Just keep swimming
JORDAN HASLBECK, SPORTS COLUMNIST
It isn’t over until it’s over. But sometimes, it’s over before it’s over.
The Bombers failed to make playoffs for a fourth straight year. But before the season ended, they had one game left to play. One game.
So what should you do with that leftover game?
Play hard
Even if the game isn’t at your home field, you still have fans watching. Those fans are probably the most dedicated followers you have, and they deserve to see a strong performance.
Try different things
Give players—who normally only play a few minutes or never even see the field—a shot. Treat the game like a preseason contest.
Give it your all
In a lot of ways, games like these are tryouts for management. That means it’s important to use this opportunity to impress—no matter who you are.
Don’t jeopardize your career
I know that most players push through injuries, but doing so risks your health in the future. You shouldn’t put your future on the line for a game that isn’t worth it.
And what did the Bombers do when they wrapped up their season in Toronto?
They started Dominique Davis — a quarterback who had been on the practice roster since he was signed by the team in August. He played until he left the game early with ice taped to an injured hamstring.
Drew Willy, on the other hand, was barely a thought before this game. The QB spent the majority of the season on crutches and won’t play his next game until the 2016 season.
But finishing hard isn’t just for pro athletes, coaches and managers. It’s also important for us fantasy managers.
Maybe things are off to a rough start for your fantasy football team. Maybe you’ve only won one or two or even zero games. Your chances of making playoffs are practically nonexistent, but it’s important to all your league mates that you still put forward your best effort.
If you’re one of those people that loses four games in a row, stops setting proper lineups and basically gives up on the season, you’re part of the reason league punishments exist — they make fantasy more competitive, and they give you something extra to play for.
So if your season lost meaning early, just remember what a little blue fish said. Just keep swimming.
Jordan Haslbeck is a reporter for Bison Sports and a mediocre beer-league hockey defenseman. He co-hosts Not Even the Press Box, a weekly radio show about the Winnipeg Jets at radio. rrc.ca.
