Walking away from fantasy sports

A little more than two months from now, I will walk away from fantasy sports. Football, baseball, basketball, pick 'ems, survivor leagues, whatever, doesn't matter. I'm retiring at the end of the football season. Thank God.

I have played fantasy sports since middle school. I have recruited friends to play fantasy sports, to join private leagues, to share in the statistical splurges. I have won more than a few championships. In the end, of course, they meant nothing. Bragging rights, maybe, and those are nice.

But I watched sports so differently than I would have if I had never played fantasy. And that's why I'm done with it. Fantasy sports are ruining my ability to enjoy sports for what they are. Now, maybe, I can just enjoy the games.

Anybody else quit at any point?

 

You can play fantasy sports and not be OCD about it.
It sounds, to me, like you don't have the cajones to defend your title.

And stop your bragging.

 

This is an interesting POV. I've rarely indulged in fantasy stuff.

Baseball season this year was a first. I'm also doing a college football pick 'em this year, and I'm getting my head handed to me (but I don't mind).

 

You can't quit me. [/fantasy sports]

 

You can love fantasy sports, but you shouldn't LOVE fantasy sports.

 

I used to have 4-5 baseball teams, 1-2 football teams, a hockey team, a couple pick 'ems, etc.

I simply don't feel the need (or have the time) to pull that off anymore. I've got one baseball/football league I've been in for about eight years, and another one at my current workplace. Other than NCAA time, that's enough for me.

 

No one gives a shit about you walking away from fantasy sports [spnited/]

 

Like other realms of fantasy, fantasy sports does different things for different people. I like the competition and the challenge of testing your (fill-in sport) IQ against other people by trying to put together the best possible team. I also use it to keep aware of what is going on in MLB or the NFL (the only sports I play in). It is what you make of it.

 

I hear ya, OHB, on viewing the game differently. The most I've ever done is pick 'ems, but I've strongly disliked what fantasy sports have become: horse racing.

I had a roommate who was really into it, and it was to the point where he would plead for players to get hurt so his guys would do better. It transcended any team loyalty or cheering for the sake of enthusiasm. It was sad to watch and drove me crazy.

 

Do you still have time for the magnetic standings board?

 

I've played fantasy baseball since the days when it was known as Rotisserie League (named after a book written about the original league) and checked stats and made personnel moves faithfully. The funny thing is, I haven't been more than just a casual "real" baseball fan in that time.

On the other hand, I'm a rabid football fan. But I've never been even remotely interested in joining a fantasy league. I took part in the office suicide pool (pick one outright winner each week, can't pick the same team twice in the same season) from time to time, but that was it.