The goal of this interview series is to learn more about some of the top FanDuel players and hopefully improve our own daily fantasy play in the process.
Background
Name: Mike Perez
FanDuel username: mppe12
Birthplace: Chicago IL
College: Southern Illinois University
Occupation: Owner of American Tap, a sports bar in Addison, Illinois
Interview
You were born in Chicago, so that makes your favorite NFL team the...
Chicago Bears.
Do you happen to have any favorite NFL players?
Any player that wins me a tourney lol.
Chicago fans have faced a lot of adversity, but what is your most memorable sports moment?
Still to be determined! Hopefully Watching the Cubs win World Series! Wishful thinking. :)
How many years have you played fantasy football?
For season-long leagues, I've been playing for about 16 years.
Do you play any other fantasy sports?
I just started basketball and baseball.
When did you sign up on FanDuel and how did you first hear about the site?
Heard about FanDuel on the XM radio and joined about 2 years ago.
Excluding Footballguys, do you have any go-to sites for fantasy football information or advice?
I like Rotogrinders, including Dan Back's podcasts.
Would you be able to describe your recent ascension in daily fantasy sports?
I just started regularly playing daily fantasy basketball in February after I hit a $20,000 lineup. I decided to do baseball everyday in April. I then hit on a $100,000 winning lineup for baseball along with qualifying for two World Fantasy Baseball Championship entries and two other live regional championships. I call it strategic luck! But the most important thing is to have strong BANKROLL MANAGEMENT -- I could of used that early on!
If a friend wanted to start playing on FanDuel, what advice would you offer?
Start off small to get the feel for how to build lineups. Once you feel comfortable, you can begin play higher stakes as your bankroll allows for it.
Has playing FanDuel changed the way you follow sports?
Absolutely! I've never followed baskeball or baseball like I do now.
You mentioned that you've qualified for a few live championship events so far…
Yes, I've qualified for baseball live regional events in San Francisco and Chicago. And I had the two entries in the World Fantasy Baseball Championship this summer in Las Vegas.
On the nights that you qualified, how exciting was it to watch the games?
I don't really watch the games for baseball. It would be too stressful for me lol.
What’s the best part of the championship events?
All the perks that FanDuel gives you when you make it. They make you feel like a king.
Are there any upcoming championships that you’d like to qualify for?
Football for sure!
[Writer's Note: FanDuel's World Fantasy Football Championships will be live in Las Vegas and boasts a $12 million prize pool with $3 million to first place. You can read more about that here.]
Would you take us through a normal Sunday morning routine during NFL?
I get up early and look over the Las Vegas football lines. Then I double check injuries, check out the weather reports. And then put together my lineups.
After your lineups are set, is there a place you sit back -- like a man cave -- to watch the NFL games each Sunday?
I like to watch them at my Bar American Tap in Addison, Illinois. We have the Sunday ticket!
And for any people that are in the Chicago area...
If you're ever in the West Suburbs of Chicago, stop by American Tap and say hi! It's in Addison, Illinois and you can visit our website at American-Tap.com.