Recently, I was invited by a friend to a fantasy football league. On the surface, I suppose that sounds perfectly innocuous. Who doesn't like the game with the pigskin? Touchdowns? Hail Marys? Oh right. Me.
I should clarify: I've got nothing against football. Watching football is a life choice and while I don't agree with it, I'll support your decision to watch it. My father watches it. Hell, he played it in high school and has scars from long-ago football injuries. While I inherited his love for Star Trek, I didn't get the Monday Night Football gene.
It wasn't until a couple years ago I figured out the whole football process with first downs and possession and all that jazz. I can sit through a game without having to ask rule-related questions. I'm far enough out of the loop that I still pause to feign excitement when a touchdown is made so I know I'm rooting for the right side, but that's more an issue of interpersonal team loyalty politics.
I can probably recognize team logos. I can recognize a battalion of footballer names. I know you need a quarterback. I know that Eli Manning and Peyton Manning are brothers. Outside of that, you might as well ask me where to place the wicket in cricket. From this, you can gather that I don't pay much attention to football. So what business do I have joining a fantasy football league?
Not a bit. But I'm in good company. Most of our members have likely seen a football in the wild, though I'm sure they could count on an amputee's nub how many times they've picked one up. Our commissioner himself has openly admitted to not paying attention to football. Ask most of them what they're doing on a Sunday, and they'll either tell you that they're watching a movie or playing a vidya game. I don't think I should be at too much of a disadvantage.
