by Devin McMillan

Fantasy sports has been one of the fastest growing entities in the sports world over the past decade.  It is no longer just a game for the fans, as the actual athletes themselves partake as well.  It is a GREAT medium for the “numbers don’t lie”/“stats are the gospel” contingency and it often makes fans with average sports knowledge feel like geniuses.  We all love fantasy sports, but fantasy sports have long left so-called “die-hard” fans in a twist.  This is not to bash the rest of you because I myself am a self-proclaimed fantasy guru, but due to the interest conflicting nature of the games, I have always had some steadfast rules that even I myself have begun to break.  Let’s take fantasy football for instance.  To prevent myself from rooting for too many players and teams I have no business rooting for, I usually try to limit myself to one league per year…the Gridiron Gentlemen’s Club league, presented by WarRoom Sports & Philadelphia Auto Design (yeah…shameless plug, so what).  I have broken this rule occasionally but it is usually as a favor to another league commissioner and I only put about 2% of the time and effort into those leagues that I put into my own.  Being a fanatic Philly fan, I DO NOT draft Cowgirls, Deadskins, and Midgets to my teams UNLESS it is strictly for trade bait.  Ok…I’ve had the occasional NY Midget, which is blasphemy in Philly, but the Midgets just aren’t as bad to me, probably because I live in the Washington DC area with Skins fans, which would make any outsider hate that team; and let’s face it, WE ALL hate the Cowboys.  Well folks…I’m sad to announce that due to the extension of the league this year, the talent pool was VERY thin, so I have committed a cardinal sin.  Yes…with the 18th pick in the first round, I selected Tony Romo as my quarterback. **In my crying  T.O. voice**…”That’s my quarterback”.

I am a 2-time champion (in 5 years) and 2-1 thus far this season, but it is getting impossible for me to enjoy fantasy sports because there is NO WAY I can bring myself to root for certain players and certain teams to do well.  It has also begun to ruin my NFL Sundays, because fantasy sports force you to watch games differently.  The constant computer score checking is NOT how football Sundays were intended to be enjoyed.  It’s becoming too much of a job.  This brings me to those of you out there who play in 3, 4, 5, even up to 6 leagues at once.  How is football even fun to you guys anymore?  Where’s the excitement in rooting for the WHOLE LEAGUE to do well at once?  How do you even feel good about winning one league when you undoubtedly had to root for AND against your players at the same time?  How is this not the greatest conflict of interest in the history of sports?  How can you call yourselves Packers fans while rooting for the Bears defense to shut down their opponents?  How can you call yourselves Colts fans while rooting for Chris Johnson to shred your defense so you can win a computer game?  How do you people even sleep with yourselves at night?  Fantasy games have RUINED die-hard sports fandom here in the United States!  We need a new hobby!  But until we get one, keep joining our Fantasy Leagues so Ican keep winning your money.

Devin “Dev” McMillan of The War Room, for War Room  Sports