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Tonight is my fantasy football draft. What used to be the geeky pastime of overzealous football fanatics has evolved into…well, the geeky pastime of more football fanatics.
Fifteen million Americans will join me this season. That means approximately 280 million people are shaking their puzzled heads. The reality is, fantasy sports has become a billion-dollar industry, with something for everyone.
If the NFL isn’t your game – and you’re not into college football, baseball, soccer, the NBA, NHL, golf, tennis, or NASCAR – try one of these alternate fantasy leagues:
+I’ve heard of midnight bowling, disco bowling, even nude bowling. But I can’t wrap my head around fantasy bowling.
+Fantasy Water Skiing. None of the risk. Or rush. Or fun.
+Ever heard of the Dew Action Sports Tour? Well, now we have the Fantasy Dew Action Sports Tour.
+We all know pro wrestling isn’t real. Therefore, Fantasy WWE makes perfect sense.
+While I can’t find an open league to join, there’s plenty of chatter around Texas High School Fantasy Football.
+With all the talk about cricket these days, of course there’s a fantasy league you can join.
+And here’s by far my favorite. Fantasy dog shows. Seriously. I don’t even have a comment.
Clearly, the whole fantasy concept can be (and is being) applied to almost anything. Does anyone have any suggestions? Fantasy Midterm Elections? Fantasy National Weather Service? Leave them in the comments. Maybe we can form a league.
Bill Simmons came up with a fantasy Us Weekly league a while back, actually.
posted by metsfan001 on 8-29-2006 at 2:27 pm
Fantasy Publishing. Instead of a salary cap, you start with an “advance” budget and try to build a dream team of authors who will take your “house” to the title!
posted by cinemaniax7 on 8-29-2006 at 2:37 pm
Good one. Read about the Sports Guy’s Fantasy Us Weekly league here:
http://www.usmagazine.com/blog/2006/05/11/espn%E2%80%99s-sports-guy-starts-us-weekly-fantasy-league/
posted by Jason on 8-29-2006 at 2:41 pm
I am waiting for a fantasy league fantasy league…somewhere were you compete how you do in a myriad of different fantasy leagues against someone else in those leagues.
I forsee bonus points for wins in multiple sports, introduction of obscure leagues (fantasy curling) and the ability for cross league trades(i.e. trading a Michael Jordan for a Wayne Gretsky)
posted by Jon on 8-29-2006 at 4:34 pm
One more fantasy football note.
Though I have doubts that it’s real, my favorite fantasy football website is Fantasy Player Protection, which lets you insure your players against injury. If I were to draft, say, Julius Jones (shhh!), I could buy an insurance policy from Fantasy Player Protection for $14.95. That would pay out $104.75 if he missed 12-15 games, $44.85 for 6-8 games, and $14.95 for 3-5 games. Essentially, you’re rooting for people to get hurt. A novel (albeit morbid) concept. What a country.
http://www.fantasyplayerprotection.com/HomePage.html
posted by Jason on 8-29-2006 at 5:28 pm
Quidditch.
posted by OwenKL on 8-30-2006 at 8:17 am
And to set the record for the most comments on one’s own post, here’s how last night’s draft worked out:
1. (1) L. Tomlinson RB
2. (24) W. Parker RB
3. (25) C. Palmer QB
4. (48) J. Galloway WR
5. (49) Sa. Moss WR
6. (72) H. Miller TE
7. (73) F. Taylor RB
8. (96) Mi. Vick QB
9. (97) D. Bennett WR
10. (120) G. Jennings WR
11. (121) Ma. Clayton WR
12. (144) J. Feely K
13. (145) C. Simms QB
14. (168) M. Turner RB
15. (169) Dallas DEF
posted by Jason on 8-30-2006 at 10:23 am