College Publisher Test Site

Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Andrew Berry

Why are we here?

What's the meaning of life?

Are we alone in the universe?

These are just a few of the epic questions mankind has faced throughout history. Yet, as they remain unanswered, more daunting questions have come about over the years as fanatics around the world carry on conquests to conquer a land of make believe.

Albert Pujols, or Ryan Howard?

LaDainian Tomlinson, or Larry Johnson?

Tiger Woods, or… well, you get the idea.

Fueled by their love for the game and competitive nature, fans of professional sports have been participating annually in fictional leagues by appropriating statistics of real athletes.

Ever since the first leagues were drawn up with pencil and paper more than 20 years ago, fantasy sports have expanded tremendously thanks to the Internet and too many married men with too much free time.

In 1999, the fantasy sports scene had become an industrial version of a college athlete entering the pro draft: all kinds of potential and promise that had everyone watching and drooling with anticipation. To recognize the epidemic, the Fantasy Sports Trade Association was created.

But it didn't stop there. As the popular sports of football and baseball became the class of the fantasy ranks, leagues began to spawn from a variety of nontraditional sports.

Dedicated NASCAR enthusiasts can also enjoy the thrill of fantasy competition. As football managers feverishly set rosters for Sunday, fantasy NASCAR owners must select their driver through the same careful research or run the risk of picking a driver who might attempt to win the race sliding on his roof.

Fantasy-goers also have leagues for soccer and cricket. Can you imagine the electric atmosphere that floods a room full of professional cricket fanatics on draft day? It would break the Fujita scale.

With fantasy sports, it all begins on draft day. The amount of preparation, studying and note taking that occurs prior to D-Day could result in the average person acing a final exam on molecular biology. Players must be both ruthless and smart when filling their teams while taking it more seriously than anything dealing with their real life.

An interesting aspect of fantasy sports is what separates it from the real thing. Unlike professional coaches whose job it is to maintain team chemistry, fantasy managers can draft the most disruptive players without fear of damaging team moral.

Take Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent for example. He has an attitude that can bring down a clubhouse faster than you can say "Terrell Owens", but because of his ability to produce offense at a position void of such power, Kent possesses more fantasy value than friendship value.

The same case could be made for NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. No person in their right mind would ever admit to liking the guy, but he's a proven winner.

However, there are some players that should be avoided on D-Day due to their high risk value. Pass on players under contract with the Cincinnati Bengals unless you're getting fantasy points for DUIs and multiple arrests.

Of course (and unfortunately), not everyone is a sports fan. But that doesn't mean they have to be left out of fantasy land. Last spring, Fantasy Congress was created for those with a desire to play politics. Keep checking Facebook for updates on the debut of Fantasy Student Government, YSU chapter.

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