After unloading my backpack stuffed full of books and unzipping my puffy jacket, I settle into my McLennan carrel with a Tim Hortons’ double-double for a long study session. I open up my computer, click on Safari, and type “Yahoo fantasy basketball” into the Google search bar. The results appear, and the normally blue hyperlink at the top is purple from countless clicks. An hour later, I still haven’t started my work, preferring instead to pour through Rotoworld’s fantasy updates, research hot players, or just stare at the beauty of a lineup that includes Russell Westbrook and David West.
I have always been a basketball fan. Growing up in Boston, it’s hard not to get swept up in the mania of one of the greatest sports cities in the world, especially given the past decade of success. However, I will admit that I never really paid much attention to teams other than Boston in the NBA. Barely able to divide my attention between the Celtics, Patriots, and Bruins during the winter months, there was no way, I figured, I could ever pay attention to a whole league.
Nevertheless, I live with roommates whom I would consider to be basketball fanatics, and I was approached this fall with the prospect of being in an NBA fantasy league. I eagerly accepted, thinking that it would be a fun way to pay a bit more attention to basketball—a good topic of conversation among friends.
I can honestly say now—as we’re ending the fifth week of our league—that nothing has ever consumed my waking psyche like fantasy basketball. In the mornings, the first thought that pops into my head is how my fantasy team performed the night before. It’s always the first website I go on when I open up my laptop.
Yahoo! Fantasy StatTracker—the league’s live scoring system—is probably the most distracting feature of all. In the evenings, I’ll find myself at the library, staring at the application, and waiting for a player’s name to light up and the statistics to update. Even when I’m in the comfort of my own home and done with studying for the night, I’d rather watch StatTracker than a real game on TV.
Being involved in the league has made me think about basketball in another way. Before, I was always attracted to the unorthodox combination of grace and physicality that exists in basketball: the swish of a long range three through the net, the effortless and quick motioned dribbling, and the aggressive drives to the paint. Teamwork was always a thing of beauty. But now, I curse teamwork and pray that my fantasy players selfishly jack up three balls and miss shots to grab their own offensive rebounds.
Sadly though, my allegiance to the Celtics has waned in these past few months, most evidently when a member of my fantasy team is playing them. For instance, when Boston played Oklahoma City just a few weeks ago, I was delighted that Russell Westbrook was tearing it up from behind the arc and making well-placed assists. Even in the final minutes of the game, when OKC was threatening to overtake Boston, I hoped Westbrook would tally up some late game points.
Before this fall, I could probably only name the star players on each NBA team. Now through my team, I can rattle off the two players time-sharing at centre for the Denver Nuggets, and the backup point guard for the Golden State Warriors. I eagerly await Portland Trailblazers’ games, even though they are last in their division.
Yes, final papers are weighing heavily on my shoulders, and I should spend my evenings pouring through source material, but every night around 8:00 p.m. StatTracker goes up and the rest of the night is written off as I stare at my computer, living the fantasy life.
