Fantasy sports outta control!

[blueberryale77]

I'm starting to get the distinct impression that fantasy baseball, football, etc. have gotten so big that they're almost changing the way we look at the games themselves. The focus on individual stats instead of (real, not fantasy) team results seems to go hand in hand with the perception of growing selfishness and lack of discipline among pro athletes. It also, to me, makes the game as a whole less interesting if you're watching it with people who are obsessed with what this or that guy on their fantasy team is doing.

This is brought on today, of course, by the situation with Brian Westbrook this weekend. In case you missed it, he stopped on the one yard line rather than run in for a touchdown at the two minute warning in the Eagles-Cowboys game so that his team would be able to run the clock out instead of scoring and then having to kick off to the Cowboys and give them another chance with the ball. What he did was the prudent and unselfish thing to ensure that his team won the game against a tough division rival, but I can't tell you how many fantasy football players I've heard today rant about how he screwed their fantasy teams by not scoring the touchdown. Hello!!?!?! Are you seriously telling me a player should put his own statistics ahead of doing the smart thing to make sure his team gets the win --- not even for his own selfish purposes, but for your freaking fantasy team?! Perhaps it's time to step back from the "fantasy" and learn to appreciate the real game of football all over again!

[square634]

I'm starting to get the distinct impression that fantasy baseball, football, etc. have gotten so big that they're almost changing the way we look at the games themselves. The focus on individual stats instead of (real, not fantasy) team results seems to go hand in hand with the perception of growing selfishness and lack of discipline among pro athletes. It also, to me, makes the game as a whole less interesting if you're watching it with people who are obsessed with what this or that guy on their fantasy team is doing.

This is brought on today, of course, by the situation with Brian Westbrook this weekend. In case you missed it, he stopped on the one yard line rather than run in for a touchdown at the two minute warning in the Eagles-Cowboys game so that his team would be able to run the clock out instead of scoring and then having to kick off to the Cowboys and give them another chance with the ball. What he did was the prudent and unselfish thing to ensure that his team won the game against a tough division rival, but I can't tell you how many fantasy football players I've heard today rant about how he screwed their fantasy teams by not scoring the touchdown. Hello!!?!?! Are you seriously telling me a player should put his own statistics ahead of doing the smart thing to make sure his team gets the win --- not even for his own selfish purposes, but for your freaking fantasy team?! Perhaps it's time to step back from the "fantasy" and learn to appreciate the real game of football all over again!

I've always wondered why guys would score the touchdown in that situation when they are leaving the other team a chance to recover an onside kick. Then again, my opponent in the fantasy playoffs had Brian Westbrook I still lost thanks the combined -1 points of Romo and TO

[The Wedge]

I could have told you this when I found out there is actually fantasy golf, and fantasy racing. I'm waiting for fantasy track and field.

[gallden]

I could have told you this when I found out there is actually fantasy golf, and fantasy racing. I'm waiting for fantasy track and field.

How about fantasy world series of poker.

[blueberryale77]

I could have told you this when I found out there is actually fantasy golf, and fantasy racing. I'm waiting for fantasy track and field.

Are there fantasy marathons? I want to run one of those!

[DuffMan]

I could have told you this when I found out there is actually fantasy golf, and fantasy racing. I'm waiting for fantasy track and field.

Don't kid about that!!! If something like that came along I'd have a 12 team keeper league created immediately!!!

[Pedro Cerrano]

I Love Fantasy Sports!!!!

[The Wedge]

I love lamp...

I LOVE LAMP!

[backwardsk]

I'm starting to get the distinct impression that fantasy baseball, football, etc. have gotten so big that they're almost changing the way we look at the games themselves. The focus on individual stats instead of (real, not fantasy) team results seems to go hand in hand with the perception of growing selfishness and lack of discipline among pro athletes. It also, to me, makes the game as a whole less interesting if you're watching it with people who are obsessed with what this or that guy on their fantasy team is doing.

This is brought on today, of course, by the situation with Brian Westbrook this weekend. In case you missed it, he stopped on the one yard line rather than run in for a touchdown at the two minute warning in the Eagles-Cowboys game so that his team would be able to run the clock out instead of scoring and then having to kick off to the Cowboys and give them another chance with the ball. What he did was the prudent and unselfish thing to ensure that his team won the game against a tough division rival, but I can't tell you how many fantasy football players I've heard today rant about how he screwed their fantasy teams by not scoring the touchdown. Hello!!?!?! Are you seriously telling me a player should put his own statistics ahead of doing the smart thing to make sure his team gets the win --- not even for his own selfish purposes, but for your freaking fantasy team?! Perhaps it's time to step back from the "fantasy" and learn to appreciate the real game of football all over again!

When Westbrook went down yesterday, I immediately thought about the Redskins game about a month ago. The Skins were down 1 (I think) and lost the ball to the Eagles. I can't remember the details exactly, but the Eagles had the ball inside the Redskins 20 and leading. The Redskins were out of time outs. The Eagles ran and the d-line basically did and "ole!" and let Westbrook walk in and score. However, now the Redskins had the ball with about a minute left and only needed one possesion to tie. They didn't, but I think that experience was in Westbrook's mind when he went down yesterday. Pretty heads up play. If I had him on my team I'd be furious, but fortunately, my opponent had TO and it clinched a win for me.

And anytime Dallas loses, it's a good day.

[blueberryale77]

I Love Fantasy Sports!!!!

Just to clarify I have no problem with people playing fantasy sports... I just think they need to keep it in perspective. People are acting like Brian Westbrook is Benedict Arnold because he helped his real team instead of their fantasy team. That's taking it too far.

[blueberryale77]

And anytime Dallas loses, it's a good day.

I'm not even entirely sure why I hate the Cowboys, but for as long as I can remember I have been happy when they lose. Not as happy as when the Colts (or the YankSox) lose, but still happy. And everyone I know in all the places I've lived agrees with me about wanting to lose unless they happen to be a big Cowboys fan. Nobody is neutral.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Matthew Berry, who sounded like he was about to ring someone's neck (), said that 11-plus percent of fantasy teams that started Westbrook lost by five points or less.

That's a lot of pissed-off people.

I think Bill Simmons is right in suggesting that we are on the verge of the first fantasy sports-related murder.

[longflyball]

Matthew Berry, who sounded like he was about to ring someone's neck (), said that 11-plus percent of fantasy teams that started Westbrook lost by five points or less.

That's a lot of pissed-off people.

I think Bill Simmons is right in suggesting that we are on the verge of the first fantasy sports-related murder.

I started Westbrook and won by 31 points. The outcome of my matchup was not in doubt by the time he kneeled. Last year I was a #1 seed in the playoffs and lost the first round by one point. I can only imagine how I would have reacted if Westbrook's kneeldown caused me to lose in the first round this year.

Similar situations are always costing sports bettors a lot more money than the average fantasy entry fee, and to my knowledge no athlete has ever been murdered by a disgruntled and broke gambler.

[MChance]

FYI, ... check the fantasy forum here for the info on my fantasy golf league.



There's nothing wrong with fantasy sports. They make us better fans. We learn more about the game and the players. Plus it's a lot better than some other alternatives for keeping our minds occupied. Some people say we need to enjoy reality more. Well, we have no control over reality. Plus reality is full of disappointment. Ie: Brian Roberts used steroids. In the fantasy world, that doesn't matter. I'm not going to trade Barry Bonds just because in reality he's using steroids. I'm going to put him in my lineup everyday. Fantasy sports is a utopia. It gets us away from the sucky reality. Bobby Petrino leaving the Falcons mid-season. In the fantasy world, if a manager leaves his team idle for several weeks, that's looked upon as a good thing because other managers can pass him off in the ranks. Also, I'd much rather spend a few bucks and join a fantasy league that supplies weeks of conversation pieces and personal enjoyment than spend that money on Starbucks lattes every morning (at $4 a cup!) or a stupid hand bag to put a dog in. Buy things you can afford and things you like. Enjoy life as much as you can, but once the disappointment and reality set in, look to fantasy sports. You won't see a Mitchell Report in my fantasy league next year, I'll tell you that much.

[RShack]

There's nothing wrong with fantasy sports.

I agree.

They make us better fans.

Um, than who? Better than people who don't? Nope. Better than maybe you would've been otherwise? Maybe. But maybe not. Some people root for Real Outcomes that are bad for the Real Team because it helps their Pretend Team. Some people act like player-value is nothing-but-numbers. So, this one is a great big "It depends".

We learn more about the game and the players.

You learn more about their numbers. Not so sure you learn more about the players. Not so sure you learn more about the game. Not saying you don't. But I bet not everybody does. So, this is another "It depends".

Plus it's a lot better than some other alternatives for keeping our minds occupied.

Better than some. Prolly worse than others.

So, 1 yes and 3 maybe/maybe-not's. Just my opinion...