THE ROOKIE IS NOT JUST A DISNEY MOVIE

 

            There are years of rotisserie experience in the Southern League.  Daniel Shoptaw, Chad Skelton, Mark Shively and Robert Arnwine have all participated in at least 5 different seasons.

 

            David Fletcher is the exception.  2002 was only his second full year of rotisserie involvement.  You couldn’t have told it by the results, though.

 

            In one of the closest races in rotisserie history, Fletcher’s FletchHawks beat out the four other entries to claim the top spot in the Southern League.

 

            Fletcher won by 5 points, with the other four teams grouped within 2 points of each other.

 

            “Obviously, I’m ecstatic,” Fletcher said in a telephone interview.  “I think the other guys might overthink their teams a little bit.  When you are learning the ropes, that’s a weakness you don’t really have.”

 

            “Besides, those guys are a bunch of losers anyway.”

 

            Last year’s champion, Shoptaw, had good things to say about the new titleholder.

 

            “Yeah, yeah, he won.  We know, already!  I’ve no doubt we are going to get together during the free agency period and do our best to kick his butt next year.  Oh, and tell him congratulations from us.”

 

            Arnwine especially was ready for another showdown.

 

            “He couldn’t leave it for the guys who have nothing else in their lives, could he?  I mean, Dave’s married, we’re [himself, Skelton, Shively] not.  Why couldn’t he let us have some joy, huh?  He better not show up for the Thanksgiving football game, or he’s going down!!”

 

            The rest of the league echoed the good wishes for Fletcher and wished him well in the coming year.

 

            The off-season Southern League calendar will be released soon.