I'm a 43 year old Quality Coordinator at a steel mill here in Ashland, KY.  I have an 8 year old son (Tycho), a 5 year old daughter (Katy), and a 34 year old wife (Kim).  I have coached football and basketball (the state religion) for the last 21 years (from Freshmen to 7 year olds).

I started playing Strat-O-Matic with my friends at the age of 11.  We played more games, kept more statistics, lost (threw) more dice, learned to cuss at a younger age, and ignored more girls than any group of kids our age - ever!!  That is an official statistic that all of us are proud of, and I'm pretty sure it's written down somewhere.  Strat lasted for about 15 years before life completely busted up the gang and the dark years began.  For about 10 or 12 years, I stumbled through the wilderness in search of meaning - and found APBA (truth be told, I still prefer Strat).  One of my buddies that I play basketball with introduced me to APBA and I began my ascent back into the light.  After a couple of seasons in a Play-by-Mail league, I bought a computer and went in search of the Holy Grail of gaming --- electronic stats.  When I found out I would no longer be chained to a legal pad and spend four and a half days a week figuring out the OBP for my backup SS, I knew it would be a love affair for the ages.

    My son Knothead (Tycho to his friends) has not yet started playing, but he and a couple of his buddies have shown interest in how the game works, so it might not be too terribly long before the league is facing another Buckle Barrage.  I am also proud to say that I am known as "Uncle Buck" to several of the leagues newest additions.  Sean Daily Jr. and L'il Buckle Barone both seem to have more than their share of characteristics in common with my son (three brutally handsome lads).  Of course, that could mean that Carl or Sean have been in my neighborhood, too.

    By now, most of you have been in the league long enough to know that I get serious about 3% of the time.  I received an email from one of the new members of the league last year in which he indicated that he thought I was living in some sort of fantasy world.  Well, as far as I'm concerned, that is exactly what this is!  If something serious comes up, I'll call you.  If you hear from me over the internet, you can take it to the bank - I'm kidding.

    Lastly, I want to say how much fun it has been to be in this league for four seasons now.  It seems as though there is a bond forming between many of the league's members, and I hope that trend continues.  Each year, I spend some time talking to more and more of you on the phone.  Some of us have met each other on business trips and the like.  It's really great to see the people that make up this league (except Shawn Kroeger - his team is a little too good and too young).  Of course, some of this male bonding thing can go to far.