For the love of the game...

For most football fans (me included), the 2010 NFL football season has begun with the explosion of games this past weekend. Fans saw QB Donovan McNabb in a color other than green for the first time in his probable Hall of Fame career, the pro debut of Florida QB Tim Tebow with the Denver Broncos (8-13, 105 yds.) still running for TD's with a seven yard scamper and a possible rookie star in Bengal WR Jordon Shipley, Texas QB Colt Mc Coy favorite target at Texas. The question is will there be any footballs left after T.O. and Ocho Cinco.


It is also the beginning for many the start of the fantasy football season. For you novices or those who always wanted to know what your boyfriend (or girlfriend) or spouse was talking about, here is the the Wikipedia definition:

• Fantasy Football is a fantasy sports game in which participants (called "owners") are arranged into a competitive league, earning “fantasy points” by using the statistics of real football players. The owners of each league draft real-life American football players, typically from either the NFL or NCAA, filling a roster containing the various offense or defensive positions on a team, such as Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver, and Tight End. Depending on how well the players on an Owner’s team do in a given week, the team earns Fantasy Points to compete against the other owners in the league. If a running back rushes for a touchdown, for instance, the running back earned a pre-determined amount of points for that running back’s owner. At the end of the season, win-loss records determine league rankings or qualifications into a playoff bracket. Most leagues set aside the last weekends of the regular season for their own playoffs, which determines the league’s champion for that season.

Now before you think that this is some trivial pastime, be aware that more than 25 million people participate in this game throughout the country. There are leagues in which the entry fee is in the upwards of one thousand dollars or more with the winner earning $100,000 dollars or more. Don't take my word for it; google the phrase and see what you come up with.

I was asked to join a league at my previous job back in 1996. I created a rugged name (Urban City Marauders) and with my first draft, promptly made my first rookie mistake, drafting three QB's in the first three rounds. I still hear that story to this day from my co-owners. That changed the following year when I hooked up with my co-owner KG and won the first of our four league titles.

Fantasy football is the closest thing to becoming an actual manager of your team. You do evaluate talent, review stats, watch tape and have complete control over your roster and are responsible for all of your decisions. You get all of this minus the headaches of dealing "problem child ballplayers", salary cap issues and player holdouts. While some people are amazed of the seriousness of it all, I enjoy it because of the previous reasons mentioned, as well as the commadarie with other owners (both virtually and real). Its a great way to keep in contact with your boys who may be scattered throughout the country as well as, in my case, guys I started out with 14 years ago at my job who friendships I appreciate still to this day. I even compete now with the sons & sons-in-law of former league owners.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to break down tape from last nights Bears/Chargers game.

And the lifestyle continues...