Silly Little Game Tonight On ESPN at 8 ET

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:05 am

ESPN unveils another 30 for 30 special tonight at 8 ET and it's on the early development and explosion of Rotisserie baseball. I believe most of this one-hour piece on the history of fantasy baseball centers on the Founding Fathers. I haven't seen any of it, but some have said it's not a real nice look at our industry, thus the title of the piece: "Silly Little Game."

I'm going to tape it tonight and want to watch it if I can, but if I miss it I'll be interested in the feedback from our NFBC audience. Let me know what you think of "Silly Little Game" if you see it.

ESPN tonight at 8 ET.

[ April 20, 2010, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: Greg Ambrosius ]

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:47 am

Thats a horrible title,silly little game.It's not silly and millions play it with a passion.Who came up with that title a silly little man.

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:50 am

Originally posted by eddiejag:

Thats a horrible title,silly little game.It's not silly and millions play it with a passion.Who came up with that title a silly little man.

I bet your sorry a$$ gets some face time!

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:50 am

thanks for reminding me Greg. i'm REAL curious how they depict the industry tonight.

Scott Boras · Post by **Scott Boras** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:58 am

Originally posted by Kentucky Reign:

thanks for reminding me Greg. i'm REAL curious how they depict the industry tonight. They can't portray it badly. They run thousands of leagues and must turn quite a profit from it!

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 11:09 am

agree SB,,but just think how it all got started..

HAVE THESE GUYS GOT NOTHING ELSE TO DO WITH THEIR LIVES?

but, i don't think anybody will be watching that doesn't participate in fantasy sports of some nature.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 11:11 am

Originally posted by eddiejag:

Thats a horrible title,silly little game.It's not silly and millions play it with a passion.Who came up with that title a silly little man.

I hope I'm wrong, but I believe that's how the industry is going to be portrayed tonight. The Founding Fathers don't like the industry because they never found a way to profit from their invention and I'm sure Daniel Okrent will say that a few times. Maybe not, but he has said that in the past.

We'll see. I hope they prove me wrong, but I heard it's not real flattering. Again, we'll see.

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:33 pm

Statistically, fantasy sports are more popular than hunting in the United States.

I'd be surprised if they mock the industry, quite frankly - ESPN's in a pretty good position taking advantage of the industry and I'd be surprised if they do anything to really hammer a cash cow.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:34 pm

There was an article, I think in the Sunday newspaper magazine section, where this (halitosis laden) dude said that those who particpate in fantasy sports could care less about the game, which team wins, and don't support their home teams (i.e. home team loses, but your guy goes 3 for 4, so you are happy) and are generally bad for sports. How we should be playing or going to the ballpark to see it live rather than following via the internet. This (ugly, paste eating mommas boy) dude really cast fantasy participants in a bad light.

I wonder, however, if he would actually poll the live audience (rather than rely on his own prejudices and limited talent/intelligence) at a baseball game (majors or minors), how many fans as a percent would say they particpated in at least one fantasy sports league in the last year?

[ April 20, 2010, 06:35 PM: Message edited by: Edwards Kings ]

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:40 pm

Originally posted by Dyv:

Statistically, fantasy sports are more popular than hunting in the United States.

I'd be surprised if they mock the industry, quite frankly - ESPN's in a pretty good position taking advantage of the industry and I'd be surprised if they do anything to really hammer a cash cow. sorry DYV, but not in Ky. all we have is hunting, fishing, and UK.

[ April 20, 2010, 06:46 PM: Message edited by: Kentucky Reign ]

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:47 pm

Originally posted by Kentucky Reign:

quote:Originally posted by Dyv:

Statistically, fantasy sports are more popular than hunting in the United States.

I'd be surprised if they mock the industry, quite frankly - ESPN's in a pretty good position taking advantage of the industry and I'd be surprised if they do anything to really hammer a cash cow. sorry DYV, but not in Ky. all we have is hunting, fishing, and UK.

[/QUOTE]lol, Bill - we're pretty heavy into hunting and fishing here in Michigan as well - but Umich fans are down a bit so viva fantasy games!!!

GOD Loves You · Post by **GOD Loves You** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:55 pm

FYI: In case people miss the 8pm one, the show is on again at 11pm EST.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:13 pm

Early shot of an XFL auction, a league Greg and I play in.

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:23 pm

I spotted the DIESAL early in the show.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:28 pm

At this point, I am beginning to wonder why they are using real people and not cartoons. :rolleyes:

This is pretty ridiculous.

Bobby J · Post by **Bobby J** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:30 pm

Todd, you are being too nice, my wife is kind of listening to this and she said they are making fun of you guys

Red Sox Nation · Post by **Red Sox Nation** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:32 pm

This is brutal to watch

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:34 pm

one thing for sure...they're not mocking the game,,they're mocking the people that invented it...

FFBL23 · Post by **FFBL23** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:45 pm

What a disgrace and to think ESPN actually spent time and money on this pathetic show. I can't believe I missed several American Idol performances for this.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:46 pm

I was actually interviewed extensively for this a couple years ago, they showed a genuine interest in the analytical aspect of the game. Unfortunately, I was distracted trying to become un-unemployed at the time and sort of abruptly stopped communicating with Lucas Jansen. I do remember sending him some essays I had written.

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:54 pm

Originally posted by eddiejag:

I spotted the DIESAL early in the show. And look who shows up at the end....

Scott Boras · Post by **Scott Boras** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 2:00 pm

26!? Babe Ruth wouldn't go for $26!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 2:09 pm

YOu wouldn't beieve how many people these guys interviewed in the industry and for how many hours. Ask anyone who went to Shandler's Arizona Fall League Symposium the last two years or an FSTA convention or a high-stakes event. They had hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours of tape from folks talking about the industry and didn't use any of it.

It's okay, I'm not sure any of us who were interviewed wanted to see what the actor fill-ins portraying us would look like!!

That part was different.

I loved the part when Okrent and Waggoner talked about sending cease and desist orders for companies using the term Rotisserie Baseball and then seeing us sidestep that by calling it Fantasy Baseball. Our 1989 issue was going to be called Rotisserie Baseball Magazine and we got the cease and desist response from the RLBA. I remember telling our publisher, Bob Lemke, let's just call it Fantasy Baseball Magazine. And that's what we did. But Glenn still wrote our opening piece in the magazine and has been a good guy to know since then. Heck, the Founding Fathers were the first inductees into the FSTA's Hall of Fame in 2000 and Glenn came to Orlando to accept the honor.

It was an interesting perspective, but using the actors was -- as they say on American Idol -- "corny." Not bad, an interesting "read" if you will.

Matt Berry is right, though: These guys should be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. They hit a home run with this idea.

[ April 20, 2010, 08:10 PM: Message edited by: Greg Ambrosius ]

swampass · Post by **swampass** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 2:11 pm

as fantasy players they can mock us all they want. this was partially created by the advent of free agency. why the hell as fans should we show any home team spirit or anything similar when the players, the owners, the networks, and everyone else is just interested in making a buck. they come and go as they please looking for the next pay check. owners fire and hire looking for the winning edge, which leads them to more money.

poke fun at us all you want. the quality of sports is dropping at a dramatic rate. the price of attending games, eating food, or ordering sporting packages only continues to rise. if not for fantasy players how much interest would each professional league lose? ill tell you.. a TON!

the can all go to ****

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 2:13 pm

While the historical perspective was fascinating, the fictional portrayals were more farcical than anything and detracted from the legitimacy of the presentation.