Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of feature stories on the men who make up the Erie Fantasy Football League.

Coming into this season, Intimidators GM Steve Payne became the first owner to start his rookie campaign with a 1-0 Erie League career record. The unique statistic came about due to Payne's drubbing of 2001 Erie League Champion Kirk Pavelich's Midnight Vigilantes in the first ever Ultimate Bowl, a match-up of Erie League and Great Lakes League champions.

Payne's Great Lakes Too club - Torsion Connect - cruised through the 2001 campaign with a 13-3 record, culminating in a second straight league championship with a 130.55 to 52.55 over the Doug Frank's Ryan Express. The team didn't cool off one bit when they took on the Vigilantes in the Ultimate Bowl, hammering the three-time Erie League champions by a count of 85-56. Payne, who said "kicking Pav's ass in the first ever Ultimate
Bowl" was the highlight of his Erie League career, rode Rams RB Marshall Faulk all the way to the title.

"My team was unstoppable last year and that (game) proved who the best team was amongst the two leagues," Payne said.

Over the course of his two plus years in the Great Lakes Too League, Payne has been nothing short of unstoppable. He has a career record of 26-12 in the GLL-2 with two league titles in as many chances. His club set playoff scoring records in his first year, only to smash those same records in year two. That success has encouraged Payne to try his hand in six different leagues this season. Through six weeks, his teams are a combined 29-7.

"(The GLL-2) was the league that really got me obsessed with fantasy football," Payne said. "I had been doing it with friends for about 12 years, but never over the web or via a software program. I kind of spread myself thin this year. Next year I will be scaling back just a tad."

Through six weeks, Payne's Intimidators stand at 4-2, a game behind Paul Tanski's Horn-Headed Degenerates in the Browns Conference's Graham Division. Thus far, Payne said he has loved his Erie League experience.

"I am very impressed with how things are run and how involved 24 owners can be," Payne said. "I've been in leagues where after the first few weeks, a few owners quit caring and the league takes a shit. Nice to see that doesn't happen here.

Payne said the one drawback to the league, especially as a new owner in his first year, is coming into a situation where franchise players can be protected.

"It is very difficult to walk into this league, starting from scratch and winning," he said. "When guys in your conference can keep studs for 2 or 3 units, while you are drafting your entire roster, it makes it difficult to compete out of the blocks."

Payne said his biggest rival in the Erie League is currently Midnight Vigilantes GM Kirk Pavelich, a team and owner he has now split two games with over two years.

"If I had to choose one person, it would have to be Pav," Payne said. "His record speaks for itself. To be the man, you have to beat the man."

Payne, who will turn 29 on the 21st of this month, said he has a very understanding wife when it comes to fantasy football.

"My wife accepts it very well," he said. "She should since the last 2 championships have brought her a little something nice come Christmas morning. She understands that it is a hobby and I enjoy it. She has her hobbies too, so it's a mutual agreement. Of course, this time next year we hope our family will be one person larger. Hence the need to cut back on the six leagues."

"I am honored to be in a league consisting of 24 guys who all seem to be nice guys and involved in competitive fantasy football," Payne added. "This league has a lot of history and hopefully I can add to it over the next few years. I wish everyone the best of luck and I hope for very exciting year of football."