rls1 runs the Anaheim Anteaters in the NL West. He has been here since season 1.
1/What If Sports. How long have you been on the site, and how did you end up here? What is your favorite game here? Favorite team or experience on the site?
Like many others, I discovered WIS around 2001 through the MLB website. Was long devoted to progressive leagues in SIM, and have tried a few rounds of Hoops Dynasty, but am really down to just two HBD teams now. I consider Capra my WIS home and the Anteaters my favorite experience on the site.
2/Sports. What are your favorite teams in the real world? Favorite players and/or sports memories? What drives you crazy about sports or sports culture?
Grew up in Orange County and loving the Angels, for better or worse. Was kind of a family religion--one that promised more suffering than any of us realized back in the day. In fact, we kind of developed a penchant for the lovable losers in the area, so the Clippers, too. Only other team or sport I currently watch closely is the Butler basketball team.
As for memories, there were so many heartbreaks with the Angels. Being up 2 games to none on Milwaukee in the '82 ALCS and then losing the next 3 games. The '95 season when the Angels coughed up a 10 1/2 game lead starting in mid-August, still one of the greatest collapses in MLB history. But nothing hurts more than that afternoon in '86, the ALCS, Angels one strike away from their first Series berth, Donnie Moore vs. Dave Henderson, the pitch that killed.
Best memory? Finally getting to attend an Angels World Series game in 2002, and a victory at that, Game 2, an 11-10 run-scoring party that made everyone feel like maybe the team could do it. After that, maybe watching Butler's Final Four victory in 2010 on campus with my children and Butler students in Hinkle--and then everyone running out to party and dance in the street.
3/Music. What are the last three things you listened to? All-time three favorite artists? Best show you've seen?
Last three things: Thunderbitch, new Brian Fallon album, Rage Against the Machine. Other than things like family and health, music has always meant the most to me, much more than sports or books. This is a passion I learned from my brother (sjstapleton) when we were younger, even though he now listens to too many Star Wars/noodle jam bands. Best big show I've seen? Easily Springsteen, maybe 5 times now. But smaller shows are better and have been lucky enough to see great bands like Tom Waits, the Replacements, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Lucero, Vic Chesnutt, and so on.
4/Aside from sports and music, what are your favorite hobbies, films, books, etc? What might surprise us about your interests?
With two kids and a wife with a busy career, there's not a whole lot of extra time for hobbies, but if there were, more indie films, more live music, more Cormac McCarthy books, more travel, more driving across the country (another love I developed with sjstapleton when we were younger). Not sure I have any surprises. Pretty typical.
5/Survival. Where are you from originally, and where are you living now? How do you pay your bills, assuming you do?
33 years in Southern California, last 13 in Indianapolis. Teach writing and books at Butler University. There's not much money, but my wife and I have time instead of money.
1/What If Sports. How long have you been on the site, and how did you end up here? What is your favorite game here? Favorite team or experience on the site?
Like many others, I discovered WIS around 2001 through the MLB website. Was long devoted to progressive leagues in SIM, and have tried a few rounds of Hoops Dynasty, but am really down to just two HBD teams now. I consider Capra my WIS home and the Anteaters my favorite experience on the site.
2/Sports. What are your favorite teams in the real world? Favorite players and/or sports memories? What drives you crazy about sports or sports culture?
Grew up in Orange County and loving the Angels, for better or worse. Was kind of a family religion--one that promised more suffering than any of us realized back in the day. In fact, we kind of developed a penchant for the lovable losers in the area, so the Clippers, too. Only other team or sport I currently watch closely is the Butler basketball team.
As for memories, there were so many heartbreaks with the Angels. Being up 2 games to none on Milwaukee in the '82 ALCS and then losing the next 3 games. The '95 season when the Angels coughed up a 10 1/2 game lead starting in mid-August, still one of the greatest collapses in MLB history. But nothing hurts more than that afternoon in '86, the ALCS, Angels one strike away from their first Series berth, Donnie Moore vs. Dave Henderson, the pitch that killed.
Best memory? Finally getting to attend an Angels World Series game in 2002, and a victory at that, Game 2, an 11-10 run-scoring party that made everyone feel like maybe the team could do it. After that, maybe watching Butler's Final Four victory in 2010 on campus with my children and Butler students in Hinkle--and then everyone running out to party and dance in the street.
3/Music. What are the last three things you listened to? All-time three favorite artists? Best show you've seen?
Last three things: Thunderbitch, new Brian Fallon album, Rage Against the Machine. Other than things like family and health, music has always meant the most to me, much more than sports or books. This is a passion I learned from my brother (sjstapleton) when we were younger, even though he now listens to too many Star Wars/noodle jam bands. Best big show I've seen? Easily Springsteen, maybe 5 times now. But smaller shows are better and have been lucky enough to see great bands like Tom Waits, the Replacements, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Lucero, Vic Chesnutt, and so on.
4/Aside from sports and music, what are your favorite hobbies, films, books, etc? What might surprise us about your interests?
With two kids and a wife with a busy career, there's not a whole lot of extra time for hobbies, but if there were, more indie films, more live music, more Cormac McCarthy books, more travel, more driving across the country (another love I developed with sjstapleton when we were younger). Not sure I have any surprises. Pretty typical.
5/Survival. Where are you from originally, and where are you living now? How do you pay your bills, assuming you do?
33 years in Southern California, last 13 in Indianapolis. Teach writing and books at Butler University. There's not much money, but my wife and I have time instead of money.
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