Years back, during the dog days of football, where running the ball and great defense were the only avenues of success, the NFL was simpler. Your average sports fan would go to the game, find a bar, or have a party in their home to feast their eyes on the Colosseum. Legends would battle. Trophies would be won. A fan's team was the only thing that effected the win and loss column in the minds of football fans. Today, this is not the case.
One day, as if out of nowhere to many people including myself, Fantasy Football arose out of the dust as the biggest phenomenon in sports since the creation of the game. This new game allowed players to experience an exciting part of football; coaching. Undeniably, the massive number of football fanatics dove right in to this new game. It starts by holding a "fantasy" draft, in which you selected players from positions such as QB (quarterback), RB (running back), WR (wide receiver), TE (tight end), K (kicker), and DEF (defense and special teams). After drafting each position, as well as a fantasy football "bench," each team owner would be pit against another weekly, using NFL games as the way that points were awarded. As if over night, people's view of football had change. Fans would log on to the Internet every Sunday night and Monday night to check their scores to see if they had won or lost. Winning and losing wasn't just Chiefs vs. Raiders. It was the fantasy Pick Pansies vs. The Studs.
Though I started late, in 2006, I had my first league. I was trounced practically every game because even though I new many of the players, i had to learn the new strategy of drafting and figure out who to start because of what NFL match ups that week. My view of football to its core had shifted from a team effort, to a much more self serving effort. Now, I have at leat three leagues a year and have won the entire league multiple times, yet the Chiefs still haven't won the superbowl since I have been alive. I am telling you this, not because it is something that you don't know, but to pose a question. Does your average fan now care more about Fantasy Football than their favorite NFL team? Comment below!!
Good Stuff man!
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge Denver Broncos fan and I didn't watch any of their games at the beginning of last year because they sucked (until Tebowmania took over and I had to pay attention.) But I watched any game no matter what team it was if it had a player I had drafted playing in it. I prefer it sometimes to rooting for a full team because even when the game is far out of reach for the other team, your guy can still score fantasy points so your always on the edge of your seat just waiting for him to score.
I cannot help but agree with you Jeffrey. I think the core desires of football have changed. Many people who play fantasy football at one point in time didn't care much about the NFL at all. This is why I think most people value you their own fantasy team now more than their actual team in the NFL.
DeleteI have to admit right upfront: I am not a big football fan. I am more of a casual fan, where football is a fun thing to watch on Sunday afternoon with a couple of guys. When people ask me about my fantasy team, I kinda get worried that they think less of me when I say I don't have one, or that I don't really "have" a team. I enjoy the sport, I think it is a fun thing to watch, but when people get fanatic about it I get a little scared of them.
ReplyDeleteNot that the idea of a fantasy football league is a bad thing, but for people who are not engrossed in the world it does seem a little weird.
Ijwalker, you are a hard fan to find. I respect your own opinion on the subject greatly because you are now the exception. You enjoy football and cheer for your team when they are on TV, occassionally check in if they won or lost from your friends if you missed the game, and when it calls for it, cheer for them in the playoffs. You don't need fantasy football.
ReplyDeleteI would like to pose a question to you though. If you don't like fantasy football, or you think it is weird when others get too excited about, have you ever tried it? Would you ever want to?