Fantasy, Football, Come True

By Jeremy Bernfeld
Aug 27, 2010, 6:19 PM
3 Comments

Many experts say the Titans' Chris Johnson is the No. 1 fantasy player. Where will he go in this weekend's draft? (AP)

BOSTON — Football season is almost here, which means it’s time for fantasy football addicts to re-emerge from the baseball season — often known, to them, as hibernation.

Many football fans hate fantasy football. They charge that it dilutes a fan’s passion or that it relies on a bunch of numbers that don’t accurately sum-up the game. But what if fantasy football’s joys barely relate to the game at all? The way I see it, detractors of fantasy football are missing the point: it’s so not about the points.

I can’t wait for my draft on Sunday. When I set up my computer I’ll be connecting to friends scattered across the country — and the world.

Fantasy sports’ detractors don’t get the point: they’re not about the points.

Attendance at the draft is mandatory for each “manager” involved. The last — and only — time my friends showed up at a mandatory event we were all wearing gowns and silly hats and receiving some piece of paper with Latin written all over it. (Where is that thing, by the way?)

True, some of us will only be “attending” virtually, stuck in far-flung locales. Amidst this tough economy for recent grads, most of my friends won’t be able to travel to Homecoming, but this is the next best thing. Under the guise of probing trade possibilities and scheduling the draft, I’ve managed to catch up with friends I haven’t seen in over a year.

And that’s what makes fantasy football draft day one of my favorite of the year. Not because I’ll delight at announcing that I’m picking players like Golden Tate, Montario Hardesty, or Legedu Naanee to perplexed looks from my friends. And not, my league-mates know, because I expect to be the league champion in a few months.

It’s great because while drafting in-between “Full Tilt, Full Time” and “Tebow Is My Co-Pilot,” I’ll be sitting next to two friends I haven’t seen in ages.

One friend, currently serving overseas in the military, will be home on leave this Sunday. We’re conducting our draft at his house. While others are drafting their heroes, I get to draft with one of mine.

And that’s been a fantasy of mine for a long time.

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Brendan

This sucked. I bet you suck at fantasy as well.
Ellis Stewart

I agree with the social aspects of the commentary. I met someone who became such a wonderful friend at my first draft. I have moved and been unable to connect with a league in my new locale and I miss it very much. The point is social one. I am a rabid fan, have loved the sport since my first pro game with my father, and fantasy is just another way of getting as much out of the season as possible. I must say, however, that I am not in agreement with the 18 game season as the dynamics and many records will be transformed into astrics and cheapened through a money hungry ownership move that I do not feel is in the best interest of the game, the players and the fans.
http://wbur.org Prime rib joe

This was great. I have a relative who used to play football and basketball with us. Then he got hurt in an accident. We developed a Fantasy league. We get together every year (6 times: Draft, Supplemental, Redraft, Supp, Playoff draft and Trophy presentation.) We get together other times. But this is a great chance to visit eat and drink. And then to trash talk our way to a championship. We all have our favorite teams. We root for no matter what. Great family times with everyone. It’s not all about points. It’s about points, championship bragging rights, and family.

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