Welcome to Eric Miller’s Sports Corner – covering the ins and outs of fantasy football.

This is the time of year where the word “limbo” comes to mind. Of course I’m not referring to Dante’s Inferno’s 8th bolge of hell, but sports fans are actually facing something much worse these days: how to cope with a fairly mundane sports schedule. Yes, I know… We have the World Cup and MLB is in full swing; but let’s accept reality: The NBA Finals are over, and for football-hungry South Floridians, the NFL season cannot come soon enough. So here’s some tips to help you cope in the meantime.

1. Visit Fantasy Football Sites

Whether you’re in a league or not, rookie or veteran, now’s the time to scour the web to find some great fantasy sites where you can sign up, play and/or start preparing for the upcoming season. The most intriguing of them all appears to be NFL.com where they have just unveiled their brand new 2010 game and draft tools. Another worth exploring is Fanball.com which offers a variety of games, tools, articles, and even a 24/7 season-long advice service. Now, If you’re interested in entering a contest where you can gain national recognition for being one of the best (and a potential nice payout), I recommend researching 2 of the majors: The World Championship of Fantasy Football at wcoff.com; and The National Fantasy Football Championship at nffc.fanball.com. And in my humble opinion, if you just want to play FF with a group of friends, or even people you’ve never met, the best onsite venues may still be Sportsline.com, ESPN.com, and Yahoo.com.

2. Watch the NFL Network and Listen to Sirius NFL Radio

Perhaps the single greatest invention next to the air conditioner or instant replay is the introduction of a 24/7 channel dedicated to the National Football League. Whether you have cable or satellite, the NFL Network is a sight for sore eyes as we attempt to satiate our craving for football information in an era where there is truly no offseason. Former ESPN anchor Rich Eisen is the Master of Ceremonies throughout the season, and his roundtable (or semi-circle) crew of Warren Sapp, Jamie Dukes, Brian Baldinger, Marshall Faulk, Rod Woodson and others provide insight and passion, while discussing the world of football news on a daily basis. It’s a must-see, every day. You’ll also catch legendary games, Top 10 list shows, and other specials designed to get us all salivating for the upcoming season. Oh, they also will air every single pre-season game. So whether you’re a Fantasy nut or just a plain football cashew, make this channel one of your faves. And when you’re not at home and just driving around with your windows down, tune in to Sirius Satellite NFL Radio Channel 124. There you will hear analysts such as Adam Shine, Rich Gannon, Pat Kirwin, Solomon Wilcotts, Jim Miller and even former head coach Marty Schottenheimer as they discuss a range of topics on call-in shows segmented daily. If you’re anything like me (a whole different kind of pecan) you’ll keep up with most of the TV and radio shows and audition for analyst positions after finishing your day job…But I digress.

3. Go to a Local Bookstore
And read away (the store would prefer you buy the publication). Seriously, there are enough pro, college, and fantasy mags out in circulation right now to keep you busy reading till the start of the pre-season in August. If you’re interested in plain old football, whether it be pro or college ball, the picking time is ripe. Here’s a few suggestions to get the most out of your reading pleasure: Street & Smith’s Pro Football editions are generally considered the cream of the crop. Their predictions for NFL divisions are usually right on and the quality of information is top notch. The Athlon Sports publication is my pick for college coverage, especially as it pertains to the Florida schools, SEC and ACC. But just remember that whatever pro or college mag you read, always supplement it with visiting a top tier online source such Rivals.com for college football and your pick of espn.com or nfl.com for the pro’s.

If the above doesn’t make time pass a bit faster for you, I have another idea. Make a list of the players you’d take with the second pick in your FF draft and send them to me.

That’s all for now.

by: Eric Miller – Sports / Fantasy Football Contributor

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