I start with a nice morning service at Bible Christian Church. Then I typically have a good lunch with my wife. And then I embark on six hours of football-watching...
I've always been an NFL fan, but my interest increased ten-fold beginning in 2005. Before then, I found it tough to watch an ordinary NFL game from start to finish, unless my beloved Buffalo Bills were playing.
But now... I can watch almost any game for one simple reason -- FANTASY FOOTBALL!!!
2005 was my inaugural season of fantasy football. I joined a league with a bunch of new friends, and I was hooked from the get-go. Today, five of us from that original league plus five others that we've picked up along the way comprise the Gorilla Legends Fantasy Football League (GLFFL).
I'll stop short of saying, "this league means the world to me." But I won't hesitate to say, "Playing fantasy football is one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done."
In the GLFFL, owners take it seriously. We spend hours of time fiddling with our rosters. The top three teams win a prize at the end of the season. And we even keep stats! Here is just a sample of one of our stat sheets.
This includes everyone who has ever played in our league.Records do not reflect the current season.
I love everything about fantasy football. But these are the three reasons why it is supreme to nearly all my other recreational activities:
3) It makes me incredibly interested in football.
With nearly every game, chances are that you or your opponent has a player involved in each game. So even if you don't care about the outcome of the game, you are rooting for/against specific players.
2) I'm really good at it.
If you took a good look at the chart, then you noticed that I have the best career winning percentage in our league. I am also the only one to win two championships. There aren't too many things that I can say I'm REALLY good at. So I take great pride in my fantasy football performance.
1) It keeps me connected with friends.
Hands down, this is the #1 reason why I love fantasy football. Most of the guys in our league were some of my best friends in college (including the best man and two groomsmen from my wedding). After graduation, we all went our separate ways: Denver, Kansas City, Dallas, San Fransisco, Joplin, Garden City America....
When you're spread out all over the country, it's easy for friendships to fade. But fantasy football brings us together for four months every year. It keeps our bond strong because we stay in contact with each other.
So even though the GLFFL is about football, it's so much more than that... I can't compete in any other leagues because it would feel like I'm cheating on my wife. And when you get down to it, this is much like a group of men getting coffee together in the morning. Or a family celebrating Christmas.
Fantasy football brings us together. All the other benefits that come with it is just icing on the cake.
You gotta love this time of year...
3) It makes me incredibly interested in football.
With nearly every game, chances are that you or your opponent has a player involved in each game. So even if you don't care about the outcome of the game, you are rooting for/against specific players.
2) I'm really good at it.
If you took a good look at the chart, then you noticed that I have the best career winning percentage in our league. I am also the only one to win two championships. There aren't too many things that I can say I'm REALLY good at. So I take great pride in my fantasy football performance.
1) It keeps me connected with friends.
Hands down, this is the #1 reason why I love fantasy football. Most of the guys in our league were some of my best friends in college (including the best man and two groomsmen from my wedding). After graduation, we all went our separate ways: Denver, Kansas City, Dallas, San Fransisco, Joplin, Garden City America....
When you're spread out all over the country, it's easy for friendships to fade. But fantasy football brings us together for four months every year. It keeps our bond strong because we stay in contact with each other.
So even though the GLFFL is about football, it's so much more than that... I can't compete in any other leagues because it would feel like I'm cheating on my wife. And when you get down to it, this is much like a group of men getting coffee together in the morning. Or a family celebrating Christmas.
Fantasy football brings us together. All the other benefits that come with it is just icing on the cake.
You gotta love this time of year...
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