Have you ever plopped down on the couch after a long day of work and let out a massive sigh?
Of course you have. Who hasn't?
That feeling; there's truly nothing like it. It's that sensation of feeling the weight of the entire world leave you, even if it's only for a brief moment.
Well, now just imagine the kind of sigh Choo let out on Sunday, Sept. 22. 
Who's a Champ? Choo's a Champ!
After more than a decade of frustration — filled with World Series losses, tear-downs, retools and full-team makeovers — Choo was finally crowned as JLB Champion.
His 11-10-1 win — of course it couldn't be easy, right? — against the three-time champion Cheese Steaks was the biggest gorilla (off-the-back) takedown since Harambe.
The hours that preceded Choo's epic sigh were not easy. The matchup was on edge throughout the final day, but in the end, the four homers hit by Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, Eugenio Suarez and Jake Burger on Sunday locked up the win.
The Steaks had a chance with the Sunday night game, but he really needed a triple or a stolen base from one of his two players in the lineup, Bryce Harper and Jose Iglesias, and they had only 1 triple and 13 steals combined in 2024.
Still, Choo knew if it could go wrong, it would. Iglesias did wind up getting two more hits to finish the week with a JLB World Series-best 14.
Choo didn't have anyone reach double-digits on the week, but his two biggest offseason acquisitions — Betts and Judge — combined for 14 hits, 4 HRs, 11 RBIs, 11 runs, 3 SBs and 8 walks. That helped Choo win five categories.
He didn't do so hot on the pitching side, winning just 5 of 11 categories, but he edged out the Steaks in ERA and quality starts, and strangely enough, one of the zero-run quality starts came from the Gamblers' third-overall pick in 2024, Yu Darvish. Choo picked him up off the wire right before the playoffs and boy did that pay off.
He gave up on the frustrating Jordan Montgomery to make the move, which had to be a little tough to do heading into the playoffs.
For Choo, that's another one of those scenarios where he had to think, "Man, I know Montgomery is going to pitch like a phenom after I drop him."
Strangely enough, Montgomery posted two quality starts during the JLB World Series week, but he gave up 3 runs in each outing, which easily would have lost ERA — and subsequently, the World Series — for the Choo.
Two years ago, Choo would have held on to Montgomery and lost to the Steaks — that's just how it has gone for him over the years. He was the Buffalo Bills of the JLB for so long.
But all of that is forgotten. A title changes everything. And in a trying year for our beloved JLB Champion, I can say that I'm truly happy that he got his trophy this year.
It's well deserved and I look forward to seeing the Choo begin his trek toward title No. 2.
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