Fantasy Vs. Reality: Which Scoreboard Matters More to You?

OK, since I am sure every sport is doing, it now we can talk about it, right?

No, it’s not steroids; not this time anyway.

I’ve written my share about that topic so let us move on with our lives. It’s interesting to struggle with another burden, Fan vs Fantasy Owner. I have fallen prey to this affliction. I have rationalized both sides of the is two-headed monster.

See like many of you, my empire has consisted of a baseball team, a hockey team, and a football team at one point or another. I will include basketball in this as I have not dropped the expansion fee necessary to add that to my stable but understand many of you have. Like many of you I am pretty average at it, I win some, I lose some, I’ve been to a couple of finals, and I’ve finished last a couple of times.

But this year it started to bother me a little bit. Because, like a conflicted parent, I couldn’t figure out which child I loved more. I noticed it during NFL season. I was sitting in front of my television, desperately rooting for my Tampa Bay Buccaneers to do something they couldn't manage in the last four weeks of the season. They needed a measly one win, one win in December to get in the playoffs.  

But even in the depths of week 16, when my boys needed me most, I was torn. You see, I desperately needed a big game from Philip Rivers to keep my fantasy football hopes alive. I spent my day hoping that the Chargers would score on every possession, I would then scream at the television as the Buccaneers couldn’t match the offensive output of the Chargers, with each passing drive my blood pressure steadily escalating. Remember, I am a sports fan, rationality isn’t always my strong suit, and expecting the Bucs to put up 35; well, you can see where I am going with this.

So then I realized how ridiculous it is. Here I was, after the disappointment of missing the playoffs in both the NFL and my fantasy league, pondering which did I want more? Was I more excited about my Buccaneers winning their second Lombardi of the decade? Or was I super stoked to finally take a few dollars and some bragging rights off of my friends?

Then it came to fantasy sports was ruining my sporting experience. I am sure I am like many of you; I got into fantasy sports because I thought, hey, I am smarter than (insert GM name here). I certainly know more about my favourite sports than my friends.

But is it worth it? I mean, in all honesty, I am never going to get a call from the Toronto Blue Jays even though I have called them on several occasions, and we all know J.P. Riccardi’s days will soon be numbers in Hog-town. So do I continue to want to hope that my Red Sox take two of three from the Jays? Except for, you know, that gem by Roy Halladay, because although the Sox lost it will ensure that the Hamilton Super Duper Wild Flying Tiger Cats down the Burlington Dog Faced Gremlins in our weekly duel.

This editorial is me posing this question to the reader. Am I alone? Is there a better way to handle this conflict? Do I have to walk away from fantasy sports altogether? Because when it’s fantasy vs. reality, I want to be able to root for the Red Sox, Bruins, and Bucs.

But for some reason part of me is tugging for Halladay, Crosby, and Rivers to be good, except against my team, when they have to be good without being too good.

I know know what Albert Pujols' OPS+ is after a full moon in September, but does that make me a better fan? I just want to see Ortiz take C.C. deep at The New Stadium without worrying which roster they are on!