Just do it #13: Participate in fantasy football

Via here

I've managed not to pay a lick of attention to football season for twenty-nine years now.

Sure, I watched past Super Bowls for the hilarious half-time commercials and have gone to a Redskin game or two because I can enjoy a live game, even if I don't know anything about the plays or players. (Mmm... I especially like the salted pretzels at those games. What can I say? Somehow it always comes back to food...)

Oh, and I wear my teacher ID clipped onto a Redskin lanyard, but only to help me have something to talk about with my sports-obsessed students. While I don't watch the games, I'll pump Dan for information about one memorable play, which I'll casually bring up to a student like this:

Students, seeing my lanyard: "Did you see the game last night, Mrs. T?"

Me: “Uh, yeah, that tackle by Cooley was incredible!”

Students: Yeah! He’s like a freakin’ tank! Although, I don't think he's as good as (player I've never heard of), do you?"

Me: "... Sure, what you said."

I was a football fraud.

Anyway, I decided it needed to stop by learning about some teams and players, so I begged Dan to let me team up with him as a co-coach on his work fantasy football league. My husband is an intense fantasy football follower, spending his Sundays alternating between euphoria and, well, having an adult version of a tantrum. I thought it would be fun to shake our fists at the television together for a season.

I started with the best intentions. I really did. However, when it came time to sit down and hear the stats and background on each player, I kind of got bored and put it off. In fact, the only thing I took a vested interest in was coming up with a clever name for our team. Dan vetoed my suggestion of "Team Our-last-name" because he saw through my blatant attempt at a cheeky take on the whole "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob" thing. In fact, his exact words were, "How did you manage to bring up Twilight during a fantasy football discussion?!

(Speaking of Twilight, sorry, but I can't resist posting another picture from Somee Cards, my new favorite website to waste time on:)

Ha ha, funny, right?

Hmm... I guess do find any excuse to steer a topic away from sports!

Back to my fantasy football challenge:

Anyway, Dan ended up creating the team without any of my input since I put it off for too long, and he needed to get the website up and running. I felt a little guilty, but still haven't watched a game. The extent of my participation? Asking "How'd we do this week, hon?" and daydreaming about what new restaurant we could eat at with the $60 from the winnings. (See how it always comes back to food?)

Once a football fraud, always a football fraud. I guess there's always next season?

Verdict: Total fumble.

To make up for this, I'm trying another "Just do it Challenge" for #13 where I write seven posts in seven days. See you all tomorrow!