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Complete Fantasy Football Burnout!


McBoog
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Over the last few years, I have throttled way back on Fantasy Football. My Dad died three years ago, five days before the draft of the league I have run for over a decade. I dedicated the season to him, overcame a lot during the season and almost became totally obsessed. I won the Championship and lost something along the way.

 

The final straw was the following season. When the team with the worst draft prep and team management is able to sneak into the playoffs on the back of Porter, Drew Bennett and a couple of Chief players (the guy is a Chiefs homer) at the end of the season when there was no defense being played, killed my interest. This moran actually had to start 3 bye week players twice during the season, and got a tie in one of them when the other team had three injuries to both RBs and the QB the same week. I know that “is the way it goes” but it just did not sit well in my craw and festered there. I don’t have anything against the guy personally, he’s a good guy, but one of the luckiest people alive when it comes to FF.

 

I have always felt that good prep and team management would ultimately eliminate the luck factor over the long haul… NOT (at least in this case). As the League commish, I tried to suck it up this year and keep it going. What I realized over the year is that “my league” had evolved into something so different than from where it started over the years, I was just not having any fun anymore.

 

Draft day, once my favorite day, was now a chore. We used to have a rule that we drafted live, together. If you couldn’t be there, then you had to have a rep there to draft for you. Now with guys all over the country and trying to draft both live with the guys here and on-line with the guys far away while trying to draft my own team is too much. Yeah, there are fixes, but none bring me back to where we once were.

 

Well, I pulled the plug this year. I have told everyone that I will no longer run the league and have made it clear that anyone that wants to continue it can, but without me. I don’t even feel like playing right now. Burned out? Maybe! Man, some of my buds are POed big time!

 

I have twin 4 year olds and a soon to be one year old. I am in the middle of a transfer and possible promotion, and all these things just seem so much more important, that I don’t want to deal with FF right now in my life. I am actually more excited about the upcoming NFL season than I have been in years since this decision, and the season is only just over!

 

I am sure I will keep my subscription to the Huddle for the news and shtuff, but what used to be a “fun hobby” has almost turned into another job. It evolved into an obligation as opposed to just something fun to do and add spice to the NFL weekend. Maybe FF helped me get through the times when my Chargers REALLY SUCKED. Who knows?

 

I am not sure exactly why I decided to post this. Maybe I’m just wondering if anyone feels the same way I do??? Well, at least thanx for being a sounding board. It is good to get this out to people who understand how much of this “thang” can become part of your life, and the “control” it can have over you at times. I noticed that I was changing channels on my NFL Sunday Ticket to whatever game my players were in and their team currently had the ball while running to the computer every 5 to 10 for a live scoring update. My wife had stopped watching a game or two with me since this would drive her nuts. Not only was FF not real fun anymore, but neither was football… and I LOVE football. I think this was driven home when my wife noticed I was watching more college games than ever before. Hey, no pressure there as to who was doing what, I could just watch the TEAMS play GAMES.

 

I am looking forward to that again. Go Chargers!

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Hats off to ya Boog........I remember my first year of deer hunting. Watching my first buck pass by in too thick of brush to shoot. My dad was sitting next to me, he said he could almost see my heart beating. He told me if that feeling ever goes away, it's time to quit hunting.

Nice to see you know where your priorities are. I'm sure those three little ones will replenish any fun that you may have missed.

Good luck.

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I hear ya, Boogie. Went thru the same thing a couple seasons ago. Dropped down from eight to three leagues and we still just barely able to muster any interest. Lasted thru about a season-and-a-half. Stepping away may be just what you need to recharge the batteries.

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Mc, I can understand what you're going through. My best friend got me involved in fantasy many moons ago. He ran his own league plus asked me to be his partner in others. Then one year he decided to call it quits. Everyone was crazy. However, there's a happy ending. I took over his league and had many of the same guys in it and three years later he's back and ready to go more now then he ever was. So rest up, you never know when that hunger will return.

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Excellent post. I've played for over a decade now and have been feeling similar emotions. Fortunately a lot of the guys in our local are also people I work with everyday and it's still an enjoyable connection for most of us. Maybe a year off would bring some peace of mind AND make watching games more of what it used to be about, simply watching a sport I like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or we could just be pussleys. :D

 

Either way good luck and remember that "... the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time..." James Taylor

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I can't relate to you on the kids part (I am a bachelor and plan to be a few more years! :D) but I do know what you're talking about re: the lucky guy who gets into the playoffs and how frustrating that can be to see....my advice to you...if you do find yourself wanting to get back into the fray, be it this year or next, find a cummulative scoring league....that takes alot of the luck out of it.....I have been in one for three years and I always enjoy it...maybe when you are ready to get back in, just get in a public league on yahoo for no money and see how you like that...

 

That all said, it sounds like you have bigger priorities in your life right now...have fun with your kids :D

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The final straw was the following season.  When the team with the worst draft prep and team management is able to sneak into the playoffs on the back of Porter, Drew Bennett and a couple of Chief players (the guy is a Chiefs homer) at the end of the season when there was no defense being played, killed my interest.  This moran actually had to start 3 bye week players twice during the season, and got a tie in one of them when the other team had three injuries to both RBs and the QB the same week.  I know that “is the way it goes” but it just did not sit well in my craw and festered there.  I don’t have anything against the guy personally, he’s a good guy, but one of the luckiest people alive when it comes to FF.

 

I have always felt that good prep and team management would ultimately eliminate the luck factor over the long haul… NOT (at least in this case). 

1339375[/snapback]

 

 

 

 

Applaud your priorities, Boogie.

 

I love thehuddle, and will probably continue to stay here until I say something that gets me banned. But there is a down side to all this information overload, and I think you've nailed it: we get the idea that good prep is the key to winning fantasy football. The harder you prep, the more you study, the better you should do.

 

Ain't true. It ain't true in handicapping horse races, it ain't true in betting on football, it ain't true in playing blackjack. You marginally increase your chances of winning through lots of prep -- that's true. But as I learned when I tried to handicap horses, the time you put into all that prep really isn't worth the payoff. Some lucky sob's 12-year-old kid is almost as likely to come up with the Pick 6 winners as all your prep in the world.

 

And fantasy football information is everywhere. It's ubiquitous. We keep our little myths going here for the sake of our huddle community, but the truth is there are all kinds of people out there making educated guesses that are just as good as anyone else's educated guesses. DMD and WW could look like geniuses one year and dunces the next, but usually it's all a mix of hits and misses.

 

Websites are better than ever. Magazines -- even the ones published in May -- are better than ever. Everyone understands the importance of drafting RBs. In some ways, this indeed makes it seem more "competitive," but it ultimately makes it even more of a matter of luck.

 

Before the internet was everywhere, the luck element of fantasy football was never questioned. With the information explosion, though, the idea is pushed that you need "the right tools" to gain an advantage -- that's how information is packaged and sold. Otherwise, there would be no product to sell.

 

So, if you're just burned out, take the break. But when you come back (and I assume you will; you seem to love football and fantasy football too much not to), take the emphasis off winning and prep and focus on your love of the game. Prep fantasy football because you love it, not because you have to. If you don't feel like putting in a lot of prep for a draft, then don't. You'll still have a team to root for, and unless you draft a kicker in the second round, your chances of success won't be all that much less than if you spent 40-50 hours doing prep work.

 

Because the essence of fantasy football is betting on the performance of the player, over which you have no control or influence at all. If you could truly do that successfully through extensive research, Las Vegas would be a dust bowl.

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Although most of us get burned out about it from time to time,

and commissionaers know that running a league, and organizing a draft, can be taxing, when it's not fun anymore it's time to take a break.

 

Just don't take it so seriously. More than anything to me,

running my local league is a good way for us old high school pals and such, just to keep in touch. The winner gets a silly trophy, and bragging rights.

But it's worth the measley entry fee just to get back into football

and see my old buds again.

 

Some Sundays, I'll just watch the games, and wait to tally everything up on Monday morning. Kids, a promotion, and a hectic schedule can always

take away from any of that, but just try to remember

not to take it too seriously.

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Because you spent the time to actually write all of that out tells me you probably just needed to vent a little. I think you'll be back soon. If you were really done with it, I think you would've just bailed without saying anything. Kids are great! (I have 3) and have more fun each year, but I still need a little hobby on the side. Good luck with everything. Hope to continue to see you in here.

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I haven't been burned out on FF yet but, I can relate to what you're talking about with coaching the the game. By the end of our season (good or bad) I always tell my assistants (for the last 3 years anyway) that it was my last year, until the AD calls in the beginning of April to ask who I think would be a good candidate for head coach. After a couple months off, you forget how much a pain all the work was and just remember the good through the last year. You're revitalized after some time off. If you truely love the game, you'll be back. Anyone who really loves the game wants to be some part of it, in whatever capacity that might be, FF included. Have some quality time with the kids and do well in your career, the Huddle will still be here waiting for your return. Which I think will be more sooner than later.

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I enjoy it more than ever nowadays....I don't get nearly as caught up in how my team does as I used to...Having a wife and a child will do that for you...

 

I will never forget the day I watched Ahman Green score on a long touchdown against me to beat me that week and I punched a hole in my wall... :D thank goodness those days are behind me..

 

sounds like you need a break

Edited by alexgaddis
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Great topic MCB:

I fielded my first fantasty team in 92. And I can tell you it was a ton of alot more more back then. I was the commish and this was before all the stat services started popping up. So I did all of our league stats by hand for about 3 years. Every Monday at lunch I could be found in the cafeteria with my caculator and box scores. Yeah it was only an 8 team league and the scoring was kind of basic but it was great. Speed up to 2005, I am now married (shout out to the lovely lady) with 2 beautiful little ones (6 an 2) and a very demanding job.

 

At my max I was in 4 leagues (competitive leagues at that and I have always commished at least one league). Last year I was down to one league. I didn't even commish. The experience wasn't great. Like MC I liked the old days where draft attendance was mandatory. Right now there is so much info out there I don't have time or the brain capacity (ha) to absorb it all:

Philadelphia Eagles Season Tickets

2 Fantasy Football site premium subscriptions

NFL Sunday Ticket

NFL Super Fan

The 30 minute recap where they show you each play from every game

At least 5 Pre Season FF magazines purchased

NFL Network

 

See where I am going with this? I am actually thinking about taking next year off altogether. However, this just might be February speak and when July rolls around that fever might hit me. For me the juices begin to flow when I see those fresh FF magazines in the bookstores. I don't know, this year it might be different though. Thanks for listening

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Leave it to a Chiefs fan to ruin it for you :D Anyway, I struggled with this last year and I had a lot of personal stuff going on. I ultimately changed my mind and came back, it just wouldn't have been the same. I enjoy most of what everyone has to say here and love Hannibals and I can find the time, even if it's minimal to stay with those great bunch of guys. It recharged me and now I'm ready to take on more BOTH leagues, that's all I want to play anymore.

 

Edit, and gal (steelbunz or champ this year), sorry girl! :D

Edited by Hat Trick
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I can completely empathize with you and I didn't read the entire piece. Two years ago, my brother died during the IBL draft. I got off the phone after hearing the news, I was on the computer at the time, and finished preselecting the draft instead of many other things that I could or should have done. My dad died at the end of the same season as well.

 

I may decide to cut down on a local league for next year, too. The championship contest had Plummer against Trent Green. Green's 344 passing yards and td was good for 7 pts and Plummer's 91 passing yards gave him zero. I think this scoring discrepancy forces me to believe that the league is a waste of my time and energy. The owner that finished ahead of me in the standings had a lousy team but had some studs that surprised. In fact he didn't have a starting calibre player at each starting position in his roster. Two or three players carried him from of a joke of a roster.

Edited by MikesVikes
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I have twin 4 year olds and a soon to be one year old.

 

1339375[/snapback]

 

 

 

YEP! I hear you. Go enjoy them!!! :D

 

I pulled way back on golf, skiing, and moonlighting consulting to chase my daughters around doing the things they loved ... Had to learn to sit through dance recitals, attended piccillo/flute recitals, revisited a love for camping, took up photography again to connect to their art interests, and shifted my expertise from baseball to fastpitch softball. Now, they are 17 and 14 and we have grand relationships. Between the two of them, they'll have 85-95 softball games in 120 days this year, and I'll see almost all of them). Yep, my golf handicap has gone, I don't do moguls like I used to, and Donutrun Creative Services is essentially in mothballs, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. :D

 

Plus, this past year has been an absolute HOOT as they have come into their own with fantasy football and have helped analyze the stats, pick the players (they own the credit for the power of gado and the love of LJ), and bizzaro trade offers ... so who knows -- your twins may draw you back in to FF.

 

Go enjoy the kids!! And, heck, GO CHARGERS!!! Keep stopping by here for a bit of smack talk ... and if you need a tiny bit of a fix, join a free yahoo league. Yep, free leagues suck, but what the hell. :D

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