Issue #268: Relief

By Derrick Ernst

April 16, 2026

Loosey Goosey

Based on the number of messages I received, Sunday’s meme was the best one in TDF’s history. Tickled the fancy of quite a few of you! Mission accomplished. Well, The Masters lived up to its hype. It sure didn’t look that way after Friday afternoon. I was hoping for a McIlroy v. Scheffler playoff — that would’ve been one of the biggest sports spectacles of all-time.

So what, Rory got the monkey off his back last year and now he can slay Augusta any time he steps on the grounds? Have you ever noticed how things become easier when you’re loose and less of a stiff? Not just physically, but mentally too. Have you also noticed that stiffness increases with time? Doing something over and over again and not getting the result desired elevates the pressure to achieve it. Heck, it took Rory 17 times (60+ rounds) to take home a green jacket. The pressure he was putting on himself to win was real and to an extent that us as fans could feel it too.

I’m a believer in the perils of wanting something too bad. You become a perfectionist in a life where perfection doesn’t exist. Even if everything went your way, there are things happening beyond your control that aren’t going perfectly — it’s all happenstance. I find the pursuit of perfection just makes you stiff. You become a shadow of your true self. You feel like you need to force yourself to work on overdrive to get the results you demand of yourself. Do that long enough and you’re going to run yourself into the ground. Before you know it, a path set out for being the best results in you becoming your worst.

I’m assuming you’ve heard this said once or twice: “Good things come to those who wait.”

I liked the way this sounded growing up. I found peace in it. But the more I age the more flawed I believe the statement has become. I actually don’t believe anything will come if you sit back and wait for it. I’ve evolved into taking more of an initiative kind of guy. Very few things in this life are handed to you. You need to put forth the effort for what you want. The beauty of this is that the things that can get you ahead are all things anyone can possess (no particular order):

• Showing up

• Being consistent

• Be adaptable

• Exhibiting interest and intent

• Paying attention

• Owning up to mistakes

• Staying true to your word

• Being prepared

Etc. Etc. Etc. None of these are ordinarily influenced by other people. They’re yours to do what you want with. The beauty of a list like this is that each one feeds off the others. Said another way, if you’re successful doing one of these you’ll find that the others become easier to come by. I find many of the personalities in the fantasy space take themselves too seriously. I try not to be that which is why I’m intentional about adding levity to the newsletter when I find it’s needed. Fantasy is a game rooted primarily in making predictions. We have no control over anything we say, write, or think.

We’re going to have a boatload of personalities in the industry soon debate for months who should be taken No. 1 overall in fantasy drafts. Think about all the energy and time wasted when x player who is awarded such title gets injured in game one. What was all that work for? What was the point? Why clamor over something that is very minuscule on the serious meter despite it being one of the most serious topics in all of fantasy? Because it was made out to be that way. It’s an endeavor that has zero upside and can be consequential when your prediction is proven foolish. This is just one example, but arguably the most prime.

What’s the moral of me saying all this? Play fantasy loosely. Know that despite all of your preparations, you’re not going to get it perfect. Practice being more in tune to the bullets on the left and I promise you’ll find everything you do becoming easier. Fantasy is only as easy as you make it. Being wound up in pursuit of perfection is a sure-fire way to have the opposite happen to you.

Introduction

Well, I’m 2,000-ish words into the book. All that is is the book’s Intro, but it’s a start! I found myself getting hyped for what this book will evolve into as I was typing away. There’s truly nothing like what this book will be in the market today. It’s going to rattle the industry — I absolutely believe that. I can’t wait to have you guys read it. We’re going to cut things here. Enjoy the rest of your week!