In case you don’t know, NFL football begins tonight! I love Fall because it brings some great half-marathons but it also brings back glorious football!! This year I was invited to be in an all ladies fantasy football league so I instantly replied “yes!” And then I thought of how much work it would be. For those of you who don’t know a damn thing about football (fantasy or otherwise) I will start with some eye candy:
Ok, so now that you’re interested I can tell you this about fantasy football:
1. You “draft” a fake team. This means you get together with about 8 other girls and eat and drink and gossip for 2 hours and then pick your players for the other 45 minutes. Guys do this too. I’ve seen it happen so don’t think their drafts are any cooler then the female version.
2. You get to create a snappy team name. I’m a huge Green Bay Packers fan so my team name is obviously Discount Double Check. If you don’t know what the hell I’m talking about just Google it because that’s a whole other blog.
3. The way ours is set up, you need to pick 2 quarter backs, 4 running backs, 4 wide receivers, 2 tight ends (don’t get too excited), 2 defenses and a kicker. It may seem overwhelming but there are about 10 million web sites dedicated to fantasy football all of which have cheat sheets that list each of these categories with the rankings of each player or defense. If all else fails, just go down the list…or rapidly text your husband. He feels needed, you get a good team, it’s a win/win.
4. The issues arise when other people start getting “your” picks because you of course have to go in order and sometimes wait a LONG round to get back to you and your pick, at which point your original pick is long gone, your hubs is too slow to respond to your text message and now you don’t know WTF to pick b/c you must WIN!!!! Oops…I went off on a little tangent there, didn’t I? My bad B.
Do you think I get a little too competitive with this? Nah.
So this is what our draft board looked like as a clean slate:
I’m sure a lot of you ladies out there would rather do 10 thousand other things on Sunday (or Thursday or Monday nights) then watch football. I can see the collective eye roll or deep sigh as you think of your hubs or boyfriend sitting on the couch swilling beers for hours on end when he could be doing oh…let me see…almost anything else? Well, I say, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! Can I watch the kids while you go to Jamie’s house for the 4 o’clock game? Hell no because I want to watch it too! Can you go to Coach’s bar to watch the Monday night game? Um, nope. Not unless I can go next Monday. Do you see how this works to my advantage?
I also truly love the game. I grew up watching my dad cheer for the Dolphins and his hero Dan Marino. I went to college and fell in love with Brett Favre and the history of Lambeau Field and became a full-fledged cheesehead (Packer speak for a Green Bay fan!). I have a subscription to ESPN the magazine and I watch the channel when I run on the treadmill because I want to see athleticism! I want to see some action!
Here’s a really weird fact: Way back when email was invented, I was in college (I am freakin’ ancient people!) I had to choose an email address and my dad told me not to use my real name beacuse it was dangerous. He was all Chris Hansen on me before cyber stalking was even a thing! Anyway, I chose an address with 4_13 in it. Why? Because my beloved quarterback Brett Favre was #4 and Dan Marino was #13 (my dad’s hero and Dolphins quarterback). Yes, it was that long ago. So fast forward a million years 12 years later and my kids were born on April 13 or 4_13! Cray cray, right? I still have that email address and it’s basically used for junk and spam…kind of like Brett Favre these days…hmmm another coincidence?
So I’m connected to the game, and perhaps Dan and Brett in some cosmic way, and I’m ready to get this fantasy underway!
Here’s the board 4 hours later:
It was a great night and now every game will have meaning and I’ll be checking my ESPN page along with all my morning blogs – I. Can’t. Wait.
He looks ready. Let’s do this!!
Do you watch football? Who’s your team? Are you playing fantasy football? Do you remember when email was a new thing?
I absolutely LOVE football season! I feel like it is the perfect way to spend a Sunday, honestly. Have not done a fantasy league myself, but would definitely consider it. Saw Dan Marino in Vail when I was in college. And don’t hate me when I say this, but for a lot of years I fully believed I would marry Troy Aikman. I know.-Ashley
You are the BEST!!! And Troy is missing out – for sure!:-)
We barely used computers when I was in college, let alone email…that’s how old I am! I don’t watch that much football anymore…used to be a huge Denver Bronco / John Elway fan! These days if I watch sports, it’s women’s college soccer or basketball, the US women’s soccer team, or my kids’ teams.
My brother is a huge Broncos fan so I can relate! Soccer is another great sport to watch – I especially enjoy the women too. Thanks Michelle!!
I love college football and half-watch the NFL so fall weekends are all about it! Love the Florida Gators and the Patriots. No fantasy team for me this year though. Good luck with yours!
I know you do – so cool!! I wish we had a big college team around here – UCONN is getting there. Thanks for the luck – I’m gonna need it!
I love the cheeseheads. So adorable! I’m so sorry but I am not a football fan at all! I do like watching some sports on TV but it’s usually more like tennis, cycling, gymnastics, baseball, the Olympics and recently I watched the CrossFit games, which was kind of cool. But you make an excellent point about the whole quid pro quo of you and your husband both liking football. I like the way you think Allie! 🙂
Ha ha!! Thanks Britt. I love watching the Olympics. My husband gets bored but I can pretty much watch ANY sport on TV.
Discount Double Check! I wish I could join an all ladies league, the boys around my job make it so personal! I also love love love football season!!
I’m betting you can hang with the guys:-) Some of them get really crazy and I’m like “you know you don’t really have a football team, right?”
There is so much awesome in this post. I don’t even know where to begin! I love football, although I’m more of a college fanatic. There’s nothing better than going for a long run in the morning and then laying around the rest of the day/evening watching college football. My oldest was born in September, and I have such fond memories of her snoozing on my chest while I laid on the couch watching Hokie football. And don’t even get me started on ESPN and SportsCenter. When I was in college, the Top Ten was a mini-tribute to Michael Vick in his glory days (you know, before the jail time and all!). Good luck in your fantasy football league! Keep us updated.
You said it – long run and then lay around watching football – is there nothing better? ESPN top ten is just classic! Can’t wait for it all to begin…:-)
I Googled Discount Double Check, and well, that certainly is a whole other blog, isn’t it?
I don’t watch football at all and my husband barely does, so I’m a bit immune. I see people talking about it on Facebook, and it might as well be another language. HOWEVER, I like your background and I like people liking what they like. I’m not a nay-sayer. It’s just not my thing but I do/watch many things that are not everyone’s cup of tea either.
I remember email being new! I was in high school. I remember my friend had dialup AOL and we’d meet what we thought were cute boys in chatrooms. Don’t worry – no real meetings took place and no real names were used!
That is too funny about Discount Double Check!! I’m glad I’m not the only one who remembers the dawn of email…not to mention dial-up AOL!! Those were the days…ha ha ha!!!
Hahahaha omg that discount double check commercial was the best thing ever! and tom brady he’s my QB! pats fan all the way!! im so excited for football season to get into full swing!! and my boyfriend is in a fantasy football league and i was there for the draft- i think its probably even more gossipy than the female version 🙂
That is awesome!! I definitely route for the Pats since I live in CT but boy they’ve had a lot of drama lately!! Love that you confirmed the boys to be possibly “more gossipy” then us women!! Too funny!
Does it count as watching football mm if it’s on but I’m actually blogging? That’s as close as I get. Boxing I understand, football not so much. However, I’d probably learn to be in a womens fantasy football league.
Yes, that definitely counts!! I’m sure you would love the competition of the league. And, boxing…that is something I would be interested in reading about…:-)
Football season is my absolutely favorite. I grew up in South Florida being a HUGE Dolphins and Hurricanes fan (my dad would scream bloody murder at the TV/QB/other team so I guess that’s where I got it). I went to Florida State for college so now I bleed Garnet and Gold and wouldn’t have it any other way and since we recently moved to Atlanta we’re slowly becoming Falcons fans. Ben is in 3 fantasy football leagues so I just follow along with what he’s doing. SO MUCH FUN! Good luck – hope you win!
That is just beyond awesome!!! I love it!!! Thanks:-)
Not a big football fan , but maybe that’s because football is not big around here. Most of our high schools don’t even have a team! Hockey is the big sport! So, I can see where the excitement comes from – similar to hockey season for Canadians! I’m ancient with you – I remember being finished University and working my first job when email came out!!
Of course hockey is GOD in Canada! I’m still a little shocked that there’s not even a football team at a lot of high schools! Wow! And I love how everyone remembers where they were in life when email came on the scene! Isn’t it funny to think how long we lived without it? What did we do? Ha Ha!
What I know I about football:
1) That people try to get the ball to the other side and once they do they dance and the referees like throwing flags around.
2) I liked Tom Landry and in 1985 or so, Tony Dorsett had a cute butt.
3) I HATE Jerry Jones. HATE.
4) Fantasy Football sounds just like Dungeons & Dragons.
And the new thing I learned today about football:
1) Colin blah blah. I saved the picture. It’s awesome.
And I’m again happy knowing everything I need to know about football. 😉
I’m so glad I could add to your list. Yep, now you know everything! And everyone pretty much hates Jerry Jones.
I love college football but just can’t get into NFL – occasionally on a Sunday afternoon I will have it on.
Good luck with your Fantasy Football team!!
I hear ya. I prefer college basketball to the NBA. Thanks Kim!!
I was in H.S. when email was new thing. I remember it clearly. I have always used my name for the different emails that have rolled out. I do not watch football, follow it, nor play fantasy football. People are always so surprised because of my athletic background but I just have no interest in it. I am currently being schooled on it though and I don’t mind. If they really wanted me interested, they should have taken a pointer from you and started off with a picture of the Colin cat! Lord Have Mercy!!!
What did we ever do without email?? And it was painfully SLOW when it first came out…of course, we didn’t know any better.
I firmly believe that every football lesson should begin with Colin. I mean, duh? That photo is from ESPN the magazine. They do an issue each year called “The Body Issue” where they photograph athletes from ALL different sports, men and women, NAKED. It’s pretty awesome.
I signed up for fantasy football this year and I’m so excited to participate and have fun! Love how involved you are in your league!!
That’s great! You’re going to have so much fun watching the games and cheering on your players. let me know how it goes!!
Love this! My football season got off to a dismal start, though–I am a Ravens fan. Not pretty. Not pretty. Gonna be a long season over here! I think I need to set up a fantasy team as you have suggested–much better way to go!
My condolences. Peyton is a FREAK!! Whoever has him in my league pretty much already won this week. Crazy. I’m sure Flacco & co. will dominate the rest of the season!
Okay so I am not a huge football fan….but I will sit and watch it if that is what everyone is doing. I love all the fun snack ideas that are out there for the superbowl!!!!! Your kids in their hats= pure cuteness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Snacks definitely play a huge role in football!! That could be an entire post..or two!!
I am sooooo excited about this football season! I LOVE football! I am a Carolina Panthers fan and have been since they first began in 95. We actually have season tickets and go to almost every home game! I’m extremely excited because they did so well in the Pre-season! I’m ready!
Season ticket holder?? OMG that is just awesome!!! I’m sure you’re going to have a great season!! I want to see some pics!
Hi! Just popped (you have to be really careful not to say ‘pooped’ when you write that word) over from Nicole’s blog! I love football. College more than NFL, but I enjoy a good football game on any level. I have never done a fantasy football league before, but it looks like so much fun. Y’all definitely look like you know what you’re doing with that board! I root for the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Redskins 🙂
Oh yes “popped” can be tricky!!…but I’m glad you did!
I think if I lived in a college football town/state I would be more into it. UCONN football has come a long way but…
Enjoy the season!!
I love this and love that you love football so much. I watch it some but pay more attention when the play-offs come around. I’m a NY Giants and 49ers fan. And we just got email when I was in college. I was just talking to a friend today asking how in the world we survived high school and college without the internet and having to research in real books in the library!
Oh my gosh, I know! Remember going to an actual library? It’s so crazy how things change!! As for football, I can route for the niners but not the Giants! They’ve beaten the Pack badly (when it counted) the last two seasons!
HA! Your pictures crack me up! I don’t really get into football I think because Justin doesn’t really get into it. Our neighborhood does a fantasy league but we opted to just attend the party and save our $20!
Wow $20 is cheap for a league!! Ours was $100 & my husband has one that’s more!!..but he’s won a few times so..
Come to think of it, this little “hobby” is getting expensive!
I am not a fan of football but I joined a group of bloggers this year and it has helped me to understand the game a bit better. We live in Atlanta so my hubs forbids me to speak of any other teams but the falcons lol. Stopping over from SITS
OMG that is funny!! Go Falcons…I guess?? Ha ha. Thanks for stopping by!
I love that you’re into fantasy football! Personally, I grew up with a sports obsessed father but I’m not so into it. I’m also lucky to be married to a non-sports oriented guy (he likes tech stuff instead).
I’ll lyk that I actually won a College Basketball pool once but it was absolute luck – I guessed the winner but it was pretty sweet to win some cash as a broke 22 year old.
A win is a win! That’s really cool that you won by basically guessing:-)
I love sports, I love the idea of teams and teamwork and cheering for the home team. I’m more of a baseball girl than football, but that may be because I live in St Louis. 🙂 Thanks for linking up to #LOBS!
I’m always happy to meet another woman who loves sports!! St. Louis is a great baseball city for sure. How fun!!
#LOBS
Oh we are all football, all season. I’m a life long Cowboys fan who (gasp) married and Eagles fan and had mixed children. Good thing is that we only have “bad” days 2 days a season 😉 Great post and keep going strong!! Thanks for sharing at #LOBS!!
Yikes! That is a tough combo!! I’m sure those two Sundays a year are very interesting – ha ha ha!!
Thanks for reading and commenting. #LOBS