Ambiguous Signals

The Japanese are great at ambiguity and subtlty. For example, the phrase “Kekko desu” can mean “yes” or “no” depending on the context, and there is no rule to differentiate them! Also, “Daijobu desu” can mean “That’s fine” or “Never mind, forget it, that’s fine.” Completely opposite meanings. Studying the language is hard enough as it is;

Ambiguities in dating/trying to get a date are difficult as well. One has to be aware of the little “hints,” “body language,” and “eye contact.” It’s not an exact science, and women don’t just go up to someone and say “I want to date you.” (Well, I guess if one is a rock star, Brad Pitt, or professional athlete, women throw themselves on) but it’s definitely tough to guess, and sometimes one makes a mistake in interpretation. Girls are weird. Some are subtle. Some are just bubbly by nature and seem flirtatious when not really being flirtatious. Some girls are crazy. Some girls might be the nicest girls on the face of the earth but one would not be able to tell. So tough.  Two cues that seem like a pretty definite sign : Recently, I went on a date and bought a “gag gift” for a girl, nothing major that was sort of an inside joke (The Japanese do this all the time when meeting someone and say, “Tsumaranai koto desu.” Meaning “It’s nothing major.” I got a text later that night that said, “Thanks for the friendship (item).” Pretty much says it all without saying too much. I get it. Sigh. Pretty much as unambiguous

(not sure why I’m publicizing all of these dating horror stories, btw, I guess I’m hoping someone will commiserate with me one day on these difficulties and justifyall the obstacles I’ve encountered, but so far everyone I’m met says stuff like “O Match.com is great! I’ve heard lots of people use it!”

Anyway, the biggest ambiguous signal in fantasy football is knowing if one big performance from a player is indicative of a trend. The span of results for a guy coming off something like a 100-yard, 2TD game (for a RB) or a 9-catch, 131 yard performance for a WR after being completely unheard of prior to that game is as wide as anything in fantasy sports. (I call it the Samkon Gado Concept- named for a GB running back several years ago who came from being a neurosurgeon to starting in the NFL). It’s a very ambiguous situation- fantasy owners don’t know whether to believe in that performance as an indicator of things to come or just a total blip on the radar. Type A is a guy like Victor Cruz, who came on the scene in Week 3 of the 2011 season with a 100-yard, 2TD game for the Giants where the Giants already had great WR’s Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham, but Cruz outplayed all of them and almost everyone else in WR-land that year, carrying me and many other fantasy footballers to victory. Cruz’s don’t happen that much, and for every Cruz there’s a Zach Sudfeld (heralded as the next Rob Gronkowski for Tom Brady, never did anything, and was cut) or a David Terrell, or a Frisman Jackson, etc., etc. etc. Yea you’ve never heard of those guys, but at some point they put up a fantasy fantasy performance for at least one game.

I think the code to deciphering those ambiguous performances is the type of game….if it’s 3 REC, 150 Yards, it’s a fluke. One play probably dictated that entire line. So I like to see little cuts, like the QB kept targeting that receiver, or the RB kept getting carries that made one assume he will get more. Very obvious information, but still. Also, talent wins out in the end, so a guy like Jerrico Cotchery (completely immobile receiver who only catches) will also be Jerrico Cotchery, whereas a guy like Victor Cruz (was the fastest guy on the team) or Kembrell Thompkins (1^st round draft pick) has a lot of upside and might win enough opportunities to get in a position for another explosion.

Fantasize on,

Robert Yan