AN XTRA-ORDINARY FANTASY LEAGUE
Somewhere in a man cave in Indianapolis, Indiana resides a fantasy football league that would be the envy of most fantasy football commissioners on the planet. The League of Xtra-Ordinary Gents was created three years ago by Commissioner Steve Lucid and they haven’t looked back since. Steve began transforming his four car garage into the ultimate “War Room”. He wanted to emulate the NFL Draft as much as possible and for his league members to feel like actual team owners of their franchise. Steve said to me, “I’m the kind of person that does not have an in between button. For me ALL IN or nothing, which drives my wife crazy of course.” There is no doubt that he is all in when it comes to making this league special!
Steve has played fantasy football since high school and has experience playing in many different leagues. A few years back he found himself motivated to start his own league and raise the bar when it came to the fantasy football experience. Steve told me, “I have always played in leagues run by other commissioners and have always wanted to improve those leagues with different ideas. I was voicing this idea to a close friend one day and he told me that I should start my own league and so I did.”
The League of Xtra-Ordinary Gents consists of extremely competitive, die-hard, football fanatics. The league is made up of mostly of first-responders, veterans, and corporate professionals and they have formed a pretty tight nit group. To be accepted into this fraternity of brothers, you have to be voted in. Once that has taken place the new member will receive a “certified letter” in the mail with notification of their acceptance, and a list of requirements. Once that is accepted its initiation time according to Steve.
Steve shares photos of his league’s draft experience on social media to inspire other commissioners to make their league experience even better. He wants to see more “Live Draft” leagues created as he recognizes how much better and more engaged the league members are when a live draft is a part of their fantasy experience. According to Steve, Draft Day is the one day of the year they all look forward to. Steve said to me, “I still have post draft day blues since our draft was last Saturday”.
One major source of inspiration for Steve is BDGE’s Nick Ercolano. Watching his videos on YouTube has had a significant impact on him. He believes that Nick is an “absolute ambassador for fantasy football” and that the BDGE content is second to none. Steve apparently has a great eye for quality content as well. I have had the opportunity to spend a bit of time with Nick in a couple different cities and he is easily one of the most authentic individuals in the fantasy sports industry. BDGE is a lifestyle brand and Nick embodies that brand both on and off camera.
The League of Xtra-Ordinary Gents uses FanDraft software for their digital draft board. Steve highly recommends this software and believes that it is “the only thing to use if you are in a serious league”. I have actually used it for several years as well and can definitely appreciate what he has to say about it. The Commish sets up four different TVs in the war room to display the digital draft board. When it comes to the special touches and the fine details of what Steve does on Draft Day, here is a list;
Draft order determined by a computer generated royal rumble on PlayStation’s “Legends of Wrestlemania”
Custom draft podium
Sound system playing 80’s hairband rock
12 individual tables (separated by red AFC and blue NFC table covers)
Tables equipped with team name placards, table lamp, cheat sheet and folder, customized koozie and power access for laptops
Custom walk up runner with league emblem
Paid butler for the league champion
Championship ring and belt
Custom neon lights
Custom championship banners for previous champions
Custom membership cards mandatory for entrance
Steve says that are several other things that they do to make the draft experience special as well but the list would be far to long!
Visit the commissioner’s IG Page to see more pictures of their incredible draft setup
In addition to making a spectacle out of their draft, the league comes together several times throughout the year for the Super Bowl, corn hole tournaments, and their league fundraiser. This year they are going to do a yard sale to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Their last place punishment last year had the last place team manager set up a lemonade stand where all proceeds went to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital as well. This season they are doing twelve hours in a White Castle dressed in full “fantasy loser” gear. So it is safe to say that these guys get it when it comes to allowing creativity fuel their fantasy football league experience.
Next season, prior to the draft the league plans on doing a pre-draft Murph Challenge in the morning. The league will also be celebrating its 4th year so they are doing a “World Cup” year. They have collected extra dues the past four years so the winner will receive that on top of the regular purse. They are not quite sure where they are holding the draft, but according to Steve, it will be “somewhere big”! After learning about this league and the lengths they go to enjoy and share in an unforgettable fantasy football experience, this does not surprise me at all!
