Fantasy Notebook: The Rise of the Evil Genius

If you haven’t already, check out Tom’s recap of last night’s Cavs win over the Pistons.

Now, onto CtFL Notes:

Right now, I’m reading the book Super Boys: The Amazing Adventures of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster – the Creators of Superman by Cleveland-based author Brad Ricca. Now, “amazing” might be overselling the adventures of these two Depression Era chums who, over the course of several years of self-publishing, unrequited submissions and trial and error, go on to create one of the most iconic characters of the 20th century, but it does paint an interesting picture of the slow shaping and reshaping that it often takes before even the best ideas take hold.

For instance, did you know that one of Siegel’s early pitches for the comic that would become Superman had its hero come not from the Planet Krypton but from Earth’s distant future? His father sent the young would-be hero back in time to help save the planet Earth which, much like Krypton in the story we all know, is on the brink of destruction.

Interesting. But I think I like Krypton better.

So, what does this story have to do with Cavs: The Fantasy League?

Well, one of Siegel and Shuster’s other early collaborations, the one in which they first use the moniker “Superman,” was for their self-published magazine Science Fiction and cast the titular role in “The Rise of the Superman” as a villain.

Here at CtFL, we have another titular villain who, lately, has been playing a lot more super than evil (unless you’re talking to Grover 13, that is). Evil Genius’ Team Evil Genius, one week after humbling the near-un-humbleable David Wood and his Team Alex Dirk, kept his foot on the pedal, dispatching of a very solid Team Grover 13 and improving his win total to second most in the league (though, due to CtFL’s two divisions, he’s technically in thrid place overall).

Team Evil Genius and Nate Smith’s Team Stark Delly Treys are the two hottest teams in CtFL, which is shaping up to be an absolute bludgeon fest from here on out. And in a bludgeon fest, it always helps to derive super strength from the Earth’s yellow sun.

Ben Werth and Team The Deutschiest roared back from a relatively quiet past few weeks to win Week 13, toppling John Krolik’s Team Seventy-Knickers 11-2.

Werth, of course, benefits from having Anthony Davis on his team. Yes, that’s the same Anthony Davis who, in his third season, is firmly in the LeBron-Durant conversation when talking about the league’s top players. If you happen to be letting this season go by without watching what Davis is doing, do yourself a favor and spend some time with the video below (and remembering that the Cavs were one number from having a Davis/Kyrie Irving tandem to build around).

And, yes, Team Stark Delly Treys, there’s still some more love for you. Nate’s squad went full elbows out to jostle itself firmly into the contender conversation with Week 13’s second-best win.

Team Stark Delly Treys, now sitting at 94 wins, is the bun bottom where Team Waiters Invaders is the all-beef patty, Team The Deutschiest is the special sauce, lettuce and cheese, Team Evil Genius is the pickles and onions all to David Wood’s Big Mac sesame seed bun.

Never to be called “bun bottom” lying down, though, Smith offered a somewhat different picture of his situation:

Oh, and Team Waiters Invaders didn’t have a particularly strong week. Even with LeBron putting up his Eastern Conference Player of the Week run, we just narrowly edged Mallory Factor’s Team The Factors of Love 7-6. So, no, Team Waiters Invaders doesn’t necessarily deserve a video tribute this week, but this drove everyone crazy last week, so I thought I’d pour some liquor on the flambe, as it were.

Sorry, everyone…

Here’s where the league stands after 13 pulse-pounding weeks. Team Alex Dirk’s lead is down to six games and spots 2-5 are separated by just four games.

This is why we play the game, folks. Happy Week 14 to all!