You may be asking yourself, why do I need in depth sports information that the average fan doesn't know? It's simple. Being a true sports fan who follows his or her teams closer than their religious beliefs all have one thing in common. They KNOW their team. These fans know the lingo, the nicknames, the rumors, the possible trades, the minor league prospects, the offensive linemen, the assistant coaches, etc. of their favorite teams. A true fan can add more to the conversation than "I bet ya that Peyton Manning has another strong year!" or "How 'bout that Super Bowl?". You need to be true to your fanhood, read up on your team, and try to not be an embarrassment to true fans everywhere.

The typical sports fan knows where he or she needs to go to see the latest news, scores, etc. for his or her favorite sport or team. When it comes to tracking rumors and small moves your team may be making in the off season on the other hand, the best places to look may not be so obvious. Many of you may already be familiar with some of these websites, but for those of you who aren't, here are some of my favorite under the radar sports websites:

Sport Specific:

• www.profootballtalk.com (Football)
• hoopshype.com/rumors.htm (Basketball)
• www.mlbtraderumors.com (Baseball)
• www.thefourthperiod.com (Hockey)
• www.hockeybuzz.com (Hockey)
• www.mls-rumors.net (Soccer)

All Sports:

• www.realgm.com
• www.yardbarker.com
• www.waitingfornextyear.com
• www.prosportsdaily.com/rumors.html
• www.sportsrumormill.com

Of course there are also numerous sites devoted to specific teams out there that I'm sure most die hard sports fans will rely on as well. Feel free to share some of your favorites as well!

If you are a major sports fan like myself, you don't just want to know what your team does when it happens, but rather know what your team is even thinking about. I love following even the smallest of moves my team makes from who gets dropped or signed during preseason workouts to who they are thinking about drafting months before the draft. With sites that specialize in rumor mills and the "little things", I am able to be more informed and knowledgeable about the team's operations instead of only knowing who suits up for each game. This type of dedication can pay off for your fantasy sports as well. ESPN may have the quirky comments, but you will have the ultimate knowledge.