NBA: Has Fantasy Killed Reality?

I grew up in the Magic/Bird era where the NBA became what it is today.  I loved watching the Lakers—and Magic was everything.

I loved the whole team—AC, Rambis, Coop, Byron, McAdoo, Worthy, etc...  I didn't care how many minutes a player got as long as my boyz won the game.  They were a team!

I guess fantasy is better than reality.  You can make the changes to your teams that you scream and swear at the real GMs to make.

Now in 2007, I have no favorite team.  My team is my fantasy team(s).

I root for my players no matter who they play for, no matter if they are a great citizen or a gun-toting 2Pac wannabe with mad hops.

You know what I'm saying?  I kinda miss watching "my favorite team" from tipoff to final buzzer and not really caring about the stats.

I love the fantasy game more than the real game.  All that matters is if the players on my teams do well.

It doesn't matter if they're ballhogs, if they can't play defense or are cancers in the locker room.

There can be a marquee matchup on TNT between the two best teams in the league that ends in a buzzer beater, but if my players aren't on the teams...who cares?

As a fantasy team owner I want the coaches to give my upside players some burn, winning or losing be damned.  "Glue guys" have no place.  I want stats!

The real rub, so to speak, is that I used to like sports more when there was no internet. But I love my fantasy teams more than the real passion of the game and sport in general.

Tonight I'll be watching Yi because I got him cheaply, and if he plays well he could put my 10-year keeper league team over the hump.

I'm hoping injuries in Minnesota offer Gerald Green some minutes, because he's one of my upside guys as well.

It's all about superstars and younglings with upside.  You can have your role players, team chemistry and glue guys—I don't need them.