Are you ready for some football?
Of course you are. After all, it’s what makes the American sports world go round from a viewing, weekend partying and without question, gambling perspective from Labor Day until that “Super Sunday” when it all comes tumbling down.
But beyond the teams and players you root for, I know you also either have or will soon be compiling a list of new personal heartthrobs by way of this country’s most popular guilty pleasure — fantasy football.
‘Tis the season for friends, co-workers, spouses, teammates at times and in some cases perfect strangers to pony up a nominal fee, draft a team of NFL players, then watch anxiously throughout the week of games as that same team makes or breaks your fantasy football dreams.
In 2022 and per Statista Research, 29.2 million people played fantasy football, and in 2023, ESPN Fantasy Football saw a record-breaking 12 million new players.
I’m one of those players, and I’m sure if you’re reading this column, you likely are as well.
You’ll draft your team either via an evening get together or predetermined online date; will either peacock about or lament that same team in the aftermath; and then commit countless work…err…personal hours manipulating it on a daily, weekly and/or monthly basis in the interest of defeating “Bijan Mustard,” “Run CMC,” “Dak To The Future,” “Hot Chubb Time Machine” or any other goofy name people come up with to represent their band of NFL brothers assigned to take them to the promised land.
Childish?
Likely. After all, the aforementioned names are the PG examples of team names that in the right — or maybe more appropriately, wrong — crowd approach, if not surpass, an R-rating.
Most leagues also often entail some level of smack-talk by way of a text thread or online league message board, and there in lies the lowest level of maturity, while at the same time fostering the “camaraderie” that keeps people coming back.
Sure, fantasy football preps and further excites you for the upcoming NFL season, keeps you engaged during a slate of morning, afternoon or night games that you’d otherwise have little interest, and of course in many cases annually brings you together with people you have in the past or still do choose to call friends in lieu of otherwise losing touch. But defeating, harmlessly teasing and taking a shekel or two from those same people, and letting them know it in the process, is what I believe truly makes the fantasy football world go round.
It’s easy to manage your team, graciously accept a loss or defeat, then quietly direct your attention to the next week’s team and manager. But it’s another thing to creatively and not-so-quietly needle that past or future opponent in the interests of entertaining league participants and establishing the type of history that can only intensify future matchups.
So, that’s what I’m imploring all of you fantasy football soldiers to do: engage, get creative and deliver the message your team plans to, did or intended to send to your weekly foe.
Check your maturity at the door and respectfully get under the other seven, nine, 11 or more of your fellow franchise owners’ skin by way of the type of childish antics that might put you in time out, detention or the “Breakfast Club” on a weekend morning.
That doesn’t mean cross the line, but rather step to it, peer over it, then make the responsible decision to hit above the belt opposed to beneath it — barely.
I’m kidding, of course, but I’m also not in some ways.
Fantasy football is fun, but it’s also a great way to bring people together in a life we should all work to make more enjoyable.
There’s plenty for us to take seriously.
We have an election upcoming; have jobs that require time and effort; relationships of all types that can be taxing; are at times confronted with unexpected tragedy; not to mention our own minds which can double as our own worst enemy.
So, why not embrace life’s simple and lighthearted pleasures? Like fantasy football and all it entails.
Go team! Or in my case, teams — yep, I’m that guy.
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