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FSA-DS teams submitted. what now?

it seemed like a good idea to finally get my teams submitted. maybe i should have waited a little longer.

Star-divide

after hours and hours of deliberation, calculations, data analysis, reviews of posts on pdc, meditation, sacrifices to the white and black unicorns, and attempts to see what the future holds using various methods of divination (well, more like 15 minutes of what can barely be described as thinking, downton abbey was on, what did you expect?), i have submitted my FSA-DSm team. my team leader this year is Julien Antomarchi. who is he? i have no idea, but nobody is more aptly named to be put in charge of getting my ants a-marchin’. while he might not score me points, i have no doubt that his leadership will be invaluable. and anyone who brings me donuts is a friend of mine.

shortly after that exercise in futility, i focused on what really matters, FSA-DSw. quite possibly the most beautiful game ever: cycling and ladies, what more can one ask for? well, if Ted found a way to incorporate alcohol into it, it would attain perfection. a little more “thought” went into those selections. my core riders remained the same as last year (probably due to the smaller number of participants in that game, i managed to actually be competitive for a while, so why mess with a slightly above average thing?), but i added a couple of ants (Antonneau and Antoshina, to be exact), as well as a few US riders i’ve noticed over the past year (don’t judge me over the appearance of my team. two wrongs don’t make a right.). the submit button was hit, and now I just have to sit back and watch my team destroy the competition.

this morning I submitted my u25 team. you might call it making the same mistake twice, and you'd probably be right, but half of that team is on my FSA-DSm team. it could be a great year in both competitions or generalized failure, we’ll see.

but what now? should i second guess my decisions? should i relax knowing that the hard work is done? should i ignore the “pick 5” posts that have been posted and still being commented on, as well as the ones to come? should i read them and lose whatever confidence i might have in my picks (do i have any confidence)? should i try to help out people still in the middle of the decision making process? should i laugh at their inability to settle on a team? should i beg Ted to let me redo my teams? what’s taking february 25th so long to get here? i used to think the offseason was the worst time of the year, but really, the time between FSA-DS submission and the start of the (real, ie FSA-DS) season is the worst. what if one of my riders gets injured? maybe iI’ll just tune out anything cycling related for the next ten days. speaking of ten days, was ten Dam a good decision? I’ll never know, not until the end of the year anyway. never know, Navarro? was he a good idea? he’s leaderless, maybe that means he’ll get some results, he’s shown some form in the past. this game needs to start right now if I want to keep my sanity. wait, to start in french is démarrer. should I have picked Demare? maybe i should have put a bit more thought into this. there's always next year, i guess.

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What now?

We can critique some of the Team Names?
Personally, I like Star Bellied Sneetches and ONCE Upon A Time

by swells on Feb 16, 2012 2:26 PM EST reply actions  

some of my faves

PMS – Pat McQuaid Sucks
Our DS is a Moron
Marianne, Ina, Evelyn and the cycle passion calendar
Marlboro-Budweiser-Crisco
UCI+Management=Oxymoron
Longo’s Locker
A Bit of a D***’s team
Have no fear, Vos is here!

"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."

by ant1 on Feb 17, 2012 9:30 AM EST up reply actions  

Oh! Thanks! I am flattered!

My team name is on your list.

In loving memory of the HTC- Highroad


.

by holmovka on Feb 17, 2012 10:51 AM EST up reply actions  

I'm going for the second last one?

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Feb 17, 2012 11:29 AM EST up reply actions  

Nope.

Holms includes a " ! " in everything, so it has to be the last one.

by swells on Feb 17, 2012 12:04 PM EST up reply actions  

Well at least it's not him who misplaced the apostrophe then.

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Feb 17, 2012 12:10 PM EST up reply actions  

I made the list and I am a moron...

Holms is def the “Have no fear, Vos is here!” one…

by JustJoshinYa on Feb 17, 2012 1:07 PM EST up reply actions  

I thought you were working on a “top 5 podium girls” article

moo

by Willj on Feb 16, 2012 3:02 PM EST reply actions  

alright, here we go

i’m gonna do it here, instead of in its own post cause i’m lazy, and it’s not really what this place is about (although i reserve the right to post it at a later date to counter hottitude threads).

5th and 4th, in a tie, the lovely ladies from the 2009 us national championships. i was there and witness their beauty first hand. it was a great time, in part thanks to them.

in 3rd place we have the 2006 tour’s most aggressive rider prize girl. i don’t remember her at the time, but that dress is as awesome as she is. i think Willj might have designed it. if not, he’s on the internet right now looking to buy it for his wife.

coming in second, we have the spanish version of drop dead gorgeous from the 2008 vuelta. damn. that’s all i can say.

and in first place, you guessed it, we have the perfect combination of podium beauty and podium wear. her name is Julie Blanc. go ahead and google that name, it’s worth the keystrokes. she is wearing what some might consider a ridiculous dress, but a. i don’t think anyone could wear it better, and b. if you don’t like polka dots, i feel sorry for you. that dress represents the greatest aspect of grand tours, the mountains, and she’s the angel the riders climbing those skyward roads are trying to reach. not winning the polka jersey that year is the biggest regret of my life. now you might say, the only reason i like that dress is because of Julie. incorrect. that dress also looked awesome on this podium girl (i apologize for not knowing her name, and she would have made the list but for the fact that i didn’t want that dress on the top 5 twice. it’s unfortunate cause she is almost as perfect as Julie. and that that picture reminds me of why i dislike pellizotti).

"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."

by ant1 on Feb 16, 2012 7:17 PM EST up reply actions  

excellent choices, thx

althought the “winner” link fails for me

moo

by Willj on Feb 18, 2012 4:17 AM EST up reply actions  

Winner is your polka dot+bow blonde

which works for me, the link I mean. The “dress also looked awesome” link did fail for me.

by tedvdw on Feb 18, 2012 3:51 PM EST up reply actions  

worked for me

was that black girl in the same dress and bow – winnar for me.

by yeehoo on Feb 19, 2012 6:17 AM EST up reply actions  

That part about helping people out...

Here’s one for you: Kreuziger and VDB or Anton and Taaramäe? I can’t decide. It’s becoming a real problem. I mean really. I lie awake at night.

by sebastiandeluded on Feb 16, 2012 3:38 PM EST reply actions  

i had vdb and Rein last year

forgot about them this year. probably a good idea to include one. i’d go with Anton and Rein, but i’m biased.

"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."

by ant1 on Feb 16, 2012 3:41 PM EST up reply actions  

Thank you, Ant1!

And my girlfriend thanks you too. I’m been so ridden with anxiety about this that I cant… well, i won’t even go there. But I can’t eat except for chocolate all the time and I can’t sleep. Yesterday, I locked my keys in the car with the motor running. My friends don’t call me anymore and my cat hates me. I even started smoking European cigarettes plus I have a buzzing sensation in my toes. But this helps a lot. I think I feel a little better already. So yeah, thanks again.

by sebastiandeluded on Feb 16, 2012 4:05 PM EST up reply actions  

Anton and VDB

It’s two points cheaper than your tandems and gives you a legit GC guy in all three GTs.

by Mr 60 Percent on Feb 16, 2012 4:39 PM EST up reply actions  

What now?

You can always search for porn on the internet.

by Uphill on Feb 16, 2012 4:19 PM EST reply actions  

there's porn on the internet?

"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."

by ant1 on Feb 16, 2012 4:27 PM EST up reply actions  

Don't do it.....it's a trick - will haunt you.

…Podium Girls are one thing – Porn is very much bad, resist, stay away!

Soli Deo Gloria

by LooseHorse on Feb 17, 2012 9:08 AM EST up reply actions  

Timeline of internet memes

Sigh, yours is 2003, first that I remember is dancing Baby in 1996.

Remember that the internet is MINE not yours…

Even deeper sigh…

by Amsterdam Admirals on Feb 17, 2012 3:39 PM EST up reply actions  

Ah yes

I remember that one as well, and Bert is Evil, and Zombocom. Maybe I got my timelines crossed. I never spent time on IRC where a lot of memes were born I think, I mostly hung out on Usenet.

by tedvdw on Feb 17, 2012 5:45 PM EST up reply actions  

Godwin's law has come up here before.

"It is unfortunate that the Wall is not plugged in correctly."

by JFS_PGH on Feb 18, 2012 10:10 PM EST up reply actions  

I’m going through my regrets-phase right now.

by broerie on Feb 16, 2012 4:31 PM EST up reply actions  

Search the internet

already implies the search for porn

"Weltmeister!!" Zwei mal: 2010-2011...und weiter gehts

by Phil H. on Feb 16, 2012 8:36 PM EST up reply actions  

I finally submitted today because I realized I was just hiring and firing the same trio because I couldn't decide.

So, I did what any normal person should do in a situation like this – Flipped a coin…lived with the choice…clicked submit so I can start living my life again.

Holmovka will never believe who is on my team this year.

by JustJoshinYa on Feb 16, 2012 6:09 PM EST reply actions  

I read last sentence of your comment 5 times.

Let me read that again! Wait, let me call Pablo and ask him if he sees what I see!
Hey, Pablo! Are you sure, we are both not imagining it? No? Josh really, really said that?!

Wait a second, I get it! Someone hijacked JJY’s PdC account!

In loving memory of the HTC- Highroad


.

by holmovka on Feb 16, 2012 6:36 PM EST up reply actions  

Josh

O/T – Neuvation has a ree-DIC-ulous wheel sale now. Shoot me an email for deets.

by swells on Feb 16, 2012 7:39 PM EST up reply actions  

But will the IRS take his wheels to settle his tax debts?

But he can't say "I believe in nozzingk" when he believes in beer - Jens (about me)

by omnevelnihil on Feb 20, 2012 11:04 PM EST up reply actions  

maybe jjy could

offer one of his kids instead? Can’t take a man’s wheels!

by yeehoo on Feb 21, 2012 2:18 AM EST up reply actions  

Last time I tried that, it got me into these regular appointments with a social worker.

I don’t understand, though. I think I am pretty social. Why do I need counseling?

(before anyone flips out…it’s a joke)

by JustJoshinYa on Feb 21, 2012 8:15 AM EST up reply actions  

Good job JJY..!

You see I got over that period, I reached peace and balance with my team… We are one body and one mind… Now we are just waiting for the final day to submit… Just in case someone gets hurt.. Or had training in Spain that came with a steak for dinner…
Besides submiting the kids team calmed me down…
Full of crap can’t wait for the date to submit..!

Strava...? We are going for the TOP 10 this year...! Are you going to be part of something great or not?

by pablo777 on Feb 16, 2012 8:44 PM EST up reply actions  

I always bomb out, so I thought, 'What the hell?'

What do I really care? Just submit. And I have.

I have tried this year, to mix some riders I like with some riders I think will win me many points, but I know, deep down, it would be like hoping for Notts County to win the FA Cup—utterly futile. I had to submit early so that I ceased to use mental strain on something so obviously doomed.

That said, after my unexpectedly good showing in the wVDS, my team for this year remains incomplete. I am trying to convince myself that failure in that comp is nothing to fear, and I should embrace it post-haste.

by Drongo on Feb 17, 2012 12:28 AM EST up reply actions  

I fire people I think I have to have, then go back later to see if I really miss them.

Obviously, I don’t fire the people I REALLY have to have.

Meuh--Chris Fontecchio

by majope on Feb 17, 2012 6:46 AM EST reply actions  

I'm hearing you, but I've also reached the stage where i don't know who I need.

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Feb 17, 2012 11:30 AM EST up reply actions  

follow your heart.

"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."

by ant1 on Feb 17, 2012 11:41 AM EST up reply actions  

That's what keeps happening, and i don't know why I even attempt to fight it. I don't even vaguely hold hopes of winning,

so I might as well have guys for whom I can cheer.

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Feb 17, 2012 11:46 AM EST up reply actions  

that's the way i look at it

"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."

by ant1 on Feb 17, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions  

I have discovered that if I think a rider has great prospects to score points this year

I soon talk myself into loving them.
I think this makes me the FDS equivalent of a gold-digging whore?
Fortunately, M Rasmussen has no chance of scoring anything for the forseeable future, so I need not find out how deeply I am prepared to debase myself.

by straw dog on Feb 17, 2012 8:26 PM EST up reply actions  

I love this

AUS BEL BEL BEL BEL DEN FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA FRA ITA ITA ITA ITA ITA NED NED NED NOR RUS ESP ESP

"If Peyton Manning crashed onto a barbed-wire fence and returned to a game, you’d never hear the end of it for the rest of your life." Jason Gay

by ELVISGOAT on Feb 19, 2012 2:37 PM EST reply actions  

Hah! My daughter's team - CheeseTown

O wait. I don’t know her password so no flags.

But we threw in every name we found on the helpful FSA-DS posts and comments, and she let the unicorns do the rest. So thanks, Majope!

by sebastiandeluded on Feb 20, 2012 3:12 PM EST up reply actions  

Did he go with a theme this year?

And, are there any important household bets riding on the season?

But he can't say "I believe in nozzingk" when he believes in beer - Jens (about me)

by omnevelnihil on Feb 20, 2012 11:07 PM EST up reply actions  

Yes, Team Petrichor is, like his other teams, Who-based.

The kid came up with 25 characters from season 6, and his father and I debated which cyclists fit best and kept within the usual limits (although the kid himself insisted on both Schlecks for gangers—we offered the Velitses as a cheaper option, but he said he knew who the Schlecks are).

Some of it makes perfect sense at the time, then you go back and look at the list and say, “What? Petacchi is Nixon?”

Meuh--Chris Fontecchio

by majope on Feb 21, 2012 5:58 AM EST up reply actions  

Sigh

I look forward to being trounced by him yet again.

But he can't say "I believe in nozzingk" when he believes in beer - Jens (about me)

by omnevelnihil on Feb 22, 2012 3:14 AM EST up reply actions  

latest rendition

FRA ITA SLO SWE GBR ESP FRA FRA BEL ESP RUS ITA ITA GER ESP FRA USA GER NED POL ESP NOR AUS BEL NED

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on Feb 19, 2012 4:47 PM EST reply actions  

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