League of gentlemen

To Kevin, et al.

Subject: Well, it's not a 'fantasy' exactly

While friends back home are studying grocery store magazines, analyzing Internet tip sheets and stocking up on cheap beer for their fantasy football drafts, I can't help but feel a little left out. So I'm glad that earlier today, prior to Michael Phelps setting the Olympic pool on fire and Katie Hoff winning her first Olympic medal, we were able to conduct the official draft for the Official Baltimore Sun and baltimoresun.com 2008 Beijing Olympics Swimming Pool Pool.

The rules are simple. We each draft a team of American swimmers competing at the Olympics. A gold medal earns 5 points, a silver 3 and a bronze 1. Because there's one guy in the field who frankly belongs in his own swimming pool, the draftee who earns the second pick will then sit out the second round. So, one of us gets Phelps and the other gets two consecutive picks. Also, as an added bonus, we have a special Foreigner Round. There was much discussion about this, and as true Americans and patriots, we couldn't justify awarding full points to the international swimmers. So we can each select three swimmers from other countries. For these swimmers, a gold is good for 2 points and a silver 1.

We'll still have to work out what exactly is at stake here, but we'll come up with something good. (Of course, this is all in clean fun.)

We didn't have a coin -- apparently they do not exist in China -- but I won the draw. (Which likely means I've already won the fantasy league.)

For your records, Kevin, here are the results of our draft. I'll post updated standings later. I'd wish you luck, but it doesn't really matter. I'm riding Phelps all the way to the top of the Official Baltimore Sun and baltimoresun.com 2008 Beijing Olympics Swimming Pool Pool.