The UrbanHonking Fantasy Basketball League, officially named "UHXFBL3 - Still Fantaseain'" has started its third season with a mix of veterans and fresh faces. Reprising his role as League Commissioner is Steve Schroeder, who is the manager of the Jefferson Democrats. Last season Schroeder's New Jersey Generals finished fifth, but he is more optimistic this season, "I think I have the opportunity to win it all. So much depends on early season developments. I've already made three free-agent pick ups."

Season two champion Josh Berezin is of course returning, and feeling entitled to take another play-off. "I can win back-to-back championships. I plan to." Berezin's confidence is backed by his draft picks

The new season features twelve teams. Nine have played in previous seasons, with three new managers entering, and a first for the league, one team is managed by a woman. Becca Uherbelau is the manager of the Castledoozers. Berezin, who brought her into the league says, "She is smart, but I'm still going to beat her."

Fantasy sports requires knowledge of the players beyond the superstars. "I think my late drafts were well researched and will show their payoffs early." says Curt Kentner, manager of the Round Mound of Rebounds team. Kenter suffered last season due to player injuries. He ended the season in a morale-shaking tenth place, but losing can be a powerful teacher, "I learned my lesson last year... Not to take risks on great players that get injured." J. John Afryl, managing the Kelly Jelly Rolls for his third straight season agrees that the strategy is to look farther down the list and choose players who can win those "less glamorous categories." Afryl is hoping to improve upon his third place finish from last season.

Of course it's not just a numbers game. Emotions are bound to come into play. Manager Burr says he would like to get "Darius Miles, [just] so I could bench him." Burr is heading the The Holy Trinities this season, and he "drafted the best talent available for the first seven rounds or so, then I tried to draft a few sleepers," in order to improve upon his 11th place finish last season.

The Ultimate Fantasy

Last season my team, the Cameroon Robusto's, placed a distant (but not humiliating) seventh. The worst team in the league belonged to my brother Curt Merrill, who was 12th for the second season in a row. This year we both opted to close up our virtual sporting franchises and much like Vince McMahon and his XFL, create a new fantasy sport, Fantasy Fantasy Basketball.

Curt and I have drafted the managers of the UHXFBL3 into two five-person teams, leaving two as "free agents". Curt won the coin toss and the first round pick and we did a little trading.

Curt's South By North: Curt K., Steve, Ben, Troy. and Chris K.

Mike's Meta Fantasy Inc.: Josh, Kevin, J.John, Andrew and Becca

So the way this will work is that we are pitting the total points against each other. In the UHXFBL3 each player is trying to win the best number in ten categories (FG%, FT%, 3PTM, PTS, OREB, DREB, AST, ST, BLK, TO). We'll take the points earned by each player and total them each week to look at who won and who lost.

Additionally, since we are only playing with five players on each team we have the two free agents, Morgan and Eli. Since I picked last in the draft, Curt will have the first opportunity to pick up a free agent after we see how everyone did (of course he'll also have to drop a player).

Let the Fantasy (and the Fantasy Fantasy) begin!