I was sitting in the bleachers of Wrigley Field in Chicago not too long ago during a rain delay. It was pouring and I wasn’t moving. It was the first time I had ever been in the Wrigley bleachers alone. Probably the first time I had been that wet in cargo shorts, so there’s that. Also, at one point the dugouts of both teams were filled with players and coaches staring out into the distance. Sitting there, drenched in rainwater and wondering where the hell my cotton candy had disappeared to and why my hand was so sticky, I imagined both dugouts were looking at me. They were probably staring at the lightning striking the Toyota sign 10 yards behind me, but they were also probably wondering how long it would be before that lightning struck the dude out in left field refusing to seek shelter from the storm. I was the entertainment. Dozens of million-dollar entertainers were watching me, hoping I’D provide some entertainment. And in a small way, I imagine I did.
Why am I talking about baseball on a fantasy basketball website? Because this is when I’d normally discuss the opened free agency that would have started today, or the start of the Summer League, or J.J. Hickson becoming a member of the Kings. None of those things matter or even exist because the league is officially under lockout. So we’re in our own little rain delay. And like most rain delays there’s no telling when it will end. Still, Razzball ain’t going nowhere. We’re like R.P. McMurphy imagining the World Series in front of a powerless television in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” You can block the sport from the fans, but you cannot block the fans from the sport.
Razzball will continue its 2011 preseason stuff – rankings, sleepers, team previews and so-on – in the assumption that both negotiating sides will get their shizz together in time for the season. However, if the season doesn’t start on time (or at all), we’re going to bring you back to a bygone era. What I want from you, dear readers – and you’ll have until October 1 to cast your vote – is to choose a season between 1956 and 2006 that you’d like to see Razzball write about daily. Drop your vote in the comments, along with your reasoning for the vote. We’ll tally ’em up in a few months and go from there.
