On the serious side, I feel that there are too many variables involved in Fantasy Football for anyone to truly be what I would consider an expert. To me an expert in anything is someone you can trust to be right the vast majority of the time.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of people out there who I respect highly. People who I go out of my way to hear or read their analysis and opinions on Fantasy Football. I just don't think anyone comes close to being right the vast majority of the time.

This year FanEx expanded to 16 teams. That opened up four additional spots for owners. I have often said that many of the best minds in Fantasy Football can be found in the Fantasy Football Newsgroup, and I truly believe this. FanEx, being more of a showcase league, looks for those minds, and also people that bring a high profile to the league.

This year we selected from eleven prospective ownership groups. The selection from this pool was made more difficult due to the knowledge level of all of the nominees. What made the four chosen stand out from the rest was their so-called Expert Status.

So it dawned on me that some of you might like to know how one becomes an expert in this game.

First, there are no self-proclaimed experts. You are not an expert just because you think you know more than someone else does. Even if you do know more than they do. Others must proclaim your omniscience for it to be valid.

Second, you must be willing to share your knowledge. If you are truly an expert, you have no need to hoard your hard-earned knowledge. No! You know you can give it up and still beat your opponents. Some experts sell their information. One of the FanEx inductees, the KFFL entry of William Del Pilar and Ryan Bonini, is a prime example of this. Other such examples include my good friends Michael Nazarek and Brian Hulett of the Fantasy Football Mastermind and the Winning Drive, respectively.

Other experts provide information for free. New FanExers David Dodds and Tony Holms of Mr. Football fit this bill. But there are many others like Whitney Walters and David Dorey of The Huddle, one of my personal favorite sites, Austin Weidner and Michael Switzer of The Fantasy Football Informer are a couple of other excellent examples of experts who provide their information for free.

Still others provide their information via more traditional media. Brady Tinker of Fox Sports Net and Howard Balzer of Pro Football Writers of America provide examples of this type of expert. The common thread? All are willing to share information with their opponents.

The last requirement for being considered an expert is that one must be visible. There are several ways to improve your visibility in the Fantasy Football Community. The easiest way is to frequent the newsgroup. And not only lurk, but actually post in it. There is a right way and a wrong way to go about this though. First your postings must show some intelligent thought. When responding to a post about who to take with the first draft pick, don't just answer Terrell Davis, Brett Favre, or whomever. Tell us why we should take the player you are recommending. Back up your analysis with statistical research. Include comments on changes to team personnel or coaching staffs. In other words, give us a reason to believe you. Accept different opinions, and counter them with logical answers. Don't let yourself be dragged into a flame war, no matter how tempting.

Start your own information website. But look for a niche that is not being covered. There are dozens of information sites, but how many cater to auction leagues? Or to leagues that use individual defensive players? Find a niche, develop your knowledge in this area and share your newfound knowledge.

Get yourself published. You can start with your local newspaper. Or you can send an unsolicited article to one of the Fantasy Magazine publishers. But before you do, you should make sure the article is professionally written and edited. No typos if you are serious. You might want to actually buy a magazine or two to see what types of articles are in them. And you definitely want to submit very early so that deadlines can be met. Don't expect to be paid for an unsolicited article, but if you are be grateful. A thank you card never hurt anyone. If you are having trouble breaking into the mainstream media, try an alternative route. Contact one of the pay or free Fantasy Football Information sites. Most of them are looking for good (emphasis on good) writers.

If you are still having problems finding someone to publish your works, you might want to take your article to a local English teacher or a sports writer (only if you have one as a friend) and ask them to critique it so that you might improve on your style. Again, don't take critical comments personally. They are intended to help you, and you should be thankful for them (no matter how much you want to kill the guy or gal that gives them to you).

One thing to remember is that every writer has to develop their own personal style. I like to inject a little (yes, I know, very little) humor into my articles. One of my favorite writers is a newsgroup regular that goes by the handle of Floyd the Barber. He nearly always leaves me laughing my rear off (that's ROFLMAO for you Internet weanies - and if you have to ask, you are not an Internet weanie) with his quick wit and insightful commentary. I think he exemplifies my Golden Rule about Fantasy Football. Compete, but above all, have fun!

Anyway, if you can get yourself some visibility and are willing to share your knowledge, you will soon find others calling you an expert. Right, Magnificent You-know-what, Conquistador and Timmy Bass? And like us, you too will soon be an old, used up, little drip under pressure!