The HCBB league has had some exciting finishes over the years: Hotel California chipping away a 15 point gap to catch and then pass Total Satisfaction over the last two weeks of the 2001 season; The Sveltes winning their first title in 2001, beating Amazing Grace by just 1.5 points; and Dem Bullwinkle Trout eking out a victory in 2006, with the top five teams separated by just 4.5 points. But all those finishes were topped in 2010.

On September 1st, Half Cajun had a 19.5 point lead over the second placed Butt Pirates and a 23.5 point lead over my team…and then the wheels came off. Josh Hamilton, the AL MVP, hit the wall, literally, at Target Field and missed most of the last five weeks of the season. Andres Torres had an emergency appendectomy. Pedro Sandoval became a platoon player. Wilson Betemit, a pickup with two weeks left, went 0-13 over the last two weeks of the season. Two of Adam’s starters had their last starts scratched. By the last weekend of the season, the lead had completely evaporated and the gap between the four teams at the top of standings was only four points. In fact, all four of those teams were in first place at some point on the final day of the season.

And in the end, my victory came down to five at bats. In a 10 minute span as games ended on that final Sunday of baseball, my last four at bats of the year all culminated in hits – Robinson Cano in the top of the 8th inning, Juan Pierre in the bottom of the 8th inning, Adam Jones in the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs and Gregor Blanco with a pinch hit in the 12th inning of their respective games. Those hits ended up being worth two points in the standings, including one against Half Cajun.

However, the final piece of the winning equation didn’t even occur on my roster. Peter Bourjos, a late season pickup by Half Cajun, hit a HR, allowing Adam to finish tied with Jeff in HR, costing Prolonging the Magic ½ point in the standings. In the end, it was that half point that cemented my victory.

But the beauty of fantasy sports is that every season is a new season. As satisfying as my victory was, it’s now in the past. Winning in 2010 makes no difference in 2011. Nowhere was that more evident than in a 10 team fantasy basketball league that Randy and I do together. Last season, we finished with the best record, and although we barely lost in the playoffs, we entered the 2010-11 season optimistic that we could build on the previous season, take the next step and win a championship. We had what we thought was a solid draft and we were excited to start the season. What followed has been a catastrophe… we’re currently 36-82-14, 39.5 games out of 1st and 16 games behind 9th place.

2011 brings a new opportunity for all 15 teams that didn’t win in 2010. Regardless of where you finished last year, we’re all tied right now. And even if you think you don’t have really good keepers entering 2011, keep this in mind – over the last 10 seasons, only twice has the team with the “best” keepers ended up winning the league. Two of the teams that came within a whisker of winning in 2010 had average to below average keepers entering the season. And when you’re over 20 points out of the lead on September 1st, you still have a chance.

Final thought #1: If someone has Peter Bourjos’ address, please forward it to me. I think I owe him a Thank You card.

Final thought #2: The only three teams required to wear draft day costumes have won three of the last four titles. I think more of the league should lose some clown suit bets. No guts, no glory!