December 15, 2009
by "Biggest Daddy" Interview with Mike
Ranney,
Niagara Locks
BIGGEST DADDY:
Hey there, Mike! Thanks for sitting down with us today. Tell us a little
bit about yourself. What do you do for a living, and what you love about
your career?
MIKE RANNEY: I am a tax accountant. I work for a small company (five hardware
stores/ lumber yards.) Have tax clients that I work out of my house. Was
a practicing CPA, but didn't keep it renewed years ago.
BD: Other than the Big Daddy Baseball League, how else do you occupy
your time?
MR: I like to walk and work out; read, go to high school and U of
Buffalo basketball games; play other sim games, just hanging on the
porch with friends, simple things.
BD: What is your previous experience with simulation games and/or
fantasy MLB games?
MR: Started with Strat about mid 80's in Houston, continued to PTP,
then DMB. Had a hiatus for a while early part of this decade. Fantasy,
love UFS baseball.
BD: So now that you've been exposed to this league for about 6 months,
what are your thoughts on it?
MR: It's really grown on me. I thought I would love the H2H play more,
maybe because it wasn't "my" team?
BD: GMs in this league can take this annual draft very seriously. Do you
have any concerns/worries heading into the draft? What is your draft
strategy at this point?
MR: Trying to make sure I do not overlook any big time prospects.
BD: Are there any teams/managers that you would consider a heavy rival?
MR: I want to beat them all. You guys might hate me if my teams get
good. (Kidding?)
BD: What is the primary flaw that BDBL currently has?
MR: Like most leagues, lack of parity, some really larger than life
teams and some poor teams to the extreme.
BD: Did your mother throw away all your baseball cards from when you
were a boy?
MR: I grew up with my father, so no; I think I lost them somehow. My
first year collecting was the 1964 cards.
BD: Will we expect to see you jump into the political tirades that
occasionally take place on the BDBL board?
MR: I might, but I get too hyped up and can't type fast enough, so I
get frustrated.
BD: What is your goal for the upcoming season? Win it all? Just make the
play-offs? Re-build?
MR: Make the playoffs, not get too much of a penalty moving forward. I
would like to make the league annual get-together.
BD: How did you come up with Niagara Locks?
MR: I live in the "Niagara frontier" region of New York. I live in the
city of "Lockport." Some of the biggest canal locks in the world are
located here.
BD: Do you have a favorite MLB team, and if so why that team?
MR: Used to be the Yankees, to some extent still is. I also like the
Texas Rangers with Hamilton, Holland, Perez, Andrus. Up and coming team.
I also love to watch Edwin Jackson pitch; if he can locate better, he
seems un-hittable.
BD: When is this recession going to end?
MR: 2 years +
BD: Budweiser or Beefeater?
MR: I attend AA meetings on a daily basis almost.
BD: NCIS or Dancing with the Stars?
MR: Neither.
BD: Kanye West or Taylor Swift?
MR:
Taylor Swift is mature beyond her years; an icon in the making.
BD: Tiger Woods or Tom Brady?
MR: Woods. Brady has become a "pretty boy."
BD: Night owl or Early Riser?
MR: Changes over time. Winter, mostly night owl. Summer, early riser.
BD: What is the one thing you'd like the Niagara Locks to be known for?
MR: Pitching and defense.
BD: Thanks, Mike! |