TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

June Gets Serious About Fantasy Football

ADVERTISEMENT

By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 7, 2008

TAMPA - The majority of NFL fans have been looking forward to this season for one major reason.

It is time for fantasy football.

Tampa Bay linebacker Cato June is renowned for his love of fantasy football, which began when his friends convinced him to start playing six years ago. June is currently in a league exclusively for NFL players and you can follow his season on nflplayers.com. June and I recently talked about his attempt to become a cyberbully.

Anwar: How did you come up with the team name Juneimus The Great?

Cato: That's my alter ego. It's me. It's a play off Juneimus The Great who is ready to take over the world. Fantasy world, that is.

Anwar: Isn't fantasy football like Dungeons and Dragons for sports jocks?

Cato: Almost. When I first started, I didn't know it was that serious. Some people go away and have a vacation weekend for the draft. I've heard all types of stories in terms of how people come about their draft and who they think is going to do what. When you think about it, everybody thinks they know something about sports.

Anwar: Do you have more fantasy football information than most people?

Cato: Yes, for the simple fact we study these people. We get all types of stats. We're very detailed in our statistical breakdown of when a player gets a ball, why, and different formations. That carries over to helping me out in the fantasy world.

Anwar: Do you draft players you might play against in a season?

Cato: I normally don't, but if I do actually get somebody that I will play against, I stay away from that.

Anwar: When do you set your lineup? You have up until 10 minutes before kickoff, so are you doing it during Coach Jon Gruden's pregame speech?

Cato: I don't have that much time, so I usually do it on Saturday night.

Anwar: How is that possible with the Brian Westbrooks of the world, who are always listed as questionable?

Cato: That's one of the misconceptions of the NFL. If you go into the training room to get some ice, you're questionable. Guys are always going to be questionable. You always hear people say a guy may not play, and you have all these experts who say it may be a game-time decision. The only thing that means something to me is "out." That's it.

Anwar: Which Adam Sandler would be a better fantasy football player - the quarterback from "The Longest Yard" or linebacker from "The Waterboy"?

Cato: I would say Adam Sandler from "Waterboy" because he made more tackles, and if you play IDP Individual Defensive Player league, tackles count for points. They didn't score too many touchdowns in "The Longest Yard."

Anwar: Who would be a better fantasy football player - Jamie Foxx from "Any Given Sunday" or Cuba Gooding Jr. from "Jerry Maguire"?

Cato: Cuba Gooding Jr. got hurt. I'd go with Jaime Foxx because he had a little running ability and could probably last a little longer.

Anwar: Your former Colts teammate Shaun King is in my fantasy football league.

Cato: Oh, Lord.

Anwar: Should I be worried at all?

Cato: No.

Anwar: Do you think he would draft himself?

Cato laughing: Yes. That's the narcissist in him. He's definitely that.

Anwar: Who is the best imprisoned fantasy football league player - Michael Vick or Rae Carruth?

Cato: Michael Vick by far. Is Rae Carruth still in jail?

Anwar: Yes. That's what happens when you try to murder somebody. They keep you in there for a little while.

Cato: Did he ever score any touchdowns?

Anwar: I have no clue. OK, which mark will Ricky Williams achieve first this season - a touchdown or another drug possession?

Cato: Definitely a TD. He looks like he's back. He looks good out there.

Anwar: Let me ask you another question.

Cato: Talk to me.

Anwar: Why did you pick Adam Vinatieri, a kicker, in the 11th round in the draft and Earnest Graham in the 12th and final round?

Cato: That's a valid point. I already had two running backs. I was looking for a backup running back. A third running back. There are only eight people in the league. You have to have one kicker, so I took him.

Anwar: How likely are you to win your league?

Cato: Very likely. It might not even be close on some weeks. I got to check the scoring system again. I played in a league that unless you had five running backs, you weren't going to get any points.

Anwar: If you had a 10-round fantasy football league, where would you select me?

Cato: Umm, let me think. If it was a 10-round league, probably about 18th or 19th.

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425 or arichardson@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT