Fantasy Football fans lost in fantasy

We all hear the complaints every Monday morning.

“If only Tom Brady’s touchdown pass had gotten called back!” Or, “If only Adrian Peterson hadn’t hurt his ankle with five minutes to go!”

We know. Your fantasy football team would have won and it would have been the best thing ever.

Newsflash: I don’t care about your fantasy team. Your mother doesn’t care about your fantasy team. No one cares about your fantasy team, except you.

However, as annoying as it is to listen to talks of fantasy teams that are completely specific to individual experiences, it isn’t the worst part about fantasy football.

Fantasy football goes against the very essence of what football actually is. Football is the ultimate team sport. Players sacrifice their bodies and their glory for their teammates; otherwise success would be impossible. When 11 players on a team take the field, they work in unison to achieve something greater than the sum of their parts.

This is the beauty of the game, and fantasy football destroys it.

It is classic American fashion, fantasy football reverses the purpose of real football and makes the game about the individual rather than the team.

This highlights the worst part of our culture. Americans love to put an emphasis on materialism and externalities. We are all about individual achievements and what looks good on paper. Fantasy football is embarrassing proof that we live in a superficial country.

Because of the focus on individualism, the perception of the real game is distorted for many people. Contrary to popular belief, how well somebody does in a fantasy league does not necessarily correlate to how well they do in real life.

A great example is Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He has long been considered a mediocre fantasy quarterback because he doesn’t put up big numbers. However, he is actually considered one of this era’s greatest NFL quarterbacks and has achieved a lot, including winning two out of three Super Bowls. He is tough and he knows how to keep plays alive, which are qualities that don’t translate into the fantasy world.

Another big problem with fantasy football is what is happening to team loyalty. Sports have always been a way for regions to connect over the love of a team. But now, with fantasy leagues, fans may feel conflicted about whether they should root for the team they love or for the outcome that will benefit their fantasy team most, and their loyalties are compromised.

I get that having a fantasy team is fun and that it keeps you connected with the NFL, but keep in mind that it doesn’t matter. It’s not about you or your fantasy team, it’s about the real team that you follow and care about.