I didnt choose the expansion life, the expansion life chose me.

In 1998 Walmart took a huge step forward and introduced groceries in three US cities. I vaguely remember thinking at the time, "Discount groceries, what a scam". If I wanted to go get discount groceries I'd go to that new, hip, very green, Superstore down the street. Laughable conversation ensued. "You mean I can get baby food in the same isle that I buy bulk (XL) condoms". Laugh Dawson.

But these types of conversation didn't stop the Walmart giant from continuing on its path of world domination. Walmart soon had over 100 "Super centers" all over the states and continued its quest into Canada in 2005.

Its safe to say we have grown nonchalant about the grocery isles now and I'm sure its not a far leap of the imagination to suggest we all have purchased something from this wholesale titan.

Walmart did what no one else dared to do. Expansion. (Ahhhh its all coming around.) Expansion is risky! Its highly rewarding! Its a way to see what works and what doesn't. Expansion is a way to plan for the future and look to the past in fondness. I don't consider TFLOEG to be the juggernaut that Walmart is (yet) but it seemed like a good place to start in writing my expansion blog post. Lets get cracking. 

#Expansionlife
  
The Idea: Should we sell food too?

The idea of adding additional teams to any fantasy league is exciting BUT also a risk. Will the new managers be involved? Are they a long term or short term expansion? Do the managers fit in with this group of current managers? I imagine these questions being asked in regards to Clarke and I, resulting in the following chicken scratch on a McDonald's napkin...

Pros		Cons
Larger prize winnings		Need to get expansion teams up to speed on rules
	Deeper draft
	(More researching)
More sports talk		Need to figure out what to do with keepers
More reasons to play softball		Need to make it fair so they stick around
More managers to do trades with		Might not have the football knowledge of others (Veterans)
Better chance to fleece the new guys for picks		Chance that one (or both) managers will have perfectly
		symmetrical facial features that my significant other finds attractive.

All valid points. All those cons didn't stop expansion. Clarke and I were lucky enough to be asked to join TFLOEG.

Pre Draft: Lets put some feelers out there.


For Clarke and I, these exciting days came with lots of football talk at softball. Questioning the hand we were dealt and how to overcome such great odds. We joked, "Maybe I'll just take all QB's so that everyone else is forced to take tier 2 QB's!" Conversations about strategy and what to do with keepers were at the top of the conversation list. With two keepers could we make an impact? Could we pose a threat to the likes of "Oh that's nasty"? Was it even possible? With the top 25 WR's already gone, could we have a chance?

Draft Day: The first Super center opens.

Arriving on draft day all eyes were on the expansion teams. After drafting with your buddies for years, you tend to know who they like and how they like to position their team. If not for the fact of two expansion teams this year I bet many of you guys could of wrote a list of players that opposition managers were gunning for.  Expansions were the wild cards! Clarke wisely started planning for next year knowing the uphill battle was to steep. I tried my best to draft consistency as to stay in the middle of the pact (Or so I hoped). Both expansions did what they needed to do in order to add a new element to the draft table, forcing each manager to stay on his toes.

Post Draft: Will this actually work?

Post draft everyone feels great about the team that they drafted. Accept for Dawson, who walked to his car (maybe the next day but for dramatic effect) and offered me a blockbuster trade involving my first pick Andrew Luck. Thoughts ran through my mind. Was he testing me? Seeing if I knew the value of my players? Trying to pull a fast oneon me before the season even started? Talking to others about the trade was futile as each person I asked seemed like they wanted me to make my own decision.(#Respect) I was not equipped to trade 1/4 of my team before the season started! Cooler minds prevailed and I elected to wait till the season started before making any huge decisions.

 Mid Season: Its working!

Half way through the season and Clarke's team has done some damage while my team flounders at the bottom of the league. Clark is making deals to continue his push where I am now looking towards the future. Fantasy is a fickle mistress, one day you could be sipping champagne from the bosom of Katy Perry and the next day you may be gasping for a couple drops of puddle water from the hands of "Crazy cat lady".

 The Future: A Walmart on every block.

The "expansion life" has been a learning adventure for Walmart, TFLOEG and myself. Walmart continues to open groceries stores all over the world with no hesitation. Where will it go for TFLOEG? Will it push us forward into more expansions? Will the league fall apart due to over expansion and go the way of Enron? Only time will tell.

All in all, I think expansion is a great thing. It means you are doing something right and others want to join in on the adventure. I have enjoyed my time in TFLOEG. The big win! The bad loss(es) and the all around excitement of getting together and talking fantasy football. I look forward to the next expansion and being able to give insight into what has worked and what should change. Keep up the good work! Now time to tinker.....

I leave you with this little lesson on how to trash talk from the always insightful Rodney Ruxin.

Good day gentlemen.