Getting Stuck with Pick #6

Live fantasy drafts have to be the second-most entertaining event of any fantasy season (the first-most entertaining is the moment you get to gloat after coming out as the winner of the league). The time just before a draft begins is the most fun; everybody is supposed to have the same chance of winning and everybody's usually in a good mood. Managers have all scouted out and ranked their players, Strategists have developed some contingency plans for cornerstones of their team, and everyone is all set to trash talk their way to the top.

For those in in keeper leagues, you've probably already set up your draft order and you've already scoped out potential players your first few rounds of the draft. But, when the draft order is random, things get intense the moment you realize that you'll be picking first, last, or in the middle. Unfortunately for me, I came into this draft to find that I was stuck in the middle - pick six. Ugh. Everybody after the top 3 picks always says they have the worst pick ever - but really, I have the worst pick... I'm the first loser of the league.

So, I'm sure you're wondering.... Why do you hate this particular middle-pick? My answer is probably silly, but I think it's extremely frustrating. With pick #6, You get to be the first owner to choose a player that "isn't super." Everyone argues over the top 5 fantasy options. There are probably more people worried about whether or not Marion is #2, #3, or #4 than the entire season-attendance total for the Atlanta Hawks. But, if you have the Sixth pick, this means you have to be the first owner to "settle" on someone who isn't a top pick. On top of that, you have to wait a really long time before the second round pick, which means you get stuck pairing a not-so-great first round pick with a not-so-great second round pick.

In the end, I took Kobe Bryant with my first pick. I feel like I sold a bit of my soul for a flashy #8. Sure, Kobe has championship rings, but that man's grin makes me cringe. Yeah, I'm sure the guy who got Baron Davis in the first round (Creek, I'm talking to you) would rather have Kobe, that doesn't make me feel any better. Lucky for me, I'm in Indiana and got to snag my favorite Pacer in the second. Kobe and Artest are going to give me a season full of victories or a season full of twisted ankles and suspensions. I think my team looks petty good on paper; but then again, everyone's team always looks pretty good after a new draft.

So, if you get stuck with the sixth pick - I hope an owner ahead of you questions the value of Dirk and the potentially floppy-haired German drops to you, or else you'll be cursing that you have the most annoying draft pick in fantasy sports.