It’s impossible to get “the scoop” first in your league, but there are still advantages…

Last week, I wrote about how the scoop is dead. You should go back and read that column if you have not yet. I ended it by assuring you there were still some advantages available which I would tell you about this week.  What I liked about that is it gave me a week to try desperately to think up some advantages. Here is the best I could come up with.

Advantage #1 – Wisdom

Wisdom is the ability to make the proper use of information. When everyone knows the same stuff, the advantages goes to the people who know what to do with it. For many, the biblical book of Proverbs is the standard for wisdom. Much of Proverbs is pretty agreeable stuff. If you read it you'd find yourself grudgingly admiring the writers for their insight into how life works.

Here's a sample.

Proverbs 1:24-26 
Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells it in time of need. 

This proverb points out a counterintuitive principle that might help you win your pool. Wisdom understands long-term prosperity doesn’t come from consistently trying to get the best of people and hoarding your resources. Rather, prosperity comes through generosity and the trusting relationships that result.

Maybe there is something to be said for "losing" a couple trades to plant seeds you want to harvest later? Maybe that's a false sense of security you have because you have four solid starters in net. You might be better off to help out the poor dude who has back-ups and call-ups trusting the good will you created will make him willing to help you in your time of need.

Here are a couple more.

Proverbs 19:11

A man's wisdom gives him patience, he gains respect by overlooking an offense.

Proverbs 16:32

It is better to be a patient man, than a mighty warrior, better to be someone who controls his temper than one who conquers a city.

Wisdom is patient. Information overload can lead to being unwisely impulsive as we seek an advantage. The wise person understands the value of waiting. Unless you are holding onto Philadelphia Flyers, then see below.

Advantage #2 – Integrity

Wisdom is the first advantage, integrity the second. In his book “Integrity”, Henry Cloud defines the word as “the courage to meet the demands of reality.” It’s an interesting way to put it. Most people think of integrity as being the same person in private as you appear to be in public. Cloud’s redefinition includes that but takes us farther. The person of integrity is able to face the reality of their mistakes, their harsh words, the seven assists of Claude Giroux, and meet that reality head on adapting their behavior to meet the demands of reality. 

For the fantasy hockey player, integrity means being able to really face the reality of what is happening on your fantasy team. What reality is staring you in the face? Maybe you need to face that it’s going to require more than optimism to turn your season around. Maybe you need to face the reality that your pet player is having a terrible year. Maybe, if you are Claude Noel, it’s time to face the reality that having Dustin Byfuglien on the point shooting eyeball level bombs eight feet wide of the net isn’t your best power play option; put that big man in front of the net. Maybe, if you are the Puck Pastor, its time to face the reality that the this article is getting awfully long and you should wind it down.

Yes, it is a little ironic to talk about the “ability to handle reality” in the context of “fantasy” hockey. In fact, I unapologetically use fantasy hockey as a stress relieving escape from reality. But there is nothing in life we do, which is neutral when it comes to personal formation, even our leisure activities contribute to who we eventually become in life. So maybe bringing a little wisdom and integrity into your fantasy world will help you bring them into your real life world as well. 

Grace and Peace.

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