The Wife and Mistress
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:00 am
An NFBC friend asked me the other day, 'Why are the Boards so dead?'
He surmised that this should be the most exciting time of the year and that the talk should be non-stop.
Our game doesn't work like that.
In real baseball, there are thousands, maybe millions following their teams pennant race. Each game, these fans are on the edge of their seats and are enthused about their teams chances. September is the most exciting month.
Their Boards on different sites are filled with opinions in what their teams should and should not do over the rest of the pennant chase.
Ours is more of a singular game. Even a selfish game. We have hardly anybody rooting for our teams. When bringing up our teams to friends or family, we are usually met with a roll of the eyes or a glazed look that emits boredom.
We're in this on our own.
On average, in 15 team leagues, 10 teams pretty much have resolved that they are not going to finish in the money. They have turned their attention to football or drafting for next year.
Those lucky five who have teams that may cash are busy trying to increase their chances of cashing. They'll still play fantasy football, but they know that their priority is the 23 weeks of work already put in.
Besides, fantasy football, once the season starts, does not require near the diligence that fantasy baseball desires.
If in a race for cash, most do not want to toot their own horn or bring attention of their merits on the Boards.
THAT, would be a surefire method of jinxing a team.
I'm going to go off subject here for a bit, please bear with me.
I share a fantasy football team with my daughter this year. It's the only one I'm involved with, and only because she asked as a special request. She shared a team with her husband last year and they won their league. This year, her husband, a Marine, was deployed to a ship outside of Syria, just weeks before their draft. She asked that I partner with her to help keep her mind off of his whereabouts and also so that she could brag to him when he got back that they were now, two-time Champions.
So, I rooted for this team over the weekend and we did pull out a victory.
In playing fantasy football again, it reminded me of all the luck and skill arguments that go on between fantasy football and fantasy baseball.
But, it occurred to me that there is one major difference between the two games hardly ever brought up.
It's not skill and it's not luck.
It is chances.
In fantasy baseball, if we see our batter in a lineup like Joey Votto, we know that he will get three, four, or five at bats to help our team. Even if he doesn't hit and is intentionally walked or takes a walk on his own, there is still a small chance of helping our team.
In fantasy football, if we have a starter like Calvin Johnson, we depend on him since, like Votto, he was a first round choice.
But the defensive team may decide to double team or take away Johnson, giving him little chance.
For my money, I like the batter being one on one vs. the pitcher. It's fair. We know it's going to happen.
In fantasy football, we know who the tough defenses are, and their tendencies, but we are never privy as to a game plan.
And if a game plan calls for taking away one of our players, we're powerless. A feeling we don't get in baseball.
I know fantasy footballers will say, 'Well, that's part of the game'.
I also know that it is a crappy part of the game.
There is nothing better in sports than one on one.
Mano y Mano.
But, I digress.
Football, above where folks are in fantasy baseball standings is the major reason for the lack of activity on the Boards.
Baseball is a wife.
Football is a mistress. And a damned good looking one.
We love being with our wives and families, but the release that the mistress provides is hard to top.
Sure, after a few weeks, the thrill of the mistress subsides. It happens with most mistresses.
And we don't even feel guilty for cheating.
And that is when folks start flocking back to these Boards.
I'm already thinking about my wives and kids futures by looking forward to baseball drafts starting soon.
It's the difference between a wife and mistress.
The mistress takes little thought and only needs to be boinked once a week.
The strategies of coping with marriage and family are a lot more diverse, takes incredible more thought, and the effects are longer lasting and satisfying.
He surmised that this should be the most exciting time of the year and that the talk should be non-stop.
Our game doesn't work like that.
In real baseball, there are thousands, maybe millions following their teams pennant race. Each game, these fans are on the edge of their seats and are enthused about their teams chances. September is the most exciting month.
Their Boards on different sites are filled with opinions in what their teams should and should not do over the rest of the pennant chase.
Ours is more of a singular game. Even a selfish game. We have hardly anybody rooting for our teams. When bringing up our teams to friends or family, we are usually met with a roll of the eyes or a glazed look that emits boredom.
We're in this on our own.
On average, in 15 team leagues, 10 teams pretty much have resolved that they are not going to finish in the money. They have turned their attention to football or drafting for next year.
Those lucky five who have teams that may cash are busy trying to increase their chances of cashing. They'll still play fantasy football, but they know that their priority is the 23 weeks of work already put in.
Besides, fantasy football, once the season starts, does not require near the diligence that fantasy baseball desires.
If in a race for cash, most do not want to toot their own horn or bring attention of their merits on the Boards.
THAT, would be a surefire method of jinxing a team.
I'm going to go off subject here for a bit, please bear with me.
I share a fantasy football team with my daughter this year. It's the only one I'm involved with, and only because she asked as a special request. She shared a team with her husband last year and they won their league. This year, her husband, a Marine, was deployed to a ship outside of Syria, just weeks before their draft. She asked that I partner with her to help keep her mind off of his whereabouts and also so that she could brag to him when he got back that they were now, two-time Champions.
So, I rooted for this team over the weekend and we did pull out a victory.
In playing fantasy football again, it reminded me of all the luck and skill arguments that go on between fantasy football and fantasy baseball.
But, it occurred to me that there is one major difference between the two games hardly ever brought up.
It's not skill and it's not luck.
It is chances.
In fantasy baseball, if we see our batter in a lineup like Joey Votto, we know that he will get three, four, or five at bats to help our team. Even if he doesn't hit and is intentionally walked or takes a walk on his own, there is still a small chance of helping our team.
In fantasy football, if we have a starter like Calvin Johnson, we depend on him since, like Votto, he was a first round choice.
But the defensive team may decide to double team or take away Johnson, giving him little chance.
For my money, I like the batter being one on one vs. the pitcher. It's fair. We know it's going to happen.
In fantasy football, we know who the tough defenses are, and their tendencies, but we are never privy as to a game plan.
And if a game plan calls for taking away one of our players, we're powerless. A feeling we don't get in baseball.
I know fantasy footballers will say, 'Well, that's part of the game'.
I also know that it is a crappy part of the game.
There is nothing better in sports than one on one.
Mano y Mano.
But, I digress.
Football, above where folks are in fantasy baseball standings is the major reason for the lack of activity on the Boards.
Baseball is a wife.
Football is a mistress. And a damned good looking one.
We love being with our wives and families, but the release that the mistress provides is hard to top.
Sure, after a few weeks, the thrill of the mistress subsides. It happens with most mistresses.
And we don't even feel guilty for cheating.
And that is when folks start flocking back to these Boards.
I'm already thinking about my wives and kids futures by looking forward to baseball drafts starting soon.
It's the difference between a wife and mistress.
The mistress takes little thought and only needs to be boinked once a week.
The strategies of coping with marriage and family are a lot more diverse, takes incredible more thought, and the effects are longer lasting and satisfying.
, you've hit it on the head. A perfect analogy on the difference between our passions for both sports, both strong, yet each coming from a different place in our hearts.