tired midwest parents

*sigh*

I’ve never had a strong relationship with Fantasy Sports. I understand the appeal, and it scratches a certain nerdy math curious itch I’ve carried my whole life. It forces me to dive deeper into the game I love and get to know more teams and players. It feels like studying and gambling at the same time. In recreational fan leagues there’s no cost or investment, so there are no real stakes. However, losing a week to some guy with a team name of “Rays Rad Team” or “Boston Beat Down” somehow triggers a sad feral response. One akin to tossing a controller across the room after getting owned in an online video game or stubbing your toe on something you knew was in your way but refused to move.

It’s embarrassing. But it’s real.

It feels genuinely disappointing. I’m flush and frustrated over a few random statistics from an out of town hockey game I had no real stake in. A contest between two teams that don’t have a direct impact on the team I’m supporting. I’m scrolling the in the moment stats of a player whose name I’m familiar with, but have no previous investment in. Suddenly I’m researching his history and tendencies. Suddenly I’m about to throw an internal tantrum over his inability to produce over the last 14 days in comparison to a player I dropped weeks ago.

It’s all irrational from the outside looking in. But when you’re in, you’re very deep into it, the details and the strange superstitions and the commentary. You become an expert on useless knowledge and uncomfortably obsessed with random teams and people that may raise the eyebrows of anyone in your life that’s watching or affected.

I’m just taking a moment to share support.

I understand.

It’s ok to not draft ok.

Stay the course.

Talk your trash, with respect…

Do the work. Trust your gut, not the projections every time.

Tomorrow is another day. Another game. Another opportunity to drop a bum and add this week’s all star.

Whatever sport, whatever stakes, I see you. Hang in there.

It’s madness, but doesn’t all of it make watching that much more fun?

Doesn’t it?

Guys?

Hello?

-Tired Midwest Parents