NCFL HISTORY
The NCFL (Nick's-Cleveland's Fantasy League), the brainchild of Steve "Stiv" Fatsis, was formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1990. Fatsis, the teen idol shortstop on the Varsity Inn softball team, had heard about fantasy football before its popularity explosion, and decided it would not only be fun for the pro football nuts amongst us, but also a good way for his softball team member to get together and socialize in the winter months.
Eleven of the original 14 franchises were owned by members of the softball team. Little did this Abner Doubleday of the sport realize what he had wrought. Nine of the original franchises remain in the league (ten if you count the Greek Gods, who assumed the floundering Amandla franchise two weeks into the inaugural season) and most can still tolerate each other today. While some franchises have traded hands over the years (teams such as Big Johnson, the 1218's, To Kill and Furburger have passed into the dust of history), franchise owners have consisted almost exclusively of softball team members, Nick's employees/barflies and various disreputable attorneys (the categories are not mutually exclusive).
The original league, known as the NVFL, had two divisions of 7 teams each, named after the Varsity Inn (then sponsor of the softball team) and Nick's Restaurant, the site of the annual draft and official NVFL headquarters. Fatsis was the architect of the league structure and rules, the basic framework of which remains to date (albeit with some almost yearly tinkering after almost yearly bickering). The season culminates with the championship game, named the Ari Bowl, in honor of . . . (why do we call it the Ari Bowl again?). The first Ari Bowl in 1990 was won by the Phantasms franchise over the D.D. Riders, who had that year's best record.
His founding work done and the league stability ensured, Fatsis turned the Commissioner's reigns over to Mark "Consiglieri" Andrews in 1993. The league expanded to 16 teams in 1995, adopting a two conference/four division format. The basic structure of the league involves a 14 week regular season, with three weeks of playoffs culminating in the Ari Bowl. Each week, franchises square off with teams comprised of 1 quarterback, 2 running backs, 2 wide receivers, 1 tight end, 1 kicker and a defense. It is primarilly a scoring league, with some yardage points awarded as well. It is a "keeper league", with each team allowed to retain two players from the prior year's roster. Trades are allowed/encouraged and a supplemental draft is held every other week. Cash has been known to trade hands in these transactions. At 11 years and counting, the NVFL is still going strong, with plans for expansion to Europe, a TV contract and an NFL post-season "Commissioner's Cup." Join the fun!