jones in July brought the state a basketball moment I’ll never forget.
His legacy will live on forever and because of his coaching and front office talents, Minnesota basketball fans can finally get over this.
Thank you Flip.
Week 8 Game Previews
Vikings vs Bears
Stefon Diggs stealing Charles Johnson’s job reminds me of this scene below.
And like the raccoon in the video, Diggs is running away with the job too. He is clearly Bridgewater’s number one target.
Let me list some stats for you courtesy of Matthew Berry, (who got these stats from ESPN Stats and Information.)
- T.Y. Hilton, Keenan Allen and Allen Robinson are among the wide receivers with fewer yards in the past three games than Stefon Diggs.
- In three games without Diggs, Teddy Bridgewater is averaging 168 passing yards.
Two small stats that speak largely about the talent of the fifth round rookie. If you were early to the Diggs show like my friends Josh and Joe than congrats.
If not, well now you know.
Diggs is a top 20 wide receiver the rest of the way and a possible rookie of the year.
As for the Bears, prior to their bye week Alshon Jeffery caught eight balls for 147 yards and a score. He’s back and healthy and that means one of my buddies might have one of the best fantasy lineups you’ll see this year.
Take a look.
SWISH!
Jeffery, Matt Forte and even Eddie Royal could have a nice game in a matchup I expect Chicago to be playing catch up in.
Lions vs Chiefs
Keeping it in the NFC North lets talk about the Lions.
Actually I’m gonna pull a Justin Bieber, and decide “I’m not doing the show”.
As for the Chiefs, Owners that
- Didn’t take my advice on Knile Davis being the back to own in KC and
- Hung on to Charcandrick West should be patting themselves on the back right now.
West clearly is hand KC is going to ride and as long as that remains true, I like West to keep putting up RB2 numbers.
The Lions rank in the bottom ten in run defense and it isn’t like their offense is any better.
Buccaneers vs Falcons
So I have this friend.
He is so petrified of owning a Tampa Bay player because two years ago he drafted Doug Martin in the first round, and he was a major bust.
The following year, he drafted Martin in the third round. Bust.
Then this year, while facing Martin’s owner, he lost by one point and Martin scored 39 of the other team’s 135.
My friends fantasy football relationship with Martin is more complex and heartbreaking than the relationship Adele is singing about in her new EARTH CHANGING single “Hello”.
But just like every lost relationship, life goes on, and Martin is flying high after being dumbed by my friend for two years of emotional abuse.
(My friend is good too though. He’s rich now so it’s chill. SWISH!)
I’ll say it now. Martin is going to finish the year as a top 10 running back.
If you know an owner skittish on him in your league go out and trade for him.
If you own him now, I suggest you don’t sell.
Also, though the Tampa passing game isn’t much of a show, it is about to become the Mike Evans extravaganza when Jameis Winston decides to throw.
Reports say that Vincent Jackson will likely miss multiple weeks so it’s Evans or nothing for the Buccaneers passing game.
On the other side of the field, you’re starting Matt Ryan, Devonta Freeman and Julio Jones.
Glad I could help with that.
Saints vs Giants
A couple of weekends ago, My roommate Joel and I decided to take a picture with something that represented Bradin Cooks’s fantasy season thus far.
We came up with this.
Yes that is a toilet seat.
It’s been a tough year for owner’s that drafted Cooks to be their number one receiver.
He is barely putting up points in PPR leagues as it is.
Only one game over 100 yards and a score this year, Cooks remains unusable until he proves he can spring some big plays.
But I think those are coming soon.
He remains a target machine. And the Saints offense has looked better the past three weeks.
Cooks is a second half of the fantasy season breakout guy.
With Cooks projected resurgence, I expect Drew Brees to start putting up volume numbers as well.
If you own Brees I suggest you hang tough. Better days are to come.
Packers vs Broncos
Going to college in Eau Claire Wisconsin has taught me that there are few things better than when the Packers play in primetime.
I’ll be watching the Sunday night game regardless. I can’t remember the last time I missed one.
But my friends live busy lives.
Some have girlfriends that need attention, others have groups and activities that take away from their primetime football watching schedules and others just have to be productive on Sunday nights unlike me.
But when the Packers are playing, all the girlfriends, group studies and distractions get pushed aside and all my friends gather to watch the game together.
It’s literally the best.
I love my friends.
6-0 meets 6-0 in Denver.
We all know Peyton Manning is having an awful year and I’m not sure why anyone would be starting him.
Reports say that Ronnie Hillman will be the number one back this week. I’m starting him in one of my leagues, but I’m also desperate.
Eddie Lacy has been nothing but frustrating and trying to pick which back between him and James Starks will have the better week is like trying to predict this teachers outfit of the day.
Start both the defenses in this one. Denver’s defense is too good to leave on your bench and the Green Bay defense is sneaky good.
Colts vs Panthers
Guessing what the Colts offense will look like any given week has been more difficult than following my friends conversations at She-Nanns.
Andrew Luck doesn’t look healthy.
I guess he’ll keep getting numbers playing catch up but this offense is ugly.
If I could trade guys like Luck, Frank Gore, TY Hilton and Donte Moncrief I would.
I’m just out on the Colts. They are going to make the playoffs with a 6-10 record.
Quick poll question.
Who has had a better performance thus far?
Cam Newton
or the two girls who made this Drake pumpkin last night at the 3rd Annual Bronco Jack Carving Contest.
In unrelated news, I once told a friend to tell one of the girls in the picture above that I said what up.
I haven’t heard anything back yet though so that’s chill.
What I do know though is you can expect Cam Newton to have another strong night against the 22nd ranked defense.
For example, I am benching Carson Palmer for Cam Newton in one of my leagues.
I am also 2-5 in that league though so I’m not really sure if you should take my advice.
You’re here for the giggles right?
That’s what I thought.
Fantasy shots
El Will is pressed for time so before I continue I want to make something clear.
UNTILL MY SCHEDULE CLEARS UP THE COLUMN WILL BE DROPPING ON FRIDAYS FROM NOW ON.
Are we clear? I don’t want to hear bickering from 5’er or get Snaps from Uncle Leon about why my column isn’t dropping on Thursdays anymore.
But as always I appreciate the love and support brothers.
1st Fantasy shot
If you own Ben Roethlisberger then play him. He and Antonio Brown will pick up where they left off.
At least two scores for Roethlisberger and Brown catches one of them.
2nd Fantasy shot
Jonathan Stewart has rushed for 203 yards and two scores over the past two weeks.
On Monday night, Stewart finally finds the end zone again and records more than 100 total yards.
3rd Fantasy shot
Michael Floyd is the highest scoring Cardinal wide receiver this week.
Josh Brown is battling hamstring issues. Larry Fitzgerald was quiet last week and that means it’s Floyd’s time to pop a big game.
Alright that’s all I wrote this week! As always, thank you for reading and have a great fantasy weekend.
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